Suanu's Blog

A fresh graduate of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic (Kenpoly) in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, has reportedly committed suicide.

Suanu’s Blog gathered that the decision of the deceased identified as Charles Orji to take his own life was because his girlfriend identified as Rejoice Nwaku dumped him for another man.

It was further gathered that the deceased was hurriedly buried in his home town thereafter following the strange nature of his demise. The burial was attended by few of his friends who later took to social media to lay curses on the ex-girlfriend whose heartbreak led to Charles’s sudden death.

Until his demise, he was a graduate of the department of Estate Management in the institution where he had met his lover.

Calls made to the lady allegedly behind the suicide by Suanu’s Blog were not picked as at press time.

May His Soul Rest In Peace!

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/kenpoly-graduate-commits-suicide-over.html

A former Director-General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Mr Gbenga Daniel, who recently announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and partisan politics generally, seems to be heading from a change of decision.
Mr.Daniel, who is a former Governor of Ogun State on Sunday revealed that he is considering a request by his supporters that he should lead them to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking with journalists after a meeting with his supporters “from across” Ogun State, the former governor said that his supporters had made it clear to him that he could not quit politics right now, and that they want him to lead them to the APC.
He said, “You know that this process is about leading people and what we have done today is to call all of our people across the length and breathe of the state to subject our decision to a kind of plebiscite and, of course, you have seen what they have said.
“Basically, they said, well, they agree that I could resign from PDP. They said I must lead them to APC and they said I cannot retire from politics. That is the summary of what I heard and we have to now take a look at it.”
At the meeting which held at the Asoludero Court of the former governor in Sagamu, members of Daniel’s political group asked the former governor to lead them to the APC.
Daniel had earlier addressed the gathering of his loyalists and told them he was done with partisan politics, but members of his political family, and some top officials of the PDP, prevailed over him saying they are ready to pitch their tent with the ruling party.
They noted that Daniels’ influence, endorsement and support for APC’s Dapo Abiodun, had a great impact in deciding the governorship race in the state.
The former governor’s loyalists agreed that he can resign from the PDP, however, they noted that his political journey is far from over, insisting that he leads them to the APC.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/ex-atiku-campaign-dg-who-resigned-from.html

Suanu's Blog

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has donated the sum of N200million in scholarships to the children of PDP Collation Officer for Khana Local Government Area, Dr.Ferry Gberegbe, who died in the earlier hours of Saturday after being shot at his stomach by police officers believed to be of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS). He directed the widow of the deceased to open bank accounts for each of the four children.

Gov. Wike announced this donation on Saturday when he led other dignitaries on a condolence visit to the deceased family.

The Governor, who is the candidate of the PDP in the botched governorship election in Rivers State also announced that the State Government will set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to ensure that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) personnel who killed Dr Ferry Gberegbe, PDP Khana Collation Agent are brought to justice.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Medi, Simeon Nwakaudu quotes Gov.Wike as saying:

“We will set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to ensure that the culprits are brought to Justice. It is unfortunate that F-SARs killed the PDP Collation Agent.

“The State Government will offer scholarship to the four young children left behind by the deceased. The Mother of the children should open dedicated account for each of the children. The State Government will pay N50million to each of the four children for their education”.

Gov.Wike accused the Rivers F-SARs Commander, Akin Fakorede, of masterminding Dr.Gberegbe’s death.

He said: “It is most unfortunate that the young man was shot dead by F-SARs led by Akin Fakorede in an attempt to cart away election results.

“Instead of us to allow people to choose who will represent and govern them, the security agencies will not allow that. Rather they prefer to kill us.

“He died in the course of the defending the PDP. He died in the course of defending democracy. I want to assure the family that all those who killed him will not go free”.

Governor Wike added that the State Government will also construct a house for the family of Late Dr Ferry Gberegbe and participate in his burial.

The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus blamed Dr.Gberegbe's death on the desperation of the federal government to take over Rivers State by all means.

Widow of the deceased, Mrs Funke Gberegbe, Father of the deceased, Mr Conduct Gberegbe and his brother, Ben Lekia all expressed shock at the demise of Dr.Gberegbe by F-SARs operatives.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/govwike-visits-ferry-gberegbes-family.html

Suanu's Blog

Fiery Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has warned trouble politicians in the country to stay away from anything that concerns the spiritual affairs of his ministry else they will fail politically like a former governor of Anambra State and vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr.Peter Obi.

Mbaka, who is the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, stated this on Wednesday during the weekly prayer in his prayer ground Umuchigbo-Nike Enugu.

He also disclosed to the adoration worshipers that in a new revelation he had from God, some set of social miscreants would soon attack him. Warning such persons, the priest said that his religious inclination was a gift that God bestowed on him to save the captives and preach the message of God to his people.

While describing President’s reelection as divine, Mbaka also said the shameful defeat of Senator Ayogu Eze, APC Guber Candidate in Enugu State was also in line with his earlier prophecy which He (Eze) ignored.

He said: “The gift I have is not sold in the market, neither do you get it anywhere in the world. So, when I prophesy you are not in a position to criticize the prophecy I give because it is from the oracle of the Holy Spirit.
“Those who are still plotting for the downfall of the adoration ministry should remember the present condition of Mr. Peter Obi, politically, and if they don’t desist from that, they will be failing in all their endeavours.
“The victory of President Mohammadu Buhari is divine. Could anybody believe that after all the insults that were thrown at him, that at the end of the day Buhari will win the presidential election? So, his victory has spiritual connotation.
“Even in Enugu state, didn’t you see what happened? I told Senator Ayogu Eze the Governorship candidate of the APC that he will not win the Governorship election, that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will finish his eight years in Office. Didn’t it happen? Out of over 400,000 votes that were cast, was it not 10,000 and something votes that he got? So my prophesy is not from man rather from God.
“Those of you who are criticising Buhari that he is not doing well should be mindful of your utterances. I could recall in 2012 when there was oil boom in the country I told the Nigeria President then, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his associates to save for the raining days and they did not heed my advice, rather they told me not to interfere in politics; that I should mind my pastoral work.
“So, the present hunger and famine in the land was not caused by Buhari but by the Jonathan administration. We should even thank God for giving us a type like Buhari who knows how to spend prudently.”

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/if-you-criticise-me-you-will-fail-like.html

Suanu's Blog

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obong Nsima Ekere has been predicted as the expected winner of today's governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

This prophecy was given by an elder in The Apostolic Church and a newspaper distributor, Mr. Effiong Etukudoh.

He said his prediction was “based on the word of God”.

Etukudoh said in an interview with The Nation in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the Lord revealed to him as far back as 2017 that Ekere will emerge as the governor of the state in 2019, a time the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was not even in contention for the position.

He said: “What I want to tell you is that when God says this is what is going to happen, nobody can stop it.

“The PDP in Akwa Ibom plays politics of blindness, because they close their eyes to the realities of the day.

“I got this revelation in 2017 and I told people here that Nsima Ekere would become governor of Akwa Ibom State on 2019.

“By that time, he had not even mentioned that he was going to contest in 2019.

“So, when the primary came last year, everybody expected Senator John Udoedehe to win the ticket, because he is somebody that is well known.

“But, I told them that the person that would emerge as the APC flag bearer is Nsima Ekere.”

Etukudoh said when he predicted in 2018 that former President Olusegun Obasanjo would be retired from politics in 2019, because his candidate will not win, people did not believe him, because he is a commoner.

