Despite the fact that Nigeria is presently the best placed second team of all the groups, the team faces a daunting task to qualify for the competition, what with Egypt’s 5-1 spanking of Chad in N’djamena, a day after Nigeria’s Super Eagles battled to a goalless draw against the Taifa stars in Dar es salam.
Nigeria’s coach, Sunday Oliseh, may be booted out as Egypt stands between Nigeria and AFCON 2017 qualification.
With the results over the weekend, Sunday Oliseh’s Eagles have been relegated to second spot on four points, with the Pharaohs leading Group G with six points.
The North African team, which had been out of the reckoning on the continent for some years, are trying to regain their status as Africa’s most powerful footballing nation, and will be daunting opponents for any other African team, including Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who incidentally are their next opponents in the qualifying series.
Already, Nigerian fans are unhappy with the newly-constituted team’s performance last weekend, especially because of the high hopes Oliseh’s presence has brought.
While the debutant goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, was the hero of the Nigerian side on the day, football followers in the country will be looking to get more positive results under the new coach.
The former midfield maestro therefore has tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, to return excitement to the national side as the Nigerian side take on Niger in a friendly match in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Meanwhile, suggestions emerged earlier today that Nigeria’s Chelsea midfield player, Mikel Obi, is seeking to return to the national team set up as he has reportedly called a top member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to help him back into the team.
Monday, 7 September 2015
Why Oliseh's Eagles May Not Qualify For 2017 AFCON Tournament
Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) may have suffered a huge setback following the team’s goalless draw with Tanzania on Saturday.
Despite the fact that Nigeria is presently the best placed second team of all the groups, the team faces a daunting task to qualify for the competition, what with Egypt’s 5-1 spanking of Chad in N’djamena, a day after Nigeria’s Super Eagles battled to a goalless draw against the Taifa stars in Dar es salam.
Nigeria’s coach, Sunday Oliseh, may be booted out as Egypt stands between Nigeria and AFCON 2017 qualification.
With the results over the weekend, Sunday Oliseh’s Eagles have been relegated to second spot on four points, with the Pharaohs leading Group G with six points.
The North African team, which had been out of the reckoning on the continent for some years, are trying to regain their status as Africa’s most powerful footballing nation, and will be daunting opponents for any other African team, including Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who incidentally are their next opponents in the qualifying series.
Already, Nigerian fans are unhappy with the newly-constituted team’s performance last weekend, especially because of the high hopes Oliseh’s presence has brought.
While the debutant goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, was the hero of the Nigerian side on the day, football followers in the country will be looking to get more positive results under the new coach.
The former midfield maestro therefore has tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, to return excitement to the national side as the Nigerian side take on Niger in a friendly match in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Meanwhile, suggestions emerged earlier today that Nigeria’s Chelsea midfield player, Mikel Obi, is seeking to return to the national team set up as he has reportedly called a top member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to help him back into the team.
Despite the fact that Nigeria is presently the best placed second team of all the groups, the team faces a daunting task to qualify for the competition, what with Egypt’s 5-1 spanking of Chad in N’djamena, a day after Nigeria’s Super Eagles battled to a goalless draw against the Taifa stars in Dar es salam.
Nigeria’s coach, Sunday Oliseh, may be booted out as Egypt stands between Nigeria and AFCON 2017 qualification.
With the results over the weekend, Sunday Oliseh’s Eagles have been relegated to second spot on four points, with the Pharaohs leading Group G with six points.
The North African team, which had been out of the reckoning on the continent for some years, are trying to regain their status as Africa’s most powerful footballing nation, and will be daunting opponents for any other African team, including Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who incidentally are their next opponents in the qualifying series.
Already, Nigerian fans are unhappy with the newly-constituted team’s performance last weekend, especially because of the high hopes Oliseh’s presence has brought.
While the debutant goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, was the hero of the Nigerian side on the day, football followers in the country will be looking to get more positive results under the new coach.
The former midfield maestro therefore has tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, to return excitement to the national side as the Nigerian side take on Niger in a friendly match in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Meanwhile, suggestions emerged earlier today that Nigeria’s Chelsea midfield player, Mikel Obi, is seeking to return to the national team set up as he has reportedly called a top member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to help him back into the team.
50 MASSOB Members Arrested By Police.
Police officers in Owerri, Imo state arrested about 50 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) over the weekend at the house of their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
The Sun reports that the policemen arrived in about 50 vans at the annex housing the Ojukwu Memorial library where work was going on in anticipation of the annual Ojukwu memorial celebration by MASSOB.
A member of the group alleged that the police arrested all their members on duty and would have broken into Uwazuruike’s section of the building but were dissuaded by the leader of the police team who said Uwazuruike was away from home.
Mr. Sunny Okoroafor who is the assistant national director of the group claimed that the police were there to assassinate their leader as it was difficult to believe they were there for any other reason.
He said: “The mission of the Nigeria police who stormed the house of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of MASSOB at 1:45a. heavily armed was just to assassinate him in order to make the South East ungovernable, which the Nigerian government will use as an excuse to invade the South East.
“Armed policemen rounded up our members and also seized about 70 walkie-talkies of those on duty, but no amount of intimidation from the Nigerian authorities can make us abandon the struggle for the actualisation of the Biafra nation.”
The Imo state commissioner of police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu said the police only arrested five MASSOb members who he claimed were chanting anti-government songs and protesting. He said nothing was taken from the arrested members as claimed by members of the group.
“You know that Uwazuruike and his movement thrive on propaganda. We arrested only five members,who were protesting and chanting inciting songs against the Nigerian government. But if he claims that 50 of his members were arrested, I challenge him to mention their names. Again, it was a blatant lie that the police had seized about 70 walkie-talkies from those arrested, and I can tell you categorically that nothing was taken from them, so it was all a lie,”
In a related development, a pro-Biafran rally resulted in tragedy in Onisha when policemen stormed the gathering and killed 9 members of the group.
