₦airaland Forum

Despite his being dilatory, mistaken by supporters as meticulousness, I must say that I didn’t see round pegs being put into round holes in many of the ministries, just as I see President Buhari “repeating mistakes of the past”.

Among those lined up for ministerial screening at the Senate in October, if there is a man I was proud of his becoming minister in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet was Adamu Adamu – being a senior professional colleague and very fine writer in whom I draw inspiration.

I have shared my love for him on many occasions. But in saying the truth, I fail to see sense in elevating Adamu Adamu, a trained accountant, above a professor of Education as minister in charge of the Ministry of Education.

Much as former President Goodluck Jonathan loved Barrister Nyosom Wike, he made him Minister of State for Education, below Professor Rukayyatu Ahmed Rufai – a professor of Education. That was fair. Even after sacking Professor Rufai, Jonathan still did not place Wike above Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in the ministry.

Peeping through Adamu Adamu’s junior minister, Professor Anwuka’s CV, I found this dazzling pedigree: “He did his doctorate degree programme in General Curriculum, System Analysis and Social Studies at the University of Washington Seattle, USA in 1977. Prior to this, he did his Masters in Educational Administration and Planning at the University of Portland, Oregon, USA in 1975. At Fourah Bay, University of Serra Leone, (1974), he studied English Language and Literature and had Second Class (Hons) degree, Upper Division. Professor Anwuka had in August 2001, participated at the Commonwealth Vice-Chancellors Leadership Conference, Dundee Scotland UK.”

According to his CV, “Professor Anthony Anwuka has worked as a Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle 1976-1977, Curriculum Resource Person/Instructor, Specialist Seattle Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (SOIC) 1977- 1978; Senior Lecturer, University of Maiduguri, 1983-1985; Reader, University of Maiduguri, 1986 1998; Curriculum Resource Person/Consultant, Nigerian National Teachers Institute, (NTI), Kaduna, 1983 -1986.

“He acquired the prestigious rank of Professor of Education from former Imo State University, now Abia State University Uturu, 1989 –1993. He was one time Dean, Faculty of Education, Imo State University Owerri, 1993 – 1994 and also the Vice Chancellor of the University for 5-yrs.”

I think producing Adamu Adamu’s CV here may not paint a good comparison. What I can simply say here is that Adamu is simply an Accountant and a journalist per excellence. Of this, I dare say elevating Adamu above this professor is archetypal of forcing a square peg into a round hole.

I think President Buhari so far made some mistakes in cabinet appointments more than those of Jonathan. If I recall clearly, one of the issues that put Jonathan at loggerheads with some governors was appointing technocrats in favour of politicians nominated by governors. Quite rightly, Buhari has done a similar thing, though with even less technocratic texture in terms of his placements.

Kayode Fayemi would have been the “round peg in a round hole” if he was posted to Ministry of Labour, just as James Ocholi or Babatunde Raji Fashola would have fit into the round hole of the Ministry of Justice. Let me reiterate here that Fashola and Ocholi are more experienced SANs than Malami.

While swearing in the ministers yesterday, which is unarguably the seminal point of this administration in the last six months, President Buhari harped on two key issues “putting round pegs in round holes” and “avoiding the mistakes of the past”.

“We are optimistic that bringing these set of ministers into the service of our country today, is a step in the right direction and timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I had been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translate into a ROUND PEGS IN ROUND HOLES while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders of our country. (Emphasis added).

“I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such MISTAKES OF THE PAST where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capability (emphasis added),” President Buhari said.

The merging of Ministries of Power and Works and Housing, in my view, may cause some operational glitch as they have very little correlation. It is like adding ewudu soup onto pizza, if you are “forced” to combine the two in one plate. They are all edible but there may be some strains while relating to them in your gut. Buhari should have left Ministry of Works independent of Ministry of Power, and then merged Ministry of Information and Ministry of Communication as obtained in the past to level the tally of the ministries he intended to have.

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing may be in dire straits as Fashola, a lawyer will be assisted by Baba Shehuri, a sociologist, as Minister of State. Technical issues regarding power/energy, design and construction needs an engineer. Jigawa nominee, Engineer Sulaiman Adamu, would have fit either as the main minister or minister of state if actually putting round pegs in round holes matters. The corollary of this decision is inefficient service delivery.

Udoma Udo Udoma, being from Niger Delta would have made a good minister of Environment. He would have handled better the issues of Ogoni cleanup in Rivers State or oil spillage in Bayelsa State or gully erosion in Anambra State.

But Baba, in his wisdom, thought otherwise. He believes Amina Mohammed, an aficionado in planning and connoisseur of development issues, could handle such issues better and speak the language and communicate well with pipeline vandals in the creek and the fiery environment right activists of the Niger Delta region.

Well, to me Amina would have roundly fit into the Ministry of Planning and Budget hole, in view of her experience in development and planning issues at both local and international levels. Nigeria would have had a magnet that will attract UN’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.

Again, Buhari should have appointed Heineken Lokpobiri from Bayelsa State to be Amina Mohammed’s deputy in the ministry, not Ibrahim Usman Jibril from Nasarawa State.

If really there is a minister that fits into the Ministry of FCT hole, it is Usman Jibril, being a distinguished land administrator and expert in “orthophoto mapping, geographic information service and urban planning and urban renewal”.

Kayode Fayemi’s posting is another misapplication of peg. President Buhari should have thanked God that among the people he considered for ministerial appointment, there was a labour unionist, who could speak the unionists’ language and be respected among the labour leaders. Buhari, in his queer wisdom, thought Chris Ngige could do better.

The shoes of Ministry of Interior may pinch General Abdulrahman Dambazau a bit as that of the Ministry of Defense may have suited him comfortably. As someone who had a distinguished career in the military and reached its pinnacle, taking him to deal with paramilitary issues is, in my view, not the best decision. Even issues of Boko Haram terrorism, Dambazau will speak and negotiate issues of arm purchase and military aid with the West better than Dan’Ali.

However, the president did not state where Culture and Tourism is merged into, as Solomon Dalong’s portfolio only indicates Ministry of Youths and Sports. I believe this will be sorted out later.

Some ministers like Kemi Adesun, Audu Ogbeh, Lai Mohammed, Zainab Ahmed and a few others really fit into the hole they have been placed, while majority of others were only forced into holes for political expediencies or other reasons best known to the president.

