#Aleppo Evacuation Delayed, Opposition Blames Pro-Assad Militia

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The evacuation of rebel-held eastern Aleppo was delayed on Wednesday and, while a war monitor said the reason was unclear, an opposition official blamed Shi’ite militias allied to President Bashar al-Assad for the hold up.

A ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia, Assad’s most powerful ally, and Turkey ended years of fighting in the city and has given Assad his biggest victory yet after more than five years of war.

Officials in the military alliance fighting in support of Assad could not be reached immediately for comment on why the evacuation was delayed.

Sources on Tuesday had given different expected start times for the evacuation. A military official in the pro-Assad alliance had said the evacuation was due to start at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT), while opposition officials had been expecting a first group of wounded people to leave earlier.

However, none had left by dawn, said a Reuters witness waiting at the agreed point of departure. Twenty buses were waiting there with their engines running but showed no sign of moving into Aleppo’s rebel-held eastern districts.

“There is certainly a delay,” said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory, a war monitor.

Officials with Aleppo-based rebel groups accused Shi’ite militias backed by Iran of obstructing implementation of the Russian-brokered deal. The pro-opposition Orient TV cited the negotiation committee in eastern Aleppo as saying there was no clear reason why the wounded had yet to be evacuated.

Assad has been backed by an array of Shi’ite militias from across the region in his campaign for Aleppo.

PDP Blames Buhari, Oyegun For Arrest Of Judges

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday said the controversial arrest of some senior judges for alleged corruption was orchestrated by President Buhari and members of his party, the APC.

In a statement signed and distributed by its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, the opposition party said Nigerians should see the recent clampdown on judges by the State Security Service as a vindictive measure taken by Mr. Buhari and the chairman of his party, John Oyegun.

Mr. Adeyeye said Mr. Buhari and Mr. Oyegun were desperate to avenge what they saw as unfair rulings handed down by some judges against them in the past.

Making specific reference to some past comments credited to Messrs. Buhari and Oyegun, the PDP said “it is obvious that the judiciary can be said to have functioned appropriately only when they and their party win a case.”

Mr. Adeyeye, speaking on behalf of the provisional national leadership of the PDP, said Mr. Buhari, earlier this year, allegedly decried the injustice meted out to him by some judges many years ago.

“On the fight against corruption vis-à-vis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main headache for now.

“In my first attempt in 2003, I ended up at the Supreme Court and for 13 months I was in court.

“The second attempt in 2007, I was in court close to 20 months and in 2011, my third attempt, I was also in court for nine months.

“All these cases went up to the Supreme Court until the fourth time in 2015, when God agreed that I will be President of Nigeria,” the PDP quoted Mr. Buhari as saying in February 2016.

The PDP said the allegations by two Supreme Court judges that the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, tried to induce them showed the depth of the administration’s contempt towards the judiciary.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/213449-pdp-blames-buhari-oyegun-arrest-judges.html

US Blames Russia For Attack On UN Aid Convoy In Syria

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The United States has blamed Russia for an airstrike that targeted a UN aid convoy near Syria’s Aleppo province on Monday, shortly after the Syrian military ended a ceasefire due to recurrent breaches by terrorist groups.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that at least 18 of 31 Syrian Red Crescent trucks carrying UN-provided food were destroyed in an airstrike in Aleppo’s Urm al-Kubra region.

Washington quickly held Moscow responsible for the attack, arguing that the Russian military was in charge of making sure that a shaky ceasefire, brokered earlier by the US and Russia, stays in place.

“The destination of this convoy was known to the Syrian regime and the Russian federation and yet these aid workers were killed in their attempt to provide relief to the Syrian people,” US State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

