What’s Hot

Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts


*Allegation is false, baseless— Rivers govt By Soni Daniel, Kingsley Omonobi, Jimitota Onoyume & Ben Agande Abuja—The Department of State Services, DSS, has accused the governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, of recruiting youths in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to create mayhem in the city that would lead to a break down of law and order. Nyesom Wike In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, spokesperson of DSS, Tony Opuoyo, said the service had arrested some of the recruited youths while the ring leader, who, it said, was a personal aide of the President of the Senate, was on the run. Also, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damien Okoro, to lead a 15-man panel, set up to investigate the alleged audio recording of Governor Wike and other violence recorded during the December 10 re-run election. Other members of the panel include intelligence, investigative and forensic experts from the Police and DSS. The panel, which has begun operations, has 30 days to work and submit its findings. The IG charged the panel to, among others, conduct a thorough investigation into the role of security agents before, during and after the election; examine the role of any police officer or security agent, whose actions or activities individually or collectively, affected the conduct of the election. Other terms of reference include conducting a forensic analysis on the audio report by an online medium against Governor Wike as it concerns the election; examine any other matter that is relevant to the conduct of the elections and make recommendations to guide future elections. Meanwhile, Rivers State Government has described the allegation by DSS against Wike as false, baseless and alarming. A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Austin Tam-George, said: “The DSS allegation is an irresponsible scaremongering by an agency that seems bent on a mission to blackmail the governor of Rivers State, and bring the state government into disrepute. “Wike is a man of peace, and would never orchestrate disturbances in any part of the country. A few days ago, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, sponsored street protests against Wike in Abuja, without any alarm by the DSS. “Why is the DSS ringing its hypocritical alarm bells against Wike only now? Why has the DSS not yet provided evidence of the so-called billions of cash they alleged was taken away by Wike from the home of the High Court judge the agency invaded in Port Harcourt, some months ago?” Meantime, the DSS statement, read: “We wish to inform the general public that we have uncovered a sinister plot by the Rivers State governor, Mr Wike, to disrupt machinery of governance in strategic Federal Government agencies by provoking a violent breach of peace in the FCT, Abuja, today (yesterday) and beyond, especially at this yuletide season. “To achieve this, the governor had secured the services of one Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a personal aide to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to mobilise some hoodlums to execute their plan. “The aim of the plot is to cause mayhem, a complete breakdown of law and order and cast the security agencies and the Federal Government in bad light.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/dss-accuses-wike-planning-breakdown-law-order-abuja/

DSS accuses Wike of planning breakdown of law and order in Abuja



*Allegation is false, baseless— Rivers govt By Soni Daniel, Kingsley Omonobi, Jimitota Onoyume & Ben Agande Abuja—The Department of State Services, DSS, has accused the governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, of recruiting youths in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to create mayhem in the city that would lead to a break down of law and order. Nyesom Wike In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, spokesperson of DSS, Tony Opuoyo, said the service had arrested some of the recruited youths while the ring leader, who, it said, was a personal aide of the President of the Senate, was on the run. Also, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damien Okoro, to lead a 15-man panel, set up to investigate the alleged audio recording of Governor Wike and other violence recorded during the December 10 re-run election. Other members of the panel include intelligence, investigative and forensic experts from the Police and DSS. The panel, which has begun operations, has 30 days to work and submit its findings. The IG charged the panel to, among others, conduct a thorough investigation into the role of security agents before, during and after the election; examine the role of any police officer or security agent, whose actions or activities individually or collectively, affected the conduct of the election. Other terms of reference include conducting a forensic analysis on the audio report by an online medium against Governor Wike as it concerns the election; examine any other matter that is relevant to the conduct of the elections and make recommendations to guide future elections. Meanwhile, Rivers State Government has described the allegation by DSS against Wike as false, baseless and alarming. A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Austin Tam-George, said: “The DSS allegation is an irresponsible scaremongering by an agency that seems bent on a mission to blackmail the governor of Rivers State, and bring the state government into disrepute. “Wike is a man of peace, and would never orchestrate disturbances in any part of the country. A few days ago, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, sponsored street protests against Wike in Abuja, without any alarm by the DSS. “Why is the DSS ringing its hypocritical alarm bells against Wike only now? Why has the DSS not yet provided evidence of the so-called billions of cash they alleged was taken away by Wike from the home of the High Court judge the agency invaded in Port Harcourt, some months ago?” Meantime, the DSS statement, read: “We wish to inform the general public that we have uncovered a sinister plot by the Rivers State governor, Mr Wike, to disrupt machinery of governance in strategic Federal Government agencies by provoking a violent breach of peace in the FCT, Abuja, today (yesterday) and beyond, especially at this yuletide season. “To achieve this, the governor had secured the services of one Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a personal aide to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to mobilise some hoodlums to execute their plan. “The aim of the plot is to cause mayhem, a complete breakdown of law and order and cast the security agencies and the Federal Government in bad light.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/dss-accuses-wike-planning-breakdown-law-order-abuja/

 
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described the Department of State Services (DSS) claim that it uncovered plot by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike to disrupt governance in strategic federal government agencies as “barefaced attempt by the federal government to divert the attention of Nigerians and the international community from its involvement in the violence unleashed on the people of Rivers State during the December 10 rerun elections.” The governor said it was unfortunate that the DSS could no longer hide its partisanship, adding that “accusing a serving governor of plotting to disrupt governance in Abuja is the height of irresponsible display of partisanship by a security agency that should serve Nigerians and not the APC. Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said no amount of intimidation, blackmail and harassment by the DSS and other federal government security agencies will make Nigerians to surrender the country to dictatorship. The governor challenged the DSS to tell Nigerians those who sponsored the Tuesday, protest in Abuja by a group that called itself National Support Groups for Good Governance, (NASUGG), saying, “When protesters went round major streets in Abuja on Tuesday, protesting against Governor Wike, where was the DSS then? “Assuming but not even conceding that anyone was planning to protest in support of Governor Wike, what is wrong with that? Was the DSS on sabbatical on Tuesday, when protest was held in the same Abuja against Governor Wike? “Is the DSS now telling Nigerians that only supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can protest and only protests against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are sanctioned?” Speaking further, Governor Fayose said, “Security agencies were accused of playing ignoble roles in the Rivers State rerun elections. Can the same security agencies that was accused of ballot box snatching and assisting the APC to unleash terror on the people of Rivers State carry out any credible probe? “The only probe that will be credible and acceptable concerning the Rivers State rerun election is the one in which the international community, civil society organisations and observers who were on the field during the election take part not this kangaroo probe being spearheaded by the police just to work to a pre-determined conclusion.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/wike-dss-working-for-apc-says-fayose/

Wike: DSS working for APC, says Fayose

 
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described the Department of State Services (DSS) claim that it uncovered plot by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike to disrupt governance in strategic federal government agencies as “barefaced attempt by the federal government to divert the attention of Nigerians and the international community from its involvement in the violence unleashed on the people of Rivers State during the December 10 rerun elections.” The governor said it was unfortunate that the DSS could no longer hide its partisanship, adding that “accusing a serving governor of plotting to disrupt governance in Abuja is the height of irresponsible display of partisanship by a security agency that should serve Nigerians and not the APC. Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said no amount of intimidation, blackmail and harassment by the DSS and other federal government security agencies will make Nigerians to surrender the country to dictatorship. The governor challenged the DSS to tell Nigerians those who sponsored the Tuesday, protest in Abuja by a group that called itself National Support Groups for Good Governance, (NASUGG), saying, “When protesters went round major streets in Abuja on Tuesday, protesting against Governor Wike, where was the DSS then? “Assuming but not even conceding that anyone was planning to protest in support of Governor Wike, what is wrong with that? Was the DSS on sabbatical on Tuesday, when protest was held in the same Abuja against Governor Wike? “Is the DSS now telling Nigerians that only supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can protest and only protests against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are sanctioned?” Speaking further, Governor Fayose said, “Security agencies were accused of playing ignoble roles in the Rivers State rerun elections. Can the same security agencies that was accused of ballot box snatching and assisting the APC to unleash terror on the people of Rivers State carry out any credible probe? “The only probe that will be credible and acceptable concerning the Rivers State rerun election is the one in which the international community, civil society organisations and observers who were on the field during the election take part not this kangaroo probe being spearheaded by the police just to work to a pre-determined conclusion.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/wike-dss-working-for-apc-says-fayose/


On December 23, 2016
 A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the freezing of Ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s multiple accounts over suspected proceeds from crime. One of the account, domiciled with Skye Bank plc, has a balance of $5,316.66. The presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, while granting the order freezing the accounts ordered the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, file an undertaking in relation to damages payable by it if it turns out that the order should not have been made. EFCC boss Magu and Patience Jonathan This is sequel to a further affidavit in support of Ex-parte originating summons sworn to by Mr. Abdulahi Tukur, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and filed before the court by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo requesting the court to urgently direct the managers of the bank accounts contained in the schedule filed with the summons (FHC/L/CS/1343/16) to, in the interim, forfeit the money in the accounts, to prevent further tampering with such. Also affected by the order are five companies which are Finchley Top Homes Limited, Aribawa Aruera, Magel Resort Limited, AM -PM Global Network Limited Pansy Oil and Gas Limited. Finchley Top Homes Limited is alleged to have fraudulently open account number 1102001996 domiciled with Ecobank Plc and has a current balance of N226,376,700.23 and a fixed deposit with a balance of N1,099,511,484.88. The company also fraudulently opened other accounts These are account 1771731336, domiciled with Skye Bank and with a current balance of N14,173,848.85; Fidelity Bank account 4011019539 with a current balance of N1,800,494,000; Stanbic Bank account 0016901361 with a current balance of N40,594,12.88; and Diamond Bank account 0019213687 with a current balance of N39,418,712.12. Aribawa Aruera Reachout Foundation opened account number 1222014221 with Ecobank and has a closing balance of N479,893,431.01, while Magel Resort Limited accounts (4011019546/5250059782) with Fidelity Bank has a subsisting balance of N1,000,494,000. The company also operates two other accounts (1011744356) in Zenith Bank, which has a balance of N858,923,982, and 0024351590 with Diamond Bank and has a balance of N174,166,207.00. AM-PM Global Network Limited opened account number 0026718889 at Diamond Bank and has a balance of N7,213,303.50. The account opened by Pansy Oil and Gas Limited at Fidelity Bank (4011019577) has a current balance of N1,809,666,494.68, while that at Diamond Bank (0026838491) has a balance of N55,930,024.50. Also affected is one Esther Oba. Esther Oba has a balance of $429,381.87 in her account while the companies collectively havea balances totaling N7,418,829,290.94 (seven billion four hundred and eighteen million eight hundred and twenty nine thousand two hundred and ninety naira ninety four kobo) in six commercial banks. Esther Oba was found to have opened account number 0019213689 with Diamond Bank and has a current balance of $429,381.87. The EFCC said it carried out analyses after receiving an intelligence report, which showed that the accounts ought to be investigated. As such, Mr. Tukur averred that it would serve the course of justice to grant the application for such.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/breaking-court-orders-freezing-ex-first-lady-patience-jonathans-multiple-accounts/

Breaking: Court orders freezing of Ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s multiple accounts


On December 23, 2016
 A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the freezing of Ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s multiple accounts over suspected proceeds from crime. One of the account, domiciled with Skye Bank plc, has a balance of $5,316.66. The presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, while granting the order freezing the accounts ordered the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, file an undertaking in relation to damages payable by it if it turns out that the order should not have been made. EFCC boss Magu and Patience Jonathan This is sequel to a further affidavit in support of Ex-parte originating summons sworn to by Mr. Abdulahi Tukur, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and filed before the court by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo requesting the court to urgently direct the managers of the bank accounts contained in the schedule filed with the summons (FHC/L/CS/1343/16) to, in the interim, forfeit the money in the accounts, to prevent further tampering with such. Also affected by the order are five companies which are Finchley Top Homes Limited, Aribawa Aruera, Magel Resort Limited, AM -PM Global Network Limited Pansy Oil and Gas Limited. Finchley Top Homes Limited is alleged to have fraudulently open account number 1102001996 domiciled with Ecobank Plc and has a current balance of N226,376,700.23 and a fixed deposit with a balance of N1,099,511,484.88. The company also fraudulently opened other accounts These are account 1771731336, domiciled with Skye Bank and with a current balance of N14,173,848.85; Fidelity Bank account 4011019539 with a current balance of N1,800,494,000; Stanbic Bank account 0016901361 with a current balance of N40,594,12.88; and Diamond Bank account 0019213687 with a current balance of N39,418,712.12. Aribawa Aruera Reachout Foundation opened account number 1222014221 with Ecobank and has a closing balance of N479,893,431.01, while Magel Resort Limited accounts (4011019546/5250059782) with Fidelity Bank has a subsisting balance of N1,000,494,000. The company also operates two other accounts (1011744356) in Zenith Bank, which has a balance of N858,923,982, and 0024351590 with Diamond Bank and has a balance of N174,166,207.00. AM-PM Global Network Limited opened account number 0026718889 at Diamond Bank and has a balance of N7,213,303.50. The account opened by Pansy Oil and Gas Limited at Fidelity Bank (4011019577) has a current balance of N1,809,666,494.68, while that at Diamond Bank (0026838491) has a balance of N55,930,024.50. Also affected is one Esther Oba. Esther Oba has a balance of $429,381.87 in her account while the companies collectively havea balances totaling N7,418,829,290.94 (seven billion four hundred and eighteen million eight hundred and twenty nine thousand two hundred and ninety naira ninety four kobo) in six commercial banks. Esther Oba was found to have opened account number 0019213689 with Diamond Bank and has a current balance of $429,381.87. The EFCC said it carried out analyses after receiving an intelligence report, which showed that the accounts ought to be investigated. As such, Mr. Tukur averred that it would serve the course of justice to grant the application for such.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/breaking-court-orders-freezing-ex-first-lady-patience-jonathans-multiple-accounts/


