₦airaland Forum

government to set aside all or part of Abacha loot recovered in the U.S. for victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who represents the 18th District of Texas, is sponsoring a bill, H.R. 528, which will allow the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to use money from the recovered Abacha loot that is in its
custody to provide relief for families of the abducted Chibok girls, PREMIUM TIMES correspondent in Washington reported.
Speaking on Wednesday (May 11) at a Congressional subcommittee hearing on the U.S. role in helping Nigeria confront Boko Haram and other threats in Northern Nigeria, Ms. Jackson Lee sought the Committee’s support for H.R. 528.
“I have HR 528 which I would like to bring to the Committee’s attention”, she said, giving the title of the bill as “Victims of Terror Protection Act” and added that “it deals with the Abacha loot which the DOJ has.”
Ms. Jackson Lee was one of 10 people who spoke at the hearing, including one of the Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram terrorists on the night they were kidnapped.
The Congresswoman, who visited Nigeria on a fact-finding mission a few weeks after the kidnapping, said the bill was motivated by the plight of the families of the kidnapped girls and that the intention was to create relief fund for them and other victims.
“When we were in Nigeria two years ago, families were still in pain, they are still in limbo,” she said, adding “Boko Haram has killed Muslims, Christians and others, they’ve killed and burned mosques and churches and homes and schools.”
She said while the overall question remained what we can do to bring the girls back, “there are broken families out there” and she believed the DOJ “can begin to utilize that money asap” to provide the relief these
families desperately need.
The U.S. was one of the earliest destinations late Sani Abacha and his family chose for their illegally acquired wealth.
Mohammed Abacha and his late brother, Ibrahim, opened accounts with Citibank, New York, in 1992 using the aliases Chinquinto, Gelsobella and Navarrio.
Three years later, they opened a business account with the name Morgan Procurement. The Abachas gave a US-French citizen, named Alain Ober, power of attorney over their New York and London bank accounts.
By 1999 when a U.S. Senate Committee began investigating Abacha loot, the accounts had recorded more than $110 million transactions including $47 million that passed through the New York accounts within six months and $37 million found in one account in 1995.
Mr. Ober and other officials of Citibank testified before the U.S. Senate back in 1999, admitting to moving money for the Abachas but claiming that they were not aware of their clients’ true identity.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/203288-u-s-congress-moves-to-compel-obama-to-withhold-abacha-loot-for-boko-haram-victims.html

Many Nigerians have been expressing their frustration and anger over the recent removal of fuel subsidy and increase in fuel price – Some want to once again occupy Nigeria like they did in 2012 when subsidy was removed – Others are resisting the move to embark on a protest Following the removal of subsidy and an increase in fuel price, the Nigerian Labour Congress vowed to mobilize against the new pump price. In 2012, when the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan removed subsidy, Nigerians took to the street in protest. The protest against fuel subsidy removal shut down the country for days and social media buzzed with the Occupy Nigeria hashtag. The fuel subsidy was later partially removed to appease the angry protesters.

Omokri criticises Buhari, Osinbajo Four years after, the #OccupyNigeria is trending again as the federal government announced fuel subsidy removal on Wednesday, May 11. While some Nigerians are already eager to protest the removal of subsidy and hike in fuel price, others don’t think it’s the right thing to do. Someone has given the All Progressives Congress a new name. ALL PROMISE CANCELLED

https://www.naij.com/827782-occupynigeria-nigerians-wont-believe-new-name-theyve-given-apc.html

– A top market official has spoken out on the petrol
price increase
– Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi of IPMAN said the price
raise will end the fuel scarcity crisis
– The move to increase petrol prices has been met
with widespread controversy in Nigeria
Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, the Vice President of the
Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has
commended the Federal Government for increasing the
pump price of petrol.
Maigandi said on Wednesday in Abuja that the decision
would help to put to an end the persistent petrol scarcity in
the country.
“This is a good development; the best that will happen is
complete removal of the subsidy,” Maigandi said.
“The price they put is a good one, but the best thing is to
leave the market open so that people will decide what they
want to sell after importation.”
Fuel scarcity has long been a major problem in Nigeria

He assured that the products would be available with this
development, adding that the association was ready to
continue to support government’s effort.
The Petroleum products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA)
has announced a new pump price of N145 per litre for
petrol.
According to a statement signed by Mrs Sotonye Iyoyo, the
Acting Executive Secretary of PPPRA, the new price would
take immediate effect “In furtherance of its mandate to
ensure the efficient supply and distribution of petroleum
products, PPPRA hereby announces, effective immediately,
that the new price band for PMS shall be at a maximum of
N145 per litre.”
“However, NNPC retail stations on the outskirts of major
cities are advised to sell at price lower than N145 per litre.”

https://www.naij.com/827333-see-major-figure-whos-come-supports-higher-petrol-prices.html?source=category_politics_page

– A former commissioner for information in Ekiti, Gboyega Oguntuase, as emerged the new chairman of PDP in the state – Oguntuase scored 554 votes while to defeat his opponent, his Mr Victor Mebuseye, who garnered a total of 34 votes
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has elected a former Commissioner for Information in the state, Gboyega Oguntuase, as the new chairman of the party in the state. At a congress held in Adetiloye Hall at Fountain Hotels in Ado Ekiti,13 others were also elected as members of the state working committee of the party. Oguntuase scored 554 votes while to defeat his opponent, his Mr Victor Mebuseye, who garnered a total of 34 votes.
Other officers elected at the congress were Olu Adebayo, who emerged as the deputy chairman; Pastor Tope Adejorin, secretary; Anthony Falade, treasurer; Yemisi Afolabi, Women Leader; Rotimi Adekola, Youth leader, Ayò Oladimeji, organising secretary; and Mr. Jackson Adebayo who returned unopposed as the publicity secretary of the party. The congress attended by Senators Biodun Olujimi and Duro Faseyi, lawmakers and members of the state House of Assembly, was witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as security agencies. Among others, Chief Henry Ikoh, Mr. Diran Odeyemi and Ayò Aluko-Olokun were among the delegation from the national secretariat of the party which organised the election. The INEC spokesperson in Ekiti State, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, commended the conduct of the delegates and said after the congress that the report of the exercise would be presented to the commission as the constitutionally prescribed umpire of the congress.
Also speaking on the congress, Chief Ikoh described the conduct of the delegates as “commendable and worthy of emulation” and explained that “the congress was devoid of any rancour as the delegates elected the candidates of their choice.” In his remarks, Odeyemi said thanked the delegates “for making the job of our committee easier through their peaceful conduct and the orderly election through which the delegates emerged.” The newly elected members of Ekiti State PDP State Exco 1. Barr Gboyega Oguntuase – chairman 2. Joseph Olu Adebayo – Dep. Chairman, 3. Pastor Tope Adejonrin – Secretary 4. Alhaji Gani Bankole – Vice Chairman (South) 5. Mr Tunji Kayode – Vice Chairman (Central) 6. Hon Sunday Gbuyiro – Vice Chairman (North) 7. Mr Rotimi Adekola – Youth Leader 8. Mr J.K. Oni – Financial sec, 9. Mr Gbenga Fatoba -Treasurer 10. Mrs Yemisi Afolabi – Women Leader 11. Jackson Adebayo – Publicity Secretary 12. Barr Sunday Olowolafe – Legal Adviser 13. Hon Ayo Oladimeji – Organising Secretary 14. Francis Ayodeji – Asst Secretary (Central) 15. Julius Adebisi – Asst Org Secretary 16. Mrs Bimpe Adeleke – Asst Auditor 17. Otunba Lekan Akinyede – Ex-Officio central 18. Mrs Atinuke Agbebunmi – Ex-Officio (female central) 19. Hon Femi Robinson – Asst Secretary (North) 20. Abiodun Akanbi – Asst Legal Adviser 21. John Adewumi – Asst Financial Secretary (North) 22. Segun Ayeni – Ex-Officio (Male North) 23. Mrs Folashade Oguniyi – Ex-Officio (Female North) , 24. Barr Adewumi Adebayo – Asst (Secretary south) 25. Alh Mutahiru Lateef – Asst PRO 26. Eric Adeyemi – Asst Treasurer 27. Olumide Ajanikin – Ex-Officio 28. Mrs Bosede Bakare – Ex-Officio (female south)

– Nigeria says it will build three refineries in Kaduna,
Port Harcourt and Warri to end fuel crisis permanently
– FG also announced that it will give free gas cylinders
for homes and begin exportation of fuel by 2019

With reoccurring fuel crisis in Nigeria, the federal
government has announced that it will build three
refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri to end fuel
crisis permanently.
The minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr Ibe
Kachikwu made this known when he spoke at a town hall
meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Information in
Kaduna. He said when completed as planned by 2018,
Nigeria will, for the first time, start exporting refined
petroleum products.
He also unveiled the government’s plan to provide every
household with free gas cylinder before the end of next
year, to stop dependence on kerosene for cooking.

