FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
HEADQUARTERS, AHMADU BELLO WAY, CBD
PRESS UNIT, 4TH FLOOR

News Release Tuesday, June 19, 2018


FG: N1.580 TRILLION CAPITAL COST RELEASED TO MDAs FOR 2017

The Federal Government has announced that a total of N1,580,270,755,084.44(One trillion, five hundred and eighty billion, two hundred and seventy million, seven hundred and fifty-five thousand, eighty-four naira, forty-four kobo) capital cost was released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the 2017 federal budget.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun made this known in Abuja on Tuesday.

The N1,580,270,755,084.44 total capital releases for 2017 is remarkably higher than the N1,219,471,747,443.00 total capital releases for 2016.

In the 2017 capital releases, Power, Works and Housing received the highest allocation of N523,011,701,723.25 which was 33.10% of the total capital releases. The sector also received the highest releases in the 2016 capital budget, which was a total of N307,411,749,682.00 (25.21%) of the 2016 capital budget.

Defence and Security received the second highest capital releases of N197,596,016,072.02(12.50%) in 2017, as against N77,532,885,729.00 (6.36%) total releases the sector received in 2016.

Agriculture and Water Resources received a total of N149,485,276,897.37 (9.46%) in 2017. The sector had received N143,121,925,241.00 (11.74%) of the capital releases in 2016. Transportation received a total of N126,253,042,607.50 (7.99%) of the 2017 capital releases as against the N171,900,597,013.00 (14.10%) in 2016.

Health and Education together received a total of N98,190,277,285.69 (6.21%) for 2017 as against N56,270,030,992.00 (4.61%) the sectors received in 2016.

Other sectors combined received a total of N485,734,440,498.61, which was 30.74% of the 2017 capital releases. In 2016, a total of N463,234,558,786.00 (37.99%) was disbursed to these sectors.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said despite the economic challenges in 2017, the Federal Government was able to fully cash-back the capital releases.

She further stressed that the sustained high allocations to key sectors was a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the country.

The Minister said the Federal Government was working assiduously to attract private capital to complement government spending in these key areas.



Signed
HASSAN DODO
Director (Information)

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

PRESS STATEMENT


Tuesday, 19th June, 2018


Fake Tax Clearance Certificates: MDAs to authenticate certificates before payment - Adeosun


The Federal Government has mandated all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to authenticate all Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) presented by companies and individuals engaged in public procurement processes.

2. This directive is in response to the proliferation of forged TCCs purportedly issued prior to the automation of the certificates from 22nd August, 2017. The validation of the TCCs will enhance the integrity of the tax system.

3. A Circular issued on Tuesday by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, requires the MDAs to authenticate all TCCs prior to making any payment. Electronic TCCS (e-TCCs) can be verified via logging into https//tcc.firs.gov.ng and taking the following steps: click on verify e-TCC, enter the TCC number and complete the captcha, and click on submit to view the TCC number entered.

4. For TCCs issued before 22nd August, 2017, the Circular advised the MDAs and other stakeholders to forward a list of the companies and photocopies of the TCCs to the office of the Executive Chairman, FIRS for authentication. The FIRS has undertaken to verify the TCCs within 72 hours of receipt.

5. The Minister reminds Company Directors that possession is an offense. The now outdated manual system allowed production of forged TCCs. Companies and individuals in doubt as to the authenticity of their TCCs are advised to take advantage of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to regularise.

6. She added that the Federal Ministry of Finance and the FIRS will continue to work in partnership with government at all levels and stakeholders towards eradicating tax fraud and evasion.

7. The Federal Government, it will be recalled, had in January 2018 directed vendors of MDAs to display their Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) on their invoices before payments are effected. The non-presentation of a TIN by the vendors largely contributed to leakages in revenue remittances, particularly Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax (WHT).


Signed:

Oluyinka Akintunde
Special Adviser, Media & Communications
to the Hon. Minister of Finance
Federal Ministry of Finance
19th June, 2018

VAIDS has opened the leeway for the income, assets and transaction data of millions of Nigerians to be obtained from a variety of sources, including land registries, banks, FIRS, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Airports of Authority of Nigeria and numerous payment information platforms.

Such data have been analysed to yield tax debt profile of individuals and companies after which letters were written to defaulters, warning them to comply with VAIDS before the deadline.