MTN Blames NCC Fine For First Trading Loss

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

MTN Group recorded its first-ever earnings per share (EPS) loss as a publicly traded company — which it blamed on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the N330 billion fine slammed on its Nigerian operation last year.
In a statement released on Thursday, MTN said it would announce the half year results on Friday, but it gave shareholders a heads-up on the coming loss.
“Following the trading statement published on 19 July 2016, shareholders are further advised that MTN expects to report for HY2016 a basic headline loss per share of between 285 cents and 255 cents and a basic loss per share of between 315 cents and 285 cents,” MTN said.
“In the prior year comparable period MTN reported headline earnings per share of 654 cents and earnings per share of 653 cents.”
MTN highlighted the factors that negatively impacted its earnings, prime of which was the Nigerian fine.
“The Nigerian regulatory fine which had a material impact on results for the period. The income statement charge reflects the present value of the balance outstanding at 10 June 2016 of N280 billion (USD1,418 billion, using the exchange rate prevailing at the time), reduced by the reversal of the provision made in December 2015 of Naira 119,6 billion (USD 600 million, using the exchange rate prevailing at the time),” it said.
“In total, the net effect of the Nigerian regulatory fine on the current period was a negative impact of 474 cents per share (cps).
“MTN Nigeria’s performance was impacted by the disconnection of 4.5 million subscribers in February 2016, the final batch of subscribers to be disconnected in compliance with the Nigerian Communications Commission subscriber registration requirements. The withdrawal of regulatory services which were re-instated on March 15, 2016 with approval for promotions and price plans granted in early May 2016 is also negatively impacting MTN Nigeria’s performance.”
MTN blamed other losses on the depreciation of the rand and operating currencies against the USD, and hyperinflation on MTN Irancell.

Credit: Sun

Presidential C’ttee Blames Niger Delta Militancy On Poor Implementation Of Amnesty Programme

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Following rising cases of militancy championed by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other armed struggles, the poor implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and proliferation of Small Arms and Lights Weapons (SALW) in the country have been identified are reasons responsible.

This was disclosed weekend in Abuja by the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM), Amb. Emmanuel Imohe, during the Inter –Ministerial Roundtable on the ATT in Nigeria organized in collaboration with West African Action Network on Small Arms and Light Weapons (WAANSA) and Control Arms Coalition.

Imohe raised alarm that Nigeria is awash with SALW and said that the implementation of the Amnesty programme was poorly carried out in that the militants might have returned knocked out weapons in exchange for funds with which some might have likely used to purchase more sophisticated arms. He said that while PAP initiative was a right move, but its execution did not align with the spirit and letter of its initiators.

He said: “Something is wrong with the implementation of the Amnesty Programme so that the spirit does not tally with the letter of the programme. There is no congruent in the two and I pray that as the things stands in the Niger Delta, government does not allow the crisis to degenerate further.

“Anybody who wants to resolve the security situations in this country must first of all mop up the weapons so that these groups do not have access to them. The country is awash with small arms and light weapons. So it is important for us as a country to put up a system that can help mop up the weapons in circulation.”.

Credit: vanguardngr

Oyedepo Blames Nigeria’s Woes On Systemic Failure

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chancellor of Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State, Bishop David Oyedepo, has traced the socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria to systemic failure.

Oyedepo,who is also the founder of Living Faith Church, said there was no point blaming political parties or individuals for the nation’s challenges.

Oyedepo made this declaration during an interaction with newsmen at the fifth founder’s day celebration of the university .

The cleric added that, “our problem is a systemic problem not political or leadership problem and we must find solution to it. Nigeria will not go down the drain, we will proffer solution to it.”

He,however, urged the present government to be more sensitive to issues that affect ordinary people, noting that things had not been working well.

According to him, “where we are today is not where we should be. The effect of the forex has a lot to do with small scale industries and that is where the bulk of Nigeria employment is.”

“ Anybody can make mistakes but if people in the authority are not sensitive to the cry of the people, we would keep making more mistakes. My understanding is that it is never late to be right. If a decision is made and we discovered it is not right we should do an informed review,”he stated.

Credit: Leadership

Oshiomhole Blames PDP For Tension In Niger Delta

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, regretted that the current tension in the Niger Delta was created by the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led administration through the empowerment of people he described as “wrong guys who showed capacity for violence.”

He urged the new Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru and the Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Daramola to reform the ministry, saying, “You have a huge challenge due to the disastrous performance of your predecessors under the last PDP government which made more noise about the Niger Delta than work.

“They empowered the wrong people because they showed capacity for violence and then ignored the real people who were peaceful, who just wanted development. Therefore, you have a huge task to bring development and carry out massive reforms for our people and you need to re-enlighten our people to recognise that the long term challenge of bringing prosperity to our people will not necessarily continue to be driven by intervention agencies, it has to do with creating jobs and making the region peaceful.”