The minister said the Federal Government would in the
next few days unveil a new policy to address fuel subsidy.
“We are coming up with a policy in the next few days that
will allow us develop the price modulation that allows us
swing our price along with international pricing.
“We are now transiting into fuel modulating pricing because
we do not have sufficient foreign exchange to continue fuel
importation we have been doing.
“Therefore, NNPC has to produce about 100 per cent of the
product, that is the cause of the scarcity.
“The Federal Government has struggled to offset about
N600 billion subsidy balance when the administration came
into power.”
Speaking on oil exploration in Northern Nigeria, the
minister said the government had invited investors to
explore for oil in the region.
“I am one of those who believe that with modern
technology, oil and gas exist in every part of Nigeria. We
are putting a lot of investment and we are inviting people to
invest money. We have set up a department which is doing
three things for the North.

“First, we are going bullishly and trying to find oil and it is
in our own interest, especially given the problems we find
with pipelines.
“We are focusing on clean energy, solar; we should be able
to provide sufficient solar energy in the northern part of
this country.”
According to Kachikwu, “the refineries to be built will take
advantage of the shared facilities. And if we do this, by
2018, if all our refineries are working, we will drop
importation by 60 per cent. And by 2019, if the four located
refineries begin to work and I’m sure they will, we will
actually begin to export petroleum product for the first time
in this country.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria has been secretly exchanging its crude
oil for refined petroleum products to the detriment of
revenue accruing from sale of crude oil

https://www.naij.com/826142-exposed-read-buharis-lasting-solution-fuel-crisis.html?source=index_main

– A civil society organization have mandate the
chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu to investigate
corrupt activities within the commission
– The organization asked Magu to make his decisions
on corrupt allegations within the commission clear to
Nigerians

A civil society organization, Joint Action Coalition of Civil
Societies in Nigeria have called on the chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
Ibrahim Magu to investigate corrupt activities in the
commission.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the national coordinator of
the organization, Ikpa Isaac asked the EFCC chairman to
come out clear and tell Nigerians his decision over corrupt
allegations within the commission.
Isaac also said it is obvious Nigerians are not ready to
condone any form of corruption like in the previous times.
He also called on Magu to give explanations why his tenure
under the anti-corruption mandate of President
Muhammadu Buhari is still allowing some forms of
corruption within the EFCC.

“We are witnessing high profile prosecution of our treasury
looters that our nation can never come out of corruption. In
observing this war, our attention has been drawn towards
the in house corruption orchestrated by some staff of the
Anti graph agencies especially the EFCC which must be
tackled if the war must succeed,” Isaac said.
“For example, the Pension Transitional Arrangement
Department (PTDA), director general, Mrs Nellie Mayshak
was sacked over stealing of 50 million on monthly bases for
her period in office.
“The EFCC desk officer posted to PTAD Mr Habibu Aliyu was
also petition by the staff of PTAD of collecting N5
million monthly to cover the mess,for the period between
2010 till she was sacked.
“Our worries now is that, the same Habibu Aliyu is the chief
investigator of the same corruption while he has being part
of the sane personality under his watch as the desk officer
if PTAD has not been able to properly investigated,” he
added.
Since the present administration came into power, the EFCC
under the leadership of Ibrahim Magu have made several
arrests involving high profile Nigerians.
Some of these Nigerians have either being charged to court
or are still under the commission’s custody.

https://www.naij.com/826102-efcc-boss-ibrahim-magu-gets-new-task.html?source=index_main

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose appears to be living with one week, one trouble syndrome. In recent times, the most intriguing however how the governor escaped the impeachment trap set by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) even when all odds were against him. In this interview with the head of his media brain box, Mr Lere Olayinka, he revealed the hidden facts about Fayose’s dramatic escape from what many people thought would have been his final waterloo, having survived several attempts since the controversial June 21 election that produced him. Irohinoodua correspondents, Peter Ogunsona and Babatunde Segun

Question: How do you access the success of the Ekiti State Government so far?

Answer: Accessing the government of Ekiti state will be subjective, how can I be accessing a government that I’m part of? If am to access the government what do you expect me to say? I would probably rate the government even high. So, if there is the need for the government to be accessed I think it should be accessed by the people on the street and not me.

What do you consider as your major achievements even in terms of strategic thinking and planning?

Achievement in government can be subjective because in most cases when you regard something as achievement it might not really be achievement, but one thing I will say is that majorly that we have achieved in Ekiti state is what we call political stability because one of the major problems of Ekiti state is political stability in the sense that Ekiti State was created in 1996 and by 2010 Ekiti state had like seven or eight governors: Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Fred Aderemi, Olurin, Tope Adelumiyi, Segun Oni, Tunji Odeyemi and Segun Oni again, Kayode Fayemi nine governors in 11 years so, if you are running a state like that, it is not likely to attract investors, because investors also look at the state andf how stable It is. I remember when I was with Segun On, then it got to a point where banks stopped giving political appointees loans and other facilities because they were not sure when the Segun Oni’s Government was going.
If it happens like that to political appointees you should also know that business men and women will not be able to come to the state because if you are Oni’s friend, bringing your investment to Ekiti state because your friend is now the Governor of Ekiti State you don’t know what will happen next, so for the first time we’ve had government that spent its own four years and another that wants to have its four years despite the fact that some people want to destabilize the government, that did not work and at least people now have rest of mind to be able to continue, again the government have been able to sort out some roads in Ado-Ekiti .

Question: Concretely, what have you achieved?
You can see that some roads have been constructed even though Ekiti has been constrained with funds. We inherited over 80 billion debts, 25 billion naira loan, over 30 billion Naira commercial loan over 15billion naira from all banks even at that the government has been able to sustain the payment of workers’ salary because the economy of this state is tied to the apron of public servants, the moment they don’t get their salaries in two months, the economy of the state will collapse . It is from the salary they get that the money gets into circulation. We have been able to sustain that. Today is July 22 at least we have been able to pay up to June we are owing one month salary that was September last year that the previous government refused to pay and we have also paid pension I think up to April.

Question: The victory of Gov Ayo Fayose is controversial. What do you think is the most important factor that led to your victory?

Answer: The electoral victory of PDP and Governor Ayo Fayose is based on the categories of voters. Those who voted Governor Ayodele Fayose as a Person.
Those who are lovers of the PDP. Those whose votes were against Kayode Fayemi
The people voted against the government that did not serve them at all for example, take example of this place, the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) owned by the government for four years, even not an Okada was bought for this place to operate. He donated vehicle to Federal Government owned radio station he also donated a brown new bus to NTA and some other organizations in the state. This place for four years, there was no single major investment even the government of Segun Oni awarded contract for the television equipment including (OBVAN), almost their 70% contract sum was paid. When Fayemi came here, he abandoned the project OBVAN. As we speak, the van is with the contractor in Abuja lying useless and valueless and two brown new Toyota Hilux vehicles and Fayemi refused to do anything to actualize the project. So , if you are running government like that, you run government in a way that people will look at you and begin to ask, are these people actually from Ekiti State where Government choose to borrow money to build civic centers, borrow money to plant flowers, borrow money to build pavilion, governors house, the same government that said Ekiti could not fund more than one University, the same Government that scrapped the functional and existing University, that Government have money to build Governor’s house, so all those things.
As far back as 2012, people have made up their mind to vote against the Government. Unfortunately, Fayemi and those people that are with him did not get the message. The PDP now picked Ayodele Fayose as their candidate.
Question: But the government appear to be filled with contradictions, even within its own party?
Whether you like it or not, Fayose’s name is a brand star. He was governor before and people saw what he did when he was governor. There is a gang up against him, it was that gang up that took him out of that power and people said since this man has left what has changed in terms of the transformation of the state? Nothing has changed. They felt more comfortable with him, they chose him. That’s all. The people voted for him unfortunately after that, we started hearing stories like people voted because of stomach infrastructure, because Fayose distributed rice as if Fayemi did not personally share jollof rice at least I have photograph of Fayemi putting on apron and his wife sharing jollof rice as if Fayemi then did not share Somovita including Rega dry gin popularly known as “Tesojue.” One thing they don’t realize is that the people of Ekiti state if you study their mind very well, the moment they change their mind that they are not going to vote for you if you like use all the whole compound to buy cars and be distributing to them individually they will not vote for you, you shared a lot of money but people stood their ground and they also came back with photo-chromic paper but court turned down their petition, they tried impeachment they couldn’t impeach because people rose in defence of their government. So it wasn’t a kind of magic, it was a result of people’s decision to elect their own governor.

read more;

https://irohinodua./2015/08/04/exclusive-how-fayose-escaped-impeachment-by-lere-olayinka/

By Ogunsona peter.

