Why corrupt Nigerians hide stolen money in caskets, uncompleted buildings – Dino Melaye

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has alleged that some corrupt Nigerians now hide their loots in caskets and uncompleted buildings in remote villages in some parts of the country.

Melaye said this while moving a motion tagged ‘discrepancies in subsidy payment and non-remittance of funds by the NNPC to the federation account’ on the floor of the Upper Legislative Chambers on Wednesday.

According to Melaye, “Monies are not accounted for and that might be the reason why we now see petro-dollars buried in caskets and uncompleted buildings in remote villages in some parts of the country.”

Recall that the lawmaker had on Tuesday, drawn the attention of the Senate to the refusal of the Federal Government to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which he said got 51 out of 100 per cent share of companies sanctioned to import petroleum products into the country.

He had said all the oil marketers currently facing trial over alleged subsidy fraud.

Melaye had said, “Surprisingly you (Saraki) are one of those who raised the issue of subsidy in the 7th Senate. The Federal Government is prosecuting marketers and these marketers only constitute 49 per cent of imported refined products. The NNPC is responsible for the importation of 51 per cent.

“While we are prosecuting the independent marketers whose proceed from subsidy is about N3.83 trillion, NNPC collected a total of N5.1 trillion on subsidy and this has never been investigated.

“This has never been looked at and we are busy chasing independent marketers. The time to look at the books of NNPC as regards petroleum subsidy is now.

“We have taken the lead in the fight against corruption in this chamber and I want to say we must do everything within our powers to investigate and bring whoever is found wanting to book.”

Army arrests two prominent Borno politicians over alleged links to Boko Haram

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Two prominent politicians in Borno state and a traditional ruler have been arrested by the army over suspected links to Boko Haram insurgents.

The names of the politicians are being withheld but TheCable understands that they are close associates of an APC governor.

The traditional ruler is the first son of another prominent ruler in the state.

The army previously arrested a council chairman over suspected links to the militants.

The latest arrests were confirmed by Lucky Irabor, a major general and theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the counterinsurgency team of the army.

Irabor did not give further details.

“It is true we have arrested some people. They may be known faces. We started picking them one by one. We’re taking them now and we are still investigating them so I can’t give you any detail,” he said.

The politicians were arrested early this week by detectives and troops from Operation Lafiya Dole.

One of them, who is also an Islamic spritualist, fled the state but was arrested along Maiduguri-Jos road, sources told TheCable.

The second politician was said to be a thug (called ECOMOG) and an aide to some politicians in the state.

A military source told TheCable that more arrests will be made in the “coming days” and the information will be officially made public.

Source: The Cable

Reps move to outlaw security orderlies for politicians

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Staff Reporter

To check abuses, the House of Representatives yesterday sought the withdrawal of security orderlies from civilians.Adopting a motion by Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), the lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction at the manner officers were being used for undignified purposes.

He listed some of the misplaced activities to include assaulting, harassing and manhandling of innocent citizens, arguing unless they were withdrawn, the security personnel will keep constituting nuisance to the society.

Chinda named current political office holders, their predecessors and businessmen as categories of politicians perpetuating the abuses.The House, therefore, urged its committees on Army, Air force, Navy, Police and Interior to examine the concerns and report back in four weeks.

Also yesterday, the House honoured the military personnel fighting insurgency in the North East.Observing a minute silence for those killed as well as commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to restoration of normalcy in the region, the lower chamber of the National Assembly sought insurance cover and housing schemes for the military officers to compensate their gallantry.

Considering a motion by Mohammed Monguno and Abdussamad Dasuki, both APC representatives from Borno State, the lawmakers unanimously agreed on granting the incentives to the personnel through the Federal Ministry of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff for restoring the people’s confidence in the armed forces.

They also asked the House Committee on Defence to monitor developments in the rescued communities to avoid a relapse into the ugly scenarios of the past.They also urged the Federal Government to formulate policies aimed at safeguarding widows of fallen soldiers.

Nigerian Police to withdraw orderlies attached to politicians.

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

OPERATIVES of the Rivers State Police Command on Monday said it would withdraw police orderlies attached to politicians in the state during the December 10 reruns.

The operatives, who spoke during a meeting with stakeholders in Port Harcourt, also said it would not allow any police officer to go close to the polling units with guns and ammunition.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Odesanya, said the police would provide a level-playing field for all political parties in the election.

Odesanya said the police command would ensure that hoodlums did not have their way, stressing that the law would punish perpetrators of violence during the exercise.

He said, “This meeting is important to enable stakeholders to conclude all arrangements to ensure that the election is free, fair, credible and violent-free.

“All security escorts attached to the politicians will be withdrawn till after the elections. No security will be allowed to move to the polling units with gun.

“This is one election the police are taking seriously because we want to prove to the world that we are capable of providing security. The police will not give in to such laxity in security again. We will not fold our hands and watch criminals hijack the process. “

He added, “I warn all politicians to maintain the peace. Anyone who causes violence will be visited with the full weight of the law. The hoodlums who have been given fake security uniform will not have the chance to wear them.”

No Apologies For Refusing To Do Politicians’ Bidding- Justice Mohammed

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday said he had no apologies for refusing to do the bidding of politicians who wanted to intimidate the judiciary.

Justice Mohammed spoke yesterday in Abuja at a valedictory session held for him by the Supreme Court to mark his exit from the bench.

His remarks came just as President Muhammadu Buhari swore in his successor, Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen, as the acting CJN. Onnoghen will be the first person from southern Nigeria to hold the post in 29 years after Justice Ayo Irikife stepped down in 1987.

The former CJN said the nation owed the judiciary a debt of gratitude for standing firm in the face of the contrary winds that threatened to blow the country’s democracy off course.

According to him, it took the steadfastness of the judiciary to avert a replay of what happened during the June 12, 1993 presidential election that was presumably won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, during last year’s general election.

He said: “During the run up to the 2015 elections, our judicial officers withstood immense pressure, in order to guarantee a level playing field and smooth transition of government, which ensured that we were spared a re-enactment of the June 12 saga.

“In fact, the courts, thus securing the electoral process, disallowed so many frivolous matters aimed at truncating the electoral process.

“I must particularly commend the Supreme Court for refusing to be intimidated or influenced by any candidate or political party, and I make no apologies for the firm stand that we took in our decisions.

“I am proud to be a part of the Supreme Court which refused to be cowered into truncating the electoral process. I am proud to have headed this noble arm of government and steering it through some very stormy waters. I am proud of the Nigerian judiciary.”

Justice Mohammed said the independence of the judiciary must be jealously guarded in the interest of the country, warning that its independence must not be compromised for whatever reasons, if Nigeria is to function effectively and peacefully.

He said the judiciary had proved to be an institution, which must be protected, sustained and carefully handled better than any other institution.

He warned that where the rule of law was absent and due process disregarded, the sentinel of civilisation would be missing.

He reminded judges that competence in the performance of their duties required legal knowledge, skills, thoroughness and preparation, and encouraged them to continue to improve on their performance.

He also asked judges and other judicial officers to be impartial in the delivery of justice, adding that impartiality was the fundamental quality required of a judge and core currency of repute that engenders respect for the judiciary.

He said: “Diligence requires consistency in the high standards of justice delivery that is required to optimally perform at your best.

“Judicial competence will diminish on compromise when a judge is debilitated by misconduct, corruption and other vices.

“Though various dynamics and court room antics may abound, but you as judges must remain as the resolute of justice. When you do that, the judiciary will burn as a beacon of hope for the common man.”

Justice Mohammed pointed out that he initiated several reforms during his tenure as CJN and pleaded with his successor to maintain the reforms so as to make Nigeria a better nation.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria represented by Chief Thompson Okpoko (SAN), blamed the current travails of the judiciary on the ineptitude of both the bench and the bar to curb misconduct in the profession at the early stages.

He said: “We in the profession, both the bar and the bench, have kept a blind eye to our problems for far too long, we have looked the other way when improprieties and disgraceful conduct were manifesting themselves right in front of us.

“We have been soft in matters that required stern handling. We have allowed rules to be twisted or bent because it will adversely affect our people.

“We have sacrificed merit on the altar of geographical spread when we know that, no matter how much we spread, we cannot cover everyone and everywhere. That kind of attitude must now give way to positive thinking as to what will be the best for our judiciary system and the profession.”

Wike: Judges have lost their voice and politicians are happy

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to suspend judges accused of corruption.

Speaking on Friday when the executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt branch, paid him a courtesy visit, WIke said the action of the council will encourage politicians to write frivolous petitions against judges.

“This move to ask judges to step aside is in favour of politicians because no judge will and deliver judgment against government or a ruling party,” he said.

“The implication is that politicians can now write as many petitions, alleging that they saw a judge taking brown envelope – which will warrant the judge to be asked to step aside.

“For us, politicians, we are happy with this development because if I notice that I will lose a case, then I will tell my lawyer to write a petition which will result to the judge stepping aside.

“So, in other not to be alleged to have done anything wrong, judges will not give judgment against government or the ruling party.

“This is because, if judge deliver judgment against government or the ruling party, then agencies of government will come after them.”

Wike said the development portend grave danger to the judiciary arm of government and to the common man.

He said the move was a clear manipulation and attempt to silence the opposition, especially as the nation was heading toward 2019 general election.

He said a good example of manipulations was the quick compliance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce federal and state legislative rerun elections shortly after the national assembly compelled the umpire to do so.

“Simply because the senate said it must conduct election within five weeks; the next day, INEC came up with a time table for the election,” he said.

“This is the same INEC that cited insecurity as reason why it could not conduct elections in Rivers, and now within one day after senate’s position, the same INEC released a time table.

“The question is when did INEC meet security agencies to now take a position that there is no longer security problem in Rivers state.

“All these boil down to manipulations which not only endanger our democracy but threatens us as a people.”

Wike accused some lawyers and judicial workers in the state of having a penchant for tax evasion, explaining that the development had affected government revenue portfolio.

He advised the legal practitioners to lead by example to enable government to carry out its developmental functions.

EFCC Recovers Over N325m From Politicians, Individuals In North-east

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has recovered N325,181,919.00 from politicians and individuals the Northeast zone and secured five convictions in its operations across the states there.

Aminu Ado Aminu, EFCC Head of Operations, made this known in Gombe at the weekend while recounting the successes from January 2016 to date within the zone. It comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Taraba and Gombe, which is the headquarters of the zone.

He said the recovered money included the sum of N183,590,000.00, from politicians within the zone as part of funds illegally sourced and used in prosecuting the 2015 general elections.

He further explained: “In line with the above, a total of 130 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff drawn from Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States have been interrogated and will soon be charged to court for corruption involving the sum of N73,000,000.00 bribe during the 2015 polls.

“A breakdown shows that Gombe State has 26 staff involved, Adamawa has 86, and Taraba 18. We also have recovered the sum mentioned above from the INEC.”

Credit: thisdaylive

‘Pregnant’ Male Politicians Lead Japan Housework Drive

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A trio of male Japanese politicians has gamely strapped on “pregnancy vests” that simulate swollen bellies in a lighthearted campaign for men to pick up the slack in a nation where women do most of the housework.

The three governors of southwestern prefectures are taking to the airwaves with the public awareness campaign that loosely translates as: “The governor is a pregnant woman.”

Japanese men are not very helpful husbands when it comes to housework: they do just one hour of unpaid work daily compared to five hours for their wives, according to a 2014 study by the 35-nation Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The three-minute spot, which started running last week, shows the hapless lawmakers being outfitted with seven kilogramme (16 pound) vests that mimic the belly of a woman who is about seven months pregnant.

Then it is time to clumsily navigate stairs, carry groceries, or wait for someone to give up their seat on the bus.

One politician struggles to put on socks, while another wipes sweat from his brow after hanging a load of laundry, as an upbeat tune plays in the background.

“I can see how hard it is to be carrying a child and do house chores,” says 52-year-old Shunji Kono, the governor of Miyazaki prefecture.

“I think I have to be much kinder,” the father of three adds in the video.

http://guardian.ng/news/pregnant-male-politicians-lead-japan-housework-drive/

Jibrin Names Dogara’s Godfather, Exposes More ‘Secrets’

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Former Chairman, Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdumumin Jibrin, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, has disclosed who Speaker Dogara’s godfather is and also exposed more ‘secrets’. Jibrin apologised to their party chairman and members of APC for being instrumental to Doraga’s victory at the House.

In the letter, he however noted that his relationship with Dogara began to suffer when he started getting reports of the Speaker’s alleged “corrupt practises.”

