₦airaland Forum

ECONOMICS, ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL TIMES AND NIGERIA

By Garba Shehu

One would imagine that business papers like economic success stories; apparently not. Instead, they feast and thrive on negatives. Financial Times, for instance, is worried about a government policy that is enabling boom in rice production in Nigeria. And the Economist is panicky about toothpick manufacturers springing up following tariffs that protect local manufacturers to get off the ground and compete globally.

Both papers only see negatives. Specifically, Economist dwells on out-of-date statistics. Deliberately it turns away from the positives as it will complicate already tailored narratives. Some foreign correspondents keep the storyline simple: Africa is home for all bad things: poverty, disease and crime. And unremitting bleakness lives on the continent, and success is the aberration.

Since only negative reports on Africa make it to the international media, a backward picture of a nation is painted succinctly and efforts at growth in different ramifications, both investment and diplomacy are ignored. From the content of these stories, readers must be baffled that Nigerians know toothpicks, let alone be able to manufacture them.

The fact remains that with squeeze in media budgets there are not enough knowledgeable foreign correspondents based on the continent to report accurate news and uphold journalistic standards. And the parachuting style clearly defies ethics and quality. To cut cost, many media houses rely on the expedience of technology. The highly revered and sacrosanct fact-checking skill of journalism slips as a result. Anyone with a laptop is trusted as credible source. Cogent arguments no longer have a place, instead we have jumbled and emotive criticisms.

For instance, the Financial Times declares proudly that President Buhari failed to spur rice growing, whilst stating that production was at record levels up 60 per cent in 2018 from what we had in 2013. The Economist talks about overdependence on oil, yet criticises policies such as subsidies or financial incentives that allow local businesses to compete and diversify the economy. It frowns at power shortfalls, but turns around to attack Alhaji Aliko Dangote – the man building the world’s largest oil refinery and improving power infrastructure in Nigeria.

Fundamentally, the foreign correspondents fail to appreciate context – understandably if they have to cover a large “patch’’ with shoe-string budgets, but never-the-less it is impermissible as facts must remain sacred. The Economist states that the economy was “sputtering’’ when President Buhari’s first term began in 2015, and still concluded he made a “bad situation worse”. “Sputtering’’ sounds euphemistic. The reality is that the economy was on its knees. The overdependence on oil, paired with impending global commodity crash, made the entry into recession at the beginning of the term inevitable. Now, however, the first quarter growth of 2019 has been the strongest.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently said analysts and onlookers must recognise “how deep the shock” was to the economy. As a famous American business magnate observed: “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked.” Indeed, Nigeria had been awash in oil dollars (over $100 a barrel), yet previous governments failed to add muscle to the economy.

Since the recession struck (crude oil went below $40 per barrel), the government has taken measures to redress weaknesses in our economy. The IMF goes on to praise the strong diversification in the economy and welcome the focus on public investment. For instance, the government has spent record figures on infrastructure in the past two years and capital expenditure is now around 30 per cent of the budget, rather than inadequate 10 per cent in 2015.

There has also been a drive to self-sufficiency where possible. It makes no sense for Nigeria to import rice, yet foreign shipments were dumped to maintain dependency. Farmers needed help: strategic tariffs were applied to allow for initial competition, whilst the Central Bank of Nigeria financial initiatives allowed growers to access capital for fertilizer and equipment. Over the past three years, production has risen year-on-year. Nigeria, as of 2018, is Africa’s largest producer of rice. Self-sufficiency has almost been attained.

From reading some foreign articles, you would be surprised to find these success stories mentioned; amazed that anyone would cheer the decision on tariffs to ward off desolation. And the failure to see or present any achievement perpetuates stereotypes that serve as disincentives to Foreign Direct Investment and partnership.

Granted, there are challenges in Nigeria. The country is a large and diverse nation with structural challenges that have been passed down through decades. But foreign reports ignore the complexity, and instead offer platitudes as solutions. This diminishes the difficulties facing those in governance: they must merely “stamp out corruption” or “improve governance” – common advice amongst those quick to criticise, but barren in tangible and measurable solutions.

Similarly, we are told to “harness the vim of Nigerians’’ – which is true. But this seems obvious as to even need mentioning. It is – to be sure – how you do that. We in governance have no illusion about this. Vim is harnessed when a nation has decent infrastructure that connects the economy, and thousands of miles of road have been constructed, as well as the expansion and upgrading of colonial-era railway network. When children have good education; we are currently ensuring 9 million free school meals daily across the nation and it has boosted enrolment and attendance. And when business reforms create enabling environment; already Nigeria has gone up 24 places in Ease of Doing Business ranking since 2018, and the country is currently one of the top 10 global reformers, which is good news!

Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media & Publicity.

Nwogwuwu, Arise TV MD, takes on Peterside over Oando forensic report

Ijeoma Nwogwuwu, the managing director of Arise TV, says it is disingenuous for Oando Plc. to say it was not aware of the forensic audit by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Speaking on the issue via Twitter, the former editor of THISDAY newspapers, said: “All this hue and cry about Oando not being privy to the forensic audit is disingenuous”.

“It is not possible for an auditor to undertake an audit, be it forensic or otherwise, without engaging the management of a company.”

Nwogwuwu, who was taking on Atedo Peterside, a shareholder in Oando Plc., said “even in situations where an auditor is appointed by a regulator, the auditor first informs the management of the company under investigation of its scope of work and requests for supporting documents and or information to make its findings”.

EID El-FITR EDITION OF THE PENDULUM
04/06/2019

Happy Eld El-Fitr to our moslem brothers and sisters,we thank Almighty Allah for the grace and opportunity witness the 2019 Ramadan fast,this is one of the command of Prophet Mohammed Peace Be Upon Him.

It is also one of the five pillars of is Islam that must be observed by every moslem.May Allah accept our ibada,Amen.

Yesterday Monday 3,2019 the SEC staff union did a lock down of its premisses on a perceived come back of Mounir Gwarzo the Suspended SEC DG.Recall that an Abuja High court passed a verdict in favour of the suspended DG and this judgment was affirmed by the Industrial court. The court "according to media, he should be reinstated and his entitlements paid to him.

When the case of the Industrial court was decided, the suspended DG was quick to write to the Minister of finance for reinstatement.By the time the Industrial court decided on the matter he then planned to stage a come back and assume office without a formal letter from the Ministry of Finance.

The action of the union on Monday 3, June 2019 was to stop the suspended DG who was planning a come back,from the feeders he was trying to come back and assume office after obtaining two separate court judgments in his favour.

The action of the union was to stop him from assuming duties without a formal letter from the Ministry.The case of Oteh was clear, she was suspended and an Ag. DG was appointed and when she was cleared by the Ministry a formal letter was written for her reinstatement. We expect same in the case of Gwarzo.

ACTION OF THE UNION

The union in ensuring that due process be followed,did a lock down of the entire premisses of SEC head quarters,all gates were under lock and key waiting for the arrival of the suspended DG who was planning a come back.

Even if the Gwarzo intended to resume and was informed of the lockdown the massage and signal has being sent. He should get a proper clearance for the Ministry and the gate will be open wide for him.

It was also unfortunate that the purported come of Gwarzo coincided with the decision of SEC management of Oando, the union made it categorically clear that there is no noxious between the union's action and Management decision on Oando.

By this, staff are to did abuse their mind of the news on social media that the SEC Management team sponsored the lockdown. This is purely a handy work of few individuals who are sympathisers and pro Gwarzo.The are those who are his close allies and members of his kitchen cabinet.The are sole beneficiaries of his foreign trips and contract award.We distance ourselves and call on staff to ignore them.The are sponsored and we have since identified them and we are watching them with kid gloves.

OUR DEMAND

Since the lock down was successful and the signal sent to the appropriate quarters,the union demand the following:

1. The judgments of the Appeal and Industrial court should be appealed by SEC and ICPC.

2. The report of the special Investigating Panel that indicted Gwarzo should be enforced.

3.In appealing the judgment,Medusa and Outbond should be the focus.

Comrade Nelson Olegeh ,Chairman Association Of Senior Civil Servant of Nigerian,SEC Branch

Oando: How SEC’s Big Stick Will Deter Infractions




It is no gain-saying the fact that adopting and operating in accordance with high standards of corporate governance is essential for a company's sustainable long-term growth, performance and value creation.



Good governance practices would promote the development of the capital market, weak corporate governance practices would also inhibit its development as it would erode confidence in the capital market with potential wider implications for the Nigerian financial markets and the general economy.



Corporate governance issues were at the heart of the market crisis in 2008.



It was therefore not surprising that the SEC has continued to wield the big stick by penalizing some companies especially for violating post listing requirements and other market infractions.



SEC has made a lot of efforts to promote good corporate governance practices and reposition the Nigerian capital market for development.



In April 2011, the SEC issued a new code of corporate governance to align governance in public institutions with global best practices.



The commission had raised the bar to strengthen its monitoring capacity, in order to address issues arising from various market infractions in the market.



The reaffirmed commitment by the regulator to do anything to compel operators in the market to obey the rules guiding it informed the decision to tighten the noose on market infractions and other miscellaneous capital market crimes.



The steps being taken by the Commission on the Oando issue is therefore not a surprise to capital market watchers.



Oando Nigeria Plc had been in the news since 2017 for allegations of breach of corporate governance and sharp dealings. Before the Annual General Meeting held on 11th September in Uyo, there was a petition before the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging a breach of corporate governance by the management of Oando.



The AGM was marred by protest from aggrieved shareholders, but eventually Wale Tinubu was returned as the Group Chief Executive Officer amidst a palpable atmosphere of cynicism. After the AGM, shareholders from different parts of the country expressed their grievances at different fora, including the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ibadan and the National Assembly, Abuja.



SEC had launched an investigation into the activity of Oando following the receipt of two petitions in 2017 from shareholders of the company, accusing the company of financial misappropriation.

The SEC has to step in to serve as deterrence to other public quoted companies that are either involved in breach of corporate governance or contemplating it.



As a validation of the allegations levelled against Oando Plc by the shareholders, on the 18th of October 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission released a circular in response to the petition written to it by Ansbury Incorporated. The regulatory body discovered among other things that Oando had breached the provisions of the Investments & Securities Act 2007. The company has also breached SEC Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies and also have discrepancies in its shareholding structure. It was discovered that there were suspected insider dealings with related party transactions not conducted at arm’s length.



Consequently, the body directed an immediate suspension of the trading of the company’s shares on the floor of the Nigerian stock Exchange. Also, the regulatory body has constituted a consortium of experts made up of auditors, lawyers, stockbrokers and registrars that will conduct a forensic audit on the company.



Based on the preliminary findings of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the forensic audit to be conducted can only ascertain the extent of the anomalies that have been uncovered in Oando. There is certainly no form of exoneration in sight. To further compound the woes of the company, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange suspended trading of Oando stocks until further notice.



Last Friday, the SEC announced that it has concluded investigation of Oando Plc and directed among others the immediate resignation of Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, his deputy, Omamofe Boyo and other directors of the company.



The apex regulator also barred the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (DGCEO) from being directors of public companies for a period of five (5) years.



The SEC further directed the convening of an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting on or before July 1, 2019, to appoint new directors.

These among others the SEC stated, are part of measures to address identified violations in the company.



According to the SEC, “Following the receipt of two petitions by the Commission in 2017, investigations were conducted into the activities of Oando Plc (a company listed on the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges).



“Certain infractions of Securities and other relevant laws were observed. The Commission further engaged Deloitte & Touche to conduct a Forensic Audit of the activities of Oando Plc.



“The general public is hereby notified of the conclusion of the investigations of Oando Plc. The findings from the report revealed serious infractions such as false disclosures, market abuses, misstatements in financial statements, internal control failures, and corporate governance lapses stemming from poor board oversight, irregular approval of directors’ remuneration, unjustified disbursements to directors and management of the company, related party transactions not conducted at arm’s length, amongst others”.



The SEC also directed the payment of monetary penalties by the company and affected individuals and directors, and refund of improperly disbursed remuneration by the affected Board members to the company.



