APC’s propaganda tore our economy to shreds, so we slipped into recession -Jonathan

Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan says Nigeria’s economy slipped into recession after he left office because the then opposition used “their malicious propaganda” to tear the country’s economy into shreds.
Jonathan said this in his book entitled ‘My Transition Hours’.
The major opposition in the build-up to the 2015 election was the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party is a merger of three political parties; Congress of Progressives Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP).

In the book, Jonathan said rather than consolidate on what his government had achieved, the APC administration went on “persecution spree”.
The former president said the narrative of inheriting an empty treasury is false.
“Recall that the opposition and their sympathisers and campaigners, both local and international, with their malicious propaganda, tore our economy to shreds, threatened our stability and existence as a nation and intimidated our citizens, all in the bid to take over power,” he wrote.
“Rather than forge a coalition and build on the momentum we had gathered when they eventually took office, they went on a persecution spree and vengeance mission. That the country slipped into recession soon after we left office was a self-inflicted injury caused by misplaced priorities. The narrative of inheriting empty treasury is a blatant lie.

“Also, the excuse of the collapse of world crude prices does not hold water. This is because the Fourth Republic took off in 1999 with crude oil selling for less than $20 per barrel and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 0.58 per cent, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figures. Yet, the economy maintained a steady growth from that year, peaking at 15.33 per cent in 2002 when the average crude oil price was about $25.
“It is also instructive that the oil and gas sector constitute about 11 per cent of our GDP. There had to be a wider causative factor than just the fall in world crude prices.
“It also amounts to standing facts on their heads to continuously claim that recession was caused by so-called mindless looting. The truth is that the opposition, in a bid to undo our government, became its own undoing when it got to power, because of the burden of justifying deliberate misrepresentations.

“There is wisdom in the saying that if you win a prize and get the crown, don’t go around destroying the person who previously held that prize; it will lose its value.

“Even after winning the election and forming the government at the centre, the blame game continued. When two brothers fight to death, it is the neighbour that inherits their father’s wealth. And we have seen neigbouring nations like the Republic of Benin and Ghana reaping from the capital flight out of Nigeria.”
He said with the calibre of people he had in his government, no one could say they were clueless.
“Just consider that my minister of state for health, Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate, is now a professor at America’s Duke University, as well as a Senior Adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation based in Washington DC. My minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, is now the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB),” Jonathan wrote.

“My Co-ordinating minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, is the chairperson of the Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and the African Risk Capacity (ARC). She also sits on the board of Twitter and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, just as she is a Senior Adviser at Lazard and a Director at Standard Chartered Plc in the United Kingdom, amongst others.

“My minister of communication technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, is currently chairperson of custodian and Allied Insurance Limited as well as the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet. And it is not just members of my cabinet. Others who served with me in different capacities are also soaring on the world stage.
“A good example is Ms. Arunma Oteh, who I appointed the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commissnon (SEC). Under her steady and skillful direction, Nigeria’s equity market grew in metric proportions, and by the time I left office in 2015, the market had tripled in size to $150 billion in value. Two months after I left office, Ms. Oteh was appointed a Vice-President and Treasurer at the World Bank.

“With such personalities on my cabinet, no one can factually say we were ‘clueless’ or inept. The evidence of performance is simply overwhelming. We gave Nigeria an impressive and steady GDP growth rate at 6.7 percent per annum.
“We were officially cited as the third fastest growing economy in the world by CNN Money in 2014. We eradicated polio and guinea worm and became the first nation in the world to defeat the Ebola virus, such that the then richest man in the world, Bill Gates celebrated us for our prowess in the health sector. We reduced our food import bill by 36 percent.”

The former president said he is working towards advancing the course of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world through the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF).

Presidency Shares Pictures Of FG Projects In South East

The Muhammadu Buhari administration is stepping up its effort to deliver on its campaign promises to Nigerians ahead of the general elections in 2019.
Apart from its three cardinal areas of security, fight against corruption, and economy, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is assuring Nigerians that it is also committed to developing infrastructure in the country.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, took to the social media on Saturday to share some pictures of ongoing projects of the Federal Government in Abia and Ebonyi states, Southeast Nigeria.
According to him, these include the construction of Nnenwe-Uduma-Uburu Road section, ongoing construction of IPPIS Station with personnel, and the rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway section 1, Lokpanta-Umuahia Tower Umuahia.
See the photos below;
Source  Channels Television.