Oshiomhole spoke when the new leadership of the Niger Delta Ministry, led by the minister, Pastor Uguru, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Benin City.

Credit: Vanguard

Female Banker In N15m Scam Blames Evil Spirit

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A suspected female staffer with an old generation bank located along Airport road in Benin City who was apprehended over allegation of swindling a wife of an aide to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of N15 million yesterday was said to have blamed her ordeal on spiritual attack.

The suspect, identified as Gloria Omoregie, was said to have lured his victim whose husband incidentally is the special adviser on security to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to fix about Fifteen million naira as deposit.

A police source yesterday said the suspect, who will soon be arraigned in court, was said to have confessed to the crime and pleaded to be pardoned just as she blamed her present predicament on a spiritual affliction.

It would be recalled that trouble was said to have started for the suspect when she approached the victim, Mrs Mikano Kadiri, and advised her to fix the said money in a deposit account where she can enjoy some profit on a monthly basis.

She also confirmed to Mrs Kadiri that on request, the money could be withdrawn. The lid was said to be been blown off the suspect when Mrs Kadiri requested to have access to the money and she was told that the money had been lent to the bank’s cooperative, a development which arose her suspicion.

On investigation, it was discovered that the bank did not run a cooperative society and the money could not be traced. It was learnt that the said Glory wrote a letter of resignation to the bank which was revealed to the victims It was further leant that when Gloria was arrested on the account of her perceived resignation, she later resorted to blackmail, stating that she was unduly molested by the Kadiris.

Credit: Leadership

Shehu Sani Blames Military For Zaria Killings

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has blamed the Nigerian military over an attack that left several members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria dead and many others injured at the weekend.

Mr. Sani said in a statement on Tuesday that the attack was nothing but “indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force by the military”.

“Silence and neutrality to this amount to nothing but aiding and abetting a clear and undisguised abuse of fundamental human rights.

“It’s absolutely wrong for the members of the group to deny the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff the rights of passage. However, killings and arson is not the legal, civilized and proportionate response to blocking road.

“Nigeria is a democratic state. The professional conduct of the apparatus of the state must be done within the ambit of the law and respect for fundamental rights of the citizenry.

“Nigeria as a democratic state must learn to balance its security exigencies with the need to observe and uphold its constitutional and moral obligation to fundamental human rights of its citizens.

“Any excuse to circumvent human rights is a step towards tyranny.

“Northern Nigeria has in the last seven years been neck deep in violence and soaked in blood. Opening a new front will not augur well for the peace and stability of Nigeria.

“The Zaria killings simply affirmed the fact that as a nation we have not learnt our lessons from our painful and hard experience.

“The action of the military is untenable, intolerable and unacceptable and has a serious repercussion to our global image, perception and moral standing.

“In the light of our recent experiences, it’s in the best security interest of our nation to encourage and support religious groups to operate openly.

“The Islamic movement and their leader have repeatedly denounced terrorism and insurgency.

“Zaria killings were avoidable tragedy. The use of force must always be the last resort and not the first resort and must be done within the principles of internationally best practices of rules of engagement.

“We have a duty as patriots to support our military to protect and defend our country, but it must be held to account within the permissible line of morality and the law.

“Those who are in support of the Zaria killings are giving a helping hand to arbitrariness and spitting on a fundamental right that may be used against them someday.

“The enduring spirit of a democratic state is upholding its moral values and achieving its goals. Our ultimate goal of restoring peace and order in our country must not be at the expense of sacrificing those very principles that distinctively separate us from those opposed to our democratic values.

“The right to life and human dignity is foundation upon which all other rights stand. We must learn to defeat ideas with superior ideas and not superior spears.

“I call for peace and justice. I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to launch a full scale investigation,” the senator said.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Buhari Blames Previous Administration For Inability To Tackle Boko Haram

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has blamed the previous government at all levels for what he called “abuse of trust in the purchase of equipment and other ammunition to fight the war against Boko Haram”.

A situation, the President, said has cost Nigeria huge loss of lives and property.