“Nobody believed me, but it has come to pass,” he added.

Meanwhile, incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel, Candidate of the ruling PDP is seeking re-election in Akwa Ibom State.

The prophet also predicted victory for APC candidates in Lagos and Sokoto States.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/nsima-ekere-is-next-governor-of-akwa.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog


It's like double wahala for APC Chieftain, Senator Joshua Dariye who is currently in Kuje prison as he is reportedly down with kidney failure.

Dariye, who is a former Plateau State Governor is said to be hospitalised at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.

Suanu's Blog recalls that Dariye was sent to a 14-year jail term (later reduced to 10 years) by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court presided over by Justice Adebukola Banjoko on a 23-count charge of diverting and laundering of N1.126 billion Ecological Funds belonging to the Plateau State Government while in office as the governor.

A source close to the senator quoted by The Nation said;
“I have gone to see him. He is having serious health challenges. From my finding and from the doctor, his aliment is kidney failure and it is critical.”

This was also confirmed by the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), FCT Command Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chukwuedo Humphrey, but he declined to state his ailment.

He said the Service had been managing his illness since last October.

Dariye's family members are reportedy also worried about his condition.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/embattled-apc-senator-suffers-from.html?m=1

Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the founder of Salvation Ministries, a popular Pentecostal church in Portharcourt with national and international branches has warned former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his successor, Nyesom Wike to desist from sponsoring violence and deaths during elections in Rivers State.

The cleric stated this today during the 3rd service of his church televised globally and monitored by Suanu's Blog. This was in reaction to the violence and loss of lives recorded in Rivers State during the presidential and national assembly elections last Saturday. He lamented that while nobody died in states of the two major candidates, over 20 deaths were recorded in Rivers State.

He urged the main political gladiators in Rivers State (Wike and Amaechi) to stop using billions of naira to sponsor violence and killings in the state and instead channel such funds into awarding scholarships and other empowerment schemes for the people.

Pastor Ibiyeomie cautioned the followers to be wise as the children of both Amaechi and Wike are abroad and may not necessarily be the victims of any bloodshed they have sponsored.

He led the church into a prayer session for all sponsors of violence and bloodshed in Rivers State to die before the March 09 elections.

Suanu's Blog recalls that Rivers State has sustainably recorded series of deaths and violence during elections since 2014 with the state currently charged with fears of more likely violence and killings ahead of the next poll.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/stop-sponsoring-violence-and-killings.html?m=1

Abonema, a community in Rivers State is gradually becoming a ghost town as residents are leaving it in droves over the killing of two soldiers.

Suanu's Blog gathered that the soldiers were killed by armed men alleged to be members of the controversial Rivers State Neighborhood Watch Saturday night.

The town was greatly hit by electoral violence which led to the death of over 20 persons finally culminating into the presidential and national assembly elections not holding in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State last Saturday where the community belongs to.

Suanu's Blog recalls that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has been at loggerheads with the Nigeria Army in the State over allegations of electoral interference and threat to his life, yet the army had denied all those and provided evidences of how Gov.Wike had attempted to bribe the GOC 6 division in Portharcourt.

The recent killing of the two soldiers have raised tensions in the community with fear of an eminent reprisal attack by the army.

Meanwhile, Gov.Wike is yet to react to the death of the soldiers. However, he had few days ago raised the alarm that the military was collaborating with the APC to cause crises in Rivers State so as to prevent the governorship election from taking place on March 09.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/rivers-community-deserted-as-residents.html?m=1

Barring any last minute surprise, all indications appear to favour the re-election of th Rivers State Governor, Barr.Nyesom Wike in next Saturday's Governorship election.

This follows the exclusion of the main opposition, All Progressives Congress, and a recent judgment also ordering the delisting Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs as the governorship candidate of Accord Party in the state.

Suanu's Blog recalls that the deputy Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Rivers State had few days also defected to the PDP and endorsed Wike's re-election.

Also, no fewer than 58 governorship candidates in Rivers State have stepped down their ambitions in support of Mr.Wike. The Guber candidates on Friday also alleged an ongoing plot by the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission to disrupt the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state.

Speaking through their Chairman, Pastor Samuel Ihunwo, during a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the candidates said;

“We observed that our people were killed by the military. We have come for a solidarity visit because as the father of the state, you are pained by what is happening. We condemn in totality, the unwarranted killings by the military,” he said.

In a boastful response, Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Wike, stated that no one man born of woman could determine the political destiny of Rivers State.

He said, “If we rely on the security agencies, by now, we will not be here. Only God protects us in Rivers State.

“If you see the connivance between the APC and the security agencies,  you will marvel how we have gone so low. The security agencies aiding individuals to perpetrate crime; it is unfortunate”.

“You cannot cling to power through the blood of innocent people. Those people who believe that the only way they can come to power is when they finish killing everybody, should emulate these governorship candidates.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/03/govwike-on-lone-guber-race-as-58-guber.html?m=1

The efforts of the presidential campaign DG of Mr.Buhari, Rotimi Amaechi to secure victory for his principal appear to be heading for the rocks as PDP’s Atiku Abubakar is enjoying a comfortable lead in results so far announced in nine Local Government Areas out of the 23 in the state.
The results so far announced by INEC in Rivers State are as follows:
Oyigbo (APC – 3520; PDP – 16,102)
Omuma (APC – 2494; PDP – 15322)
ONELGA (APC – 10996; PDP – 28536)
Eleme (APC – 2412; PDP – 8464)
Gokana (APC – 9328; PDP – 10276)
Etche (APC – 7163; PDP – 11135)
Obio Akpor (APC – 6875; PDP – 69981)
Andoni (APC – 10766; PDP – 72330)
Asari Toru (APC - 8180, PDP - 3175 )

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/02/buharis-campaign-dg-set-to-lose-state.html

The Photographer attached to Bayelsa State Government House, Reginald Dei, who was reported earlier to have died on Saturday after he was shot at close range in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state is still alive but in critical condition.

Various sources within Bayelsa State had accused troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe as being behind the shooting of the photographer but the JTF immediately refuted the allegations saying its troops were not involved in any skirmishes in the local government area during the election.

Investigations by The Nation, however, revealed that Dei was gasping for breath and battling for survival at an undisclosed hospital in Yenagoa, the state capital.

It was learnt that the victim was in life support as doctors were battling to stabilize him.

Some government officials led by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, were said to have visited him at the hospital.

A member of the team, who spoke in confidence, said Dei was placed on oxygen adding that there was an urgent need to fly him abroad.

He said the bullet hit him badly at close range from behind affecting an undisclosed major organ in his body.

“He needs to be flown abroad and it must be done urgently. We sympathize with the family of Dei and we will do everything possible to save his life”, he said.

Journalists in the state including members of Government House media crew were happy that Dei was still alive as they prayed God to save his life.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/02/bayelsa-govt-house-photographer-feared.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

As collations are ongoing nationwide in yesterday’s presidential and national assembly elections, unknown gunmen have reportedly attacked and burnt electoral materials at INEC office at Oriade Local Government Area in Osun state.

Suanu’s Blog gathered that the sad incident occurred at about 3 AM on Sunday.

The suspected hoodlums were said to have besieged the office, shooting at the Commission’s office and destroying parts of its property before setting it ablaze the electoral materials.