Find attached the video of the people of Ilorin stoned the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki at the praying ground today.
let all those that are denying the incident keep doing so, Bukola himself knows that he was stoned.

what an Irony, as Islamic faithfuls were busy stoning the devil in Mecca, those at home i.e. at Ilorin identified Saraki as their devil and decided to stoned him.

https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/27065299/1988433481/name/VID-20150924-WA000.mp4

Posted by Ogunsona Peter

Barely 24 hours after the arraignment of Senate President Bukola Saraki, some of his loyalists and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) senators are planning to fight back, The Nation has learnt.

They are said to be working on a plan which will lead to the election of a new Senate President from the opposition party, should Saraki be convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) – the “worst case scenario”.

Security agencies already know about the plot, it was learnt.

Besides, there were signs yesterday that pro-Saraki senators may have “laid an ambush” for President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list, which is being expected at the Senate “any moment from now”.

They may reject the list and all appointments made so far by the President in protest against Saraki’s trial, a source said.

But the Presidency is unruffled.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said last night: “Some loyalists of Saraki and PDP senators have been meeting on the options available and how to tackle President Muhammadu Buhari.

“At the meeting in Abuja, they resolved to stand by Saraki but if he is convicted, they will make sure that the next president of the Senate is from the PDP.

“They are really aggrieved and have vowed to stop the candidate of the Unity Forum, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, from emerging as Saraki’s successor.

“From the way PDP and its senators are rallying around Saraki, no one needs a soothsayer to know that a bigger conspiracy is in the offing.

“The PDP has not come to terms with the fact that it lost the last general elections.”

Part of the plot is to reject Buhari’s ministerial list and all appointments so far made by the President, it was learnt.

These appointments include those of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerian Customs Service(NCS) and Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), among others.

The source went on: “They know that the President will not present imposed candidates as ministerial nominees and they are out for a pound of flesh as from September 29 because the Code of Conduct Bureau( CCB) dragged the President of the Senate to the Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT)”

It was gathered that security agencies have smashed the plot.

A government source said: “The whole plot is aimed at frustrating the President and cause a political crisis in the country.

“They have this feeling that they must pull down the house due to the arraignment of Saraki by CCT. In spite of denial, they are pointing accusing fingers at the Presidency for Saraki’s travails.”

Attempts to make loyalists of tHouse of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, to pitch their tent with Saraki appear to have suffered a setback.

It was learnt that although Saraki backed Dogara to become the Speaker, the “template has changed”.

Dogara and his loyalists would prefer to “facilitate reconciliation between the Presidency and the Senate leadership than taking sides”.

A Dogara supporter said: “There is pressure on our camp to take a hard line position on the trial of Saraki but we will rather broker peace than compound the situation.

“We are not betraying anyone but we believe the challenge at hand is resolvable. If we compound the situation to team up against the Presidency, we will all fail.

“To take sides is to set the House on fire all over. This will not augur well for the new National Assembly.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/sarakis-trial-pdp-plots-to-pick-senate-president/

Eid Prayers Disrupted In Ilorin As Senate President Bukola Saraki Stoned

The Muslim Eid al-Adha prayers in Ilorin, capital of Kwara state were this morning disrupted as the country’s embattled Senate president, Bukola Saraki was pelted with stones and pure water sachets as he arrived in his car convoy.

The chaos caused by the stoning of the senate president who has been charged with 13 counts of corruption and false asset declaration, caused the prayers to be disrupted with the loud speakers not calling the prayers and several thousands of faithfuls unable to say the prayers.

People were gathered to patiently stone him after the prayers. NewsRescue reporters saw stones flying into the sky.

The Senate president was reportedly disguised or covered up and whisked out of the grounds to save him from the anger of the crowds.

This was the first Eid Saraki was attending as senate president.

Kwara state has been slavishly under the control of Saraki and his late father for decades

NAMES OF MINISTERS FOR SCREENING.
The names include Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Osun State governor and ousted PDP National Secretary; Chief Bode Mustapha, former PDP National Auditor; an All Progressives Congress stalwart from Ogun State; and Engineer Segun Oni, former Ekiti State governor and APC Deputy National Chairman (South West).

Others are Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State; Dr. Abba Ruma, a former Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources; and Chief Kanu Agabi, a former Minister of Justice.

The list also includes Donald Duke, a former Governor of Cross River State; Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State; and Yinka Folashade Oredola, a pharmacist from Ondo State.

Others on the list are Rotimi Akeredolu, a former gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State; Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Engineer Funsho Kupolokun, former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation; Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso of Kano State; and Bisola Adegbenro, a Senator-elect from Ogun State.

Also on the list are Isaiah Danjuma, son of General TY Danjuma from Taraba State; Dele Momodu, Publisher of Ovation; Kehinde Lawanson, a former Executive Director of First Bank; and Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), former Minster of Justice.

Other names will be publied once they are confirmed by reliable security sources.

anigbajumo:
Hw cum dat gonna stop him frm eaten @iya mufu,iya jellili canteen.


Almost a year as a governor he only commission musical instrument wey no worth 300k,even ordinary councilor in my ward fit do dat.

Is a shame dat dis man is frm south-west....

Nothing has been done to ADO-Town since fayemi departure, all fayose does now is meeting meeting meeting, eating BOLI in the market 4getting why we voted for him. No infrastructures down yet for the good people of Ekiti state.

FAYOSE and his Deceits
what has he done to Ado town? are there any agenda 4 d good
people of ekiti state? how can the old women and men survive in the
state? are there any infrastructures down for any emergencies? is he
still going to be eating "BOLI" and "GROUNDNUTS" in the markets with
people and 4gt his promises? the so called stomach infrastructures, is it still functioning? are we going to point to any
achievements in every 2 months? are there any jobs down for the
graduates in the state? in what differences has this Government
change to the former? are we still going to embark on the roads and
so more projects the later has done? this and more are questions to
be answered. Ekiti people should just wise up # IrefusedToBeDeceived .

President Muhammadu Buhari’s sudden, unexpected and seemingly unilateral decision to ban nearly 100 oil tankers from Nigeria’s waters has sown confusion in the operations of Africa’s largest crude exporter. The edict directly from Buhari’s office appeared to be part of a campaign pledge to crack down on oil industry corruption and theft. But the disarray it has caused, even three weeks... Click on the following link to read the complete story.

http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=13711.

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose appears to be living with one week, one trouble syndrome. In recent times, the most intriguing however how the governor escaped the impeachment trap set by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) even when all odds were against him. In this interview with the head of his media brain box, Mr Lere Olayinka, he revealed the hidden facts about Fayose’s dramatic escape from what many people thought would have been his final waterloo, having survived several attempts since the controversial June 21 election that produced him.Irohinoodua correspondents, Peter Ogunsona and Babatunde Segun

Question: How do you access the success of the Ekiti State Government so far?

Answer: Accessing the government of Ekiti state will be subjective, how can I be accessing a government that I’m part of?  If am to access the government what do you expect me to say? I would probably rate the government even high.  So, if there is the need for the government to be accessed I think it should be accessed by the people on the street and not me.

What do you consider as your major achievements even in terms of strategic thinking and planning?

Achievement in government can be subjective because in most cases when you regard something as achievement it might not really be achievement, but one thing I will say is that majorly that we have achieved in Ekiti state is what we call political stability because one of the major problems of Ekiti state is political stability in the sense that Ekiti State was created in 1996 and by 2010 Ekiti state had like seven or eight governors: Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Fred Aderemi, Olurin, Tope Adelumiyi, Segun Oni, Tunji Odeyemi and Segun Oni again, Kayode Fayemi nine governors in 11 years so, if you are running a state like that, it is not likely to attract investors, because investors also look at the state andf how stable It is. I remember when I was with Segun On, then it got to a point where banks stopped giving political appointees loans and other facilities because they were not sure when the Segun Oni’s Government was going.
 If it happens like that to political appointees you should also know that business men and women will not be able to come to the state because if you are Oni’s friend, bringing your investment to Ekiti state because your friend is now the Governor of Ekiti State you don’t know what will happen next, so for the first time we’ve had government that spent its own four years and another that wants to have its four years despite the fact that some people want to destabilize the government, that did not work and at least people now have  rest of mind to be able to continue, again the government have been able to sort out some roads in Ado-Ekiti .
 