 *Lists characteristics of Ndigbo *Ekweremadu urges Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu *Anyaoku calls for restructuring of Nigeria By Emeka Mamah, Dennis Agbo & Chinedu Adonu ENUGU— Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, asked Ndigbo and their governors to take their destiny in their hands by developing the South-East geographical zone instead of waiting for the government. Obasanjo Obasanjo said there was no need for the governors to wait for the Federal Government to develop South-East when they already had the instruments already. Obasanjo noted that economy and security were two sides of the same coin, adding that none could be achieved without the other. He also asked Igbo elders to intervene in the on-going agitation for Biafra Republic to bring the situation under control. Obasanjo described the Igbo stock as unique people, saying their entrepreneurial and communal efforts were driven with the spirit of adventure. He spoke as the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu asked President Muhammadu Buhari to obey an earlier court order compelling the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Ekweremadu further lamented that the South-East zone was not represented at the apex level of either the military or the police. On the rule of law and fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, Ekweremadu insisted that Kanu must have his day in court and if court orders his release, he must be released. Both Obasanjo and Ekweremadu spoke, yesterday at the South East Economic and Security Summit in Enugu. Among those who attended the summit included former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Chief Pascal Dozie; Mbazulike Amaechi; Ben Akabueze; Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), among other dignitaries. President Muhammadu Buhari was expected as a guest during the summit but he neither attended nor sent any representative. Develop your zone, don’t wait for FG, Obasanjo tells S-East govs, Ndigbo According to Obasanjo, the aim of the summit was on how the industrious people of the zone could do things for themselves other than relying on government’s intervention. Obasanjo said: “Insecurity in any part of the country affects the other. The instruments of doing the jobs are already with you. “The South-East had been known from time for entrepreneurship, community effort services and their spirit of adventure. The papa Okafor has been there in my village right from when I was growing up and nobody has taken those traits away from the Igboman, but how do we use it to achieve economic prosperity and security? “You can’t have security when the economy of your people is not well taken care of and you can’t have security without economic prosperity. What we need to do here is to harness what we have. “The people of the South-East are extremely unique and need to be harnessed. We should work together and that is the purpose of this summit.” The former president told the gathering to look in the ways of their fertile agricultural land, the Aba industrial cluster, and other minerals both on the surface and beneath the earth to grow their economy. “Whatever we can do for ourselves, let us do it for ourselves. If I could go to Maiduguri when Boko Haram was raging and I had to try to reach out to them in the interest of the country, I don’t think I have to be eulogized for being part of the initiative of South-East summit. “Security is all inclusive. If there is no security in any part of the country, there is no security in the entire country. All the governors have spoken. I am delighted. They said ‘we have things we can do if given the instrument’. You have the instruments already. Obasanjo lists traits of Ndigbo “We knew South-East for enterprise, entrepreneurial ability, communal interest and spirit of adventure. Nobody can take it away from them. What can we do with it in area of economy and security? The symbiotic relationship between economy and security has been mentioned by the governors and the chairman. You cannot have good economy when the security of your people is not taken care of. If security is not taken care of, the economy will diminish. What we have, how can we use it? “The people of South-East are extremely unique. That uniqueness of the South-East must be used to your advantage,” Obasanjo said. On agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra On the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, Obasanjo attributed the situation to youth restiveness, caused by challenges facing the young people of the zone and asked: “But should we leave them with the agitation, should we leave them as elders? “There should be agitation by the youths but should we leave them with the agitation? There is this saying that where youths are cutting trees in the forest, the elders should caution them because they are the people who know where the tree will fall,” he addeed. Citing the Aba-made shoes and Ebonyi rice as examples, Obasanjo described the potentials of the South-East region as legendary, saying that the South-East could be the food basket of the nation. He, however, described the challenge of youth restiveness in the region as understandable as the agitators had education and skills and yet they do not have jobs. I’m not at war with Buhari In his speech, Ekweremadu stressed that he was not at war with President Muhammadu Buhari, citing recent meetings he had had with the President. Ekweremadu further called for the restructuring of the country, noting that if Nigeria’s democracy should thrive, the citizens should be ready to subject themselves to the basic rules of law. He said: “So long as we have unified economic structure, it cannot work. It is also important that all parts of the country are represented in the affairs of government. As we talk now, nobody from the South-East is among the security chiefs in Nigeria. “On human rights, the issue of liberty is an inalienable right. If court says release somebody, please do that. No matter the offence allegedly committed by Nnamdi Kanu, he should be released from detention.” The Chairman of the planning committee of the summit and former Minister of Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji, said the essence of the summit was to brainstorm on how the private sector could work with the public sector to achieve infrastructure influx into the South East. Nnaji said the areas they are looking at to work on include gas pipelines, railway, sustainable agriculture, among other areas. Anyaoku calls for restructuring of Nigeria Earlier, Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth and Chairman of the occasion, reiterated his call for the restructuring of Nigeria to have fewer and effective federating units for this country to have stability and faster pace of development. “There is no need for Federal Government to periodically bail out any of the 36 non-viable units from dire financial conditions,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/develop-zone-dont-wait-fg-obasanjo-tells-s-east-govs-ndigbo/

Develop your zone, don’t wait for FG, Obasanjo tells S-East govs, Ndigbo


 *Lists characteristics of Ndigbo *Ekweremadu urges Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu *Anyaoku calls for restructuring of Nigeria By Emeka Mamah, Dennis Agbo & Chinedu Adonu ENUGU— Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, asked Ndigbo and their governors to take their destiny in their hands by developing the South-East geographical zone instead of waiting for the government. Obasanjo Obasanjo said there was no need for the governors to wait for the Federal Government to develop South-East when they already had the instruments already. Obasanjo noted that economy and security were two sides of the same coin, adding that none could be achieved without the other. He also asked Igbo elders to intervene in the on-going agitation for Biafra Republic to bring the situation under control. Obasanjo described the Igbo stock as unique people, saying their entrepreneurial and communal efforts were driven with the spirit of adventure. He spoke as the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu asked President Muhammadu Buhari to obey an earlier court order compelling the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Ekweremadu further lamented that the South-East zone was not represented at the apex level of either the military or the police. On the rule of law and fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, Ekweremadu insisted that Kanu must have his day in court and if court orders his release, he must be released. Both Obasanjo and Ekweremadu spoke, yesterday at the South East Economic and Security Summit in Enugu. Among those who attended the summit included former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Chief Pascal Dozie; Mbazulike Amaechi; Ben Akabueze; Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), among other dignitaries. President Muhammadu Buhari was expected as a guest during the summit but he neither attended nor sent any representative. Develop your zone, don’t wait for FG, Obasanjo tells S-East govs, Ndigbo According to Obasanjo, the aim of the summit was on how the industrious people of the zone could do things for themselves other than relying on government’s intervention. Obasanjo said: “Insecurity in any part of the country affects the other. The instruments of doing the jobs are already with you. “The South-East had been known from time for entrepreneurship, community effort services and their spirit of adventure. The papa Okafor has been there in my village right from when I was growing up and nobody has taken those traits away from the Igboman, but how do we use it to achieve economic prosperity and security? “You can’t have security when the economy of your people is not well taken care of and you can’t have security without economic prosperity. What we need to do here is to harness what we have. “The people of the South-East are extremely unique and need to be harnessed. We should work together and that is the purpose of this summit.” The former president told the gathering to look in the ways of their fertile agricultural land, the Aba industrial cluster, and other minerals both on the surface and beneath the earth to grow their economy. “Whatever we can do for ourselves, let us do it for ourselves. If I could go to Maiduguri when Boko Haram was raging and I had to try to reach out to them in the interest of the country, I don’t think I have to be eulogized for being part of the initiative of South-East summit. “Security is all inclusive. If there is no security in any part of the country, there is no security in the entire country. All the governors have spoken. I am delighted. They said ‘we have things we can do if given the instrument’. You have the instruments already. Obasanjo lists traits of Ndigbo “We knew South-East for enterprise, entrepreneurial ability, communal interest and spirit of adventure. Nobody can take it away from them. What can we do with it in area of economy and security? The symbiotic relationship between economy and security has been mentioned by the governors and the chairman. You cannot have good economy when the security of your people is not taken care of. If security is not taken care of, the economy will diminish. What we have, how can we use it? “The people of South-East are extremely unique. That uniqueness of the South-East must be used to your advantage,” Obasanjo said. On agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra On the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, Obasanjo attributed the situation to youth restiveness, caused by challenges facing the young people of the zone and asked: “But should we leave them with the agitation, should we leave them as elders? “There should be agitation by the youths but should we leave them with the agitation? There is this saying that where youths are cutting trees in the forest, the elders should caution them because they are the people who know where the tree will fall,” he addeed. Citing the Aba-made shoes and Ebonyi rice as examples, Obasanjo described the potentials of the South-East region as legendary, saying that the South-East could be the food basket of the nation. He, however, described the challenge of youth restiveness in the region as understandable as the agitators had education and skills and yet they do not have jobs. I’m not at war with Buhari In his speech, Ekweremadu stressed that he was not at war with President Muhammadu Buhari, citing recent meetings he had had with the President. Ekweremadu further called for the restructuring of the country, noting that if Nigeria’s democracy should thrive, the citizens should be ready to subject themselves to the basic rules of law. He said: “So long as we have unified economic structure, it cannot work. It is also important that all parts of the country are represented in the affairs of government. As we talk now, nobody from the South-East is among the security chiefs in Nigeria. “On human rights, the issue of liberty is an inalienable right. If court says release somebody, please do that. No matter the offence allegedly committed by Nnamdi Kanu, he should be released from detention.” The Chairman of the planning committee of the summit and former Minister of Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji, said the essence of the summit was to brainstorm on how the private sector could work with the public sector to achieve infrastructure influx into the South East. Nnaji said the areas they are looking at to work on include gas pipelines, railway, sustainable agriculture, among other areas. Anyaoku calls for restructuring of Nigeria Earlier, Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth and Chairman of the occasion, reiterated his call for the restructuring of Nigeria to have fewer and effective federating units for this country to have stability and faster pace of development. “There is no need for Federal Government to periodically bail out any of the 36 non-viable units from dire financial conditions,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/develop-zone-dont-wait-fg-obasanjo-tells-s-east-govs-ndigbo/


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the hardship being experienced by the Kogi people due to the insensitive approach to governance by Governor Yahaya Bello.

At a stakeholders’ meeting of the Kogi West Senatorial district of the party held in Lokoja yesterday, the party after taking a critical look of the All Progressive Congress led administration in the state concluded that the administration has come to spread poverty, hardship and sickness as hundreds of people have been taken to their early graves due to poor economic management and insensitivity to the plights of the people.

The Chairman of the party in Kogi West, Chief Kola Ojo, said that Kogi State is currently in the hands of tyrants who has no value for human lives as the citizens are dying daily of common ailment due to lack of salary.


“Several civil servants have lost their lives through road accidents, exhaustion and cardiac arrest over the endless screening exercise foisted on the people by the government”, he said.

“This Yahaya Bello administration is heartless, inconsiderate, insensitive and irresponsive to the plight of Kogi civil servants, it has utterly failed the people as it is bereft of ideas on what to do to move the state forward.”

The party also condemned in its entirety the frequent travelings of the governor saying it is a flagrant abdication of his responsibility to give quality leadership and good governance.

The party leaders called on members to come together and wrestle power back from the ruling party.



The party said it has learnt its lessons in the last election and assured its members that by 2019 it will bounce back to win the governorship seat.

Those present at the meeting are former deputy chief of staff to the vice president, Prince Sola Akanmode; former Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Sola Ojo; former PDP state chairman, Chief Hassan Salawu; Hon. Henry Ojuola, Barrister Fabola, Alhaji Bawa, Chief Frank Ayedun, Chief Sam Abenemi, Olori Margaret Orebiyi, Chief Kola Ojo among others.

http://www.kogireports.com/gov-bellos-govt-is-heartless-inconsiderate-and-insensitive-to-kogi-workers-plight-kogi-west-pdp/

Gov Bello’s Govt is Heartless, Inconsiderate and Insensitive to Kogi Workers’ Plight – Kogi West PDP


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the hardship being experienced by the Kogi people due to the insensitive approach to governance by Governor Yahaya Bello.

At a stakeholders’ meeting of the Kogi West Senatorial district of the party held in Lokoja yesterday, the party after taking a critical look of the All Progressive Congress led administration in the state concluded that the administration has come to spread poverty, hardship and sickness as hundreds of people have been taken to their early graves due to poor economic management and insensitivity to the plights of the people.

The Chairman of the party in Kogi West, Chief Kola Ojo, said that Kogi State is currently in the hands of tyrants who has no value for human lives as the citizens are dying daily of common ailment due to lack of salary.


“Several civil servants have lost their lives through road accidents, exhaustion and cardiac arrest over the endless screening exercise foisted on the people by the government”, he said.

“This Yahaya Bello administration is heartless, inconsiderate, insensitive and irresponsive to the plight of Kogi civil servants, it has utterly failed the people as it is bereft of ideas on what to do to move the state forward.”

The party also condemned in its entirety the frequent travelings of the governor saying it is a flagrant abdication of his responsibility to give quality leadership and good governance.

The party leaders called on members to come together and wrestle power back from the ruling party.



The party said it has learnt its lessons in the last election and assured its members that by 2019 it will bounce back to win the governorship seat.

Those present at the meeting are former deputy chief of staff to the vice president, Prince Sola Akanmode; former Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Sola Ojo; former PDP state chairman, Chief Hassan Salawu; Hon. Henry Ojuola, Barrister Fabola, Alhaji Bawa, Chief Frank Ayedun, Chief Sam Abenemi, Olori Margaret Orebiyi, Chief Kola Ojo among others.

http://www.kogireports.com/gov-bellos-govt-is-heartless-inconsiderate-and-insensitive-to-kogi-workers-plight-kogi-west-pdp/




By Yabagi Mohammed.

Though other universities in the country may have resumed from the just concluded warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the industrial action may linger on in Kogi State University, Anyigba.

This is because the institution has its own pending issues yet to be settled between the local chapter of ASUU and the government of Kogi State, including the non constitution of the university management council, inability to honour agreements reached that led to the suspension of the recent strike action, among others.


The Chairman of the union, Dr. Daniel Aina, who made the declaration at a Press Conference held at the Union’s headquarters in Anyigba, said members of the body have become disillusioned with the situation at hand, saying that the members of the union are the worst hit by the current economic downturn in the country.

He expressed concerns that Kogi State government has continued to reneged on its promises to it for the umpteenth time, adding that leadership of the union has said the latest industrial action would be total without any consideration since government has not honoured its own part of agreements entered in the past.

Dr. Aina declared that that it will extend the one-week warning strike by its national body, if the state government fail to address its outstanding demands, including offsetting of salary backlog to some of its members.

He explained that the union had earlier issued the warning that it would embark on an indefinite strike beginning from November 7th, 2016, if the Kogi State Government failed to address issues militating against conducive learning in the state-owned institution.



His words: “We expect the Kogi State Government to defray all outstanding salaries of all our members within this period of warning strike to forestall further disruption of academic activities in Kogi State University.

“The union will not continue to find its arms twisted while our members suffer untold hardships in being able to feed, transportation and fulfillment of their statutory obligations. We cry out once more; where is the government that says it should be trusted? Where is the benefit of doubt?

“We call on all well-meaning Kogites, influential and our royal father’s to please interface, so that university activities may continue unhindered. The continual delay in putting the University Council in place is worrisome and hampers proper functioning of the system. We therefore, call on the Visitor to set up the Council without delay”.

Reacting to the issue, a senior official with the Kogi State Government informed our correspondent that the issue of education is one of the top priorities of the present administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The source said the administration has always been sincere with leadership of ASUU in Kogi State University, saying that no sane government would jeopardize the future of its youths by toying with their education. It added that government is working on modalities to ensure that the lingering issue is put to bed once and for all.

On his part, leadership of the Students Union Government (SUG) has appealed to both government and ASUU to consider the plight of the students who are the ultimate sufferers in any strike situation, saying that students of the institution have become fed up with the lingering crisis.

The President, Comrade Philip Omepa, who was reacting to the issue, called on the stakeholders to put the students in the shoes of their children and see whether they were being fair to them, in view of the incessant industrial actions that Kogi State University has been suffering in recent times.

“I think we have suffered a lot as students in this university. We have been through a lot of strike actions arising from the inability of those who are supposed to prepare us for future challenges – our lecturers and government. We hope they can just come to to sort of agreement so as to end the lingering issue of strike.”

http://www.kogireports.com/hardship-yet-again-ksu-goes-on-strike/

Hardship: Yet Again, KSU Goes On Strike




By Yabagi Mohammed.

Though other universities in the country may have resumed from the just concluded warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the industrial action may linger on in Kogi State University, Anyigba.

This is because the institution has its own pending issues yet to be settled between the local chapter of ASUU and the government of Kogi State, including the non constitution of the university management council, inability to honour agreements reached that led to the suspension of the recent strike action, among others.


The Chairman of the union, Dr. Daniel Aina, who made the declaration at a Press Conference held at the Union’s headquarters in Anyigba, said members of the body have become disillusioned with the situation at hand, saying that the members of the union are the worst hit by the current economic downturn in the country.

He expressed concerns that Kogi State government has continued to reneged on its promises to it for the umpteenth time, adding that leadership of the union has said the latest industrial action would be total without any consideration since government has not honoured its own part of agreements entered in the past.

Dr. Aina declared that that it will extend the one-week warning strike by its national body, if the state government fail to address its outstanding demands, including offsetting of salary backlog to some of its members.

He explained that the union had earlier issued the warning that it would embark on an indefinite strike beginning from November 7th, 2016, if the Kogi State Government failed to address issues militating against conducive learning in the state-owned institution.



His words: “We expect the Kogi State Government to defray all outstanding salaries of all our members within this period of warning strike to forestall further disruption of academic activities in Kogi State University.

“The union will not continue to find its arms twisted while our members suffer untold hardships in being able to feed, transportation and fulfillment of their statutory obligations. We cry out once more; where is the government that says it should be trusted? Where is the benefit of doubt?