By and large, with a sense of sincerity, Buhari’s allocation of portfolios to his ministers may be what the Hausa term as “gamin gambiza” or what the Yoruba call “orisirisi” or what the Igbo call “nwonwo” – all outside the culinary semantics.
http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=169628

I think Minister of transport is quite key and very challenging. It includes aviation, road transport, rails and marine. I think Nigerian Ports Authority NPA is also a parastatal of the Ministry? If we get this sector right, Fashola delivers works, good roads, housing and stable power and Fayemi complements by exploring, developing and fully harnessing our vast solid minerals, Nigeria will be great. Just my "apolitical" thoughts. I really wish all of them the best and hope they succeed for the greater good of all us, our children and Nigeria's future. No vex if my view is contrary to yours. Note that I am not saying it is the best for Amaechi or that he is the best for it oh!

I think Minister of transport is quite key and very challenging. It includes aviation, road transport, rails and marine. I think Nigerian Ports Authority NPA is also a parastatal of the Ministry? If we get this sector right, Fashola delivers works, good roads, housing and stable power and Fayemi complements by exploring, developing and fully harnessing our vast solid minerals, Nigeria will be great. Just my "apolitical" thoughts. I really wish all of them the best and hope they succeed for the greater good of all us, our children and Nigeria's future. No vex if my view is contrary to yours.

I think Minister of transport is quite key and very challenging. It includes aviation, road transport, rails and marine. I think Nigerian Ports Authority NPA is also a parastatal of the Ministry? If we get this sector right, Fashola delivers works, good roads, housing and stable power and Fayemi complements by exploring, developing and fully harnessing our vast solid minerals, Nigeria will be great. Just my "apolitical" thoughts. I really wish all of them the best and hope they succeed for the greater good of all us, our children and Nigeria's future. No vex if my view is contrary to yours.

Looks like the Senators have hit the ground running -at least in their own way!

Just for clarity, I thought Kanu was granted bail? Is it that he hasn't met the bail conditions? Or that he is being held like that? Has he been charged to court so far?

I am not Igbo and I am neither Hausa nor Yoruba and this issue isn't just about one tribe. More people are joining for various reasons. At this stage, I need to make a contribution. Parts of Port Harcourt especially Aba road is currently locked down due to the IPOD protests. Even the security forces have gotten tired of firing tear gas. The government of Nigeria needs to manage this situation with better tact and dexterity so that we do not have a full blown crisis on our hands. I don't see the government and security agencies being able to fight on multiple fronts. They have not defeated Boko Haram. Places like Taraba State are on the precipice. Forget all braggadocio, the Niger Delta is becoming more restive and criminality is escalating nationwide. The Fulani-farmers killings are resulting in more fatalities and some of the marauders have become even more murderous. Women and children are being raped. Bank robberies are on the uptick. Jobless, hungry and angry people are getting agitated. Civil servants got paid last week and many are still being owed. Whoever has access to those in power, should tell them something is about to give!

I am not Igbo and I am neither Hausa nor Yoruba and this issue isn't just about one tribe. More people are joining for various reasons. At this stage, I need to make a contribution. Parts of Port Harcourt especially Aba road is currently locked down due to the IPOD protests. Even the security forces have gotten tired of firing tear gas. The government of Nigeria needs to manage this situation with better tact and dexterity so that we do not have a full blown crisis on our hands. I don't see the government and security agencies being able to fight on multiple fronts. They have not defeated Boko Haram. Places like Taraba State are on the precipice. Forget all braggadocio, the Niger Delta is becoming more restive and criminality is escalating nationwide. The Fulani-farmers killings are resulting in more fatalities and some of the marauders have become even more murderous. Women and children are being raped. Bank robberies are on the uptick. Jobless, hungry and angry people are getting agitated. Civil servants got paid last week and many are still being owed. Whoever has access to those in power, should tell them something is about to give!

I am not Igbo and I am neither Hausa nor Yoruba and this issue isn't just about one tribe. More people are joining for various reasons. At this stage, I need to make a contribution. Parts of Port Harcourt especially Aba road is currently locked down due to the IPOD protests. Even the security forces have gotten tired of firing tear gas. The government of Nigeria needs to manage this situation with better tact and dexterity so that we do not have a full blown crisis on our hands. I don't see the government and security agencies being able to fight on multiple fronts. They have not defeated Boko Haram. Places like Taraba State are on the precipice. Forget all braggadocio, the Niger Delta is becoming more restive and criminality is escalating nationwide. The Fulani-farmers killings are resulting in more fatalities and some of the marauders have become even more murderous. Women and children are being raped. Bank robberies are on the uptick. Jobless, hungry and angry people are getting agitated. Civil servants got paid last week and many are still being owed. Whoever has access to those in power, should tell them something is about to give!

I am not Igbo and I am neither Hausa nor Yoruba so I can afford to make my dispassionate contribution. Parts of Port Harcourt especially Aba road is currently locked down due to the IPOD protests. Even the security forces have gotten tired of firing tear gas. The government of Nigeria needs to manage this situation with better tact and dexterity so that we do not have a full blown crisis on our hands. I don't see the government and security agencies being able to fight on multiple fronts. They have not defeated Boko Haram. Places like Taraba State are on the precipice. Forget all braggadocio, the Niger Delta is becoming more restive and criminality is escalating nationwide. The Fulani-farmers killings are resulting in more fatalities and some of the marauders have become even more murderous. Women and children are being raped. Bank robberies are on the uptick. Jobless, hungry and angry people are getting agitated. Civil servants got paid last week and many are still being owed. Whoever has access to those in power, should tell them something is about to give!

This frequent clashes between Fulanis and locals should not be under-estimated. Something should be done urgently.

Some civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have frowned at the delay in the payment of October salaries five days into the month of November.

A cross section of the civil servants, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja, said the situation was an indication of what to expect in December.

“With what is happening now, I think we should all brace up for December and start saving, least we may not have money to celebrate Xmas with our families,’’ Mr Evans Ekeadiwame said.




Mrs Fanny Remilekun said there was more to the issue, adding that if crashed computers were the cause of the problem, it ought to have been fixed by now.

NAN recalled that Alhaji Shehu Garba, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, had on Tuesday attributed the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries for October to crashed computers.

Shehu explained that the computers crashed when August salaries were being paid, a development he blamed on unforeseen technical challenges.

He, however, promised that payment of October salaries would commence on Nov. 3, following the restoration of the crashed computers.




NAN correspondent who monitored activities at the Federal Secretariat, reports that most offices were virtually empty as most civil servants could not afford to transport themselves to their various offices due to the delay in the payment of salaries.

A civil servant, Mr Felix Uzoka, who bemoaned the situation, said he had to borrow money to come to the office.