Owners of undeclared offshore assets are equally certain to be tracked through a variety of multi-jurisdictional agreements to which Nigeria is signatory.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/06/18/vaids-lessons-to-learn-from-tax-amnesty/

Finance Minister wins AIHN's Distinguished Service Award

The Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN), at the event, honoured eminent personalities that have impacted on the Nigerian capital market, including Otunba Olasubomi Balogun and Atedo Peterside with Lifetime Achievement Awards, while the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, got the Distinguished Service Awards.

https://guardian.ng/business-services/12-firms-harvest-n268-7b-from-rights-issue/

SEC And The Gwarzo Scenario
Published 13 hours ago on June 15, 2018

By Benjamin Collins

“Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it, ignorance may deride it, malice may distort it, but there it is” – Winston Churchill. Several months after the suspension of the former director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mallam Mounir Gwarzo from office over allegations of abuse of office, it is nauseating that scores of supposed opinion writers have continued to inundate the public with well-crafted but logically insipid reasons the decisions to make him step aside should not hold.

A particularly disgusting trend in the opinion articles is that rather than critically appraise the circumstances that led to the suspension of the former SEC boss from a dispassionate analytical prism, most of the writers have consistently taken position against the government, vilified the minister of finance, accused the new management of complicity and others who, in their views, supported the decision, all in their desperate efforts to dress the ‘accused’ in a saintly garb of a ‘faithful’ servant.

But then, the question that ordinarily should have pre-occupied the thoughts of those behind the media campaigns, which some analysts have tagged ‘sponsored copies in the guise of opinion articles’ is: did the suspended SEC boss really breach any extant law, public service rules or corporate governance principles while discharging his roles as the director general of the commission?

Crucial to the current discourse on the trials of Gwarzo are issues relating to his roles in contracts awarded to some companies during his tenure, some of which he allegedly owns shares in or in which his wife is believed to have interests.

Is it true, as alleged, that the suspended SEC boss abused his office and violated the provisions of Sections 57 (12) (b) and 58 (5) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 in the awards of contracts during his tenure? The Federal Government’s Administrative Panel of Inquiry, last December, recommended Gwarzo’s dismissal, as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), from the Public Service.

This, it said, is in line with “PSR 030402 (in relation to the allegation on Golden Handshake), having breached paragraphs 313 and 316(4) of the Financial Regulations (Government Notice No. 219 of 27th October, 2009)(engaging in extra budgetary expenditure without appropriate approval).”

Among others, Administrative Panel of Inquiry (API) set up by the Minister of Finance, recommended that Gwarzo be referred to the ICPC for further investigation of the allegation of abusing his office to award contracts to Outbound Investments Limited, contrary to the provisions of Sections 57 (12) (b) and 58 (5) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

The report said to have been submitted to Mrs. Adeosun, directed, among others, that Gwarzo should refund the sum of N104, 851,154.94, being the severance package he illegally approved for himself and received. “Holding of the position of the director-general of SEC as well as a director in two private companies (Medusa Investment Limited and Outbound Investments Limited) was in breach of public service rule 030424, public service rule 030402 and Section 6 of the Investment and Securities Act, ISA 2007.”

Upshot Reports quoted the report as saying, “The Panel advised the Federal Government to re-orientate public servants to the very fact that the Public Service Rules and Financial Regulations are ground norms of every Government Service Contract, be it at the Federal, State or Local Government levels.

It added, “Accordingly, all Government Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies should be made to understand that the PSR and FR are superior to whatever specific legislations and domestic arrangements that guide their operations, except when such issues were not covered by any provision of the PSR.”

While some of the commentators have consistently argued that the conducted inquiries into Gwarzo’s roles as the ‘chief accounting officer’ in SEC border on persecution of an innocent person, the reports and recommendations of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the minister had been published and supported with what could be termed incontrovertible facts as to why such recommendations were made.

Haba! What are these whole hues and cries about ‘Gwarzo must stay’ media campaigns all about? For now, it is also logical to say that rather than distracting the new management with frivolous insinuations and by desperately distorting the facts and deforming the issues, those at the forefront of the ‘Gwarzo must stay’ media campaigns should allow the new team to concentrate on its assignments.

What the public would want to see in the current efforts of the government to improve corporate governance in SEC under the latest team is people giving sound advice and remedial suggestions to help the team achieve its mandate.