As required under Section 304 of the Investments and Securities Act, (ISA) 2007, the Commission said it would refer all issues with possible criminality to the appropriate criminal prosecuting authorities.

In addition, the SEC stated that other aspects of the findings would be referred to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).



“The Commission is confident that with the implementation of the above directives and introduction of some remedial measures, such unwholesome practices by public companies would be significantly reduced.



“Therefore, in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to build strong institutions, Boards of public companies are enjoined to properly perform their fiduciary duties as required under extant securities laws” the statement added.



The Commission, as the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market, stated that it maintains its zero tolerance to market infractions, and reiterates its commitment to ensuring the fairness, integrity, efficiency and transparency of the securities market, thereby strengthening investor protection.



Late Sunday night, the SEC issued another statement appointing an interim management for the company.



SEC said in a statement, “Further to our press release on Oando Plc, dated May 31, 2019, the commission hereby informs the public of the constitution of an interim management team headed by Mr Mutiu Olaniyi Adio Sunmonu CON, to oversee the affairs of Oando Plc, and conduct an Extraordinary General Meeting on or before July 1, 2019, to appoint new directors to the board of the company, who would subsequently select a management team for Oando Plc.



“The commission wishes to reiterate its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the market.”



Commenting on the issue, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd. , said that the suspension of the duo would send signal to other managing directors and executives in the market.



Omordion said that the outcome of the forensic audit showed that SEC could bite and not only bark.



He said that the investing public had been calling for change in the company's management for a long time.



Omordion said that there would be santiy in the company when the new management takes over in July.



"Other companies and their directors will seat up seeing how Oando management and its directors ended up.



"SEC decision will further boost corporate governance and transparency in qouted companies at same time investors confidence going forward," Omordion stated.



He noted that the move would create an opportunity for discerning investors in the company with the coming of the new management.



Malam Shehu Mikail, National President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, expressed shareholders satisfaction to the commission's decision.



Mikali said that the ban would instil transparency and corporate governance in the nation's capital market.



The shareholder activist said that the outcome showed that nobody was above the law in the market.



He said that some companies had collapsed due to issue odu transparency and corporate governance.





Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, Shareholder Activist and CoFounder,Nigeria now "NOBLE" Shareholders Solidarity Association in 1985 said as a shareholder of Oando, he does not believe that the company was very clean with most of the reports it had published so far to her shareholders.





“I have been suspecting that some people been playing a bad and very dangerous games with most of the reports & accounts of the company,therefore l am not surprised at all with the result published and the sanction by SEC.





“Oando is two companies in one,it's an offshore/onshore oil company,yet every year in and out the annual report and accounts and dividends payments were nothing to commensurate the nature and size of the company.





“Check the performances of other companies in the same sector with that of Oando,then you will appreciate my point of view,that Oando is a great disgrace,disappointment and embarrassment to the corporate Nigeria,because no multinational company in it's shoe would have performed so badly like the management and board of Oando did,to be candid it was a dent to the Nigeria Corporate World.





Olatokunbo said the management and board of Oando had taken their shareholders for a very rough ride for too long,before the intervention by SEC adding that it would serve as deterrent to other companies in the same bad habit.

Press Release
 
SEC Concludes Oando Investigation: Bars Group CEO for Five Years

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has concluded investigation of Oando Plc and directed among others the resignation of the affected Board members, and also barred the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (DGCEO) of Oando Plc from being directors of public companies for a period of five (5) years.

The SEC also directed the convening of an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting on or before July 1, 2019, to appoint new directors.

These among others the SEC stated, are part of measures to address identified violations in the company.


According to the SEC, “Following the receipt of two petitions by the Commission in 2017, investigations were conducted into the activities of Oando Plc (a company listed on the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges).

“Certain infractions of Securities and other relevant laws were observed. The Commission further engaged Deloitte & Touche to conduct a Forensic Audit of the activities of Oando Plc.    

“The general public is hereby notified of the conclusion of the investigations of Oando Plc. The findings from the report revealed serious infractions such as false disclosures, market abuses, misstatements in financial statements, internal control failures, and corporate governance lapses stemming from poor board oversight, irregular approval of directors’ remuneration, unjustified disbursements to directors and management of the company, related party transactions not conducted at arm’s length, amongst others”.

The SEC also directed the payment of monetary penalties by the company and affected individuals and directors, and refund of improperly disbursed remuneration by the affected Board members to the company.

As required under Section 304 of the Investments and Securities Act, (ISA) 2007, the Commission said it would refer all issues with possible criminality to the appropriate criminal prosecuting authorities.

In addition, the SEC stated that other aspects of the findings would be referred to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The Commission is confident that with the implementation of the above directives and introduction of some remedial measures, such unwholesome practices by public companies would be significantly reduced.

“Therefore, in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to build strong institutions, Boards of public companies are enjoined to properly perform their fiduciary duties as required under extant securities laws” the statement added.

The Commission, as the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market, maintains its zero tolerance to market infractions, and reiterates its commitment to ensuring the fairness, integrity, efficiency and transparency of the securities market, thereby strengthening investor protection.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/forensic-audit-sec-sacks-bars-oando-ceo-deputy-for-5yrs/

Gwarzo regrets roles in contract award abuses at SEC- Panel
 
The suspended Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mallam Mounir Gwarzo, had expressed regret over some actions he took which constituted abuse of office while serving as Director General of the SEC.
                
Although he did not betray this emotion publicly over the months, fresh facts indicated that Gwarzo told the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up to investigate him over allegations of violations of public service Rules, Financial Regulations and other Extant Rules and Regulations that the letters written by him to GTBank as a director of the company while still holding public office as SEC’s DG was regrettable.
 
The embattled DG’s confessions and other findings were contained in the full report of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry sourced at the weekend by a team of crack investigative journalists.
 
Specifically, the panel was constituted to investigate Gwarzo on allegations that he collected severance package while still in office, served as director in Medusa Limited while in service in violation of PSR 030424 which prohibits public officers from holding office as director in private companies, used his position as DG of SEC to award contracts to Medusa wherein he was serving as director, thus resulting in conflict of interest, amongst others. 
 
One of the issues used by the panel to indict him was that Gwarzo awarded SEC’s contracts to companies owned by him and his wife’s family in flagrant disobedience of public service rules while in service. 
 
On his directorship position in Medusa Limited while still serving as DG, the report stated that inquiry made and documents obtained by the panel at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) indicated that Gwarzo was still a director of the company as well as a major shareholder with a shareholding of N1.2m as at the time of the search. 
 
This is even as the report showed that his purported letter of resignation dated 19th December 2012 was not part of CAC’s records as at the date of the inquiry. It was equally discovered from the account opening mandate obtained from GTBank that Gwarzo was at the date of the inquiry signatory to account No 322324264/1/110 maintained by the company with the bank.
 
The panel was also furnished with a letter dated 24th July, 2015, addressed to the bank signed by Gwarzo as director of the company requesting for a change of account Officer on the basis of a resolution passed and signed by the directors of the company to that effect.
 
The report also discovered that a letter dated 16th August, 2016 was signed by Gwarzo as a director of the company requesting for the issuance of a credit card in relation to the said account.
 
The report stated that “when Gwarzo was confronted with the above letters, he admitted to have authored and signed them, but claimed that it was a regrettable action.”
 
On Outbound Investments Limited which benefitted in contacts awarded by SEC to the tune of N33,736,596, Gwarzo claimed that the company belongs to his wife’s family and that he was only representing his wife on the Board.
 
Based on the confession, the panel opined that Gwarzo’s status as director in both Medusa Investment Limited and Outbound Investment Limited while still serving as SEC’s DG had raised and established a fundamental issue of conflict of interest against him.
 
Based on the gravity of the findings by the Panel, it was recommended that Gwarzo be directed to refund the sum of N104,851,154.94 which he allegedly collected as severance package.
 
In addition, the Panel also recommended his dismissal from the public service for holding the position of a Director in private companies while in service as the DG of SEC in breach of PSR 030424 and Section 6 of the Investment and Securities Act 2007.

How Gwarzo used Own Companies for contracts in SEC- Report

Fresh facts have emerged on how suspended Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Mounir Gwarzo
Awarded contracts to companies owned by him and his wife’s family in flagrant disobedience of public service rules.

These and others were contained in Administrative Panel of Inquiry into allegations of violations of public service Rules, Financial Regulations and other Extant Rules and Regulations was set up by the Honourable Minster of Finance to investigate the propriety of the allegations and come up with recommendations.

The Terms of Reference of the Panel include to investigate allegations against Gwarzo that he collected severance package in the sum of N104,851,154.94 while still in service, served as director in Medusa Limited while in public service in violation of PSR 030424 which prohibits public officers from holding office as director in private companies, used his position as DG of SEC to award contracts to Medusa wherein he was serving as director , thus resulting in conflict of interest.

Another allegation was that he expended about N2 billion without appropriation contrary to extant financial regulations among others.

In the report, the panel among others found that the severance package paid to Gwarzo was wrongly collected since he did not exit the services of the SEC and recommended that he refunds the amount.

On the second allegation of Gwarzo’s directorship in Medusa Limited while still serving as DG, the report stated that inquiry made and documents obtained by the panel at the Corporate Affairs Commission revealed that Gwarzo was still a director of the company as well as a major shareholder with a shareholding of N1.2m as at the time of the search

“His purported letter of resignation dates 19th December 2012 was not part of CAC’s records as at the date of the inquiry l. It was equally discovered from the account opening mandate obtained from GTBank that Gwarzo was at the date of the inquiry signatory to account No 322324264/1/110 maintained by the company with the bank.

The panel was also furnished with a letter dated 24th July, 2015, addressed to the bank signed by Gwarzo as director of the company requesting for a change of account Officer on the basis of a resolution passed and signed by the directors of the company to that effect.

The report indicated that also discovered was a letter dated 16th August , 2016 signed by Gwarzo as a director of the company requesting for the issuance of a credit card in relation to the said account.

“When Gwarzo was confronted with the above letters, he admitted to have authored and signed them, but claimed that it was a regrettable action” the report stated .

On Outbound Investments Limited which benefitted in contacts awarded by SEC to the tune of N33,736,596, in which Gwarzo is a director and shareholder, he claimed the company belongs to his wife’s family and stated that he was only representing his wife on the Board.

Based on revelations, the panel opined that Gwarzo’s status as director in both Medusa Investment Limited and Outbound Investment Limited while in post as Director General of SEC has raised and established a fundamental issue of conflict of interest against him.
Specifically, the PSR 030424 expressly states that Public officers are not prohibited from holding shares in both public and private companies operating in Nigeria or abroad except that they must not be directors in public companies and may only be directors in public companies if nominated by government.

Further more, Section 6 of the Investment and Securities Act 2007
States as follows: the Director General and the Fill Time Commissioners shall devote their full time to the service of the Commission and while holding office, shall not hold any other office or employment except where appointed by virtue of their office in the Commission into the membership of the Board of any agency of the Government in Nigeria or any International Organisation to which the Commission is a member of in affiliate”.

Given his directorship in both companies, the panel opined that Gwarzo was in breach of PSR 030424 and PSR 030402 ( divides loyalty, which is classified as an act of serious misconduct).

The panel also opined that being a shareholder of Outbound Investment Limited, Gwarzo used his position as DG to influence the award of contracts to the company which amounts to conflict of interest.

On the issue of Golden handshake, the panel said Gwarzo violated the provisions of Paragraphs 313 and 316 (4) of the Financial Regulations by not seeking the authorisation of the Minister of Finance before engaging in extra budgetary expenditure and virement.

Based on the gravity of the findings by the Panel, It was refommmenrd that Gwarzo be directed to refund the sum of N104,851,154.94 which he allegedly collected as severance package, secondly, the panel recommended that Gwarzo be dismissed from the Public Service of the Federal Government for holding the position of a Director in private companies while in service as the DG of SEC in breach of PSR 030424 and Section 6 of the Investment and Securities Act 2007.