“We practically disagreed on almost everything.

“His godfather is Sen Iyola Omisore. Speaker Dogara is of the habit of taking standing committee chairmen to swear oath of allegiance before Omisore. Continue for more shocker…

“During the build up to the appointment of committee chairmen, I had a terrible disagreement with him. I stayed far away from him.

“Who will I tell or run to having played such a leading role in bringing him on board? He operates alone, keep weird relationships with top politicians.

“I was in London when he insisted that he wanted to see me. He came to my hotel room and we talked for hours. I gave him a lot of advice, but I never knew it was getting in from one ears and out from the other,” Jibrin said.

“The role I played, to the best of my conscience at then, sir, was patriotic. I analysed the two candidates (Dogara and Femi Gbajabiamila, who is not the Majority Leader of the House) and felt Speaker Dogara had a better temperament to make a good Speaker.

“It was a narrow line of thinking, an error of judgement. It took only few weeks after the election for me to realise the … inside the skin of Speaker Dogara. That was when I started getting reports of his … practices for many years in the House undetected. I fell apart will Speaker Dogara instantly. Contrary to public belief, we have never been close since few weeks after he emerged Speaker.1

“We practically disagreed on almost everything. From the appointment of committee chairmen, to splitting of committees, to nondisclosure of the finances of the House, to his greed of unifying everything under his control, commercialisation of bills, divisive approach across ethnic and religious line, arrogance and power drunk, during the budget period among many others. But who will I tell or run to having played such a leading role in bringing him on board.”

“I wish to state that I deeply regret the role I played in the emergence of Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. I seek the understanding and forgiveness from you, our leaders and every member of the APC family that was hurt by my action. Thank God Almighty, I am young and energetic. I will be 40 on September 9th. I promise that moving forward, I will dedicate and completely commit myself to achieving the goals set out by the party. This case should serve as a lesson for everyone in the future,” Jibrin said.

Man Ran Over His Wife, Crushing Her Leg After Accusing Her Of Having An Affair With a Politician

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Margaret Wambui, who has been detained at Nairobi Women’s Hospital for four months over unpaid bill, has accused her husband of running over her with a minibus after he accused her of infidelity.

The 37-year-old mother of four claims she was attacked by her husband, Stephen Gichuhi on February 18, this year.

Mr Gichuhi, then a bus driver plying the Wangige-Kiambu route asked her to accompany him to visit a neighbour but instead drove to the home of a politician he accused her of having a relationship with.

The politician confirmed to The Standard that the couple visited his house at around 7pm.

“They found me unpacking things from my car. I asked them if they needed any help. I thought they had come, just like many other constituents, looking for help. The man said the person they had come to see was not there. He then directed his wife to get into the matatu,” the politician said.

Ms Wambui said they had a confrontation outside the politician’s home as her husband accused her of having an affair with the man and warned that he would not share her with other men while he was still alive and sped off.

“After a few metres, he opened the passenger door and violently pushed me out. I was not expecting this and clung desperately to the door which was swinging. Then I fell.”

When Wambui fell, Gichuhi stopped the bus, reversed and ran over her right leg, crushing it. He reversed again and drove over the leg a second time. An eyewitness, Julius Kimani was driving by and claims to have witnessed the incident.

“I was coming from the highway and had just branched into a feeder road. Then I saw a speeding matatu. The driver pulled over and started reversing as if he was looking for a way out as my vehicle was blocking the exit. I saw a woman clinging to the door of the matatu but then she fell.
The driver reversed and ran over the woman’s leg.”

Kimani jumped out of the vehicle screaming as Mr Gishuhi ran over his wife’s leg a second time.

“I ran towards the driver and who started attacking me with his car keys but with the help of my brother, Joseph Maina, we subdued him, grabbed the keys and forced him to sit in the back of the vehicle.”

While his brother took over the bus at the scene, Kimani asked Gichuhi if he had money to so they could take the victim to the hospital but he said he had no money.

“I reassured him not to worry as I would show him where the money would come from. As I slowed down at some bumps before entering Kikuyu Police Station, he opened the door and vanished,”

He drove to the nearest police station and two police officers accompanied them to Kikuyu Hospital. Wambui’s mother, Mary Nyambura, said she received the news the next day that her daughter had been admitted to the hospital.

Ms Nyambura claimed that police at Kikuyu Police Station have never recorded the incident in the Occurrence Book and issued an “irrelevant” P3 form not captured in their records. When she went to the police a few days later, she found the matatu had been released to Gichuhi who has never been arrested.

Ms Nyambura said her daughter was admitted in hospital for two months and re-admitted at Nairobi Women’s Hospital after the leg developed complications.

She said even after traffic police at the station wrote a report, they said the incident was an accident.

“When I demanded the OB number, they gave me the wrong one referenced 46/18/2016. And after going to several offices within the police station, I realised the OB was recorded in reference to six people who had been arrested for being drunk and causing disturbance,” Nyambura said.

Kikuyu OCPD Brigen Kiptoo said the injury was as a result of a domestic violence, not an accident.

“Both the accused and the victim gave conflicting statements. There were only two people in the vehicle and this is a complicated case,” he said.

Meanwhile, the politician said the infidelity allegation was being used by his opponents to end his political career.

I Joined Politics To Expose How Politicians Manipulate The Society – Oshiomole

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Outgoing Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday revealed why he joined politics.

Speaking at an event, organised by the Kukah center: titled, “From activism to polical power: the challenges of democratic governance in Nigeria,” the former President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, said he joined politics to understudy and expose how politicians manipulate and control societies.

According to Oshiomole, “I joined the ruling class, having been temporarily associated with them, for the purpose of studying them to know and expose the hidden things they use to manipulate and control societies. I will be able to say, you know, I know how what you did that time, how much you consumed.”

On the issue of change promised by the current administration, the outgoing governor explained that it will take collaborative effort on the part of Nigerians. No one of us can change society through individual actions, because the order you seek to change is of ignorance but you need to appeal to it.

“Those gaining from the order cannot be sermonized but by engagement you may probably defeat them,” he added.

‘Virtually Every Nigerian Is Corrupt’ – Governor Ajimobi

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi reacting to President Buhari’s war against corruption, told newsmen at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abuja that virtually every Nigerian is corrupt. He said:

“We are looking at corruption in a global perspective as against just taking money. If you look at it generally, you will see that virtually every Nigeria is corrupt, virtually everybody is corrupt in one way or the other either attitudinally, financially or socially, and this, we believe should be looked into.

“We believe corruption is more than just taking money, I think it is attitudinal. Anytime you do what you are not supposed to do, is corruption. Sometime you can even enlarge it to mean indiscipline, inability to control yourself, to discipline yourself against selfish tendencies of wanting to take what does not belong to you. Even not doing your job is corruption, for taking salaries monthly and not coming to work and being idle is

We Can’t Identify True Owners Of Oil Blocs, Assets — NEITI

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

he Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, yesterday, lamented that the true owners of some oil blocs and other oil and gas assets in Nigeria cannot be identified from the records of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC. It also accused owners of some of the assets of suppressing certain information and manipulating their records in the CAC, making it impossible to link them with the assets.

Acting Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr. Ogbonnaya Orji, disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with delegates from the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, led by the incoming chair, Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt, and civil society organizations. According to Orji, the issue of beneficial ownership as contained in EITI’s standards, requires the identity of the true owners of oil blocs, adding that records of the companies in the CAC are shrouded in secrecy and do not provide correct information about the true owners. He stated that this had been a challenge in implementing this specific requirement of EITI, while he appealed to EITI to understand the peculiarities in the Nigerian environment.

He said: “Beneficial ownership requires us to explain or provide information on the owners of certain oil blocs. But Nigeria is one kind of country; that is why I say nobody is going to suspend us; when you think we are going down, we tend to rise up and surpass expectations. “One challenge is that we try to reflect this issue of beneficial ownership in our report, but the CAC is where you register legitimate companies doing business in Nigeria.

If you go to CAC, the information that you find have no relationship with what you know. That is, those you know are the owners of this oil blocs. Reinfeldt lauds NEITI In his remark, Reinfeldt, the incoming chair of EITI commended NEITI for its efforts at entrenching transparency in the extractive industry, adding that with some of its policy recommendations to the Federal Government, NEITI had been able to go further in its activities. Speaking in the same vein, Deputy Head and Regional Director for Africa and Middle East of EITI, Mr. Eddie Rich, stated that the global body understood the challenges confronting NEITI, with regards to the reports.

Source – www.vanguardngr.com

$200bn Stolen Money Stashed In Dubai – Shehu Sani

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central Zone) has alleged that corrupt Nigerians have in the last 16 years stashed $200 billion in Dubai. Sen. Sani said this while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna.

“Corrupt Nigerians have stashed unbelievable amount of monies in Dubai alone in the name of estates acquisition, purchase of exotic houses and business partnership in the last 16 years. Some have stashed raw cash.
This is why the US, and Europe are making conditions for laundering of money into their countries very difficult. These crooks have now found it conducive to use the Middle East and South East Asia as their destinations. They use names of their cronies, family
members and friends to siphon public funds out of Nigeria. Some of them are APC members, who had their political upbringing in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Sooner than later those who are parading themselves as Buhari’s friends, but are corrupt, will be interrogated, prosecuted because the President does not know friend or relation as far as the fight against corruption is concerned. It was based on the information on the quantity and quality of the assets of corrupt Nigerians, that President Buhari had to sign that agreement with UAE at Abu Dhabi. I can tell you that it was smart and patriotic move. Let me advise the President to steer clear of hypocrites, because it is better to live with an enemy than hypocrite because hypocrite derives joy from stabbing one’s back. Over $200 billion Dollars are stashed away from Nigeria to Dubai alone. This may the monies stolen since in the past 20 years. I am not talking about estates and bonds and other securities bought with Nigeria stolen money. Buhari is going to recover all these monies and assets with the help of UAE. If you notice now, since the agreement, some of the corrupt persons are now rushing to Dubai to effect changes in the ownerships of the ill-gotten assets. But, they are just wasting their time. President Buhari needs the support of all Nigerians to wipe out corruption from the country. The President is on rescue mission. He needs our support. We cannot sit down idly and watch people sabotaged Buhari, and I can tell you that since Buhari went to Dubai, there were three attempts to sabotage Buhari’s government. The first one was that they planted a story in newspapers that there was crisis in Buhari’s government because he went to Dubai; The second one was that they planted fake lists of Nigerians that have property in Dubai, while we were waiting for the original list of those who have houses in Dubai. And the third one was to sponsor foreign media to discredit Buhari’s economic policies” he said.

EFCC Seals Borno House Of Assembly Over Allegations Of Corruption

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Report coming out of Borno has it that the Borno State House of Assembly has been invaded by operatives of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Residents of Shehuri ward where the House of Assembly is located told reporters that legislators abandoned the floor of the house when security operatives allegedly to be men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC came to arrest some of the members.

According to them, some of the legislators escaped on foot while others were quick to sneak out before the security operative sealed off the Assembly over alleged corruption.

There was no legislator to speak to as at press time, even as rumour has it that the EFCC has succeeded in arresting some politicians in the state.

However, situation around the Borno Assembly is said to be tensed .

Details shortly…

Source – Daily Post

Ribadu Visits Akande, May Defect To APC

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday held a private meeting with a former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande.

Ribadu, who contested the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, visited Akande at his residence in Ila-Orangun on Sunday evening and discussed with him for a few hours.

The visit had sparked rumour of the possibility of the defection of the former anti-graft boss to the ruling APC.

A highly-placed source in the APC in Osun State told our correspondent on Sunday that Ribadu visited Akande in company with the National Secretary of the APC, Mai Bala Buni.

The source, who preferred not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak for the party, said, “He was there on Sunday. I was told he (Ribadu) and the national secretary of the APC visited Chief Akande together.

“It is difficult to say if he is defecting to our party because I was not there but we won’t ask him not to come if he wants to come.”

The Director of Publicity and Strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, when contacted, said he heard that Ribadu visited Akande.

Odeyemi, however, berated the former anti-corruption agency boss for allegedly “going back and forth.”

He said, “I was told he visited Ila-Orangun but is Ila his local government, where he is supposed to announce his defection?

“Ribadu has never proved to be a loyal party man. He joined the PDP from the ACN and he is going back now. He is not somebody to be depended upon when it comes to politics.”

Ribadu was a governorship candidate of the PDP in Adamawa State in the April 11, 2015 election.

After the meeting, Ribadu said he was at Ila-Orangun to reconnect with Akande, who he described as a father and statesman.