Mike Onwusah, who corroborated what other civil servants had said, noted that the situation was getting out of hand.

“I have resolved to use my car for transportation to make ends meet, a thing I had never done in the past.

“I decided to do this because my children will not understand if I tell them the reason I cannot provide food for them is because my salary has not been paid,’’ Onwusah said.

Some civil servants who decried the late payment of their salaries, said told NAN that this was not the change they voted for.

They urged the Federal Government to expedite action to address the situation. (NAN)
http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/05/civil-servants-in-abuja-yet-to-get-october-salaries/

Former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari needs to rule beyond 2019 to address the rot in the country.
Speaking when he hosted students of Faculty of Law of the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, Wamakko said four years would not be enough to resuscitate the country.
“To me, President Buhari must be allowed to rule beyond 2019 to address the numerous challenges bedeviling the country. Four years cannot be enough to address the rot done to the country in the last 30 years.
“We cannot expect miracle from the president in view of the enormous damage done to the country, he needs to be given opportunity to be around beyond 2019, “ he said while responding to questions from students on the direction of the Buhari administration.
He said President Buhari has been working hard in the five months of his administration to put the country on the right track of development.
“With the conclusion of ministerial screening, the administration would in no time shift to more actions on the development of the country,” he added.
He also said “the fact that we are able to sack the former weak and ineffective administration, we have started the journey to prosperity in the country.”
Earlier, leader of the students, Abdullahi Ibrahim, said they were visiting the National Assembly as part of their academic tour.
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/wamakko-canvasses-second-term-for-buhari/117963.html

I heard there was another robbery in Port Harcourt today -Fidelity Bank in Iwofe axis. Anyone with update on that?

I heard there was another Bank robbery today in Port Harcourt -at Fidelity Bank located within the premises of COE?.

There is no respite yet for former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, despite being granted leave to travel out for treatment by a Federal High Court.

Security yesterday invited him for questioning over “fresh security matters” shortly after he left court.

But he told them to approach the court if there is any fresh allegation or security issue against him.

Former Adamawa State Governor Boni Haruna may have run into trouble pledge for standing surety for Dasuki.

Haruna was invited for a “chat” immediately he stepped out of the court premises after signing the bond.



It was gathered that the invitation was a follow-up to the assurance by Haruna that Dasuki will not jump bail.



But the development made Dasuki’s counsel to be curious about his clients.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the Federal Government was displeased by the decision of the court to allow Dasuki to travel out for three weeks when allegation of “treason” was still being investigated.

It was learnt that security men stepped in to look at “fresh security matter” against Dasuki.

The security men got in touch with Dasuki’s counsel Mallam Ahmed Raji(SAN) to produce his client.

A face-off appeared imminent last night as Dasuki insisted that the security should return to the court instead of inviting him if it had any issue against him.

There were indications that Dasuki may not be allowed to travel out until he honours the invitation.

A top source said: “Immediately after the court session, the security invited Haruna, who was the surety in line with the laid down conditions by the court, for interaction.

“They asked him why he went to court; whether he had foreknowledge of the likely ruling of the court and how did he emerge as Dasuki’s surety.

“Haruna simply told them that he only followed his friend to the court and when it was time to provide a surety he fitted into the bill.

“They asked him to produce his friend (Dasuki). They even followed him to Dasuki’s house in a car.

“But Dasuki asked: “Why will they see me? Why are they inviting me again? Why can’t they approach the court if there are new charges against me?

“They called Dasuki’s counsel (Raji) to produce his client to ‘come and clarify another matter’. They were not forthcoming on what exactly it is but when Raji got in touch with Dasuki, he insisted on due process through the court.”

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja granted Dasuki’s request to travel abroad on health ground.

But, the court directed him to provide a surety, who will be held responsible, if he did not return to on the next adjourned date.

In the alternative, it also ordered his lawyer to write undertaking to produce him on the next hearing date. Dasuki claimed to be suffering from cancer.

He is standing trial on a five-count charge of laundering about N84million and illegal possession of firearms.

He had applied to the court to travel to the United Kingdom, for three weeks to attend to his health. But the prosecution led by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Muhammad Diri, opposed Dasuki’s application because he could abscond since there was no condition attached to his bail.

Upholding the applicant’s request, Justice Ademola agreed with his counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) that likelihood of the prosecution filing fresh charges could not be a ground to deny the application that will allow the accused attend to his health and be fit for trial.

The judge acknowledged the receipt of a letter appointment Dasuki tendered to convince him that he was billed for treatment in the United Kingdom.

Dasuki, he said, could choose whether to be treated in the country or abroad.

“More importantly, every citizen of Nigeria has the right to choose which medical facilities he or she wishes, whether in this country or overseas. The ill health of a defendant is a very paramount consideration in granting bail let alone when operating as special circumstances”, Justice Ademola said.

To allay the prosecution’s fear, the judge attached new conditions to Saraki’s bail. The judge had.

Under the new conditions unveiled by the court yesterday, Dasuki was directed to produce a surety, who must swear to an affidavit that he is ready to go to jail if the accused absconds, and until he is re-arrested.

Alternatively, the judge said the senior lawyer representing Dasuki on record, should sign an undertaking to produce his client in court on the next hearing date.

The judge directed Dasuki to return his travel documents to the court’s registrar within 72 hours on his return home. He adjourned to November 26 for continuation of proceedings and ruling on the prosecution’s application for secret trial.
http://thenationonlineng.net/more-trouble-for-ex-nsa-dasuki/

Meanwhile, residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have described the December deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram insurgency as not realisable, saying there seems to be no end in sight.

This they said, given the fact that only aerial bombardment was being carried out by the Nigerian Air Force, while ground forces were yet to engage the insurgents concentrated in Mobbar and Abadam local governments areas of the state.

Ma’aji Kolo, a resident of Mobbar Local Government Area, who is taking refuge in Maiduguri, a safe haven for all internally displaced persons from across the 27 local government areas of the state, said recent surge of suicide bombings and hit-and-run attacks made residents doubt there was any end in sight to the insurgency.

Ma’aji told Nigerian Tribune in Maiduguri that “we love and supported Buhari, but we are getting confused because we hope and believe he has all it takes to end the Boko Haram madness, but today, we are more afraid that they might come back in full force to take over more towns and villages.

“A lot of them have come into town, they are occupying Mobbar and Abadam local government areas. They are in Marte and Baga, soldiers are yet to engage them and are regrouping. We have complained through our leaders and nothing seems to be happening as to engaging them. We are afraid. For me personally, I don’t think end is in sight looking at the December deadline.