Question: Concretely, what have you achieved?
You can see that some roads have been constructed even though Ekiti has been constrained with funds.  We inherited over 80 billion debts, 25 billion naira loan, over 30 billion Naira commercial loan over 15billion naira from all banks even at that the government has been able to sustain the payment of workers’  salary because the economy of this state is tied to the apron of public servants, the moment they don’t get their salaries in two months, the economy of the state will collapse . It is from the salary they get that the money gets into circulation. We have been able to sustain that. Today is July 22 at least we have been able to pay up to June we are owing one month salary that was September last year that the previous government refused to pay and we have also paid pension I think up to April.
 
Question: The victory of Gov Ayo Fayose is controversial. What do you think is the most important factor that led to your victory?

Answer: The electoral victory of PDP and Governor Ayo Fayose is based on the categories of voters. Those who voted Governor Ayodele Fayose as a Person.
Those who are lovers of the PDP. Those whose votes were against Kayode Fayemi
The people voted against the government that did not serve them at all for example, take example of this place, the  Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) owned by the government for four years, even not an Okada was bought for this place to operate. He donated vehicle to Federal Government owned radio station he also donated a brown new bus to NTA and some other organizations in the state. This place for four years, there was no single major investment even the government of Segun Oni awarded contract for the television equipment including (OBVAN), almost their 70% contract sum was paid. When Fayemi came here, he abandoned the project OBVAN. As we speak, the van is with the contractor in Abuja lying useless and valueless and two brown new Toyota Hilux vehicles and Fayemi refused to do anything to actualize the project. So , if you are running government like that, you run government in a way that people will look at you and begin to ask, are these people actually from Ekiti State where Government choose to borrow money to build civic centers, borrow money to plant flowers, borrow money to build pavilion, governors house, the same government that said Ekiti could not fund more than one University, the same Government that scrapped the functional and existing University, that Government have money to build Governor’s house, so all those things.
 As far back as 2012, people have made up their mind to vote against the Government. Unfortunately, Fayemi and those people that are with him did not get the message. The PDP now picked Ayodele Fayose as their candidate.
Question: But the government appear to be filled with contradictions, even within its own party?
 Whether you  like it or not, Fayose’s name is a brand star. He was governor before and people saw what he did when he was governor. There is a gang up against him, it was that gang up that took him out of that power and people said since this man has left what has changed in terms of the transformation of the state? Nothing has changed. They felt more comfortable with him, they chose him. That’s all. The people voted for him unfortunately after that, we started hearing stories like people voted because of stomach infrastructure, because Fayose distributed rice as if Fayemi did not personally share jollof  rice at least I have photograph of Fayemi putting on apron and his wife sharing jollof rice as if Fayemi then did not share Somovita including Rega dry gin popularly known as “Tesojue.” One thing they don’t realize is that the people of Ekiti state if you study their mind very well, the moment they change their mind that they are not going to vote for you if you like use all the whole compound to buy cars and be distributing to them individually they will not vote for you, you shared a lot of money but people stood their ground and they also came back with photo-chromic paper but court turned down their petition, they tried impeachment they couldn’t impeach because people rose in defence of their government. So it wasn’t a kind of magic, it was a result of people’s decision to elect their own governor.

Question: Inspite of all these, you have a lot of challenges. What has been your major challenge?

Answer: On the challenge, personally we have to contend with persistent falsehood from my friends on the other side. There was a time they said I was in one hotel lamenting that governor Fayose has short-changed me that he promised to make me a commissioner and he did not make me a commissioner and whatever, that I have made up my mind to resign in the following week. They said that on a Sunday and you ask yourself why are these people shallow minded? Because there is a level at which even if you want to do what is called political propaganda, you must do it in such a way that people would want to believe. If I want to cook up lies now, that lie should be able to get me convinced to some extent.  If you don’t have feelings of conviction when putting something like this, then there is no point going ahead, like when someone called me that the house of assembly members then were coming to Ekiti state that they would be coming in the early morning and that arrangements have been made that they would be coming with helicopter and I asked the person how many people can one helicopter airlift, the kind of helicopter that could land at Ado-Ekiti? The highest is four. At least the house of assembly would need up to four or five helicopters to fly into Ekiti state at once, is that possible? This is not possible so, you wake up you have to contend with falsehood stories and all that. Now, we are used to it and the good thing is that people are also used to it because people have now realized that this people are liars.
Then you also have to agree that one is in a government headed by somebody who is so passionate at the pace at which he wants to move but is being hampered  by financial difficulties. Some of us who are close to him to some extent we’ve seen him saying how do I do this? How do I achieve this? Even when he wants to move so fast, the financial difficulties are there and the time is going, one, two months getting to a year by the time you know,  two years will be gone and people will begin to ask questions what has he been able to do? I get scared most of the time that the finances of the state should improve so that this governor that is so passionate about good things will be able to do things. Well, on the challenges and frustrations, we are hopeful to overcome them.

Question: How did the Governor survive the impeachment? Did he give money to the APC leaders

Answer: He survived the impeachment mainly for two reasons. One is that God is on his side, the second is that the people stood by him like a rock. I will tell you because I was deeply involved in it, I played very active roles in it up till today a lot of people who are not deeply involved in the whole scenario will still want to believe that it was just a rumor they couldn’t have done anything. Some of us who knew what was planned, what was on ground  what was to be done, here is somebody who has the feeling that he is going to be the acting Governor before Fayose was sworn in even before Fayemi left office when Fayemi was still the governor. Adewale Omirin then already had the believe that he was going to be the acting Governor. When Fayemi was in office, Omirin thought about Segun Oni’s case in the court, the thought then that Segun Oni’s was  going to win the case and the court would order for fresh election. That was what his spiritualist told him that he would be acting Governor, that the Supreme Court would remove Fayemi and order for fresh election.  But that did not work then the issue of whether he would be sworn in when they rose against Fayose, that also reinforced the prophecy that he was going to be acting Governor up to the morning of October 16, 2014. Omirin still believes that Fayose would not be sworn in. 
That was the reason he did not attend the swearing in as at that time he was the speaker and he was the speaker of the State House of Assembly before Fayose was sworn in.  Fayemi was no longer in the state so the only one person and the House arm of the Government is Dr Adewale Omirin.  As at that morning, they were still expecting order from a court in Lagos that would stop Fayose’s swearing in so by so doing the Chief Judge would just swear in Omirin as the Acting Governor.  That did not happen and the next thing was to try and see how to make  the government impossible. What did he do? The first sitting of the house he adjourn the house indefinitely.  The government that was just coming in to settle down. The next thing, the House of Assembly did was to adjourn when you know that Governor was going to appoint Special Advisers, Commissioners and so on and all this things would need the approval of the House of Assembly. We found a way round that. When they came with the issue of impeachment and we said, is okay, let’s see how they were going to be able to achieve it by themselves.
They moved out from the state and camped themselves in Osogbo and the people resolved that  they would not  allow them to return back to the state. There were some calls from people that I got so emotional because people were so passionate that they called me in the middle of the night. People would call from Ilejemeje, Moba, from everywhere when they saw strange vehicles coming into the state they called: “we’ve seen one bus, it’s tainted we don’t know the people inside may be they are the one that are coming.”
Question: Thugs blocked the roads preventing the lawmakers from entering Ekiti State.
So, Ekiti people were the one who asked people to block roads?. People blocked roads on their own. People volunteered on their own. Ever when they were in Osogbo, Ekiti people who were also in Osogbo were monitoring them on our behalf. People were taking pictures of where they were and sending to us.  What we saw was a revolution of the people against elite conspiracy, elite arrogance, elite vain ego. So that impeachment saga also reinforces my belief that power truly belongs to the people and that the power of the people is greater than the people in power.