Items including ballot papers and boxes and two generator sets were burnt.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/02/breaking-hoodlums-attack-inec-office.html

Suanu's Blog

Controversial lawmaker, Dino Melaye, who is seeking reelection under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi west senatorial zone is currently leading the contest with a wide margin victory in the first results released from Mopamuro Local Government Area.
Suanu’s Blog recalls that Melaye who was elected in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress, APC, had defected last year and is seeking a second term at the red chamber.

Mr Ibrahim Ismaila, the INEC Collation Officer of Mopamuro LGA, announced the interim results at the collation centre in INEC LG office in Mopa at about 3:20 a.m on Sunday.

According to Ismaila, the PDP senatorial candidate, Melaye won 5112 votes, while his closest rival Smart Adeyemi of APC got 3658 votes, ADC
784 and SDP 26 votes out of the 9717 valid votes cast.
There were 336 rejected votes, making total votes cast to be 10055.

Also, in the House of Representatives, the PDP also beat APC with 3703 votes. The APC got 3157 votes and ADC 2 609 votes. A total of 10042 votes were cast while 9704 votes were valid while 338 votes were rejected.

And in the presidential election, the PDP scored 5336 votes to the APC’s 3646.
He added that out of 10055 votes cast in the election, 336 were rejected while 9507 were accepted as valid.

It may interest you to note that there are seven local government areas in Kogi West Senatorial District.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/02/senator-dino-melaye-in-early-lead.html

A young man who attempted to snatch electoral materials including a ballot box in Gombe State during the presidential and national assembly elections on Saturday met his sudden death.

This may not be unconnected to an earlier warning from President Buhari.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/02/checkout-what-happened-to-this-man-who.html

@Suanu's Blog

A report reaching Suanu's Blog indicates that a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State, Muwan Owon Etete alongside his elder brother have been shot dead by unknown gunmen.

It was further gathered that the sad incident occurred at their native Ataba , Andoni Local Government Area of the State.

The ongoing presidential and national assembly elections have been characterized by violence and deaths in different parts of Rivers State as the APC and ruling PDP battles for prominence and victory.

(c)
http://www.suanusblog.com/2019/02/2019-elections-unknown-gunmen-shoot.html?m=1

A health study has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari is suffering from four dangerous diseases. Suanu’s Blog recalls that until recently, President Buhari had continually embarked on medical vacations in the UK to treat an unknown ailment.

Online media, Sahara Reporters revealed that President Buhari according to the health report is suffering from a combination of prostate cancer, sickle cell anaemia, Crohn’s disease and dementia.

The report also revealed that the prostate cancer afflicting the President “may have become incurable”.

A part of the study read: “Buhari is being constantly treated for prostate cancer in UK. The first diagnosis of prostate cancer dates back to 2014 at the latest. The underlying cause of this cancer may be Crohn’s disease (relationship between these diseases is explained in the report). Moreover, he likely suffers from sickle cell disease, which also could increase the risk of prostate cancer and complicate cancer treatment.

“He was recently mocked for incoherency and confusion in his public appearances. Dementia may be due to age and fatigue from medical treatment, but is also associated with a common treatment (ADT) for prostate cancer. Therefore, dementia may be either an independent condition, or a result of lengthy cancer treatments.

“Data analysis suggests a certainty of the prostate cancer diagnosis, a high probability of Crohn’s disease, and a likelihood of both dementia and sickle cell anemia. Each condition in itself can be seen as debilitating; together, and given the nature of cancer treatments, they are preventing Buhari from fulfilling his presidential functions.”

The study reached the following conclusions: “The President suffers from multiple severe medical conditions, that are likely to significantly impair his ability to serve for another term. His treatment pattern (detailed in the report) suggests that his cancer may have become incurable.

“In 2017 he was intensively treated and spent most of the year in the UK. In 2018, he only took short trips for medical reasons, implying he was no longer undergoing significant cancer treatments. This is compatible with statements from individuals associated with the hospital where he underwent treatment. They state he underwent a surgery, following which he must undergo follow-ups at least once in three months for five years."

President Buhari is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Saturday’s presidential election in Nigeria.

Click here to view the full details of the health report.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/02/four-deadly-diseases-president-buhari.html

@SuanusBlog

National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has lambasted PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over his recent comment of the embattled suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen. Tinubu insists that a permanent discipline awaits Justice Onnoghen, if he is found guilty of the false declaration charges levelled against him.

Suanu’s Blog recalls that in a state of the nation address, Atiku had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of clamping down on the judiciary. However, the former Lagos State Governor said if the charges against Onnoghen turned out to be wrong or unproven, he would be automatically reinstated as the head of the judiciary.

“President Buhari conditionally suspended the CJN. By doing so, this allows for the case to move forward without the CCT or others fearing the CJN might use his position to unduly interfere with proceedings. If the CJN is exonerated, then he will return to his position. If not exonerated, then a more permanent discipline awaits him,” he said.

He accused Atiku of misleading the public that Buhari removed Onnoghen from office even though he knew that the president suspended him.

Tinubu wondered why Atiku was defending a “jurist who has enjoyed the sweet but hidden benefits of several million dollars of mystery money passing through his secret bank accounts even when discovered, these accounts held several hundred thousands of dollars in them”.

He said left to Atiku, Onnoghen should not be investigated despite the weighty allegations levelled against him.

The full statement of Asiwaju reads below:

The PDP’s presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku, recently made comments regarding suspension of CJN Onnoghen. Atiku’s release is entitled “State of the nation address”. I encourage everyone to read it. In its disregard for the truth and patent misrepresentations, it will go down in political history as a classic of self-incrimination. Atiku thinks the piece exalts him. Instead it evinces his penchant for wilful misstatement that make him unfit for the office he now seeks and has always coveted.

In the statement, he claims to have dedicated all his life to the defense of democracy. Those of you who know him, and even those who don’t, know this is not true. If all of his life has been dedicated to support for democracy, then he is far too young to run for president; however, I must congratulate him for having somehow managed to find or begin a second life. This rebirth as a defender of democracy must have taken place only a few short hours ago.

His previous life of over seventy years was one of skirting democracy and of blatant impunity in attempting to enshrine reactionary government and installing an unjust political economy on the backs of the people.

In his address, he claims the nation has entered a difficult moment. To my dear and good friend Atiku, I say the difficulty is not so much with the moment but with your memory.

When you lorded over Nigeria in tandem with President Obasanjo, there were myriad court orders mandating that your government render to Lagos state the funds due it to improve the lives of its millions of inhabitants. Instead, you gladly and without dispute joined Obasanjo in utter disregard for these unambiguous legal verdicts. In so doing, you demeaned the rule of law. You also readily sacrificed the economic development and welfare of millions of innocent people in Lagos just to gain some illicit political advantage that proved to be fleeting and of no avail to you in the end.

You now speak of democracy and the need for executive restraint. But such verbal finery never crossed your lips or traversed your pen when you and Obasanjo improperly removed Senate Presidents more easily than a trendy cad exchanges a pair of shoes or changes the subject of his false affections. Your love for democracy is such that you were recently observed apologising to the PDP for not rigging the Lagos 2003 gubernatorial polls as you did the polls in the other Southwestern states.

Instead of repenting for rigging at least five states too many, your expressed regret was that you had not rigged enough; that you rigged one state less than the complete mauling of democracy your party and your principal had mandated. Regarding such a destructive love as this, I am sure democracy and fair elections would rather do without.