“The last time the military told us to go back that they have liberated the local government, we went back and that was when I lost two of my brothers, when the Boko Haram attacked Munguno. I still feel bad for believing in the military and taking that decision. Now, they are urging people to go back again, but our people who are trapped in the local governments are telling us that all is not well,” he said.

According to him, anybody who had seen such a terrible thing must be afraid, adding that the insurgency was the biggest security challenge facing Nigeria.

He added that this was even as the country was already grappling with a severe economic crisis as a result of the fight of six-year insurgency and lack of focus among political leaders, who were busy fighting themselves, giving opportunity to the insurgents to regroup.
http://tribuneonlineng.com/node/21389

The Department of Security Services has allegedly grabbed former Governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, moments after he signed surety that fulfilled the court requirements permitting the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to seek medical attention abroad.

A very reliable source claimed that Haruna, was immediately invited by DSS for questioning, after finalising the processes for the release of Dasuki's travelling documents yesterday.

THISDAY could however not ascertain if the two-time governor of the North Eastern state has been released after the grilling interrogation or detained under DSS custody.

"We learnt Boni Haruna, a two terms governor of Adamawa State and former Minister of Youths was 'invited' by security service after signing as surety for Ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki at the court today.
"He was interrogated on the reason for signing in as surety to Dasuki. I won't know if he is released now," the source said.

Recall that Justice Adeniyi Ademola presided Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Abuja, had earlier on Tuesday, granted the application of the ex-NSA to seek medical check up abroad.

Delivering ruling on the application filed by the defendant, Justice Ademola against still opposition from the Federal Government Counsel, granted the former NSA a period of three weeks within which to take care of his health abroad .

However the trial judge who had earlier granted bail to Dasuki on self recognition varied the bail condition which now include a surety ,who will write an undertaking to produce the accused person on the next adjourned date.

Justice Ademola also said that the surety should be ready to take the position of the accused in case the former NSA refuses to appear to answer charges proffered against him .

In the alternative Justice Ademola ordered any of the senior counsel to the accused person to sign an undertaking to take his place ,before the international passport of the accused is released, the demand, which was fulfilled by Haruna.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/dss-allegedly-grills-boni-haruna-after-signing-surety-for-dasuki/224570/

In cabinet politics, there are appointments considered insignificant. Posting to such positions is akin to sending appointees to political Siberia. At the state level, I know you are not a governor’s man when you are posted to Ministry of Commerce or are made Chairman of the Library Board or Public Suggestion Box office.
In party politics, too, there are some appointments considered less-important for their impotence, useless for their uselessness, effete for their effeteness. Positions like Assistant Auditor, Assistant PRO, etc. are considered less important, “less lucrative”, while the ex-officio appointments are worse than all.
While, in most cases, being an ex-officio was by virtue of one’s previous role in the party hierarchy, in some cases it is done to give politicians a sense of belonging.
What President Buhari is introducing today is something similar to ex-officio appointments in party politics. You can’t have a minister without a duty and that duty is what is called a portfolio. A minister is a minister because he ministers.
By the president’s pronouncement in far away India, Nigeria’s should expect a cabinet with three categories of ministers: kitchen ministers (those very close to Mr. President), portfolio ministers (those assigned ministries) and ex-officio ministers (those without any duty).
What often worries me is why would major policies affecting Nigeria be always pronounced when the president is out of the country? The president addressed the nation on Independence Day, almost saying nothing, but chose to announce issues affecting us while out of the country. Why the loquacity abroad? Why the taciturnity and gynophobia at home?
Why would Nigerians be made to snoop thousands of miles away to find issues affecting them told to a global audience? Why would our policies be made in foreign lands and imported to Nigeria?
I was bitter hearing the president announce the date he would appoint ministers while abroad. It irked me when he disclosed the first portfolio he assigned himself while on a overseas trip. I was livid when the president revealed, yet again outside Nigeria, that some ministers may not be assigned duties. Why don’t we deserve respect from our leaders?
Nigerians merely eavesdropped when President Buhari told the Washington Post audience while in Washington on June 20 that he would appoint ministers in September. On September 29, while attending a UN meeting in New York, Nigerians only overheard Buhari telling a foreign audience that he would be the minister of petroleum resources. While in India, Nigerians strained their ears – some 7,500kms away – to hear the president saying some ministers won’t be “substantive” – whatever that means! What is the problem with Africans?
Now let us stand down two made-in-America pronouncements and take a made-in-India policy, which seems substandard. Since Buhari cautioned against the importation of substandard products from India, shouldn’t we caution him against importing substandard decisions to Nigeria?
I still want to believe President Buhari made, as usual, a Freudian slip when he said some ministers would not have a role to play.
“There used to be forty two ministers,” the president said in India, “but I think we can barely keep half of that now because we cannot afford it.”
He continued: “Others may not be substantive ministers but they will sit in the cabinet because that is what the constitution said and we can’t operate outside the constitution.
“We are reducing the number of ministries we can’t afford to pay,” the president said.
Dear Mr. President, paying ministers is not beyond our country’s reach.
Dear sir, if Niger Republic could afford 32 ministers, Mali could afford 37, I wonder why Nigeria can’t afford 36. The cost of appointing ministers is not what Nigeria can’t bear. The budget of a single foreign trip by the president to Europe costs Nigeria more than what a minister will cost Nigeria, in terms of statutory earnings, in four years.
If you consider the five-Star hotel bills of tens of people on the entourage, their feeding, estacode, the running of the presidential jet, the advance party, the foreign service office spending, logistics, etc, you will see sense in what I’m saying.
There are 1001 ways of cutting costs, but certainly refusal to allocate duties to ministers is not one of them. Such decisions rather reduce efficiency that will cost Nigeria a lot. Buhari’s importation of a substandard “policy” will simply conduce inefficiency.
Applying this Indian made contraband policy into the polity is, in polite tone, faulty.
http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=169498