The panel ask recommended that Gwarzo be referred to the ICPC for further investigation of the allegation of using his position as DG to influence the award of contracts to Outbound Investment Limited in view of the Provisions of Sections 58 (12) (b) and 58 (5) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

They also recommended Gwarzo’s dismissal from Public Service in relation to the allegation of Golden handshake having breached paragraphs 313 and 316 (4) of the Financial Regulations (Government Notice No. 291 of 27th October, 2009) ( engaging in extra budgetary expenditure without appropriate approval).

Now in the last 60 days Gwarzo has being on the pages of the papers winning cases that was poorly prosecuted by ICPC lawyers.

He won in the tribunal & now industrial court.

They keep presenting only the issue of severance package.

But sincerely, members of SEC know that he was indicted by the special panel of inquiry whose report was push under the carpet.

The report of the committee alone is enough to send him to Jail. Yet, none was presented.

What lawyers are doing to justice kills our system daily.

https://punchng.com/court-nullifies-gwarzos-suspension-as-sec-dg/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

PMB's second term: Ain't no stopping us now, we're on the move

By FEMI ADESINA

Those who were young (men-about-town) in the 80s will remember the 1979 hit track by McFadden & Whitehead, titled Ain't no stopping us now. The lyrics goes thus:

Ain't no stopping us now!
We're on the move!
Ain't no stopping us now!
We've got the groove!

And if you ponder and reflect on the political journey of President Muhammadu Buhari, right from 2003, when he threw his hat into the ring, till now, there have been spirited attempts to stop him. It got to a head in the build up to the 2019 elections, when a pernicious confederacy was put together, all to stop Nigeria's inexorable march to greatness. It failed, resoundingly.
On Wednesday, May 29, 2019, President Buhari will take oath for second term in office. Millions of good Nigerians will be delirious with joy, but some other significant minority would be in 'sifia' (severe) pains. Why? Ain't no stopping Muhammadu Buhari, he's on the move! The man will get his groove, and evildoers will be in trouble.

The combat between light and darkness, evil and good, has been an eternal one. Some people love darkness more than light, because it is under the cover of darkness that they thrive, luxuriating in their evil acts: grand larceny, plunder, killings, and others. So, they will never love the Mai Gaskiya (the honest man), and would do everything to stop him, or pull him down.
The efforts to stop Buhari have been robust, pulsating. After a reputation of honesty and probity as military governor, petroleum minister, member of the Supreme Military Council, his colleagues found no one better to wear the diadem as military head of state than the ramrod straight man from Daura. And he began to reset the foundations of Nigeria, knocking sense into the heads of the corrupt and those prone to indiscipline. It was no longer business as usual.
But the dream run lasted only 20 months, before they truncated it. The landlords of Nigeria struck, and stopped Buhari. Up in smoke went probity and accountability. Discipline flew out through the window. And we went back to a place worse than square one.
The man came back as a reformed democrat. He sought to be president in 2003, 2007, and 2011. But those in mortal fear of righteousness in high places banded together, and stopped him. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had perfected the art of elections manipulation, and they used it to the hilt.

However, in 2015, there ain't no more stopping Buhari. A massive coalition for change was built around him, and good Nigerians stood up for the champion. Did he live happily ever after? Not on your lives! The adversaries went after him. Ran, pursued, and attempted to overtake. All sorts of things, physical and spiritual, were thrown at him, just to get rid of the man who would not steal, and not allow people to steal.
A debilitating illness came. And for most of 2017, the President was receiving medical attention, both at home and abroad. Instead of goodwill and prayers, they were rejoicing. We've finally stopped him, they gloated. But did they? Could they? Not if God was still alive.

Ain't no stopping Buhari, as in August 2017, he got back his groove. His health rebounded, and he resumed work fully.

But would Pharaoh desist from pursuing Israel? No. He was destined to perish in a watery grave, so he pursued Israel into the sea. They formed what they called a coalition, vowing that they would stop Buhari from winning the 2019 elections. This was after letters had flown around from the master letter writer, virtually commanding the President to dismount from the horse. That letter writer thinks he's the landlord of Nigeria, as anybody he moved against never survived. He felt he could enthrone and dethrone leaders at will. But the Yoruba people say it's the day that the witch kills twins that she stops eating meat. The letter writer bit more than he could chew, and it stuck in his throat. He formed a political coalition, it collapsed right in his face. He first adopted a political party to use in his bid to unseat the incumbent, then in act of utter confusion, he abandoned that new party, and went for candidate of the PDP.

The same man he had spent the past 10 years destroying, writing volumes and volumes of verbiage against, he now attempted to sell to Nigerians. Were we fools?

See the grand conspiracy by those who called themselves 'Atikulators.' They included former presidents, some retired military top brass, disgruntled senior civil servants, business people, preachers, and the elite, generally. The sluice gates of free funds had been slammed shut, and they were unhappy. As dolorous as King Lear at his worst.

The letter writer mobilized the international community, feeding them with misinformation and disinformation. Fulanization. Islamization, and other creepy concoctions. He was already addressing the PDP candidate as "my incoming President." Oh, how so very easy to build castles in the air!

Marabouts, witches, wizards, and false prophets masquerading as pastors, bishops, and archbishops also joined the fray. They began to spew falsehood, which they attributed to God. He that sits in Heaven just laughed at them, and held them in utter derision.
All those who were on the wrong side of the law joined the conspiracy. Ex-this, ex-that, who had abused their offices, and were being made to answer questions, crept under the umbrella. They knew if their man won, their cases would die natural deaths. So, for them, it was a matter of life and death.

They came with spurious political permutations and calculations. Votes in North-west and North-east would be shared. They would sweep North-central, where they had spent the last two years trying to demonize and de-market Buhari and his political party. South-west would also be shared, and then, they would win South-east and South-south wholesale. It seemed foolproof on paper, particularly when you also throw in massive vote buying, hacking of all the hackables, and a complicit judiciary as Plan B. They were already planning how to sell Nigeria, and tell the poor to go to hell.

But they didn't reckon with the staying power of the poor and the downtrodden. They are people who know where their bread would be buttered, and where their future happiness lay. In their millions, they trooped out to vote for the honest man. They chose light, instead of darkness. At the end of it all, about four million votes separated the men from the boys.

The man left holding the short end of the stick went to court, claiming some servers from George Orwell's sugar candy mountain, gave him victory. It's within his democratic rights. Ain't no stopping Buhari now, he's on the move!

In recent weeks, banditry, killings, murder and mayhem have suffused the length and breadth of the country. Everything appears orchestrated, choreographed, to achieve certain ends. The law enforcement agencies are pointing fingers in certain directions. But Nigerians want them to do more. Pull in the evildoers, and let them face the law. That is what President Buhari tells them at each Security Council meeting, too. And we will get there. Soon and very soon, because we've got the groove. When the ram runs, its testicles dangle furiously from side to side. But no matter what, the testicles can never fall off. Nigeria will remain united, despite all machinations of the evil ones.

In that song by McFadden & Whitehead, you have these lines:
There's been so many things that's held us down,
But now it looks like things are finally comin' round.
Yes. Things are coming round for Nigeria. We will get to where we are headed. Our fair havens, land flowing with milk and honey. The crooked and corrupt won't ever stop us, nor would they rule us again, and the wealth of Nigeria will be used for the good of Nigerians. Ain't no stopping us now, we're on the move!

Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

Rabiyat Usman emerges 2019 LeaderCom winner

Friday, April 26, 2019


A Researcher with Daily Trust Newspaper, Miss Rabiyat Usman, has emerged winner of the 2019 LeaderCom award

LeaderCom is a platform that develops person’s ability to communicate and present his or her ideas, passion, wisdom, experience and knowledge in effective and powerful ways.

The LeaderCom event with a theme, “My Journey, my truth”, attracted 11 trainers and 27 participants across the country who applied through social media to contest presentation of leadership ideas.

Usman, a first class graduate of Computer Science from Rhema University in Aba, Abia State, came out tops, among the 12 finalists that emerged from the 27 participants.

Miss Atuzie Tuzzi, the Lead Manager of TRT-Events, emerged the first Runner-up while Miss Nendirmwa Malafa, Programme Officer of Yali-Network Lagos Hub, was the 2nd Runner-up.

The 5-day event was organised by two Non Governmental Organisations: ServeLead Global and Social Good Fund.

Speaking during the presentation of awards, Rabiyat Usman, called on youths to exploit social media to improve their artistic and technological knowledge.

She said that social media could be gainfully used to direct the attention of youths into positive things that would promote self-reliance.

Usman explained that she applied to participate in the event through social media, saying that “the social media afford us the opportunity to always talk about what we are passionate about.

“If there is something you want to speak about, it enables you to communicate your idea to make people understand you clearly.

“We are all contributing to make Nigeria a better place. If we all express our passion on social media, we can help to proffer solution to problems of the society.

“This is not limited to young people in Nigeria alone, but the world at large.”

Miss Tuzzi described the social media as a platform that could enable users create and share contents or to participate in social networking.

She defined social media as the best way in connecting conversation to change people across for better, globally.

“I am a regular user of social media; the claim by some young people to always use social media without positive impact on their life is false.

“If you go about social media with ulterior motive that becomes an individual issue; if you do that you will have a work space problem.

“I do not have an office but I rely mostly on social media platforms to get jobs; young people imbibing the use of social media to their advantage to become self-reliant,“ Tuzzi said.

Miss Malafa said that the social media could enable young people to achieve desired goals.

She urged young people to always engage the social media with objective to acquire requisite knowledge that could improve their well being.

“The perception by people in some parts of the country to think that social media corrupts young people is wrong.

“Social media can help to showcase the potential of young people globally”.

OZEKHOME: FANNING THE EMBERS OF DISUNITY AND SUBJUGATION OF IGBO RACE

By FEMI ADESINA

On February 27, 2019, lawyer and activist, Mike Ozekhome, wrote a piece under the headline, 'Buhari's skewed view of the Igbo race.'

On face value, the piece seemed to advocate the cause of the Igbo race, but a dispassionate analysis shows it for what it truly is: drivel meant to incite the Igbo against the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and further inflame passions that would pedestal the ethnic nationality against the rest of the federation. Ozekhome appeared to be a friend to our brothers and sisters across the Niger, but in actual fact, he was a ravenous wolf in sheep's clothing. Shakespeare describes such as "goodly apple but rotten at the cheek."

It is always so very easy to claim that Nigeria is disunited, while at the same time be a purveyor of hatred and discord. What Ozekhome did was simply to fan the embers of hatred, bile and disunity, playing the Igbo against the rest of the country, while appearing to be their friend. Well, it is not surprising, as the Good Book tells us that even Satan has a way of appearing like an angel of light, to deceive and beguile the unwary.

The verbose and bombastic article (make it simple, is one of the principles of good communication) is filled with half truths, outright falsehood, and vitriol, all to ensure that the Igbo nation sees President Buhari as its arch enemy. It is example of an outsider weeping more than the bereaved.

Lawyer Ozekhome has a right to his political persuasion, which is also very well known. He is a friend of that rent seeking political class, which is fast becoming endangered species in Nigeria today. Under President Buhari, it is becoming crystal clear by the day that the political breed that the lawyer loves is becoming a vanishing sect. And that breed may never control the levers of power, and the purse strings of the country again. What grief for lawyers that thrive better under such circumstances!

See a portion of the acerbic piece that betrayed Ozekhome's political preference: "It was enough that President Jonathan had been sacrificed and booted out of office by APC and its international collaborators, led by the US, UK and EU. These are the same countries the very government is now tagging meddlesome interlopers in our internal affairs."

So, after all, the piece was not about love for the Igbo nation. At the substratum level is love for the free spending Goodluck Jonathan administration that frittered away the commonwealth of the country, looting everything from the Federation Account, to Excess Crude Oil Account, central bank, and the foreign reserves. Some lawyers possibly made a killing under such laissez faire atmosphere, and wished it had lasted forever. But here's the truth for Ozekhome: the Jonathan administration is gone, and gone forever. Nigerians are not likely to ever afflict themselves with such squander-mania again. Those who long for the onions, garlic and cucumber of Egypt had better accept the fact that we have left the land of servitude forever. We are now almost in Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, and there's no turning back.