A few weeks ago in a televised broadcast you even revealed to the people that your official policy envisioned the base enrichment of your friends should you achieve the presidency.
I must assume that your lifetime as a defender of democracy began after this long record of unjust deeds and even after your latest statement of intent to mould Nigeria into an oligarchy. If this is not the case and if all these things you have done and said are consistent with your current notion of democracy, then there is but one conclusion. The democracy you now claim to support remains a rather strange breed of democracy, such as to be nigh indistinguishable from the regressive, rentier political economy you designed and foisted on Nigeria as the crafty lieutenant of the bullish Obasanjo.

Strange that you would choose to depict the current situation so inaccurately as to stir emotions unduly. You claim that CJN Onnoghen has been removed. However, this is not so. He has been temporarily suspended. You and your advisors should know and recognize the vast legal difference between “suspension” and “removal.” Yet you persist in conflating the two in what you say is a pursuit of justice. While true you may be in pursuit of something. It is not justice.

If justice was your goal, you would acknowledge that the CJN has only been temporarily suspended not permanently removed. Thus, your recourse to saying that the president violated the constitutional provision regarding the removal of a CJN is inaccurate in that Buhari never intended to remove the CJN. What he has done is to have the CJN temporarily get out of his chair so that the serious matters against him can be heard by someone other than himself. Should the charges show themselves to be wrong or unproven, the CJN will be automatically reinstated as the head of the Nigerian judiciary. However, for Atiku to state that the CJN should remain on seat while credible and grave charges swirl around him is to put the entire workings of the Supreme Court under a heavy cloud.

It is ironic that Atiku of all people throw such darts at President Buhari. Buhari actually exercised considerable restraint in this matter. He has reasonably balanced concerns about the integrity of the judiciary with concerns for the individual rights of the accused. Nothing has been taken from the CJN that cannot be restored if the facts warrant such restoration. Thus, President Buhari conditionally suspended the CJN. By doing so, this allows for the case to move forward without the CCT or others fearing the CJN might use his position to unduly interfere with proceedings. If the CJN is exonerated, then he will return to his position. If not exonerated, then a more permanent discipline awaits him.

This is an imminently fair and balanced approach, especially given the fact that the constitution and other laws really do not provide clear and unambiguous guidance in how to proceed in a case whether the CJN is the defendant under this unique fact pattern. While Atiku rails against Buhari because of this act of restraint, we can but imagine the tack Chief Obasanjo and Atiku would have taken if they presided over this situation. By now, they would have put CJN Onnoghen in the stocks or shipped him off to that infamous farm in Ota where he would have begun his new career in plucking poultry.

It is curious that Atiku would take up the marker of a jurist who has enjoyed the sweet but hidden benefits of several million dollars of mystery money passing through his secret bank accounts, Even when discovered, these accounts held several hundred thousands of dollars in them.

Someone in Atiku’s position would normally be wary of a judge thusly tainted. A politician in Atiku’s position should more objectively be concerned that the government would have been the source of the hidden funds or that government would use the fact of the clandestine money as leverage against the judge to make sure he did government’s bidding for surely this a jurist highly compromised by pecuniary indiscretion. It is almost unnatural that an opposition candidate would champion the soiled cause of such a judge who seems to have sold something in exchange for the money found in his vest’s secret pockets.

Yet, Atiku now cries the anguished cry of a man who thought he had won the lottery only to find he had misread the last number on his claim ticket. Or perhaps these are the tears of a man who thought he had invested in a sure deal only to see the reason for the investment evaporate before his very eyes. Now, Atiku and his cohort seek to turn their personal disappointment into a burning national issue. They seek to manufacture a constitutional crisis where none exists.

They said they suspended their campaign because of this matter. Here, they are as illogical as illogic can beget. By suspending their campaign, did that mean they were permanently ending it? Of course not! That would be a boycott or the permanent “removal” of the campaign. No, they have resumed their campaign after temporarily suspending it. If they know the meaning of suspend in this regard, only malign intent allows them to feign ignorance to the meaning of the word “suspend” when applied to CJN Onnoghen.

There is no need to quake at the solitary incident of the interim suspension of a justice pending the legal resolution of serious criminal claims against him. If this matter is shorn of the political trappings it has acquired, there is no fairer way to handle the matter.

Atiku, I gather, would rather leave the man in seat and allow the charges against him to go unattended. Or Atiku would rather that the CJN preside over his own trial. Such is the logical conclusion of Atiku’s position. It is an odd bravery that would lead Atiku to stake such a position. If Atiku is as oddly courageous as he now depicts, then let him venture a step further. Pray tell, let Atiku tell us what good and precious thing he and the PDP rendered that they cannot even countenance the temporary and conditional suspension of a single jurist until the charges of illegality against the man have been fully resolved in open proceedings conducted by his judicial peers.

Atiku claims to be a democrat and defender of democracy, but where was he, his voice and action during Abacha’s suffocating maximum rule? Was he not a member and cheer-leader of one of the five Abacha parties aptly described then as five leprous fingers of Abacha? Did he even have the courage to visit his mentor, late Major General Shehu Musa Yar Ádua, in jail for fear of Abacha stopping him from running for the governorship of Adamawa?

Dare Atiku say what is really upsetting him and what he really is hiding in his attempt to cloak his lifetime of undemocratic reckonings in the swaddling of this much too belated democratic second birth he now claims for himself”.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/tinubu-bombs-atiku-reveals-what-will.html

Suanu's Blog

The Ghanaian undercover journalist who  was recently shot dead while driving home, after a politician called for retribution against him has been buried amidst tears.

Suanu's Blog recalls that unidentified men on motorbikes had shot Ahmed Hussein-Suale three times in the capital Accra, few days ago.

Until his sad sudden demise, Ahmed was a member of Tiger Eye Private Investigations and had investigated corruption in Ghana's football leagues.

The undercover report on cash gifts led to a lifetime ban for the former head of Ghana's Football Association.

May His Soul Rest In Peace

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/slain-masked-ghanaian-journalist-ahmed.html

Suanu's Blog

The Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Awassam Bassey, JP has debunked the rumour making the round that the Abuja Home of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen, has been raided by Security Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Suanu's Blog had earlier reported the alleged raid following a disclosure by a PDP chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode.

However, Mr.Bassey in a telephone interview with TheNigerialawyer said that the report is not true. He stressed that, the FFCC has not invaded the home of the Justice, and that it could probably be a plan, but not yet effected to his knowledge.

The EFCC was yet to react to the issue.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/ssa-to-justice-onnoghen-debunks.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has revealed that south-east governors are working for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and not the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Kanu who stated this in a broadcast on Sunday added that the action was because of their plan to return for second term by all means.

He reiterated that IPOB still stands by its earlier threat to boycot the forthcoming general election and remains resolute on its demand for a referendum for Biafra’s exit from Nigeria.

Kanu maintains that there is no fairness in elections in Nigeria as votes do not count.

“It’s shameful and very sad for any observer of what is happening to the east and, especially, Igbo people. If you are not mentally tough, you might be tempted to throw in the towel in surrender to Fulani hegemony, giving the conduct of some Igbo politicians,” Kanu said.

“Admittedly, some politicians show the potential of being reliable, however, as one intelligent man put it, politicians are often victims of linear thinking and logic.

“IPOB has proved that there are other centres of influence and power in the East. Those hoping that Atiku will sweep Biafraland because of the Obi factor are misguided, because almost every governor in the south-east is working for Jubril/ Buhari. What a shame. Even Soludo of all people is working for Buhari.

“IPOB is not backing down on the boycott. Never!!. In the immediate past few years, IPOB has proven that, other than politicians, there are other centres of influence and power in Southeast and parts of South South.