By Mahmud Jega | Publish Date: Nov 1 2015

If you are a ministerial nominee who endured many months of agitated suspense, followed by the excitement of hearing your name being read on the Senate floor as a ministerial nominee, quickly followed by days of tension at the snail-slow pace of ministerial screening, succeeded by the anti-climax of taking a bow and go when you had spent many nights rehearsing, then the tense wait for the President to return from India, swear you in and allocate to you a Cabinet portfolio, how do you now feel at the prospect of being a siddon look member of the Federal Executive Council?
I know that the forgoing is the longest sentence I ever wrote but I seek the forgiveness of English teachers all over the country. It is because I cannot remember a time when a Nigerian minister’s high anticipation was punctured so rudely. President Buhari’s interview with two Nigerian television stations in New Delhi has halted the euphoria and marred the celebratory mood in many political camps ahead of this week’s anticipated swearing-in of ministers.
The hint that Buhari dropped in that interview was worse than letting a cat among the political pigeons. Already, before we got to this stage, many citizens were unhappy that it has taken more than five months to constitute a Cabinet. Foreign and local investors are unhappy that the government’s economic direction is not known and business plans are at a standstill. When the ministerial nominees were finally revealed, ruling party bigwigs in many states were disappointed that they didn’t get to nominate the candidates. Some pundits were distressed that Buhari did not name portfolios along with the nominees, as is done in the United States. Many reporters were disappointed by the Senate screening sessions, described in most cases as a farce. And now, this.
The president said many things in that short interview, some of them realistic, others a bit puzzling, still others a little bit outrageous. He said he will reduce the number of Federal ministries. Most citizens will approve of this, although in practice it does not translate into much savings because only a couple of directors will be reduced. Not many permanent secretaries will be shed because, as with ministers, federal character trumps need. In fairness to the Federal Government, it has maintained a fairly stable number of ministries over the years, unlike some state governments that more than doubled the number of their ministries in the last two decades. What is not understandable is why the president did not go ahead and reduce the number of ministries long before now, so that they would have settled down before the arrival of ministers.
Buhari said the number of ministers under the PDP regimes, 42, is too many. Again most Nigerians will agree, though not the politicians who spent fortunes and sleepless nights in the campaign. Those ones will not mind if the president appoints 100 ministers. If 42 are too many, what does he think is the right number? Buhari said, “There used to be 42 ministers but we will be lucky if we can have half of that now…” There are many problems with that number. First we don’t know the number of ministries and we expect each ministry to be headed by a minister. Buhari has already nominated 36 ministers, all of whom have been screened and confirmed by the Senate, so how on earth can we have 21 ministers now?
Some people were asking at the weekend if a ministerial nominee already confirmed by the Senate can be dropped. The answer is yes, though at some cost to the president’s image. Becoming a minister is a four-step process: nomination, Senate confirmation, appointment, and then swearing-in. Even if one is confirmed the president can refuse to appoint him. In 2007, Chief Godsday Orubebe was confirmed and actually appointed by President Umaru Yar’adua but when he arrived for the swearing-in with a huge entourage of drummers, he was told to leave the hall.
President Buhari gave an inkling into his current, somewhat controversial line of thought when he said, “Others may not be substantive ministers but they will sit in the cabinet because that is what the constitution said and we can’t operate outside the constitution.” He seems to be saying here that the constitutional provision will be satisfied if some people sit in the FEC to represent some states even though they are not heading any ministries. It is doubtful if this is what the Constitution said. It talked about a minister from each state; it expects ministers to head specific ministries; and it talked about ministers constituting the FEC. I don’t think the constitution envisaged a siddon look minister who is not heading any ministry but only comes to town for FEC meetings.
Quite alright, there were Ministers Without Portfolio in the First Republic. In the North and in the West, these were prominent traditional rulers who were heading their own Native Authorities. In the Second Republic, only Oyo State Governor Bola Ige appointed a traditional ruler as a Commissioner Without Portfolio, and the media ridiculed him for that. If President Buhari intends to have 21 full ministers, the safest thing to do is to make the remaining 15 to be junior ministers or what is called Minister of State. In 1983 President Shehu Shagari tackled this same problem by appointing Ministers of and Ministers for; the former were the senior ones and the latter were the junior ones, though all were members of FEC.
President Buhari’s main reason for toying with the idea of having siddon look ministers is lack of money. He said Nigeria is broke and does not have the money to pay so many ministers. The truth is that ministers’ salaries do not cost all that much, no more than a million naira a month each. Surely the Federal Government can afford that. It is their perquisites that are much more expensive and Buhari should trim those. Official ministerial perquisites too are insignificant compared to hidden ministerial costs, such as N10 billion spent by NNPC to charter planes for Madam Diezani.
If Buhari’s change regime actually manages to do away with the hidden ministerial perquisites as well as the Nigerian system where a minister must shovel money to his party and constituents, the president will find that ministers are not all that costly.
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/columns/nominated-screened-confirmed-siddon-look/117326.html

By Mohammed Dahiru Aminu | Publish Date: Oct 29 2015

I remember how Dr Farooq Kperogi, presently an Assistant Professor in Journalism and Emerging Citizen Media at Kennesaw State University, USA, had written about people, especially Nigerians, who were doing well in their countries, but ended up pauperized in America, and other Western countries when they relocated there simply because the latter society couldn’t find them worthy of employment commensurate with their education and experience. It seems that at best, you can only use a Nigerian degree to get admitted into universities to earn further education in the West but not for the purpose of finding employment, especially academic ones, with those degrees.
My father’s friend, with whom I have conversed for more than 10 years now, who left Nigeria for America, told me that although he had obtained a doctorate from a Nigerian university, and despite being an academic all his working life in Nigeria, he couldn’t find an academic job in America because his doctorate was not obtained from the West. He had to enroll in a university in Arizona to earn MBA degree before he could find a job as a deputy manager in a “station.” Trained as a biologist, he found himself involved in matters of “financial accounting” as a daily routine.
Some few years back, I accidentally came across a woman who obtained a doctorate from University of Ibadan teaching in an American university, and when I told Dr Kperogi about this development, he told me that the only reason the Ibadan-educated woman could find a job in the academia in America as an adjunct professor without being asked to get herself “re-educated” is most certainly that she had a good publication record.
Personally, I wouldn’t blame universities in the West for not taking Nigeria-minted doctorates seriously. On the one hand I personally believe, from my experience, that Nigerian universities, the way they are at the moment, are not qualified to award higher degrees lest they are out to deliberately ridicule themselves-the just recompense for pretentious posturing.
Most doctorate dissertations from Nigerian universities hardly merit the award simply because the researches carried out are neither novel, nor inspiring.
In the West, to get a doctorate, you are required to carry out a novel research by novel methods. In Nigeria, novelty of a doctorate is simply to do the same thing but on a different “case.” In the West, using same methodology to study different cases is seen as routine work, and as my supervisor told me in one of my early meetings with him “we don’t award a doctorate by using same tool to study ‘another case’; we don’t give a doctorate for carrying out routine work.” Again, doctorate research topics in Nigeria are also uninspiring because from the topic itself, you can see that the research is not meant to go deep in the field it seeks to explore.
In the field of geology for instance, of which I am aware, you find doctorate topics in Nigeria on, say, “Geology of Yola and Environs.” These days, in the West, you do not do a doctorate research on the geology of a place as vast as Yola. The logic is simple: the aim of a doctorate is to go deep into that which you are exploring by offering that exhaustive inquiry in order to understand a principle, a process, or a phenomena, but how deep can you go when your area of study is this vast? In the West, for instance in geology, what you are expected and encouraged to do as a doctoral work is to take a rock occurring in Yola, and study it at its microscopic level, e.g. how do individual grains of a particular sandstone in Yola change by the effect of weathering caused by wind? And you have to do this using a novel methodology.
Another problem with Nigerian education is that of integrity. For example, most researchers in Nigeria are not even aware of plagiarism. From school assignments, to long essays, to higher degree dissertations, to journal papers and conference proceedings, it is hard to pass the plagiarism test in Nigeria.
This brings me to the other hand, which is that if we assume that there is a slight possibility of churning out a good-enough doctorate from a Nigerian university, there is the fact that on a good day, typical Nigerian academes hardly have a reputable publication record.
Once in the West, it is very easy for Westerners to know the stuff one is made of as all they will do is to simply do a surname search in their academic databases such as Scopus or Web of Science, where millions of researches are archived. My friend was telling me how on coming to England to familiarize with Scopus, he searched his lecturers’ surnames from Nigeria and could hardly find an entry. There are 2000 journals in Elsevier which receives about 350 thousand new articles a year, but it is not a surprise to find out that one can rise to the professorial rank in Nigeria without a paper in Elsevier or in any journal with genuine impact factor.
While I understand that one of the problems of being an academic in Nigeria is that you are naturally found within a below-standard working environment which impedes your ability to produce quality research acceptable to the serious world, most Nigerian academics, I reckon, do not strive to see that they reach out to serious journals; of course this may be difficult to achieve, but there is no integrity whatsoever in publishing in fraudulent journals. Most Nigerian doctorates, and their subsequent scholarly outputs, it seems, are hardly of any worth in Western countries for some of the above reasons and perhaps even more.