Sunday, 6 September 2015
Igbo Activist Drags Buhari To Court Over Customs Boss Appointment
President Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged to court by an Enugu-based activist, Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo who filed a suit at the Federal High Court Umuahia, Abia state challenging the appointment of Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Okonkwo joined Ali and the Attorney General of the Federation in the suit, even as he is seeking the court’s interpretation of Sections 5(1), 147(1), 148, 151 and 171(1) of the 1999 constitution and the Custom and Excise Management Act, 2004.
According to Vanguard, he asked the court to declare that the appointment of Ali violated 5(1), 147(1), 148, 151 and 171(1) of the 1999 constitution and the breach of the president’s oath of office.
Furthermore, he requested for “a declaration that as at 27th of August 2015, when the President purportedly appointed the Col. Ali (rtd) Comptroller-General of the NCS; the President breached the statutory mandatory provision in section 147(1) of the 1999 constitution; having not appointed Minister of Finance, the 2nd defendant.
“A declaration that the appointment of Col. Ali (rtd) as the Comptroller-General of the NCS is not supported by any iota of law, and a clear violation of the Public Service Rules application to the NCS. A declaration that there is no enabling law made by the national Assembly as the authority for the appointment of Col. Ali (rtd) as the new Comptroller-General, NCS, his appointment by President Buhari is unconstitutional, null and void”.
He also said the appointment was without due regard to Nigeria’s civil service rules, adding that that an appointment to the said “shall not be made except with the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, and among Deputy Controller-Generals, Assistant Controller-Generals and or Controllers in the Service.
“The appointment was not in response to advertised vacancy, therefore the said appointment is of no legal consequence and as a retired Colonel in the Nigerian Army above 60yrs of age, a pensioner, he is not eligible for appointment into the federal civil service regarding the Nigeria Customs Service, ” he concluded.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has commenced a new investigation into all equipment and other logistics bought by the Nigerian Army from 2010 to 2015.
Breaking news: ICPC probes former govs Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Chime, Shema
The independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced investigations of four former governors following petition against them.
The four governors are former governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano.
Already four teams have been raised to visit the states to check the books of the states to establish the allegations against the governors.
Sources at the commission told Vanguard that the teams departed Abuja Monday morning to the various states to carry out their investigations.
A source at the commission who does not want his name in print because he is not authorised to speak on the matter told Vanguard that the allegations bother on dubious awards of contracts as well as contracts awarded to cronies and relatives of the former governors.
According to the source, the commission is committed to ensuring that all petitions are investigated to the ironical conclusion and those indicted or found to have compromised would be brought to book.
“We will ensure that we thoroughly investigate all allegations brought before us so that no body would be left in doubt about our commitment to fighting corruption. The chairman has dispatched a team to the affected states and they are expected to report back in the next two weeks. No body would be spared if found culpable” the source said.
When contacted the resident media consultant to the commission, Folu Olumiti neither denied nor confirmed the story.
He told Vanguard: “I don’t have any comment. I don’t want to comment on an ongoing investigations” before cutting off the line.
The four governors are former governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano.
Already four teams have been raised to visit the states to check the books of the states to establish the allegations against the governors.
Sources at the commission told Vanguard that the teams departed Abuja Monday morning to the various states to carry out their investigations.
A source at the commission who does not want his name in print because he is not authorised to speak on the matter told Vanguard that the allegations bother on dubious awards of contracts as well as contracts awarded to cronies and relatives of the former governors.
According to the source, the commission is committed to ensuring that all petitions are investigated to the ironical conclusion and those indicted or found to have compromised would be brought to book.
“We will ensure that we thoroughly investigate all allegations brought before us so that no body would be left in doubt about our commitment to fighting corruption. The chairman has dispatched a team to the affected states and they are expected to report back in the next two weeks. No body would be spared if found culpable” the source said.
When contacted the resident media consultant to the commission, Folu Olumiti neither denied nor confirmed the story.
He told Vanguard: “I don’t have any comment. I don’t want to comment on an ongoing investigations” before cutting off the line.
Buhari Set To Select Ministers Without Governors, Senators Input
A report by The Nation indicates that the era of nominations for ministerial positions by state governors or influential senators is over.
This is because President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly insisted on merit in choosing those who will be in his cabinet in deference to what some political analysts describe as party supremacy.
The report revealed that governors of the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have found it difficult to penetrate Buhari to pick their nominees as ministers. Same goes for some influential senators, who are godfathers in their states.
Meanwhile, as Nigerians await the cabinet list this month as promised by the president, the jostle for ministerial ticket is assuming a hot race in states like Kaduna, Kwara, Sokoto, Bauchi, Ondo, Gombe, Lagos, Enugu, Ekiti, Katsina, Akwa Ibom and Anambra.
Some godfathers in the affected states are reportedly panicking because of the president’s stance and recent political developments in the country, especially in the National Assembly.
A source said: “Unlike in the past, most governors are stranded this because the president will not ask them to nominate ministers. Some of them attempted to make recommendations but did not succeed.
“In fact, the same game is playing out with influential Senators who have found it difficult to lobby for their candidates as ministerial nominees.
“Buhari is trying to be his own man as far as the choice of ministers is concerned. The only thing he reckons with is party supremacy. He also wants to adhere to constitutional provision on the appointment of ministers.
“The governors could not have their way because Buhari has refused to ask for any office slot or favour from any governor, including his own governor, Aminu Masari of Katsina State.”
Another source said: “Those who have no respect for party supremacy cannot recommend or nominate ministers. Respect begets respect.
“This is why the president is looking for credible hands whom they cannot disqualify under a flimsy excuse or the other.”
Two days ago, some leaders of the APC raised an alarm that the party leaders are in the dark over the president’s current ministerial appointment process.
Even as the Imo state chairman of the APC, Chief Hilary Ekeh, has said the president would be fair in his willpower to run an all-inclusive government at the federal level.