Ozekhome described the February 23 presidential election as "complete murder of democracy and electoral process by the Buhari government." Really? Millions of Nigerians don't think so. Rather, the day of the election goes down in history as one in which bloody nose was given to the confederacy of wheeler dealers that wanted to seize the public treasury again, and make a mess of it. However, the people said a resounding no. It pains the lawyer and his ilk to the marrows. But not to worry, he can still make some fast bucks from the community of senior lawyers being assembled by Atiku Abubakar in a futile bid to regain a 'mandate' which never existed in the first place.

The Agenebode, Edo State born lawyer merely used the Igbo nation as a smokescreen to display his angst against the Buhari administration. Hear what he wrote about the Igbo in respect of the February 23 election: "However, notwithstanding the militarized process and disenfranchisement of many Nigerians, the Ndigbo people tenaciously stood their ground as a proud race. They clearly rejected Buhari through the ballot box." True? False. What about the Igbo that gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari more than the required 25 % in Abia, Imo and Ebonyi states? Are they not members of the ethnic nationality again? Does Ozekhome think Atiku Abubakar, or anybody else, would ever become Nigerian president by just locking down two geo-political zones out of the six in the country? It will never happen. They are the ones that fooled the old political war horse into believing that he was already president before the first ballot was cast. Soon, they will leave the man in the lurch, and look for economic benefits somewhere else. But they should never forget that the days of free money are gone in Nigeria. Yes, you can still get quite wealthy in this country, but you must work for it. And hard, too.

Ozekhome gave himself away as a typical person that speaks from both sides of the mouth. He said President Buhari did not visit Anambra State till he found the need to go for political campaign, first in the gubernatorial election of 2017, and the recent presidential race. You never can win with some people. Head or tail, you lose. They can cavil, and live permanently at the complaint counter of life. The president visits a state, he is criticized. He doesn't visit, he is excoriated. The best thing is just to ignore the professional complainers, and do what you think is right.

Pretending to love the Igbos, while inciting them to what may tantamount to political doomsday, the lawyer said President Buhari never attended the burials of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe, and Dr Alex Ekwueme. Some people make political capital out of everything, including shedding crocodile tears at burial ceremonies, but not Muhammadu Buhari. We all know what he did when Dr Ekwueme took gravely ill, and he arranged medical evacuation by air ambulance abroad. The government also footed the medical bill. The state burial was attended by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. So impressed was the Igbo nation that a high powered delegation came to the presidential villa to say thank you. Yet, a man from Agenebode, pretending to love the Igbo more than themselves, is playing cheap politics with burial ceremonies.

See this pettiness about the mausoleum of the great Zik, which had been abandoned before the Buhari administration completed it: "He was in Onitsha to commission his only project and 'federal presence' since 2015, the repainted grave tomb of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa) whose burial obsequies he had also shunned in 1991."

If Ozekhome had been less consumed by hatred, he would have realized the deep friendship that existed between the then Gen Buhari, and Zik's son, Bamidele. They were so close that the latter played host to Buhari many times in Onitsha.

Bile and 'bad belle' also led the lawyer to describe the magnificent mausoleum as 'repainted grave tomb.' This was a project that Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, personally supervised, and delivered in grand manner. But Ozekhome probably has not been to Onitsha, and does not even know the road to the city. That's why he calls it a repainted tomb. Yes, the horse of an adversary is never tall. If it stands at over six feet, the enemy says 'oh, see this dwarf horse.' Hatred blinds. Animosity addles the mind, and poisons the soul.

Sometime last year, Federal Government unveiled about 69 projects currently being executed in the South-east alone, including the Second Niger Bridge, roads, other bridges, electrification, and many others. But people like Ozekhome would not see it, as they would rather chase briefs in Ekiti State under Ayo Fayose, for which they got humongous legal fees. God dey!

In the Good Book, wise men came from the East to see the holy child, Jesus. Wise men still abound in the eastern part of Nigeria. They know what pertains to their peace, and they voted wisely on February 23. The Igbo must inevitably produce the President of Nigeria. But that eventuality will not come by listening to hate preachers like Mike Ozekhome. We have seen how hate preachers from the pulpit failed resoundingly in the presidential election. Hate preachers from the bar will also fail, and no mistake. You can only be president when you build a coalition round the country, and not by circumscribing yourself in two regions. That, at best, can only give you a clan head.

.Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

Enough Is Enough of the Impunity in Lagos

With news of the moves to impeach Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, there is no doubt that the future of our beloved Lagos State is at stake.
For the first time since 1999, Lagos is entering the second month of a new year without an approved budget. There are several completed projects awaiting commissioning, and several more ongoing ones that are being slowed down.
This petition is by concerned people of Lagos State. The cabals behind the continued harassment and embarrassment of outgoing Governor Ambode need to be opposed, and told enough is enough.
This is starting to look like a throwback to the days of President Obasanjo, when unfair and illegal impeachment actions brought Governors down, just because they were not in the good books of their godfathers.
This is not about taking sides in the politics of Lagos, or about being a fan of the APC, or about Governor Ambode. It is simply about ensuring any semblance of governance of Lagos State is preserved.
When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The good people of Lagos have had enough. Enough of impunity in Lagos State.
Governor Ambode has been denied a chance of reelection, but he should be left to fulfil the promises he has made to the people of Lagos: infrastructure, healthcare, education, housing, environment and jobs.
Lagos deserves better. That’s all we are asking for, that’s why we are asking concerned and passionate Lagosians to sign this petition.

https://www.change.org/p/lagos-state-house-of-assembly-enough-is-enough-of-the-impunity-in-lagos

Sunday, January 20, 2019

PRESS STATEMENT BY APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

ON

ATIKU’S CLANDESTINE VISIT TO THE U.S

In our press release issued on Sunday, December 30, 2018, titled “WHEN THE THIEF IS SHOUTING THIEF”: THE CASE OF ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR”, we correctly predicted as follows: “By running for President of Nigeria, Atiku intends to get some immunity from prosecution. Already he is hoping to obtain a visa to visit the US, as a guest of the State department, a concession that the US will grant to a Presidential candidate of Africa’s biggest Nation”.

Therefore, we were not surprised by his visit to the U.S. For us, this visit is really a non-event considering the issues involved in the forthcoming election. However, we have bad news for those who think this is a momentous event for Atiku Abubakar: the visit was nothing but a downright catastrophe because rather than dispel the fact of indictments hanging over his head, it further confirms and reinforces those facts for the following reasons:

(1) The visit had all the trappings of a fugitive sneaking into America under a “special diplomatic waiver”. For the candidate of the major opposition party in Nigeria, it is an absolute disaster that the visit was not announced ahead of time in Nigeria, with his programmes and itinerary clearly spelt out, the decent and customary minimum standard of such visits. This culminated in his close aides issuing conflicting statements about the visit when he was already on his way there. In fact, one of them called Paul Ibe actually spoke to the Press that his principal was nowhere near America! Such was the secrecy of the planning and execution of that visit.

(2) It is shameful that a presidential candidate of a major opposition party in Africa’s most populous country would visit America, and the international press was kept in the dark: There was NO SINGLE press conference with the array of international media and correspondents required for such ‘high-profile’ visit. Atiku knows he has no moral stamina to withstand the avalanche of hard questions bordering on his sordid past in America. In fact, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claims he visited the Voice of America (VOA) but only did two carefully-packaged interviews with the Hausa service and the English to Africa program - platforms that have always been available to him back home. How strange! In fact, both the Twitter handle (@VOANews) and official website of VOA did not mention any such visit of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to their station. For news hounds, you would agree with us that such an ‘important personality’ cannot walk into a news premises without reporters swooping on him. Whatever he went to do in the premises of the VOA must have been a carefully-arranged private visit for the photo-ops, which was intended to scam Nigerians. What more evidence do we need of a “sneak-in-sneak-out” arrangement than this?.

(3) For a candidate who claims he wants to “get Nigeria working again” (a meaningless phrase) to sneak into America without meeting major players in private businesses is a curiosity and an indication that we are dealing with a candidate with a dodgy and questionable character. He claims he went to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, which is supposed to be a business federation. Again, the Twitter handle (@USChamber) and the website of the organization make no mention of the visit of such an ‘important personality’ to them. Maybe their famous American lobbyist on a salary of N9million per month can help them ‘do something’ about this after this press statement.

(4) It is also an anomaly that the candidate of the major opposition party in Nigeria sneaked into America and did not meet large sections of political leaders of similar ideologies and persuasions towards which he claims to be inclined. For all his claim to be going to America to meet “U.S Government officials”, he only succeeded in meeting a certain “Congressman Smith”, who is the equivalent of a member of the House of Representatives in Nigeria. You would agree with us that as dignified and respected as the office of a Member of the House of Representatives is, an important personality cannot come to Nigeria on an official visit and claim he has met the “Nigerian government officials” after he pays a private visit to that Member. For all we know, the Congressman Smith may just be a private friend of Dr. Bukola Saraki or Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. That reminds us of Atiku’s famous legislator friend he threw under the bus, Williams Jefferson, who taught us how to hide laundered money ( which was meant for Atiku Abubakar) in the deep freezer when the cops came knocking on his door!

In all, it is very obvious now that the so-called American trip was a desperate trip for photo-ops. Throughout the trip, Atiku Abubakar looked cagey, frightened and on edge. We note the close support always provided by Senate President Bukola Saraki like a comforting guardian angel. The visit and arrangements smack of things local yahoo yahoo boys do to scam their victims. It is utterly disgusting and puerile that it has been brought into a serious political contest.

Rather than being the highpoint of his campaign, the American visit is indeed the lowest watermark of Atiku Abubakar’s campaign. It was a political and P.R disaster. The statements he released from there only to the Nigerian Press back home that he intends to alienate other countries and do business with the U.S is actually the antithesis to our policy of non-alignment.

For the information of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his handlers, Nigerians know that Nigeria is already working again for everyone and not for a few. As confirmed by him in a town-hall meeting a few days before his disastrous trip to the U.S, he said he wants to “get Nigeria working again” only for few of his friends who he claims he wants to make rich. If he cannot get them rich now from his private businesses, it is obvious that he is referring to the use of public funds to make his friends rich. Nigerians should judge for themselves whether this is the type of President they want.

Finally, whoever advised Atiku Abubakar to undertake that trip to America just destroyed his entire campaign and exposed him for who he is – a questionable character who has continued to leave huge questions over his suitability for the highest office of the land and as such cannot be trusted by the Nigerian people.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director, Strategic Communications,
APC Presidential Campaign Council.
(Official Spokesperson).

*Buhari Administration Projects in North West Nigeria

1. Construction of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Highway. The project is being funded by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), established by President Buhari in 2018 to fund critical infrastructure projects. (ongoing)

2. Dualisation of Kano–Wudil–Shuari section of Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States. (Section I) (ongoing)

3. Dualisation of Kano–Katsina Road Phase I, Kano Town (Dawanau roundabout to Katsina border in Kano) (ongoing)

4. Completed 135km Sokoto–Tambuwal–Jega Road.

5. Construction of Kano Western Bypass, as an extension of dualisation of Kano–Maiduguri Road Section I (ongoing)

6. Construction of Kaduna Eastern Bypass, Kaduna (ongoing)

7. Construction of Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Kano (ongoing)

8. Completed Sabke Water Supply Project, Katsina State

9. Completed Shagari Irrigation Project, Sokoto State

10. Completed Galma Dam, Kaduna State.

11. Energizing Education Programme, an initiative of the FGN to provide sustainable and clean power supply to Federal Universities and University Teaching Hospitals across Nigeria, is being implemented in the Bayero University–New Campus, Kano; and the Usmanu Danfodiyo University–Main Campus, Sokoto

12. Transmission Infrastructure (completed):

a. 60MVA Transformer in Dan Agundi Substation, Kano

b. 2X60MVA Transformer in Kakuri Substation, Kaduna

c. 60MVA Transformer in Katsina Substation

d. 40MVA Mobile Substation at Zaria, Kaduna State, added capacity 32MW (2017)

e. 2x40MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Daura, Katsina State, added capacity 64MW (2017)

f. 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Hadejia, Jigawa State, added capacity 48MW (2017)

g. 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Funtua, Katsina State, added capacity 48MW (2017)

h. 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Sokoto, Sokoto State, added capacity 48MW (2016)

13. Social Investment Programme:

a. 95,900 N-Power Beneficiaries across the seven States of the North West.

b. School Feeding currently ongoing in 5 States of the North West: Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto

14. Sabon Gari and Kantin Kwari Market Electrification Projects: The Federal Government is implementing its Energizing Economies Programme, which will bring stable and reliable electricity to the 13,000 shops in Sabon Gari Market, and 7,700 shops in Kantin Kwari Market, both in Kano.