Buhari is by far the most successful fraudster in the history of Nigeria! - Eedris Abudulkareem

Veteran Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem has described President Buhari as the ' the most successful fraudster in the history of Nigeria'. In a recent Instagram post, the controversial rapper wrote, 'Buhari is by far the most successful fraudster in the history of Nigeria.

First he was fraudulently enlisted into the Nigerian army. He fraudulently gained promotion that he wasn't qualified for while in the army'. He went on to say, 'he truncated our democracy and rendered Nigerians poor and helpless. He turned the Petroleum Trust Fund to Petroleum Trust Fraud to help Abacha loot his way to the grave. 

He came back, deceived 15 million Nigerians with fake integrity and became a president without the required certificate. He gained an unrestricted access to our national treasury and went on a looting spree that made Nigeria the poverty capital of the world. Now he wants to continue...no way, he must be stopped because we cannot continue to reinforce failure.

Nigerian governor caught on tape taking bribe bags ‘Best Governor’ award.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State


The governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was caught on tape receiving bribe in hard currency from contractors, has been conferred with ‘Best Governor in Infrastructure Development’ award by LEAD Innovation.

DAILY NIGERIAN had published two out of 15 videos in which the governor was shown receiving bribe.
Mr Ganduje, who is currently facing probe at the Kano State House of Assembly, received the award on Sunday at the 10th LEAD Innovation Festival at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In his remark at the ceremony, Mr Ganduje thanked the group for honoring him with the award, his administration had recorded achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, among others.

“In the last three years, we managed to make significant strides towards implementing our development agenda to ensuring that Kano people enjoy the dividends of change.
“Not only that, development programmes are evenly spread across the state in terms of infrastructure development in the areas of road construction/rehabilitation, education, health, water supply, environmental protection, agriculture, economy etc.”

“The choice of this year’s festival theme: ‘Exploring Great Innovations building Institutions in Africa’ is a clear testimony of the organizers’ vision to gingering all stakeholders in innovation towards achieving the goal of recognizing and encouraging innovators and entrepreneurs in different sectors of the African economy,” he added.

Why Benue people are opposed to Buhari’s re-election – Ortom

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has said that the people of the state had nothing against Fulani people as it was being insinuated by people out to cause confusion.

“We have lived with the Fulani people for ages; we have nothing against them. Even the Fulani people know that we have nothing against them,” Ortom said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua.

The statement, which was made available on Monday in Makurdi, recalled that Benue people voted overwhelmingly for former presidents Shehu Shagari and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 1979, 1983 and 2007 respectively.

“We also voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015,” he said.


He said that Shagari and Yar’adua reciprocated the support they received by patronizing Benue people through federal appointments and projects.

“But from my findings, majority of Benue residents are opposed to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC, because they have failed to register any positive federal presence in the state.

“Many people also feel that the APC-led federal government has failed to secure lives and property,’’ he claimed.

The governor promised to work with his predecessor, Dr, Gabriel Suswam, to bring development to the state.

The statement said that Ortom and Suswam had put the past behind them and had resolved to work together.

Ortom thanked the Tiv Area Traditional Council for brokering peace between him and his predecessor, pointing out that the duo would be better off if they worked together.

He assured workers that everything was being done to ensure that the last Paris Club Refund that was withdrawn by the federal government, was returned to the state so that part of their salary arrears would be cleared.

In the meantime, Suswam has appealed to Ortom’s close aides to educate the people on the governor’s achievements and his challenges.

He also urged Ortom to entrust his fate in God’s hands so that the creator would always resolve challenges in the governor’s favour.

‘He launched a major reform’ —Presidency defends NHIS ES

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, has absolved President Muhammadu Buhari of allegations of double standard in the crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Critics of the president have accused him of shielding Usman Yusuf, executive secretary of the scheme, who has been involved in different controversies since he assumed office in July 2017.
Yusuf was suspended by Isaac Adewole, minister of finance, last year but reinstated six months later.

Last week the NHIS board also suspended Yusuf over alleged corruption but he described the action as illegal, saying only Buhari had the power to do so.

Subsequently, he returned to office under the protection of the police.
Shehu said regardless of the allegations against Yusuf, the ES has prevented the usurping of public funds.
He alleged that the NHIS had been “ethnicised and politicised by some interest groups within and outside the agency”, asking if Yusuf’s suspension followed due process.
“Did the board follow due process in suspending this gentleman? There are opinions that said `no they haven’t’,” Shehu said.
“Again we all have to do the right thing all of the times. I don’t deny the fact that there is a lot of work to do. The fact is that the whole thing about the NHIS has been ethnicised and politicised.