“Baba Akande is a very important person to all of us. He is a father in the true sense of the word. From the day I decided to venture into politics, I have benefited from his guidance and wisdom.

“I have not seen Baba in a long time, so I feel this is a good time to come and greet him at home. Of course, I have never been far away from Baba’s fountain of wisdom. Party differences cannot be a reason to abandon old ties,” Ribadu said.

He eulogised Akande, a former Osun State governor, and the people of the community while recalling the overwhelming support and affection he was shown by the people of Osun State during his 2011 presidential bid.

Akande said Ribadu’s visit was not political.

“As an extended member of this community, I said he should come and greet you,” he said.

China’s Crack Down On Corruption! China’s Biggest Telcom Operator Boss Picked

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The chairman of one of China’s largest state-owned mobile operators, China Telecom, is being investigated by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog.

Chang Xiaobing is “suspected of serious violation of discipline”, according to a statement on the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection website. The executive was reported missing by local media on Sunday.

He is the latest in a series of high-profile executives to become embroiled in Beijing’s crackdown on corruption.

Correspondents say that Beijing’s crackdown on corruption is partly about using high profile cases to prove the government is serious about tackling corruption.

Abd’hakeem Yusuf: On Another Angle; As Nigeria Challenges Corruption

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

“One! Two! Three! Four!” Not until the count of four did the heavyweight champion, with codename: Corruption, stagger to his feet with every ounce of energy he could muster. The on looking crowd watched with as much surprise as glee, as the champion was battered as has never been seen in recent history. His opponent, codename: Nigeria, had asked for this rematch after a change of coach that has seen him now fighting without fear or favour. This is only the first round in what is a four-round bout, and as CORRUPTION got to his feet with a bruised face, the words of the new coach of his opponent rang through the arena where over 15 million fans are present; “Nigeria either kills you, or you’ll kill him”, they sang to the belt-holder. It was a fight with no limits.

In fairness, as at press time, the fight was still fairly even. NIGERIA had been throwing a barrage of jabs that were being easily dodged or absorbed by CORRUPTION, clearly the champion had not seen reason to go on the offensive and would rather go in on the defensive.

Pundits had said he was playing a smart card trying to wear his opponent out with judicial tactics before he went for the kill. Others had said such a move would be counter-productive as the challenger was not slowing down.

That last hook however was very fast and direct and must have carried some weight to it to make the champion fall to the ground, it was the kind of blow locals refer to as a “Dasuki”, but having now risen before the customary count to ten, it is expected that he will have to engage more seeing as there will be more of those hooks where they came from and he doesn’t look like he can sustain more of them.

As the champion stood still, stunned from his opponent’s newfound vigour, his few supporters in the arena are in full wailing mood. Some supporters are seen raising placards to the judges that say his challenger’s punches were selective in targeting only his face and ignoring his other body parts. In a swift response however, the coach of NIGERIA makes a fist-to-face gesture to his fighter. The message was obvious; stay on the face. The wailing fans were losing their voice gradually, to them, that “Dasuki” was an ominous sign.

With CORRUPTION struggling to see clearly through his battered and bruised face, his corner asks for a break, the deafening crowd however urged the challenger , who was pouncing around the ring with predatory poise, to take the opportunity and go for the kill with shouts of “NOW!NOW! NOW!” filling the air. Their anxiety was normal but his new coach, a retired legendary fighter himself, urged restraint and respect for the rules of the game. The crowd grudgingly accept, but still confidently sing on.

The heavyweight champion is cleaned up at his corner amidst much talk with his team. In a shocking admission, one of his team members who chose to remain anonymous had revealed that a major sponsor of theirs had been installing the coaches of their challenger who did their bidding by jeopardizing his abilities and so rendering their previous bouts lacking of freedom, fairness and credibility. He said maybe they had failed in not anticipating a tighter bout with the opponent’s new coach who was a fans favourite installed by fans themselves.

Back in the ring however, CORRUPTION gets cleaned up, and also gets some pep talk, and gets back to his feet, bouncing and punching the air with a much sterner look than earlier. His supporting wailers regain their voice with the sight of the champion looking ready to finally let loose.

In the other corner, the challenger takes a few gulps of water. As he looks to the crowd again, as if to say “I got this”, one could not but notice the wide grin on his face, he looks like he came prepared.

As the bell goes, the champion throws the first hook, but before we could see if he landed it, power at the arena goes off, much to the chagrin of the supporters. They were further enraged when it was announced that fuel was in short supply to power electricity generators, and so they would have to wait for public power to come back on. So many boos fill the crowd, with both ring corners been pelted with water sachets and plastic bottles.

As we await, the aged cynical supporter of the title challenger beside me shakes his head in disbelief before saying to me, “I knew it, every time this fight had been going so well, something came up to derail it, Every time” Just as he said it, power sprang back to life and the roof almost got blown over with excitement. I looked at the aged man and whispered in his ear, “Maybe not this time”.

Abd’hakeem Yusuf

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Tear Gas Released By Opposition In Kosovo Parliament

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria is hardly the only country with an occasionally lively Parliament as these pictures prove. Kosovo’s parliament is debating a bill to grant ethnic Serbs more power. Opposition members don’t approve of the deal so they set off tear gas in the parliament chambers in protest.

Glauk Konjufca, of the main opposition Self-Determination Movement Party, said party members would not allow sessions to be held until the government renounces its deal with Serbia and Montenegro.

In the past three months, the opposition has disrupted parliament with tear gas, pepper spray, whistles and water bottles. The ruling government has accused the opposition of trying to come to power by force.

Pope Humbles African Leaders With Mobile Car As Politicians Arrive In Luxurious Whips

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

In actions and words on his first tour of the world’s poorest continent, Pope Francis has sent a message to African leaders that they could do with less pomp and a bit more humility.

In a region where presidents speed past slums in cavalcades of luxury vehicles and the public complain about corruption in high office, the pope was cheered as he drove in a small Honda and told national leaders to act with integrity.

Kenya’s prolific Twitter users were quick to notice the contrast. “Thieving politicians arrive in their SUVs and Mercs to listen to @Pontifex who will arrive in a Honda. Shameless ‘leaders’,” wrote @Kunj_Shah.

Francis, who has spurned many of the institutional perks of the Vatican, shunned the armored cars with tinted glass driven by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his entourage.

Nor did he follow the example of visitors like U.S. President Barack Obama, who turned up in Nairobi in July for an official visit with an army of security personnel and a bullet-proof limousine, dubbed “the Beast”.

Instead, the pope waved to rapturous crowds from his white popemobile with open sides despite pouring rain and was ferried around Nairobi in the Honda that local media said cost a modest 1.5 million shillings ($14,700).

“The pope is down to earth,” said Lucy Musyoka, 48, who braved a downpour to attend open-air Mass in a sodden Nairobi University sports field. “It is good for our leaders to notice.”

“They like the wealth of the world but they can’t understand the people of our country,” she said. “It is vanity.”

Credit: Reuters

Adebayo Smith: CCT Trial; Between Advocates Of Justice And Judicial Exploiters

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The contentious drama displayed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on the 5th of November is yet another expensive embarrassment to the Nigerian judicial edifice. Seeing a set of lawyers led by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) walked out on a presiding judge is completely strange to us, as citizens. Although court sessions have always been an intellectual war-ground for legal practitioners, but it never seemed to have turned out this way where decorum is discarded, and rascality usurps the legal stage. The intellectual manner at which cases are argued at courts of all jurisdictions makes the legal profession a super-endearing one among others.

It is disheartening to note that we have found ourselves at a junction where citizens can no longer distinguish between true advocates of justice and judicial exploiters!

In the recent time, it would be recalled that the CCT had a pause on the trial of the Senate President, awaiting the decision of the Appeal Court, which later on 30 Oct 2015 affirmed the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to try Senator Saraki. Before the tribunal would resume back on Nov 6 nonetheless, Saraki had already filed another application for stay of proceedings before the Supreme Court, urging her to halt the proceedings of the CCT pending the time his appeal would be finally determined by the apex court.

In a situation whereby Saraki had, before the Supreme Court, already challenged that the Appeal Court equally erred by affirming the legality of the proceedings of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, relying strongly on the argument that the CCT sat with only two members instead of three (a process he established as contravention of the provision of Paragraph 15 (1) of the Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution), one would expect that the CCT would accord the Supreme Court similar honour it accorded the Appeal Court on the case.

Surprisingly on Thursday, the Umar Danladi-led Tribunal refused to embrace neither any antecedent nor tradition as the Tribunal insisted that the trial must continue, regardless of the appeal at the Supreme Court. This blatant contradiction can never be said unbiased, obviously, especially when the match-out of the Saraki legal team already received some validations by the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who said: “they have rights to do what they did.”

With a sincere appraisal of how Justice Danladi has, from the beginning, appeared desperate and opinionated on Saraki’s trial, plus how the initial Appeal judgement was allegedly arrested on October 19 before the eventual pronouncement on 30th of the same month, there’s no atom of doubt in the speculations that Saraki has fallen a victim of dubious process of justice. With the way things are moving in fact, it doesn’t look like the maxim of law that “every person remains innocent until proven guilty” is further welcome in the CCT/Saraki scenario. In as much as no one would seek that the CCT truncates the case notwithstanding, it is logical enough that Saraki should be allowed to enjoy his legal rights to the fullest.

Leaving Saraki out of the argument however, the public fracas between the ministers in the temple of ‘justice’ and the custodian of the same ‘justice’ is seriously bothering. It’s a daylight impunity how the CCT turned down the argument of the defence team, challenging the Tribunal and the federal government on the ill decision of daring and prejudicing the Supreme Court on the pending appeal case of the Senate President.

In summary of the whole game, what is deducible is that the on-going battle of superiority in the political realm has gotten itself translocated to the judiciary. As a diplomatic nation, the federal government has pivotal roles to play in ensuring that justice is not subverted. Most particularly, President Muhammadu Buahri’s administration needs to re-assure us that our democracy has not been subverted for tyranny.

Adebayo Smith writes from Lagos State.

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Gbolahan Yusuf: Federal Cabinet; The Technocrat/Politician Face Off And The Role Of The Constitution

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

As the sun rises and sets every other day in this month, the average political observer in the country right now takes note of how many days September has to elapse, seeing as President Buhari has assured that by the time September passes, the names of his cabinet members will be public knowledge. The level of anticipation attached to this ministerial list is one that has never been matched by any previous government in the land and this anxiety is simply borne out of the anxiety by the people to see the change they voted manifest in the choice of ministers. How does change come in the form of a list?

In the sixteen years that the PDP governed the country, ministerial appointments often served for political compensations, in what was a blatant abuse of administrative powers. Governors were saddled with the responsibility of nominating ministers from their state and often-times it was the loser in the party primaries, the son or daughter of the party godfather, or another loyalist of the governor/godfather, that got the nod. Many calls were made as to the point that ministerial positions were not political, and quite aptly were to have technocrats or experts manning the several portfolios rather than politicians. The previous administration however had many experts in its cabinet, but still had enough room to accommodate failed gubernatorial aspirants (one in particular resigned to contest for governor, lost primaries and got re-nominated for minister). When the cabinet list of President Muhammadu Buhari is made public, it is expected that PDP elements will again wail at the presence of politicians on the list rather than technocrats, as it was often criticized for in its sixteen years, but is there really a way out of this maze? Can the President really have a cabinet devoid of politicians?

When President Muhammadu Buhari said that “ministers are noisemakers, civil servants do the job”, he might have been wrong but in some cases, the assertion is correct. Afterall, the ministry is more important than the minister. One could conclude however, that with the President saying that ministers are noisemakers and with the delay in picking a cabinet, he has accepted that politicians will make up ministers, even if the always-cautious president is not too comfortable with the idea. The government at the center now is an APC government, ruling with the APC manifesto as drawn up by the party. To expect the government to work without such party members is an empty wish. The misconception has always been that a politician cannot be a technocrat. A quick look at the ruling party, and the caliber and background of contestants it has often put forward(the current Vice President is latest example) quite rubbishes that idea, which was inspired by the PDP who in all honesty, lacked such brilliance, or if they didn’t, rarely pushed them forward. It is also a constitutional requirement that every state in the country produces one minister, and this also plays a part in why politicians will never be excluded from ministerial lists. How does this constitutional requirement play a part?