Question: How do you deal with the economy of the state? The state has not defined any economic renaissance under your regime.
Answer: The first thing that we are doing is to prioritise our programme. What you need to spend money on  and the governor has simply made it clear that the first thing that must be done is to pay the salaries of the workers not for anything because payment of salary is germane to the circulation and in the flow of money and the governor has made it mandatory. There are some kind projects that the governor will not embark on. For instance, I was with him one day when someone called him that he wanted to come and interview him.  The person is publishing a magazine, he said he would publish a special edition for him. How would the people get to read it, the governor asked? He said they would print it and be giving out to people so if I meant to pay you to interview me and then publish something like booklet what is that for? Nothing. Why can’t the Governor  call his media together and do the interview and ask them to go and print the booklet? But this was what the previous government spent millions of naira on. Fayose is not doing that. No N.G.O (non-governmental organizations) is coming here to submit proposals. Nobody is going to listen to them, all these proposals, women empowerment, you want to do workshops and seminars, just to steal money, the governor is not doing that. Most importantly when the governor wants to approve one naira, the first thing is to call the Accountant General and ask how much do we have, okay, we still have like ten naira, okay I’m signing approval of one naira for this person, he will bring the approval to you unlike the governor who will be approving and approving so, he has prioritise what he wants to do and that has been able to cub wastage of government money In  Ekiti state.
As at today no money is going into private pockets easily I wouldn’t say  is still not going but is not going easily. For instance  when I got here they said they were using 1000 litres of diesel per day because we are running on generator because those people who were before us abandoned the spoiled transformer, making up to 30,000 liters per month but today we are using less than 20,000 liters in a month so about 1.7million naira has been removed from what we spend here alone so if you are able to look at what you need to do to privatize and cub wastage so there is no how there would not  be some level of improvement and the government is also trying to look into what is called I.G.R in this state. We have maintained that there is always a deceit on what we call I.G.R generated in Ekiti state. We’ve not been able to generate anything.  We don’t generate I.G.R.  All the claims by the former government that they increased I.G.R to 600million Naira, to 900million Naira per month is a lie and how is it a lie? When the state is getting like 2billion Naira, you pay salary from the salary you deduct tax “pay as you earn” may be after paying salary you still have about 300 to 400 million Naira left from that you pay money to the contractor.  From the money you pay to the contractors you take tax if you are paying 400million naira the tax will be like 12% or 13% tax which is about 52million naira. When you remove 52million naira from the 400million naira collected from the Federal government and you categorize it as your I.G.R you can’t add 52million naira to your I.G.R because it is still federal government money. So this is no I.G.R. but, some of the institutions in the state have been made to pay now even the Federal University Oye, Federal polytechnic Ado-Ekiti.

Question:What is your relationship with Ondo state Governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko because the governor opposed him as Chairman of PDP Governors’ forum?

Answer: The issue of governors forum is only the responsibility of the party as at today, governor Fayose and governor Mimiko relate cordially. There is no problem between them. Some of these things you talk about are always crisis here and there,  always on the front pages of the newspapers. I have heard from the other side that they have engineered newspaper publications indicating that even the governor and myself are quarreling.  They have engineered stories that the governor and the SSG are not in good terms.  All those things don’t bother us, so there is no quarrel between the both.

A breaking report contains that President Muhammadu
Buhari was given the specific names of oil thieves in the
course of his recent visit to the US.
A member of Buhari’s entourage was said to have disclosed
this information on Tuesday, July 28, to The Punch. The
source added that when the Nigerian leader saw the list
provided by the US, he could not believe his eyes.
“I can tell you that the President already has the list of
names of the people engaging in the stealing of Nigeria’s oil.
The list, when released by the president, will shock
Nigerians. But let’s wait and see first.”
Another source from the presidency confirmed the
information noting, however, that Buhari “has been keeping
the list to himself”.
It was also obtained that there was one list with the names
of high-rank Nigerian officials involved in corruption
schemes and the other list with the names of illegal
bunkerers. Apart from the government officials, the “oil list”
allegedly contains the names of the retired and serving
military chiefs
Based on the report referring to the source disclosures,
some ministers were stealing up to 250,000 barrels of
Nigeria’s crude daily.
The person from Buhari’s team said Nigeria’s number 1
politician was already considering the idea of setting up a
panel to try the guilty officials.
“The president will probe all of them and make sure they
return whatever fortune they had made from their thievery.”
It should be recalled that Edo state Governor Adams
Oshiomhole claimed that one of Goodluck Jonathan’s
ministers had stolen $6billion . The information was
reportedly provided by the American side in the course of
Buhari’s visit. This caused serious argument among
Nigerians. Many came down on Oshiomhole saying that he
is one of those with itchy fingers. The others, outraged by
the revelation, urged the acting government to immediately
find and prosecute the minister accused of massive stealing.
In a recent development the All Progressives Congress
disclosed the official position of the party regarding corrupt
officials of the immediate past administration:
“Some people have insinuated that the Buhari
administration should ignore the massive looting of our
patrimony and move on. We say no responsible government
can afford to do that, because it will amount to endorsing
corruption and impunity.”
President Buhari on several occasions reiterated his
commitment to fighting public funds embezzlement. This
was also the case in the US where the Nigerian leader has
recently met with his American counterpart Barack Obama.

www.naij.com/501378-us-gave-buhari-list-names-oil-thieves-will-shock-nigerians-source.html

IBB to Buhari: change tactics against terrorists


Disturbed by the increasing insurgency in some parts of the North, former President Ibrahim Babangida yesterday advised the Presidency and the military to change tactics against Boko Haram.

He said the new approach by President Muhammadu Buhari and the military against Boko Haram must be holistic in such a way that the military will pound the enclaves of the sect day and night.

He said strategic efforts and initiatives of the military at curtailing Boko Haram should “remain, most often, top secret”.
He also pleaded with the media to stop celebrating killings by the insurgents.
Babangida, who made his views known in a Sallah message, said it was time for Nigerians to be strong and unite against the insurgency.
He said: “At this stage of our national history, especially with the insecurity we presently experience, it is appropriate for us to devise new ways and means of confronting this hydra-headed insurgency, without making such initiatives public knowledge.
“Strategic efforts and initiatives of the military targeted at curtailing the spread of Boko Haram should remain most often top secret within military hierarchy and the presidency. Collaborative efforts should also follow similar pattern so that little or limited information is let loose for the consumption of members of the sect.

“Coordinated efforts by the security agencies should be strengthened and refocused to gain new dimensions towards combating the unwholesome activities of this sect, and when such dimensions are sought and cultivated, they should remain the exclusive preserve of top military brass.”
“The President, General Muhammadu Buhari, as a military officer, understands the import of these altruistic suggestions and I trust that he will take steps to apply some of them that fit into the mainstream strategies already in place.
“The approach has to be a holistic one, well coordinated with full onslaught launched by the day and night to route these insurgents to surrender.”
The former Military President pleaded with the media to stop glorifying the horrendous activities of Boko Haram.
He said: “Media intelligence is required in helping to assemble information and distilling such information in a manner that would benefit the fight against terrorism.
“Going by the news and information we get everyday, I feel very strongly that the media has a greater role to play in the management of information.
“The types of headlines and lead stories that are promoted in favour of the insurgents could only help to motivate members of Boko Haram rather than demotivate them.
“ I expect, with a deep sense of patriotism, to see a greater deal of positive news promoted in support of military efforts at confronting this menace than a celebration of Boko Haram carnage, day in and day out.
“Information management is very key to confronting an unconventional warfare, such as the one under reference, which is further complicated by the unfashionable method of suicide bombings.
“It is a strange dimension to this whole exercise of insurgency and has further compounded our earlier strategies in helping to nip this monster in the bud. The media, it must be emphasized, has a greater role to play in this information management system where a well defined synergy is encouraged between members of the media and the military hierarchy.
“On a good day, as is often said, the idea of taking some Boko Haram suspects and prisoners to Anambra State should not be public knowledge, if we are truly serious about information management.
”Each time we celebrate the dastardly acts of Boko Haram on the front pages of our newspapers and electronic platforms, it is a score for Boko Haram. We must weigh such information against our collective national interest. Do we subscribe to Boko Haram or to the Nigerian nation?
“Since we are of good conscience and subscribe to the Nigerian nation, military efforts and achievements in the fight against insurgency should be given primacy than what a suicide bomber has just done.
“We must make it a duty to encourage and motivate our military personnel; those who have died in the course of this struggle and those who are still there on the battle field trying to make the Nigerian society safe for all of us.
“The families of those who have lost their gallant fighters and bread winners must be catered for beyond the present tokenism. This initiative will serve as incentive to others who are still in the trenches battling to keep us safe.”
Gen. Babangida said the recurring attacks and killings by Boko Haram had no doubt raised the adrenalin of Nigerians.
”Events in the last four weeks have continued to raise our adrenaline, in a season of apprehension and utter suspicion, about our security engagements and the sum total of our collective sufferance as a nation.
“The heightened tension is occasioned by renewed hostilities and mindless bombings predominantly by suicide bombers who have decidedly chosen the option of death to life.
“We have seen the worst of human follies in the conduct of these avoidable carnage and bloodletting by unscrupulous persons under the guise of religion, doing havoc to our sense of nationality.”
He asked God to touch the hearts of Boko Haram members whom he accused of portraying Islam in bad light.
He said: “For want of no discernible ideology, they have continued to portray Islam in very bad light, making members of other religions to perceive us with scorn. Islam, which I was born into, some 74 years ago, is a very peaceful religion that preaches brotherliness and togetherness.
“It is a religion that encourages love, affection and respect for our neighbours and mankind.
“It is one religion that has an abiding influence on its adherents to cooperate with one another and promote peace in their respective communities. May God touch the hearts of these insurgents so that the untoward act of bloodletting will permanently cease. Happy Eid-el-Fitri to all.”