“Even a political party was issuing a statement on matters that are unknown to it. I’ll tell you one thing, as we speak now, you know that no matter whatever mistakes this gentleman may have made, and that is to be proven because I don’t have the records to say yes or no, he has launched a major reform in that institution.

“Well, there is no double standard there either than to say that the pictures that the government is looking at many Nigerians perhaps may not be seeing those pictures.

“Money from the NHIS is not money belonging to government, is money taken from your salary, from my salary. If we have been enlisted, we are supposed to get treatments when we fall ill then you should ask the question in 13 years of the NHIS how many Nigerians have received the treatments.
“Yet you have HMOs, these vendors, taking N5 billion every month, money that is just being shared and somebody came and said, `look, this can’t go on’ and with strong support from this administration the N5 billion has been reduced to N1.3 billion.
“And even at then, the administration is not satisfied. We want to see healthcare delivered to the citizens of this country. So there is a lot of work to do.”
He, however, said Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, and Adewole have intervened in the crisis with a view to resolving the issues.

House Of Reps Member Shares Sachet Of Garri To His Constituents In Delta State

Hon. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in Delta State was pictured sharing sachet garri among some of his constituents while on a boat cruise.
According to report, the content of the sachet is not more than half basket of garri which goes for N200.


Poverty is a serious issue in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas. Sigh!

BREAKING: No tenure extension for Oyegun, others, Buhari overrules NEC

The controversy generated by the decision of the National Executive Committee NEC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC to grant a one year tenure extension to its National Working Committee NWC may have been laid to rest as President Muhammadu Buhari has described the action of NEC as an infringement on not just the party constitution but the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


At the 5th NEC meeting of the party which is currently underway at its national secretariat in Abuja, the president said he took the decision based on advice from his Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

2019: PDP bad news, APC poisonous – UPP

UPP in a statement by its National Chairman, Chekwas Okorie, noted that it was too late for the PDP to ask for forgiveness from Nigerians or plan a comeback.
He advised Nigerians to listen to a former Minster of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, adding that it was only her that was seeing correctly at the moment.
Okorie said that Nigerians had no choice when it voted the PDP out because “to allow the party to continue in power would have been disastrous.”

He further explained that while the PDP was bad news, the APC was not only poisonous, but had also turned out to be worse than its predecessor.

His said, “I would just ask Nigerians to listen to Oby Ezekwesili; I think she is the one that is seeing correctly. She is leading the right crusade with her red-card movement where the PDP and the APC are being shown the red card and told not to come back.
“It was a disaster to have voted Buhari in, but at the time that he came in, Nigerians had no choice, they had very little options because to allow the PDP to continue in office would have been disastrous.
“I believe that if we had not voted them out, this country would have gone under. Sixteen years of misrule and unprecedented corruption is not something that any sensible person would want to return to.
“It is wishful thinking on the part of the PDP to think that Nigerians are so gullible and so forgetful as to return them to power shortly after they messed the lives of everybody up.
“Nigerians should look for more credible options instead of putting power in the hands of one party that immediately becomes dictatorial upon assumption of office and rode roughshod over citizens.

That was what we suffered in the hands of the PDP for 16 years and that suffering has continued in the APC.

“From the time the APC was formed, I was one of those that said that there was no difference between the APC and the PDP. I said that both were like kettle and pot, and none should call the other black because they were two sides of the same coin. So, PDP should not be thinking about coming back to power. PDP is bad news and APC is poisonous.”

Atiku flags off 2019 campaign, Wike, Daniel, Nwodo in attendance (PHOTO)

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Tuesday flagged off his 2019 campaign consultation in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The Waziri Adamawa intends to run on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
The event, which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Rivers State Governor’s Office, was chaired by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
In attendance were ex-Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former ex Enugu State Governor and one-time National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi; Senator Lee Ledogo Maeba; former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Michael Aondoakaa; among others.

In his opening speech, Atiku reiterated his commitment towards the creation of a new Nigeria devoid of favouritism, segregation and ethnicity but one built on a foundation of industrialisation and economic revolution.

Atiku disclosed that the problem of Nigeria is not the lack of resources or skilled manpower but the lack of leadership willpower that is needed to make conscious decisions and give adequate directions.

In his remarks, Wike declared that the position of the President is solely for an individual with experience and track record for excellence. He declared that Atiku possesses the needed track record and has what it takes to make Nigeria great.

“Atiku has what it takes to be the President of Nigeria; the Presidency is for the man who has the track record. Atiku has the track record,” he said.