“So, this current path we have chosen – the path of boycotting the 2019 elections – is a well considered one, geared to leaving no one in doubt that we mean business. We know some people are wondering what IPOB expects to gain when it refuses to participate in elections.

“The fact still remains that what happens in Nigeria is selection not election if not why would Dave Umahi in PDP be campaigning for a murderous APC government that killed his own people.”

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/south-east-governors-are-against-atiku.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

The main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has changed the name of its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

The name has been changed to Prince Uche Firstcondus.

This was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Yakubu Dogara at the Presidential Campaign Rally of the PDP holding in Laffia at Nasarawa State.

This move may not be connected to the insinuations that the name of its national chairman has been responsible for the failures of the party reflected in taking second positions in elections conducted so far.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/breaking-pdp-changes-name-of-its.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

President Muhammadu Buhari has denied insinuations going round that he is protecting some corrupt politicians including Senator Godswill Akpabio from being prosecuted by the anti-graft agencies.

Suanu’s Blog recalls that Akpabio, who is the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State was alleged to have stolen N100bn belonging to the state during his tenure; a case that the EFCC has shown little interest in prosecuting diligently. Some Nigerians alleged that with the defection of Senator Akpabio to the APC from PDP, the EFCC may have been forced into giving up on the matter.

However, President Buhari in an interview with Arise TV described as unfair allegations that he was protecting some corrupt persons in his government while he was going after those in the opposition.

The President said he had formed the habit of following due process since his ouster as head of state in 1985 when he was fighting corruption through rash methods.

He said, “I don’t think Akpabio, when he moved to the APC, that I said he should be left alone. I cannot remember asking the EFCC, the ICPC, the police or anybody to spare any corrupt person or incompetent person.

“I haven’t done it and I challenge you to expose any.”

(C) http://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/i-am-not-protecting-akpabio-from.html

Suanu's Blog

Ebonyi state Governor, Engr. David Umahi, has given his nod to the upcoming military operation tagged "Operation Python Dance (Egwu Eke) phase III" by the Nigerian Army in the South-East.

Engr.Umahi who is also the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum also stated that Ebonyi State was not part of the states that formed the “Sovereign States of Biafra,” which had been proclaimed by the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Speaking on Sunday at the Nkwegu Military Cantonment in Abakaliki, the state capital, during the inauguration of the military operation, the governor faulted the approach used by IPOB in actualising their objectives, describing them as bad.

Umahi also raised the alarm of an alleged threat of kidnap on the five governors of the zone by the group and added that the fresh threat was received via text messages, sent to his wife.

“The GOC, you are coming at a time we had our brothers and sisters of IPOB sending text messages tha, there will be no elections and insulting the leaders, particularly the South-East governors.
[image_0]
Just few days back, they sent text message to my wife that the five governors of the South-East would be kidnapped and that their security would be overpowered and that after ransoms were paid, they would kill them and kill themselves.

“That is laughable; although as a leader in the zone, I must say that some of their complaints are genuine; but the approach is very bad. That is why the leaders of south east are not in support of their approach.”

“So, we are not against them, but their approach. And as the Chief Security of the state, I do not welcome them; Ebonyi state is not part of Biafra, we are a sovereign state, and we don’t want to be colonised again, as we are a state demanding better treatment in the affairs of our nation,” He said.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/govumahi-approves-python-dance-3-says.html

Suanu's Blog

The Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Prophet T.B. Joshua has debunked insinuations going round that he released any prophecy regarding Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election in February 2019 in which he was quoted to have predicted that Alhaji Atiku's Abubakar will emerge as the new president of Nigeria.

This rumour had already been made viral by members and supporters of the PDP and Mr.Atiku.

Suanu's Blog recalls that Prophet Joshua was quoted during his annual New Year service as saying: “The election will be closely contested between the two leading political parties but I see Atiku Abubakar winning”.

However, in a statement released on his official Facebook page, the renowned clergy categorically denied the report.

“Prophet T.B. Joshua has not yet released any prophecy for the year, 2019,”the statement began.

“Any prophecy credited to him should be ignored. Emmanuel TV is our means of spreading our message; stay tuned to Emmanuel TV,” it concluded.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/prophet-tb-joshua-denies-predicting.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

The Senator Representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has expressed immense optimism that He is the next governor of Rivers State in 2019 after Governor Nyesom Wike's first tenure. According to the lawmaker, his hope and faith in his eventual victory amidst the current legal tussles is hinged on a divine assurance by "His" God.

Senator Abe boasted about this while speaking during a crossover church service on Monday in his home town, Bera, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State.

Abe who revealed that his God asked him to contest the governorship position of the state in 2019 expressed optimism that neither the scheming of men nor the artificial obstacle created by men will stop his dream from coming to fruition.

A statement released by His spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, quotes the senator in his new year message as saying:

“I want to say that, a lot had been said about me, a lot had been said of me, a lot had been said on me.

“One thing that I will like to share with all of you is that I know that this particular journey that I am on, to run for the governorship of Rivers State in 2019, it is my God that asked me to go and do this.

“And that is why no machination of men, no work of the hand of man, no artificial obstacle created by men will stop our dream from coming true.

“We will not only run for the governorship of Rivers State in 2019, we will be sworn-in as the Governor of Rivers State in 2019.

Senator Abe also lambasted the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, under Adams Oshiomhole over its decision to hand over the party's flag to Mr.Tonye Cole as Rivers Guber Candidate against several court judgment stopping him from doing so. He expressed hope that He and other candidates of his faction will be declared finally as the authentic candidates of the party for the 2019 polls.

He said: “So for me, I am not afraid; we will continue our struggle”
"if the lawyers had advised those who were doing certain thing properly, they could have known that that was not appropriate to hand over the flag of our party to a man in defiance of an existing judgment of the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

“You cannot have a situation that a Court had said does not exist. The High Court said so, the Court of Appeal had said so and then you still go ahead to pretend it exists.

"In any contest in a democracy where the rule of law is supreme, any contest between any man and the law, however powerful that man will be, at the end of the day, the laws will prevail. All APC members in Rivers State should remain calm and focused on Victory”.

"You focus on what is important, and what is important to all of us here now, is that we have approached the Court to declare us as the lawful candidates of the party because we were the product of the lawful congresses that was held by the APC in Rivers State. There was no other one".

He described 2019 as a year of hope for every Rivers man, “it is the prayer of everybody that this year, will witness an improvement in your own homes.

"I believe that there is no power on earth that can stop the desire of a people whose time has come and I believe that, this time, our time has come. No power can stop us. Amen. So we put everything in the hands of Almighty God.

"We do not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future. So I just want to wish everybody a very Happy New Year. I pray that 2019 will carry our dreams to the future," Senator Abe stated.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2019/01/my-god-says-i-next-rivers-state.html?m=1

The Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has expressed optimism that the current crises bedevilling the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC)will be resolved amicably and the party will emerge victorious in all elections scheduled to hold in 2019.

The lawmaker stated this in Port Harcourt on his arrival from Akwa Ibom State where he attended the South-South Presidential Campaign launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Uyo on Friday.

A statement signed by Parry Saroh Benson, the spokesperson of Senator Abe quotes the lawmaker as saying:

"...... we will do our best to ensure that the APC is victorious in Rivers State.

"Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to members of our party in Rivers State to remain calm and committed and continue to work for the success of the party.