In a related development, a non-governmental organisation called Public Youth Dialogue Forum, recently advised Buhari to ensure the inclusion of youths in public leadership
The only Six Major Changes In 100 Days of buhari administration
The national publicity secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a interview with Vanguard speaks on the first milestone, 100 days, of the new administration.
The APC’s dignitary speaks on Buhari’s successful moves and appointments. He also commented on the accusations of ethno-religious bias to the address of the president.
Read the excerpts from the interview below:
Six things that changed in Buhari’s 100 days (by Lai Mohammed)
1. New leadership and attitude that can inspire Nigerians.
2. Nigeria is now more open to the world (visits to G-7 summit, the USA, welcoming the UN secretary general in Nigeria and many more).
3. Nigeria now fights corrupt people, instead of celebrating them.
4. Buhari unites the neighbours, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Chad and Niger, in the fight against Boko Haram.
5. Recruitment of 10,000 policemen to boost security.
6. The president adopted a bailout package for about 20 states of the federation. It prevented a industrial crisis of a magnitude never witnessed.
There is nothing selective in the fight against corruption
“When people say the fight against corruption is selective, it is corrupt people fighting back. Today, we have APC politicians being investigated, we have PDP members being investigated. We have northerners, Christians, Muslims being investigated; so what are we talking about?
“Before now, it was said that stealing is not corruption but, today, people know that stealing is corruption.
“… (people) know that there is a new sheriff in town and that the sheriff is a no-nonsense sheriff.
The hysteria greeting the administration’s 100 days is shocking
“The truth of the matter is that there is no document, no record, no proof that the president ever promised anybody, anything in 100 days. Whatever they are coming up with, is just forgery. The most conclusive evidence is what the president said in Chatham House.”
Controversial appointments: It is about time Nigerians start thinking as Nigerians
“We do not even believe we are a nation. We do not care whether the country survives or not, we must change this attitude.
“In the fullest of time, no part of Nigeria will be able to complain about northernisation when all the appointments are made. We know that there is no part of Nigeria where we do not have competent people with integrity.”
Those who say the president has been slow are eating their words now
“Like I have always said, you score a government at the end of its tenure. It is wrong for anybody to say that this government is slow. It is thorough and I believe that the outcome of the thoroughness is in the best interest of Nigerians.
“As to what Nigerians should expect in the next couple of months, I think they should expect governance. Three areas we are going to see improvement is good governance, which includes fight against corruption, cutting down the size of the bureaucracy, security and the economy. Already, the foundation has been laid.”
The APC’s dignitary speaks on Buhari’s successful moves and appointments. He also commented on the accusations of ethno-religious bias to the address of the president.
Read the excerpts from the interview below:
Six things that changed in Buhari’s 100 days (by Lai Mohammed)
1. New leadership and attitude that can inspire Nigerians.
2. Nigeria is now more open to the world (visits to G-7 summit, the USA, welcoming the UN secretary general in Nigeria and many more).
3. Nigeria now fights corrupt people, instead of celebrating them.
4. Buhari unites the neighbours, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Chad and Niger, in the fight against Boko Haram.
5. Recruitment of 10,000 policemen to boost security.
6. The president adopted a bailout package for about 20 states of the federation. It prevented a industrial crisis of a magnitude never witnessed.
There is nothing selective in the fight against corruption
“When people say the fight against corruption is selective, it is corrupt people fighting back. Today, we have APC politicians being investigated, we have PDP members being investigated. We have northerners, Christians, Muslims being investigated; so what are we talking about?
“Before now, it was said that stealing is not corruption but, today, people know that stealing is corruption.
“… (people) know that there is a new sheriff in town and that the sheriff is a no-nonsense sheriff.
The hysteria greeting the administration’s 100 days is shocking
“The truth of the matter is that there is no document, no record, no proof that the president ever promised anybody, anything in 100 days. Whatever they are coming up with, is just forgery. The most conclusive evidence is what the president said in Chatham House.”
Controversial appointments: It is about time Nigerians start thinking as Nigerians
“We do not even believe we are a nation. We do not care whether the country survives or not, we must change this attitude.
“In the fullest of time, no part of Nigeria will be able to complain about northernisation when all the appointments are made. We know that there is no part of Nigeria where we do not have competent people with integrity.”
Those who say the president has been slow are eating their words now
“Like I have always said, you score a government at the end of its tenure. It is wrong for anybody to say that this government is slow. It is thorough and I believe that the outcome of the thoroughness is in the best interest of Nigerians.
“As to what Nigerians should expect in the next couple of months, I think they should expect governance. Three areas we are going to see improvement is good governance, which includes fight against corruption, cutting down the size of the bureaucracy, security and the economy. Already, the foundation has been laid.”
Saturday, 5 September 2015
BREAKING NEWS: ANALYSIS OF POST UTME RESULT FOR 2015/2016 ACADEMIC SESSION
University of Ilorin
Total number of registered candidates for post utme.....52648
Total number of DE registered candidate.... 7,218
Total number of registered ume candidate.... 2,594
Total number of candidates who scored 50% and above...30,384
Highest mark scored....96%
Lowest mark...0%
Total number of candidates without course...179
CUT OFF MARK FOR:
Medicine...70%
Nursing...66%
Mass communication ...76%
Majority of educational courses..... 50%
NOTE:Full list of courses and their cut off mark will be available as soon as we get them.
PLEASE DO NOT PAY ANYBODY FOR ADMISSION. THE UNIVERSITY DO NOT COLLECT MONEY FOR ADMOSSION PROCESSING.
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS.
THANKS!!
Total number of registered candidates for post utme.....52648
Total number of DE registered candidate.... 7,218
Total number of registered ume candidate.... 2,594
Total number of candidates who scored 50% and above...30,384
Highest mark scored....96%
Lowest mark...0%
Total number of candidates without course...179
CUT OFF MARK FOR:
Medicine...70%
Nursing...66%
Mass communication ...76%
Majority of educational courses..... 50%
NOTE:Full list of courses and their cut off mark will be available as soon as we get them.
