₦airaland Forum

hmmm

The Presidency, through the Minister of Information, responded to some of the issues raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. What persuaded you to add your voice to the debate, weeks after?

What the government did under the leadership of President Buhari showed optimum maturity. Those of us who are not within the Presidency strongly believe that we have rights to make our opinions known on the issue.

We are necessary stakeholders in what Obasanjo said about the government. I am among the three arms of government, so when someone condemns the performance of the government, he condemns my performance also. When somebody calls for the president not to contest for election, he is passing a negative verdict on the government of the day, and I am part of this government. So I have every sense of responsibility to stand by this government. I am under oath to be loyal to this country, the flag, and the Federal Government. I believe that the Minister of Information did his job.

Some believe you were probably deployed from the backdoor of the Presidency to do the other side of the attack on Obasanjo.

Between me, you and God, I say this with all honour; nobody made me say something about Obasanjo. If anything, I am known for how I stood by Obasanjo and how I supported him. What makes him think that he alone has the solutions to the problems of Nigeria? What qualifications does he have for this? In his first election (1999), he didn’t win one state in the entire South -West of the country, including his own state, Ogun. By 2003, he virtually went on his knees and made a deal with some governors that he would support them to get back their seats if they didn’t disgrace him. He betrayed them. The only governor that refused to be hoodwinked was Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who won his seat without the help of Obasanjo. The remaining governors lost their seats.

When Goodluck Jonathan was in power, he also wrote a letter to him. He believes that the destiny of any president is in his hands. He believes that his support is critical. This must stop.

Some say you should look at the message and not the messenger. Obasanjo raised some issues like corruption and nepotism against President Buhari. What is your take on this?

I agree with that concept that you “look at the message and not the messenger.” But what is right in what the messenger is saying? For instance, why should he accuse Buhari of nepotism? The constitution of this country is clear enough. Buhari must have at least one minister from each state and he has done that. Take a look at the ministers and the portfolios they hold. I don’t believe that every ministry is equal. You can’t say that the Minister of Finance is on the same page with the Minister of Culture or Minister of Information. None of the key ministries (except that of Education and Agriculture) have leaders of northern extraction.

If he (Obasanjo) was neutral or didn’t even make false allegations, I may not have responded the way I did. But he is throwing his weight around and people respect him because he is a former head of the country. I am close to him and I know him very well. Every government is not good enough, according to him. If he had solved the problems of this country, why then did he leave Yar’adua to inherit the kind of problems he did? If he succeeded in his economic policies, why did Jonathan have problems with the economy of this country? Obasanjo, in all good conscience, ruled this country for about 11 years and still couldn’t solve the problems of this country.

I was a governor and I know what he tried to do, and if walls were to speak, go to house number seven in the Villa here and the walls would tell you what transpired there. The walls would tell you that he actually wanted a third term because he made attempts, many attempts to try to amend the Nigerian constitution such that it would enable him have tenure elongation.

He tried to work on the party’s (PDP) constitution to see what it would be if he didn’t become the president so that he would have what we call soft landing.

I am not a passerby in this; I was part and parcel of this movement, and we keep this thing because we have a duty to keep it as much as possible, you know. But when he comes to undo a whole government because it is Buhari, it is about this government. I said it in my release, except you want me to repeat it, that to an extent, he has not been called to answer. Look, I did mention Halliburton sometimes. I talked about Siemens.Did he play any role in the accusation of corruption and what have you? If not, let him come out and say he was not aware. There are some cases; what happened to those cases in Nigeria? Some of the people that are involved in those cases are languishing in jail in the United States of America. Some of the cases started here and nobody is hearing about them again.

If Buhari wanted, if not for the respect he has for his predecessors, he would have put him on trial. What about the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)? You know the privatisation that took place and got to him; let him come and let’s have an open enquiry on who played what part. What about Transcorp deals and the oil blocks in this country? He wants to tell us that he is a perfect angel, that there is no palm oil on his hands.