We have had enough of patently biased comments and opinions on the SEC matters that common sense demands that5 efforts should now be channeled more in making the commission stronger, better managed and more responsive to capital market investors’ needs. Quite interestingly, one would like to state unequivocally that the best of options for Mallam Gwarzo to seek redress in the face of alleged ‘persecution’ is the path he has elected to tread and everyone that believes in truth should allow him to explore all legally accepted avenues to get justice. Collins, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos

Read More at: https://leadership.ng/2018/06/15/sec-and-the-gwarzo-scenario/

A particularly disgusting trend in the opinion articles is that rather than critically appraise the circumstances that led to the suspension of the former SEC boss from a dispassionate analytical prism, most of the writers have consistently taken position against the government, vilified the minister of finance, accused the new management of complicity and others who, in their views, supported the decision, all in their desperate efforts to dress the ‘accused’ in a saintly garb of a ‘faithful’ servant.

But then, the question that ordinarily should have pre-occupied the thoughts of those behind the media campaigns, which some analysts have tagged ‘sponsored copies in the guise of opinion articles’ is: did the suspended SEC boss really breach any extant law, public service rules or corporate governance principles while discharging his roles as the director general of the commission?

Crucial to the current discourse on the trials of Gwarzo are issues relating to his roles in contracts awarded to some companies during his tenure, some of which he allegedly owns shares in or in which his wife is believed to have interests. Is it true, as alleged, that the suspended SEC boss abused his office and violated the provisions of Sections 57 (12) (b) and 58 (5) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 in the awards of contracts during his tenure?
The Federal Government’s Administrative Panel of Inquiry, last December, recommended Gwarzo’s dismissal, as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), from the Public Service.

This, it said, is in line with “PSR 030402 (in relation to the allegation on Golden Handshake), having breached paragraphs 313 and 316(4) of the Financial Regulations (Government Notice No. 219 of 27th October, 2009)(engaging in extra budgetary expenditure without appropriate approval).”

Read more here : https://leadership.ng/2018/06/15/sec-and-the-gwarzo-scenario/

"Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is in Benue today to again convey our deepest condolences to the Government & people of Benue, & the Catholic Church, as the priests & parishioners killed in the despicable attack on St. Ignatius Church, Mbalom, last month, are laid to rest." - President Muhammadu Buhari

Excerpts from Speech by Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, at the 4th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG, on May 10, 2018 in Abuja:

"If people ask you what change means, please tell them it means doing more with less."

"If they ask you what change means to tanker drivers, please tell them that it means the revival of construction works and the return of contractors to access roads to petroleum depots, from which you do business and support your families."

"Those of you who ply Ilorin-Jebba will now admit that from spending 7 days on that road, you now spend less time while works are rapidly progressing, not only on the road but also in the Emergency Repairs on the Tatabu Bridge, which suddenly collapsed as a result of massive rainfall, flooding, and lack of maintenance."

"Those of you who ply the Suleja-Minna Highway where there are strategic NNPC Depots at Minna and the PPMC Depot at Diko, will now acknowledge that the contractor is back to work."

"Those of you who take products from the NNPC Depot at Gusau will acknowledge that our contractor is now back to work after years of absence due to lack of payment for work done on the Zaria-Gusau-Sokoto Road."

"Those of you who use the NNPC Depot in Ibadan will also now acknowledge that our contractor is back to work on the Ibadan-Abeokuta Highway."

"And work has been completed on the Enugu-Abakaliki and Kaduna-Jos Roads to provide access to the NNPC depots at Enugu and Yola."

"Tell them that your journey times on these roads are gradually improving and the presence of contractors at the work site gives you hope that it will get better."

"I cannot fail to mention the recent award of the Ikorodu-Shagamu Road that services Mosimi Depot, where work will soon commence."

"Similarly, our Ministry is working to finalise the procurement and award of the Apapa, Tin Can, Mile 2, Oshodi to Oworonshoki Highway."

"If people ask you what change means, please tell them it means doing more with less... Tell them that you see change in the work that the Ministry of Transportation is undertaking on the Lagos-Ibadan-Kano Rail."

"Tell them that after many years of broken promises, the Buhari Government has acted by starting the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan section of the project which will link to the Apapa Port. Tell them that change means the employment of about 7,000 Nigerians now working on that section of the project, and that you now believe that those who started it are better positioned to complete it."