“We call on all well-meaning Kogites, influential and our royal father’s to please interface, so that university activities may continue unhindered. The continual delay in putting the University Council in place is worrisome and hampers proper functioning of the system. We therefore, call on the Visitor to set up the Council without delay”.

Reacting to the issue, a senior official with the Kogi State Government informed our correspondent that the issue of education is one of the top priorities of the present administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The source said the administration has always been sincere with leadership of ASUU in Kogi State University, saying that no sane government would jeopardize the future of its youths by toying with their education. It added that government is working on modalities to ensure that the lingering issue is put to bed once and for all.

On his part, leadership of the Students Union Government (SUG) has appealed to both government and ASUU to consider the plight of the students who are the ultimate sufferers in any strike situation, saying that students of the institution have become fed up with the lingering crisis.

The President, Comrade Philip Omepa, who was reacting to the issue, called on the stakeholders to put the students in the shoes of their children and see whether they were being fair to them, in view of the incessant industrial actions that Kogi State University has been suffering in recent times.

“I think we have suffered a lot as students in this university. We have been through a lot of strike actions arising from the inability of those who are supposed to prepare us for future challenges – our lecturers and government. We hope they can just come to to sort of agreement so as to end the lingering issue of strike.”

http://www.kogireports.com/hardship-yet-again-ksu-goes-on-strike/





The Academic Staff Union of Union of Universities, Kogi State University chapter (ASUU-KSU) has said it will extend the one-week warning strike by its national body, if the state government fail to address its outstanding demands, including offsetting of salary backlog to some of its members.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at its secretariat at the university campus in Anyigba, the ASUU-KSU chairman, Dr David Aina said members might be left with no option then to embark on a total strike.

He explained that the union had earlier issued the warning that it would embark on an indefinite starting November 7, if the Kogi State Government failed to address issues militating against conducive learning in the state-owned institution.

He warned that members will be forced to go beyond the seven-says warning strike issued by the national secretariat, if the government fails to address issues that were tabled before it, including the immediate constitution of the university council, settlement of some of its members outstanding salaries and allowances among others.

He words: “We expect the Kogi State State Government to defeat all outstanding salariesof all our members within this period of warning strike to forestall further disruption disruption of academic activities in Kogi State University.

“The union will not continue to find its arms while our members suffer untold hardships in being able to feed , transport and fulfil their statutory obligations. We cry out once more; where the government that says it should be trusted? Where is the benefit of doubt?

“We call on all well-meaning Kogites, influential and our royal father’s to please interface, so that university activities may continue unhindered. The continual delay in putting the University Council in place is worrisome and hampers proper functioning of the system. We therefore, call on the Visitor to set up the Council without delay”.

KSU Lecturers Hint on Strike Action Over Salary Backlog, Outstanding Demands





The Academic Staff Union of Union of Universities, Kogi State University chapter (ASUU-KSU) has said it will extend the one-week warning strike by its national body, if the state government fail to address its outstanding demands, including offsetting of salary backlog to some of its members.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at its secretariat at the university campus in Anyigba, the ASUU-KSU chairman, Dr David Aina said members might be left with no option then to embark on a total strike.

He explained that the union had earlier issued the warning that it would embark on an indefinite starting November 7, if the Kogi State Government failed to address issues militating against conducive learning in the state-owned institution.

He warned that members will be forced to go beyond the seven-says warning strike issued by the national secretariat, if the government fails to address issues that were tabled before it, including the immediate constitution of the university council, settlement of some of its members outstanding salaries and allowances among others.

He words: “We expect the Kogi State State Government to defeat all outstanding salariesof all our members within this period of warning strike to forestall further disruption disruption of academic activities in Kogi State University.

“The union will not continue to find its arms while our members suffer untold hardships in being able to feed , transport and fulfil their statutory obligations. We cry out once more; where the government that says it should be trusted? Where is the benefit of doubt?

“We call on all well-meaning Kogites, influential and our royal father’s to please interface, so that university activities may continue unhindered. The continual delay in putting the University Council in place is worrisome and hampers proper functioning of the system. We therefore, call on the Visitor to set up the Council without delay”.


Barely 24 hours after the Senate reconvened and recommended to the federal government to sell some national assets to raise funds as one of the ways to bring the country’s economy out of the woods, some Senators yesterday took a different position.
This happened as President Muhammadu Buhari, while addressing a large gathering of political and business leaders from the United States, Africa and other regions of the world at the Second United States-Africa Business Forum in New York, yesterday, organised by the United States Department of Commerce and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the country’s economic recession is an opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its economy, achieve sustainable growth and prosperity.
The president also assured potential investors that Nigeria would soon be one of the most attractive places for investment as his administration had embarked on significant economic reforms to realise that goal.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had while addressing plenary on Tuesday, listed measures to be taken by the executive to turn the economy around. One of the recommendations was the sale of some of the countries assets, including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Holdings, sale of government’s stakes in the African Finance Corporation and the privatisation and concession of major/regional airports and refineries.
But at resumption of plenary yesterday, some of the senators averred that no country ever sold its assets as a way out of economic recession.
Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, during the debate on the state of the economy, led the pack of Senators who argued that sale of national assets was not the way out.
He cited an example of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which according to him, “does not even allow you close to oil wells let alone sell them.”
“For a country like Saudi Arabia, its budget each year is run by investments from oil revenue. Other countries are investing; I am sure we will not be fair to the next generation if we sell off our assets. If we must sell, we have to sell the non-performing assets so that people can turn them around and create employment,” Ekweremadu added.
The deputy Senate president further pointed out that the economic recession had buttressed the importance of savings, and called for amendment of the revenue sharing formula between the federal and state governments to encourage savings.
“We need to amend section 162 especially from 3,4,5,6 where each money in the federation account is made to be shared,” he said.
He also called on President Buhari to re-jig his cabinet by putting square pegs in square holes especially in the area of economic management, and particularly identified the duo of the Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, as knowledgeable people but unfit for their current positions, given their professional backgrounds, saying that they are rather better suited for other ministries.
“The president needs to look at his cabinet. He has to put square pegs in square holes. Your excellency, distinguished colleagues, Udo Udoma is my friend, an accomplished lawyer for that matter but in fairness to him, I believe he can do better in another ministry especially like Trade and Investment, certainly not Budget and Planning.
“The minister for finance can do much better in another ministry. At this critical time we need somebody who is more experienced to man the ministry of finance so that he will be able to coordinate the strategies for this recovery,” Ekweremadu said.
In his contribution, Senator George Akume cautioned those making calls for sale of assets
He said rather than opt for sale of its assets, the country should focus on recovering stolen funds.
“If we want to sell our oil assets at this time when the price of oil crashed, how much are we going to realise? We are making a mistake here; what we are doing is to ensure that those who are within the bracket of the stolen dollars will still come to buy,” he pointed out.
He suggested industrialisation through agriculture as one way out and also advocated the review of the revenue sharing formula to encourage savings, saying states should not insist on sharing revenue.
But Senator Shehu Sani, in his presentation, disagreed with the deputy Senate president, saying that removing both Adeosun and Udoma was not a solution to the biting economic hardship.
Sani said instead of swapping ministers, there was the need to chart a new national direction. He also decried the over-dependence on oil as the only source of revenue for too long, saying there was the need for urgent diversification of the economy.
The Kaduna lawmaker noted that it was high time interest rates were cut and small scale industries were supported to produce goods for exports, adding that the current “sharing formula federalism” led the nation to the present dire situation confronting Nigerians today.
On his part, Senator Dino Melaye called for the sack of non-performing ministers.
Earlier, the Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who opened the discussion by giving his colleagues a general overview of the situation, said the current recession was not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that the country is just one of the 15 oil-dependent countries of the world experiencing same.
“This is a global phenomenon that is not only affecting our country but all countries dependent on oil,” Ndume said, even as he blamed the immediate past government for the economic crisis, by not leaving anything behind in the nation’s reserves.
Ekweremadu, in his presentation, had also offered what he called short-term, medium and long term strategies as panacea for the situation.
According to him, these include the injection of money into the economy by the government; usage of the monies that have accrued to TSA as well as about N3 trillion recovered loot; re-negotiation with oil majors on terms of engagement in the industry; confidence-building and change of attitude, among others.

HOUSE DIVIDE OVER THE SALE OF NATIONAL ASSET.


Barely 24 hours after the Senate reconvened and recommended to the federal government to sell some national assets to raise funds as one of the ways to bring the country’s economy out of the woods, some Senators yesterday took a different position.
This happened as President Muhammadu Buhari, while addressing a large gathering of political and business leaders from the United States, Africa and other regions of the world at the Second United States-Africa Business Forum in New York, yesterday, organised by the United States Department of Commerce and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the country’s economic recession is an opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its economy, achieve sustainable growth and prosperity.
The president also assured potential investors that Nigeria would soon be one of the most attractive places for investment as his administration had embarked on significant economic reforms to realise that goal.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had while addressing plenary on Tuesday, listed measures to be taken by the executive to turn the economy around. One of the recommendations was the sale of some of the countries assets, including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Holdings, sale of government’s stakes in the African Finance Corporation and the privatisation and concession of major/regional airports and refineries.
But at resumption of plenary yesterday, some of the senators averred that no country ever sold its assets as a way out of economic recession.
Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, during the debate on the state of the economy, led the pack of Senators who argued that sale of national assets was not the way out.
He cited an example of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which according to him, “does not even allow you close to oil wells let alone sell them.”
“For a country like Saudi Arabia, its budget each year is run by investments from oil revenue. Other countries are investing; I am sure we will not be fair to the next generation if we sell off our assets. If we must sell, we have to sell the non-performing assets so that people can turn them around and create employment,” Ekweremadu added.
The deputy Senate president further pointed out that the economic recession had buttressed the importance of savings, and called for amendment of the revenue sharing formula between the federal and state governments to encourage savings.
“We need to amend section 162 especially from 3,4,5,6 where each money in the federation account is made to be shared,” he said.
He also called on President Buhari to re-jig his cabinet by putting square pegs in square holes especially in the area of economic management, and particularly identified the duo of the Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, as knowledgeable people but unfit for their current positions, given their professional backgrounds, saying that they are rather better suited for other ministries.
“The president needs to look at his cabinet. He has to put square pegs in square holes. Your excellency, distinguished colleagues, Udo Udoma is my friend, an accomplished lawyer for that matter but in fairness to him, I believe he can do better in another ministry especially like Trade and Investment, certainly not Budget and Planning.
“The minister for finance can do much better in another ministry. At this critical time we need somebody who is more experienced to man the ministry of finance so that he will be able to coordinate the strategies for this recovery,” Ekweremadu said.
In his contribution, Senator George Akume cautioned those making calls for sale of assets
He said rather than opt for sale of its assets, the country should focus on recovering stolen funds.
“If we want to sell our oil assets at this time when the price of oil crashed, how much are we going to realise? We are making a mistake here; what we are doing is to ensure that those who are within the bracket of the stolen dollars will still come to buy,” he pointed out.
He suggested industrialisation through agriculture as one way out and also advocated the review of the revenue sharing formula to encourage savings, saying states should not insist on sharing revenue.
But Senator Shehu Sani, in his presentation, disagreed with the deputy Senate president, saying that removing both Adeosun and Udoma was not a solution to the biting economic hardship.
Sani said instead of swapping ministers, there was the need to chart a new national direction. He also decried the over-dependence on oil as the only source of revenue for too long, saying there was the need for urgent diversification of the economy.
The Kaduna lawmaker noted that it was high time interest rates were cut and small scale industries were supported to produce goods for exports, adding that the current “sharing formula federalism” led the nation to the present dire situation confronting Nigerians today.
On his part, Senator Dino Melaye called for the sack of non-performing ministers.
Earlier, the Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who opened the discussion by giving his colleagues a general overview of the situation, said the current recession was not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that the country is just one of the 15 oil-dependent countries of the world experiencing same.
“This is a global phenomenon that is not only affecting our country but all countries dependent on oil,” Ndume said, even as he blamed the immediate past government for the economic crisis, by not leaving anything behind in the nation’s reserves.
Ekweremadu, in his presentation, had also offered what he called short-term, medium and long term strategies as panacea for the situation.
According to him, these include the injection of money into the economy by the government; usage of the monies that have accrued to TSA as well as about N3 trillion recovered loot; re-negotiation with oil majors on terms of engagement in the industry; confidence-building and change of attitude, among others.



The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was on Thursday shocked when Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West revealed that telecommunication giants in Nigeria, MTN, has been involved in gross money laundering. The Senator who made the revelation under order 42 of the Senate rule was particularly pained,stating that at the crucial moment when the nation is plauged with economic challenges, all hands must be on deck to recover every loot in the country. “We are in a precarious situation and now is the time to recover every stolen money in the country,” he said Speaking further, Senator Melaye revealed that, “between 2006 and 2016, the MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with 4 commercial banks and with the help of a serving Minister, has moved over $12bn out of this country”. He also disclosed that if given the opportunity, he would move the substantive motion in the next legislative day, with concrete evidences. Ruling on the point of order, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki granted Dino Melaye the privilege of moving the substantive motion during the senate plenary of Tuesday 27th September.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/mtn-moved-12bn-nigeria-dino-melaye/

MTN moved over $12bn out of Nigeria – Dino Melaye



The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was on Thursday shocked when Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West revealed that telecommunication giants in Nigeria, MTN, has been involved in gross money laundering. The Senator who made the revelation under order 42 of the Senate rule was particularly pained,stating that at the crucial moment when the nation is plauged with economic challenges, all hands must be on deck to recover every loot in the country. “We are in a precarious situation and now is the time to recover every stolen money in the country,” he said Speaking further, Senator Melaye revealed that, “between 2006 and 2016, the MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with 4 commercial banks and with the help of a serving Minister, has moved over $12bn out of this country”. He also disclosed that if given the opportunity, he would move the substantive motion in the next legislative day, with concrete evidences. Ruling on the point of order, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki granted Dino Melaye the privilege of moving the substantive motion during the senate plenary of Tuesday 27th September.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/mtn-moved-12bn-nigeria-dino-melaye/



The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was on Thursday shocked when Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West revealed that telecommunication giants in Nigeria, MTN, has been involved in gross money laundering. The Senator who made the revelation under order 42 of the Senate rule was particularly pained,stating that at the crucial moment when the nation is plauged with economic challenges, all hands must be on deck to recover every loot in the country. “We are in a precarious situation and now is the time to recover every stolen money in the country,” he said Speaking further, Senator Melaye revealed that, “between 2006 and 2016, the MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with 4 commercial banks and with the help of a serving Minister, has moved over $12bn out of this country”. He also disclosed that if given the opportunity, he would move the substantive motion in the next legislative day, with concrete evidences. Ruling on the point of order, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki granted Dino Melaye the privilege of moving the substantive motion during the senate plenary of Tuesday 27th September.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/mtn-moved-12bn-nigeria-dino-melaye/

MTN moved over $12bn out of Nigeria – Dino Melaye



The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was on Thursday shocked when Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West revealed that telecommunication giants in Nigeria, MTN, has been involved in gross money laundering. The Senator who made the revelation under order 42 of the Senate rule was particularly pained,stating that at the crucial moment when the nation is plauged with economic challenges, all hands must be on deck to recover every loot in the country. “We are in a precarious situation and now is the time to recover every stolen money in the country,” he said Speaking further, Senator Melaye revealed that, “between 2006 and 2016, the MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with 4 commercial banks and with the help of a serving Minister, has moved over $12bn out of this country”. He also disclosed that if given the opportunity, he would move the substantive motion in the next legislative day, with concrete evidences. Ruling on the point of order, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki granted Dino Melaye the privilege of moving the substantive motion during the senate plenary of Tuesday 27th September.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/mtn-moved-12bn-nigeria-dino-melaye/