15. Construction of 215MW Kaduna Power Plant, Kaduna (ongoing)

16. Construction of 10MW Katsina Wind Power Plant, Katsina: (As of Q1 2018, 15 of the 37 turbines had been installed and put to use, producing about 4MW).



*Buhari Administration Projects in North East Nigeria

1. Dualisation of Shuarin-Azare section of Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe (Section II) (ongoing)

2. Dualisation of Azare–Potiskum section of Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States. (Section III) (ongoing)

3. Dualisation of Potiskum–Damaturu section of Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States. (Section IV) (ongoing)

4. Dualisation of Damaturu–Maiduguri section of Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States. (Section V) (ongoing)

5. Reconstruction of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road, ongoing (Gombe-Kaltungo section completed)

6. Reconstruction of 122km Mayo Belwa-Jada-Ganye-Toungo Road, commenced in 2018

7. Construction of 40MW Kashimbila Dam & Hydro Power Plant, Taraba State (Dam and Power Plant completed; construction of transmission infrastructure to connect the plant to the national grid ongoing)

8. Construction of 29MW Dadin Kowa Hydro Power Plant, Gombe State (ongoing)

9. Completed Takum Water Supply Project, Taraba State

10. Construction of 3,050MW Mambilla Power Plant, Taraba State ($5.8 billion EPC contract awarded and signed in 2017; negotiations for the financing by the China Exim Bank ongoing)

11. Energizing Education Programme, an initiative of the FGN to provide sustainable and clean power supply to Federal Universities and University Teaching Hospitals across Nigeria, is being implemented in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University — Gubi Campus, Bauchi

12. Transmission Infrastructure (ongoing):

a. 330/132KV Molai Transmission Substation in Maiduguri completed and energized in 2018

b. 330/132KV Damaturu Transmission Substation in Yobe State completed and energized in 2018

c. 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Bauchi, Bauchi State, added capacity 48MW (2017)

d. 40MVA Mobile Substation at Damboa, Borno State, added capacity 32MW (2017)

e. 28/40MVA Mobile Substation at Mayo Belwa, Adamawa State, added capacity 22.4/32MW (2017)

f. 30/40MVA Mobile Substation at Gombe, Gombe State, added capacity 24MW (2017)

13. Social Investment Programme:

a. 74,000 N-Power Beneficiaries across the six States of the North East.


b. School Feeding currently ongoing in all 6 States of the North East: Bauchi, Taraba, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Adamawa.


*Buhari Administration Projects in North Central Nigeria

Construction of Oju/Loko–Oweto bridge over​ ​River Benue to link Loko (Nasarawa state) and Oweto (Benue state) along route F2384 (almost completed)

2. Dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road section I (International Airport link road junction​–Sheda Village) (ongoing)

3. Dualisation of Suleja–Minna Road in Niger State Phase II (ongoing)

4. Dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road: Section IV Koton Karfe–Lokoja in Kogi State (ongoing)

5. Dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana–Okene in Kogi State (ongoing)

6. Rehabilitation of Enugu–Makurdi Road: Otukpa-Otukpo Section completed, work ongoing on Otukpa-Enugu/Benue Border, and on Otukpo-Aliade section.

7. Construction of Otukpo-Oweto Road (almost completed)

8. Completed construction of 93km Ilorin-Jebba Road, (completed in 2018)

9. Dualisation of Abuja–Keffi–Lafia–Makurdi Road (ongoing)

10. Rehabilitation of Suleja-Minna Road (ongoing)

11. Construction of Nigeria’s Central Rail Line (Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Standard Gauge Line), spanning Kogi, Edo and Delta States. Tracks and Communications systems completed, Station Construction ongoing.

12. Completed rehabilitation of the Abuja International Airport Runway, and construction of new Abuja International Airport Terminal.

13. Completed the abandoned Bill Clinton Drive Interchange Bridge along the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road (Airport Road), in the FCT.

14. Construction of Apo–Wasa–Karshi Dual Carriageway, part of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) in the FCT (ongoing)

15. Construction of the Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Way) in the FCT (ongoing — some sections have been completed and opened in the last three years).

16. Completed Mangu Regional Water Supply Scheme, in Plateau State

17. Completed Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi Water Supply Project, Benue State

18. Construction of 30MW Gurara Power Plant, Niger State (ongoing)

19. Construction of 700MW Zungeru Hydro Power Plant, Niger State (ongoing; completion target of 2020)

20. Transmission Grid (ongoing):

a. A $12.4 million project funded by the Japanese Government for the upgrading (installation of power capacitor banks) of two Transmission Sub-Stations, in Apo, FCT and Keffi, Nasarawa, respectively, to stabilize power supply to 7,000 households. The project commenced in 2016 and was completed in 2018.

b. 150MVA 330/132//33KV Power Transformers at Kanji (Fakun), Niger State, added capacity 120MW (2016)

c. 2x60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Lokoja, Kogi State, added capacity 96MW (2016)

d. 1460MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Kontagora, Niger State, added capacity 48MW 92016)

e. 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Okene, Kogi State, added capacity 48MW (2016)

f. 2x40MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Kainji (Dogon Gari), Niger State, added capacity 64MW (2016)

g. 2x60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Kukuaba, FCT Abuja, added capacity 96MW (2017)

h. 60MVA Transformer in Karu Substation, FCT

21. Energizing Education Programme, an initiative of the FGN to provide sustainable and clean power supply to Federal Universities and University Teaching Hospitals across Nigeria, is being implemented in the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue

22. Social Investment Programme:

a. 98,700 N-Power Beneficiaries across the seven States of the North Central.

b. School Feeding currently ongoing in 3 States of the North Central: Benue, Niger and Plateau.


*Buhari Administration Projects in South West Nigeria

1. Rehabilitation and Expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: The project is now being funded by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) established by President Buhari in 2018 to fund critical infrastructure projects (ongoing)

2. Rehabilitation of outstanding sections of Sagamu-Ore Expressway (ongoing)

3. Construction of 158km Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail, with 10 Stations: Apapa, Ebute Metta, Agege, Agbado, Kajola, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Olodo, Omi-Adio and Ibadan. (ongoing)

4. Reconstruction of Apapa — TinCan — Mile 2 — Oshodi- Oworonshoki Expressway (commenced November 2018): This is the first full reconstruction of the Road since it was first constructed in the 1970s. (ongoing)

5. Dualisation of Oyo-Ogbomosho road (funded by the N100 billion Sukuk Bond issued by the Federal Government in 2017) (ongoing)

6. Rehabilitation of Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta Road (ongoing)

7. Rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Sagamu Road (ongoing)

8. Construction of US$10 million Cancer Treatment Center at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) (ongoing)

9. A $21 million project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) — will stabilize power supply to more than 200,000 people in and around Apapa in Lagos State. The contract was signed between the Japanese and Nigerian Governments in November 2018.

10. Energizing Economies Programme — Electrification of Sura Shopping Complex (1,000 shops), Shomolu Printing Community (4,000 shops), Gbagi Market, Oyo (7,872 shops), Ita-Osun Market, Ogun (2,814 shops), Nnamdi Azikiwe Market, Lagos (3,091 shops), Balogun Market, Lagos (1,662 shops), Iponri Market, Lagos (1,305 shops), UMBC, Oyo (700 shops), Isikan Market, Ondo (277 shops), Bariga Market, Lagos (390 shops), Erinwe, Ogun (1,280 fish ponds) (ongoing)

11. Social Investment Programme: 96,000 N-Power Beneficiaries across the six States of the Southwest. School Feeding currently ongoing in 4 States of the Southwest: Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Osun.


*Buhari Administration Projects in South South Nigeria (Niger Delta)

1. Afam Fast Power Project: Construction of US$186 million, 240MW expansion for the existing Afam Power Plant (commenced in 2016, almost completed)

2. Dualisation of Yenegwe Road Junction-Kolo-Otuoke-Bayelsa Palm (Sukuk Bond) (ongoing)

3. Rehabilitation of Sections 1 to 4 of the Enugu — Port Harcourt Expressway (ongoing)

4. Construction of 120 billion Naira Bonny-Bodo Road in Rivers State, jointly funded by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Company Limited (NLNG)(ongoing)

5. Completion of new Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal

6. Construction of East-West Road (ongoing).

7. Completed the 60km Alesi–Ugep Road in Cross River State; contract awarded for 72km section from Odukpani Junction to Ugep.

8. Rehabilitation of Calabar–Itu–Odukpani Road that links Akwa-Ibom to Cross River (ongoing)

9. Niger Delta New Vision (Federal Maritime University in Delta State licensed by NUC and commenced academic activities in 2018; Modular Refineries in Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States; Ogoni Clean Up in Rivers — ongoing)

10. Financial Close for Azura Power Plant in Edo State: The necessary Federal Government approvals for this US$900 million private sector investment were given by President Buhari, paving the way for financial close in December 2015, and the commencement of construction in January 2016. The 459MW project was completed in May 2018, seven months ahead of schedule.

11. Water Projects:

a. Completed Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Delta State;

b. Completed Ekeremor Water Supply Project, Edo State;

c. Completed Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, serving Ugboha and Uromi communities of Edo State;

d. Completed Rehabilitation of Ojirami Dam Water Supply Project, Edo State;

e. Completed Central Ogbia Regional Water Project in Bayelsa State.

12. Social Investment Programme: 85,000 N-Power Beneficiaries in the South South; School Feeding has kicked off in 3 of the six States: Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta.


*Buhari Administration Projects in South East Nigeria

Rehabilitation of Sections 1 to 4 of the Enugu — Port Harcourt Expressway (Sukuk Bond) (ongoing)

2. Rehabilitation of Amansea–Enugu Border section of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway (Sukuk Bond) (ongoing)

3. Rehabilitation of 18km critical stretch of Onitsha–Awka Road (ongoing)

4. Construction of Second Niger Bridge: Completion of design of the Approach Roads from Onitsha and Asaba; Award of Main Construction Contract to Julius Berger; and funding of the project by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, PIDF. In August 2018 PIDF paid 33 billion Naira (US$90 million) to Julius Berger for the Second Niger Bridge project. (ongoing)

5. Rehabilitation of Arochukwu–Ohafia–Bende Road (ongoing)

6. Ariaria Market Electrification Project (The Federal Government is implementing its Energizing Economies Programme, which will bring stable and reliable electricity to all the 37,000 shops in Ariaria Market, by providing the Market with a gas-powered IPP) (ongoing)

7. Federal Government’s Energizing Education Programme being implemented in Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi; and Nnamdi Azikwe University — Awka Campus, Anambra. The Programme will provide these Universities with an Independent Power Plant, as well as upgrade existing distribution infrastructure, and also provide street-lighting.

8. Completed Ikot Ekpene — Alaoji — Ugwuaji Switching Station and Transmission Line

9. Construction of Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia (FMCU) (ongoing)

10. Completed Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum (contract originally awarded in 1996, abandoned at various times, Buhari Administration revived the project in 2016, and completed it in 2018).

11. Enyimba City Special Economic Zone: Definitive Agreements signed between Federal Government, Abia State Government and Enyimba City Development Company Limited on December 7, 2018

12. Presidential Fertilizer Initiative — has led to the revival of the Ebonyi State Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited (EFCCL), creating jobs and boosting the supply of fertilizer in the Southeast.

13. Social Investment Programme: 68,000 N-Power Beneficiaries across the 5 States of the South East; the School Feeding Programme has kicked off in all 5 States of the Southeast.

14. Pensions paid to Retired War-Affected (Ex-Biafran) Police: In 2017, the Buhari Administration paid 500 million Naira to clear pensions arrears that had not been paid since their presidential pardon in 2000.