The President made this disclosure while addressing members of the House of Representatives, who he hosted to a presidential dinner at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

President Buhari described as unfortunate, a situation where the Nigerian Army which defended Africa in peacekeeping operations, could not engage Boko Haram.

He said that the millions of Naira and Dollars expended by the past administration could not be properly utilized.

The President called on the members of the House to support him in the fight and expressed optimism that the war on Boko Haram must be won.

He also gave the assurance that his administration is making concerted efforts to raise the moral of the soldiers and get the necessary equipment.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Man Blames APC For Killing The Lion That Escaped Jos Wild Life Park (PHOTO)

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Residents of Jos who have been relieved of a loose lion scare are now angry that the Lion was killed. Others say that a tranquilizer would have been used to tame the lion and return it to its confinement.

Reactions on social media reflect the anger of people who have visited the Lion personally, saying its execution was ruthless.

However, here is a reaction that is quite unusual but typical of a partisan Nigerian to do. See FB post below that blames the APC for the death of the Lion.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153113385016400&set=a.10150253399856400.337429.516556399&type=3&theater

Those Behind Fuel Scarcity, NNPC Points Finger

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday blamed the persistent fuel crisis on the continuous vandalisation of the System 2B pipeline at Arepo, sharp practices by oil marketers and the delay in the payment of outstanding subsidy claims to the marketers.

The NNPC in a statement in Abuja, after honouring the invitation of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, also stated that the Senate had given it a two-week ultimatum to end the fuel scarcity.

In a presentation to the Senate Committee, Managing Director of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of the NNPC, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, stated that Nigeria has lost a total of 531 million litres of petrol valued at over N50 billion to pipeline vandals between January and September, 2015, at the problematic System 2B Pipeline network which stretches from the Atlas Cove in Lagos to Ilorin.

Nnamdi-Ogbue explained that the losses, which chiefly accrued from the incessant hacking of the pipeline at the notorious Arepo to Mosimi axis of the pipeline artery, have made the task of providing seamless flow of petroleum products to retail outlets more burdensome.

Credit: Vanguard

Pastor Rapes Teenager During Deliverance, Blames Devil

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nasarawa State Police command on Monday arrested a 46 year-old pastor, Ifeanyi Bernard, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in the Karu Local Government Area of the state.

According to police authorities, the alleged rape took place on November 3 when the pastor was performing deliverance on the teenager.

However, the pastor described the incident as the handiwork of the devil.

While parading the suspect at the Criminal Investigative Department, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sani Mohammed, said the suspect was apprehended following a report by the father of the victim, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.

According to the police, the cleric, who lives in the Alikima Mararaba area of the state, lured the victim into his house under the pretext of casting out demons from her.

The police boss said the cleric allegedly pushed her to his bed and raped her repeatedly.

The commissioner said the suspect threatened to kill the victim if she reported the incident to any member of her family.

However, when the father of the girl learnt of the incident, he reported the matter to the police. The police subsequently stormed the pastor’s home and arrested him.

Policemen also recovered bottles of anointing oil from the suspect’s home as well as a bedspread.

The CP said, “The pastor took advantage of his closeness to the girl’s family – who are members of his congregation – to rape their 13-year-old daughter under the guise of casting out demons from her.”

While speaking at the police command, the pastor confessed to the crime, adding that he didn’t know what came over him when he committed the crime.

He said, “I had been into evangelism for some years now and I have been casting out demons from people who have spiritual and family problems before I met this young girl through her father, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.

“I have been a friend of the family for quite some time.

“I used my anointing oil to lure her into my room and all of a sudden, I was carried away and before I knew what was happening, I saw myself making love to her.”

Credit: Punch

Magazine’s Published Article Blames This Newspaper For Alamieyeseigha’s Death

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

One “The Source Magazine” has lashed out a serious allegation against Premium Times.

The magazine shared a recent publication with a Cover Story entitled: ” Alamieyeseigha: How False Story Killed Him”.

In the article, the magazine insinuated that the recent death of a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, penultimate week, was triggered by a purported story published by Premium Times that the British government made a request to the Nigerian government for the extradition of the former governor to the United Kingdom to face money laundering charges.