[PHOTOS] Osinbajo visits Bauchi, condoles with Senator Ali Wakili’s constituency

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu… on Sunday Photos: Novo Isioro.

Osinbajo condoles with family of the late Senator Ali Wakili.

Osinbajo greets Bauchi elders

Bauchi women greet Vice President Osinbajo

Osinbajo condoles with the family of late Senator Ali Wakili

Dapchi schoolgirls: David Bako fake soldier, no conspiracy anywhere

Lai MohammedMinister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has debunked fake stories in the social media alleging a top level conspiracy that stage-managed the abduction of Dapchi schoolgirls on 19 February and also outrightly declared their purveyor, a Sergeant David Bako as an unknown to the army.


Mohammed spoke in Lagos today in response all the cynical and skeptical remarks and fake news in social media since the abduction and return of scores of Dapchi schoolgirls by Boko Haram insurgents.
“I can tell you categorically that this David Bako is fake. There is no such soldier in the Nigerian Army. There was no conspiracy anywhere. The intention of those behind the disinformation and fake news is to cause disaffection between Christians and Muslims, and between Southerners and Northerners,” Mohammed said.
“This Administration’s success in seeking an early release of the Dapchi girls has ruffled many feathers. It has upturned a lot of plans by naysayers. They have not been able to sleep since the girls came back. Their campaign to unseat President Buhari is fuelling their desperation. Nigerians should prepare to see more avalanche of disinformation and fake news. But they should not lend any credibility to such reports. They belong to the trash can!”
The minister restated that the schoolgirls were freed as a result of intense backchannel engagement with Boko Haram.
“This was done in concert with a friendly country, international organization and trusted facilitators, he said.
111 schoolgirls, pure water seller and primary school girl captured
” A total of 111 girls were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary and Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi on 19 Feb. 2018. That means one student was not captured on the list of 110 abducted students that was compiled by the school, on the basis of which the Federal Government gave the number of abducted schoolgirls as 110.
“Also kidnapped were two other persons, who are not students of the college. They include a primary school boy who came to the school to sell pure water and another primary school girl. That brings the total number of abducted persons on that day to 113.
“So far, a total of 107 persons, comprising 105 Dapchi schoolgirls and the two non-students, have been released by the insurgents.
“Six Dapchi schoolgirls are yet unaccounted for. All efforts will be made to secure their release
“As I have said at many fora, we neither paid ransom nor swapped any Boko Haram member to secure the release of the girls. This is a fact, irrespective of how a section of the press has tried to spin the story.
“The insurgents brought the girls back to the location of the kidnapping themselves as an apparent gesture of goodwill, following relentless efforts by the Government to find long-lasting solutions to the conflict.
“Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed all security agencies to do everything possible to bring the girls back unharmed. That dictated the method we adopted. Back-channel talks with our international friends as mediators, and the result was the release of the girls
“Unknown to many, we have been in wider cessation-of-hostility talks with the insurgents for some time now. The talks helped to secure the release of the police officers’ wives and the University of Maiduguri lecturers recently. And the talks did not stop thereafter.
“Therefore, we were able to leverage on the wider talks when the Dapchi girls were abducted. As I said earlier, the insurgents decided to return the girls to where they picked them from as a goodwill gesture. All they demanded was a ceasefire that will grant them a safe corridor to drop the girls. This is not new. Even in larger war situations, safe corridors are usually created for humanitarian and other purposes. Consequently, a week-long ceasefire was declared, starting from Monday, 19 March. That is why the insurgents were able to drop the girls. This counters the conspiracy theories being propounded in some quarters concerning why it was so easy for the insurgents to drop off the girls without being attacked by the military.
WHY THE GIRLS WERE FREED EARLY“As I have said time and again, there is no government that will not face tragedies. What makes the difference is how such tragedies are managed.
“President Buhari put this in perspective when he said the response of his Administration is a marked departure from the attitude of the preceding administration in the aftermath of the kidnap of the 276 Chibok girls in 2014