11 REASONS WHY ATIKU WILL LOSE IN 2019

1. PORT HARCOURT DOLLARS: He overspent on the PDP Primary in Port Harcourt, out of desperation. Spending between $9,000 and $12,000 per delegate was too much, some of that money should have been saved for the campaign proper. Also he entered into too many deals and political concessions in PH, in order to get the ticket, those deals are now coming back to haunt him.

2. PETER OBI: He made a big mistake in the way he chose Peter Obi as running mate. He didn’t consult widely, no wonder the Southeast Governors are not happy with him, and will very likely betray him. Even if he was still going to choose Obi, he should have at least made an effort to carry stakeholders along.

3. NO ABUJA MONEY: This is the first time the PDP is running a presidential campaign without access to Federal Funds. PDP campaigns in the past have always been done with Abuja money, not personal resources. A lot of people haven’t realised this yet, but when find out in January 2019 that money is not flowing like they thought, they will have second thoughts about Atiku.

4. CLOWNS: The Atiku campaign is being fronted by many of the same characters who led Goodluck Jonathan astray. Characters like Reno, FFK, Ben Bruce and Osita Chidoka. These are people who everything they touch goes bad.

5. TOO MANY LIES: The Lies are getting too much, another big sign of desperation. They lied that Peter Obi’s account was frozen, lied that Atiku called Lt Col Sakaba’s widow, lied that Nigeria has only 2 million cars, lied that Atiku employs 100,000 staff, lied that Atiku will pay his staff the new minimum wage. It’s like Atiku and Obi are now in a big competition to see who is the bigger liar. Soon they will tell us LYING is not CORRUPTION.

6. SOUTH WEST: The South West is not happy at all with PDP. The PDP has not treated the SW very well at all. The zone has been deprived of the party chairmanship which was originally zoned to it. It has also been deprived of Campaign DG and Party Spokesman. The previous holders of these two positions were from SW, but they were kicked aside. The highest ranking SW person in the Atiku campaign is Fayose, that’s how seriously Atiku rates Yoruba people.

7. NORTH: Atiku is not as popular as he would like you to believe in the North. His 8 years as VP did not convince anyone he had the interests of the masses of the North at heart. All he was interested in was amassing personal wealth, to expand a business empire that mostly benefits him alone. You can see that many PDP aspirants in the North are using PMB’s photo to campaign, instead of Atiku’s own. Many aspirants are ashamed of identifying with a candidate with such a strong local and international reputation of corruption.

8. CONFUSION: Out of desperation the Atiku campaign has appointed EIGHT spokespersons. This is a recipe for confusion, and the confusion has already started. You can already see the nonsense statements all the spokesmen are issuing, including the one that claims Buhari owns Keystone Bank, when in actual fact it is Atiku and his in-laws who own it.

9. NO UNITY: There are too many strange bedfellows in the Atiku Campaign, and there is nothing central to unite all of them. At least you can say APC is united by the belief in PMB and his vision for Nigeria. Nothing like that to unite people behind Atiku, apart from the belief in quick money and access to public resources. And everyone knows that money is not a good binding agent; it will divide more than it can unite.

10. FAILED PLAN: The Atiku Plan was an instant flop. It showed that all the time they went to spend in Dubai writing it was a waste. They must have been focused on other things in Dubai, maybe the lies and fake news strategy they have been trying to roll out. The only thing people can remember from the Atiku Plan is that Atiku wants to sell NNPC to his cronies (the same way he sold things when he was VP), and that all his plans are 6-year plans, there is nothing he intends to achieve in 4 years.

11. SOUTH EAST: Atiku is seriously banking on the Southeast to win the 2019 election. Another sign of the bad judgement that Obasanjo has talked about in the past. Yet his (Atiku’s) base in the region is smaller than GEJ’s base in 2015. A lot of Igbos have had their eyes opened, and are seeing all the infrastructure work PMB is doing in the SE. PMB will get more votes from the region in 2019 than he did in 2015.

What the South East and South South are saying about President Buhari

Mr. President has helped us so much in the area of agriculture and at every given opportunity; I have always commended the CBN Governor, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Solid Minerals. The Buhari-led administration has tremendously helped us to revamp the agriculture and solid minerals programmes in Ebonyi State.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State

*

We see a great nation in Nigeria. And I use this opportunity to thank Mr. President Sir and to say one of the greatest things that will move this nation forward is forthrightness, which President Buhari has been displaying. In our meetings, every governor is pleased with him. It is not a question of being in this party or the other. He displays rare sense of humility, honesty and the willingness to carry this country forward. And that’s what we are looking for. We are not interested in this party or other party; we are interested in the man who has the welfare and the interest of the nation at heart.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State

*

Never in the history of Nigerian politics has Cross River State benefited this much from the gale of appointments that have come to us. Head of Service of the Federation, Auditor General of the Federation, Federal Permanent Secretary (Information), Chairman NDDC. We also have Minister of Niger Delta, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief Justice of Nigeria, the list is endless. We have never had it this good… This is a president who is an APC member while Cross River is a PDP state. This is a man who did not look at all biases and made a choice of Cross River State as the first state to perform his first working visit; this is unprecedented.

Governor Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State

*

Enugu State has indeed continued to enjoy a mutually rewarding and strategic partnership with the Federal Government on several fronts... Under the CBN 220 Billion MSME Development Fund, Enugu State is one of few states that have fully implemented the program funding over 2,000 MSMEs and has also returned about N400 million out of the first tranche of N500 million received from CBN. We wish also to commend, the CBN on the “Ose Nsukka” (Nsukka Yellow Pepper) Anchor Borrowers Program as well as other initiatives of the Bank in Enugu State. Our counterpart funding with the Bank of Industry (BOI) has produced over 36 SMEs worth more than N399 million in project value.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor of Enugu State

*

On the social investment scheme, our school feeding program is doing well, and over seven thousand applicants have benefited from Government Enterprise Empowerment Program (GEEP), otherwise called ‘Market Moni’. Under the N-power programme, Enugu State has received and successfully deployed over 16,000 beneficiaries to schools, farms and other places of assignment. We are currently concluding arrangements to officially launch the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) in six selected local government councils.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor of Enugu State

*

I am grateful and appreciative of the seriousness of President Buhari in fighting corruption, affirming the rule of law and also stop corrupt individuals from using illegally acquired wealth to buy immunity from prosecution through the backdoor. My administration will continue to support the war against corruption as I am convinced that corruption, wherever found, is antithetical to peace and development of our people.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State

*

It is a thing of joy that our President, Muhammadu Buhari is doing a lot to keep the country as one indivisible and progressive nation that can take its pride of place among comity of nations.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

*

Any other person handling this situation; economy, security, it would have been worse. We are wonderful with the economy; nobody, I mean no person would have done better than this present government in those two areas. We came in and oil nosedived to 37 dollars a barrel with a production of 600,000 per day, a drop from 2.2 million and yet we managed the economy out of recession. Nigerians should be clapping for us on daily basis, and after thanking God, they should thank us. Yes, because God has used Buhari and some of us to make Nigeria work.

Senator Chris Ngige, Former Governor of Anambra State, and Minister for Labour

*

Buhari does not need to campaign but we are the people that need to convince the people to vote for him because he has done well.
Igbos have enjoyed all the plum positions under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. We have been President, Senate President severally, deputy senate president, held juicy ministerial positions and there is nothing to show for it. Let the PDP explain to us why they did not implement all their promises to Ndigbo. Buhari never experienced Igbo support, yet he improved on electricity, road projects and others.

Sullivan Chime, Former Governor of Enugu State.

*

On behalf of the monarchs, I must thank President Buhari for the rehabilitation of federal roads in the area such as the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway, Port Harcourt-Elele-Owerri road and Enugu-Onitsha expressway. These roads were death traps for 16 years before you came into office, but today they are wearing new solid looks, though not completed but relief is already there with the level of work done so far.

Abia Traditional Rulers, in a recent communiqué

*

As Nigerians we feel the difficult economic times the nation is facing. We are also aware of the enormous challenges of having to rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse as a result of the mindless and unconscionable looting of our common patrimony and treasury by the PDP administration consistently for over 16 years that the party held sway at the Federal and state governments including the outright control of a criminally compliant and conniving National Assembly. There is no discerning Nigerian or patriotic and rational political party that will have an objective assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that will not come to a logical conclusion that President Buhari towers head and shoulder above Mr Abubakar in integrity and all other consideration.

Chekwas Okorie, Founder of APGA, and Chairman United People's Party, UPP

*

As we hit the campaign train we shall from time to time share with Nigerians the many sound and logical reasons why president Buhari shall be returned to complete his second term in office and why it shall be a tragedy of a monumental proportion to return the years of profligacy, unbridled corruption, scandalous leakages and highly compromised judiciary, to power.

Chief Chekwas Okorie, Founder of APGA, and Chairman of UPP

*

It is our position and for the sake of national stability, cohesion and unity, that four more years of President Muhammadu Buhari is far more reassuring and beneficial to most Nigerians whether from the North or the South than a possible eight years… which will also foist on Nigerians the sad memories of the 16 years of nightmare Nigerians lived under the PDP government in Nigeria.

Chief Chekwas Okorie , Founder of APGA, and Chairman of UPP

*

I want to assure President Muhammadu Buhari and all candidates of the APC of victory in 2019 as we have agreed in Anambra to align the state with the centre for more infrastructural developments.

Senator Andy Uba

*

The Establishment might not allow us to rule now, but be that as it may, on a very good day, at the appointed time, Buhari will rule Nigeria. What I do not know, is whether I will be around when that happens. But even if am not there, please Muhammadu, move on and fear not! The vultures will gather against you, but you know what we stand for. Be strong and continue for you shall overcome!

The Late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, Running Mate to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2003 Presidential Election.


*

The recent elections in Anambra and the results shows that President Buhari deserves a loud ovation. A landmark statement has been made. The roots of our democracy have been entrenched and your name has been inscribed in Gold forever in the hearts of Ndi Anambra.

Chief Ifeanyi Ubah

*

We came on behalf of the South East to thank Mr. President for the awarding of the Second Niger Bridge to Julius Berger for the sum of N206 billion Naira. The Second Niger Bridge is the dream of our people and it has become a dream come true. Our people said that we must come and thank you. Your Excellency, Mr. President, we are grateful… We were also given a cheering news that not only will the Eastern railway contract be awarded, that it will touch all states’ capitals in south east as it moves from south east to Maiduguri. There will also be a port that will be added to it and it will cost about $12 billion.

Governor Dave Umahi, Governor Ebonyi State speaking with the media after South East leaders visited President Buhari in November 2018

*

I must further observe that today, no fewer than 122,000 children are feeding daily under the school feeding programme, which employs a total of 1,040 caterers for 1060 schools, across the 21 local governments, courtesy of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Governor Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State

*
A number of people who like to jump from one place to the other have been asking me and I said look, we are in PDP and we remain in PDP, but we are supporting the programmes of Mr. President. We like what he is doing in the fight against corruption. You can see honesty in his administration and his commitment to rebuilding Nigeria. I share certain virtues with him. We, as a state, will continue to support him. To oppose him is to oppose the truth.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State


https://politicsngr.com/south-east-south-south-saying-president-buhari/

Would you allow corruption to suck us dry in this country, if NO, sign this petition and let's give corruption a RED CARD.

Click on this link and add your name:
https://www.change.org/p/the-federal-bureau-of-investigations-fbi-allow-atiku-abubakar-into-the-united-states-for-interrogation-completion-of-investigation?recruiter=913428296&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition

ALLOW ATIKU ABUBAKAR INTO THE UNITED STATES FOR INTERROGATION AND COMPLETION OF INVESTIGATION

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

The Department of Justice (DOJ)

The United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Sen. Rob Portman
Sen. Thomas R. Carper
Sen. Rand Paul
Sen. James Lankford
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp
Sen. Gary C. Peters
Sen. Steve Daines
Sen. Jon Kyl
Sen. Margaret Hassan

We would like to bring to your attention the case of Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, who was implicated in a series of money laundering and bribery investigations by the United States Senate in a published 2010 report by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (headed at the time by Senator Carl Levin), titled: KEEPING CORRUPTION OUT OF THE UNITED STATES: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FOREIGNCORRUPTIONREPORTFINAL710.pdf

The report found Atiku Abubakar culpable of bringing in tens of millions of dollars in ‘suspect funds’ into the United States. He is one of four ‘case studies’ profiled in the report, alongside such other notorious figures as the late Omar Bongo, President of Gabon for 41 years; international arms dealer Pierre Falcone, since convicted and imprisoned in France; and Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, son of the President of Equatorial Guinea, and currently Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, from whom Brazilian authorities recently seized $16 million in cash and luxury watches.