Let us give it a try. Say we have 40 portfolios to fill, and we do not want any politician. The assignment gets quite tedious, maybe too tedious. We need to find an expert for every portfolio and this search will be easy; we are short of many things but great minds definitely will not be one. Where it gets tough is when the states of origin of the 40 nominees are drawn up and about 15 states are not represented while some states are over represented. What happens next is cancelling of some experts’ names because other experts share the same state to create room for other states from where, experts are maybe not known or the experts known have their field occupied by better candidates from another state. The web becomes so confusing in trying to pick experts while trying at the same time to be equal with the states to meet the constitutional requirement. You will never solve the conundrum perfectly. Therefore, the result is a mixture of political and technocratic members into the cabinet. How does this rub off on governance?

President Buhari in delaying the appointment of ministers has been able to put the incoming ministers in a tight corner seeing as he now has a firm understanding of the state of their ministries before they resume and it should lead to increased transparency and accountability on their part and ultimately, this is all that matters. The last administration witnessed a near assassination of our petroleum industry under a petroleum minister who had spent all of her career in the petroleum industry and there are many other examples. In essence, being a good technocrat does not guarantee being a good minister, neither does being a good politician. What does is the level of transparency and accountability brought to bear by the ministers. I think I’d make a good minister, because I’d work with experts anyway, and I will be transparent and abhor corruption in the system, that way I will be doing a lot more than those who looted the country dry. But what do I know? I am neither a politician nor a technocrat.

Gbolahan Yusuf

tweets via @G1gbolahan

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Don’t Accommodate Desperate Politicians, Tukur Tells Buhari

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Ahead of the unveiling of ministerial nominees, former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji

Bamanga Tukur has advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to accommodate desperate politicians in his cabinet.
Tukur gave the admonition yesterday during his 80th birthday celebration.

Read More: sunnewsonline

Court Jails Bus Conductor For Stealing Phone

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A 21-year-old bus conductor, Shedrach Ezekiel of Mararaba, Abuja, was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court for stealing a phone valued at N11,000.

The presiding judge, Albert Maga, convicted Ezekiel after he pleaded guilty for the offence of conspiracy and theft.

The convict, who pleaded for leniency, said, “I don’t have anybody here, I came to this town to look for job but it has not been easy for me.”

Maga said the accused had not been able to give tangible reasons to the court on why he should not be punished for the offence.

He said the sentence would serve as deterrent to other offenders of like minds.

“However, the prosecutor was unable to prove the charge of conspiracy as the other suspect was still at large.

“The court hereby discharge the accused on the charge of conspiracy and sentence him to 18 months imprisonment for the offence of theft,” Maga said.

The judge, however, gave the convict an option of N4,000 fine and also ordered him to pay the complainant N11,000 as compensation for the stolen phone.

Earlier the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, told the court that the convict was first arraigned on August 14 but remanded in custody for his accomplice to be arrested.

Adaji said Ezekiel stole a Nokia phone valued at N11,000 from the bag of one Luka Ruth at Brother Plaza, Mararaba.

He said when the convict was caught in the act, he threw the phone to his accomplice, who is now at large.

The prosecutor said the convict contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 287 of the Penal Code.

“All Corrupt Politicians Need To Be Probed”, Olisa Metuh Reminds FG

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Mr Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to probe every corrupt politician and not to be selective in the exercise.

“We expect the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government not to embark on selective probing of public office holders found wanting before or during his government,” he said.

Metu made the call during the State Congress of PDP in Lokoja. He urged the PDP members in the state to ensure that they were free of corruption in their dealings.

“If your hands are clean, you will not be afraid of any probe,” he said.

The publicity scribe described corruption as a crime against the common will of Nigerians.

“Corruption is a crime against the people, the nation and our Constitution,” he said.

He said every legitimate means should be deployed to fight public corruption and that the approach to eradicating corruption in Nigeria must be just.

The PDP spokesman urged the would-be-delegates in the state’s congress to elect those that would pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years.

Idris Wada of Kogi, said the congress provided members the opportunity to change the history of the party in the state for the better.

“I urge delegates to choose wisely,” the governor said.

Wada urged members to support the candidates that would make up the state’s executive council from the congress.

“Support any candidate that wins at the end of the congress. What we are doing here today will change the history of the PDP in our state,” he said.

Tension In Rivers As Unknown Gunmen Kill 8

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Unknown gunmen, weekend, shot eight people dead at Agbonchia market area, Eleme Local Government of Rivers State, according to eyewitnesses.

State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, however, said five people died, adding that a suspect had been arrested.

According to him, the killers stormed a place around a market where people wash motorcycles and opened fire on those around.

“The assailants came on motorcycles, opened fire at a motorcycles wash point at Agbonchia Eleme and fled. Five persons lost their lives.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the attack was related to cult activities. One suspect is right now undergoing interrogation, while moves to arrest other fleeing miscreants has begun.”

Witnesses said the assailants pretended as if they wanted to wash their bikes. “Suddenly, they started shooting at those around and when they were done, they hopped on their bike and fled,” the eyewitnesses said.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Command said it had uncovered plans by two rival political groups to protest, today, the Federal High Court ruling in Port Harcourt that nullified the May 23 elections of 22 local government executives.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Austin Agbonlahor in a statement in Port Harcourt, warned that the police will not allow any act that would cripple peace in the state, urging those aggrieved over the high court judgement to explore legal means to express their feelings. He appealed to the political class to allow peace reign, stressing that the state had seen enough of politically-motivated protests.

“Information at the disposal of Rivers State Police Command indicates plans by unknown individuals to hold a protest today in Port Harcourt metropolis and other locations in the state against the recent Federal High Court judgment nullifying the election of the chairmen of 22 councils and the swearing-in of caretaker committees in their stead.

“Similarly, the command has credible intelligence that the protesters will be countered by another group. This could lead to confrontation with unpleasant consequences.

“We are in a democracy, where the Rule of Law and the right to protest are legitimate rights and aspirations. However, these rights stop where those of the other person begins.

“We acknowledge that anyone can hold a legitimate and peaceful protest; it is also fair to admit that the protest planners would not be able to control the process as pro- and anti-forces, and hoodlums, could hijack it and turn the state into a theatre of violence.

“So we are advising that all aggrieved persons should sheathe their swords and toe the path of honour by resorting to legal means of seeking redress and justice,” Agbonlahor said.

NASS Crisis: Bukola Saraki Blocks Moves To Read APC’s Letter

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a move by some APC Senators to read the letter from the APC leadership recommending some senators to occupy specific principal officers of the senate. Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos East), who relied on Order 15 of the Senate Standing Order, urged that the President of the Senate should read on the floor of the chamber the letter from the party.

“Yesterday, most of the media houses carried a letter that was written by the chairman of our great party, the APC. “We were expecting that that letter which has been received in your office will be read in order to see to the resolution of the party’s leadership tussle,” he said.

He backed the decision of the party leadership to recommend persons to occupy the other positions
exclusively preserved for the party. Quoting from Order 28 (1) he read: “There shall be a Majority Leader of the Senate.

The Majority Leader shall be a senator nominated from the party with the highest number of senators. “I believe that that letter should have been read to the hearing of all senators here present. Perhaps that will be the solution to the leadership tussle in the Senate,” he said. The APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, had in a letter dated June 23, recommended Senators to occupy the other principal positions.

The letter recommended Ahmed Lawan as Senate Leader; George Akume, Deputy Senate Leader; Olusola Adeyeye as Chief Whip; and Abu Ibrahim as Deputy Whip. However, Ibn Na’Allah (APC-Kebbi South) immediately countered the point of order and explained that the nomination should be made “from” the party not made “by” the party.

“By the ordinary principles of interpretation of documents that have been agreed by parties, the ordinary letters and words used must be given their effective meaning. “Order 28 used ‘from’, not ‘by’. What this seeks to do is to deter the minority party from nominating the Majority Leader,” he said.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who presided over plenary, ruled Mr. Ashafa out of order and declined to read the said letter. He said: “I have listened to Senators Ashafa and Na’Allah. Going by the rules and what has been said earlier, I think I will just note what Senator Ashafa has said. “We will leave the matter as that and in that case, rule that out of order.” Another attempt was made by Kabir Marafa (APC-Zamfara Central) to question the June 9 election of Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu, but that too was ruled out of order by the President of the Senate.

Mr. Marafa, relying on Order 110 and 3 (e) (i), of the Senate Standing Order, sought to know which of the Order Books (2011 or 2015) was being used to coordinate the activities of the 8th Senate. He described the 2011 Senate Standing Order as ‘genuine and authentic’ thereby countering the authenticity of the Senate Standing Order 2015. “I am still referring to the events of the 9th of June, 2015, in this chamber. I have two Order Books and I am running into confusion, and I think there’s a need for the President to rule. “Which of the Order Books are we going to use to coordinate the activities of this Senate?’’ he asked.

Mr. Marafa insisted that there was a conflict in the two books as to the procedure that should be taken for election of presiding officers of the senate. Proffering explanation, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said that from 1999 till date, the Senate had come with its own rules. “There was Senate Rule of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and now 2015.

The reason is quite simple. “If you look at Section 64 of the 1999 Constitution it says that the Senate and House of Representatives shall each stand dissolved at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date of the first sitting of the house. “So, the implication is that the rule he was referring to ended with the Senate on the 6th of June,” he said. The President of the Senate thereafter ruled Mr. Marafa out of order.

Source: NAN

Buhari, APC Governors Wade Into NASS Leadership Crisis

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari and State governors under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resolved to wade into the lingering leadership crisis rocking the National Assembly, particularly the Senate.

Accordingly, the APC governors at a meeting with the President in Aso Rock late Tuesday night agreed to call Senators to order and caution them to treating the decisions of the party with disdain.

At the meeting which started at about 11.00pm and ended in the early hours of Wednesday resolved that the federal lawmakers must be reoriented on the need to respect party supremacy on any matter.

Imo State Governor and chairman of the APC governors’ forum, Rochas Okorocha who spoke to journalists after the meeting noted that the governors raised concern about rancor in the National Assembly,me specially the red chamber.

Okorocha said their meeting with the President was more reassuring, as it became clear to them that there was light at the dark end of the tunnel.

He added that they commended the President on efforts he had taken so far in addressing the issue of the country’s economy which was already tottering towards an eclipse before Buhari hit the ground running.

The forum’s chairman said, “With all these achievements and progress we are making, we are worried by the pockets of disagreements going on at the National Assembly. We have resolved that we came from a party and our party’s views should be respected.

“So, we feel that there is the need for us to invite our senators and look more into the matter and see how we can all make peace. We believe that everyone should respect our party from which we all came from and for that reason, we have decided that we are going to invite our senators and rub minds with them.

“We are saying that there should not be a winner-takes-it-all; that we should carry everybody along and accommodate others as suggested by the party.”

Also shedding more light on the meeting, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said the president and the governors specifically decided that all APC senators must as a matter of necessity learn to adopt the position of the party.

His words: “We were all elected on the platform of the party. We are not just a collection of individuals, we are a political party and when the party has spoken we must listen, otherwise if it was a game of individuals like golf then individuals can go their way.

“I think it is very clear at this point that the party has the responsibility to keep the system going, so we as progressive governors, we have listened to the President and we have discussed extensively and we are clear that the party’s position should be supported by the senators.

“This is the way it should be and we should start on a note of working closely. We as governors, we listen to the party, we expect our senators to also listen to the party. We are going to call them and tell them this is it and explain our reasons, it is about party supremacy.

16 APC governors attended the meeting.

Dogara Cautions Politicians Against Early Campaigns For 2019

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday urged politicians to avoid early campaign for positions in 2019. Rather, he advised that they should cooperate with the Buahri administration to move the country forward.

Dogara gave the advice when the Presidential Primaries Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), visited him in Abuja. “We have to rally round with all the tools we can get, to make this government a success.

“We cannot fail our people and that is why I fault those who are already having their eyes on 2019,” Dogara said.

He stressed that the preoccupation of the lawmakers and the party members should be the wellbeing of the country.

The Speaker reiterated his commitment to collaborate with President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to ensure the implementation of programmes that would affect the lives of Nigerians positively.

Earlier, the leader of the committee, Dr Alex Ideh, urged the speaker to carry every member of the House along in the business of the House. “Please reach out to Representative Femi Gbajabiamila and the party in the true spirit of humility and sportsmanship,” Ideh advised.

He said a strong cooperation between the National Assembly and the Presidency would speed up development in the country.

Credit: NAN

N8.64bn NASS Wardrobe Allowance: Abike Dabiri-Erewa Reacts…

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The former House of Reps member reacted to the controversial report on her twitter…

Buhari To Earn N14.4m Annual Salary + See What Others Will Earn

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

According to a report by Vanguard, this is what President Buhari, VP Osinbajo and other top govt officials will earn. Isn’t it too small though? Read full report from Vanguard below…

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, has reviewed the salaries of the President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives and Speakers in the 36 states of the federation, as well as well other legislators in both the National and State Assemblies among other public officers in the country. Based on the total package prepared by the RMAFC, President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s annual salary and allowances stand at N14, 4 million.