 By Ochereome Nnanna CAN a President lie? If a President says something that is obviously untrue, can he be called a liar? I ask these questions bearing two things in mind. We Africans have our own ideas of things that we consider culturally correct to do or say, even if they do not represent the true situation of things. For instance, it is believed that one should not speak ill of the dead. Why, because the dead is gone and no longer in a position to defend himself. Though people know that when this chap was alive, he was the Devil’s incarnate, the fact that he is dead says it all for him: the river has taken the tattered basket downstream and away from sight. It becomes petty and small for anyone to mount the magisterial podium to pronounce judgement, which is an assignment for God alone. Another reason is that the President is like the head of a household. It is unseemly to look the head of the family in the face and call him a liar, even if he is inveterately such. In Nigeria as in many parts of the world, the President is the living symbol of the nation’s sovereignty; the Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic. It is a position of enormous symbolic proportions, the import of which is often lost on those who occupy that exalted office. A President who understands the importance of the office he is privileged to occupy cannot just talk or behave anyhow. That is why every little nuance of his words or actions, even as a candidate for that office, is minutely analysed in the public arena, and rated to see how “presidential” he is, or whether he is “qualified” to be President. President Buhari President Buhari When President Muhammadu Buhari visited his hometown, Daura, to celebrate the Muslim festival of Id el Kabir, he made a statement that was obviously and scandalously untrue. He said to his people: “I want Nigerians to realise that what this government inherited after 16 years of PDP government was no savings, no infrastructure, no power, no rail, no road and no security”. Even the most brainless moron knows this is an impossible statement. You can talk about little savings, poor infrastructure, epileptic power supply, serious infrastructure deficit, a rail system that was just being revived after its total collapse during the years of military rule, bad road network nationwide and grave security challenges. The word: “no” has no place in the speech of anyone who sat on a classroom bench and broke a chalk, let alone the President of a country like Nigeria. It calls into serious question the mental capacity of the user or his motive. It is either he does not know what he is saying or he is saying it to deceive the common people and continue to blame the past governments for his failure to grapple with the challenges of leading a country like Nigeria, unaware that the whole world is listening. That the world was listening was evident shortly after that preposterous speech. It trended like a hurricane over the Internet and made the front pages of newspapers the following day. It did so, not because President Buhari broke earth-shaking news, but because he said something that should never come from a serious president. The truth is, there is nothing that Buhari has right now which he did not inherit from the past regimes – from the military through to ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. It ranges from the plush Aso Villa he is enjoying to the National Assembly where he sends his Bills and the Judiciary complexes; from his rich fleet of presidential jets to the airports where he takes off and lands on his way to Daura and his frequent foreign trips (including his medical tourism), to the roads he travels on while visiting any part of Nigeria. Even the arms and ammunition he is using to finish the war against Boko Haram which Jonathan had mounted amidst sabotage by some Northern leaders and military personnel, and the rail system which Obasanjo started to revive and Jonathan almost completed while Buhari merely commissioned – you just mention them. The only leader of Nigeria who inherited “nothing” was Sir Frederick Lugard, but even he took off from the properties acquired by the Royal Niger Company, which operated the Nigeria franchise on behalf of the British Crown before we were formally colonised. It is obvious that Buhari made that statement to divert the attention of his Daura townspeople from the failure of his administration to effectively tackle the challenges of an economy in recession. This falsehood peddling seems to be a policy of the APC Federal Government because Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a supposed pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has also been on record as saying that the Jonathan regime did not build “a single kilometre of road”, which is a barefaced lie. I have a feeling that Buhari did not realise the enormous responsibility involved in vying for the presidency of this country. The fact that he was a military head of state was neither here nor there because any hammerhead who is a senior military chief can suddenly be asked to lead after a successful coup. Perhaps, he watched Obasanjo, a former military ruler, become an elected President who enjoyed years of oil boom. Then, Buhari decided that he too could equal Obasanjo’s feat. Perhaps, he thought that being President is nothing more than spending billions of oil money stacked somewhere for him by a former President. It does not work like that. Government is an unending relay race. You take the baton, run your lap and hand over to the next runner to continue. You prove your own mettle. Luckily, when the time comes it will not be Daura people alone that will mark his papers. We Nigerians already have our pens and papers out, ready to mark. As we graded Jonathan, so shall we grade Buhari, based on HIS performance, not predecessors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/the-president-did-not-lie/

The President did not lie


 By Ochereome Nnanna CAN a President lie? If a President says something that is obviously untrue, can he be called a liar? I ask these questions bearing two things in mind. We Africans have our own ideas of things that we consider culturally correct to do or say, even if they do not represent the true situation of things. For instance, it is believed that one should not speak ill of the dead. Why, because the dead is gone and no longer in a position to defend himself. Though people know that when this chap was alive, he was the Devil’s incarnate, the fact that he is dead says it all for him: the river has taken the tattered basket downstream and away from sight. It becomes petty and small for anyone to mount the magisterial podium to pronounce judgement, which is an assignment for God alone. Another reason is that the President is like the head of a household. It is unseemly to look the head of the family in the face and call him a liar, even if he is inveterately such. In Nigeria as in many parts of the world, the President is the living symbol of the nation’s sovereignty; the Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic. It is a position of enormous symbolic proportions, the import of which is often lost on those who occupy that exalted office. A President who understands the importance of the office he is privileged to occupy cannot just talk or behave anyhow. That is why every little nuance of his words or actions, even as a candidate for that office, is minutely analysed in the public arena, and rated to see how “presidential” he is, or whether he is “qualified” to be President. President Buhari President Buhari When President Muhammadu Buhari visited his hometown, Daura, to celebrate the Muslim festival of Id el Kabir, he made a statement that was obviously and scandalously untrue. He said to his people: “I want Nigerians to realise that what this government inherited after 16 years of PDP government was no savings, no infrastructure, no power, no rail, no road and no security”. Even the most brainless moron knows this is an impossible statement. You can talk about little savings, poor infrastructure, epileptic power supply, serious infrastructure deficit, a rail system that was just being revived after its total collapse during the years of military rule, bad road network nationwide and grave security challenges. The word: “no” has no place in the speech of anyone who sat on a classroom bench and broke a chalk, let alone the President of a country like Nigeria. It calls into serious question the mental capacity of the user or his motive. It is either he does not know what he is saying or he is saying it to deceive the common people and continue to blame the past governments for his failure to grapple with the challenges of leading a country like Nigeria, unaware that the whole world is listening. That the world was listening was evident shortly after that preposterous speech. It trended like a hurricane over the Internet and made the front pages of newspapers the following day. It did so, not because President Buhari broke earth-shaking news, but because he said something that should never come from a serious president. The truth is, there is nothing that Buhari has right now which he did not inherit from the past regimes – from the military through to ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. It ranges from the plush Aso Villa he is enjoying to the National Assembly where he sends his Bills and the Judiciary complexes; from his rich fleet of presidential jets to the airports where he takes off and lands on his way to Daura and his frequent foreign trips (including his medical tourism), to the roads he travels on while visiting any part of Nigeria. Even the arms and ammunition he is using to finish the war against Boko Haram which Jonathan had mounted amidst sabotage by some Northern leaders and military personnel, and the rail system which Obasanjo started to revive and Jonathan almost completed while Buhari merely commissioned – you just mention them. The only leader of Nigeria who inherited “nothing” was Sir Frederick Lugard, but even he took off from the properties acquired by the Royal Niger Company, which operated the Nigeria franchise on behalf of the British Crown before we were formally colonised. It is obvious that Buhari made that statement to divert the attention of his Daura townspeople from the failure of his administration to effectively tackle the challenges of an economy in recession. This falsehood peddling seems to be a policy of the APC Federal Government because Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a supposed pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has also been on record as saying that the Jonathan regime did not build “a single kilometre of road”, which is a barefaced lie. I have a feeling that Buhari did not realise the enormous responsibility involved in vying for the presidency of this country. The fact that he was a military head of state was neither here nor there because any hammerhead who is a senior military chief can suddenly be asked to lead after a successful coup. Perhaps, he watched Obasanjo, a former military ruler, become an elected President who enjoyed years of oil boom. Then, Buhari decided that he too could equal Obasanjo’s feat. Perhaps, he thought that being President is nothing more than spending billions of oil money stacked somewhere for him by a former President. It does not work like that. Government is an unending relay race. You take the baton, run your lap and hand over to the next runner to continue. You prove your own mettle. Luckily, when the time comes it will not be Daura people alone that will mark his papers. We Nigerians already have our pens and papers out, ready to mark. As we graded Jonathan, so shall we grade Buhari, based on HIS performance, not predecessors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/the-president-did-not-lie/




By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Yesterday’s decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the election of Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi State was being received with mixed feelings. That was not surprising given the heightened expectations of the contending personalities. It was as such not surprising that in the victory that the governor urged his supporters against unbridled celebration. Yahaya-Bello Yahaya-Bello The judgment, however, sets the state on an unprecedented threshold. For one it puts his major rival for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rep. James Faleke in a legal cum moral quandary. Moral quandary Faleke who is from the Kogi West Senatorial District had until last year played all his politics in Lagos State where he served as chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area for two terms, and subsequently moved on to represent the Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. After his nomination as running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu, Faleke had transferred his voting point from Ikeja, Lagos to Kogi State as part of the criteria to be fulfilled as a candidate in the election. With his defeat in the court, political sources in Lokoja told Vanguard yesterday that Faleke was now contemplating his future political path. A former associate told Vanguard yesterday that Faleke would like to return to Lagos to pick up with his political career. However, the constraint would mean again transferring his voting point back to Lagos, unarguably raising a moral issue after transferring it to Kogi less than a year ago. Even more, sources revealed that Governor Bello is also disposed towards wooing Faleke in a way to bring harmony into the party that became split after the primaries. “The governor would want to give Faleke a strong role to play in the party and the affairs of the government,” a source close to the governor said yesterday. However, the feeling is that Faleke would want to return to Lagos. It was, of course, an issue last year when he was chosen as the running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu, the deceased former governor who won the ticket of the party in the APC governorship primary. Faleke, generally believed to have been an acolyte of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had demonstrated his loyalty to the party during the crisis in the House of Representatives when he sided with those in support of party supremacy in the choice of Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila; first as speaker and when it failed, as majority leader. However, his fidelity to party supremacy was questioned after he was overlooked for Bello in the choice of a replacement for Audu after the latter died in the course of the election last November. The choice of Bello was difficult for Faleke as he and many others at that time alleged that Bello had become indifferent to the party after he lost the primaries. The affirmation of Bello as the governor of Kogi State is, however, a major development. He is not just the youngest man to rule the state in the Fourth Republic, his election is also a systemic political shift that has removed the levers of power from the dominant Igala population in the state to the Igbira ethnic group found in the Kogi Central Senatorial district, which ironically has the smallest population of all three senatorial districts. It is also undoubtedly the end of the road for the major political powers that had dragged the case through the tribunal to the appeal court and subsequently to the Supreme Court. Besides Faleke, it is also the end of the road for Former Governor Idris Wada who became governor fortuitously in 2008 after the earlier candidate of the party; Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho fell out of favour with the penultimate governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. Yesterday’s judgment puts the state on a threshold for the development that the state needs after many years of stunted growth. That is if the much promised savvy that the governor first came to power with is sustained and carried to completion. On the other hand, the state could be headed towards crisis if ethnic champions decide to fragment the state along ethnic lines, given the ascent to power of the first non-Igala governor. Bello was yesterday, however, looking beyond the issues with the hope of rebuilding the state after the judicial affirmation of his governorship. Judicial affirmation While endorsing the judgment as the hand of God in the affairs of the state, the governor through his chief press secretary, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo said: “The landmark judgment of the Supreme Court today, which affirmed the election of Governor Yahaya Bello is a watershed in the annals of electoral jurisprudence and constitutional law in the country. It was a long walk to victory which will reshape our constitution of the nation. “Governor Yahaya Bello had remained humble and magnanimous in victory. He has called on those who contended with him to join him in building a greater Kogi State. “The Governor has said the victory belongs to all Kogi people who believe in transforming Kogi State from a potentially great State to a really great State. He is committed to serving the people and making the State the centre of excellence and the cynosure of all eyes”.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/bellos-victory-opens-new-vista-kogi/

Bello’s victory opens new vista in Kogi




By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Yesterday’s decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the election of Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi State was being received with mixed feelings. That was not surprising given the heightened expectations of the contending personalities. It was as such not surprising that in the victory that the governor urged his supporters against unbridled celebration. Yahaya-Bello Yahaya-Bello The judgment, however, sets the state on an unprecedented threshold. For one it puts his major rival for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rep. James Faleke in a legal cum moral quandary. Moral quandary Faleke who is from the Kogi West Senatorial District had until last year played all his politics in Lagos State where he served as chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area for two terms, and subsequently moved on to represent the Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. After his nomination as running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu, Faleke had transferred his voting point from Ikeja, Lagos to Kogi State as part of the criteria to be fulfilled as a candidate in the election. With his defeat in the court, political sources in Lokoja told Vanguard yesterday that Faleke was now contemplating his future political path. A former associate told Vanguard yesterday that Faleke would like to return to Lagos to pick up with his political career. However, the constraint would mean again transferring his voting point back to Lagos, unarguably raising a moral issue after transferring it to Kogi less than a year ago. Even more, sources revealed that Governor Bello is also disposed towards wooing Faleke in a way to bring harmony into the party that became split after the primaries. “The governor would want to give Faleke a strong role to play in the party and the affairs of the government,” a source close to the governor said yesterday. However, the feeling is that Faleke would want to return to Lagos. It was, of course, an issue last year when he was chosen as the running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu, the deceased former governor who won the ticket of the party in the APC governorship primary. Faleke, generally believed to have been an acolyte of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had demonstrated his loyalty to the party during the crisis in the House of Representatives when he sided with those in support of party supremacy in the choice of Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila; first as speaker and when it failed, as majority leader. However, his fidelity to party supremacy was questioned after he was overlooked for Bello in the choice of a replacement for Audu after the latter died in the course of the election last November. The choice of Bello was difficult for Faleke as he and many others at that time alleged that Bello had become indifferent to the party after he lost the primaries. The affirmation of Bello as the governor of Kogi State is, however, a major development. He is not just the youngest man to rule the state in the Fourth Republic, his election is also a systemic political shift that has removed the levers of power from the dominant Igala population in the state to the Igbira ethnic group found in the Kogi Central Senatorial district, which ironically has the smallest population of all three senatorial districts. It is also undoubtedly the end of the road for the major political powers that had dragged the case through the tribunal to the appeal court and subsequently to the Supreme Court. Besides Faleke, it is also the end of the road for Former Governor Idris Wada who became governor fortuitously in 2008 after the earlier candidate of the party; Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho fell out of favour with the penultimate governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. Yesterday’s judgment puts the state on a threshold for the development that the state needs after many years of stunted growth. That is if the much promised savvy that the governor first came to power with is sustained and carried to completion. On the other hand, the state could be headed towards crisis if ethnic champions decide to fragment the state along ethnic lines, given the ascent to power of the first non-Igala governor. Bello was yesterday, however, looking beyond the issues with the hope of rebuilding the state after the judicial affirmation of his governorship. Judicial affirmation While endorsing the judgment as the hand of God in the affairs of the state, the governor through his chief press secretary, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo said: “The landmark judgment of the Supreme Court today, which affirmed the election of Governor Yahaya Bello is a watershed in the annals of electoral jurisprudence and constitutional law in the country. It was a long walk to victory which will reshape our constitution of the nation. “Governor Yahaya Bello had remained humble and magnanimous in victory. He has called on those who contended with him to join him in building a greater Kogi State. “The Governor has said the victory belongs to all Kogi people who believe in transforming Kogi State from a potentially great State to a really great State. He is committed to serving the people and making the State the centre of excellence and the cynosure of all eyes”.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/bellos-victory-opens-new-vista-kogi/