"Tell them that you see change because there is a clear difference between unfulfilled promises of yesterday and a commitment that is backed by visible action today."

"I just returned from road projects inspection in Kebbi and Jigawa States last night where our contractors informed me that Bitumen producers and suppliers are now struggling to cope with demand."

"These are clear signs of a business boom and employment not only for transporters of the products like your members, but also for the manufacturers."

If they ask #WhereIsTheChange, send this to them!

The reports on ThisDay, Leadership & a few other journals linking the removal of the acting DG SEC, Abdul, to his refusal to stop probe of Oando is not true.
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/04/16/adeosun-explains-reinstatement-of-trading-on-oando-shares/


Forensic Audit of Oando is already ongoing by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Deloitte which is the auditors carrying out the Forensic Audit of Oando has since commenced work and are already in Oando Headquarters carrying out the Audit on Lagos

The Audit of Oando was delayed for some months due to the litigation initiated by Oando. There was no way the Audit could have been undertaken when there was a subsisting court case

The withdrawal of the court case necessitated the commencement of the Forensic Audit by Delloite. The removal of the acting DG of the Securities and Exchange Commission and subsequent replacement with Mary Uduk is absolutely in order

The confusion created last week Wednesday by the SEC with the lifting of the Technical Suspension of Oando shares affected market confidence. It was strictly done by SEC without the Federal Government and the Minister of Finance's knowledge

What really happened?

An order to lift the Technical Suspension of Oando shares by strictly done by SEC through a mail sent by a Deputy Director in SEC who claimed to be acting on behalf of the then Acting DG.

Based on the directive of SEC, the Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) lifted the Technical Suspension of Oando Shares to allow the shares of the company to be traded on the Stock Exchange.

Some hours later, another order came from SEC through the Deputy Director on behalf of the Acting DG for the DG of NSE to reverse the earlier decision of lifting the technical suspension of Oando Shares.

Minutes later a third order from SEC went to NSE DG ordering again the lifting of the Technical Suspension of Oando Shares which NSE DG complied with.

All these were done without the knowledge and approval of the Federal Government and the Minister.

When the then Acting DG of SEC was asked what happened, he claimed ignorance of the orders by SEC to NSE DG. He put the blame on a Deputy Director in SEC who sent the mail to NSE DG.

But could a Deputy Director of SEC have sent such a mail on behalf of SEC without the knowledge and approval of the then Acting DG?

Absolutely impossible. This shows the then Acting DG was not in charge of the Commission.

Some believe the current YouWin Connect is all about giving grant/money. It was clearly stated at its commencement that it isn't. The programme has been redesigned and it focuses on training participants, empowering participants with knowledge and skills.

I am a Buharist. This means that:

1. Even though I am not always happy with President Buhari’s actions, I do not and will never regret voting for him to be President of Nigeria.

2. I reserve the right to criticize him privately or publicly without giving up on him or abandoning him. I also reserve the right to vote for him for a second term because I consider him the best and most committed of all the choices on offer. Because elections are about the relative merits of what is on offer, not about social media noisemaking or wishful thinking or impracticable idealism.

3. While there are legitimate grounds for some of the frustration Nigerians are experiencing with President Buhari, there are also a lot of people who are against the President simply because the taps of corruption are no longer flowing the way they used to flow under Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP. For these ones I have no apologies!

4. I am proud that I have a President and Vice President who are men of unquestionable integrity, who will not cut any deals for the purposes of self-enrichment, and will never preside over the looting of our commonwealth.

5. I acknowledge that one of President Buhari’s weaknesses is that he is not a man of many words, and that his reticence is often misconstrued as weakness or arrogance or nonchalance. But I know that the President is a man who prefers action to talk, who prefers to show his commitment by taking action behind the scenes instead of playing to the gallery with empty gestures.

6. I know that anyone who says we have not made tremendous progress against Boko Haram is lying or ignorant or forgetful. Who can forget the days when Boko Haram had overrun most of Borno State, as well as large parts of Adamawa, hoisting flags, running a state-within-a-state; bombing Kano and Abuja at will; and making a mockery of our military to the extent that the Jonathan Administration had to hire mercenaries from South Africa.