There is an insinuation that you too have some questions to answer; that’s why you came out to protect President Buhari. For instance, your son has been on trial at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The case involving my son is not a government problem. Yes, my son had a private contract between him and his friends; it is not like I was in government to give him contract. In fact, I was out of this country when the matter happened. It was just a business between him and his friend because they were there together in the United Kingdom (UK). They got a contract but they did not have the money to execute the contract; then he got a friend and they worked on it together. I think when they were sharing their profit they had a misunderstanding and his friend decided to report to the EFCC. In fact, when I came back, the case was on ground, but his friend said he did not report to the EFCC.

They did a contract for the Kano State Government and were paid for the job done. The Kano State Government is not complaining about the job. Go to Kano and the EFCC, there is no case of money laundering there. The matter is in court, I don’t want to talk about it.

Obasanjo and IBB were applauded in some quarters for what they said, why did you align yourself with those who are against the messages?

I admit to the fact that they have the right as Nigerians to hold opinions; after all, they are stakeholders and former presidents of this country. They are elder statesmen. Look, the two former presidents have good relationships with President Buhari, so if they were not able to come to Buhari in Abuja, they could make a private arrangement with him. Buhari can go to Minna; he has been to Minna before and can go to Minna again. I have seen Obasanjo, and I saw IBB once in the Villa since Buhari took over as president. I saw Obasanjo more than I can count. I have seen him alone; I have seen him with some people, so what went wrong?

They served together in the military government. At a point, Buhari was his minister; why couldn’t he talk to him? It will not be honest to say Obasanjo doesn’t have access to Buhari. I have seen him live on television entering the Villa, I have seen him talking to the press in the Villa as well, so Buhari is very accessible to him.

General Yakubu Gowon was head of state before any of them. He fought the Nigerian civil war, he was the commander-in-chief, he prosecuted the war and won without borrowing from outside to keep Nigeria as one.And he is alive. When he has cause to talk to the government, he is allowed and nobody can stop him and nobody has ever had Gowon criticise the government openly. He might make a statement but was never critical.

Shagari was president, and when we had a change of government, he never opened his mouth once to criticise the government.

Abdulsalami is there and was never seen outwardly criticising the government. Take reference from the Obama-Trump election where you don’t see Obama take on Trump publicly. In Britain, where did you see the prime minister take on his predecessor? It is part of the ‘don’t do’ when you get to the pinnacle of power.

I can say that Obasanjo is not holier than any of these presidents he has tried to undermine.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-i-faulted-obasanjo-on-buhari-sen-adamu.html

A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has said that politicians are the greatest threat to Nigeria’s democracy and its corporate existence hence citizens must find ways to control their excesses and recklessness.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja at the maiden edition of ‘Watching The Vote: Election Series’ organised by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa, themed “Is Nigeria’s Democracy Under Threat?”

He said the biggest threat is the recklessness of politicians to undermine Nigeria’s democracy thereby disrupting the process of development.

The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari who said Nigeria’s democracy was under threat with the signs and indicators all over, noted the need for the government to partner with CSOs to educate Nigerians on elections especially to curb invalid votes.

The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, said the series was to create a platform for engagement on the 2019 elections and provide opportunity for key election stakeholders to engage on pathways to ensuring peaceful and credible elections.

The Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan, urged Nigerians to be involved in the electoral process and think of national unity and development above sectional considerations.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/jega-politicians-are-nigeria-s-greatest-threat.html

A serving judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Godwin Obla, were yesterday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The duo were re-arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court sitting at Ikeja consequent upon the amendment to the charge made against them by the EFCC.

The duo were first docked in November 2016 on a 30-counts charge but the new charge has 31 counts.

According to the fresh charge, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was, among other things, accused of receiving a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015 “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.”

On Obla's part, he was accused of offering N5m as gratification to the judge so as to allegedly pervert the course of justice.

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 64(1), 82(a) and 69(1) (a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the fresh charge. Meanwhile, the 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Lawal, an investigator, has continued his testimony before the court.

Lawal, who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, pointed out three deposits – N4m, N3m and 5m – made into the account of Nigel and Colive Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly belonging to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

The deposits, he said, were made on July 11, 2014, by a Customs officer, Omali Musa.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/unlawful-enrichment-efcc-re-arraign-justice-ofili-ajumogobia-obla-san.html

I will be taking water throughout my life time

gurunlocker:
Make we no even eat again now...