The break down shows that his Basic Salary is N 3,514,705 and Hardship allowance, N1,757,350:50. Constituency N 8,786,762:50 and Leave Allowance – N351, 470.
Buhari will receive a 400 per cent increase in his salary amounting N14. 058 million, as gratuity upon a successful completion of his tenure.

The Federal Government is to provide him with all his needs including vehicles, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants, entertainment, security, utility bills,newspapers, medical bills and clothings.
The president’s estacode and Duty Tour allowance were not specified.

However, the Vice President Osinbajo is to receive an annual Basic Salary of N2,064, 400; Hardship allowance- N1, 515, 786.25 and a Constituency Allowance of N7, 578, 931.25, bringing his total annual earning to N12.1million.

About 75 per cent of his annual basic salary would be paid for vehicles and their maintenance if he chooses to buy his vehicles and maintain them.

He is to receive another 25 per cent to hire his Personal Assistants; 75 per cent for domestic staff; 45 per cent for entertainment and 30 per cent for utility.

The VP is to receive a separate 20 per cent of his salary for monitoring; 200 per cent for accommodation and 300 per cent for furniture.

His duty Tour Allowance stands at N 35, 000 per night and an estacode of $900 per night.
He is to receive 10 per cent of his salary as Leave Allowance and 300 per cent as gratuity upon a successful completion of his tenure.

National Assembly
Also, following a downward review of salaries and allowances of both the National and State Assembly legislators, the Senate President will receive a basic annual salary of N2, 484, 242.50 and allowance of N6. 2 million, bringing the total to N8. 69Million. His monthly salary is about N724, 570. In addition, he collects 250 per cent of his Annual Salary as Constituency Allowance.

However, his vehicles and their maintenance are provided by the federal government. Similarly, his domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security responsibility, Legislative Aids, House Maintenance an, as well as a Special Adviser and a Personal Assistant are provided by the federal government.
Similarly Robe (clothing) and newspapers are provided for the Senate President.

The Deputy Senate President enjoys the same benefits except that his Annual Basic Salary stands at N 2,309,166.75, total allowance N 5,772,916.8, bringing total annual salary to 8,082,083.63 and a monthly pay of N 673,506.97

The Senate Majority Leader receives a salary of N12, 968, 960.

The Minority leader receives a total annual salary of N12, 908, 168. The Whip receives N12, 867 . The same applies to Committee Chairmen. Incidentally in the last administration almost all senators were chairmen of various committees.

The allowances received by the members of the upper legislative chamber is far more than their salaries indicate.
For instance, each senator receives 75 per cent of the annual salary as allowance for a vehicle and its maintenance.
They collect another 75 per cent of their salaries for domestic staff; 30 per cent for entertainment; 30 per cent for utilities; 25 per cent for robe (clothing); and 250 per cent as constituency allowance.

Others include, another allowance unspecified which stands at 53 per cent; newspapers 15 per cent; Personal Assistance, 24 per cent; and House maintenance 5 per cent.

House of Reps
At the House of Representatives, the Speaker receives a total annual salary of N 4,334,942.50.
Just like the Senate President, the federal government provides his vehicles and their maintenance .
His domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security responsibility, Legislative Aids, House Maintenance an, as well as a Special Adviser and a Personal Assistant are provided by the federal government.
Similarly Robe (clothing) and newspapers are provided for the Speaker by the Federal Government.
He receives 75 per cent of his salary as constituency allowance.

The Deputy speaker whose annual salary stands at 4,002,309.94 enjoys similar benefits as the speaker.
The Majority Leader of the House, the Minority Leader, the Chief Whip and Chairmen of Committees receive annual salaries of N 6, 352,680.00.
In addition, they receive 50 per cent of their salaries as Vehicle and Maintenance allowance; another 50 per cent for domestic staff; 10 per cent for utilities and another 10 per cent for House maintenance.

House of Assembly
Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly enjoy all the benefits as their federal counterpart where virtually all they need are provided with public funds. However, their annual salaries stand at N 2,049,843.75 and a Constituency Allowance of N25 per cent of their Annual Salaries.

Deputy Speaker receives N 1,807,478.13 and 25 per cent of same as constituency allowance.
Members at the House of Assemblies receive annual salaries of N 2,473,866.25.
In addition, they receive 20 per cent for vehicles; 25 per cent for domestic staff, 10 per cent for utilities; 25 per cent each for robe, constituency , Personal Assistant and 5 per cent for newspapers.

The decision to review the current salaries and allowances of the nations’ public office holders received approval of many members of the public who had complained that the Nigerian law makers were about the highest paid in the world. These are the official earnings of these political office holders. But their spoils of office amount to several millions and even billions of naira in recent past.

Source: Vanguard

How Ribadu Was Poisoned – Obasanjo

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that the ex-chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was once poisoned in the course of his duties as anti-corruption czar.malam_nuhu_ribadu_11
Obasanjo disclosed this at an international forum on Third Tana High Level Forum on Security in Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He also revealed that Ribadu created enemies for him because of the ruthlessness with which he carried out his responsibilities of tackling corruption in Nigeria.

Obasanjo, who spoke from the floor following a presentation on Illicit Financial Flow and Governance of Natural Resources made by Ribadu, affirmed that he had known from experience that
the fight against corruption attracts a lot of enemies.

The former president declared that he has no fear of anyone still living in Nigeria, adding, “it is rather them that fear me.”
Saying that Ribadu took on a lot of highly connected persons in his fight against corruption, Obasanjo said that the former anti-corruption chief was once poisoned, causing a scare among concerned quarters.

“It was a matter of life and death,” the former president said, though further details of the incident were not given.

Obasanjo said that once Ribadu was appointed, he gave him a free hand and that Ribadu investigated him, his late wife and several persons close to him at that time.

He also narrated a story of how a serving minister, who was his senior in secondary school, was indicted and prosecuted by the EFCC, adding that when the minister was found wanting, “there was no issue of seniority again.”

On leadership, Obasanjo, who is also the chairperson of the Tana Forum, re-echoed Ribadu’s submission that at the centre of anti-corruption fight there was the need for willing political leadership at the highest level.

He, however, added that the leader also needs relevant legislations to work with, narrating his experience with the bill establishing ICPC which, he said, was whittled down by lawmakers, who felt they could be victims of the law.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, thanked Ribadu for his presentation, which, he said, highlighted many good things about Nigeria different from what is portrayed in the media.

In his presentation, Ribadu offered measures African countries can take to tackle illicit financial flow and repatriate money already illegally taken out of the African countries.

He said that what Africa needs is honest and committed leaders who will set examples with themselves by eschewing corruption and close avenues of illicit financial flow.

According to him, it is the seriousness and commitment showed by the political leadership that will convince other foreign countries to work with them towards recovering looted monies stashed abroad.

Ribadu also emphasised the need for concerted effort among countries and a synergy between law enforcement agencies so that looters could be caught.

Pres. Buhari Is A Leader, Not A Politician – Atiku

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

For almost an hour penultimate Thursday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar spoke to LEADERSHIP’s KUNLE SOMORIN and AUWAL SA’ID MU’AZU. In a very frank manner, he bared his mind on topical national issues, including calls for probe of the government he served, his participation in the APC presidential primaries, his political struggles and the PDP challenge, among other sundry issues

We just had an election which has been widely regarded as the real transition, because an opposition party has taken over from the ruling party. How do you see it?

Well, I will disagree with you because the real transition to democracy was when the military got out of power and we had a democratically elected government. The fact that in about 16 years or so we now have an opposition party taking over from a ruling party should not be seen as the real transition to democracy. For sure, it is healthy for our democratic process but certainly I will disagree with you.

Do you see the new PDP which you led as being critically instrumental to this change that we now have?

Of course, many groups were instrumental to this change because it required the coming together of political parties to form this viable opposition and alternative to the PDP. So, everybody played a role.

There are names that have been mentioned as those who played a great role to bring about this change. What role do you think the Yar’Adua group played in bringing about this change?

The Yar’Adua political group is almost in every political party in this country; even Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was part of the Yar’Adua political group. So, whichever way you look at it, coming from the PDP, I was part of the Yar’Adua political group. Asiwaju from AD, AC and then ACN, I mean we scattered kind of but it is not surprising that we are all regrouping into one big political family.

People still see the hand of Yar’Adua in the president’s emergence because he was a classmate of the president elect. Was that a consideration in your support for him even after the primaries?

No, the consideration was the fact that I really wanted to see a change of government. I wanted to see a viable opposition and my struggle for a viable opposition started even when I was in the PDP because this is what I wanted to see.

You know since the time I joined politics, I have always been an advocate for a two-party system and this is really what I will want to see for the country.

Are we running a two-Party system?

De facto two party system, tell me which party again apart from PDP and APC.

But we have APGA with a sitting governor…

APGA, I believe, is part of the PDP and sooner than later, they will join PDP. They worked with the PDP in the last election. So I think what is likely to emerge is that after this transition, since the PDP is reorganising itself, it’s most likely that APGA and Labour Party will join PDP to make it a stronger.

Looking at the mass defection from the PDP to APC after the elections there is the fear that the PDP might fizzle out…

No, no, no.

What kind of opposition do you think PDP will present?

I will like to see a very viable opposition, so that Nigerians can have a choice. If you don’t like the performance of APC, you vote PDP and vice versa.

So it is a word of caution for even your party?

Oh yes. It’s very exciting for me. But we should not take the electorate for granted.

You have always reinvented yourself. No matter how tight the system is, you manouvre and bounce back. What is your staying power?

It’s just because I enjoy what I am doing.

The public will really like to know because people always wonder, what keeps you going?

Why should they wonder, I am still active and I am still in politics. And you never write off a politician except he decides to write himself off. Any politician who does not reinvent himself has, maybe, decided to go on retirement and I have not yet decided to go on retirement.

You have no doubt carved a niche for yourself in Nigerian politics and in the build up to the 2015 polls, you came across as one of the most prepared presidential aspirants. It wasn’t your first outing. What has been the driving force?

It’s because whatever I set my mind to do, I like doing it very well and I like preparing to do it well. This is the difference between me and others.

What was your immediate reaction to the primaries after the announcement of the results?

To be honest, my immediate reaction was that I recalled Jos in 1993. Some people didn’t want me to emerge and I did not emerge. But they did not stop me from my destination. In 1998, six years later, I became what they did not want me to become. And when the results were announced I said to myself that it was just a repeat of what happened in Jos and I clapped.

Was the outcome surprising or shocking to you?

Absolutely not.

That brings back the memories of 1993 to me. Between this election and that of 1993 can you draw a parallel?

Well, I will compare them in the sense that the political chess game that took place in Jos and what happened now is almost the same. And that is why I said, if you are destined to be something, nobody will stop you. You will still get there no matter how people try to stop you from getting there.

You seem to be a strong believer in fate, does that mean that no matter how one prepares, preparation alone cannot take one to his goals?

No, not even in business. I have been in business for over three decades now so I can tell you that. There are some businesses that if I touch, I will lose money and there are some businesses that will yield profit.

How do you know the ones that will bring money and those that will not?

Don’t worry (laughs), it’s some trade secret.

When the result of the March 28 presidential election was finally announced on April 1, many people especially former President Goodluck Jonathan’s supporters felt it was a conspiracy between the North and the South West that played out and not that people didn’t want Jonathan? Was there any conspiracy?

No. There was no conspiracy as such. If you look at the votes, you will find out that 82 per cent of President Buhari’s votes came from the North and about 18 per cent from the rest of the country. So I don’t think it is a conspiracy.

Do you think it was politically correct for the South East and South South to choose to ignore the wind of change that was blowing across the country?

No. Again you are wrong. It’s a question of choice. You don’t expect Buhari to win in the South-South because President Jonathan comes from there. And by reason of neighbourliness, the South East is also close to the South South. So, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Why do you think they were wrong? Don’t they have a right to their political positions? Why should we all move towards the same direction? Then, it will not be healthy for this country or our democracy.

There is the fear that now that the South-South and South-East are in the opposition, they may be marginalised in the leadership scheme in the 8th National Assembly. With this gap created in the political equation, what sort of National legislature are we likely to see?

But they have their representatives in the PDP. They have chosen to be in the opposition, so they will be in the opposition. At some point, we were in the opposition too. There is nothing unusual or strange there in a democracy.