“Whereas it took that administration 18 days to even acknowledge the kidnap of the girls, the current administration was responsive and was not in denial. No stone was left unturned to secure the release of the girls. For the record, the following actions were taken:
“The President sent FG’s delegation twice to Dapchi and Damaturu, within four days, to engage in fact-finding and to condole with the government and people of Yobe State and the families of the abducted girls. I was on both delegations.
“The President ordered the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take direct charge and brief him on a daily basis on the efforts to bring back the girls.
” The President ordered the re-strengthening of a Joint Operational Base involving relevant agencies and Services to coordinate the rescue mission. Consequently, the Service Commanders established a unified Command Centre in Maiduguri, and the Military also raised several rescue teams to comb the forests in the North East Theatre of Operation.
” The Nigerian Air Force maintained aerial surveillance of the area all through.
It was not a surprise, therefore, that this abduction ended about a month after it occurred, and that most of the girls are free.
THE REACTION OF NAYSAYERS
You are not unaware of the reaction of the naysayers – the main opposition PDP in particular – to the release of the Dapchi girls. What called for non-partisan celebrations was rather thoughtlessly turned into politics, bad, despicable politics that has no place in any democracy. At times of national tragedies, countries unite. This is the norm everywhere.
Let me encapsulate my reaction to the disgraceful and insensitive politics, that the PDP has been playing with the Dapchi girls, by quoting the statement of the President when he received the Dapchi girls last Friday: ”May I also warn against those elements who have chosen to make political fortune of our citizens’ misfortune. Government would not tolerate any attempt by any person or group to trivialise or politicise security issues for politically motivated ends. Accordingly, security agencies would not hesitate to decisively deal with such unscrupulous characters.” Those are very clear words that need no elaboration.
“The PDP and its co-travelers do not understand that terrorism is a global problem. A terror attack on any country is an attack on all countries. The UN was among the first international organizations to condemn the abduction of the Dapchi girls and also among the first to welcome their release.
“Perhaps we should ask the PDP what indeed the party knows about the abduction of the Dapchi girls, going by its statement that their abduction and release were stage-managed. The party made itself a laughing stock within and outside Nigeria with that statement. Don’t they know that our international friends are involved in the process that led to the release of the girls? Indeed, there should be a new criterion for withdrawing the registration of a party like the PDP which has failed both as a ruling and an opposition party! If a party cannot rule and cannot be in opposition, what else can it do?
CONCLUSION
“We thank all Nigerians for their support and prayers. We are grateful for their belief in the ability of this government to secure an early release of the girls. We will continue with the ongoing efforts to account for the remaining six Dapchi girls, and indeed to bring back our remaining Chibok girls.
“In the words of Mr. President, this Administration remains committed to the fight against terrorism and insurgency. The security services have since been directed to put in place further measures around all schools vulnerable to attacks to ensure the safety of pupils/students and teachers and school workers. The President has also tasked all the security agencies to work to ensure that we do not witness any recurrence of these incidents.
“Let me emphasize the government’s position that while the military efforts are necessarily ongoing, we are willing to continue engaging in a meaningful dialogue which is not only about the release of hostages, but intended at a broader engagement on conflict mitigation (reduction of the violence, possibility of ceasefire, protection of civilians, increased humanitarian access). Government is therefore willing to engage on measures which can lead to stopping the bloodshed and finding long-lasting solutions to the conflict.
“We appeal for non-partisanship on the issue of security. We all have to be safe and alive before we can even belong to any political party. And whether you are in government or in opposition, Nigeria belongs to all of us.
“We appeal to the media to be more discerning in disseminating materials that serve no other purpose than to sabotage the ongoing efforts to end the insurgency and secure the release of the remaining Chibok and Dapchi girls. Obviously, the naysayers are growing more desperate and will stop at nothing, including disinformation and fake news, to muddle the waters”.

