₦airaland Forum

Wonderful talent....

Its seems to me that we are not one Nigeria..

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, says Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State is lying by saying that former vice president Atiku Abubakar did not make tangible contribution to the 2015 presidential campaign of the ruling party.

El-rufai, who spoke on a Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service Programme, “Democracy Today”, which was monitored in Kaduna, was quoted to have challenged Atiku to mention those who collected his financial contribution to the presidential campaign from him.

Frank, in a statement issued in Abuja, described the governor’s statement as “a height of ingratitude of a jilted lover.”

He implored the Kaduna State governor to refresh his memory by either watching the campaign video or meeting the then Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Ameachi, for the record of what transpired before, during and after the campaign in 2015.

He said, “Ameachi has record of those who contributed to the campaign. So, if El-rufai does not know, he should contact the Minister of Transportation. Moreover, it is on record that the former Vice President had responsibility for seven states during the campaign.

“Again, it is also on record that Atiku's media asset was transferred to the campaign. If El-rufai has forgotten so soon, the Director of Media, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Malam Garba Shehu, who is now the spokesman to the President, was handed over to the party campaign team from Atiku Media office, the deputy director of Atiku media team Mr Paul Ibe was also part of APC media team during the 2015 campaign and other key members of Atiku's group. I don't know how El-rufai will quantify the cost?

“Moreover, President Muhammadu Buhari, as a President-elect himself acknowledged the role these people played as a group when he met with them at the Defence House in Abuja.”

He advised the governor of Kaduna to stop what he called “his political sycophantic act toward President Buhari” and urged the President to study El-rufai’s antecedents in politics.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/frank-says-el-rufai-lied-on-atiku-s-contribution-to-apc-2015-campaign.html

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Good luck

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Hidden grievances have begun to emerge as to why the Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, made a recent political outburst when he said he will not join ticket with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje come 2019.



Supporters of the camps of Governor Ganduje and his Deputy are already embroiled in war of words, with each side blaming the other of being disingenuous.

Some loyalists of Governor Ganduje alleged that the deputy governor was only playing a proxy war considering his relationship with an ex-Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who no longer saw eye-to-eye with the governor.

On the surface, loyalists of the deputy governor said their principal was only angry with the immediate past state chairman of the ruling APC, Abdullahi Abbas.

Abbas, yesterday, resigned as the state chairman of the party but was hurriedly nominated by Ganduje and immediately screened by the Kano State House of Assembly for appointment as commissioner.

The question that is still begging for answer is the wisdom behind his redeployment as commissioner and whether this change of event will cool the already heated political atmosphere in the state or not.

Some people argue that Abbas was simply “demoted to appease the deputy governor” because the position of state party chairman is by far better than that of a commissioner.

However, others see it differently, insisting Governor Ganduje is playing the game carefully, trying hard not to lose his deputy in the political logjam and at the same time not sacrifice a loyal party chairman who is willing to do everything possible to appease the governor by fighting on his behalf.

Latest trouble in the Kano APC, and by extension the government at large, started when Prof. Abubakar in a leaked audio clip that went viral on both social and conventional media said he would rather return to Bayero University, Kano (BUK) where he belonged after the expiration of their tenure on May 29, 2019.

The deputy governor made the statement at Mambayya House while addressing his supporters from Gwale Local Government Area of the state on recent happenings in the APC in the state.

He complained bitterly about the sudden removal of his ‘blood’ brother (apparently by Abbas) from his position as the Chairman of APC in Mandawari Ward in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano.

The deputy governor also complained of how his official portrait was replaced with that of another politician in his birthplace.

And seemingly referring to his benefactor, ex-Governor Kwankwaso, the deputy governor said, “I did not bring myself here. I was engrossed in my academic activities when I was picked as the deputy governorship candidate. The God that chose me is not sleeping.”

Spokesperson of the deputy governor, Alhaji Usman Bello, had since confirmed that the clip actually contained the voice of his principal.

“Yes, it is his voice. However, my boss has no any problem with Ganduje,” he said.

He also said his principal did not say he would align himself with Kwankwaso as widely reported by the media, noting that “he only called Kwankwaso a leader in the clip.”

However, this clarification, including the action taken by Governor Ganduje, could not bury the acrimonious mood in Kano.

Similarly, it was gathered that the sacked ‘blood brother’ of the deputy governor had been reinstated shortly after a directive by Governor Ganduje through his Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Garba. But it seems the temperature is still high in Kano.

A member of the House of Assembly said the outburst was long overdue considering the sour relationship that existed between Prof. Abubakar and Abbas.

According to him, “I can vividly recall that during Kwankwaso’s era, the current deputy governor was given too much power, far and above Abbas, who just resigned as APC chairman.