When the 2015 election results were trickling in, there was some kind of tension in the land. As a stakeholder, what was your feeling at that time and were you expecting the results to come the way they did?

Well, I expected the results to come out the way they came t. Yes, I agree that before the elections, there was a lot of tension, there were concerns because before the election, the campaigns were very unhealthy, there was too much uncertainty in the air and that led to a lot of apprehension, fear and anxiety but that did not change my expectation about the results that came out. I knew APC was going to swing the elections.

Now that there are tales of empty treasuries, how will your party tackle the problem of accumulated debts, vis-à-vis the delivery of the campaign promises it made?

If you look at our current position, especially, the price of crude, we were worse off in 1999 than today. In 1999 when we came in, the price of crude was just about 20 dollars. So, all that is required of President Buhari is prudent management of our resources.

Of course, I will caution Nigerians that they should not expect miracles overnight but for sure, the government will try to make sure that the resources are very well managed and that the dividends of democracy trickle down to the lowest person.

We have pledged to fight corruption which is one of the most fundamental problems we have. It breeds waste of resources and anti-development. I believe that in a few months’ time, people will begin to see the difference. People are already adjusting themselves because they know what is going to come.

The issue of corruption has become endemic and you are one of those who have been accused severally by Nigerians, who are already calling for the probe of the outgoing administration. What do you make of President Jonathan’s statement that “if you want to probe me, it’s fine but probe others too?”

It was an unnecessary statement.

Do you think he (Jonathan) is afraid of probe or better still, are you afraid of probe?

Even the government I served probed me. So, the issue of me being scared of being probed is not there.

Many have described President Buhari as the Abraham Lincoln of our time; do you see any similarities in their political sojourn?

Well, I don’t understand the similarities they are trying to draw because Abraham Lincoln contested about 12 times and Buhari contested for three times and won on the fourth. Is it the age?

Maybe the perseverance…

Yes, he may have persevered, but he is still short of Abraham Lincoln. However, I commend his perseverance and courage to continue.

What is your relationship and personal knowledge of the president?

I have known him for a very long time now. When he was head of state during the military administration, I was still in the Federal Civil Service and I implemented some of his policies at that time as a civil servant. Since then, I have known him as an astute leader and a tough one for that matter and I think we should brace up for that kind of tough leadership.

Tough leadership, but politicians may not find that funny?

Well the point is that he is a leader, he may not be a politician but certainly he is a good leader and he can lead well. And that is all that you are looking for in politics.

You are a politician, any difference between you and him?

Quite a lot!

What are these differences?

As a politician, I may see things in different perspectives from him and vice versa.

Is there anything that can sway you from playing politics, and what are those things?

Maybe when I am old and not able to run around, then I will retire from politics.

Away from politics, how do you relax?

I go on vacations a lot; I love travelling, reading and swimming.

Talking sports, football has become a game for both the high and low, do you watch football?

Yes, I enjoy football quite a lot.

Do you have a team you support?

Yes, I have been a fan of Arsenal Football Club for more than 20 years now.

Were you impressed with the performance of Arsenal in the just concluded season?

Well, in the last couple of seasons, the team has not been at its peak but that is how sports are. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t and you drop to certain positions, the most important thing is for one to remain consistent and not try to move from one winning team to another just because they are wining, that is if you are a real fan.

You have had both high and low points in your career, which do upou consider the highest and lowest?

The high point of my career was when I was the Vice President; I was in charge of the economy. I enjoyed how I liberalised and opened up the economy to the private sector. My lowest point was when I saw the PDP disintegrating. I was really sorry for myself.

Why were you sorry?

It’s because when we formed the PDP, we formed it with good intentions to transform this country but overtime, most of the founding fathers were relegated to the background, some moved out of the party and instead of them to allow orderly generational shift of leadership from one generation to the other as it happens in matured democracies, they couldn’t wait.

Do you see the party bouncing back?

Yes, it’s quite possible. I want it to bounce back because I am scared of a one-party system. I want two parties that are almost at par with each other, so that they can give Nigerians a choice every time elections are held. If one party does not fulfill the promises it made to be voted into office, then Nigerians should be able to look towards the other party for hope. That is the kind political arrangement I hope to see in this country; that is the best.

Are you likely to be seen mounting the soapbox again?

I am a politician and as long as I am a politician, I will mount the soapbox and talk. Either I will be talking for somebody or for myself. Am I not talking for myself now?

What do you consider as the best legacy that you have bequeathed this country in your almost 40 years of service?

The best legacy is what I have been able to do for my immediate community in the area of education and job creation; I want to believe that is my best legacy so far.

Are you fulfilled?

Not quite, I am still moving on

At what point will you be fulfilled?

At the point when I will see that there is relative prosperity. You see the kind of poverty that I see when I go to the village worries me a lot.

What is your take on the crisis of Boko Haram which is ravaging your region, the North East?

You know I have always spoken strongly about the inability of government to contain this insurgency. It is unbelievable that a country as powerful as Nigeria that is rich in all manner of resources will allow such insurgency to fester for five years.

What is your charge to Nigerians as the APC-led government takes over?

I will appeal with Nigerians to give APC a chance and like I said before, they should not expect miracles overnight because it’s going to be a very daunting task since the APC government is taking over with such huge challenges all over the country. I will appeal to Nigerians to give APC a chance.

EFCC Dismisses Claims Of Non-Performance

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria ?has described claims in some sections of the media that the commission has not fared well in over 11 years of its existence as false and misleading.

Briefing reporters in Abuja on Monday, the ?spokesman for the commission, Mr Wilson Uwajaren, said the anti-graft agency had recovered a total of 65 billion Naira between 2012 and 2014.

He said the commission also secured several other convictions within the period, contrary to claims that the commission had performed poorly.

Mr Uwajaren stressed that the campaign by one Juliet Ibekaku was malicious and an attempt to run down the commission.

Soldiers Must Give Civilians The Chance To Rule – Kukah

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Rev. Mathew Kukah, has commended the military for allowing the nation’s democracy to go grow.

He made the commendation on Friday in Abuja at the presentation and official launching of a book entitled “Destiny Calling My Name’’ the biography of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

The book was written by Prince Dotun Oyelade.

Kukah, who chaired the occasion, described the current transition from one government to another as `a great moment’ for the country.

He said: “This is a great moment for Nigeria’s democracy; we have made progress in our country, the military is truly subordinate to civilian administration at this moment.

“Nigeria is indeed truly in democracy and if you were ever in doubt look no further,

“I believe that most Nigerians must be very pleased that when it mattered, our military displayed a high sense of responsibility”.

Kukah commended Badeh for assuring Nigerians of the professionalism and democratic credentials of the military.

He however urged serving and retired military generals to stay away from the politics of the country.

He said that the military had taken away several years of the nation’s democracy and should allow civilians to grow the country’s democracy.

He said: “You know that the military has already taken away most of our years in this democracy, and as you have seen, they are still not yet through with us.

“After General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Muhammadu Buhari, how many more generals do you want to have as Presidents? Will civilians grow this democracy or will it be the duty of soldiers?

“My people, we must make progress and our democracy will grow. This is not anti-military rally but please soldiers, retired and serving, give us civilians the chance to rule.

“Let those soldiers who have retired enjoy the benefit of their retirement and let the soldiers who are serving remain in the military and do very well what they set out to do when they joined the military”.

Kukah said the book was a story of what God could do and traced Badeh’s journey from a village school through the secondary school to Defence Academy to his current position.

The Bishop commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the courage to accept defeat in the last elections.

The Guest of Honour, Prof. Jerry Gana, who commended Jonathan for his political maturity, said the president’s acceptance of defeat saved Nigeria from avoidable crisis.

He commended Badeh for the success made so far by the military in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

In his remark, the CDS said he was fulfilled having served for many years in the military.

(NAN)

Okorocha Asks Political Office Holders To Cut Cost Of Governance

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State Governor has urged all political office holders elected or appointed to show the spirit of sacrifice and cut down on the cost of governance, due to the dwindling economic situation that is presently affecting the nation.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, on Friday, at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, the Imo State capital, told reporters that “Nigeria is in one of its worst periods in the economic history of the nation”.

He cautioned that all political office holders must sacrifice a lot of their luxury for the good of the masses.

The Governor also reminded reporters that May 29 is fast approaching, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) would take over government with high expectations.

He further assured Nigerians that the APC Government, led by General Mohammodu Buhari, would not fail its people, pledging that the administration would do its best to tackle corruption and deliver the well-deserved dividends of democracy.

Governor Okorocha, however, reiterated that his vision of providing job opportunities for the youths was still utmost in his heart in the next four years of his administration in Imo State.

He also vowed that his government would hit the ground running, after the May 29 inauguration.

Why I’m Fighting The Elite – Ben-Murray-Bruce

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Media mogul and senator-elect, Ben Murray Bruce has reveled why he is fighting the elite.In an interview with Vanguard, he said

“I am fighting against the elite. Definitely, I am fighting them. When they drink that champagne that can educate a child, they should know that I am fighting them. You don’t fly a first class in government while in your private life, you fly economy. I am totally against their lifestyles.“We need to enact laws that favour the masses. The biggest problem in Nigeria today is that our consumption is on the high while production is low. Our leaders in APC, PDP, Labour, APGA and others are all guilty of one thing, which is consuming the resources of the majority of Nigerians.Imagine a situation where governors fly private jets, commissioners drive a twenty million naira car. Commissioners flying first class, living like kings while the state cannot pay salary of its workers. If a commissioner can have three or four policemen around him, who is policing the poor where they are being raped, maimed, robbed and killed?The question is what do we have for the masses? There are one hundred million people living on two dollars a day, in some places, the unemployment rate is 80 0r 90% and then you have governors living a champagne life. Small wonders in some places, thieves steal N50, N200, fishing nets and destroy the lives of the people”.

Buhari Should Fix Refineries To End Scarcity – Lawmaker-Elect

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A newly elected member of the Niger House of Assembly, Malik Madaki, on Monday urged the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration to repair the refineries in order to check the perennial scarcity of petroleum products in the country.

Madaki, who was elected to represent Bosso constituency on the platform of the APC, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The lawmaker, who expressed concern over the scarcity of petroleum products across the country, said Nigerians were undergoing untold hardship as a result of the development.

He said the opportunity to benefit from the nation’s oil resources would continue to elude majority of Nigerians unless corruption in the sector was addressed.

Madaki alleged that a cartel involved in the oil sector was opposed to the optimum performance of the refineries.

“For allowing that to continue, there is no way we can have stable petrol, gas as well as kerosene supplies and the masses will continue to experience this hardship.

“This cartel has continually discouraged the Federal Government from putting the refineries in order.

“The president-elect must as a matter of national survival tackle this mess by ensuring that the four refineries are made to work at their optimal capacities,” Madaki said.

NAN reports that long queues have become a common sight in many filling stations due to the acute shortage of petrol across the country.

‘Looters’ Should be Prevented From Visiting Buhari – CNPP

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has faulted the visits of those it termed ‘corrupt Nigerians’ to the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, saying the trend could scuttle the war on corruption by the incoming administration.

The group also asked Mr. Buhari to work fast with the National Assembly to not only enact a law to protect whistle blowers, but also to work expeditiously on the imperative to cut the cost of governance across the board.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Osita Okechukwu, on Sunday, the CNPP said the alleged corrupt Nigerians should be barred from further visiting the president-elect because they were the same people that allegedly misled the outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan.

“We are re-stating our position, because we have noticed some looters of our commonwealth milling around the Defence House, the temporary office of president-elect”, it said.

“To compound matters, pundits are pushing the narrative that GMB should let bye-gone be bye-gone and move on, accommodate all in his cabinet, hence a unity government. The unity government if necessary should be devoid of corrupt men.

“Whereas, courtesy demands that the good, bad and ugly will pay courtesy call on the president-elect; however it is our considered view that some of these looters should be kept at bay.

“These are the same ignoble men who wittingly misled President Goodluck Jonathan, who grow mega-rich, widen the inequality in the land and pushed the greatest number to abject poverty”.

Stating that the extermination of corruption and security form the broad social contract the president-elect made with Nigerians, the group said it takes “solace on the truism that GMB cannot risk dashing the hopes of Nigerians”.

It said that, “history posits that the past must be probed in order to not only to recover huge billions stolen from our commonwealth; but to also act as deterrent to others, who are lurking in the wings to continue the pervasive corruption in the land”.