 By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor The Emir of Kano, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi, has thrown his weight behind the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over a major policy disagreement with the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, on interest rate. Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II The Finance Minister had advised the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, meeting held Monday and Tuesday, to reduce interest rate by lowering its Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, from the present 14 per cent, to encourage investment and reflate the economy. But the MPC, which is the highest policy making body of CBN, chose to retain the policy rate in a unanimous vote by members on Tuesday. Sanusi, a former governor of the CBN, said he supported the MPC’s decision on the grounds that it underpinned the autonomy of the apex bank. In a reaction, he stated that he was actually worried about the Finance Minister’s position and was also afraid that the apex bank might succumb to the minister, but that he was greatly relieved when the apex bank’s decision was announced. He stated: “It is a positive thing. I was concerned that CBN would succumb. Because they did not, it means they have started being independent.” However, Sanusi, who made the remarks yesterday, at the launch of Afrinvest Nigerian Banking Reports, 2016, explained that if the MPR was lowered even by 200 bases points, it would not increase credit from banks to the economy as envisaged because of other constraining factors. On the other hand, he noted that a lower MPR would imply lower yields on money market instruments which would be a disincentive to investments in the money markets especially in the fixed income security segment and ultimately put a restraint on foreign portfolio investment inflows. He also stated that a lower MPR would fuel inflation further which was already high. Naira overvalued On the issue of foreign investment inflow, Sanusi said that on paper CBN was right in its flexible exchange policy, but added that what was needed is getting the policy on the right path. He argued that the Naira was currently over valued, adding that if the policy was implemented to allow market forces and have the Naira to find its true level, it would attract inflows of foreign exchange, which he said, was very vital in finding solution to the current challenges facing the economy. Arguing that markets do not obey orders, Sanusi said that it was only profit and safety that drive investment flows. He also argued that if the economy receives greater inflow of dollars it would correct most of the troubles that have come with all the failures that had been seen so far, adding that this would also make the market begin to see a gradual narrowing of the gap between parallel and interbank exchange rates. Macroeconomic challenges On the macroeconomic challenges and government’s responses so far, Sanusi observed that the instinct of governments at this time is taxation. But this, according to him, needs to be reviewed critically in the light of what infrastructure and investment this can achieve. He, therefore, advised: “We must move away from the thinking that government must raise money to build infrastructure and big industries and begin to look at creating an enabling environment for private capital inflow to do these.” He also noted that people and policy makers are usually tempted to be panicky when there is crises and then make short term decisions for short term gains which will eventually create long term problems. He said: “Going by today’s demographics, in the next 20 years Nigeria will have over 80 million of its citizens between ages 20 and 40. The current economic model of big government with focus on tax and government led employment and development will not accommodate this population.” Instead, he advised the government to sell some of its assets in a manner that was transparent and not hurting the country. On this measure he also advised that the government could have a buy back option on the sale transactions.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/sanusi-backs-cbn-interest-rates/

Sanusi backs CBN on interest rates



 By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor The Emir of Kano, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi, has thrown his weight behind the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over a major policy disagreement with the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, on interest rate. Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II The Finance Minister had advised the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, meeting held Monday and Tuesday, to reduce interest rate by lowering its Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, from the present 14 per cent, to encourage investment and reflate the economy. But the MPC, which is the highest policy making body of CBN, chose to retain the policy rate in a unanimous vote by members on Tuesday. Sanusi, a former governor of the CBN, said he supported the MPC’s decision on the grounds that it underpinned the autonomy of the apex bank. In a reaction, he stated that he was actually worried about the Finance Minister’s position and was also afraid that the apex bank might succumb to the minister, but that he was greatly relieved when the apex bank’s decision was announced. He stated: “It is a positive thing. I was concerned that CBN would succumb. Because they did not, it means they have started being independent.” However, Sanusi, who made the remarks yesterday, at the launch of Afrinvest Nigerian Banking Reports, 2016, explained that if the MPR was lowered even by 200 bases points, it would not increase credit from banks to the economy as envisaged because of other constraining factors. On the other hand, he noted that a lower MPR would imply lower yields on money market instruments which would be a disincentive to investments in the money markets especially in the fixed income security segment and ultimately put a restraint on foreign portfolio investment inflows. He also stated that a lower MPR would fuel inflation further which was already high. Naira overvalued On the issue of foreign investment inflow, Sanusi said that on paper CBN was right in its flexible exchange policy, but added that what was needed is getting the policy on the right path. He argued that the Naira was currently over valued, adding that if the policy was implemented to allow market forces and have the Naira to find its true level, it would attract inflows of foreign exchange, which he said, was very vital in finding solution to the current challenges facing the economy. Arguing that markets do not obey orders, Sanusi said that it was only profit and safety that drive investment flows. He also argued that if the economy receives greater inflow of dollars it would correct most of the troubles that have come with all the failures that had been seen so far, adding that this would also make the market begin to see a gradual narrowing of the gap between parallel and interbank exchange rates. Macroeconomic challenges On the macroeconomic challenges and government’s responses so far, Sanusi observed that the instinct of governments at this time is taxation. But this, according to him, needs to be reviewed critically in the light of what infrastructure and investment this can achieve. He, therefore, advised: “We must move away from the thinking that government must raise money to build infrastructure and big industries and begin to look at creating an enabling environment for private capital inflow to do these.” He also noted that people and policy makers are usually tempted to be panicky when there is crises and then make short term decisions for short term gains which will eventually create long term problems. He said: “Going by today’s demographics, in the next 20 years Nigeria will have over 80 million of its citizens between ages 20 and 40. The current economic model of big government with focus on tax and government led employment and development will not accommodate this population.” Instead, he advised the government to sell some of its assets in a manner that was transparent and not hurting the country. On this measure he also advised that the government could have a buy back option on the sale transactions.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/sanusi-backs-cbn-interest-rates/



 By Victor Ahiuma-Young ORGANISED Labour, yesterday, kicked against clamour for the sale of national assets such as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Nigeria Liquefied National Gas Company, NLNGC, among others, describing the calls as not only evil but, unpatriotic aimed at continuous enslavement of Nigeria. Speaking through the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Joe Ajaero, it warned that any attempt to sell the assets would be resisted as previous privatization exercises only made few privileged individuals to appropriate national assets to the detriment of the general masses. In the statement by Ajaero, Labour noted that privatization exercise had failed woefully in Nigeria and the evidences abound throughout the country. The statement reads: “Congress views with utmost apprehension the recent call on the Federal Government by some highly placed individuals to sell-off our priced national assets especially the Nigeria Liquefied National Gas Company to private entities. We were alarmed at the call but considered it inconsequential at that time but agreed to raise the red flag on it and watch events closely. Our fears have however rebounded greatly keeping us on our toes on reading the text of the welcome back address to the 8th Senate which has been on as usual unprofitable recess by its President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. “We assert that this call is contemptuous of the Nigerian nation and its suffering masses. To seek to sell our remaining national patrimony is to say the least an attempt to mortgage our collective future in favour of a few economic cannibals and Buccaneers who unconscionably have commandeered the Nigerian state and its levers of power with the hope of using it to hijack our national patrimony.” Labour vowed that “Nigerian workers and masses cannot stand by and watch this group of jobbers whose source and history of wealth is well known to many Nigerians further plunge this nation deeper into the mud under the guise of seeking solutions for the perhaps contrived economic recession. Those whose actions in the past have all cumulated into the economic mess are now seeking avenues to offload and launder their stolen wealth. “Historically, no nation has had to sell off its treasures as a means of resolving recession. A man that trades his house for food will have no place to stay after the hunger is assuaged. The idea of selling off assets such as the NNPC and by extension the nation’s holdings in the JVCs, the NLNG, shares in international financial institutions such as ADB and IFC are rather paradoxical. It amounts to mortgaging the future of our unborn generation so that few individuals can satisfy their yearnings to control our national patrimony. “A sensible nation does not go on chest-thumping trying to sell its cash-cows or its performing assets in times of difficulties. These assets guarantees the nation’s present and future as it provides the much needed resources to continue running the nation.In Nigeria, we seem to have perfected the act of the absurd putting common sense and logic on its head all the time to our eternal detriment.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/labour-rejects-calls-sale-nnpc-nlng-others/

Labour rejects calls for sale of NNPC, NLNG, others


 By Victor Ahiuma-Young ORGANISED Labour, yesterday, kicked against clamour for the sale of national assets such as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Nigeria Liquefied National Gas Company, NLNGC, among others, describing the calls as not only evil but, unpatriotic aimed at continuous enslavement of Nigeria. Speaking through the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Joe Ajaero, it warned that any attempt to sell the assets would be resisted as previous privatization exercises only made few privileged individuals to appropriate national assets to the detriment of the general masses. In the statement by Ajaero, Labour noted that privatization exercise had failed woefully in Nigeria and the evidences abound throughout the country. The statement reads: “Congress views with utmost apprehension the recent call on the Federal Government by some highly placed individuals to sell-off our priced national assets especially the Nigeria Liquefied National Gas Company to private entities. We were alarmed at the call but considered it inconsequential at that time but agreed to raise the red flag on it and watch events closely. Our fears have however rebounded greatly keeping us on our toes on reading the text of the welcome back address to the 8th Senate which has been on as usual unprofitable recess by its President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. “We assert that this call is contemptuous of the Nigerian nation and its suffering masses. To seek to sell our remaining national patrimony is to say the least an attempt to mortgage our collective future in favour of a few economic cannibals and Buccaneers who unconscionably have commandeered the Nigerian state and its levers of power with the hope of using it to hijack our national patrimony.” Labour vowed that “Nigerian workers and masses cannot stand by and watch this group of jobbers whose source and history of wealth is well known to many Nigerians further plunge this nation deeper into the mud under the guise of seeking solutions for the perhaps contrived economic recession. Those whose actions in the past have all cumulated into the economic mess are now seeking avenues to offload and launder their stolen wealth. “Historically, no nation has had to sell off its treasures as a means of resolving recession. A man that trades his house for food will have no place to stay after the hunger is assuaged. The idea of selling off assets such as the NNPC and by extension the nation’s holdings in the JVCs, the NLNG, shares in international financial institutions such as ADB and IFC are rather paradoxical. It amounts to mortgaging the future of our unborn generation so that few individuals can satisfy their yearnings to control our national patrimony. “A sensible nation does not go on chest-thumping trying to sell its cash-cows or its performing assets in times of difficulties. These assets guarantees the nation’s present and future as it provides the much needed resources to continue running the nation.In Nigeria, we seem to have perfected the act of the absurd putting common sense and logic on its head all the time to our eternal detriment.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/labour-rejects-calls-sale-nnpc-nlng-others/





By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbarakwu, ABUJA—THE House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session yesterday, following a motion by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Orker Jev, over alleged infringement of members’ right and privileges by the former chairman of Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin. reps The House, presided over by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, resolved to refer the matter and Jibrin to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges for proper investigation, with a mandate to report its findings and make appropriate recommendations within a week. Jibrin had accused the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, of being behind the alleged padding of the 2016 budget. Jev in the motion, had stated that the privileges of members, practices, precedents were breached by Jibrin, adding that the punishment for the act was suspension for a period not less than six months. But he was interrupted by the Jibrin supporters, led by Aliyu Madaki, who represents Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was shouting point of order to stop him from delivering his motion. This threw the House into a rowdy session. While supporters of Dogara urged Jeff to go ahead, those of Jibrin, including members of the Transparent Group, made spirited but unsuccessful efforts to stop the motion. Jev, who moved the motion about 11:48am, had in his introductory remarks, stated that there were expectations, especially from the media that the House was going to be rowdy, adding, “we will disappoint them.” He said: “I am asking for permission to move a motion on the collective breaches of privileges of members.” This was greeted with repeated shout of nay from Jibrin’s supporters, and for about one hour, the House was rowdy as the sergeant-at-arms quickly formed a ring around the Mace to protect it. This did not, however, deter Jev who went ahead to read his motion, which was later passed through a resounding voice vote and referred to the Ossai Nicholas Ossai-led Committee on Ethics and Privileges. As the melee continued, Jibrin left the chamber, while supporters of Dogara who were in majority, started distributing green muffler bearing the name of the speaker. Jev, in his motion, noted that Jibrin was relieved of his appointment as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation on July 21, 2016, adding that a day after his removal, he (Jibrin) allegedly embarked on a campaign of calumny and denigration by making false and scandalous statements and publications in the print, electronic media and internet against the entire membership and institution of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. He said the contemptuous statements made by Jibrin against the House and its members were punishable by six months suspension. However, the embattled former Appropriations Committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said yesterday he would not appear before th ethics committee. He said he would only appear on the condition that the Ethics Committee conducted its investigation in public. Jibrin, who represents Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, said: “I attended the sitting of the House today (yesterday) and carefully observed the proceedings concerning the allegations of budget fraud and corruption I leveled against Speaker Dogara and three other principal officers.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/budget-padding-reps-rowdy-session/

Budget padding: Reps in rowdy session as Jibrin supporters battle suspension motion





By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbarakwu, ABUJA—THE House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session yesterday, following a motion by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Orker Jev, over alleged infringement of members’ right and privileges by the former chairman of Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin. reps The House, presided over by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, resolved to refer the matter and Jibrin to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges for proper investigation, with a mandate to report its findings and make appropriate recommendations within a week. Jibrin had accused the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, of being behind the alleged padding of the 2016 budget. Jev in the motion, had stated that the privileges of members, practices, precedents were breached by Jibrin, adding that the punishment for the act was suspension for a period not less than six months. But he was interrupted by the Jibrin supporters, led by Aliyu Madaki, who represents Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was shouting point of order to stop him from delivering his motion. This threw the House into a rowdy session. While supporters of Dogara urged Jeff to go ahead, those of Jibrin, including members of the Transparent Group, made spirited but unsuccessful efforts to stop the motion. Jev, who moved the motion about 11:48am, had in his introductory remarks, stated that there were expectations, especially from the media that the House was going to be rowdy, adding, “we will disappoint them.” He said: “I am asking for permission to move a motion on the collective breaches of privileges of members.” This was greeted with repeated shout of nay from Jibrin’s supporters, and for about one hour, the House was rowdy as the sergeant-at-arms quickly formed a ring around the Mace to protect it. This did not, however, deter Jev who went ahead to read his motion, which was later passed through a resounding voice vote and referred to the Ossai Nicholas Ossai-led Committee on Ethics and Privileges. As the melee continued, Jibrin left the chamber, while supporters of Dogara who were in majority, started distributing green muffler bearing the name of the speaker. Jev, in his motion, noted that Jibrin was relieved of his appointment as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation on July 21, 2016, adding that a day after his removal, he (Jibrin) allegedly embarked on a campaign of calumny and denigration by making false and scandalous statements and publications in the print, electronic media and internet against the entire membership and institution of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. He said the contemptuous statements made by Jibrin against the House and its members were punishable by six months suspension. However, the embattled former Appropriations Committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said yesterday he would not appear before th ethics committee. He said he would only appear on the condition that the Ethics Committee conducted its investigation in public. Jibrin, who represents Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, said: “I attended the sitting of the House today (yesterday) and carefully observed the proceedings concerning the allegations of budget fraud and corruption I leveled against Speaker Dogara and three other principal officers.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/budget-padding-reps-rowdy-session/