Communications Minister, Shittu appoints new media aide

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has approved the appointment of Mr Bolaji Kazeem, as his new Special Assistant on Media.
Mr Henshaw Ogubike, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, announced the appointment in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Abuja.
According to the statement, Kazeem attended the University of Ibadan, International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) and Nasarawa State University for his higher and professional education including Master of Public Administration.

”Mr Kazeem was a Press Secretary at the Special Duties Office (SDO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

”He was part of the media team of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment from 2007-2015 before he was posted to Special Duties Office from the Federal Ministry of Information.

”Bolaji has participated in local and International conferences and seminars such as Annual Seminar for Industry, Trade and Investment Correspondents and Editors, Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

”He participated in Trade Facilitation (Establishment of Transnational Border Market Pilot Project in Okerete); Quarterly Luncheon with Business Leaders; 2010 Shanghai Expo; China and Nigeria Business Forum, Beijing”.

The new media aide was also part of an interactive session on Investment Drive, New Delhi; America and Africa Business Forum, Washington; Kenya-Nigeria Business Forum Nairobi among others,” the statement added.

He is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalism (NUJ), Federal Ministry of Information Chapel

Tinubu hosts Buhari in Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari will chair the 10th Colloquium to commemorate the 66th birthday of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Bola Tinubu.
The event holds Thursday March 29 at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This is contained in a statement signed yesterday by Secretary to the Lagos State government, Mr Tunji Bello

He said this year’s event with the theme: “Investing in People” will bring together stakeholders, including policy makers, academics and members of the civil society groups.

Bello added that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would also be at the event that would also provide a talk shop for attendees to tell unique Nigerian story of what it meant for the government to act as a social investor in the affairs of its people.

The SSG said: “When stretched further, the Colloquium would ascertain whether the quest for the government to act as a social investor can be regarded as campaign slogan or a mere ideology with no incremental/socio-economic benefits.

“The gathering would also debate whether such decision by government should be regarded as a necessary policy action which the nation must embrace if she must witness any real development.”

Leave Ekweremadu out of your fight against corruption – PDP tells Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, against hounding members of the main opposition party.
The PDP specifically frowned at the motion ex-parte filed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property seeking the forfeiture of assets allegedly not declared by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

The party’s position is contained in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Thursday.

The PDP said that while it was in full support of any genuine anti-graft war, the APC-led administration’s obsession with Ekweremadu was another clear indication that it was not ready to fight corruption.

The party said, “The PDP recalls that this government rushed to arraign Senator Ekweremadu and the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki in 2016 on trumped up charges of forgery of Senate Standing Rule, even when there was not even a mention of their names in the contentious police report or Proof of Evidence. It eventually withdrew the charges for lack of merit.

“The police raided and ransacked Senator Ekweremadu’s official guest house in Abuja in May 2017 and blamed it on false whistle blowers, whom they charged to court. Nothing has been heard about the trial of the alleged false whistle blowers again.

“In the current matter, apart from relying on an obsolete law to dabble into the roles of the Code of Conduct Bureau, we are not surprised that the Panel could not carry out a thorough and independent investigation on the purported property of the Senator, but relied on a petition by the former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, who is standing corruption trial in several courts, after his removal from office by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in 2017.


“We recall that the senator accused Umezulike and some politicians of stealing and doctoring his will, inserting non-existent properties or properties that had nothing to do with him.

“It is also instructive that this calculated smear campaign is in the guise of forfeiture of phantom assets came on the heels of Senator Ekweremadu’s alarm and scathing criticism of the APC-led administration over the nation’s deteriorating democracy and in the midst of the ongoing executive-legislature face-off, in which a ranking senator of the APC extraction identified Ekweremadu as a pillar of support to the Senate President.

“This government and party have a wet appetite for prosecution and media trial of the opposition while investigation is on, but refuses to prosecute its members and friends indicted by even its own presidential or ministerial panels.

“While members of the opposition are taken to court on stretchers, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, indicted by both the Senate and a presidential panel only got a pat on the back.

“The APC Federal Government has failed to prosecute those involved in the Ikoyigate scandal, and the recall of fugitive Abdulrasheed Maina, among others.

“Ekweremadu is a major symbol of the opposition. We believe that this is part of the grand plan to strangulate the PDP ahead of the 2019 elections and we will resist.”

20 lawmakers endorse Okorocha’s son-in-law for gov

Amidst the controversies surrounding Governor Rochas Okorocha’s endorsement of his son-in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu as his successor in 2019, 20 out of the 27 members of the Imo State House of Assembly have thrown their weight behind Nwosu.

The member of the state House of Assembly representing Oguta Constituency, Mr. Henry Ezeediaro, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday that the lawmakers resolved to endorse Nwosu because of their belief in his capacity to sustain the legacies of the All Progressives Congress administration in the state.
Ezediaro listed the legislators, who endorsed Nwosu, to include the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Ugonna Ozuruigbo (Nwangele constituency); a former Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Luguard Osuji (Owerri Municipal); and other lawmakers representing Owerri North, Oru East, Ideato North, Ngor Okpala, Isu and Njaba constituencies.

Others are the members representing Ihitte/Uboma, Owerri West, Orsu, Ohaji/Egbema, Ideato South, Ehime Mbano, Orlu, Onuimo, Nkwerre and Obowo as well as Oguta.

Ezediaro explained that the endorsement of Nwosu by the lawmakers was a product of wide consultations by the legislators with their constituents.

Responding to a question on the reason why seven other members of the Assembly did not support their decision, Ezediaro said, “We cannot conclude that they are not with us; so, let them speak for themselves.”