PLEASE DO NOT PAY ANYBODY FOR ADMISSION. THE UNIVERSITY DO NOT COLLECT MONEY FOR ADMOSSION PROCESSING.
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS.
THANKS!!
Friday, 4 September 2015
Mass Dismissal: Jonathan’s CSO To Drag SSS To Court
The mass dismissal and retirement of personnel of the department of State Security Service (SSS), perceived to be partisan, corrupt or on collision course with the present leadership is causing ripples in the service.
Some of those affected are vowing to drag the security service to court.
The SSS had on Tuesday, September 1, sacked dozens of personnel including the former spokesperson of the service, Marilyn Ogar, the former Chief Security Officers (CSOs) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gordon Obua and others.
According to Premium Times report, some of the staff are crying foul over the decision of the service to dismiss them, saying it was borne out of malice than “on-going re-organisation in the Service”.
Obua, one of those affected, is challenging his dismissal by the service.
Speaking through his lawyer, Jonathan’s CSO said, the SSS failed to establish anything incriminating against him when he was detained and quizzed over alleged corruption, adding that he would challenge his dismissal in court.
One of those affected who pleaded anonymity said: “I have five years to retire. But suddenly I was sent on compulsory retirement without ever being queried or investigated for any wrongdoing.”
Also speaking, another officer claimed there were ulterior motives behind the mass retirement as it was targeted at “some specific staff”.
He claimed the new Director General, Lawal Daura, was on a “revenge mission”, and was targeting those he bore malice against before he (Daura’s) was recalled from retirement.
“We will challenge this injustice in court ,” he vowed.
According to security sources, the mass retirement and dismissal were discriminatory as some were more favoured than others.
A security source explained that one of the affected officers was sent on retirement instead of outright dismissal after he went on Absence Without Leave (AWOL) for weeks with a service pistol, which he did not sign for.
“The offense is liable for dismissal. But because of favouritism, he was retired with full benefits, while others who did not commit any clear offence were dismissed from service. This is sheer injustice ,” the source said.
In July, Daura had demoted Marilyn Ogar , the agency’s former spokesperson and Abdulrahman Mani, the chief security officer to President Buhari, who was replaced by Bashir Abubakar, an assistant director in the Bayelsa state command of the DSS.
"You Are Yet To Publicly Declare Your Assets,’ PDP Tells Buhari, Osinbajo
Opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described the assets declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo as “a deceptive window-dressing to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians”.
Olisah Metuh
The PDP however, observed that President Buhari and his vice failed to produce copies of their declarations, detailing the exact nature and value of respective assets.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Friday said “the release of a mere list of belongings falls short of credibility, transparency and anti-corruption standards as well as exposes the proclivity of the present administration.....
Must Read: Buhari and osinbajo declares asets
“We have noted the release of a flimsy list of belongings of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by the Presidency, who want such to pass as the public declaration of assets as pledged by the President. “Nigerians are not deceived by this poor attempt at window-dressing designed by the Presidency to hoodwink the unsuspecting populace in a desperate bid to shore up its diminished image. “We ask, is the resort to a mere list, instead of true copies of the declaration not a ploy to give the Presidency a window for denial in consonance with their widely observed inclination for flip flopping, backtracking and brazen denials of their statements and actions? “All we want is credibility, integrity and sincerity of purpose. We are not questioning how a President, who by December last year, declared that he had only N1 million in his account, could suddenly now list N30 million in the same bank account by May 29, and after an expensive campaign; we are not yet demanding the public declaration of his assets in his wife’s name. “We are not even applauding the multiplication of his cows from 150 to 250 in a space of three months, arising from his dual and conflicting pronouncements on this issue. What the PDP and discerning Nigerians demand is for Mr. President to always stand by his words and pledge. “Mr. President, this is a mere list of your belongings and not public declaration of assets in fulfillment of your covenant with Nigerians Meanwhile, civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has hailed the public declaration of the assets, adding that the declaration has turned the page on transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
Must Read: Buhari and osinbajo declares asets
“We have noted the release of a flimsy list of belongings of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by the Presidency, who want such to pass as the public declaration of assets as pledged by the President. “Nigerians are not deceived by this poor attempt at window-dressing designed by the Presidency to hoodwink the unsuspecting populace in a desperate bid to shore up its diminished image. “We ask, is the resort to a mere list, instead of true copies of the declaration not a ploy to give the Presidency a window for denial in consonance with their widely observed inclination for flip flopping, backtracking and brazen denials of their statements and actions? “All we want is credibility, integrity and sincerity of purpose. We are not questioning how a President, who by December last year, declared that he had only N1 million in his account, could suddenly now list N30 million in the same bank account by May 29, and after an expensive campaign; we are not yet demanding the public declaration of his assets in his wife’s name. “We are not even applauding the multiplication of his cows from 150 to 250 in a space of three months, arising from his dual and conflicting pronouncements on this issue. What the PDP and discerning Nigerians demand is for Mr. President to always stand by his words and pledge. “Mr. President, this is a mere list of your belongings and not public declaration of assets in fulfillment of your covenant with Nigerians Meanwhile, civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has hailed the public declaration of the assets, adding that the declaration has turned the page on transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
You woñt believe this: Yoruba regrets voting Buhari… Tinubu is not truthful” – Afenifere leader Damilola
Senator Femi Okunrounmu, a leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, says the Yorubas have started regretting voting for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Okunrounmu, who supported former President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term, said on Saturday , that before the presidential election, the North was looking for an opportunity to return to power while the South-West were the ones behind real change
The Afenifere leader also took a swipe of Bola Tinubu, national leader of the APC, whom he said was not the right leader of the Yoruba people.
He said, “As a Yoruba man, I am very uncomfortable with this (appointments). Buhari had a reputation for ethnic bias and when we said it during the election, they said we were lying.