The magazine specifically stated: “An online portal, PREMIUM TIMES had recently rehashed its March 28, 2013 story and presented it to unsuspecting readers as fresh. A section of the traditional media also strangely keyed into the PREMIUM TIMES stale story and published it as fresh. Quoting the immediate past British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the UK government was interested in extraditing Alamieyeseigha to stand trial and that a request had already been made to the federal government to that effect”.

Premium Times however denies the allegation, saying that any publication related to that issue was published in 2003.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Plateau LG Chairman Blames Attacks On Border Disputes

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Management Committee Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Titus Bise, has blamed incessant violent attacks in the state on communities with border disputes.

Bise disclosed this yesterday in Mangu, when the House of Assembly’s Special Committee on Security met with traditional and religious leaders, youths and other stakeholders in the area. It would be recalled that Langai District of Pyem chiefdom had consistently come under attack that left many dead, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed. The most recent attack was in Kadunung village of Langai District where many were killed, several others injured, while more than 197 houses were burnt down.

The chairman described the attacks on his people as ‘terrible’, saying they were comparable to insurgents’ activities in the north-eastern part of the country. “The crisis bordered on land ownership and that is usually deadly,’’ he stated. He said four communities in Langai District had been under siege in the past three days. “The attackers usually come in their numbers with very sophisticated weapons to maim my people. People are being slaughtered like animals on a daily basis; sometimes it is on the road. At times, the attackers follow them to their farms or houses,’’ he said.

Read More: nigerianpilot

Obasanjo Blames Mediterranean Deaths On Fall Of Gaddafi

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the leadership of African Union, AU, to evolve a policy that will stamp out growing spate of youths from the continent, migrating to Europe through the Mediterranean in search of greener pasture.

The former president made the call in a statement he issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He emphasised that the current outflow of Africans into Europe was a direct consequence of lack of effective governance in some African countries as precipitated by the direct action of Western powers.

Obasanjo, who expressed sadness over the current wave of deaths and untold hardships which African youths experienced in their desperate move to travel to Europe, also charged the international community, particularly the African leaders to take a look at the development with a view to finding solutions to the menace.

Read More: nationalmirroronline

Zuma Blames Apartheid For Weak Economic Growth

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Staff Reporter

South African President Jacob Zuma blamed the country’s tepid economic growth on apartheid Tuesday, describing it as “colonialism of a special type”.

Addressing reporters in Pretoria, Zuma said South Africa suffers from “complex historic problems” that are unique on the continent.

“Other countries in Africa never had a racially based economy,” said Zuma at a briefing where he took stock of reforms implemented by the government since the beginning of the year.

“We are trying to address the legacy of apartheid, and it’s going to be with us a long time,” said Zuma.

“At the same time it (South Africa) must be competing with countries that never had such a challenge.”

Read More: yahoo

Melaye Blames Absentee APC Senators For Ekweremadu’s Win

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has said that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ike Ekweremadu, emerged Deputy Senate President because some APC senators did not attend the inauguration.

Mr. Melaye, an APC member who supported the candidacy of Bukola Saraki for Senate President as opposed to the All Progressives Congress’ choice of Ahmed Lawan, made the comment while briefing the press at the Senate on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr. Melaye said if all APC senators were present at the inauguration, they would have voted for the APC contestant, Ali Ndume.

“Those who made APC to lose the Deputy Senate Presidency yesterday are those who stayed away from the Chamber,” he said, referring to pro-Lawan lawmakers who say they missed the session to meet President Muhammadu Buhari.

“If they had come, we would have won.

“For you to know that we stood by our party, we nominated Ali Ndume. We who were in the chambers as at the time of the election were 20 APC members and we voted for Ndume as at that time,” he said.

Credit: premiumtimesng

Ex-Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor Blames PDP For Jonathan’s Defeat

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Vincent Ogbulafor, has accused his party of helping its presidential candidate lose the last elections and called on the members of its National Working Committee, NWC, to resign.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Umuahia on Sunday, Mr. Ogbulafor said the members should take the path of honour by bowing out of the committee.

He added that the members should resign in the interest of the party and pave the way for fresh hands to pull the party out of the woods and reposition it ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He described the resignation of the National Chairman and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Adamu Muazu and Tony Anenih respectively, as a welcome development.