While throwing its weight behind the plan by Mr. Buhari to inaugurate a National Council on Procurement, the CNPP proposed that the headship and membership of the Council be amended before composition.

It said recent experience showed that the absolute powers wielded by the out-going Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala “allegedly corrupted her absolutely and made a mess of the two regimes she served in the last decade”.

It stated, “The National Council on Procurement should be headed by those whom the president-elect has implicit confidence on, manning no ministry, department or agency, except the Council. There should no distraction”.

The CNPP also said it was in support of Mr. Buhari’s decision not to endorse any of those aspiring to leadership positions of the National Assembly.

“We acclaim his stand-point that he is not endorsing anybody for the principal offices of the National Assembly – viz Senate President, Speaker et al. Endorsement is antithetical to the growth of democracy and distorted our parliamentary democratic practice since our return to civil rule”.

‘The Hottest Place In Hell Should Be Reserved For Governors’ – Ben Bruce Speaks Up

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Ben Murray-Bruce does not hide from the spotlight as he recently took to his social media platform to voice his opinion on the excesses of the present administration and its lawmakers.

Mr Bruce took to his Twitter handle to direct his posts at the executives and legislative arms of the government.

Reactions have trailed Senator-elect of Bayelsa East Senatorial District in Bayelsa state and Chairman of the ever-expanding Silverbird Group’s tweets centering on good governance and public sector accountability.

Since the former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority joined Twitter he has dived right into political matters, taking on issues that have been contentious in the National Assembly, such as pay-cuts for legislators, housing for government officials, and banning of imported products to encourage local enterprise.

His tweets come at an interesting time. President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari is known for his tough anti-corruption stance and is widely expected to cut the cost of government.

Notable figures such as Sen. Bukola Saraki and others have admitted to the need to cut the cost of running the National Assembly.

According to civic responsibility start-up Budget, the National Assembly budget is higher than that of 21 states in Nigeria.

This is obviously outrageous and Mr Bruce seems to be unhappy about it.

Still, his words have not come without criticism as many twitter users also reacted and faulting his sudden outburst and attacks on government officials.

Twitter users bemoaned his silence throughout the President Goodluck Jonathan administration while other questioned his effort and dedication during his time as the Director-General of NTA. Still others questioned his ability to champion the causes he has mentioned and the wisdom of some of the policy ideas he has advocated, such as protectionism for products manufactured in Nigeria.

Come May 29th, Nigerians will have an opportunity to hold Sen. Murray-Bruce and the Buhari-led executive government to account for the promises made to Nigerians during their campaigns.

Over the past few days the senator-elect has been going on about how public funds are being wasted by politicians in the country, calling for measures to be taken to curb this

Gen. Buhari Blames Slow Growth Of Oil & Gas Sector On Politicians

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has blamed politicians for the slow rate of development in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

He said this when he received a delegation from Total Oil Exploration and Production Group who were on a congratulatory visit.

Buhari said the slow progress recorded in the development of the country’s gas production and distribution infrastructure was due to sabotage by politicians and inefficiency by the officials.

The Chief Executive Officer of Total Group, Mr. Patrick Pouyanne, however, assured that his company was doing its best to assuage the pains of Nigerians with the ongoing fuel scarcity. It has therefore directed its downstream subsidiary to ensure all-round supply of petroleum product to its 500 distribution outlets throughout the country.

“We have discussed and I think some solutions are being implemented. Our downstream subsidiary, Total Nigeria Plc, is doing its best in order to supply its 500 outstations throughout the country with fuel to help check the scarcity.

“Nigeria is an important nation in our business outlook. It presently accounts for over 10 per cent of Total Group’s investment worldwide. We are not just involved in the Upstream and natural gas production, but in the downstream operations.

“We are deeply concerned on the current challenges being witnessed in Nigeria and global oil market,” he said.

It Is Time To Make More Sacrifices, Buhari Tells Politicians

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the time had come to make more sacrifices and deliver on the promises made to the electorate.

Buhari said this when a delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians from Kogi and Kwara states paid him a courtesy visit at the party presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja. He said it was time to restore security and confidence in the people who placed their trust in the party by voting its candidates at various levels.

He added that “I want to appeal to you to work with your colleagues across the country to ensure that we maintain and sustain this unexpected gains in the best interest of our country.

“It is time to make a lot more sacrifices. You are the real foot soldiers and you have the constituencies in your hands.”

Buhari then urged those who won election on the platform of the APC at different levels to ensure that they made impact on the electorate. He said “let us make sacrifices and deliver on what we promised the people to make our jobs as members of the executive much easier.

“People should feel secure in Nigeria. Let us give confidence to the people who voted us in no matter who you are, you should get justice.

“Whatever we can do in terms of social services, healthcare and security should be done, that is all they need.”

The president-elect expressed gratitude to the electorate in the constituencies as he recalled the political structures which collapsed into forming the APC on the day he visited the area. Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed of Kwara, who led his state’s APC delegation, pledged allegiance to Buhari’s government in his congratulatory message. He recalled that the North-Central played a major role in ensuring that Buhari got block votes from the region in the March 28 elections.

Former Kogi Governor, Abubakar Audu, who led the Kogi delegation, assured Buhari of 100 per cent support as the state was now an “APC stronghold”. Audu said should Buhari wish to stay in office beyond 2019, the state would spearhead his campaigns.

Credit: NAN

Group Offers Incoming Buhari Govt Free Legal Service In Prosecuting Corrupt Officials

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A group, Progressive Lawyers Forum, has offered free legal services to all government agencies responsible for fighting corruption under the incoming Buhari administration.

Speaking Thursday at a media briefing, the group’s National Coordinator, Silas Onu, said the pro-bono service will be for government agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption against public officials, past and present.

“To demonstrate our commitment to support the fight against corruption, we have resolved to offer pro-bono legal services to all government agencies,” he said.

He said the agencies concerned can take advantage of the offer to cut down the high cost of prosecuting corrupt persons.

“There are too many thieves that need to be made an example for prospective ones to learn from, therefore the cases on corruption may overwhelm the internal lawyers of these agencies,” Mr. Onu said.

Mr. Onu said the group agreed with the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on the need to halt corruption.

The group called for the removal of constitutional immunity presently protecting sitting governors and presidents from facing corruption charges.

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Gov. Aliyu Encourages PDP Members: Don’t Think You Have Failed

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu who would be leaving office on May 29th, has encouraged PDP party chieftains and members not to think they have failed woefully in the past general elections, assuring them that they are not failures and neither is the party dead. Aliyu says the party will soon call for a meeting from the federal to state level to strategize for 2019.

“Our party is not dead. When all these cools down, we will properly re-organise to bring PDP back to its formidable political strength. Many things have happened and this is not the time for us to apportion blame.

“I therefore hope that when we will have to re-organise our party, we would add ideology to what we have. Let me urge you to stop thinking you have failed. In terms of elections, particularly the time we found ourselves, it went beyond the limits of individual effort,” he said, when the Umar Nasko Campaign Organization visited him today at the Government house in Minna.

Waves Of Defection To APC Not Good For Nigeria’s Democracy By Olawale Rotimi

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Since the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate emerged victorious at the March 28th Presidential election in Nigeria, sudden defection started hitting political parties who lost at the presidential polls, particularly, the outgoing ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party. Prior to victory of APC at the presidential polls, there was an outburst of hate, provocative and divisive commentaries from vibrant members of the People’sDemocratic Party against the APC. However, it’s shocking and unfortunate that these vibrant members of the PDP have rushed to APC after the former suffered defeat at the polls.

This limits Nigeria’s political participation to a matter of individual’s quick interest and not tenable ideology capable of reforming a society. Political parties are indispensible in democracy; however, political parties are primarily designed to function as an ideological movement. Thus, the membership of a political party shouldn’t be determined by the party’s victory or defeat, but the founding ideologies of such party which form the tenets of the party. Unfortunately, the case in Nigeria reflects the opposite. It’s alarming to note that more big wigs of the People’s Democratic Party who worked seriously for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan defected to the All Progressive Congress less than two weeks after PDP suffered defeat.

There have been various expedient arguments for and against this development but none seem to be considering the damage the defection will do to Nigeria’s democracy. The desperate and swift defection of PDP members to APC will weaken opposition strength in Nigeria, leaving APC as the dominant party, unchecked by opposition. The non-existence of a vibrant opposition in a democracy leaves the ruling party unchecked. No real democracy without opposition. The lack of vibrant opposition denies the people of their political voices. This has led to violence in some nations of the world including Egypt and Syria. For emerging democracies around the world, the opposition has been playing an increasingly important role in shaping policy agenda and fighting corruption.

The role played by APC while an opposition party cannot be undermined in the history of Nigeria’s democracy. Its vibrancy checked the ruling party, educated and made the people bold to speak about government activities through various media. Even though, the PDP mounted some restrictions against the APC, the party succeeded in gaining the masses’ confidence through its activeness. After elections, politicians who are defeated generally tend to disappear and are hardly seen again until next poll. In other case, the defeated politicians defect to the ruling party. The latter is what we are witnessing today in Nigeria, which is systematically turning the nation into a one party state.

Since opposition holds the incumbent government accountable for its commissions and omissions, and serves as watchdog to ensure the government acts within the scope of the law, pointing out corruption and nepotism cases, the absence of a vibrant opposition in Nigeria implies that the incumbent will be unchecked, therefore, finds it easy to commit and omit anything that will serve its interest, even when it is against the wish of the people. To this end, decamping to APC because the party won the presidential polls and it could serve as platform to arrive at some selfish ends is condemnable; emptying the opposition party weakens the ability to check the incumbent government and makes the ruling party a sort of “overlord” over the people.

—
Olawale Rotimi
@RotimiLawale

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Jonathan Warns Politicians Against Instigating Crisis

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday warned politicians against instigating crisis in the country, saying that the Federal Government will not condone any attempt to foment trouble while pursuing their personal ambitions.

The president issued the warning through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, at a news briefing with State House correspondents in Abuja.

Mr. Jonathan also called on all those who, through their actions and utterances, had been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections, to cease and desist from such actions.

According to him, such acts detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria.

“The Federal Government will not condone any attempt to instigate a crisis in any part of the country in furtherance of personal political ambitions.

“President Jonathan assures all Nigerians that his administration remains fully committed to national progress and the entrenchment of the best values of democracy for the good of all Nigerians.

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2015 Elections: T.B. Joshua Sees Death Of A Prominent Politician?

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The general overseer of the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), Prophet T.B. Joshua, has revealed some things that will happen soon following the elections in Nigeria.

Speaking to his congregation on Sunday, March 29, 2015, the prophet said, he is seeing the death of a prominent politician due to ‘heated up’ politics in the wake of the closely fought Nigerian elections.

“I am seeing Nigerians heating up politics.

“They will heat up politics and a great man among the politicians will likely lose his life… I am seeing this kind of thing happening in the night.

“Wednesday and Thursday of this coming week and next week, make sure you fast and pray.”

Joshua stated this just before the close of his church service at 7pm in a message broadcast live via Christian television station Emmanuel TV.

He urged members of his congregation to remain prayerful on those specified days so as to save souls.

Earlier in the service, the cleric reminded congregants of a prophetic message he had shared last year concerning a ‘dark cloud’ hovering over Nigeria. He said God is beginning to remove the cloud.

Explaining what the ‘cloud’ represented, Joshua stated that it meant a situation whereby two political parties would declare themselves as election winners, leading to a state of ‘lawlessness’.

“Whoever wins the race, let us put Nigeria first, the nation first.

“The dark cloud I saw last year was two declarations but I can see the finger of God. Thank you for your prayers.”

He urged his congregants to avoid violence, and not allow themselves be used by politicians to cause bloodshed, while adding that do or die is not politics.

The man of God said: “There is a difference between your faith and politics.

“Don’t play politics as if it is your faith. ‘Do or die’ is not politics. Politics is a game. When you lose, you say, ‘Thank You, Jesus’; when you win, you say, ‘Thank You, Jesus’.

“Your future and the future of this nation – Jesus will ask you to give account. What we are doing now is for generations yet unborn. Don’t trade this future for money, thuggery or corruption.”

T.B. Joshua also predicted that an international terrorist will be captured.

“A criminal they have been looking for, for many years, who has been terrorising the world – I am seeing him being caught and displayed to the world on international media,” he announced.

Before the elections, the cleric had warned Nigerians to be aware of fake political party people, saying he foresees a plane crash.

Pastor T.B. Joshua is famous both in Nigeria and abroad for his religious activities. He performs miracles and conducts deliverance. The cleric also makes predictions about events that will take place on the national and international stage.