Headlines, NewsComments By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke *Want Adeosun, Udoma sacked or redeployed *Call for renegotiation of pacts with oil majors to free funds for devt *Seek cut in interest rates, provision of guarantees to secure bank deposits *Ekweremadu, Akume disagree on sale of government oil assets ABUJA — TO fast track Nigeria’s recovery from economic recession, some Senators, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack or redeploy some of his ministers, who are currently saddled with the onerous task of managing the economy. Specifically, the legislators want the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her counterpart in the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, relieved of their duties or redeployed to other ministries where they could be more competent and productive. The call was one of the numerous suggestions the lawmakers proffered, yesterday, to put the country on the path of recovery when they began debate on the economic quagmire the country is mired in. The debate, which came 24 hours after Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, urged the Federal Government to consider the sale of oil assets, saw no fewer than 23 senators reeling out ideas on the way forward. According to the senators, a quick exit from recession depends on how urgently the nation tackles a host of economic, social, political, educational, health and attitudinal issues. Short, medium, long term solutions The senators, who suggested short, medium and long term solutions, urged the government to look at power devolution, granting of autonomy to states and local governments, sale of non-performing assets, renegotiation of agreements with oil majors to free resources for development, confidence building to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) as well as restructuring of the polity. According to them, President Buhari should engage the masses directly instead of town hall meetings by ministers, reshuffling of his cabinet, and amendment of the constitution to empower the Federal Government to save a percentage of the nation’s revenues against the rainy day. Other suggestions include full diversification of the economy, encouraging small and medium scale industries to thrive and produce for export, increase in spending by the government, reduction of interest rates, provision of guarantees to safeguard bank deposits, generating new sources of forex earnings, ban of food items that can be locally produced, constitution of boards of federal agencies as well as blockage of leakages in the system. The lawmakers also asked the government to pacify Niger Delta militants through dialogue to stop the present blowing up of pipelines in the Niger Delta. President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari speaks at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum at the Plaza Hotel, September 21, 2016 in New York City. The forum is focused on trade and investment opportunities on the African continent for African heads of government and American business leaders. President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari speaks at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum at the Plaza Hotel, September 21, 2016 in New York City. The forum is focused on trade and investment opportunities on the African continent for African heads of government and American business leaders. They also called for the use of recovered funds to finance the 2016 budget, adding that the government should invest in agriculture, revisit the Treasury Single Account (TSA), borrow in the short term to stabilise the economy, provide legal backing for the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF and the recently launched ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign by President Buhari. According to them, there is also need for training and empowerment of youths and women, supply of farm inputs like fertilizers and seeds, addressing multiple taxation, review of the minimum wage and demand for higher productivity from civil servants, improvement in the security situation and care for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, using 10 per cent of the national budget to fund agriculture, increasing the petroleum refining capacity of the nation through establishment of modular refineries, establishment of health and educational centres of excellence to discourage medical and educational tourism. Ekweremadu, Melaye speak In their contributions, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu West) and Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) called on President Buhari to rejig his cabinet by either sacking incompetent ministers or reshuffling some by sending them to other ministries where they could perform better. While Ekweremadu urged the President to move the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and Budget & Planning Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma to other ministries where they could be more productive, Senator Melaye called for outright sack. Ekweremadu,who particularly asked the President to move Udoma to the Ministry of Trade and Investment, stressed that there was need to restructure by unbundling the Federal Government because it was over-loaded at the moment, adding that there was also the need to diversify the economy. Ekweremadu and Senator George Akume (APC, Benue North-West), however, opposed the call for sale of government’s oil assets. Senator Akume cautioned against the calls for the sale of Federal Government assets “since the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has said the country would come out of recession in the fourth quarter.” He added: “We should put so much in agriculture to revamp the economy. I am worried because people who are telling us to sell these assets are people who have big pockets. Our assets must remain for us. For many years, we have been talking about cash calls.” Ekweremadu,however, advocated the need to amend Section 162 (3,4,5,6) of the constitution with a view to stopping the monthly sharing of money among the federal, states and local governments. Ekweremadu said: “In the first place, distinguished colleagues, we passed a budget for 2016 and we envisaged the situation we ‘ve found ourselves and we believe that the best thing to do is to increase the budget for 2016 so as to reflate the economy. But we are almost in the last quarter and yet no releases are being made. I think the best thing to do at this point, your excellency, distinguished colleagues, is for the government to consciously release as much money as possible into the economy. “Yes, we are saying there is no money; the oil price has dropped but we were also told that through the TSA, we have about N3 trillion somewhere. We were also told that the former minister of petroleum returned $20 million. We were also told that politicians have returned several billions of Naira, Dollars and Pounds. It is either that this is not true or that the money is somewhere and if it is not true, someone needs to apologize to us and state the correct thing and if it is true, this money has to be released to contractors so that they can go to work and those in the construction industries will be paid and then they will pay the school fees of their children and money will circulate. If we have money in the economy, I am sure that shortly, we will also find some relief. “Secondly, the President needs to look at his cabinet. He has to put square pegs in square holes. Your Excellency, distinguished colleagues, Udo Udoma is my friend, an accomplished lawyer for that matter but in fairness to him, I believe he can do better in another ministry especially like Trade and Investment; certainly not Budget and Planning. The Minister of Finance can do much better in another ministry. At this critical time, we need somebody who is more experienced to man the Ministry of Finance so that he can be able to coordinate the strategies for this recovery. “I also believe that we need to have all hands on deck right now. It does not matter their religion, it does not matter their party. We need to go all out and look for the best brains to help us come out of this recession. At this point, it does not matter to us whether you are APC or PDP or you are non-aligned. The important thing is that the President has to look for the best people to come together to proffer solutions. It does not matter which party you belong to.” Calls for fresh deal between FG, oil majors Ekweremadu also called for fresh negotiations between the Federal Government and oil companies, saying such negotiations would enable the government to free enough money, adding that the government needed to boost investors’ confidence by stopping the labeling of all Nigerians as corrupt persons. “We need restructuring. We need to unbundle this federal government from security, to power, to agric, to social sectors. A situation where the Federal Government is in charge of everything is not helpful. We need to unbundle this country. If you like, call it restructuring. It might be a long term strategy and it might be in phases and it is something that we need to do quickly. “I have heard about the issue of selling of our assets. I need to caution that other countries are not doing the same. United Arab Emirates (UAE) does not even allow you to buy oil wells, let alone selling them. And of course, for a country like Saudi Arabia their budget each year is run by investments from their oil revenue. I’m sure we will not be fair to the next generation. So, if we must sell, we have to sell the non-performing assets so that people can turn them around and generate employment. We need to amend Section 162 especially from 3,4,5,6 where each money in the federation account is enjoined to be shared among the other levels of government.” In his contribution, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South) noted that the major economic problem was that of militancy in the Niger Delta, just as he urged the Federal Government to resolve the problem and ensure increase in oil production is guaranteed. Contributing, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP, Delta North) who decried the cut in allocation for the Niger Delta and Amnesty programme, said that there must be confidence in justice and judiciary for investors to have confidence in Nigeria, just as he stressed the need for dialogue with Niger Delta militants. Senator Nwaoboshi said: “We all know what is meant by recession. When a country witnesses negative economic growth for two quarters, it is said to be in recession. Mr President, I would like to speak on the issue of rule of law, because for an economy to grow, the investors must know that they will have justice in whatever they are doing. “So, I want to say here that one of the things that is causing the problem is lack of confidence in our judicial system and in the law that we have in this country. Let me say that that as long as we continue to threaten the militants and the people from that area, they will continue to resist and they will continue to destroy the pipelines there. I believe that if we are talking about the immediate remedy to this recession, we should dialogue with the people in that area.” On his part, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) called for a critical roundtable discussion, saying the body language of President Buhari must change to attract investors to boost the economy and get the country out of the present economic crisis. Also contributing, Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena (APC, Edo North) said, “When this government came on stream, the only commodity we have nosedived to $27 per barrel. “If we now follow the principle of what you have, there was nothing to share, that is the cause of this recession that we are having now. And to compound it, the supply aspect of the commodity was reduced following the restiveness in the Niger Delta. Now, the immediate solution to this problem is to dialogue with these Niger Delta militants so that the supply side of the crude oil could rise. Again, the TSA should be reviewed since it has generated a lot of controversy so that there can be more money in circulation.” Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North) said, “I want to say here that we need a complete paradigm shift. First and foremost, the constitution has given us power of oversight over all these agencies. The first time we invited the minister of finance and the CBN governor, the minister said it was a technical recession and that we were going to get out of it very soon but we didn’t ask where is the template, where is the landmark, where is the checklist so that at every point, if it’s going to be quarterly or monthly, we tick what we have done. But as I speak to you today, there’s no timeline. “Having said that, I want to say again that we should watch what we say because at times, they say what you said would be used as evidence against you. When we leave this country and go outside this country and paint this country in a very bad light, then who will come here to invest? When you say that you are so corrupt, who will come here to invest? So, we must watch what we say, I’m talking from a political point of view, not just economic. These are practical things, these are physical things, things we can say and the effect will be immediate. So, I think we should watch what we say, who we talk to and the way we present this country.” In his contribution, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) said that the nation’s dependence on oil revenue has been the problem and that the poor in the country have been living under recession. Senator Sani said: “It is very unfortunate that we found ourselves here deliberately because we should have forecast that dependence on oil revenue cannot be sustainable. I must say this very clearly that the poor in Nigeria have always lived under recession. And what this recession has done is to increase their hardship. “You can’t depend on one source of revenue and not find yourself in this kind of situation. We must cut interest rates, start diversification of the economy, empower small businesses so that they will be able to produce and export. The key to getting out of this is export of goods and services. “Removing the Minister of Finance will not be able to get us out of this problem because this recession is not Nigeria’s alone. It is all countries that are dependent on oil revenue.” Also contributing, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (APC, Kano Central) said: “The Federal Government should liaise with states, local governments and other stakeholders in the training and re-training of particularly youth and women in various trades like poultry, horticulture, football making, bee farming, plumbing, mechanics, interior decoration, leather works, butchery, vulcanizing, saloon business, livestock etc. “The Federal Government needs to create opportunities that will link these trainees with financial institutions like Micro-Finance Banks and where possible assist them with start-up capital. The key driver that will ensure the diversification of our economy is for government to ensure the supply of a reliable and affordable power supply. Governments should focus more on construction works, agric Governments spending should be directed at projects like Agriculture and Construction works because these often always have direct multiplying effect on the lives of the citizens. Furthermore, the private sector should also be encouraged to invest in these two sectors. “Government should ensure timely supply of subsidized farm inputs. Another critical issue that could help address our economic woes is for government to provide fertilizers, seeds and pesticides at a subsidized rate and at the appropriate time before the rains set in.” Speaking further, Senator Dino Melaye who noted that hunger and poverty neither recognise nor respect political parties or religious affiliations, said, “Let us put politics aside because our bolekaja approach to this boju-boju economics will not help us.” Melaye who called for more concerted efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), blocking of leakages and dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers, said there was need for strategic ministries and agencies of government to be manned by competent and experienced Nigerians, even as he called on the Senate President to personally take the resolutions of the Senate after the debate to the President. Also contributing, Senator John Enoh, PDP, Cross River Central who called on his colleagues to put politics aside and think for the country on how to solve the recession through new direction and initiatives, said that the recession was painful as it is provides an opportunity for the country to re-strategize and move forward, adding, “Let government increase spending. The economy has contracted but deficit spending will make sure the economy does not suffer.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/recession-rejig-cabinet-senators-tell-buhari/