Aminu is a doctoral researcher in Cranfield University, England m.aminu@cranfield.ac.uk
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/columns/what-is-the-worth-of-nigerian-degrees/117041.html

Lets be careful about the Kidney donation aspect. Are we sure about this and does it matter in the circumstances? Overall, it is a reminder of the brevity of earthly life, the vanity of ephemeral living and the urgency of eternity? Have you repented? Are we prepared for our own day? Have we made peace with God and found hope for our never-dying soul beyond politics and internet insults?

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, asked Nigerians to ignore the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi’s call for devaluation of Nigerian currency and removal of fuel subsidy.



A statement by the NLC’s president, Ayuba Wabba, said the emir should have spoken for the poor as traditional institutions “must not be turned to outposts of neoliberal institutions such as the IMF.”



Also in a statement jointly signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama; and Secretary-General, Comrade Musa Lawal, TUC noted: “It is painful that at a time the impoverished masses of the country are grappling with myriad of daunting challenges ranging from high cost of living, outrageous electricity bills, and high rate of unemployment, a privileged few are supporting and proposing naira devaluation.



The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and now Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was widely reported by some newspapers to have openly canvassed the devaluation of the national currency as well as total removal of subsidy on petroleum products by the Federal Government.



“We believe the emir was expressing his private opinion and not speaking for the traditional institution or his emirate, where industries have totally collapsed, leaving the emirate with one of the highest population of victims of anti-people policies powered by neo liberal interests.



“The eminence of his position as an emir should not be rubbished with constant proclamations or campaigns for policies that has proven over the years as not only damaging to our national economy but targeted against majority of our people who flounder in abject poverty,” the congress stated.



The statement further reads: “As an import driven country, the effect of devaluing our national currency is more on the quality of life of ordinary Nigerians who bear the brunt of high cost of goods and services given the fact that the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar has gone record high from N154 to a dollar to over N225 to one dollar.



“Indeed, the purchasing abilities of both industries and individuals have incredibly dwindled and this may affect jobs in the long run.



“The statement clearly speaks only for international finance capitalists who are the direct beneficiaries of the pains of the poor in countries that have been unleashed with policies rammed down the throats of visionless and unpatriotic leaders blinded by the overbearing strengths and blackmails of the Breton Woods institutions.”



According to NLC, these institutions have added no value to the national economy as they have used previous Nigerian governments to decimate the lives of the people as they sent the national economy to its low performing level.



It noted that in several countries, including Europe, citizens have reacted against the pains of these policies through mass protests while in some other countries these anti-people policies ignited changes in government.



“We strongly advise the Federal Government to ignore in its entirety, the reckless anti-people outbursts of Emir Sanusi who we must also advise should concentrate all his energy on policies and programmes that can reduce or eliminate poverty in his emirate by generating efforts to reindustrialise Kano.



“The issue of subsidy removal has been subject of public discourse for more than two decades and our position has not changed. We are not only opposed to it, we have provided written details of how the petroleum industry can be managed to the benefit of our collective interests.”



“The success of our strikes and mass protests against previous attempts to remove subsidy on petroleum products indicates mass rejection of the policy and we believe the Buhari government will not yield to pressure from those who insist on privatising our collective wealth by removing subsidy on petroleum products.



“President Buhari has publicly said his government will not remove subsidy on petroleum products and we fully support his government on the clear commitment of the regime to serving the interests of majority of our people rather than submit to the pressure of unpatriotic few who have continuously diverted public funds to their private interests with so much latitude.



“We are however ready to mobilise Nigerian people against any attempt to remove the subsidy should the government decide to yield to the pressure of people like Emir Sanusi who prefer to serve the interests of foreign institutions against the Nigerian people.



“We recall that the last national strike and mass actions against partial removal of petroleum subsidy in January 2012 did not only expose the rot in the petroleum industry, it also uncovered the high level of corruption in the industry where government officials and their cronies made the entire industry their private preserve.



“We expect government to revisit the reports of all the panels and committees that probed the industry following the 2012 mass protests, especially the reports that indicted individuals and firms that diverted subsidy funds to private interests. All the stolen funds must be recovered while those indicted must be prosecuted and appropriately punished,” the NLC stated.
http://tribuneonlineng.com/node/20876

Buhari: How I’m going to fix economy


Unsold crude cargoes rise to $3.572bn


The fortunes of Nigeria’s tottering economy worsened yesterday as the stock of its unsold cargoes of crude oil rose to $3.57 billion.