See How Many Political Parties Have Pledged Allegiance To APC

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Thirteen political parties have pledged to work with the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that the general election is conducted in a free and fair manner.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Dr. Bashir Ibrahim, who led representatives of the parties on a solidarity visit to the APC presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Wednesday in Abuja, said they would stand with the APC by insisting that the right thing is done to ensure a credible election.

“We are here to collaborate with the APC. It is unfortunate that some political parties have decided to serve their masters rather than the country. We are here to inform you that we will stand by you and on the side of the truth,” he said.

While receiving the parties Buhari expressed gratitude to those who had agreed to enter into a working relationship with him and the APC.

“I honestly appreciate how you arrived at this decision to cooperate with us in this election. This decision is very patriotic. We have to appreciate the stage we are in. We have to realise that we can save the system and our country if we come together,” he said.

He also accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sentencing Nigeria to economic and political underdevelopment since it assumed power 16 years ago, adding that the country had made more money between 1999 and 2015 than it made between 1914, when amalgamation took place, and 1999.

Their Wheel ; Our Will By Whyte Habeeb Ibidapo

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Alfred Adler wouldn’t have been more right when he said men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared but only men of character are trusted. One would wonder who the real men are when it comes to politics in Nigeria. No doubt that our polity has been destroyed by the political slave merchants whose morality, sanity, and humanity has evaporated. In forests where rapine has replace respect, the arrow would leave the bow especially where old fox had beaten other young ones to the game. It is very possible to enthrone a king, it is not possible to reign for the king. The reign of a king in this palace has reduced the palace to a mere body and not a kingdom in spirit. This is evident by the impunity that has been swaggered into the system of our governance by the kingmakers- the king makers of circumstance.

The phenomenon styled ‘godfatherism’ in Nigeria fits into what Richard Joseph, persuasively described as ‘prebendal politics,’ where primitive accumulation is exalted far and above the interest of the people. Therefore, the relationship that exists between the godfather and the godson can be described as exploitative and total subversion of the will of the people. It is more than the ruthless Mario Puzo’s kingpins in the Italian Mafia setting. It is a game- a game of who goes wins the chess game and the chess board. While the fictional godfather is characterized as a shadowy, dare-devil recluse, who combines immense underworld financial muscle with near mythical powers of enormous proportions, which is to attain a further greasing of the ever-increasing vast financial empire, the Nigeria type has the added characterization of conceit, ego, loquacity, pettiness, envy, strife, crudity, and confusion. It is between the two major party: the party that parties in the midst of uncertainties and the one that is ‘desperate’ to change something. The godfather in the Nigeria politics is a political slave merchant while the godson is the political article for sale. Sad enough, this article, like an average goodwill be offered, but there is no negotiation on its acceptance- the masses must buy it or pay with their sweat and blood. They transacts the good will of the people for personal benefits. They’ve converted politics from a civil engagement to an enterprise where only the moneybags are beneficiaries. Not even the votes of the masses make the polity right in so far they are at realm of affairs.

Godfatherism is a welcome development in decent political playground. The young cannot grow all on his own. The young has to go under the tutelage of an experienced and elderly statesman to acquire the skill of governance and imbibe the charisma of his godfather as political ingredients in his career as a well groomed politician. For example, Chief Obafemi Awolowo mentored millions of Yoruba political figures without mortgaging the interest of the Western Region; Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa mentored many northerners without extracting any economic benefits from the region; Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu mentored Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who in turn groomed many younger politicians without using them as stooges (or state money-making-machines). Godparents are usually chosen, adopted and to raise Christian children to become God-fearing, law abiding and responsible individuals in society. There is no doubt that even at present, some individuals care and raise godsons who are responsible citizens of this country. However most of the rising political servants of today are products of two main godfathers-Obasanjo and Tinubu.

To illumine this thought, it is sufficient to highlight the darkness of inexcusable backwardness the godfathers has done to us despite the country’s enviable resources and the darkness of official corruption that is a veritable blight on the land. My major concern here is based on two major actions by two men of timber and calibre. A particular sin committed separately is having effect on us right now and the youths must learn to avoid such mistakes in future politicking.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a great-grand political merchant got the opportunity more than anybody else to provide pristine leadership for the younger generations and recruit leaders who would have bettered the affairs of this country for good. As president for first 8-years of hard won democracy, one would expect him to know the exact type of leader that Nigerian deserves. He’s a typical godfather in our polity, forgetting the drama of the things fall apart display with PDP. He was a chance encounter. He uses his chances as he did when he brought Jonathan and Yaradua. The incumbent is a product of Obasanjo’s godfatherism. It was never our vote and even if it was our votes, factors like Obasanjo played big roles in ensuring the successful emergence at the polls. Many voted not based on antecedents but based on those behind the President. With what Obasanjo has brought us, we are where we are. Whether for good or bad. We all can decide whether we want more or not. If reality should sets in, many don’t want more of a rotten pie of governance. A new pie made from a new flour of governance is what they crave for. A godfather has left a nation clamouring for change even without a clue on what it may birth.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a grand-godfather that is also guilty of a major sin that most people forgot so soon. This particular sin, is causing us more now in this polity, forgetting his championed cause of a better Nigeria. He emerged a de-facto in our national politics after the June 12 episode. The episode saw an attempt to breakup Nigeria as a result of an ‘injury’ to southwest. Asiwaju then emerged the Generalissimo of a wounded southwest uninterested in national unity. Asiwaju was probably comfortable as Asiwaju of Yorubas and enjoyed the support of Yoruba leaders and elites until he chose to see issues from broader perspectives. Asiwaju humbled southwest for GEJ in 2011 because he was not inclined to sustaining national unity. Are we going to conclude that it as a result of some ‘gift’ as believed in some quarters or the civilian generalissimo was greater than such? I rather understand that he was then yet to be convinced that we should all pursue the course of united Nigeria. He acted the script of the southwest “regionalists” to the letter and was applauded behind doors. This is a great sin to our polity. What would have been the product of a good campaigner of change to have delivered the southwest to CPC even if not for ACN, the party he led? The game, the story and players would have been different.

The above sins goes a long way to determine the fate of this country in one way or the other. More especially it does in a visible way. Imagine what these country would have been without Goodluck Jonathan as the Vice Presidential candidate to Yar’Adua. Imagine what this county would have been if another governor from the South-east deputised Yar’Adua. What was the sin of other PDP governors and deputy governors at that area? Where they all corrupt or not loyal to have the ability to deputise Yaradua? These are some questions Obasanjo must answer before bowing out of the main polity. If Asiwaju had love Nigerians more than every other thing and believe we needed change, he should deliver the Southwest generally to CPC considering that latter cover wider range have more possibility of winning 2011 polls than the party he led. These acts of our political merchants goes a long way. It’s time for us to think and not be used in these politicking. It’s time for us to do away with sentiments and vote freely. Even if the godfathers present to us politicians that are not worthy, they should be rejected outrightly. Enough of failed God political sons or failed political decisions to benefit one’s pocket than the polity.

Most of the political godfathers have failed to provide Nigerian youths with the leadership template that will make us to remain healthy in politics neither have they done main things that can consequently make them retire from planet Nigeria has celebrated hero and small political god.

Yet, one must note that with the right mindset, one would see this godfathers as a blessing in disguise. Yes, they have milked us beyond recognition. But still, the memories of that should afford us the mindset to choose wisely. The decision of a godfather gave us the sandy rice in our plates. The decision of another presents an uncertain alternative- which is better? A stroll down the memory lane would tell. If the realization of an urgent need to undo certain misdeeds is the driving force of the two leaders, I may wish to suggest to Nigerian youths that ours is not yet a hopeless situation. Circumstances have changed people more than sermons have.

(WHYTE HABEEB IBIDAPO is a Lawyer, United Nations Award winner, Africa International Arbitration Award winner and Coca cola/ The Nation Campuslife Award Winner.

Email: whyte287@gmail.com

@whytehabeeb

Views expressed are solely that of authors and has no association with www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

I’m Not A Politician Canvassing For Any Candidate – TY Danjuma

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, met with the former minister of defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting which was held inside the president’s official residence, Danjuma said he was cannot canvass for votes for any candidate in the forthcoming general polls because he is not a politician.

He said the meeting between him the president, which is coming barely three weeks to the conduct of the general elections, was confidential and so he would not disclose it.

“Don’t speculate. I came to visit the president and find out how things are going because I have been away for sometime and just came back,” he stated.

Asked whether he was going to canvass for support for the president in the forthcoming election, Danjuma said, “I don’t belong to any of the political parties and as such cannot canvass for votes for anyone.” The president is the president of the countryt could be recalled that President Jonathan had on Sunday met behind closed door with former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar and former South African President, Thabo Mbeki in his residence.

Open Letter To Nigerian Politicians: Stop Littering Our Cities By Badejoko Adewale

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Dear Politician,

It would only sound fair that I congratulate your guts to pick up a nomination form in attempt to lead us to the promised land, even though between you and me, its plain to see you are only interested in squeezing the already clabbered adulterated national resources; resources meant for the 170 million demos you intend to govern now cornered for your selfish ambitions. But you see sir, the gods are not to blame, it is the ultracrepidarians of followers who probably don’t know or too lazy to demand what is truly theirs I appropriate my blame.

I am glad when i heard you sir have put your life, and financial resources on the line going by the do or die nature of the political clime we live in – very noble and brave thing to do for your country sir. You have even gone out of your way to invent new publicity stunts, organized press conferences and have taken the pain to write a length paged manifesto. You Sir, have festooned our cities with posters and flyers of your smiling face, shinning in armour like the true soldier Nigeria deserves – quite laudable I must commend, and in all sincerity sir, none of them have gone unnoticed. I totally understand all these things must be done, after all, about 70% or even more of your budget goes into campaigns.

To my amazement as I listened to one of your paid promotional campaigns, you boastfully promised to provide a cleaner and greener city, advocating various beautification projects including free toilets. The bewildering thing is that your words don’t match your actions sir! You promise to clean our cities, yet you Sir, litters it morning and night with posters. You have utterly defaced our towns and your flyers litters our parks incessantly. You sir are the chief nuisance constitutor! You are the mess maker! You have nonchalantly violated every environmental laws placing your grammatical-error-filled-junk-piece-of-papers on our bridges, road signs, street lights, and walkways. Our once beautiful roundabouts now completely look like shrines of the paper goddess, yet you sir faithfully pledge your undying support to tackle global warmings. You carry brooms about at your rallies, even draw some on your posters but your brain never instructs you to sweep the city clean with those brooms, you sir are a disgrace of biblical proportions!

Sir with all due respect, I would admonish you and your nitwitted, semi-parboiled brain campaign strategists to emulate those foreign cities you visit with public loots. If those countries litter their cities as you do yours, i guess there’ll be no place for your foreign escapades. Its such a shame that you sir only look but barely see, you rarely see how other developed democracies engage in more constructive forms of campaigning. I implore you to warn your political bandwagons- the set you use to perpetrate evil to desist from defacing our communities, I know their lives depends on the crumbs that fall from your golden table, they have sold their souls for rice and palm oil but please tell them to stop their stupidity.

Finally before i drop my pen sir, i wish you victory in the upcoming 2015 general elections if the electorates think you deserve it too. I would also like to note to you sir, that victory in the 2015 elections will not be dependent on how many posters you print but on integrity and your vision for the Nigerian state. For what does it profit a politician, who spent his cash printing posters and still loses the elections. Be wise sir, Be wise.

Yours in State,
Badejoko Adewale.

Badejoko Adewale is a social entrepreneur, the founder of The Advocate For Transformational Change. He is @Tha_Krone on twitter.

Articles on www.omojuwa.com are solely authors opinion

Seven PDP Lawmakers Impeach Ekiti Speaker

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Staff Reporter

In what may pass for a world record, Seven Peoples Democratic Party, PDP members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly may have impeached the Speaker of the of the assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Omirin, according to reports reaching DailyPost.

Omirin and Governor Ayodele Fayose have been at loggerheads since the swearing-in of the governor.

Fayose has accused the speaker and other All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the House of frustrating his government by rejecting the list of Commissioners sent to the Assembly

But Omirin described the governor’s action as blackmail.

Gov. Ayodele Fayose is billed swear-in Caretaker Committees in the 18 local government areas of the state this morning without the approval of the House.

Reporters further gathered that the seven PDP legislators have also installed one of their own Dele Olugbemi as the acting Speaker.

The PDP has seven members in the house while APC has 18, excluding the speaker.

Source – Daily post