Without Asiwaju, The Office Wouldn’t Have Been – Col. Nyiam


“Asiwaju played a critical role in contributing to Jonathan being made acting president. At one point, Asiwaju was actually involved in contingencies to save Jonathan’s life . At that time, it was feared that if Jonathan refused to resign after the death of Yar’Adua , he will become a wasted material. Asiwaju played a role in ensuring that did not happen.

“I say this, because I was involved as well. Another colleague of mine and I were involved in the benevolence, patriotism and nationalism of Asiwaju. Asiwaju also played a key role in 2011 with the Oba of Lagos and one or two personalities I wouldn’t want to mention just now. They played a part in ensuring that Asiwaju helped to convince the South-west to help Jonathan. Why am I repeating all this? I am doing so, because Presi­dent Buhari should not make the mistake that was made.”

What mistake are you talk­ing about?

“After Asiwaju rendered all this help, he was paid back in a way that was not befitting of the assis­tance he gave. It was not the fault of ex-president Jonathan; it was the fault of his aides. The key aide who was supposed to facilitate some of the things to pay back did not do it. To the point that…

(cuts in) Was it financial?

“I will like to leave it at that. Not so much financial. I would like to leave it at that. Instead, rumours were being peddled that Asiwaju was paid back with some money, which wasn’t true. The person who was supposed to do certain things did not do so. I had in a lec­ture I delivered in the East warned that the way the South west was being treated by Jonathan’s regime would not help his government.

“I raised the alarm that the first 12 people in the hierarchy of pro­tocol i.e the president down the line to the 12th, there was no Yo­ruba figure in it. I said then that it was dangerous for any govern­ment to ignore the South-west. Some of my colleagues from the Niger Delta were very angry with me for making that comment. I told them I said it in the best inter­est of Jonathan, and of course we saw the result. Asiwaju may have been forced to, as it were, go into that alliance. It was an alliance that I thought he should have gone into much more carefully than we see playing out.

“I think it’s a mistake for Presi­dent Buhari to allow himself to be misled to think that those who are ganging up against the South-west would triumph .It is an open se­cret that those who want to regain power back to their people ,find the South-west, that once you’ve checkmated, divided and ruled, you can get through to the rest of the South and North central. Once you have done that, you are in con­trol. That’s what is playing out at the National Assembly and in the APC, I see it from three multi- lay­ered levels.

“Superficially, what we call the wave of an ocean level, I see the contest between those who want to deepen democracy, and those who want the role of godfathers to play on .To most of us in the South,we like the deepening of democracy, but we forget that underlying that there is still the strategic. The dif­ferent zones have strategic ad­vantages. It’s in that we have to be careful not to allow ourselves to be divided. I think the South-west needs to come together for their own good. The camps in the South-west , Governor Mimiko, Asiwaju, Dr Fasehun need to come back together. You see any attempt to push Asiwaju out of the corridors of power is a rehearsal to push the South out of power for good.

Can you throw more light on that?

“The hegemonists are masters of divide and rule. Here is Asiwaju Tinubu, the man who built the bridge. Make no mistake about it, without Asiwaju, Buhari could not have been in office. It was Asiwa­ju’s rallying point that gave con­fidence to Buhari’s movement. People forget that even the elite in the North were not with Buhari.

“It was when Asiwaju gave them no choice, when they saw that if they did not join the bandwagon they will be left out. The creator of this bridge, the creator of this means of power is Bola Tinubu. So, for such a contributor to be set aside is really dangerous. I say this with no apologies, rather I plead with my other South-west leaders that once Asiwaju is confined, or restricted , they will come to them. So, anybody who thinks he will benefit from it will be mistaken.

“On this note, I urge two par­ticular beneficiaries of Asiwaju’s human capital development ( two former governors) not to allow themselves to be used against Asi­waju Tinubu”.

BY - Wole soyinka

I do not admire Tinubu because he is a saint.
I do not admire Tinubu because he is from the south.
I do not admire Tinubu because he is a Yoruba.
If I want saints, I will proceed to heaven not on earth. Every
human is fallible.
I admire Tinubu because;
He saved Nigeria from the danger of falling into "one party state".
He has nurtured many renowned National successors.
He listened to the voice of the masses to surrender his
personal ambition at the most critical moment.
He strategically terminated PDP 60 years life spam in 16 years.
The robust critic and critique we are enjoying today is
because Tinubu aligned himself to the masses to return the
power to them.
Tinubu has the option of joining the PDP elites to hold us hostage for another decade but he gave his all to the masses to dethrone the elites.
Political juveniles believed that APC won because of the votes from the North. No!!!, APC victory was cemented the day PMB and Asiwaju
resolved to work together.
Asiwaju and PMB almost became a Nomadic by visiting every human that can help midwife Nigeria
salvation. Those Nomadic Almajiri walk later brought salvation to
us.
God willing, PMB is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Anybody, any cabal, any Viju milk activist, attempting to humiliate Asiwaju must have me to contend with.
An average PDP man is sad with Asiwaju because he brought
them to their knee.
If anyone thinks that Bringing down Asiwaju is his project, that mission will not only crash but it will
boomerang.
Don't tell me he is overbearing, your
"underbearing" mentors were nowhere to be found when this
country was lying critically at the intensive care of the universe.
Recall my first line, Asiwaju is not a saint. Stop demonising what you admire out of envy. Even your mentors admire him.
He owns lagos! I hear you! Ask your grand father and parents how they acquired your so called "family
land". Is it God that allocated it to them?
You are terrorizing your neighbours and village with your kpof-kpof kobo yet you criticise a man that is
naturally addicted to technocrats irrespective of their tribe or Religion.
Hmmmmm. I don talk am ooo, Asiwaju is not a political office holder oooo. Please let him be.
He is evil, I agree, but we need more of him than your saintly specie.
Dear Asiwaju,
Good Morning!
The gentle stride of a tiger is not a symbol of cowardice.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo have announced to only take 50% of their approved salary by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The decision of the president and vice president was contained in a statement made available by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu. According to The Punch, Buhari’s current annual remuneration as approved by RMAFC is N14,058,820.00.
But now he will earn N7m per year throughout his four-year tenure. Shehu said the president’s decision to slash his salary by half had been sent to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation today by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi. “I write to forward the completed IPPIS registration form of Mr. President and to draw your kind attention to Mr. President’s directive that only 50% of his salary be paid to him,” the presidential spokesman quoted Emodi as writing in the letter with reference number PRES/81/SGF/17.” According to Shehu, Osinbajo has similarly given up half of his official pay. However he did not disclose the reason behind the decision.
In a telephone interview with The Punch, Shehu said Buhari, by his action, was sending a clear message to Nigerians on the need to make sacrifices for the nation. In a related development, President Buhari on Wednesday turned down an offer by the Federal Government to procure five new armoured Mercedes Benz S-600 (V222) car s for his use.
www.naij.com/485633-buhari-osinbajo-slash-their-salary-by-50.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is close to ending attacks from Boko Haram in spite of recent attacks by the group in some parts of the North, a statement said in Abuja on Wednesday.

The statement was issued by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.


It said the president made the statement while conveying his sincere and heartfelt condolences to all Nigerians who lost relations in the latest terrorist attacks in Jos, Kano, and Zaria.

“The president is convinced that with recent increases in troops’ deployment, improvements in the supply of arms and equipment to the military, as well as the ongoing effort to mobilise greater international cooperation and support, the end of Boko Haram and terrorism in Nigeria is in sight.

“He calls on Nigerians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons to security agents as his administration continues to give the highest priority possible to eradicating Boko Haram and ensuring greater security of lives and property across the country,’’ the statement added.

According to the statement, Buhari joins the relations in mourning their loved ones brutally murdered in the suicide bombings and attacks which have also caused horrifying injuries to others.

The president urged Nigerians not to be disheartened by the seeming resurgence of terrorist attacks and atrocities in the country as his administration remained fully committed to overcoming the challenges of insecurity, terrorism and insurgency as quickly as possible.

He noted that already, the intensified onslaught by the military on terrorists’ strongholds had led to significant seizures of weapons and vehicles, a blockage of their sources of arms and ammunition and a decimation of their fighting men.