Two years earlier, in 2008, following a probe by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, German Technology Company AG Siemens pleaded guilty to paying bribes in excess of $2 million to Atiku Abubakar, through his wife, Jennifer Douglas, while the former served as Vice President of Nigeria.

Currently, Mr Abubakar, who has also been named in a number of high-profile corruption scandals at home in Nigeria, is running for the Presidency of the Nigeria. It is disheartening that at a time Nigeria is elevating the fight against corruption, and seeking the support and assistance of foreign countries like the United States to tackle corruption and repatriate looted funds, Mr Abubakar is aspiring to the highest office in the land.

Since shortly after that investigation was published, Mr Abubakar has not visited the United States. We believe that this is because the United States Government has refused to grant him a visa on account of his role in the corruption scandals highlighted in the Senate Report. In 2015 he put up his Washington, DC mansion for sale.

We are now aware that he is working hard to lobby the United States Government to reverse its decision regarding his eligibility for a visa. His goal is to make a statement by paying a visit to the United States and then using that to advance the narrative that the corruption allegations are unfounded and baseless.

We are also now aware that he has hired one of the most important lobbying firms in the United States, Ballard Partners, to ensure that he is granted a visa to the United States and is able to visit before the Nigerian presidential elections in February 2019: https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6415-Exhibit-AB-20180925-13.pdf

We are asking that the United States Government expedite action to grant him this visa to enable him face the justice he has evaded for so long.

We are also asking that the United States refuse to be pressured or lobbied into granting any concessions that might appear to absolve Mr Abubakar of complicity in grand corruption, or to allow itself be used to confer any measure of respectability on a man whose greatest achievement so far has been in the scale in which he has looted the resources of the people of Nigeria for his own benefit.

At this time when Nigeria requires all the support it can get in the fight against the grand corruption, the people of Nigeria cannot afford to have its war on corruption undermined by any actions arising from the intended or unintended complicity of the US Government, acting under the malicious influence of local or foreign actors of any kind.

Atiku Abubakar must be allowed to visit the United States, and when he visits, he must be made to account to law enforcement agencies for the crimes of financial fraud and betrayal of trust committed against the people of Nigeria more than a decade ago.

Atiku Abubakar’s direct American accomplice, former Congressman William Jefferson, was sent to prison for corruption. Another accomplice, Siemens AG, has since pleaded guilty to the crime of bribing Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku Abubakar on the other hand, continues to evade justice, almost a decade after the US Senate Report was published. That Abubakar even harbours dreams of becoming the President of Africa’s most populous country and its largest economy, boggles the mind, and demonstrates to the world the extent of his brazenness.

The United States Government cannot on the one hand declare its keenness to KEEP FOREIGN CORRUPTION OUT OF THE UNITED STATES, and on the other hand do anything that will confer any measure of respectability on a man who has been certifiably demonstrated as an enabler, purveyor and participant of grand multinational corruption.

This petition is therefore a call for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to place the said Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, and current presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on a Watchlist, in order to enable his invitation or arrest for possible prosecution the moment he steps into the United States of America.


References:

FBI AFFIDAVIT
https://abcnews.go.com/images/WNT/9731_sorrel_%20ave_redacted_application_affidavit.pdf

Nigerian VP Tied Up in Jefferson Probe
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/img-src-images-abubakar-gif-hspace-5-vspace-5-align-left-nigerian-vp-tied-up-in-jefferson-probe

Jefferson Tells FBI He Delivered Cash To Home of Nigeria's Vice President
https://www.nysun.com/national/jefferson-tells-fbi-he-delivered-cash-to-home/33991/

Affidavit Outlines Alleged Scheme in Jefferson Case
http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/07/nation/na-jefferson7_

Records tie Nigerian official to Jefferson bribe probe
http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/06/07/records_tie_nigerian_official_to_jefferson_bribe_probe/

Informant: Jefferson sent Nigerian VP bribe
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/13170084/ns/us_news-msnbc_wire_services/t/informant-jefferson-sent-nigerian-vp-bribe/

Read here: https://www.change.org/p/the-federal-bureau-of-investigations-fbi-allow-atiku-abubakar-into-the-united-states-for-interrogation-completion-of-investigation?recruiter=913428296&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition

2019: Osinbajo is my friend but I remain neutral – Femi Kuti

Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti has professed his friendship for Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 2018 edition of Felabration which held Sunday night at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos.

Femi, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti said he will however remain politically neutral going into the 2019 general election despite his long-standing friendship with Osinbajo.
He explained that his decision to be neutral is a political ideology inherited from his father, who was known to be politically neutral.
Prof Osinbajo graced the grand finale of Felabration showing support for Nigeria’s growing entertainment sector.
Felabration which is held every year on the week of Fela's birthday began from October 15 and ended on 21.
In his short speech at the celebration, Vice President Osinbajo reiterated that Nigeria is on its way to achieving it goals and that the people will enjoy from the inclusive government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Osinbajo, a senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God prayed for the rousing audience and for Nigeria at the event. 
He said, “Our country will be greater no matter what happens, this country will be great and greater and all of us who are here will be great and greater in this nation,” he prayed, to which the crowd replied with a thunderous ‘Amen’.
Just before he left the microphone, he muttered, “Let everybody, say Yeah, Yeah,” to the delight of the crowd which responded accordingly.
Speaking in Pidgin English, after the Vice President’s speech, Femi Kuti said, “Prof Osinbajo is my friend, he said he understands and he respects my view, but I have told him that I cannot support any political party because of my father (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti).
“He is my friend, you understand what I’m saying, he said he wanted to come to shrine and I am happy he did.”
Mr Kuti then went on to hug Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as he made his way to the backstage of the podium.
Osinbajo is renowned for promoting Nigerian talents and selling Nigeria’s entertainment sector both locally and internationally. 
Last summer in the United States, he canvassed Hollywood heavyweights including leading movie and entertainment companies like Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Lions Gate, IMAX Entertainment, Warner Bros, Walt Disney, BET International and even the National Association of Theater Owners to invest in Nigeria’s entertainment sector especially Nollywood.
Osinbajo also met with renowned film, music and entertainment industry, including Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface; New York-based Nigerian visual artist, musician, singer/songwriter, Laolu Senbanjo; CEO, Ebony Life TV, Mo Abudu, Chocolate City CEO, Audu Maikori; founder/CEO Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters; New York artist, Sesan Ogunro among others to project the future of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
 The Buhari administration also set up a working group on Creativity and Technology as part of the Industrial Competitiveness Council chaired by the Vice President. That council and the working group meets regularly including in the last week to being players in the private sector to help government develop policies for the sectors.

ATIKU’S LIES (PART 1)

The Claim:

Atiku claims he ran the Nigerian Economy as Vice President under President Obasanjo.

The Truth:

Obasanjo did not have an Economic Team until Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became Minister of Finance in 2003. In her book, Reforming the Unreformable, 2012, she writes (page 8 ) : “I flew to Nigeria in May 2003 to discuss the scope of my job and to get President Obasanjo’s agreement on the formation of a Presidential Economic Team. The President readily agreed to the team, noting that I would lead it and he would preside over it as Chair.” On Page 151, she lists the members of the Presidential Economic Team (the original 13 members and the 9 who joined later). She is listed as “Chair”, Dr Bright Okogu is “Executive Secretary”. Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not on the list. He was neither the Head nor a member of the Economic Team. The facts are available for all to see.

Virtually all of what you might consider the major economic achievements of the Obasanjo administration – EFCC, Pension Reform, Power Sector Reform and the NIPP, Debt Relief –happened in the administration’s 2nd Term, during which Atiku had no real say in the running of the economy. By then Obasanjo had seen the true nature of Atiku – disloyal, corrupt and self-serving – and had begun the process of side-lining him. Without Atiku’s strangling hold on the treasury, the economy actually performed better.

Atiku’s biggest role in the Obasanjo 1st Term was as Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), which set the agenda and made the decisions regarding privatising state-owned companies (BPE’s role was to implement these decisions). Atiku’s biggest legacy from that period (the Obasanjo 1st Term) is selling state-owned companies to himself and his friends, many of them serving as fronts for him.

One of the best-known examples is African Petroleum, which he sold to Peter Okocha’s little-known Sadiq Petroleum (Okocha is a staunch Catholic who purportedly ran a company known as 'Sadiq' Petroleum - go figure!). Within a few years the AP deal had run into trouble, unsurprisingly. The scandals involving Atiku and PDTF/Williams J. Jefferson/NDTV/iGate also happened during the Obasanjo 1st Term, towards the end, to be precise – when Atiku was desperate about amassing funds to challenge Obasanjo to the PDP presidential ticket (more on that penchant for disloyalty later).

Throughout his tenure as Vice President, Atiku’s greatest talent and legacy lay in pursuing corrupt and self-serving deals like these. The US Senate Report that indicts him notes that between 2000 and 2008 he laundered $40m in stolen funds through US banks, using one of his wives as a front.

The Takeaway:

So, remember, every time he says ‘ATIKU MEANS JOBS’, what he really means is ‘ATIKU MEANS JOBS-FOR-THE-BOYS.’

[Watch out for PART 2 of ATIKU'S LIES]

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2018

Kemi Adeosun: Salute to Honour and Integrity

The resignation of Mrs. Kemi Adeosun as Minister of Finance and acceptance of same by President Muhammadu Buhari are actions of honour, strength of character and integrity.

The news that the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) exemption certificate tendered by the former finance minister was not genuine have been well-reported in the media.

Like all responsive and responsible governments concerned about the truth and due process, the federal government undertook diligent investigation of the allegation. Now that the report of the investigation is out, the right thing has been done. The honorable minister has taken the path of honour and resigned. We congratulate Mrs. Adeosun for her action.

In President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of integrity and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, no officer of government with a modicum of questionable conduct or integrity should stay in office.

In past PDP-led administrations, the country was held down by corrupt and irresponsible public officers who refused to honour invitations of the National Assembly; closed down national airports against perceived political adversaries; bought luxurious bullet-proof vehicles with public funds at inflated prices; locked out National Assembly members, forcing federal lawmakers to climb high barricades in order to assess the legislative chamber.

It was these acts of corruption, impunity, irresponsibility and executive rascality that made Nigerians vote in the President Buhari administration in 2015, with its Change mantra to put a stop to such undemocratic practices.

We wish Mrs. Adeosun every success in her future endeavors and join President Buhari in appreciating her immense contributions to the stability of the Nigerian economy in the past three and half years.

SIGNED:

Mr. Yekini Nabena
Ag. National Publicity Secretary

"I do hope we realize Nigeria is the loser in all of this. The reality is that Kemi Adeosun was a pain in the lives of very powerful forces in this country who have dug up dirt on her and gotten rid of her.

The reforms in tax administration she spearheaded made a massive difference on our path to recovery from the recession.

This is not a triumph of journalism. It is a triumph of the enemies of Nigeria
Gloat circumspectly in the sure knowledge that your victory is pyrrhic"

Segun Sopitan, public administrator

Finance Ministry Staff weep as Adeosun bows out @ 11pm on Friday


Staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance wept profusely on Friday night as the former Minister of Finance, Mrs. kemi Adeosun, bade them farewell and finally stepped out of the Ministry for the last time

The Minister encouraged and joined the staff in prayers and praise worship to God for the over three years she handled the affairs of the Ministry.