Source Sunday PUNCH

Buhari Orders Deployment Of NSCDC Officials To Northeast

File photo: President Muhammadu Buhari


President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the deployment of officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) to secure secondary schools in the northeast region.
This is part of effots to provide more security for students and the community at large, following the abduction of over 100 girls from the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi, Yobe state, about a month ago.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC Mohammadu Abdullahi, on Saturday, commenced the tour with Adamawa state.

On arriving at the Government Girls Secondary School Gombi in Gombi local government area, the Commandant General expressed shock that the school which has been in existence since 1976, had no fence.

He also visited the Government Secondary School Hong in Hong local government area of the state, where he interacted with the students and pricipals and noted some of their complaints.

“My call to the state government is to intervene especially in terms of feeding, since it is a boarding school. The students are supposed to be fed thrice if it is possible and also the fencing of the school,” one of the schools’ principal said.

In response, the NSCDC boss said: “The President has said we should come and provide security. What happened in Chibok and Dapchi, should not happen here.
“That is why we have sent our men to come and guard here. We have our men in front of your schools with their arms 24 hours so that you will study under a very conducive and secure atmosphere. Your principal has told us the little problems you have, I’ll make sure that it is addressed,” he assured the students.


Addressing journalists after the tour, Abdullahi decried the poor state of the schools but however, promised to report back to the President and ensure all their complaints are resolved.

This comes weeks after President Buhari ordered the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris (On January 9) to relocate to Benue state following attacks by killer herdsmen which has left hundreds dead.
Things however, took a different turn when the President who was visiting the state for the first time since the killings started on New Year’s Day, said he was unaware that the IGP had flouted his orders.

According to the state government, the IGP spent only one day in the state and then proceeded to Nasarawam – a development which was contrary to the directive of the President.
While that has since fueled another debate and series of criticisms from Nigerians, has summoned the IGP to explain the reason behind his non-compliance.

Ask Buhari, governors, ministers, others their running cost, salaries – Shehu Sani tells Nigerians

The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani on Saturday insisted it was now time for Nigerians to demand with immediate effect what President Muhammadu Buhari and others working in the presidency collect as salaries and running cost of the Aso Villa itself. 


He said this was necessary since Nigerians were now aware of what each Senator collect as salary and monthly running cost.



Sani who revealed that the reason he revealed the monthly salary and running cost of each Senator in the National Assembly was to clear the air on the exact amount each Senator gets, noted that his revelation had now cleared the air because there had been a lot of claims and counter claims on the matter. 


He, however, declared that it was now time for Nigerians to demand for the pay slip of the President, Vice President, Chief of Staff, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Ministers, Special Adviser and the dining cost of the Villa.

Sani while speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital as Guest Speaker at the 5th Olalekan Olomide Platform for Development held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Secretariat Iyaganku, Ibadan, said he revealed the “take home” of the Senate to eliminate the stigma and wrong perceptions of Nigerians about members of the National Assembly.

He said that before he decided to reveal the actual salary and allowances of members of the Senate, there had been a lot of allegations and insinuation against the National Assembly.



He said now that Nigerians were aware of this, they should also demand for take of pay of Governors, members of state Houses of Assemblies, Commissioners and other elected or political appointees in the respective states. 


Sani said “Now that Nigerians have known the salary and allowances of Senators, they (Nigerians) should request from the presidency the running cost of the Aso Rock Villa.

“Nigerians should now demand for what the President collect, what the Chief of Staff collect, what the SGF collect, the Ministers and the running cost.

“Now that you have known how much we earn, it is important for Nigerians to ask the President what is the running cost of the Villa. The Ministers, Special Advisers, GMDs should also be ask how much they earn.



“Now that you have known how much we Senators earn, leave us alone and ask other political office holders how much they too earn. I revealed how much we earn to remove secrecy.

“Ask your governors how much they collect as salary, we need to now ask members of the various state Houses of Assemblies how much is their salary, and the commissioners how much is their running cost monthly.”

Speaking on reaction of members of the Senate to the development, Sani said “The Senate has never threatened me, and has never treated me badly. I am not aware of any penalty against me for now. 


“All what they did was to call me and confirm. For now, I appreciate the response of the Senate for now.”

Sani also declared that failure of the the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to resolve the crises in many state chapters may affect the fortunes of the political party in the 2019 general elections.

He specifically said that the political crises in Kaduna state and other state chapters in APC were as a result of the failure of the national leadership of the party to address some complaints promptly. 


According to him, “the crisis in Kaduna APC would not have degenerated to the level of a party Secretariat being demolished if the national leadership of the party had acted on time.”