The bearish demand for the nation’s crude oil, which began months ago, degenerated as major buyers like China showed preference for crude grades from Angola over Nigeria’s and helped Angola to fare better in the suppliers’ bearish transactions buoyed by supply glut.

The gloomy outlook on Nigeria’s oil trade in which slow demand has led the country searching for buyers for 80 cargoes of its crude grade worth $3.572 billion, came as President BuhariMuhammadu Buhari outlined his strategy for fixing the economy.

While Nigeria was still struggling to secure buyers for 19 million litres of its 20 cargoes November loading worth $893 million, the country also flooded the market with 60 cargoes December loading totalling 57 million barrels and worth $2.679 billion based on $47 per barrel price of the commodity at the global market. Reuters reported that the surplus cargoes of Nigerian crude oil were slow to clear, even as Chinese buying helped Angola to fare better.

“The 19 million barrels of November loading Nigerian oil are struggling to find buyers as Asian refiners start looking further ahead and Europe turned to the closer and increasingly cheap, North Sea and Mediterranean grades,” traders said. “The outlook for Nigeria is not fantastic,” one trader, according to Reuters, said, adding that the “demand has slowed down massively.”

For Nigeria, there are still 20 November-loading cargoes with a few spot buyers showing interest. Exxon, however, sold its last cargo of Qua Iboe. Though the buyer was not immediately clear, traders said it was likely to go to Europe.

With several programmes pending, 60 cargoes were set for December loading, putting it largely on par with November. The bearish demand for Nigeria’s oil came against a marginal rise in oil prices yesterday, a day after a report showed inventories fell at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub, but gains were capped as investors awaited official U.S. inventory data.

Crude oil and oil product data due from the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) is expected to show further stockpiling. Brent December crude futures were up 49 cents at $47.30 a barrel and unwinding a rally that took the price to a peak of $54 this month. U.S. crude for December delivery rose 45 cents to 43.65 dollars a barrel, up from Tuesday’s nine-week low of 42.58 dollars.

However, amid the slump in Nigeria’s oil trade, the president yesterday outlined his vision for fixing the economy that has witnessed about 67 per cent drop in revenue inflow into the Federation Account.

He told the Nigerian community in India that he was aware of the expectations of Nigerians who elected him on the platform of change, integrity, probity and accountability, and was therefore doing his best to meet those yearnings. Buhari, who is currently attending the African-India summit holding in New Delhi, is expected back in the country tomorrow.

Buhari, at another forum, also said that his administration would not shy away from implementing tight expenditure control policies that may be perceived as harsh in the short term.

The president said: “I wish to assure you that we shall do our best to fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming population of our youths and make the home environment safe, secure and more attractive to Nigerians outside the country like your good selves. “On the economy, our aim is to address the challenge of infrastructure in all its ramifications, especially power and transportation. We are seeking to create jobs through agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition and the promotion of small-scale enterprises.”

He also restated his commitment to fight corruption and implement policies to stop mismanagement of public funds. He told the Nigeria community that the recovery of stolen funds and prosecution of persons indicted for corrupt practices would also continue to be vigorously pursued. The president said that he expected the on-going recoveries and prosecutions to serve as a deterrent to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gain.

“The anti-corruption campaign will be ongoing for many years. We are committed to the enthronement of good governance that plugs the loopholes in public sector accounting, and the use of scarce resources for public good. “We are determined to demonstrate exemplary leadership that will make our citizens to change their ways in a manner that lays a solid foundation for reconstruction and development.

“I am confident that our approach to fighting corruption through value re-orientation, improved internal processes and systems and the rule of law, as well as enhancing the capacity of the various anti-corruption agencies and institutions will prove more enduring in addressing this evil,” he stated.

According to him, his administration will not shy away from implementing tight expenditure control policies that may be perceived as harsh in the short term. He said such policies as the Treasury Single Account (TSA) were necessary to strengthen the economy for speedy development.

Buhari, at an interactive session in New Delhi with chief executives of Indian companies who have interests in the Nigerian economy, said despite the fall in oil prices, his administration was committed to maintaining macro-economic stability and improving investors’ confidence in Nigeria. “What is required of us, to which we are strongly committed, is the implementation of tight expenditure controls, effective fiscal and monetary policies, including the husbandry of scarce resources which our introduction of the Single Treasury Account has begun to address.

“We are aware some of these measures may hurt operations of some businesses in the short term, but we believe they are right for a sustainable economy,” the president said. Buhari urged the chief executives to expand their companies’ investments in Nigeria “so that we can, together, turn our engagements into a win-win situation for our two countries.”

“We can increase and diversify the current volume of our bilateral trade beyond $16.36 billion, and diversify to other critical sectors such as agriculture; green technologies in power generation; infrastructure; information and communications technologies; the services sector; education; industry, especially textiles and solid minerals among others,” the president added.
http://newtelegraphonline.com/unsold-crude-cargoes-rise-to-3-572bn/

Looks like this is a case of it all ending ahppily ever after? As the house has gone quiet on this or is it because the holidays are over?

Concerned over the recent spate of suicide attacks on mosques in Maiduguri and its environs, the Borno State Government Governor Kashim Shettima on Sunday held a meeting with the Shehu of Borno and all stakeholders to device ways of countering the attacks.

The meeting which was held at the multi-purpose Hall of the Government House Maiduguri, had in attendance Head of the Army in the State, the Police, Department of State Security, the Shehu of Borno Abubakar Ibn Umar Gabai Elkanami, Imam of mosques in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere, district heads, Ward Heads and others.

Governor Kashim Shettima along with the security chiefs held a closed door meeting with Imams of mosques in Maiduguri, Jere and surrounding areas as well as district heads (Aja) and ward heads (Lawans) for a crucial security discussions aimed at developing fresh strategies to prevent recent tricks by Boko Haram insurgents who attacked worshippers at predawn prayers at mosques in Maiduguri.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Shettima told the ‎participants that similar meetings will be held by the Emirs of Biu and Shani who will inform imams in local government areas not yet attacked to prevent worshippers from being taken unawares.

Shettima noted that the participants were carefully chosen because of the strategic role they play in their various domains, in all the mosques and the 30 wards in the town.
He charged them to ensure that worshippers abide by the recommendations of the outcome of the meeting for the benefit of all.

In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi described the timing of the meeting as apt, adding that “Governor Shettima demonstrated wisdom in summoning the meeting. Every son and daughter of Borno has a role to play in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency that has left in its wake, deaths and destructions across the State”.

Security representatives also briefed the participants on the importance of their collaboration. They also used occasion to educate them onuseful security tips aimed at preventing further attacks on mosques.