Mrs. Adeosun finally bowed out of office at exactly 11pm on Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Adeosun, who arrived the Office at 10am on Friday, spent the day
completing outstanding tasks till 11pm when she finally stepped out of office to a guard of honour mounted by the staff

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, PREMIUM TIMES, BY PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (Sept 4, 2018)

RE: OSINBAJO GOT IT WRONG ON RESTRUCTURING - ATIKU

Dear Editor,

Kindly permit me a response to a piece in your publication, titled “Osinbajo got it wrong on Restructuring,” written, we are told, by my illustrious predecessor in office, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

First, let me say that I really would have expected Alhaji Abubakar to at least get the full text of my comments before his public refutal of my views. But I understand; we are in that season where everything is seen as fair game! He quoted me as saying that “the problem with our country is not a matter of restructuring… and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problems stem from some geographic re-structuring”.

Yes, I said so.

As the quote shows, I rejected the notion that geographical restructuring was a solution to our national problems. Geographical restructuring is either taking us back to regional governments or increasing the number of States that make up the Nigerian federation.

As we all may recall, the 2014 National Conference actually recommended the creation of 18 more States. And I argued that, with several States struggling or unable to pay salaries, any further tinkering with our geographical structure would not benefit us.

We should rather ask ourselves why the States are underperforming, revenue and development wise. I gave the example of the Western Region (comprising even more than what is now known as the South West Zone), where, without oil money, and using capitation tax and revenues from agriculture and mining, the government funded free education for over 800,000 pupils in 1955, built several roads, farm settlements, industrial estates, the first TV station in Africa, and the tallest building in Nigeria, while still giving up fifty percent of its earnings from mining and minerals for allocation to the Federal Government and other regions.

I then argued that what we required now was not geographical restructuring but good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal Federalism, and a clear vision for development.

On the issue of deeper fiscal Federalism or restructuring, I explained how the then Lagos State Government, led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, decided to fight for greater autonomy of States.

As Attorney-General at the time, it was my duty and privilege to lead the legal team against the then Federal government, in our arguments at the Supreme Court. I am sure that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would remember these cases on greater autonomy for States that I cite below, as he was Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the time.

At the Supreme Court, we won several landmark decisions on restructuring Nigeria through deeper fiscal federalism, some of which our late converts to the concept, now wish to score political points on.

It was our counter-claims alongside those of other littoral States, that first addressed so comprehensively the issue of resource control. We agreed with the oil producing States that they had a right to control their resources. We argued, though unsuccessfully, that the Ports of Lagos were also a resource, which should enable Lagos State, in the worst case, to be paid the derivation percentage for proceeds of its natural resources. Years later, we also filed an action at the Supreme Court arguing that the Value Added Tax, being a consumption tax, should exclusively belong to the States.

On the issue of who, between the Federal and State governments, should have authority to grant building permits and other development control permits, the Supreme Court, by a slim majority, ruled in our favour. It held that, even with respect to federal land, States had exclusive authority to grant building or other developments control permits.

In 2004, we created 37 new local governments in Lagos State. We believed that we had a Constitutional right to do so and that in any event, a State should have a right to create its own administrative units. Several other States joined us and created theirs.

The Federal government’s response was to seize the funds meant for our local governments, thus strangulating States like Lagos, which had created new local governments. We challenged this at the Supreme Court. The court held that the President had no right under the Constitution to withhold or seize funds meant for the States. The allocations were not a gift of the Federal Government to the States. They were the Constitutional right of the States and local governments.

The court also agreed that States had a Constitutional right to create local governments, pursuant to section 8 of the Constitution, but that the creation remained inchoate until the National Assembly, by resolution, amended the existing list of local governments to capture the newly created LGs.

In response, we created by State Law, Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), to accommodate the newly created Local Government Councils until such a time as the National Assembly would complete the process. But the Lagos State Government took up the challenge to re-engineer its revenue service, making it autonomous. With innovative management, tax collection in Lagos became more efficient, and tax revenues continued to grow geometrically. Today, the State earns more IGR than 30 States of Nigeria put together!

Further, we contested the attempts of the then Federal Government to create supervisory authority over the Finances of Local Governments by the signing into law of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005. The Supreme Court also ruled in our favour, striking down many provisions of the law that sought to give the Federal government control over local government funding.

I have been an advocate, both in court and outside, of fiscal Federalism and stronger State Governments. I have argued in favour of State Police, for the simple reason that policing is a local function. You simply cannot effectively police Nigeria from Abuja. Only recently, in my speech at the Anniversary of the Lagos State House of Assembly, I made the point that stronger, more autonomous States would more efficiently eradicate poverty. So I do not believe that geographical restructuring is an answer to Nigeria’s socio economic circumstances. That would only result in greater administrative costs. But there can be no doubt that we need deeper fiscal Federalism and good governance.

Alhaji Atiku’s concept of restructuring is understandably vague, because he seeks to cover every aspect of human existence in that definition. He says it means a “cultural revolution”. Of course, he does not bother to unravel this concept. He says we need a structure that gives everyone an opportunity to work, a private sector driven economy. Yes, I agree. These are critical pillars of our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), including our Ease of Doing Business Programme.

If, however, this is what he describes as restructuring, then it is clear that he has mixed up all the issues of good governance and diversification of the economy with the argument on restructuring.

Good governance involves, inter alia, transparency and prudence in public finance. It involves social justice, investing in the poor, and jobs for young people; which explains our School Feeding Programme, providing a meal a day to over 9 million public school children in 25 States as of today. Our NPower is now employing 500,000 graduates; our TraderMoni that will be giving microcredit to 2 million petty traders; our Conditional Cash Transfers giving monthly grants to over 400,000 of the poorest in Nigeria. The plan is to cover a million households.

Surprisingly, Alhaji Atiku leaves out the elephant in the room – corruption. And how grand corruption, fueled by a rentier economic structure that benefits those who can use political positions or access to either loot the treasury or get favorable concessions to enrich themselves. This was a main part of my presentations the Minnesota Town Hall meeting.

In arguing for good governance, I made the point that our greatest problem was corruption. I pointed out that grand corruption, namely the unbelievable looting of the treasury by simply making huge cash withdrawals in local and foreign currency, was the first travesty that President Buhari stopped.

I showed the OPEC figures from oil revenues since 1990. In four years from 2010 to 2014 the PDP government earned the highest oil revenues in Nigeria’s history, USD381.9billion. By contrast the Buhari Administration has earned USD121 billion from May 2015 to June 2018, less than 1/3 of what Jonathan Administration earned at the same period in that administration’s life. Despite earning so much less, we are still able to invest more in infrastructure than any government in Nigeria’s history. The difference is good governance, and fiscal prudence.

In the final analysis, restructuring in whatever shape or form, will not mean much if our political leaders see public resources as an extension of their bank accounts.

This, I believe, is the real issue.

NYSC Cert: Sagay Rejects Calls for Adeosun’s Sack

Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) Thursday in Abuja dismissed calls for the resignation of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

The eminent professor of law rejected calls for President Muhammadu Buhari to sack finance minister over the allegation that she skipped the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme and forged an exemption certificate.

Sagay spoke in Abuja during the workshop on the United Kingdom Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO), organised by PACAC, UK National Crime Agency and the Department for International Development (DfID).

Asked what he thought about the government’s refusal to react to the issue, Sagay said: “I don’t know why the government has not reacted.

“But, let me tell you my reaction. This woman is a brilliant and extremely valuable member of this government.

According to him, “A lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice.

“There is nothing in this world that will make me remove such a woman from the government. The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman.”

Asked if it was not an offence to skip NYSC, Sagay said: “Who cares about youth service? I don’t bloody care whether she did youth service or not. It’s irrelevant as far as I am concerned.”

On the allegation that she forged an exemption certificate, the PACAC chairman said: “I don’t believe it. I don’t see anything serious about not doing youth service. I don’t see anything serious about it. That’s my own bias, not government’s.

“I’m telling you now. If you ask me – If I were President Buhari, I would never, ever touch that woman because she’s damn good.

“The enemies of this government want to reduce his capacity to provide good governance by engaging in social media attacks and trying to get rid of her. It will not work.” Saraki should resign as a matter of honour, says Sagay

In a related development, Sagay faulted the freezing of Benue State’s account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as “extreme”.

He said while EFCC could investigate governors, they cannot be prosecuted since they have immunity.

“There’s nothing EFCC can do to him (Governor Samuel Ortom). They can’t arrest him. They can investigate him, put down the records of what they found, and wait for his tenure to end. Right now nobody can touch him.

“As for freezing Benue State’s account, I can’t support it. I don’t know why, but government has to function. I don’t want people to suffer because there are no funds for basic government functions.

“I don’t know if EFCC really did that; we have to be careful because it looks extreme to me,” Sagay said.

https://upshotreports.com/nysc-cert-sagay-rejects-calls-for-adeosuns-sack/

PRESS RELEASE

FCTA announces Abuja Rail Train Fares; appreciate Residents for patronising free train services.

The Secretary, Transportation Secretariat, Comrade Kayode Opeifa has announced fares as approved by the Federal Capital Territory Administration for Abuja Train Services from one point of the Stations to the other with effect from Monday,13th August, 2018 signalling the end of one month commercial  free ride.
*A.     Abuja Metro to and from the Airport Station*
Adults - N1000 (One Thousand Naira only)
Children and physically challenged - N700.00 (Seven Hundred Naira only)

*B.     Abuja Metro to and from Idu Station, and Idu Station to and from Airport Station*
Adults - N500
Children and physically challenged - N300

TRIP specific ticket purchases will be done electronically at the Departure Lounge of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and at all our Operating stations Viz: Abuja Metro, Idu and Airport stations from ticket dispensing Kiosks, Ticketers and provided POS Machines.

Payment verification system is also provided at all the stations to control and count passengers after payment have been made.

Comrade Opeifa also appreciated Residents of the Federal Capital Territory and Visitors who patronised the Train services during the one month free train ride services provided by the Administration to commute through Metro- Idu- and Airport Stations of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Services.

The Administration had announced the commencement of one month free train services a day after the commissioning of the project on the 12th of July, 2018.

Many Federal Capital Territory Residents, visitors and tourists alike utilised the opportunity to savour the beauties of the train services.

The Administration enjoins the public to cooperate with it for the payment inmovation being deployed for the train services in the Federal Capital Territory.
 
Ifeanyi Ughamadu                                               
Assistant Director, Information, Transportation Secretariat.

Senator Babafemi Ojodu, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, was on Channels today August 8, 2018, to talk about the yesterday’s happenings at NASS

Excerpts:

We were shocked to see hooded operatives of the DSS at the national Assembly. It was very embarrassing to the Acting President. People started calling us to say that it was on television that APC members were being allowed in while PDP members were not. I was immediately instructed to go there and find out what was happening. I went and found about 25 PDP lawmakers sitting in the lobby. I looked around and couldn't find a single APC lawmaker. I went back and asked because what we were told was that the APC senators were inside trying to impeach the Senate president and I found out it was not true so What was happening? I asked the DSS operatives - if you barricaded the gate because you anticipated trouble then how did the legislators inside gain access? Who did you discuss with? The acting President was not aware so who authorised you to mount the barricades? If you are going to take such a measure as a security Chief then you must consult the commander in chief. He needed to be consulted and then he would tell you whether or not to go ahead. But he was in the dark and did not know anything about it. He got to find out about that incident like you and me.

The PDP is given to drama and misleading the public. The other time they alleged that the police had stormed Saraki's house and it later turned out that the vehicles that were used to block his house belonged to the operatives that were attached to his security detail. Something is wrong somewhere. I think they are trying to work on the people's imagination and get some kind of sympathy so they concoct these stories. A member of that PDP caucus alleged that he was kidnapped and had to hide in a tree for 11 hours. All those things are just drama. It is all part of their plot.

Senator Babafemi Ojodu on the Sacking of DSS DG -

President Buhari is on vacation and if you look at the provisions of the constitution, the president committed a letter to the National Assembly indicating that the Vice President would act in his position. He has all the powers of the president. The question of whether or not he consulted the president is not important. What is important is that the Acting President found something that was wrong and he acted quickly to assure Nigerians and the rest of the world that our democracy is on course.