“The change the APC was talking about meant two different things. The APC in the North saw change as an opportunity to return power to the region while those in the South-West were looking for genuine social change. At the end, the North just used the South-West to get into Aso Rock and now we are regretting it.”
“Look at the power configuration in Nigeria today; there are three arms of government: The executive, the legislature and the judiciary.
The executive is headed by Buhari who is a northerner; the two arms of the legislature which are the Senate and the House of Representatives, are headed by northerners: Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, respectively.
“The Chief Justice, Mahmoud Mohammed, who heads the judiciary, is also a northerner. So, the entire government is completely in the hands of northerners.”
Speaking of Tinubu, he said: “I have never hesitated in telling people that Tinubu is not the right leader for the Yoruba race. He is not truthful and that was why Gani Fawehinmi took him to court.”
Thirty Achievements of Goodluck Jonathan Administration
Chinedu George Nnawetanma enlists the achievements of the Goodluck Jonathan administration,
Mr. Nnawetanma has completed a list of implementations of the Goodluck Jonathan administration he considers to be a progress.
1. Promotion and practice of true democracy by creating an enabling environment where people from diverse backgrounds and with divergent views and opinions can be accommodated. Under the watch of Goodluck Jonathan administration, the APC was registered by INEC as a mega opposition party big enough to challenge the PDP at both state and national levels. This would have been unthinkable some years back.
2. Conduct of free and fair elections in the country, including the 2011 poll which was adjudged to be the most credible election of its magnitude that has ever been conducted in the country, though it was not without its flaws. Unlike in other administrations, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has given a free hand to the country’s electoral umpire, INEC, to perform its statutory duties.
3. Relative non-interference with electoral and judicial matters . This is evident in the number of governorship elections that have been won both at the polls and in the court by opposition parties in Anambra, Imo, Osun states, among others.
4. Liberalization of the press and guaranteeing the freedom of speech in a country where the stifling of the press and suppression of the citizens’ right to freedom of speech used to be the norm, a legacy of over 30 years of military rule. The existence of vocal anti-government media houses and critics would have culminated in some high-profile assassinations some years back, but today citizens are free to air their views whenever and wherever they like just like any other sane country.
5. Opening up of Nigeria to the global business community and becoming
Africa’s number one destination of foreign investors. In the first six months of 2014, a total of US$9.70 billion or N1.51 trillion flowed into the national economy as foreign direct investments (FDI).
6. Under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria rebased it’s GDP for the first time in over a decade to become the largest economy in Africa, overtaking South Africa and Egypt in the process.
7. Proceeds from Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose to 2.97 billion by the end of 2013, up from 2.3 billion in 2010.
8. Initiation of the YOUWIN program in 2011. The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) program aims to generate over 100,000 jobs for innovative unemployed youths across the country in the course of three years. It is currently in its third year.
9. Nigerians are now a step closer to being fully integrated into the
international e-commerce community with the approval and reinclusion of Nigeria as one of the Paypal-compliant countries after being banned from using the service at the peak of the advanced fee fraud (419 scams). With Paypal, Nigerians can now pay for goods and services online from anywhere in the world.
10. Goodluck Jonathan administration is the one behind the revival of the dead automotive industry in Nigeria. Global auto giants like Peugeot, Nissan and Hyundai now either assemble or wholly manufacture small cars, Sport Utility Vehicles, trucks and buses at various locations in Nigeria. In addition to that, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM), Nigeria’s flagship indigenous automaker, has begun the sale of their first made-in-Nigeria cars and SUVs in August 2014.
11. Under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria became the first country in West Africa to host the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2014. It was also the most successful World Economic Forum for Africa (WEFA) in history, boasting of a global reach of 2.1 billion people according to estimates.
12. Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote’s net worth increased from US$2.1 billion at the start of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration to US$23 billion in 2014, making him Forbes’ richest black person in the world and the overall 26th richest in the world. He attributed this mammoth increase in his monetary worth to Goodluck Jonathan administration favourable economic policies.
13. Construction and beautification of many federal roads in the country, including the Lagos-Benin expressway, Abuja-Lokoja expressway, Enugu-Abakiliki expressway, Onitsha-Owerri highway and most parts of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. Also, construction of the second Niger Bridge between Onitsha and Asaba to relieve the pressure on the old Niger Bridge which was completed in December 1965.
14. Revival of the comatose railway system of transportation in the country is happening under the current Goodluck Jonathan administration.
15. Remodelling, beautification and standardization of airports across the country. In addition to that, aircraft from Nigeria are now allowed to fly directly to the United States of America instead of going through many stopovers in Amsterdam and some other European cities along/in the route. The Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu was upgradede into an international airport, directly connecting the South-East region of the country to the outside world for the first time since independence.
16. Establishment of nine federal universities across the country in states which previously had no federal degree awarding institution.
17. Computerizing education in the country with the introduction of the computer-based test (CBT) which will be mandatory for all UTME candidates from 2015.
18. Introduction of the Almajiri system of education in the academically disadvantaged Northern parts of the country.
19. Arresting the outbreak of the deadly and highly contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in record time, though it unfortunately claimed some lives at the onset.
20. Transformation of the agricultural sector , so that, in the words of Agriculture minister Akinwumi Adesina, “Nigerians will stop thinking of agriculture just as a means of livelihood, but more as a business.”
21. Nigeria has reduced its food imports by over 40% as of 2013, moving the country closer to self sufficiency in agriculture.
22. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava with an output of over 45 million metric tonnes in 2014 according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
23. Due to favourable economic policies, Internet penetration in Nigeria has now increased from about 45 million in 2011 to 63 million in 2014, overtaking countries such as the United Kingdom and France in the process. What this means is that more people now use the internet in Nigeria than in the UK and France.
24. As of the second quarter of 2014, the number of registered active telephone lines in Nigeria stood at 130 million out of a total of over 170 million telephone lines.
25. Introduction of the Nigerian electronic identity card (e-ID card), one of the most secure in the world d the largest in Africa. The e-ID card serves as both an international identification module and an electronic payment solution.