"All challenges within the APC in Rivers State will be resolved and by the grace of God, the party will emerge victorious in the State not only in the Presidential election but in all other elections that are to take place in Rivers State".

Suanu's Blog recalls that Senator Abe, who had sought the governorship ticket of the APC in Rivers State alongside several of his loyalists for other elective positions had dragged the APC before various courts across the country in a move political observers fear may deny the party of the opportunity to field candidates for the 2019 General Elections.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2018/12/rivers-apc-crises-will-be-resolved-and.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

Before now, former Rivers State Governor, Rt.Hon.Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has been known undoubtedly as the Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the South-South geopolitical zone. This may not be connected to his many commitments to the emergence of the APC as the current ruling party in Nigeria.

Amaechi, who was among governors from the PDP who joined the APC ahead of its formation played key roles in his capacities as a state governor, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum and the Director-General of the 2015 Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, a position he currently occupies again for the 2019 poll.

Apart from that, He is alleged to be one of the major financiers of the election of Mr.Buhari in 2015. Unfortunately, in spite of his alleged financial contributions, he failed to deliver his state to his new party and faced the sad statistics of his state being among other states which contributed the least number of votes to the victory of Mr. Buhari. No thanks to the overbearing use of federal might and an evil collaboration between officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies.

After Buhari's victory, Mr.Amaechi was reasonably rewarded with the position of the Honourable Minister for Transportation and he continues to enjoy a very cordial relationship with the president.

However, few things have changed thus far that appear to be a major threat to his position as the South-South Leader of the APC. key among these factors include the unending crises rocking the Rivers State Chapter of the APC and his seemingly inability to solve the crises as well as the defection of some big weights of the PDP in the region to the APC ahead of the 2019 General Elections.

From a strong indication, the ruling APC is hell-bent on winning key states in the South-South region with lots of oil monies including Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom States. The defections of former Governors Godswill Akpabio and Emmanuel Uduaghan among others have seriously boosted the chances of the APC in the region.

While Delta and Akwa Ibom appears to have relative peace within the rank of the APC which may aid the party's victory, the deep crises rocking the home state of Mr.Buhari's Reelection DG seem to be a stumbling block in the bid of the APC to stop the reelection of Mr.Nyesom Wike of the PDP in Rivers State. With over five (5) cases in court bordering on the crises in the Rivers APC, there are insinuations in some quarters that the APC may be barred from fielding candidates for the 2019 General Elections. If this happens, then it will come with huge political implications for Mr.Amaechi.

Politics is a game of numbers which culminates into victories. Regardless of one's financial contributions, if such efforts do not translate into electoral victories, it may just amount to another failed political investment. With the overbearing nature of the presidential cabal who were rumoured to be against Mr.Amaechi sometimes ago and the battle for political prominence and dominance on the home from in his region, the outcome of the 2019 elections may make or mar the political fortunes of some people . Particularly, if Senator Akpabio or Dr.Uduaghan wins Akwa Ibom and/or Delta States respectively, and the crises rocking the Rivers APC prevents Mr.Amaechi from leading the party to victory, then the over-ambitious likes of Senator Godswill Akpabio may just usurp the position of the South-South Leadership of the APC.

Meanwhile, loyalists of the PDP are already mocking Mr.Amaechi over the commencement of APC presidential campaigns in Akpabio's home state instead of that of Mr.Amaechi. They allege that it is one of the early signs that Senator Akpabio will soon take over as the Leader of the APC, in the South-South. How all of these will eventually turn out to be will be revealed by time.

Let's watch on keenly.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2018/12/amaechi-vs-akpabio-south-south-apc.html?m=1

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has no opposition except the duo of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police.

The Governor stated this on Thursday at the Rivers State PDP Campaign Office in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Council and the flagoff of "Operation Deliver Your Ward in 2019".

Gov Wike directed all PDP leaders to ensure that the party wins in their communities during the forthcoming elections.

Wike, who is the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the PDP presidential campaign Organisation, alleged that the APC is the party promoting violence in Rivers state. He said the failure of the APC is the reason why they resort to violence.

He further charged Rivers PDP members to work towards the overwhelming victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

He reiterated that the only opponents that the PDP has in the state are the police and INEC. He called on members to be vigilant and ensure they are not short-changed by the two institutions.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, quotes the governor as saying:

"Every politician must go to their respective communities and wards to work for the PDP. Your work is at your respective wards.

"This time, it is 'Operation Deliver Your Ward '. Once you lose your ward, you lose political relevance . Our campaign must be issue based".

"Take this election as if you have very stiff opposition. Work very hard for the party and don't allow ethnic consideration to affect their commitment to the party.

"No other political party will win in Rivers State. Any group of politicians who play the ethnic card will lose out in the long run. It will haunt them in the future.

"If you play wayo, you will see wayo. PDP will only support you if you support PDP. God has decided that APC will not rule Nigeria again", the governor said.

Notable persons at the event included PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro.Felix Obuah, Chairman of the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba among other chieftains and members of the party.

Source: https://www.suanusblog.com/2018/12/2019-pdp-has-no-opponents-except-inec.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

This online picture of the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Wike and an obvious underaged mother is currently trending in the Rivers State social media circle.

Suanu's Blog gathered that Rivers State first lady met the teenage mother among other mothers who gave birth on Christmas day at the Rivers State University Teaching University former BMSH Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The picture also show Mrs.Wike donating just a wrapper to the child-mother.

How old is this baby with baby?

Does this girl need one piece of wrapper or counselling and support?

Share your thoughts!

Check more pictures @ https://www.suanusblog.com/2018/12/trending-govwike-wife-visits-chritmas.html?m=1

President Muhammadu Buhari has strongly condemned the killing of innocent Nigerians in Birnin Magaji community in Tsafe Local Government Area and Magami community in Faru District of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, following attacks by suspected armed bandits.

A statement by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu quotes the president as saying:

“These horrendous acts of violence are crimes against humanity. This violence must stop” .

Mr.Buhari condoled with the families of those killed in the attacks, the government and people of Zamfara State, and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

The President, who has authorized an assessment trip to Zamfara and Sokoto States by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Baba Sadiq on Christmas and Boxing days, reassured residents of States plagued by armed bandits, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Taraba, that their safety is an enduring commitment of his administration and he will continue to ensure that security agencies work round the clock to protect local populations.

The statement added that the president is considering setting up a major operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces, Police, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to restore peace and stability in the region.

President Buhari who thanked the Nigeria Police Force, which has already deployed Special Forces in each of the local government in Zamfara State and the Defence Headquarters’ deployment of a Special Military Intervention Force comprising more than 1,000 personnel to respond to the security challenges in the North Central and North West also vowed to flush out the bandits from wherever they are.

He also commended Nigerians for their support to our security agencies who have continued to demonstrate dedication, commitment and bravery even in very difficult and complex operations.

Suanu's Blog had earlier reported of a violent protests in Zamfara State today over the incessant lost of lives and property with little or no concrete efforts by governments at all levels to end the barbarism.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2018/12/president-buhari-frowns-at-violence-and.html

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday preeent d the 2019 budget proposal of the state to the State House of Assembly.

The budget which sums up to NN480billion is christened “Budget of Sustainable Growth and Development.”

The governor used the opportunity to X-ray the achievements of his administration based on the 2018 budget and that of his government generally from inception.

The budget proposal speech obtained by Suanu's Blog is presented below:


Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

2. I thank God for the opportunity, once again, to present this budget address as the Governor of our State. I am most grateful to the people of Rivers State for the honour and privilege of piloting the affairs of the State for the last three and half years.