7. I am aware that a lot of the things that President Buhari is being blamed for are issues that predated his administration. And that it is foolishness and idiocy to pin the blame for a fire on the man who’s trying hard to put it out, while praising or exonerating the men under whom the fire started.

8. I know that the 2019 elections will be an opportunity for grand looters and incompetents to try to return to power, to take Nigeria back to the days when all of our commonwealth was being looted on a grand scale and with impunity. Nigeria must never return to the dark days.

9. I recognise that President Buhari is not a perfect man. But he has the interest of Nigeria at heart and I trust that a lot of the foundation that is being laid right now will yield good fruit for Nigeria in the years ahead.

10. I acknowledge that the road to the Promised Land ahead of Nigeria will be paved with some difficulty. One example: A country that is trying to substitute imported rice with locally produced rice will have to endure initial price increases, until local production grows to levels that meet up with the quantities that used to be imported. But ultimately local production is a good goal, instead of squandering our hard-earned forex on supporting industries in distant lands.

11. I will not fall for the lies and deceit of the PDP and other opposition, who are daily trying to revise history and make us forget what they put us through before President Buhari emerged as President. I will continue to ask them what they did with the $100 oil Nigeria enjoyed for years under their watch, and why, during those years of boom, we didn’t save for the future or invest in infrastructure. Is that what they want us to return to?

12. Finally, I will try my best to be patient with the President and his administration. But I will also continue to reserve the right to criticize them when they make mistakes.

Does anyone know why some PSP elements are trying to sabotage waste management in Lagos? Especially when the State has agreed to collaborate with them going forward?

https://www.thecable.ng/sabotage-lagos-arrests-psp-operators-dumping-refuse-streets/amp?__twitter_impression=true

VisionScape Sanitation Solution, PSP Operators resolve to work together after a collaborative meeting at Alyssa towards a cleaner, healthier and safer Lagos.

Lekki Toll: What the Lagos State Government Needs To Do Urgently

By Ifedayo Ade-Olaoluwa

There has been quite a bit of hullabaloo about the price increase at the Lekki Toll Gate. On the one hand the concerns of people are understandable – these are tough times for Nigerians, the economy is only just coming out of a recession, and peoples purchasing power has been hit quite hard by the unavoidable naira devaluation in recent years.

But I’m also concerned that the other side of the argument – the rational explanations of the Government, which any fair-minded citizen should be willing to appreciate – is not coming out well enough.

Take for example the issue of the consultations that preceded the price increase, aimed at cushioning the impact on the most economically vulnerable Lagosians. For a government that sometimes gets attacked for not thinking about the poor, this was a masterstroke.

The comments by the NURTW are instructive. Alhaji Taofeek Oluwa, Chairman of the NURTW chairman in Jakande, one of the major transport hubs along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, was widely quoted in the media as saying: "It is encouraging that LCC carried the NURTW along as one of the critical stakeholders consulted during the engagement process for the toll review which resulted in the minimal increase in toll charged the branded commercial buses. From February 1, branded commercial buses popularly called ‘Danfo’ which previously paid N80.00 would be paying N90 for e-Tag payments and N100 for cash payments. We assure commuters that they will not suffer any increase in the fares paid to board the branded commercial buses coming into or going out of Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway. The NURTW is happy to endorse the toll fare review."

This is very commendable. And it is to a large extent because of this that I believe the planned protests by some faceless groups against the price review will not gain any traction. There’s really, in my opinion, no basis for the protests. The government has addressed the circumstances of those most vulnerable to this, the masses who commute daily by public transport. Those who own their cars have an alternative route which they can use.

Now, that mention of that alternative route leads me to another important issues – the ongoing responsibility of Governor Ambode’s administration to Lagosians. As a matter of urgency that alternative route that passes through Oniru should receive more attention from the Government. It should be widened, and all hands must be on deck to ensure a free flow of traffic on it. This means that LASTMA and other agencies must be fully on ground to ensure that there is minimal obstruction, especially around the Oniru Market. The alternative route – which is a necessity for those who either cannot afford the toll or who on principle want to avoid it – must not be made to look like unnecessary suffering for Lagosians.

Another responsibility from the Lagos State Government, is working to smoothen the flow of traffic at the Toll Gates. It’s not acceptable for Lagosians to be struggling to squeeze through only three or four gates, during rush hour, while the rest are kept out of use for reasons best known to the people managing the Toll. At all times all the available gates must be open for use and manned. This will go a long way towards reducing traffic and assuring people that Government is looking out for their welfare.