Metal detectors were handed
http://thenationonlineng.net/suicide-attacks-imams-get-metal-detectors-to-screen-worshippers/

The Federal Government and Department of State Service (DSS) are allegedly seeking for the secret trial of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) at the Federal High Court (FHC) Abuja this Monday.

THISDAY reliably gathered Sunday that the prosecutors have filed a motion that may pave the way for the non-public trial of Dasuki who was accused of unlawful possession of firearms, bail on self recognition.

To this end, the State Security Service (SSS) is said to have "brought a motion to wear masks to testify

"...Remember their principal witness has been retired so they may want to bring somebody to take his place," the source alleged.

In addition, the source said that the Federal Government may be "also bringing charges on money laundering against the former NSA... and I am sure his lawyers may likely file objection to the alleged secret trail and masking of witnesses".
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-dss-may-press-for-secret-trial-further-charges-against-dasuki/223740/

Luke 13:3 Context

1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Lesson: WE ALL NEED TO REPENT URGENTLY. ETERNITY IS NEAR!

Luke 13:3 Context

1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

The Federal Government has approved the appointment of Dr. Dan Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim as Director General/ Chief Executive of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).

The appointment was contained in an official correspondence from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Engr. Babachir David Lawal.

Dr. Ibrahim, a graduate of Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri holds a Master of Science degree in Soil Microbiology from the University of Newcastle Upontyne, United Kingdom in 1987 and a Doctorate degree in Soil Fertility from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi in 2004.

Ibrahim was a Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri and served in various capacities at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council before his transfer to NOTAP in 2010.

He has many scientific publications to his credit and was on acting capacity before his elevation to the present position.
http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/22/buhari-appoints-azumi-as-notap-director-general/

A passenger collapsed on-board an Air Peace flight 4P7140 to Abuja from Lagos on Wednesday afternoon.

It was gathered that passengers boarded the plane at about 12.30pm, while the departure time on their tickets was 1pm.

Sources at the carrier, some of the passengers and officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja confirmed to our correspondent that the incident happened when the travellers were disembarking from the aircraft after it had touched down at the NAIA.

It was gathered that the passenger collapsed as the others were alighting from the aircraft.

It was further learnt that the emergency response team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria delayed for about 30 minutes before showing up with an ambulance.

FAAN, however, denied the claim as it argued that its Port Health officials provided an ambulance immediately they were contacted by the crew of Air Peace.

An official of Air Peace, who pleaded not to be named as he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told our correspondent that the airline had to revive the man with oxygen and waited for close to 30 minutes before the Port Health officials arrived.

“The crew was able to get oxygen to revive the passenger and he was a bit stable before he was transferred to the Port Health officials of FAAN, who delayed for about 30 minutes; but the good news is that the man is okay,” the source said.

When contacted, the Deputy General Manager, Public Affairs, FAAN Abuja, Mrs. Henriatta Yakubu, told our correspondent that the passenger was attended to at the agency’s clinic.

She dismissed claims that Port Health officials arrived late, stressing that they rushed to the scene immediately they got a call from the airline.

By 6pm on Wednesday when Yakubu spoke to our correspondent, she stated that the passenger was just being discharged from the airport’s clinic.

She said, “The airline called the Port Health unit and they took the passenger to the FAAN clinic. I spoke with our doctor and he confirmed to me that the man is okay and they are discharging him. He was received by the Port Health officials in an ambulance.

“He was taken immediately to our clinic and there he received treatment, and I have been told that they are about discharging him.”
http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/passenger-collapses-on-lagos-abuja-flight/

Planned political solution aimed at resolving the logjam in the leadership of the Senate appeared to have run into a hitch, following refusal of the incumbent Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, to resign.



The planned political solution, which had been accepted by Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) was aimed at implementing the leadership structure preferred by the APC in the Senate.



National chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had on June 24, written the Senate President to propose the names of four senators who were to assume the Majority Leadership positions in the Senate.



Odigie-Oyegun’s letter had named Senator Ahmed Lawan (North-East) as Majority Leader; Professor Sola Adeyeye (South-West) as Chief Whip; George Akume (North-Central) as Deputy Majority Leader and Abu Ibrahim (North-West) as Deputy Chief Whip.



But Saraki had named Senator Ali Ndume as Senate Leader, Bala Na’allah as Deputy Leader, Sola Adeyeye as Senate Chief Whip and Senator Francis Alimikhena as Deputy Majority Whip.



The development incensed the party, which has been up in arms against Saraki since then.



A committee, headed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has been working on the planned political solution aimed at finding a middle ground for the Senate Leadership and Saraki.



Dogara, who has been working with the party’s national chairman and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had proposed a way out of the current APC leadership in the Senate and a replacement with those originally proposed by the APC.



Only Senator Sola Adeyeye, the Chief Whip, would retain his seat if the political solution option works out.



But sources in the National Assembly told the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, that the incumbent Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, has rejected the offer that he resigns.



While the others, including Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Francis Alimikhena were said to have agreed to the offer if it would bring peace between the party and the Senate, Ndume was said to have flatly rejected the offer to resign, insisting that he was voted for by his colleagues in the North-West caucus.



Ndume, who was said to have been invited to a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Monday night, was said to have been told to accept the offer to resign, so as not to keep delaying the peace deal.



Sources indicated that the meeting, which was coordinated by Osinbajo, also had in attendance Odigie-Oyegun, Senator Danjuma Goje and Ndume.



The Borno senator was said to have insisted that having been elected by his colleagues from the North-East, he can only quit the position at their instance, adding that the Presidency should not put the blame of his emergence on Saraki.



He was said to have held the meeting that he was voted for as Senate Leader having lost the contest for the Deputy President of the Senate position.



He was also said to have insisted that the party cannot sanction him, because he had been winning election in his area, even when he was not in the party.



The Senate Leader was said to have said that having emerged the Senate Leader by the votes of a majority of the senators from the North-East, Saraki cannot unilaterally remove him.



A source also said that Ndume reminded the meeting that the caucus had pre-eminence over the appointments into the leadership positions, as according to him, the Senate Chief Whip, Sola Adeyeye, did not assume office until the South-West Caucus wrote the Senate President to communicate his appointment.



Also on Thursday, sources said the APC leadership in the Senate insisted on the suspension of plenary on Wednesday, to ensure Saraki continued to preside over the session after his appearance at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).



Sources insisted that the leadership had weighed the option of Ike Ekweremadu presiding over the screening of minister-nominees and opined that the option could be dangerous for the APC.
http://tribuneonlineng.com/node/20301