Recession: Rejig your cabinet, Senators tell Buhari



Headlines, NewsComments By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke *Want Adeosun, Udoma sacked or redeployed *Call for renegotiation of pacts with oil majors to free funds for devt *Seek cut in interest rates, provision of guarantees to secure bank deposits *Ekweremadu, Akume disagree on sale of government oil assets ABUJA — TO fast track Nigeria’s recovery from economic recession, some Senators, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack or redeploy some of his ministers, who are currently saddled with the onerous task of managing the economy. Specifically, the legislators want the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her counterpart in the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, relieved of their duties or redeployed to other ministries where they could be more competent and productive. The call was one of the numerous suggestions the lawmakers proffered, yesterday, to put the country on the path of recovery when they began debate on the economic quagmire the country is mired in. The debate, which came 24 hours after Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, urged the Federal Government to consider the sale of oil assets, saw no fewer than 23 senators reeling out ideas on the way forward. According to the senators, a quick exit from recession depends on how urgently the nation tackles a host of economic, social, political, educational, health and attitudinal issues. Short, medium, long term solutions The senators, who suggested short, medium and long term solutions, urged the government to look at power devolution, granting of autonomy to states and local governments, sale of non-performing assets, renegotiation of agreements with oil majors to free resources for development, confidence building to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) as well as restructuring of the polity. According to them, President Buhari should engage the masses directly instead of town hall meetings by ministers, reshuffling of his cabinet, and amendment of the constitution to empower the Federal Government to save a percentage of the nation’s revenues against the rainy day. Other suggestions include full diversification of the economy, encouraging small and medium scale industries to thrive and produce for export, increase in spending by the government, reduction of interest rates, provision of guarantees to safeguard bank deposits, generating new sources of forex earnings, ban of food items that can be locally produced, constitution of boards of federal agencies as well as blockage of leakages in the system. The lawmakers also asked the government to pacify Niger Delta militants through dialogue to stop the present blowing up of pipelines in the Niger Delta. President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari speaks at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum at the Plaza Hotel, September 21, 2016 in New York City. The forum is focused on trade and investment opportunities on the African continent for African heads of government and American business leaders. President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari speaks at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum at the Plaza Hotel, September 21, 2016 in New York City. The forum is focused on trade and investment opportunities on the African continent for African heads of government and American business leaders. They also called for the use of recovered funds to finance the 2016 budget, adding that the government should invest in agriculture, revisit the Treasury Single Account (TSA), borrow in the short term to stabilise the economy, provide legal backing for the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF and the recently launched ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign by President Buhari. According to them, there is also need for training and empowerment of youths and women, supply of farm inputs like fertilizers and seeds, addressing multiple taxation, review of the minimum wage and demand for higher productivity from civil servants, improvement in the security situation and care for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, using 10 per cent of the national budget to fund agriculture, increasing the petroleum refining capacity of the nation through establishment of modular refineries, establishment of health and educational centres of excellence to discourage medical and educational tourism. Ekweremadu, Melaye speak In their contributions, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu West) and Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) called on President Buhari to rejig his cabinet by either sacking incompetent ministers or reshuffling some by sending them to other ministries where they could perform better. While Ekweremadu urged the President to move the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and Budget & Planning Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma to other ministries where they could be more productive, Senator Melaye called for outright sack. Ekweremadu,who particularly asked the President to move Udoma to the Ministry of Trade and Investment, stressed that there was need to restructure by unbundling the Federal Government because it was over-loaded at the moment, adding that there was also the need to diversify the economy. Ekweremadu and Senator George Akume (APC, Benue North-West), however, opposed the call for sale of government’s oil assets. Senator Akume cautioned against the calls for the sale of Federal Government assets “since the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has said the country would come out of recession in the fourth quarter.” He added: “We should put so much in agriculture to revamp the economy. I am worried because people who are telling us to sell these assets are people who have big pockets. Our assets must remain for us. For many years, we have been talking about cash calls.” Ekweremadu,however, advocated the need to amend Section 162 (3,4,5,6) of the constitution with a view to stopping the monthly sharing of money among the federal, states and local governments. Ekweremadu said: “In the first place, distinguished colleagues, we passed a budget for 2016 and we envisaged the situation we ‘ve found ourselves and we believe that the best thing to do is to increase the budget for 2016 so as to reflate the economy. But we are almost in the last quarter and yet no releases are being made. I think the best thing to do at this point, your excellency, distinguished colleagues, is for the government to consciously release as much money as possible into the economy. “Yes, we are saying there is no money; the oil price has dropped but we were also told that through the TSA, we have about N3 trillion somewhere. We were also told that the former minister of petroleum returned $20 million. We were also told that politicians have returned several billions of Naira, Dollars and Pounds. It is either that this is not true or that the money is somewhere and if it is not true, someone needs to apologize to us and state the correct thing and if it is true, this money has to be released to contractors so that they can go to work and those in the construction industries will be paid and then they will pay the school fees of their children and money will circulate. If we have money in the economy, I am sure that shortly, we will also find some relief. “Secondly, the President needs to look at his cabinet. He has to put square pegs in square holes. Your Excellency, distinguished colleagues, Udo Udoma is my friend, an accomplished lawyer for that matter but in fairness to him, I believe he can do better in another ministry especially like Trade and Investment; certainly not Budget and Planning. The Minister of Finance can do much better in another ministry. At this critical time, we need somebody who is more experienced to man the Ministry of Finance so that he can be able to coordinate the strategies for this recovery. “I also believe that we need to have all hands on deck right now. It does not matter their religion, it does not matter their party. We need to go all out and look for the best brains to help us come out of this recession. At this point, it does not matter to us whether you are APC or PDP or you are non-aligned. The important thing is that the President has to look for the best people to come together to proffer solutions. It does not matter which party you belong to.” Calls for fresh deal between FG, oil majors Ekweremadu also called for fresh negotiations between the Federal Government and oil companies, saying such negotiations would enable the government to free enough money, adding that the government needed to boost investors’ confidence by stopping the labeling of all Nigerians as corrupt persons. “We need restructuring. We need to unbundle this federal government from security, to power, to agric, to social sectors. A situation where the Federal Government is in charge of everything is not helpful. We need to unbundle this country. If you like, call it restructuring. It might be a long term strategy and it might be in phases and it is something that we need to do quickly. “I have heard about the issue of selling of our assets. I need to caution that other countries are not doing the same. United Arab Emirates (UAE) does not even allow you to buy oil wells, let alone selling them. And of course, for a country like Saudi Arabia their budget each year is run by investments from their oil revenue. I’m sure we will not be fair to the next generation. So, if we must sell, we have to sell the non-performing assets so that people can turn them around and generate employment. We need to amend Section 162 especially from 3,4,5,6 where each money in the federation account is enjoined to be shared among the other levels of government.” In his contribution, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South) noted that the major economic problem was that of militancy in the Niger Delta, just as he urged the Federal Government to resolve the problem and ensure increase in oil production is guaranteed. Contributing, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP, Delta North) who decried the cut in allocation for the Niger Delta and Amnesty programme, said that there must be confidence in justice and judiciary for investors to have confidence in Nigeria, just as he stressed the need for dialogue with Niger Delta militants. Senator Nwaoboshi said: “We all know what is meant by recession. When a country witnesses negative economic growth for two quarters, it is said to be in recession. Mr President, I would like to speak on the issue of rule of law, because for an economy to grow, the investors must know that they will have justice in whatever they are doing. “So, I want to say here that one of the things that is causing the problem is lack of confidence in our judicial system and in the law that we have in this country. Let me say that that as long as we continue to threaten the militants and the people from that area, they will continue to resist and they will continue to destroy the pipelines there. I believe that if we are talking about the immediate remedy to this recession, we should dialogue with the people in that area.” On his part, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) called for a critical roundtable discussion, saying the body language of President Buhari must change to attract investors to boost the economy and get the country out of the present economic crisis. Also contributing, Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena (APC, Edo North) said, “When this government came on stream, the only commodity we have nosedived to $27 per barrel. “If we now follow the principle of what you have, there was nothing to share, that is the cause of this recession that we are having now. And to compound it, the supply aspect of the commodity was reduced following the restiveness in the Niger Delta. Now, the immediate solution to this problem is to dialogue with these Niger Delta militants so that the supply side of the crude oil could rise. Again, the TSA should be reviewed since it has generated a lot of controversy so that there can be more money in circulation.” Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North) said, “I want to say here that we need a complete paradigm shift. First and foremost, the constitution has given us power of oversight over all these agencies. The first time we invited the minister of finance and the CBN governor, the minister said it was a technical recession and that we were going to get out of it very soon but we didn’t ask where is the template, where is the landmark, where is the checklist so that at every point, if it’s going to be quarterly or monthly, we tick what we have done. But as I speak to you today, there’s no timeline. “Having said that, I want to say again that we should watch what we say because at times, they say what you said would be used as evidence against you. When we leave this country and go outside this country and paint this country in a very bad light, then who will come here to invest? When you say that you are so corrupt, who will come here to invest? So, we must watch what we say, I’m talking from a political point of view, not just economic. These are practical things, these are physical things, things we can say and the effect will be immediate. So, I think we should watch what we say, who we talk to and the way we present this country.” In his contribution, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) said that the nation’s dependence on oil revenue has been the problem and that the poor in the country have been living under recession. Senator Sani said: “It is very unfortunate that we found ourselves here deliberately because we should have forecast that dependence on oil revenue cannot be sustainable. I must say this very clearly that the poor in Nigeria have always lived under recession. And what this recession has done is to increase their hardship. “You can’t depend on one source of revenue and not find yourself in this kind of situation. We must cut interest rates, start diversification of the economy, empower small businesses so that they will be able to produce and export. The key to getting out of this is export of goods and services. “Removing the Minister of Finance will not be able to get us out of this problem because this recession is not Nigeria’s alone. It is all countries that are dependent on oil revenue.” Also contributing, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (APC, Kano Central) said: “The Federal Government should liaise with states, local governments and other stakeholders in the training and re-training of particularly youth and women in various trades like poultry, horticulture, football making, bee farming, plumbing, mechanics, interior decoration, leather works, butchery, vulcanizing, saloon business, livestock etc. “The Federal Government needs to create opportunities that will link these trainees with financial institutions like Micro-Finance Banks and where possible assist them with start-up capital. The key driver that will ensure the diversification of our economy is for government to ensure the supply of a reliable and affordable power supply. Governments should focus more on construction works, agric Governments spending should be directed at projects like Agriculture and Construction works because these often always have direct multiplying effect on the lives of the citizens. Furthermore, the private sector should also be encouraged to invest in these two sectors. “Government should ensure timely supply of subsidized farm inputs. Another critical issue that could help address our economic woes is for government to provide fertilizers, seeds and pesticides at a subsidized rate and at the appropriate time before the rains set in.” Speaking further, Senator Dino Melaye who noted that hunger and poverty neither recognise nor respect political parties or religious affiliations, said, “Let us put politics aside because our bolekaja approach to this boju-boju economics will not help us.” Melaye who called for more concerted efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), blocking of leakages and dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers, said there was need for strategic ministries and agencies of government to be manned by competent and experienced Nigerians, even as he called on the Senate President to personally take the resolutions of the Senate after the debate to the President. Also contributing, Senator John Enoh, PDP, Cross River Central who called on his colleagues to put politics aside and think for the country on how to solve the recession through new direction and initiatives, said that the recession was painful as it is provides an opportunity for the country to re-strategize and move forward, adding, “Let government increase spending. The economy has contracted but deficit spending will make sure the economy does not suffer.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/recession-rejig-cabinet-senators-tell-buhari/



Headlines, Special ReportComments By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor A development that may rock the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the Federal Capital Development Administration, FCDA, is building up and may crystallise into a show of force or legal tussle. The spat is masterminded by the Nigerian Army which, on Saturday, September 3, 2016, sealed off the road leading to the 230 hectares of land known as the Maitama Extension District and drove out the workers of a company, Kakatar Civil Engineering Limited, providing engineering infrastructure for the district. The army says the land belongs to it. It did not, however, show any document to buttress its claim of ownership but has deployed soldiers to the site. By that action, the company’s working tools, like asphalt-producing plants, rock crushers, state-of-the-art fabrication workshop and earth moving equipment like bulldozers and excavators, as well as trucks, are trapped: they can neither be maintained nor repaired while those to be moved out for external jobs in locations like Karishi and Kyami, where the company is also working for the FCDA, have been barred from leaving the premises. It is not as if the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, has stoked any fire since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari last year, it is the military high command that is taking the fight to his doorsteps, claiming that its vast land in the area has been encroached on by the firm being run by a civil rights lawyer, Azibaola Roberts, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan. In fact, the rumour mill has been awash with stories that the entire Maitama Extension, a new district stretching over 230 hectares of land with over 400 plots allocated to Nigerians and duly captured in the Abuja master plan, is owned by Jonathan and is merely being managed by Kakatar. To worsen matters for the company and the FCDA, the massive parcel of land, overlooking the Katampe, Mpape, Guzape hills, shares borders with the Lungi Barracks of the Nigerian Army, making it possible for soldiers to hitherto provide security for the Kakatar premises. As a rule, no visitor could access the vast Kakatar premises, which hosts its construction facilities, without being cleared by armed soldiers, who manned the gates. The relationship between the company and the army had been very cordial until that morning when soldiers, claiming to ‘be acting on instruction from above’, changed their attitude and decided to act as an ‘enemy’ to Kakatar and its workers. former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the State House in Abuja former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan “We are on order from the Chief of the Army Staff to take over this place and not to allow anyone in or out of the premises,” a soldier, mounting sentry at the first gate, warned a journalist, who attempted to penetrate the compound. “It was one of our generals, who led the team of soldiers to take over this place, last night, but we do not know the reason for our being here,” the soldier said, refusing to disclose his name. ‘No to Jonathan District’ The point remains that as of the time of the invasion, there has been no claim by Kakartar that the said land belongs to it. Findings show that even when a former FCT Minister renamed the district after Jonathan, the former President swiftly rejected the ‘Jonathan District’ appellation and ordered the said minister to revert to the popularly known ‘Maitama Extension’. A scrutiny of the list of the owners of the allocation shows that the former President was not even allocated any plot in the said district by the FCDA, which, however, generously gave vast parcels of land to former heads of state, serving and former top military officials, top former ruling party leaders and some powerful and influential traditional and religious leaders in the country. In short, the Maitama Extension was carefully planned as highbrow residency for the mighty and powerful in the doorsteps of the military barracks for added security. Perhaps, that explains why it was tucked on the fringes of the Lungi Barracks, near the powerful Brigades of Guards Headquarters of the Nigerian Army between Asokoro and Maitama Districts. And, as an unwritten but operational rule, in every district where FCDA awards contract for the development of infrastructure, it is customary for the contractor to be provided with a temporary space for building of its site offices. The FCDA also maintains an oversight function offices in the yard to provide supervision for the contractor in the execution of the contract. It is, perhaps, for that reason, that Kakatar was provided with an area to use as its temporary site yard to execute the contract awarded to it by then Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed in 2011. The district was actually designated as such by Senator Adamu Aliero, the Minister of the FCT under Yar’ Adua government in 2008 alongside Katampe and Katampe Extension. Virtually all the plots were alloted by that regime to various allottees. It was eventually awarded to Kakatar for the development of the infrastructure and made history as the first Abuja district’s infrastructural development project in the history of the FCT to be awarded to a wholly Nigerian construction and engineering firm and the company never shied away from its responsibility. Under the project, Kakatar is to construct a total of 23 kilometres of road of various types, one major bridge to link the various communities, provide 26.4 kilometres length of storm water line of various sizes, 31.8 kilometres length of four sewer line of various sizes; 38.7 kilometres length of water supply lines with relevant accessories and a booster pump station and 1000m3 of clean water reservoir. In addition, the company is expected to construct a network of electricity distribution and telecommunication ducts with a 33 KV/11KV injection substation and 11/0.415KV transformer as well as underground cables for distribution and plot connections. Fate of allotees Apparently to prove that it is capable of doing what a foreign firm can do, the company has gone far in the provision of relevant infrastructure under the terms of the contract. This is clearly evident in the FCDA budget which has earmarked N2.5 billion for the settlement of outstanding liabilities to Kakatar and the continuation of work on the Maitama Extension project in its 2016 project approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. Interestingly, all the workers of Kakatar are Nigerians and they have taken steps to deliver quality job. At completion, the Maitama Extension District is expected to be an improved version of the present day Maitama District, Abuja. But like a thunder from the blues, the Nigerian Army dealt a deadly blow to the smooth working operations of the company and does not appear to be in a hurry to lift its siege on the land. A few days after seizing the premises, the Nigerian Army came out to justify its action, saying the land was its own and that it took it back to prevent further encroachment. The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said: “The said property is on Nigerian Army land and the army will not allow anybody to encroach on its land. Consequently, the property has to be sealed to prevent further encroachment,” Usman said. But the takeover of the company’s premises and the denial of access to its workers has thrown up many questions than answers because of the over 400 plots of land allocated to top Nigerians in the same premises. Although top management staff of the company went to the Army Headquarters last Monday to find out why the army descended on its site office, they were not given any concrete answer. The authorities did not also say what has become the fate of the top Nigerians who own the plots and whether they had also seized the plots as part of its property along with the Kakatar site which is believed to run into billions of Naira. There has been no other communication with the company ever since. However, the implication appears to be that with the army takeover of the Maitama Extension land and its unwillingness to allow the construction company’s workers access to Kakatar site, the owners of the over 400 plots have also forfeited them to the army, leaving the FCDA, which issued them the plots with certificates of occupancy, in a dilemma. While the FCDA may not be able to physically slug it out with the army, it is likely to be battered by those allocated the seized plots. In fact, given the status of the plot owners, it is to be expected that legal and physical forces could be applied on the FCDA by the allotees. It was learnt that the plot owners were boiling for legal action against the Nigerian Army and the FCDA over the forceful takeover of the property duly paid for. The beleagued plot owners expect the minister or his representatives to speak on the status of their plots but he has not been forthcoming allegedly because he is as puzzled as Kakatar by the action of the military. The seizure of the land by the army also raises the fear that the construction of the official quarters of the Senate President, his deputy, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other principal officers of the National Assembly, at various stages of completion, may be stalled. In fact, most of the official quarters of the senior government officials are at the level of being completed while the provision of infrastructure by the company has also reached advanced stage. But many privately-owned property are already completed and ready for occupation. The major bridge linking all the facilities and segments in the district has been completed along with many roads, water, sewage ducts and electricity lines. Kakatar has expressed surprise at the action of the Nigerian Army, saying it had not breached any known law to warrant the action by the soldiers. Spokesman for the company, Mr. Austin Ekeinde, said in a statement that the action of the Nigerian Army had caused the firm daily losses estimated at hundreds of millions of Naira and caused untold hardship for thousands of families whose workers in Kakatar are now being forced to stay home. “It is instructive to note at no time did the company suggest or claim that the land upon which it was using as a site to coordinate the project belongs to Kakatar. Never!”, Ekeinde said. “All that we have been doing is to speedily complete the contract in accordance with the terms given by the FCDA and pull out our multi-million equipment so that the plot owners can move into their property and live happily. “And as a proof of our sincerity of purpose, and good neighborliness, no notice of any security breach or infraction has ever been sent to us by the Nigerian Army. “Nigerians should also note that no enquiry as to our presence or intention to recover any land was ever sent to us before the costly invasion locking in our equipment and driving away thousands of Nigerians working with us.” Apparently angered by the development, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, slammed the Nigerian Army, describing the forceful takeover of the company’s premises as dictatorial and unwarranted in a decent democratic setting.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/how-soldiers-seized-jonathan-linked-multi-billion-naira-firm/

How soldiers seized Jonathan linked multi billion naira firm On September 11, 20169:12