26. Introduction of the cashless system which aims to encourage the use of e-payment systems in the country and reduce the volume of physical cash in circulation.
27. Unbundling of the dysfunctional Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into about 18 profit-driven successor companies.
28. Under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria
won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years in South Africa in February, 2013.
29. Nigeria ended up with 11 gold , 11 silver and 14 bronze medals at the recently concluded 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing 8th in the overall ranking.
30. Women in politics have been given more prominent roles in the current President Goodluck Jonathan administration. A large number of the federal appointees of the Goodluck Jonathan administration are women. They include, but are not limited to, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Miriam Aloma Mukhtar, Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice; Diezani Alison-Madueke; ex-aviation minister Stella Oduah, Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s representatives at the United Nations; Sarah Jibril; and Viola Onwuliri.
The list is not complete, Mr. Nnawetanma argues, and may be missing out on some key developments. Could you add any other significant break-throughs performed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in this or that sector?
2. Conduct of free and fair elections in the country, including the 2011 poll which was adjudged to be the most credible election of its magnitude that has ever been conducted in the country, though it was not without its flaws. Unlike in other administrations, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has given a free hand to the country’s electoral umpire, INEC, to perform its statutory duties.
3. Relative non-interference with electoral and judicial matters . This is evident in the number of governorship elections that have been won both at the polls and in the court by opposition parties in Anambra, Imo, Osun states, among others.
4. Liberalization of the press and guaranteeing the freedom of speech in a country where the stifling of the press and suppression of the citizens’ right to freedom of speech used to be the norm, a legacy of over 30 years of military rule. The existence of vocal anti-government media houses and critics would have culminated in some high-profile assassinations some years back, but today citizens are free to air their views whenever and wherever they like just like any other sane country.
5. Opening up of Nigeria to the global business community and becoming
Africa’s number one destination of foreign investors. In the first six months of 2014, a total of US$9.70 billion or N1.51 trillion flowed into the national economy as foreign direct investments (FDI).
6. Under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria rebased it’s GDP for the first time in over a decade to become the largest economy in Africa, overtaking South Africa and Egypt in the process.
7. Proceeds from Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose to 2.97 billion by the end of 2013, up from 2.3 billion in 2010.
8. Initiation of the YOUWIN program in 2011. The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) program aims to generate over 100,000 jobs for innovative unemployed youths across the country in the course of three years. It is currently in its third year.
9. Nigerians are now a step closer to being fully integrated into the
international e-commerce community with the approval and reinclusion of Nigeria as one of the Paypal-compliant countries after being banned from using the service at the peak of the advanced fee fraud (419 scams). With Paypal, Nigerians can now pay for goods and services online from anywhere in the world.
10. Goodluck Jonathan administration is the one behind the revival of the dead automotive industry in Nigeria. Global auto giants like Peugeot, Nissan and Hyundai now either assemble or wholly manufacture small cars, Sport Utility Vehicles, trucks and buses at various locations in Nigeria. In addition to that, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM), Nigeria’s flagship indigenous automaker, has begun the sale of their first made-in-Nigeria cars and SUVs in August 2014.
11. Under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria became the first country in West Africa to host the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2014. It was also the most successful World Economic Forum for Africa (WEFA) in history, boasting of a global reach of 2.1 billion people according to estimates.
12. Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote’s net worth increased from US$2.1 billion at the start of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration to US$23 billion in 2014, making him Forbes’ richest black person in the world and the overall 26th richest in the world. He attributed this mammoth increase in his monetary worth to Goodluck Jonathan administration favourable economic policies.
13. Construction and beautification of many federal roads in the country, including the Lagos-Benin expressway, Abuja-Lokoja expressway, Enugu-Abakiliki expressway, Onitsha-Owerri highway and most parts of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. Also, construction of the second Niger Bridge between Onitsha and Asaba to relieve the pressure on the old Niger Bridge which was completed in December 1965.
14. Revival of the comatose railway system of transportation in the country is happening under the current Goodluck Jonathan administration.
15. Remodelling, beautification and standardization of airports across the country. In addition to that, aircraft from Nigeria are now allowed to fly directly to the United States of America instead of going through many stopovers in Amsterdam and some other European cities along/in the route. The Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu was upgradede into an international airport, directly connecting the South-East region of the country to the outside world for the first time since independence.
16. Establishment of nine federal universities across the country in states which previously had no federal degree awarding institution.
17. Computerizing education in the country with the introduction of the computer-based test (CBT) which will be mandatory for all UTME candidates from 2015.
18. Introduction of the Almajiri system of education in the academically disadvantaged Northern parts of the country.
19. Arresting the outbreak of the deadly and highly contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in record time, though it unfortunately claimed some lives at the onset.
20. Transformation of the agricultural sector , so that, in the words of Agriculture minister Akinwumi Adesina, “Nigerians will stop thinking of agriculture just as a means of livelihood, but more as a business.”
21. Nigeria has reduced its food imports by over 40% as of 2013, moving the country closer to self sufficiency in agriculture.
22. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava with an output of over 45 million metric tonnes in 2014 according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
23. Due to favourable economic policies, Internet penetration in Nigeria has now increased from about 45 million in 2011 to 63 million in 2014, overtaking countries such as the United Kingdom and France in the process. What this means is that more people now use the internet in Nigeria than in the UK and France.
24. As of the second quarter of 2014, the number of registered active telephone lines in Nigeria stood at 130 million out of a total of over 170 million telephone lines.
25. Introduction of the Nigerian electronic identity card (e-ID card), one of the most secure in the world d the largest in Africa. The e-ID card serves as both an international identification module and an electronic payment solution.
26. Introduction of the cashless system which aims to encourage the use of e-payment systems in the country and reduce the volume of physical cash in circulation.
27. Unbundling of the dysfunctional Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into about 18 profit-driven successor companies.
28. Under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria
won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years in South Africa in February, 2013.