3. Mr. Speaker, this is the last budget statement of our administration before the end of our first term in office. Permit me therefore to take a few moments to reflect on our performance.

4. Never for a moment did we betray this trust; neither did we take the interest of our people for granted. We’ve remained faithful, truthful and just to their aspirations and even those who never gave us a chance when we started now admit that we’ve done well and believe strongly that things can only get better for our State under our watch.

5. When we came in three and half years ago, we met a State that was literarily on its knees: physically battered, economically raped and psychologically traumatized.

6. But we came in with a clear vision and mission: a vision to repair and renew the promise of our State; a mission to pull our people from the cesspool of despair and restore our hopes for brighter future.

7. Three and half years after, we have substantially achieved our commitments on all directions of human advancement.

8. Under our watch, Rivers State has emerged from the brink of economic disaster to an era of fiscal sustainability.

9. Today, our Gross Domestic product has increased and our economy is growing at a rate above the national average and attracting new investments even when the national economy continues to be weak, wobbly and troubling.

10. Under our guardianship, we have invested at record levels to provide critical social and economic infrastructure across the State; especially roads, schools, and health facilities.

11. In the process, we created hundreds of thousands of jobs across the construction value chain.

12. We supported small businesses with interest free loans, tax moratoriums and other tangible investment incentives. Today, Rivers State has become economically competitive and businesses, including new start-ups, are responding positively to the improved investment conditions in the State.

13. We prioritized the construction and expansion of road infrastructure and today, we have successfully delivered over 1600 kilometers of roads across the State.

14. Three and half years ago, we could hardly find any tarred street without deep cracks and potholes across the State. Today, that has become a thing of the past.

15. There is no Local Government Area we have not reached; no State or Federal Constituency we have not touched; and no Senatorial District we have not positively affected with our development policies, programmes and projects.

16. In the areas of urban renewal and rural development, we have constructed and reconstructed several roads in Port Harcourt city, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Omoku, Elele, Isiokpo, Okochiri, Ogbunabali, and Amadi Ama communities.

17. The numerous roads and other social amenities, including water, electricity, jetties, land reclamation we have provided are boosting socio-economic activities and improving the wellbeing of our people in several of our rustic and hitherto neglected communities across the State.

18. It is a thing of joy and profound sense of fulfillment that for the first time in history the people of Opobo can now access other parts of the State on a tarred road as a result of our efforts to fulfill our promise.

19. As critical components of human capital development education and healthcare delivery also received appreciable attention in the last three and half years of our administration.

20. We have comprehensively rehabilitated, furnished and equipped over 180 basic education schools through the State’s Universal Basic Education Board.

21. Also, several secondary schools have been rebuilt and expanded while a lot more are presently undergoing total reconstruction and rehabilitation.

22. In 2018 we trained over 1000 teachers on 21st century education skills to improve the quality of teaching and delivery of lesson notes in our basic education schools. More teachers will be trained in the course of 2019.

23. Furthermore, we have expanded access and improved quality in all our tertiary institutions. New faculties buildings, have been built and equipped for the Rivers State University; the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and also in the two State-owned Polytechnics.

24. We also provided grants to all the tertiary institutions to upgrade their facilities, upwardly adjusted the salary structure of both teaching and non-teaching staff of our universities and ensured the regular payment of staff salaries.

25. Furthermore, the School of Midwifery has been comprehensively rehabilitated while the College of Nursing and that of Health Technology have been listed for reconstruction in the next fiscal year.

26. With respect to healthcare, we are gradually getting closer to actualizing our commitment to providing an affordable, effective and efficient healthcare delivery system for our people.

27. To this end, the 13 general hospitals and the mother and child hospital we have comprehensively rehabilitated and or constructed will soon be equipped and put to effective use.

28. We are transforming and equipping the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital with the most advanced diagnostic and other equipment for the treatment of hearth, liver and kidney diseases.

29. We are also going on with the construction of the regional referral hospitals we inherited from the previous administration to bring access to tertiary healthcare closer to our people.

30. Finally, we also fought and reduced the monstrous heights of insecurity and our State is today reckoned as one of the most peaceful, safe and secure States in the country.

31. Mr. Speaker, these are just highlights of some of the development strides we recorded in the last three and half years of our administration to lay, strengthen and consolidate the foundations for the future of our State.

32. Collectively, we are all focused and committed to building a State where no one or section is left out from the benefits of progress; a society where everyone has a fair chance to pursue set goals and realize their potential; a society where everyone is educated, economically empowered and physically secured enough to live a peaceful, fulfilling, healthy, and meaningful life.

33. But as you know, social transformation is like a journey; it takes time to fully manifest and benefit the entire populace.

34. Yes, we have made significant progress in the last three and half years of our administration. But there is still a lot to be done to get to where we want our State to be.

2018 BUDGET PERFORMANCE REVIEW

35. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, and distinguished guests. In the 2018 fiscal year, the projected revenue for the State was 510,000,000,000.00 (Five Hundred and Ten Billion Naira) only.

36. Out of this sum 152,000,000,000.00 (One hundred and fifty-two billion was projected from internal generated revenue, (IGR) while statutory allocation (FAAC) was estimated at N210, 000,000.000.00 (Two Hundred and Ten Billion naira) only. Therefore aggregate projected revenue from IGR and FAAC was N362, 000,000,000.00 only.

37. We also projected to source the sum of N148, 000,000,000.00 from other sources, including internal and external loans.

38. As at November 2018 total revenue receipts from all sources (except internal and external loans) stood at 288,721,423,336. This represents about 79 per cent performance on the revenue side with respect to the totally projected IGR and FAAC receipts for 2018.

39. It is worthy of note that while internally generated revenue for 2018 improved marginally over that of 2017, what was realized was about 32 per cent less than the total amount projected for the fiscal year 2018.

40. This means that we still have serious challenges in meeting our IGR targets, a situation we must collectively find ways to overcome if we must deliver on our development targets to the people.

41. On our part, we shall continue with our efforts to stimulate economic growth, diversify the economy and attract more investments to shore up the State’s revenue base.

42. It is also worthy of note that the 2018 budget was financed principally from proceeds from IGR, FAAC, Paris Club Refund and dividends from the State’s stock portfolio. We literally refused to borrow in order to encourage us to live within our means as well as achieve appreciable levels of fiscal sustainability.

43. On the expenditure side, we prudently managed and applied the available resources to deliver on the mandates of the 2018 budget.

44. For instance, in spite of the shortfall in aggregate revenue, we substantially funded our recurrent expenditure, including the regular payment of salaries, pensions and the release of overheads to ministries, departments and extra-ministerial agencies (MDAs).