Finally, the Lagos State Government must pay more attention to maintaining the Expressway. They are doing a decent job so far, but more must be done. Ongoing flyovers must be completed, and new ones built. The road must be kept fully lit at night, and the emergency response service – which is a very commendable initiative – must continue to operate. The service has been perhaps the most efficient on any highway in Nigeria, and this standard must not be allowed to fall.

There is no doubt that the Ambode administration is doing wonders for infrastructure in Lagos, especially roads. The Ajah and the Abule-Egba flayovers, pedestrians bridges along the Lekki Expressway, Aboru bridge, the Ojodu-Berger interchange, the lay-bys and slip roads at Oworonshoki, ketu, Alapere, the ongoing reconstruction of Oshodi-Airport road, the new bus terminals at Oshodi and Ikeja, and Lekki Expressway which the government wants to complete all the way to Epe; all of these are clear evidence that the State Government means well for the people. Only a deliberately mischievous person will attempt to downplay the importance and positive impact of these projects. Only such a person will also try to pretend that these projects do not cost money.

We know that the Toll price increase – the first since the Toll Gate was introduced about seven years ago – is meant to fund the maintenance of the Expressway as well as the completion of the full length of it, all the way to Epe. This is commendable, and one hopes that those who are lured into unnecessary protests will realize this.

On its part the Ambode Government should also take heed of the suggestions above, and continue to show in visible ways that it is a listening and caring Government.

Ifedayo Ade-Olaoluwa writes from Lagos

Copied from Scoop Naija: http://www.thescoopng.com/2018/02/09/lekki-toll-gate/

"It is encouraging that LCC carried the NURTW along as one of the critical stakeholders consulted during the engagement process for the toll review which resulted in the minimal increase in toll charged the branded commercial buses. From February 1, branded commercial buses popularly called ‘Danfo’ which previously paid N80.00 would be paying N90 for e-Tag payments and N100 for cash payments. We assure commuters that they will not suffer any increase in the fares paid to board the branded commercial buses coming into or going out of Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway. The NURTW is happy to endorse the toll fare review." — NURTW chairman (Jakande) Alhaji Taofeek Oluwa

Regret over Buhari or Jonathan?
By Duro Onabule[b][/b]

It was always predictable that, given his notoriety on that score, it was a matter of time for former President Olusegun Obasanjo to resume his pastime of undermining his military and civilian successors, by making President Muhammadu Buhari his latest victim. Amusingly, the rabble Obasanjo rouses on such occasions has dignified his deplorable tactics as a sort of distinction. If only they could critically dissect the man. There is this latent personality complex of striving never to be outshone or exceeded by any Nigerian living or dead. Hence, at the slightest prospect of being threatened, Obasanjo comes charging.

Obasanjo’s dismissal of Buhari’s performance is a vivid example. On the alert that African Union was to honour the Nigerian President as the Champion of Anti-Corruption in Africa the following day, Obasanjo came out with his diatribe in the mistaken belief that the great honour for Buhari and, indeed, Nigeria would be diminished if not rubbished by his comments. Unfortunately for him, African Union sustained its honour on Nigeria, much to the credit Muhammadu Buhari as the President under whose tenure Nigeria became rebranded, to the envy of Obasanjo. Every timing and content of Obasanjo’s verbal assault on his military and civilian successors is noteworthy for exposing Obasanjo’s self-exaggeration and case study in hypocrisy. He is on record in some of his books as rating himself above every Nigerian (civilian or military), who ever served at high level – Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim, General Yakubu Gowon, Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle, General Alani Akinrinade, General Alabi Isama, General Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), General Sani Abacha (as military rulers), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President Umaru Yar’Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan and, now, President Buhari. General Abdulsalami Abubakar escaped Obasanjo’s bad tongue only because he released him (Obasanjo) from jail and heeded northern Generals who imposed Obasanjo on Nigeria as an elected President. Obasanjo kept off IBB since the day the former military President, in a rejoinder to Obasanjo, openly served him notice that “Henceforth, it will be fire for fire.” Obasanjo got the coded message.