Sani said, “If there is no resolution of the crises in Kaduna, Kogi, Rivers and other state chapters of the APC, it is certainly going to affect the fortunes of our party in 2019. We can only win when we are united in peace.”

He also noted that it would difficult for the ruling party to win the 2019 general elections without fulfilling the 2015 campaign promises, and properly addressing the security challenges in the country. 


He urged loyalists of President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow their love for the President prevent them from always telling him (Buhari) the truth, declaring that the spate of killings in some parts of the country was not acceptable.

At the event were Chairman of the occasion, Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, Mr. Toye Arulogun and former commissioner for Environment in the state Barrister Lowo Obisesan, among other guests.


 Source DailyPost

Reps divided over $1bn insurgency fund

Members of the lower legislative chamber of the national assembly were divided on Thursday over a motion to deduct 13 percent derivation from the $1 billion approved for the fight against insurgency and general security in the country.


The bill, introduced by Ken Chikere, from Rivers state, seeks to ensure that the 13 percent derivation is given to oil-producing states in the country.

Last year, governors approved that the $1 billion should be taken from the excess crude account (ECA) to help in the fight against insurgency and as well as for security purposes.

While introducing the motion, Chikere said even though the money should be deducted and given to the states in accordance to the section 162 (2) of the 1999 constitution “as benefits” payable to them, such had not been done.

He added that the money, if not paid to the states, “would amount to double contribution from the said states” in the war against insurgency and also a breach of section 162(2) of the constitution as well as section 1 of the Allocation Revenue (federation account) Act.

However, while some of the lawmakers agreed that the 13 percent derivation should be deducted, others argued that the excess crude account in question is not subject to such provision as contained in the constitution.

Some also asked if such withdrawal is subject to the approval of the national assembly.

Contributing to the motion, Henry Achibong from Akwa Ibom asked: “This money being used to fight insurgency, has it been approved by the national assembly?

“Is it meant for states or for the federal government or for the entire federation? If it is for the entire country, then it is subjected to the approval of the national assembly.”


Yisa Orker-jev, chairman of the house committee on rules and businesses, described the motion as “speculative as it is not yet clear the tier of government and the account the fund belongs to”.

“The best thing to do in this case is to assign the committee on finance to study this and know what is in the excess crude account, what belongs to each tier of government and what should be done,” he also said.

Also speaking, Yusuf Lasun, deputy speaker of the house, said while the bill is relevant, the lawmakers should take cognisance of the fact that “Boko Haram is real and we have suffered a lot from it”.

He said: “This motion touches the heart of our constitution but we have not been able to differentiate between federation account and consolidated account. And that is a major problem.

“So we should sit down and study the issues involved well before we take any action on this.”
Commenting on the motion, Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house, said the lawmakers should be more concerned with whether the constitution had been tampered with or not.

He said: “If this money has been withdrawn and we know which tier of government it belongs, our concern will then be if whatever is being done is against that provision of the constitution or any other provision.”
The lawmakers, therefore, mandated the house committee on finance to study the issue and report back to the house within four weeks.

Shock as “Fresh PDP” sets up interim NWC

A splinter group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ‘Fresh PDP’ has set up an interim parallel National Working Committee (NWC) to take charge of its affairs.
The group said it would soon embark on a nationwide membership drive, which it noted would be done electronically.
Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the Interim national chairman of the hroup, Engineer Obi-Nwosu Emmanuel said the ‘Fresh PDP’ would organise an elective national convention at the end of the first phase of its membership drive.
The interim NWC members as announced by Butches are, Hon. Osukuade Sowemiko (Deputy ‎national chairman, south); Alhaji Abubakar Muslim (Deputy national chairman, north); Alhaji Gamawa Muhammad Ibrahim (Secretary); Rodney Odili-Obi (Organising secretary); Ambassador Waziri Umar (Financial secretary) and Barrister Chidi Onwuekweikpe (Legal adviser).


Others are Chief Chuks Eze (Youth leader), Hajira Mohammed (Women leader); Suleiman Tahir (Deputy national youth leader)‎; Festus Itoya (Deputy financial secretary) and Ugomma Donald (Deputy national secretary);
Alhaji Aminu Shuaibu (zonal chairman, north-east); Dr.Yusuf Ilya (zonal chairman north-west); Stephen Owoicho Ameh (zonal chairman north-central); Ransome Rotimi Ojo (zonal chairman south-west); Engineer Onyeka Ezeghalike (zonal chairman, South-east) and Dr. Alexander Ebipua-Koinyan (zonal chairman south-south).