45. Also, aggregate capital releases to MDAs as at November stood at over 65 per cent of the total capital expenditure. As you may have noticed, we completed and delivered over 30 capital projects in 2018 during the 3rd anniversary of our administration, including:

· Slaughter – Trans Amadi – Garrison road;

· Abuloma – Woji – Elelenwo – Akpajo

· Obiri ikwerre – Airport road;

· Elele Alimini internal roads;

· Omoku internal roads;

· Cardinal Jim Rex-Lawson Cultural Centre;

· Amadi Ama internal roads;

· Dr. Peter Odili Doctors’ Quarters (BMSH);

· Chief Emmanuel Aguma House;

· Dame Patience Jonathan road (former creek road);

· Bishop Johnson Street;

· Captain Amangala Street;

· Tourist Beach road;

· Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori;

· General Sanni Abacha Road;

· Mbuoshimi Community Health Centre;

· Mgboshimini Community Primary School;

· P.G. Warmate House (Former Waterlines Building);

· Ozuaha – Ipo – Omademe road;

· Traditional Council Secretariat;

· National Industrial Court Building;

· Court of Appeal Building;

· Okochiri Internal roads;

· Isiokpo internal roads (phase 1);

· 24 nos 3 Bedroom flats for civil servants;

· Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta;

· Nyemoni Grammar School, Abonnema;

· Government Secondary School, Onne;

· Faculty of Sciences and Technical Education building, Rivers State University;

· Faculty of Management Sciences building, Rivers State University;

· Faculty of Medical Sciences Building, Rivers State University;

· SUBEB Head Office complex, Port Harcourt; and

· Ogbunabali internal roads

46. From all assessments the policy objectives of the 2018 budget circle on expenditure targeting, spending prioritization and effective implementation were substantially achieved.

ECONOMIC AND FISCAL OUTLOOK FOR 2019

47. Mr. Speaker, few days ago, Mr. President told a nation in distraught that the national economy is in real bad shape.

48. Mr. President’s frank but hopeless assessment of the national economy was predicated on the continuous decline in national revenue, which has created uncertainty in the country’s fiscal conditions.

49. Ordinarily, we should all be worried over the gloomy picture of the national economy because the health of our economy is tied substantially to the strength of the national economy.

50. However, we have taken adequate measures to guarantee the medium and long-term sustainability of our economy and reduce the State’s exposure to the shocks and volatilities of the national economy, except if it goes on a free fall.

51. Against this background, I wish to assure us that no matter what happens to the economy at the national level, the growth outlook for our State’s economy remains positive in the short to medium term.

52. We shall continue to reset our economy by maintaining expansionary fiscal approach, prioritizing investments in critical socio-economic infrastructure and taking appropriate measures to boost revenue generation to meet our development objectives, priorities and targets.

THE 2019 BUDGET ESTIMATES

53. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members; the projected revenue for Rivers State for the 2019 Fiscal Year is N480, 000,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Eighty Billion Naira) only.

54. The budget is based on the following assumptions:

(i) an oil price bench mark of 55 United States Dollars per barrel, which is 5 dollars lower than that of the Federal Government; and

(ii) an oil production rate 2,000,000 barrels per day, as against the Federal Government’s 2,300,000.000 barrels per day; and

(iii) an inflation rate of 10.9 per cent as against the Federal Government’s 9.9 per cent.

55. The strategic thrust for the 2019 budget is to promote economic growth and diversification, create jobs and reduce unemployment; take as many of our people out of poverty and improve the standard of living of Rivers State.

56. To this end, we shall be doing the following specific things:

(i) prioritize investments in agriculture and encourage, train and support our youths to go into commercial farming;


(ii) support small and medium businesses to invest in the State and create jobs;

(iii) continue to prioritize and invest in human capital development and guarantee robust access to basic social services such as, education, healthcare, social housing, water and sanitation;

(iv) continue to keep Rivers State peaceful, safe and secure;

(v) continue to prioritized investments in the provision and expansion of transport infrastructure, including roads, bridges and jetties.

57. Against this background, the 2019 Budget is aptly christened: “Budget of Sustainable Growth and Development.”

FINANCING THE 2019 BUDGET

58. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, funding for the 2019 budget will be from the following sources:

S/N

Source

Projected revenue

1

Internally Generated Revenue

N120, 492,891,302.00

2

Statutory Allocation


N73, 169,813,022.00


3

13% oil minerals fund

N145, 070,991,780.00

4

Value Added Tax

N26, 377,628,543.00

5

Refunds

N27, 337,926,155.08

6

Local Credits

N45, 000,000,000.00

7

International Credits

N30, 000,000,000.00

8

Capital receipts

N300, 000,000.00

9

Exchange gain

N8, 000,000,000.00

10

Prior year Balance

N4, 662,073,844.92

11

TOTAL

N480, 411,324,647,00

59. At about 28.39 per cent of total revenue, Oil Mineral funds is the largest contributor to the budget and what is proposed in the 2019 budget represents a significant increase from that of 2018 as we expect the Federal Government to implement the recent judgment on the upward review of our entitlements under the relevant Production Sharing Agreements.

60. The IGR is the second highest contributor to the budget as the sum proposed represents about 25 per cent of the total budget.

61. We decided to be as realistic as possible with our IGR projections because over the years we have been unable to match our revenue potential with actuality.

62. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the constant improvements we have recorded year in, year out to continue with our drive to generate more revenue from alternative internal sources to fund substantial parts of our budget.

63. While we may not introduce new taxes and levies in 2019, I have directed the State’s Internal Revenue Service to plug all existing tax loopholes, crack down on tax defaulters and ensure full implementation of our revenue laws to shore up our IGR collections.

64. Furthermore, in addition to balancing the fairness of the tax system to enhance compliance, we will also continue with our efforts to increase the efficiency of revenue collection from both existing and other potential sources.

65. The third most viable contributor to our budget is statutory allocation. Here, our projection is over 28 billion more than that of 2018 based on the assumptions of the Federal Government. However, we are mindful of the fact that this is a revenue item we have no control whatsoever over what can accrue to the State.

66. Finally, we have substantially reduced our intention to fund the 2019 budget with borrowed funds in line with our policy of balancing our budget and reducing deficits to sustain the impetus towards fiscal responsibility.

PROPOSED EXPENDITURE

67. Mr. Speaker, the proposed revenue for 2019 fiscal year will be spent as follows:
(1) Recurrent Expenditure - N157, 122,354,564.15

(2) Capital Expenditure - N323, 288,970,085.00

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE

68. The Recurrent Expenditure will be spent as follows:



S/N

Expenditure Item

Amount

1.

Personnel Emolument

N79, 585,058,808.60

2.

Overhead

17, 025,380,000.00

3.

Pension

33,000,000,000.00

4.

Others

27,511,915,255.55



69. A substantial part of the recurrent budget proposed for 2019 is for the payment of staff salaries and overheads to ministries, departments and agencies to enable them effectively discharge their responsibilities to the people.



70. The personnel cost of N79, 585,058,808.60 alone constitutes about 50 per cent of the entire recurrent expenditure. The increase in the figure for 2019 is as a result of the need to provide for the anticipated increase in the minimum wage for civil servants.



71. With this, the State Government will be in a position to pay the minimum wage whenever the National Assembly approves it. We also made provisions for staff promotion arrears and new recruitments into the State’s civil service.



72. The sum of 33,000,000,000.00 is proposed for the settlement of pension liabilities. The challenge about the plight of pensioners has lingered for too long and we are determined to tackle it this time around. Certainly, our senior citizens deserve better treatment than what they are presently getting.

(c)
https://www.suanusblog.com/2018/12/govwike-presents-2019-budget-of-n480bn.html?m=1

Suanu's Blog

A report reaching Suanu's Blog indicates that residents and indigenes of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara state have taken the laws into their hands by burning down the local government secretariat as well as a house belonging to the Local Government Chairman.

The People are deeply angry at the failure of the government at all levels to save their their lives and property.

Suanu's Blog recalls that Zamfara State for a long time had witnessed series of deaths and destruction of property following unending attacks by armed bandits.

(c) https://www.suanusblog.com/2018/12/just-in-local-government-secretariat.html?m=1