Very disturbingly and unknown to Nigerians is the fact that, contrary to the impression that Obasanjo, in his criticisms, is motivated by public service or altruism, he goes to town specifically when he fails to run the show from outside for an incumbent head of government or get appointments for his cronies. Former President Jonathan conceded, almost virtual running of his government to Obasanjo up to the time a memo written by Obasanjo recommending removal of six appointees from federal boards, to be replaced by six of his cronies, got leaked to Nigerian Tribune newspaper. Obasanjo initially denied authorship of the memo. Somehow, Nigeria Police foolishly arraigned Nigeria Tribune and its reporter for alleged sedition. Nigerian Tribune then had to republish the memo with Obasanjo’s full signature. That was the end of the matter, as the police had to withdraw the charges till today.

In the current anti-Buhari misadventure by Obasanjo, how many Nigerians took notice that, amid the euphoria on Buhari’s victory, Obasanjo, in his arrogance of Mr. Know All, dispatched two volumes of policies President Buhari must implement during his current tenure? Who was elected President of Nigeria in 2015? Buhari or Obasanjo? Obasanjo’s major weakness of feeling superior to everybody is the cause of his running down contemporaries. Apparently, Buhari kept Obasanjo’s policies in the shelf, a derision, which embittered Obasanjo. Hence his frustration. “I said it from the beginning that Buhari is not strong on economy.” Who then displays his Ph.D in Economics? Obasanjo. Here was a man, so arrogant and power-drunk that he openly dismissed the advisers he had just sworn in that as much as they might advise, he, President Obasanjo, was not bound to take their advice. The same man imposing total policy directive on a President yet to be sworn in.

The same deplorable tactics by Obasanjo did not work on late President Yar’Adua, not the least because he rejected Obasanjo’s attempt to run the government for him, but he also cancelled Obasanjo’s hurried investment of a whopping half a billion dollars in African Finance Corporation a fortnight before handing over to Yar’Adua. That investment was without the approval of the National Assembly. The late President Yar’Adua also queried an expenditure of $16 billion by Obasanjo’s administration purportedly on power supply with, according to Yar’Adua, “…nothing to show for it.” It is a question of character and hypocrisy. Who ever ran Obasanjo’s administrations for him? Who ever nominated public office holders for Obasanjo throughout his tenure? Who imposed policies on Obasanjo? Indeed, on his first day in office in 1999, Obasanjo expressed thanks to all those who helped him but instantly requested all of them to keep away. If so, why must he aim to run government for others?

Former President Obasanjo is the cheapest critic in Nigeria as he merely echoes claims of the innocent public. Obasanjo was not bold enough to specify Lawal Musa Daura (DG, Department of State Services) and Mamman Daura, a veteran journalist, as the major focus of the charge of nepotism against Buhari. Admittedly, Mamman Daura is a nephew, but Lawal Daura (DG, DSS), might just be Buhari’s townsman. Is that, therefore, peculiar to President Buhari or Nigeria or even Africa? What, anyway, was the record under Obasanjo or former President Goodluck Jonathan? During Obasanjo’s tenure, his daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo Bello, was Ogun State commissioner for health. Iyabo was also elected senator from Ogun Central, her father’s constituency. Above all, only the collapse of Obasanjo’s third term agenda cost his daughter the governorship of Ogun State for which she specially formed the Iyaniwura Foundation. Most remarkably, Obasanjo removed the serving Director-General of DSS to make way for Ogun State and fellow Egba, Colonel Kayode Are (retd). Obasanjo, therefore, owes Nigerians the difference between him and President Buhari, a task which should have been performed the very minute today’s journalists collected Obasanjo’s infamous letter.

Former President Jonathan similarly removed the Director-General of DSS he inherited and replaced him with his South South fellow indigene, Ita Ekpenyong. Why was there no complaint of nepotism? Much is being made of the influence Mamman Daura wields inside Aso Rock. A nephew of President Buhari? So what? At least, Mamman Daura is a Nigerian, who (whatever his blood ties with Buhari) has a constitutional right to serve in any government of this country. Who did Obasanjo import to wield influence on his administration for eight years? A former Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia in United States. An American inside the innermost chamber of Nigerian government? Would a Nigerian have been ever-privileged to access similar level of governance in the United States? Still under Obasanjo, a lavish marriage for another American acquaintance was celebrated inside Aso Rock. If such waste of Nigeria’s resources were to take place in Aso Rock for Buhari’s foreign acquaintance today, Obasanjo would have led the criticisms.