Buhari assured Nigerians of the ability and readiness of the armed forces and security agencies to contain the“ frantic resort by the terrorists to attacks on soft targets, such as crowds and places of worship’’.

http://247ureports.com/buhari-says-end-in-sight-for-boko-haram/

Governors in the South West have been asked to launch the rebirth of the region’s civil service and public works departments, saying that such a move will help uplift the region in the face of the dwindling economic fortunes of the country.
Making the call on Tuesday, the President of South West Professional Forum, (SOWPROF) Chief Segun Ajibulu, a public administrator in a statement made available to Irohinoodua said the future of the South West region lay in an effective and professional civil service, creative exploration of untapped natural resources and regional integration of the state’s political, economic and cultural structures.
“We are concerned with the fall in the Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) of Nigeria. We are worried that states are not able to pay salaries due to no fault of theirs. We are concerned that the civil service is currently weak and needs to be strengthened to meet the new challenges. The future of the people of the South West lay in economic and political unity of purpose”, the group stated.
With the population of the South West region in the range of 50 million people, SOWPROF added, there is the need to initiate a social security system that will take care of the needs of the aged, children and the unemployed.

Ajibulu stated “We need a system that will take care of those without the economic means to survive. No state can do it alone. All the willing SW states need to work together. This is the best way to minimize violence and tame the tide of instability in the South West region for the overall peace and wellbeing of Nigerians”, the group stated.
SOWPROF which was established in 1999 has over 5000 professionals spread across Nigeria and abroad. The group has been promoting the training of civil servants on best global techniques for efficient service delivery.
Ajibulu said that the South West should concentrate on reviving agriculture, reward for hard work, an efficient public service framework and a return to community service as one of the pillars of human development index in the region adding that the future of the South West lay.

A suicide bomber today, infiltrated a local branch of
Redeemed Christian Church of God killing six people
including himself.
The explosion occurred at Redeemed Christian Church of
God along Bauchi road in Potiskum Town, Yobe State.
Carnage In Bauchi Church
One eye witness told reporters that the bomb went off at a
time worshipers were observing the Sunday service.
The resident said “six persons died” from the blast.
Yobe State police have confirmed the explosion and the
number of casualties reported.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Yobe, Toyin
Gbadegesin, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Damaturu
that among the dead was also the suicide bomber.
“A male suicide bomber detonated a bomb at Redeemed
Church at Jigawa area of Potiskum, killing five on the spot,”
Mr. Gbadegesin said. “A female member of the church who
sustained injuries also died while receiving treatment in the
hospital.”
He revealed that all the injured are currently getting
rehabilitated at various health facilities in the area.
Potiskum last suffered a twin suicide attack on June 15, in
which 10 people were killed and several others injured.
Potiskum last witnessed a suicide attack on June 15, the
attack left 10 people dead and several others injured.

www.naij.com/479465-breaking-sunday-bomb-attack-on-redeemed-church-kills-6.html

The attention of Mr. Ayo Opadokun has been drawn to the falsehood published against his person as contained in The Pilot of Sunday, 28th June, 2015 on the support of the South-West for President Muhammadu Buhari in the last presidential election.

The newspaper was said to have quoted Opadokun as saying that the Yoruba, South-West Nigeria have expressed regrets over their votes for President Buhari to emerge the winner of the March 28, 2015 presidential election.

The said publication is, to say the least, a figment of the imagination of the writer as Opadokun did not at anytime make such a statement to any news medium anywhere.

The elder statesman who was out of Lagos at the time of the publication of this utter falsehood by The Pilot stated: ‘’ I did not grant any interview nor talk to any Pilot reporter at anytime, anywhere. It is a blatant lie and irresponsible journalism for any newspaper to publish such a malicious fiction.’’

It is quite disappointing that the Fourth Estate has now been taken over by people who know little or next to nothing about the ethics of the journalism profession and can, therefore, do any dirty job for filthy lucre.

It is equally unfortunate and an insult to the memory of the late foremost nationalist and elder statesman, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe that The Pilot which apparently seeks to keep alive, the memory of the famous West African Pilot published by the great Zik of Africa is now neck-deep in reactionary practices, the very anti-thesis of the real Pilot.


Prince Tunde Adeleke

Signed.

Despite the recent surge of attacks by terror group Boko
Haram, the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari has
assured the nation that Nigeria is progressively winning
the war against the insurgents.
He said this during his address at the graduation of 174
military officers of senior course 37 of the Armed Forces
Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji.

Buhari, who was the special guest of the occasion noted
the importance of harnessing the strengths of multiple
security actors as demonstrated in the fight against
terrorism.
The president was represented by his vice, Yemi Osinbajo at
the event. Buhari urged the graduating class to be ready
and conscious of their actions as they might one day
represent the nation.

“Some of you will be deployed in crisis-prone areas, for
either internal security or peace support operations outside
your country, giving that we live in a common global
environment, you must be conscious of your actions,” he
warned the graduates.
He then charged the military to live up to expectations at all
times and to uphold the nation’s enduring legacy in global
peacekeeping operations.
“As members of the armed forces, you have a principal role
to play in protecting the lives and property of our citizens.

“While maintaining internal peace and security remains
primarily the responsibility of the civil police, the scale of
the current security challenges facing our nation requires
the military to play a more decisive role in support of civil
power.
“Always remember that ethnicity and religious intolerance
are the greatest threats to our collective security as people
and as a nation. I urge you all to guard against these
negative sentiments in the discharge of your noble duties,”
the president counseled.
Boko Haram have recently intensified their strikes across
northern Nigeria with an increase in suicide attacks in the
region.

www.naij.com/479007-boko-haram-is-not-winning-buhari.html

According to party insiders, APC Chairman John Oyegun is actively betraying the wishes of the majority of the party by refusing to take a principled stand against the anti-party actions of Senate President Saraki and House Speaker Dogara.

Most party insiders are perplexed by the ambivalent attitude of Oyegun to the obvious and public insult that Saraki and Dogara committed against the party and Oyegun as Chairman of the party.  As one member stated, ‘It is as if the man has no backbone or self respect. When he should move, he sits down. When he should  talk, he  is mute. When he should make a decision, he sleeps and after finally making a decision he takes days to implement something that could be done in minutes.’ Party sources state that Oyegun’s footdragging has been a primary cause of the crisis rocking the party in the National Assembly.

  From the beginning of the nomination process for the Senate Presidency and House Speakership, Oyegun failed to assert strong leadership. ‘He seemed more the led than the leader,’ according to a group of frustrated APC legislators.  He temporized for days when time was of the essence in determining the procedure to select the NASS leadership.  He was always ambivalent to bringing the matter to a vote among APC lawmakers and reaching a final conclusion.  ‘It was as if he was hedging for more time, but for what purpose?’

Inside observers state that the delays proved decisive. The slow pace  gave Saraki and Dogara  precious time to perfect their plans with the PDP lawmakers to capture the leadership slots.  Without the wasted days, the men would not have been able to reach their intricate deals with the PDP. They would have had to submit themselves to the internal party democracy and discipline of the APC, according to an  NEC member.  ‘If Saraki owes the PDP the most for his rise to Senate Presidency against the will and decision of the party, the person Saraki is most beholden to for this odd gift is our very own chairman,’ argued an APC senator who claimed to be thoroughly disgusted with the wiles of the Chairman.  This man is with us but not for us, added the lawmaker.

One lawmaker stated that Oyegun had to be forced to hold the mock elections that elected Lawan and Gbajabiamila as the party’s choices for the two top NASS offices. If you recall, Oyegun held his head in his hands during the entire process as if he objected to the outcome of the vote. Oyegun was not happy with the result and thus never tried to actively assert the decisions made.

After Saraki and Dogara rebelled by aligning with PDP NASS members, Oyegun remains strangely mum and unmoved to the harm being done to his and the party’s  authority. ‘He took the rebuff too lightly and quickly as if he almost welcomed it,’ recounted a member of the party secretariat.  Oyegun seemed to be following a script that we did not know and seemed to working toward an objective that none of us understood,  lamented a party official.

When Oyegun had a chance to reassert himself in the appointment of party positions of Majority leader and Party Whips in both chambers, he returned to his signature delay mode.  He called for endless meetings and consultations that did nothing but waste time yet reached no conclusion. It was only after APC governors intervened and applied heavy pressure did he write a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker naming the party’s choices for Majority leader and the other posts. Even then, the letter was half-hearted, oddly brief and strangely passive in tone. It was as if he wrote it under compulsion because he had been backed into a corner by the governors and not by conviction.  Once again Saraki and Dogara rebuffed him and once again Oyegun took the insult as if he asked for it.

‘We no longer understand our chairman. It is as if he was there for our electoral victory so that he can preside over the dismantling of the party post election,’ alleged one party member intimate with recent events.

The majority of party members are angry at the ways things are going. They want to instill party discipline, They especially want Saraki removed from the Senate Presidency or suspended from the party. However, Oyegun is acting otherwise.  One member said that ‘Oyegun has become good at turning the other cheek when insulted by Saraki and Dogara because he has become two-faced.’