What of twins?

False information about the safety of vaccines disseminated by social media resulted in an outbreak of measles in European countries, Dr Nathalie Schirvel from the Belgian Health authority AVIQ told Sputnik.

Measles is currently on the rise in Europe with the number of cases having tripled in 2017.

The WHO said that more than 21,000 people caught the virus in 2017, and 35 people died of it, while there were only 5,200 cases in 2016.

“The problem is also social media … False information has been spread in the population about vaccine safety. Vaccine critics have made vaccination rates fall below 90 per cent in the last decade; a dangerous trend,” Schirvel said.

The doctor pointed out that at least 95 per cent of the population must be vaccinated in order to fight the spread of measles.

“To control measles, 95 per cent of the population must be vaccinated or immune because of a past infection.

“Measles is one of the most infectious viruses — it infects 90 per cent of people, who are exposed to it if they aren’t immune, and it can hang in the air and infect people, who enter a room as long as two hours after an infected person has left!” Schirvel added.

The rise in the number of people who caught measles rose after the influx of migrants and refugees in 2015.

The incidence of measles in Germany jumped by more than 450 per cent between 2014 and 2015, when Germany accepted hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants.

The WHO carefully avoids linking the epidemic with the migrants’ crisis in Europe, reminding that Europe regularly had bursts of the viral disease in the past.

On the Pulitzer Center website, U.S. journalist Sonia Shah accused the EU anti-immigrant policy of depriving migrants and refugees from proper medical care, which results in a health crisis.

“Across Europe, anti-migrant policies restrict refugees’ access to medical care, depriving them of everything from free vaccinations to pre-natal services.

“Basic supplies are scarce, once-contained diseases such as malaria and HIV are on the rise, and infant mortality has spiked by 40 per cent.

“Sonia Shah warns this could develop in unmanageable health crises. Epidemics of preventable diseases loom,” Shah said.

Measles is not the only disease threatening Europe.

The incidence of chicken-pox, rubella, whooping cough, mumps or meningitis has also increased significantly.

In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute mentions, for example, that the number of Hepatitis “B” cases has increased by 300 per cent since 2014. (Sputnik/NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/false-online-information-on-vaccines-contributed-to-measles-outbreak.html

hmmm

overall90:
And HIS wife
not and THE wife

Chai! i don inter one chance government!

Sai baba

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The sack of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has created a crack among the lawmakers.

Daily Trust reports that Adamu, a key opponent of the reordering of elections sequence, was sacked on Wednesday over allegation of financial mismanagement. His removal was announced in a letter by Senator Dino Melaye, the spokesperson of the NSF.

At yesterday’s plenary, Senator Malam Ali Wakili (APC, Bauchi) raised a point of order, saying Adamu’s removal did not follow due process.

“I was not here yesterday (Wednesday), I saw it (news of removal) in the papers and television when you (Ike Ekweremadu) announced the removal of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum.

“Your Excellency, I come from the North and I am an active member of the Northern Senators Forum. At no time have we met and put to question any of the leaders of the forum.

“But it was brought to this place and it was announced; and some of our colleagues went to the press centre and made statements that referred to some of us as monkeys,” he said.

Apparently referring to Senator Shehu Sani, Wakili, a retired customs officer, said the statement that the money of the NSF was swallowed by monkeys had breached on his privilege.

“We are taking this political brinkmanship beyond the level we are supposed to take it. We are supposed to be wise men.

“The fact that I am not privy and the fact that the Northern Senators Forum was dragged, my privilege has been breached because nobody called me for a meeting. Senator Barau Jibrin, secretary of the forum, had never called a meeting. Senator Dino Melaye, the public relations officer of the forum, had never called for a meeting,” he said.

He accused the Spokesperson of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger), of leading senators to address the press on NSF which he said was outside his schedule as senate spokesperson.