29. Nigeria ended up with 11 gold , 11 silver and 14 bronze medals at the recently concluded 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing 8th in the overall ranking.
30. Women in politics have been given more prominent roles in the current President Goodluck Jonathan administration. A large number of the federal appointees of the Goodluck Jonathan administration are women. They include, but are not limited to, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Miriam Aloma Mukhtar, Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice; Diezani Alison-Madueke; ex-aviation minister Stella Oduah, Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s representatives at the United Nations; Sarah Jibril; and Viola Onwuliri.
The list is not complete, Mr. Nnawetanma argues, and may be missing out on some key developments. Could you add any other significant break-throughs performed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in this or that sector?
Fashola Website/Borehole Scandal: Tinubu is laughable, jittery - PDP
drop your coment
The Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described a statement credited to former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, that the PDP was responsible for the tirades against former Governor Babatunde Fashola as laughable, diversionary and obvious show of jitters.
The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani congratulated Lagosians that at last the whereabouts of the state’s mismanaged resources in the last 16 years might begin to resurface now that the two ex-governors of the state have come against each other.
Tinubu was reported to have accused the PDP of sponsoring recent attacks on his successor, Raji Fashola and defended Fashola’s tenure.
Fashola has recently come under attacks for spending the sum of N78M on a personal website and another N105M to construct only two boreholes.
Replying the former governor and national leader of the APC, the Lagos PDP berated him as being economical with the truth of attacks on Fashola, stating that the APC leader is the actual sponsor of the attacks and that his denial is not only disgraceful, but also an after thought in order to avoid his own attacks.
“It is laughable that Tinubu can now blame PDP for disseminating informations which no doubt emanated from the office of the State governor and which was made public by the anti-Fasholas within the APC. Indeed bringing PDP into this is a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the real issues of fraud in the state.
“Tinubu and the APC should rather face the accusations and not the accusers. We know well that Tinubu is behind the attacks. He lost cordiality with Fashola since the period of the APC governorship primary. Now he doesn’t want Fashola to gain any federal appointment. The whole world knows this.
“He is now jittery and denying the attacks because of the rumoured plans by Fashola to release classified informations of frauds and assassination during the administration of Tinubu. This is why Tinubu is now jittery and telling lies that we are behind the attacks,” it said.
The PDP has however reiterated its stance that the state was mismanaged by both Tinubu and Fashola since 1999 “hence Lagos is the capital of governor’s corruption in nigeria.”
According to the party, “Tinubu and Fashola should both be probed and called upon to account for the near N1trillion debt owed by the state even as the state’s IGR stands at not less than N27 billion every month.
In spite of this huge IGR, the state lacks affordable government services like low cost housing, pipe borne water, markets, functional university etc. The assumed developments in the state are by concessionaires; federal Government; donors; private and corporate bodies”
The Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described a statement credited to former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, that the PDP was responsible for the tirades against former Governor Babatunde Fashola as laughable, diversionary and obvious show of jitters.
Thursday, 3 September 2015
Kogi Guber: Activist Warn Buhari Over Audu
A human rights activist based in Kogi state, Emmanuel Adejoh has opined that President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption stance will be affected by Abubakar Audu’s emergence as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
L-R: Abubakar Audu, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo. President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President, Bukola Saraki at an APC rally in Illorin, Kwara state
According to Daily Post, Adejoh stated that it was unfortunate that the APC helped Audu, who is standing trial for corruption, emerge as its candidate for the upcoming elections.
His said: “The essence of the APC screening of candidates for the election was supposed to ensure that only credible people are allowed to contest the governorship poll.
“I am not a politician but as a citizen of this state, I am waiting for the day Buhari will stand on the podium to lift the hand of Prince Audu who has been accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of corrupt practices.
“Though Audu has not been convicted, many people in the state are already insinuating that Audu is desperate about the governorship in order to alter the course of justice.”
Audu polled 1,109 in the primaries defeating his closest rival Yahaya Bello who received 703 votes. The chief returning officer for the primaries was Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Interestingly, Audu has contested the governorship position of the state since the inception of the state, he contested in 1991, 1999 (which he won), 2003, 2007, 2011 and now 2015!
Audu had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission shortly after his governorship tenure expiration in 2003. His trial is reportedly still ongoing.
The Kogi State governorship election is scheduled to hold November 21 2015.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have been reacting to the emergence of Audu as the candidate of the APC in the state’s governorship election since the news broke out, with many berating the APC for even allowing him to contest the party’s primaries.
L-R: Abubakar Audu, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo. President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President, Bukola Saraki at an APC rally in Illorin, Kwara state
According to Daily Post, Adejoh stated that it was unfortunate that the APC helped Audu, who is standing trial for corruption, emerge as its candidate for the upcoming elections.
His said: “The essence of the APC screening of candidates for the election was supposed to ensure that only credible people are allowed to contest the governorship poll.
“I am not a politician but as a citizen of this state, I am waiting for the day Buhari will stand on the podium to lift the hand of Prince Audu who has been accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of corrupt practices.
“Though Audu has not been convicted, many people in the state are already insinuating that Audu is desperate about the governorship in order to alter the course of justice.”
Audu polled 1,109 in the primaries defeating his closest rival Yahaya Bello who received 703 votes. The chief returning officer for the primaries was Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Interestingly, Audu has contested the governorship position of the state since the inception of the state, he contested in 1991, 1999 (which he won), 2003, 2007, 2011 and now 2015!
Audu had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission shortly after his governorship tenure expiration in 2003. His trial is reportedly still ongoing.
The Kogi State governorship election is scheduled to hold November 21 2015.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have been reacting to the emergence of Audu as the candidate of the APC in the state’s governorship election since the news broke out, with many berating the APC for even allowing him to contest the party’s primaries.
Buhari Appoints Deputy Chief Of Staff, Media Aide For VP
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Rahman Adeola Ipaye as Deputy Chief of Staff and Mr. Laolu Akande as Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) in the Presidency.