“I feel happy about their resignation because I feel they did so in the interest of the party.

“So, I feel it is better for all the committee members to voluntarily resign if they love the party and want it to survive,’’ he said.

Mr. Ogbulafor further urged the NWC to accept responsibility for the party’s poor performance in the 2015 general elections and the failure to win a second term in office for President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The party played the politics of hate and exclusion,” he said, adding that “past national chairmen were completely excluded and were never invited to offer our own ideas on how to deliver Jonathan.

“When I was the chairman, I controlled 28 states and a majority in the National Assembly and also won additional four states for the party.

“Some of us performed better and have good ideas on how to keep PDP in power for as long as I predicted,’’ he said.

Mr. Ogbulafor, who predicted that the party would rule Nigeria for uninterrupted 60 years, said that the feat was possible had the party sustained the line-up.

“I made the prediction in clear conscience and realisation that it was achievable, given that PDP controlled 28 states, majority in the National Assembly and local government administration.

“So, there is nothing that could have stopped PDP if we were able to control the line-up.’’

Mr. Ogbulafor blamed the woes befalling the party on the emergence of a ‘’reform group,’’ saying that the group created factions within it.

He also said that the incessant change in the leadership, with five chairmen so far produced within a space of five years after his exit was counter-productive.

“Since I left office, PDP has changed its chairmen five times. This is a pointer that all is not well with the party.

“This is why I am calling on the NWC members to quit without compulsion to pave the way for fresh blood that will bring vibrancy and help to move the party forward,’’ he said

Mr. Ogbulafor said that the incoming governors, who would be the financiers of the party, would also wish to inherit a fresh NWC, populated by fresh people. He said he was not planning to leave the party in view of the current challenges.

He said his visit to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Oyegun, on the heels of the party’s electoral victory was to congratulate him in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Mr. Ogbulafor, who also congratulated President-elect Muhammadu Buhari described his election as compensation to Katsina and the north over the death of late President Musa Yar’Adua.

‘’I feel happy that the presidency went to the north, particularly Katsina, the home state of late Yar’Adua, who died in office without completing his tenure and the slot for the north,’’ he said

Credit: NAN

Gov. Rochas Blames Poor Economy For Non-payment Of Workers’ Salary Arrears

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo has attributed the poor state of the nation’s economy for the non-payment salary arrears being owed government workers in some states of the federation.

Okorocha said this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and governors-elect on Tuesday in Abuja.

The governor said that just like the states, the Federal Government was also finding it difficult to pay the salaries of its workers.

“We must say that the economy is bad, let’s face the fact. Most governors are not able to pay salaries and there is no magic any governor can do to pay salary under the present situation.

“We intend to take that up with the President-elect to inform him of the challenges before him, to prepare his mind to know that there is a lot of challenges that the states are facing in terms of payment of salaries, including Federal Government.

“Here, you have an incoming president coming to meet almost an empty treasury, which tells you the challenges we have ahead of us.”

According to him, the APC governors and as well as the governors-elect have decided to meet to also review the just concluded 2015 general elections.

This, he said, would enable the party and its elected officers to strategise on the best possible approach to tackle the country’s challenges.

“Basically, what we did was to review the just concluded election and we have congratulated each other and it’s on record that today, APC has 22 governors-elect, while we are looking forward to getting more by the time we finish with the court processes.

“So this is the first introductory meeting to know one another and to discuss all that took place in the last election, the challenges, the merits and demerits.”

Okorocha said that some of their colleagues had embarked on holiday and medical checks to enable them regain their strength after the tedious electioneering campaigns.

He said that the presence of Senator Bukola Saraki at their meeting was not in any way connected to who emerged the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Senator Bukola visited during our meeting, but we did not discuss the issue of who becomes the Senate President, or who becomes Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Our mission is to familiarise ourselves and look at the state of our economy and see how we can meet the president-elect and make some suggestions on what he can do to move Nigeria forward.”

The meeting was attended by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, his Nasarawa counterpart Tanko Al-Makura, Kaduna Governor-elect Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is the Sokoto State Governor-elect Aminu Tambuwal.

Others present at the meeting were Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, former Ekiti governor, Kayode Fayemi, Deputy Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje and APC Chairman, John Oyegun.