“He (Prof. Abubakar) was then the alpha and omega of Kwankwasiyya in Gwale Local Government Area and all critical appointments from Gwale were done in his favour.

“However, with the turn of events, Abbas now got an opportunity and is taking revenge,” he said.

But a source within the government confided in Daily Trust that the deputy governor’s frustration was beyond Mandawari Ward, saying it was a clever way of getting at Governor Ganduje.

According to him, there was no critical issue taken by the APC in Gwale which did not favour the deputy governor.

“The state government recently appointed Interim Management Officers (IMOs) for the 44 local governments and the deputy governor was favoured because his candidate was considered.

“Whenever a critical issue comes up, the stakeholders always favour him. If there is a crisis in a family, the first person to be approached is the father. Why did Prof. Abubakar take the issue to the media? Why can’t he approach the governor as the overall leader? He is not the only party member that felt bad with the recent restructuring, but nobody approached the media.

“There are procedures and channels for resolving this kind of crisis. When you are talking of a problem that affects a state’s deputy governor or party chairman, you are talking beyond local government or ward because they are all major stakeholders in both the party and government.

“I can confidently tell you that even during Kwankwaso, there was serious political squabble between Abbas and Prof. Abubakar, but none of them took the matter to the media and embarrassed Kwankwaso, why this time around?” he asked.

He said it was deceptive for the deputy governor to come and tell the world that he had no problem with Ganduje.

“If there is no problem between them why did he say he will not join ticket with Ganduje come 2019? Why did he call Kwankwaso his leader instead of Ganduje? It is there in the clip.

“If he is not fighting Ganduje, who is he fighting then? Who does the statement embarrass, Abbas or Ganduje?”

Reacting to the allegations, a supporter of the deputy governor and a gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Change (PDC), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Umar, alleged that there was a grand agenda to impeach the deputy governor by Ganduje’s people.

“They have the agenda to impeach the man. Since he became deputy governor, government has refused to complete the renovation of his official residence. He is still residing in his personal house.

“They have strangled him politically because they want to remove him from his position. Prof. Abubakar has no intention whatsoever to embarrass Ganduje. Rather, he was frustrated by the party leaders.

“But I can tell you even if they impeach him, he can go back to the university and continue with his career,” he said.

A 40-year-old man, Femi Adewale, was on Thursday arraigned before Chief Magistrate B. B. Adebowale of an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for allegedly collecting N1.1 million under false pretences from a worshipper.

Adewale who claimed to be a pastor collected N1.1 million from one Ibukun Aderonmu, with a promise to assist her to solve her spiritual problems.

The accused of No. 22, Farinde St., Ijako, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha told the court that the defendant and others, still at large, committed the offences on Sept. 14 at Ijako area of Ota.

Mustapha said that the defendant and his accomplices collected the money with a promise to help Aderonmu to solve her spiritual problems, an agreement he did not fulfill.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B. B. Adebowale, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said that the sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.

Adebowale also ordered that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Ogun State Government and submit four recent passport photographs to the court.

The case was adjourned until Jan. 22, 2018 for hearing. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pastor-docked-for-duping-worshipper-of-n1-1m.html

PDP...

The much anticipated cabinet expansion and reshuffle by President Muhammadu Buhari will no longer be possible this year, Daily Trust reports.

The Senate would hold its last sitting today ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger) said the president had not transmitted his request on ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

In a phone interview, Sabi said, “It (the list) has not been transmitted because it was not read on the floor of the Senate, except if it was brought after we adjourned,” he said.

Sabi also confirmed that the Senate would be embarking on Christmas and New Year break today.

Our correspondent reports that after today’s session, the Senate would not sit until next year. Ministerial nominees are screened on the floor of the Senate during plenary session.

Daily Trust reports that the 36 states of the federation have submitted 108 names to President Buhari for appointment as ministers and board members.

The development was after Buhari hinted that he would expand his cabinet and make more board appointments to appease aggrieved members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The inclusion of state governors and APC leaders in the process followed disbandment of ex- SGF David Babachir Lawan’s committee set up by Buhari over year ago to compile names of prospective appointees.

Following wide-spread disaffection, Buhari later set up another committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to review work of the Babachir committee.

On October 31, Buhari had during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC disclosed his intention to expand the ministerial appointments from 36 to an undisclosed number.

The president reportedly allocated one more ministerial slot to Kano and Lagos states; as well as one to each of the six geopolitical zones.

Daily Trust findings have shown that each state submitted names of three APC members to be appointed as ministers or heads of federal agencies.

Sources in some APC states in the northwest, north central and northeast said Buhari, few weeks ago, directed governors to submit three names each.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-s-cabinet-expansion-not-feasible-this-year.html

hmmm

good one

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Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says plans are underway to compel traffic offenders to pay one hundred thousand naira as penalty for a traffic offence.