Headlines, Special ReportComments By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor A development that may rock the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the Federal Capital Development Administration, FCDA, is building up and may crystallise into a show of force or legal tussle. The spat is masterminded by the Nigerian Army which, on Saturday, September 3, 2016, sealed off the road leading to the 230 hectares of land known as the Maitama Extension District and drove out the workers of a company, Kakatar Civil Engineering Limited, providing engineering infrastructure for the district. The army says the land belongs to it. It did not, however, show any document to buttress its claim of ownership but has deployed soldiers to the site. By that action, the company’s working tools, like asphalt-producing plants, rock crushers, state-of-the-art fabrication workshop and earth moving equipment like bulldozers and excavators, as well as trucks, are trapped: they can neither be maintained nor repaired while those to be moved out for external jobs in locations like Karishi and Kyami, where the company is also working for the FCDA, have been barred from leaving the premises. It is not as if the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, has stoked any fire since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari last year, it is the military high command that is taking the fight to his doorsteps, claiming that its vast land in the area has been encroached on by the firm being run by a civil rights lawyer, Azibaola Roberts, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan. In fact, the rumour mill has been awash with stories that the entire Maitama Extension, a new district stretching over 230 hectares of land with over 400 plots allocated to Nigerians and duly captured in the Abuja master plan, is owned by Jonathan and is merely being managed by Kakatar. To worsen matters for the company and the FCDA, the massive parcel of land, overlooking the Katampe, Mpape, Guzape hills, shares borders with the Lungi Barracks of the Nigerian Army, making it possible for soldiers to hitherto provide security for the Kakatar premises. As a rule, no visitor could access the vast Kakatar premises, which hosts its construction facilities, without being cleared by armed soldiers, who manned the gates. The relationship between the company and the army had been very cordial until that morning when soldiers, claiming to ‘be acting on instruction from above’, changed their attitude and decided to act as an ‘enemy’ to Kakatar and its workers. former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the State House in Abuja former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan “We are on order from the Chief of the Army Staff to take over this place and not to allow anyone in or out of the premises,” a soldier, mounting sentry at the first gate, warned a journalist, who attempted to penetrate the compound. “It was one of our generals, who led the team of soldiers to take over this place, last night, but we do not know the reason for our being here,” the soldier said, refusing to disclose his name. ‘No to Jonathan District’ The point remains that as of the time of the invasion, there has been no claim by Kakartar that the said land belongs to it. Findings show that even when a former FCT Minister renamed the district after Jonathan, the former President swiftly rejected the ‘Jonathan District’ appellation and ordered the said minister to revert to the popularly known ‘Maitama Extension’. A scrutiny of the list of the owners of the allocation shows that the former President was not even allocated any plot in the said district by the FCDA, which, however, generously gave vast parcels of land to former heads of state, serving and former top military officials, top former ruling party leaders and some powerful and influential traditional and religious leaders in the country. In short, the Maitama Extension was carefully planned as highbrow residency for the mighty and powerful in the doorsteps of the military barracks for added security. Perhaps, that explains why it was tucked on the fringes of the Lungi Barracks, near the powerful Brigades of Guards Headquarters of the Nigerian Army between Asokoro and Maitama Districts. And, as an unwritten but operational rule, in every district where FCDA awards contract for the development of infrastructure, it is customary for the contractor to be provided with a temporary space for building of its site offices. The FCDA also maintains an oversight function offices in the yard to provide supervision for the contractor in the execution of the contract. It is, perhaps, for that reason, that Kakatar was provided with an area to use as its temporary site yard to execute the contract awarded to it by then Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed in 2011. The district was actually designated as such by Senator Adamu Aliero, the Minister of the FCT under Yar’ Adua government in 2008 alongside Katampe and Katampe Extension. Virtually all the plots were alloted by that regime to various allottees. It was eventually awarded to Kakatar for the development of the infrastructure and made history as the first Abuja district’s infrastructural development project in the history of the FCT to be awarded to a wholly Nigerian construction and engineering firm and the company never shied away from its responsibility. Under the project, Kakatar is to construct a total of 23 kilometres of road of various types, one major bridge to link the various communities, provide 26.4 kilometres length of storm water line of various sizes, 31.8 kilometres length of four sewer line of various sizes; 38.7 kilometres length of water supply lines with relevant accessories and a booster pump station and 1000m3 of clean water reservoir. In addition, the company is expected to construct a network of electricity distribution and telecommunication ducts with a 33 KV/11KV injection substation and 11/0.415KV transformer as well as underground cables for distribution and plot connections. Fate of allotees Apparently to prove that it is capable of doing what a foreign firm can do, the company has gone far in the provision of relevant infrastructure under the terms of the contract. This is clearly evident in the FCDA budget which has earmarked N2.5 billion for the settlement of outstanding liabilities to Kakatar and the continuation of work on the Maitama Extension project in its 2016 project approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. Interestingly, all the workers of Kakatar are Nigerians and they have taken steps to deliver quality job. At completion, the Maitama Extension District is expected to be an improved version of the present day Maitama District, Abuja. But like a thunder from the blues, the Nigerian Army dealt a deadly blow to the smooth working operations of the company and does not appear to be in a hurry to lift its siege on the land. A few days after seizing the premises, the Nigerian Army came out to justify its action, saying the land was its own and that it took it back to prevent further encroachment. The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said: “The said property is on Nigerian Army land and the army will not allow anybody to encroach on its land. Consequently, the property has to be sealed to prevent further encroachment,” Usman said. But the takeover of the company’s premises and the denial of access to its workers has thrown up many questions than answers because of the over 400 plots of land allocated to top Nigerians in the same premises. Although top management staff of the company went to the Army Headquarters last Monday to find out why the army descended on its site office, they were not given any concrete answer. The authorities did not also say what has become the fate of the top Nigerians who own the plots and whether they had also seized the plots as part of its property along with the Kakatar site which is believed to run into billions of Naira. There has been no other communication with the company ever since. However, the implication appears to be that with the army takeover of the Maitama Extension land and its unwillingness to allow the construction company’s workers access to Kakatar site, the owners of the over 400 plots have also forfeited them to the army, leaving the FCDA, which issued them the plots with certificates of occupancy, in a dilemma. While the FCDA may not be able to physically slug it out with the army, it is likely to be battered by those allocated the seized plots. In fact, given the status of the plot owners, it is to be expected that legal and physical forces could be applied on the FCDA by the allotees. It was learnt that the plot owners were boiling for legal action against the Nigerian Army and the FCDA over the forceful takeover of the property duly paid for. The beleagued plot owners expect the minister or his representatives to speak on the status of their plots but he has not been forthcoming allegedly because he is as puzzled as Kakatar by the action of the military. The seizure of the land by the army also raises the fear that the construction of the official quarters of the Senate President, his deputy, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other principal officers of the National Assembly, at various stages of completion, may be stalled. In fact, most of the official quarters of the senior government officials are at the level of being completed while the provision of infrastructure by the company has also reached advanced stage. But many privately-owned property are already completed and ready for occupation. The major bridge linking all the facilities and segments in the district has been completed along with many roads, water, sewage ducts and electricity lines. Kakatar has expressed surprise at the action of the Nigerian Army, saying it had not breached any known law to warrant the action by the soldiers. Spokesman for the company, Mr. Austin Ekeinde, said in a statement that the action of the Nigerian Army had caused the firm daily losses estimated at hundreds of millions of Naira and caused untold hardship for thousands of families whose workers in Kakatar are now being forced to stay home. “It is instructive to note at no time did the company suggest or claim that the land upon which it was using as a site to coordinate the project belongs to Kakatar. Never!”, Ekeinde said. “All that we have been doing is to speedily complete the contract in accordance with the terms given by the FCDA and pull out our multi-million equipment so that the plot owners can move into their property and live happily. “And as a proof of our sincerity of purpose, and good neighborliness, no notice of any security breach or infraction has ever been sent to us by the Nigerian Army. “Nigerians should also note that no enquiry as to our presence or intention to recover any land was ever sent to us before the costly invasion locking in our equipment and driving away thousands of Nigerians working with us.” Apparently angered by the development, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, slammed the Nigerian Army, describing the forceful takeover of the company’s premises as dictatorial and unwarranted in a decent democratic setting.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/how-soldiers-seized-jonathan-linked-multi-billion-naira-firm/



THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State is used to verbal attacks from Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Since the governor dethroned the former ruling party in 2012, committed leaders of the PDP in the state have been defending themselves from allegations bordering on corruption, violence, electoral fraud amongst others. The latest allegation from the governor that the party had mobilized about 8,000 militants from some states in the Niger Delta area to vote in Edo and perpetrate violence during the rescheduled governorship election slated for September 28, however, took the party by surprise. In a reaction, Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih, described the allegation as baseless, adding that Oshiomhole has once again shown that he has the penchant for making unsubstantiated allegations. He said, “I find it disgusting that the governor could indict security agencies in the manner he has just done. I mean it is serious indictment on the security agencies to say that 8000 militants could quietly walk into Edo from Port Harcourt and Delta State without being detected. Okowa Okowa “I see this allegation as a pointer to the fact that the governor is an incurable liar. He has gone further to accuse governors of Rivers and Delta states of providing N2 billion donation. He is talking as if he is talking to a gathering of illiterates. “N2 billion is not N2 million nor N20, 000. Nobody can carry N2 billion in a briefcase. The only way to do that is through electronic transfer. As far as I know, our accounts are there for everyone to see. We have not received any contribution of even N2 million from any governor. “I challenge him to show evidence of his claims because each time I accuse him of fraud, I always come out with government vouchers signed by him to substantiate whatever I said.” Also reacting, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State described as alarmist the allegation credited to the Edo governor. Okowa, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said Oshiomhole’s allegation is not only reckless but also childish and unfounded as the Delta governor does not own or sponsor militants or thugs. He said: “We reject this accusation as alarmist in conception, reckless in delivery, puerile in content and false in facts, and so fit only for kindergarten’s tales by moonlight”. The governor recalled a similar development in 2012, “when Oshiomhole surprised the whole nation by raising an alarm on election day against the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it was about to rig the election in favour of the opposition”, adding: “It turned out to be hoax as he won his re-election bid. He was to later childishly explain his gaffe as just being proactive. “Ordinarily, we are weary of joining issues with, not just a next door neighbor governor, but also of a state which together with Delta, has shared such a long and enviable social, political and economic history from the old days Mid-West Region to that of the now defunct Bendel State. Oshiomhole is known for making wide, unsubstantiated and curious allegations and this is something of a trademark peculiar to him. If a man is gifted with the power of oratory, he must be careful to avoid a descent into suffering from diarrhoea of the mouth. “It beats one hollow that Oshiomhole would, in his wide imagination, come up with such a curious allegation that a state in this country will just dole out one billion Naira in cash and to imagine the other logistics of embarking on ‘exporting militants’ to another state. “Much as Governor Okowa, as a faithful party member, will support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he certainly has better things to channel One Billion Naira into. And just for the record, Governor Okowa does not owe salaries. We wish to warn that the good people of Edo and Delta have come a very long way. Oshiomhole should not in the name of politics sow a seed of discord, suspicion and bitterness in their minds before leaving office. “He now has 18 more days to work for his candidate and party, we advise he faces it squarely and stop this impolitic of mudslinging and campaign of calumny”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/no-thugs-deploy-okowa/

We have no thugs to deploy – Okowa On September 10, 201610:23 pm



THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State is used to verbal attacks from Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Since the governor dethroned the former ruling party in 2012, committed leaders of the PDP in the state have been defending themselves from allegations bordering on corruption, violence, electoral fraud amongst others. The latest allegation from the governor that the party had mobilized about 8,000 militants from some states in the Niger Delta area to vote in Edo and perpetrate violence during the rescheduled governorship election slated for September 28, however, took the party by surprise. In a reaction, Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih, described the allegation as baseless, adding that Oshiomhole has once again shown that he has the penchant for making unsubstantiated allegations. He said, “I find it disgusting that the governor could indict security agencies in the manner he has just done. I mean it is serious indictment on the security agencies to say that 8000 militants could quietly walk into Edo from Port Harcourt and Delta State without being detected. Okowa Okowa “I see this allegation as a pointer to the fact that the governor is an incurable liar. He has gone further to accuse governors of Rivers and Delta states of providing N2 billion donation. He is talking as if he is talking to a gathering of illiterates. “N2 billion is not N2 million nor N20, 000. Nobody can carry N2 billion in a briefcase. The only way to do that is through electronic transfer. As far as I know, our accounts are there for everyone to see. We have not received any contribution of even N2 million from any governor. “I challenge him to show evidence of his claims because each time I accuse him of fraud, I always come out with government vouchers signed by him to substantiate whatever I said.” Also reacting, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State described as alarmist the allegation credited to the Edo governor. Okowa, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said Oshiomhole’s allegation is not only reckless but also childish and unfounded as the Delta governor does not own or sponsor militants or thugs. He said: “We reject this accusation as alarmist in conception, reckless in delivery, puerile in content and false in facts, and so fit only for kindergarten’s tales by moonlight”. The governor recalled a similar development in 2012, “when Oshiomhole surprised the whole nation by raising an alarm on election day against the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it was about to rig the election in favour of the opposition”, adding: “It turned out to be hoax as he won his re-election bid. He was to later childishly explain his gaffe as just being proactive. “Ordinarily, we are weary of joining issues with, not just a next door neighbor governor, but also of a state which together with Delta, has shared such a long and enviable social, political and economic history from the old days Mid-West Region to that of the now defunct Bendel State. Oshiomhole is known for making wide, unsubstantiated and curious allegations and this is something of a trademark peculiar to him. If a man is gifted with the power of oratory, he must be careful to avoid a descent into suffering from diarrhoea of the mouth. “It beats one hollow that Oshiomhole would, in his wide imagination, come up with such a curious allegation that a state in this country will just dole out one billion Naira in cash and to imagine the other logistics of embarking on ‘exporting militants’ to another state. “Much as Governor Okowa, as a faithful party member, will support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he certainly has better things to channel One Billion Naira into. And just for the record, Governor Okowa does not owe salaries. We wish to warn that the good people of Edo and Delta have come a very long way. Oshiomhole should not in the name of politics sow a seed of discord, suspicion and bitterness in their minds before leaving office. “He now has 18 more days to work for his candidate and party, we advise he faces it squarely and stop this impolitic of mudslinging and campaign of calumny”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/no-thugs-deploy-okowa/


 Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki on Sunday in Ilorin, reiterated his commitment to the improvement of lives of Nigerians through quality legislation. Dr Saraki gave the commitment in Ilorin at a town hall meeting with members of his Kwara Central Senatorial district. “My business in government is to improve the lives of the people, it is a duty and I pledge that I will not stop until this is achieved,” he added. The Senate President described his election as the number three citizen in the country as the glory of all the people of Kwara. According to Saraki, whether anybody likes it or not, it is now the turn of Kwara to occupy the seat of Senate president. He noted that the South East zone had enjoyed the slot for eight years, the same with Benue State which also had eight years and now, “its the turn of Kwara to enjoy the slot”. Saraki addressed the people amid tight armed security made up of policemen and other uniform services. Bukola Saraki Bukola Saraki He told the gathering that his eight years as governor of Kwara, he never had a chance to influence employment of indigenes in any federal establsihment, but that within one year in office as the Senate President, he had influenced the employment of many youths into federal agencies. Sen Saraki pointed out projects like the Baruten/Kaiama road, Ilorin/Omu-Aran road, Ajase-Ipo/Offa/Osun State border and Bode Saadu/Jebba captured in the Federal Budget, a feat that was never recorded in the past and promised their implementation. He said he has also used his influence as the Senate President to get the approval of the construction of 2, 000 classrooms by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). According to him, as part of effort to ameliorate the suffering of teachers in the state and the country at large, the Senate was working to push teachers’ salaries into capital expenditure of the federal government. “This is why I said that this is our time to enjoy the office of the Senate President, you all pray for me to be able to do more for the state and its people,” Saraki said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/senate-president-reiterates-commitment-good-governance/

Senate President reiterates commitment to good governance On September 11, 20167:02 pm


 Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki on Sunday in Ilorin, reiterated his commitment to the improvement of lives of Nigerians through quality legislation. Dr Saraki gave the commitment in Ilorin at a town hall meeting with members of his Kwara Central Senatorial district. “My business in government is to improve the lives of the people, it is a duty and I pledge that I will not stop until this is achieved,” he added. The Senate President described his election as the number three citizen in the country as the glory of all the people of Kwara. According to Saraki, whether anybody likes it or not, it is now the turn of Kwara to occupy the seat of Senate president. He noted that the South East zone had enjoyed the slot for eight years, the same with Benue State which also had eight years and now, “its the turn of Kwara to enjoy the slot”. Saraki addressed the people amid tight armed security made up of policemen and other uniform services. Bukola Saraki Bukola Saraki He told the gathering that his eight years as governor of Kwara, he never had a chance to influence employment of indigenes in any federal establsihment, but that within one year in office as the Senate President, he had influenced the employment of many youths into federal agencies. Sen Saraki pointed out projects like the Baruten/Kaiama road, Ilorin/Omu-Aran road, Ajase-Ipo/Offa/Osun State border and Bode Saadu/Jebba captured in the Federal Budget, a feat that was never recorded in the past and promised their implementation. He said he has also used his influence as the Senate President to get the approval of the construction of 2, 000 classrooms by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). According to him, as part of effort to ameliorate the suffering of teachers in the state and the country at large, the Senate was working to push teachers’ salaries into capital expenditure of the federal government. “This is why I said that this is our time to enjoy the office of the Senate President, you all pray for me to be able to do more for the state and its people,” Saraki said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/senate-president-reiterates-commitment-good-governance/

Copyright ©

Created By Sora Templates & Free Blogger Templates