“By this, I want to say that my privilege has been breached because my constituents and other concerned northerners have also expressed disgust that why are we trying to destroy our leadership. I want the senate to take judicial note of what I am saying,” he said.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, noted the point of order without taking any action.

However, Senator Sabi faulted Wakili’s claim, saying, “Wakili made some comments alluding to the fact that as the spokesman of the senate, I led some people to the press centre. I want to make it categorically clear that as the spokesman of the senate, I have always tried to remain much focused on defending the institution of the senate.

“I went to the media centre as part of my statutory responsibility to brief the senate press corps on happenings within the senate, of course I gave them brief on the various bills and specifically I also spoke on the bill I sponsored.

“I made it very clear that I am not holding brief for the forum even though I am a member. I am here to speak for the senate; the clips are there, and if anybody has any information to the contrary, I challenge him to bring that clip out,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/northern-senators-divided-over-adamu-s-sack.html

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The #BringBackOurGirls movement (BBOG) has called on the federal government, Yobe state government and all relevant authorities to promptly investigate "with utmost sense of urgency" the abduction of the Dapchi school girls by Boko Haram insurgents in Yobe state.

The group in a statement issued by spokesperson, Sesugh Akume, also urged the FG to communicate factually to avert the tragedy of #ChibokGirls abduction.

It said the movement has been monitoring the news of the girls abduction on Monday and there has been conflicting reports on the incidence among state and federal institutions and officials showing some similarities with the abduction of the #Chibok School girls.

"This draws dreadful and eerie similarities with the confusion that surrounded official communication following the abduction of our #ChibokGirls on 14th April 2014 who have remained with the Boko Haram terrorists for 1, 410 days today".

The group also said it welcomes the news that some of the abductees have been rescued by the Nigeria Army but however, "the limited information so far offered the public on the attack of their school and the girls rescue clearly raise crucial questions that demand prompt answers: How is it that a terrorist group said to have been defeated able to abduct in the range of 100 schoolgirls? How many precisely were abducted, how many are back, and how many are in captivity?.

"Can The names of these 3 categories of victims be published for purposes of clarity and accountability? Has contact been made with the parents and families of our Dapchi girls? Are they able to to verify all information put out by the state? the group further queried.

The advocacy group further pledged to continue monitoring events as they unfold and promises to respond accordingly.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/-bbog-urges-fg-to-investigate-abduction-of-dapchi-schoolgirls.html

Still looking young...happy birthday

Happy Anniversary

In politics there is no permanent enemy...

What does these add to Nigeria economy?

I do hope they will discuss better things that will improve the standard of living of Nigerians.

Wicked, heartless man

President Muhammadu Buhari is, at present, presiding over a meeting of the Council of State.

Former leaders absent are Ibrahim Badamasi Babamgida, Goodluck Jonathan, Shehu Shagari and Earnest Shomekan are absent.

Only Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo are the former leaders present at the meeting.

Obasanjo, who was five minutes late, rushed to greet Buhari before taking his seat.

This is the third of such meeting since Buhari assumed office about three years ago. The first one was on October 21, 2015; and the second, September 7, 2016.

The meeting, which began at 11:05am, is being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The closed-door meeting is expected to discuss the security challenges confronting the country.

Gowon and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, said the opening prayer.

Before the meeting started, President Buhari had gone round the Council Chambers to shake hands with his visitors.

The governors in attendance are those of Sokoto, Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Benue, Lagos, Nasarawa, Abia, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Plateau, Kano, Wike, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ekiti, Zamfara, Ogun, Niger, Ebonyi.

Former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi and Aloma Muktar are also in attendance.

A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Mustapha.

The Council of State is an organ of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of advising the executive on policy making.

The council, which comprises president as chairman and vice president as deputy chairman, has as members; all former presidents and Heads of State all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, all state governors and Attorney-General of the Federation.

Its duties include advising the president in the exercise of his powers with respect to the National population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information concerning the same; prerogative of mercy; award of national honours; the Independent National Electoral Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission); the National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that Council); the National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission).

The council also advises the president whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order and on such other matters as the he may direct.

Details later...

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ibb-jonathan-absent-at-buhari-s-council-of-state-meeting.html

hmmm