Oyeyemi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Nigeria Road Safety Strategy on Wednesday in Abuja.

“You cannot arrest somebody for using a phone while driving and he pays four thousand naira as penalty. And almost immediately he goes back to commit same offence.

“Fines are supposed to serve as deterrent, which is why I said that I am in support of what the National Assembly is doing presently amending the Act of the FRSC to make the fines go up.

“I was not the one that initiated it, it is the National Assembly that initiated it and I am in support and I will make sure that before the middle of next year this is passed into law.

“I believe that by the time traffic offenders’ start paying between fifty to one hundred thousand naira for a single traffic offence, they will not want to commit such offence again,” he said.

The FRSC boss reiterated that penalties for traffic offences were to serve as deterrent, adding that the present regime of fines and penalties do not serve as deterrent.

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/12/20/frsc-plans-penalise-traffic-offenders-n100000-fine/

happy Christmas

hmmmmm

This is wickedness indeed!

Changi dole...

hmmm

FG to cut raw material imports by N3trillion, targets 4million jobs with 5-year strategy
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu .

The federal government has said the National Strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Material and Product Development in Nigeria will help to reduce importation by N3 trillion and create 4.4 million jobs in its first five years.

The Project Manager, Strategy Implementation Task Unit (SITU) of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Sir Henry Eteama said this on Wednesday at a workshop for journalists on the strategy.

He said between 2010 and 2015, Nigeria spent about N47 trillion importing raw materials and products that the country has comparative advantage over other countries.

He also noted that the World Economic Forum (WEF) rankings recently ranked Nigeria 127 out of 144 countries with the backwardness showing more in the infrastructural capabilities.

Breakdown of the imports showed the 97 items being imported. The importation of nuclear equipment led with N9trn, vehicle and transport equipment at N8.2trn, electrical equipment at N7.3trn and petroleum products at N3.4trn. The other imports include fish, dairy products, plastics and cereals.

Eteama noted that the strategy document has a five-year short term plan, a 10-year medium plan and another 15-year long term plan. In the first five years, he said about 4.4m jobs would be created to employ fresh graduates, while saving the federal government N3trillion from imports.

The Director General of RMRDC, Dr. Hussaini Ibrahim in his address said, "For our Made-In-Nigeria goods to be competitive both nationally and internationally, the raw materials have to be competitive in quality and price. This is a task that must be emphasized if the economy must grow."

Dr. Ibrahim noted that the Strategy involves sensitizing the public including entrepreneurs, industries, research and development institutions among others to drive global competitiveness especially on developing local raw materials.

He said the Council initiated the Strategy and got approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for its implementation since May 31, 2017. The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu then inaugurated a National Consultative Committee on Competiveness (NCCC) in August to establish Competitiveness Project Desk Office (CPDO) across MDAs to assist the Secretariat, SITU.

He urged the media to partner with government in implementing the Strategy saying, "It is necessary to put here that this project will be successful only with your collaboration as members of the fourth estate of the realm."

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Garba Abari urged the media to champion the patriotic cause so the dependence on import of products and raw materials would be reduced through the strategy.

In his address, the Director of Bio-resources Technology Department of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Pharm. Abayomi Oguntunde announced that there are efforts to commence the commercialisation of R& breakthroughs from various institutions.

"You should be prepared to publicize work of Nigerian scientists, researchers and experts to facilitate domestic and international quality standardisation," Oguntunde said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fg-to-cut-raw-material-imports-by-n3trillion-targets-4million-jobs-with-5-year-strategy.html

Good one

hmmm

We’ve commenced disbursing N750bn for capital projects - Adeosun

The Federal Ministry of Finance has commenced the disbursement of N750 billion capital expenditure to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), few days before the end of the year.

Speaking to the Senate finance committee in Abuja, yesterday, at the 2018 budget defence, finance minister Kemi Adeosun said “the accounts of the MDAs are being credited as I speak. If the MDAs check their balances, they will have a different balance in their accounts.”

Mrs Adeosun told members of the Senate Committee on Finance that “ongoing capital projects will be rolled over into 2018.”

She said with the capital budget release, “we expect many of the ongoing projects by the MDAs to be completed.”

Last month, the Federal Government released about N450 billion as capital expenditure.

Speaking on the capital releases, Adeosun said “what the government is doing is to provide enabling infrastructure that would bring potential into reality.

“Last year we released N1.3 trillion of capital and so far this year we have released N450 billion and this week we will release another N750 billion and this will take the release to N1.2 trillion by the end of the year.”

The minister also thanked the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their support in approving the issuance of eurobond, stressing that “some of the funds are being deployed in the execution of the 2017 budget while the balance is used to refinance our existing debt.”
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-ve-commenced-disbursing-n750bn-for-capital-projects--adeosun.html

hmmm

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