Allegation of nepotism in today’s politics? Only hypocrites, opportunists, the mischievous and the ignorant feed fat on such meal, all in the fraud of championing public morality.

In the United States, seeming nepotism is mere routine for an incumbent President. The 1960 episode of the much-loved John Kennedy appointing his immediate younger brother, Robert Kennedy, as attorney-general may be too far behind. Today, President Donald Trump has around him in the White House wielding great influence daughter, as special adviser, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, designated as special adviser but virtually more powerful on all Middle East matters than Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson. Before making mince meat of Donald Trump, let it be known that Trump merely followed his predecessors, like Bill Clinton, who appointed his wife, Hilary Clinton, as head of a health review task force. The appointment was legally challenged but the court ruled the appointment was no nepotism. Under President George Bush Junior’s administration, Secretary of State Colin Powell’s son, Michael Powell, was appointed Chairman of Federal Electoral Commission. Nepotism? Obasanjo and co-travellers should read Adam Bellow’s book, In Praise of Nepotism Presidency.

A major achievement of President Buhari is that he has restored civility and harmony to the Presidency, such that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, himself a loyal and contented human being, was publicly appreciated by Buhari as “my brother.” Nigerians have not been treated to the crude illegality of manipulation of the Constitution in a futile attempt to humiliate an innocent man out of office. Obasanjo made allegation of financial crime of round tripping against unspecified members of Buhari’s administration. That can’t be true. If, however, he has the facts, Obasanjo has the duty to convey such to the EFCC Chairman. Lest we forget, pace of governance is inexcusably (repeat, inexcusably) slow. It should never again take seven months to announce, screen and swear in ministers. Equally the eventual dismissal of a doubly indicted SGF (by the Senate and Vice-President Osinbajo review committee) should not have been triggered only by the Maina controversy. Such slow pace or vacillation throws Buhari into avoidable frying pan of controversy

Should Buhari contest in 2019? That is his personal decision. Elections as well as the performances of a leader all over the world are determined by the electorate, who, in Nigeria’s case, run into multiple scores of millions. One man, in his arrogance, must not be allowed to appropriate such voting power to himself. Elections are either won or lost. When a man, who, towards the end of an eight-year term, plotted to rule for life (a treason offence) now arrogates to himself the moral of determining the political fate of a fellow citizen, we shouldn’t take him seriously. Buhari or Jonathan? There is no regret for Jonathan’s exit, in view of scandalous revelations. I endorsed Buhari since 2002 for the yeoman’s job, which he commenced less than three years ago. I am satisfied.

IMMUNITY BY ILLEGAL MEANS: JUSTICE OBASEKI’S SHAMELESS SUBVERSION OF THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Justice Obaseki’s disgraceful ruling shows clearly that there is something dubious about the commitment of some senior members of the Judiciary to the fight against corruption. Her late Uncle, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Andrews Otutu Obaseki, JSC, would turn in his grave at the shenanigans of his niece.
When he died earlier this year he was unanimously described as having lived a life of integrity, and left behind a solid legacy, worthy of emulation by all and sundry. Alas the same cannot be said of his niece.
By this decision, Justice Obaseki-Adejumo has used the back door to confer immunity on High Court Judges. That they can only be tried when they are no longer Judges, or only after the National Judicial Council (NJC) has already convicted them. You have heard of the proverb that says something to the effect that Turkeys will never vote for Christmas. Too often, sadly, the NJC has demonstrated that it is more interested in shielding corrupt Judges from facing justice, than it is in preserving the sanctity and integrity of the Bench. The 1999 Constitution grants immunity ONLY to the President, VP, and Governors!!
This Obaseki-Adejumo Judgement must not be allowed to stand. It is good that the EFCC is appealing at the Supreme Court. But Nigerians must also with one voice condemn and reject it, and make it clear to the likes of Justice Obaseki-Adejumo that there is no room in today’s Nigeria for disgraceful rulings like this. And there should be no place in Nigeria’s Courts for Judges who exploit their positions to pervert the course of justice and drag the reputation of the judiciary in the mud.
Please share this widely, let as many Nigerians as possible be aware of what we’re up against: Corrupt judges shielding one another, and dragging an entire country back into the dark ages of lawlessness.