Oyegun has sounded out many party members. He has received petitions and recommendations from a wide spectrum of the party. The opinion is the same. Saraki and Dogara  need to be disciplined for this unprecedented misconduct. However, Oyegun refuses to say a harsh word or even lift his voice.

One incensed party member stated the opinion of the rank and file: ‘ events in the NASS go beyond Saraki and Dogara. These men would not have dared such rebellion unless backed by strong forces wanting to continue business as usual.  The forces of reaction and unjust privilege now conspire to thwart the progressive change and reform the electorate endorsed in the last election. These people never wanted President Buhari to emerge and have been fighting him from the beginning. They pretended to ally with him only when his victory seemed likely. They came close not to help but to hinder his program. People like Saraki and Dogara are in this camp. Having rode the APC to victory, they now seek to destroy the party because of its progressive intent to fight corruption and bring broadly shared prosperity through fundamental economic reform. That is what this fight is about. It is a fight for the soul of the party and for the fate of the nation. ‘

Other APC members suggest something more mercenary is also at play.  ‘We have credible evidence that high-ranking members of party have sold their souls to Saraki and Dogara. Oyegun has been implicated in taking money in order to slow and distort the party machinery so that Saraki and his team have time to outflank us, declared one APC senior official.
‘We are not surprised by Saraki and Dogara. A snake will do what a snake will do. However, we are extremely saddened by Oyegun’s conduct. We thought we had a man of integrity. We have found out now that we have a man who will act in accordance to the whims and will of the highest bidders. If he continues, he will go down in history as one of the group of confederates who conspired to impair change and sink the nation further into a hole,’ said the official.  In helping to break the Buhari government and this party, Oyegun and others are breaking sacred vows made to the Nigerian people. There is no amount of money worth that. However, Oyegun does not apparently think so, concluded one APC lawmaker.

http://citizenconfidential.com/apc-chairman-oyegun-betrays-the-party-for-personal-gain-by-maxwell-ighado/

The Common Sense Revolution, Why are the Northerners Ungrateful.
By Umar Galadima

"Today we celebrate, tomorrow we join our ability and strength to work" Bola Tinubu.
"The expectations of nigerians are extremely high" Atiku Abubakar.
At the venue of the presidential gala night.

Dear Northerners, you ask for it from the southwest several times and the whole it was given to you, why the sudden disappointment?
Although its a common attitude of a Yoruba politicians to support a northern candidacy even at the beginning of inception whereby chief Obafemi Owolowo gave up his aspiration of the office of the prime minister to Sir Abubakar Tafawa against chief Nnamdi Ezikwe who was vying for the same position, all this was made possible when sir Ahmadu Bello table before chief Nnamdi Ezikwe.
As we collectively voted for MKO Abiola and we deliberately snatched it from them as we sent him offjail and quickly arrange his meeting with the Lord in heaven back then in June12, they formed AC and gave Atiku the ticket out of sympathy, he later ran back to PDP and snub at them, they synthesised to ACN and regained our trust with Ribadu but unfortunately he too sold it out to PDP without fear or favour, at the point of merger we were given the whole of it primarily with Muhammadu Buhari, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Atiku Abubakar Turaki which we later summit it all to PMB out of trust and for humanity but now some of us take them for fools, claiming that we know it all in democracy but all we know is a mere tactical conspiracy and strategic hypocrisy at a time were Abiola was jailed to dead, at a point were both Atiku and Ribadu left AC and ACN to PDP respectively. Now that Tinubu is given his eternal best to APC victory again and again via Law and order, Atiku is willingly sponsoring Saraki at a detriment of our hard earning victory to a party that is now reduce to regional entity called PDP.
With a deep sense of belonging, spiritedness and way forward, the Jagaban-Africa, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu humbly table the matter before APC party elders and like the party call for a solution that laid to internal primaries which both the candidates to senate presidency seat agreed, the factional desparadors later turn back at it and ran to the opposition to make it a do or die affair which absent themselves at the venue of dialogue and later moved to the Senate on the D-Day to fulfil their selfish plans. At this point, the Jagaban-Africa has to shield his sharp shinning sword to spare the life of the common sense revolution and as an elder in the Nigerian political system, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave it all to unity of the party and summit to the party's decision that ask for the appointment of the factional leaders to be principal officers of the party in the Senate under the watch and leadership Saraki, but yet the hunters dog unapologetically hand it over to the oppositions and here we are again.
There is wise saying that charity begins at home, Tinubu you are a leader that both Lagosians and Nigerians will testify to and if Adamawa remains my motherland Atiku will carry the credit of reducing the state to what it is today.

...what more can I say?

They say Tinubu is a greedy and over ambitious man, his first party ticket he gave it to Atiku, second one he gave it to Ribadu, third one he gave it to Buhari. Both Atiku and Ribadu later moved to PDP but Tinubu remained in opposition. Who is over ambitious?
He strategized and survived in opposition for 16years when others were all jumping shamelessly from one party to the other, he gave Buhari the pedestal to attain his ambition but now he is labeled the number one enemy of Buhari by the same people that felt he can never be President. They all rush to pay OBJ allegiance forgetting he brought GEJ to power and brought him down but Tinubu brought Fashola and never brought him down despite perceived differences. Lest we forget, never bite the hands that fed you cos you might lick the boot that kicked you. Kudos Jagaban!!!

President Muhammadu Buhari has dissolved the board of
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with
immediate effect.
The directive to that effect was conveyed in a letter signed
today 26th June 2015 by the Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation, Barr.Danladi Kifasi. In it the President thanked
members of the dissolved board for their services to the
nation.
Haruna R. Imrana
Director Communications
For; Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
26th-June-2015

globalreportersnews.com/2015/06/president-buhari-dissolves-board-of-nnpc/

S President Barack Obama will welcome his
Nigerian counterpart to Washington next month,
the White House announced Thursday, a symbolic
show of solidarity after the country’s first ever
democratic transition.
“President Obama will host Nigerian President
Muhammadu Buhari at the White House,” on July
20, the White House said.
The visit will mark “our support for the Nigerian
people following their historic democratic
elections and peaceful transfer of power,” a
statement added.
Obama’s administration had faced criticism for not
planning to visit Nigeria during a two nation Africa
tour, also slated for July.
That trip will take in Kenya and Ethiopia, countries
which have held highly questioned elections in
recent memory.
May elections in Ethiopia resulted in the ruling
party gaining all 546 parliamentary seats.
A presidential visit to Kenya had been put on ice
while President Uhuru Kenyatta faced charges –
now suspended – of crimes against humanity for
his role in 2007-2008 post-election violence.
Obama and Buhari themselves will have a packed
agenda.
The White House said they would discuss
combating Boko Haram militants.
The armies of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon
have been fighting a joint campaign against Boko
Haram for several months, pushing militants out
of captured towns and villages.
But village raids continue apace, often resulting in
the deaths of dozens of women and children.
Boko Haram has been fighting to establish a
hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria since
2009.
Obama and Buhari will also discuss Nigeria’s
economic and political reforms to “unlock its full
potential as a regional and global leader.”

www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=12414

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state may have
courted trouble following a revelation made by an
education body in the state.
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in the
state has stated that buses belonging to it were used by the
governor for his campaign rallies and they are yet to be
returned since Wike emerged as governor.
Rivers State Governor,
Nyesom Wike

Now, the commission is asking the Rivers state governor to
return the 15 Toyota Hilux trucks he took from them with
sources confirming to Global Village Extra, a US-based
online medium, that he must return their vehicles to them.
One of the drivers at UBEC, who pleaded anonymity, said: “if
you ask the governor, he will tell you that he still has the 15
Toyota Hilux trucks which we were told he borrowed to go
and run his governorship campaign with
“I know for a fact that the vehicles are not part of the
monetization policy of the federal government which allows
public officers to leave government with their official
vehicles. He already took his official cars with him in lieu of
vehicle allowance.

“ I believe It is wrong for a political appointee to abuse his
office by taking advantage of the government resources in
their possession, and using it for politics.”
The vehicles taken by Wike, the driver further explained,
were meant for the rural communities and other village by
village educational programs being embarked upon by
UBEC.
He also lamented the absence of the vehicles, noting that
many of UBEC’s programs have been sharing the remaining
fleet of vehicles since the governor has refused to return the
vehicles at his disposal.

“ I have been at this job for over 20 years now, and the
immediate past minister of state for education, Nyesom
Wike, really messed things up for us, he needs to return the
15 Toyota Hilux trucks as soon as possible because we really
need them,” declared the anonymous driver.

www.naij.com/471287-return-our-trucks-to-us-education-agency-chides-wike.html