The new appointments were announced in a statement today, September 3, by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president
on media and publicity.
The two new appointees, who will work in the office of the vice president have been working with Vice President Osinbajo since the present administration came on board.
Rahman Adeola Ipaye
Ipaye is the immediate past Attorney General of Lagos state. Before his appointment as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, he was employed as a lecturer in the department of Commercial and Industrial Law, University of Lagos (1992 to 2001); Special Assistant (Legal Matters) to the governor of Lagos state (2001 to 2007); and special adviser (Taxation and Revenue) to the governor of Lagos state and member of the State Executive Council 2007 to 2013.
Ipaye graduated from with B.A. (Hons) Degree (History) in 1984, LL.B. Hons (1988) and LL.M. (1991 from the University of Lagos.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators respectively.
Akande graduated with an honours degree in History in 1990 and a Masters degree in Communication & Language Arts in 1992 from the University of Ibadan.
Laolu Akande
He became a Staff Reporter of the Guardian newspaper in 1990 while still serving under the National Youth Service Corps. He left The Guardian to join the foundation team of The News Magazine in 1993, where he became Senior Writer. In 1997, he was appointed by Nigerian Tribune as editor of the Tribune on Saturday, a position he held until he moved to the United States of America in 1998.
He worked as a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Newsday while in the US. He also served at the United Nations as a Press Officer and later as an Advocacy and Communication Consultant. He was also the Bureau Chief of The Guardian in North America and the Executive Director of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN.
Akande taught at the State University of New York at Stonybrook and also Suffolk County Community College in Long Island, New York between 2002 and 2015.
The recent appointments made by President Buhari has been generating a lot of criticisms from Nigerians being that majority of the appointees are from the North.
The president was recently dragged to court by a lawyer, Dim-Udebuani Marcel for violating the principle of federal character enshrined in the nation’s constitution . He wants the court to nullify all the appointments made so far for being in breach of the constitution.
Also, the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose had accused Buhari of operating as a president of the Northern Nigeria only.
Rahman Adeola Ipaye
Ipaye is the immediate past Attorney General of Lagos state. Before his appointment as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, he was employed as a lecturer in the department of Commercial and Industrial Law, University of Lagos (1992 to 2001); Special Assistant (Legal Matters) to the governor of Lagos state (2001 to 2007); and special adviser (Taxation and Revenue) to the governor of Lagos state and member of the State Executive Council 2007 to 2013.
Ipaye graduated from with B.A. (Hons) Degree (History) in 1984, LL.B. Hons (1988) and LL.M. (1991 from the University of Lagos.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators respectively.
Akande graduated with an honours degree in History in 1990 and a Masters degree in Communication & Language Arts in 1992 from the University of Ibadan.
Laolu Akande
He became a Staff Reporter of the Guardian newspaper in 1990 while still serving under the National Youth Service Corps. He left The Guardian to join the foundation team of The News Magazine in 1993, where he became Senior Writer. In 1997, he was appointed by Nigerian Tribune as editor of the Tribune on Saturday, a position he held until he moved to the United States of America in 1998.
He worked as a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Newsday while in the US. He also served at the United Nations as a Press Officer and later as an Advocacy and Communication Consultant. He was also the Bureau Chief of The Guardian in North America and the Executive Director of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN.
Akande taught at the State University of New York at Stonybrook and also Suffolk County Community College in Long Island, New York between 2002 and 2015.
The recent appointments made by President Buhari has been generating a lot of criticisms from Nigerians being that majority of the appointees are from the North.
The president was recently dragged to court by a lawyer, Dim-Udebuani Marcel for violating the principle of federal character enshrined in the nation’s constitution . He wants the court to nullify all the appointments made so far for being in breach of the constitution.
Also, the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose had accused Buhari of operating as a president of the Northern Nigeria only.
Buhari, Osinbajo Declare Assets
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, have declared their assets.
Buhari and Osinbajo
A statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Garba Shehu said that prior to being sworn in on May 29, President Buhari had the followings:
– N30 million to his name;
– one bank account, with the Union Bank;
– five homes, and two mud houses in Daura;
– two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt;
– own farms, an orchard and a ranch.
The total number of his holdings in the farm include 270 heads of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees.
The president uses a number of cars, two of which he bought from his savings and the others supplied to him by the federal government in his capacity as the former head of state.
The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in a Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July 2014.
President Buhari “had shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye bank.
The statement further added that the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), had the following assets:
– a bank balance of about N94 million and USD900,000 in his bank accounts.
– 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos and a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi; 2-bedroom flat at Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and a 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England;
– a law firm, known as SimmonsCooper;
– shareholding in six private companies based in Lagos, including Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd., Aviva Ltd. and MTN Nigeria.
The presidency had earlier denied that President Muhammadu Buhari promised during the election campaign before the April general elections earlier this year to declare his assets if he became president.
Buhari and Osinbajo
A statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Garba Shehu said that prior to being sworn in on May 29, President Buhari had the followings:
– N30 million to his name;
– one bank account, with the Union Bank;
– five homes, and two mud houses in Daura;
– two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt;
– own farms, an orchard and a ranch.
The total number of his holdings in the farm include 270 heads of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees.
The president uses a number of cars, two of which he bought from his savings and the others supplied to him by the federal government in his capacity as the former head of state.
The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in a Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July 2014.
President Buhari “had shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye bank.
The statement further added that the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), had the following assets:
– a bank balance of about N94 million and USD900,000 in his bank accounts.
– 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos and a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi; 2-bedroom flat at Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and a 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England;
– a law firm, known as SimmonsCooper;
– shareholding in six private companies based in Lagos, including Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd., Aviva Ltd. and MTN Nigeria.
The presidency had earlier denied that President Muhammadu Buhari promised during the election campaign before the April general elections earlier this year to declare his assets if he became president.
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Inside Dangote's Luxurious Abuja Mansion
This is for those who have always wanted to have a sneaky peek at what the inside of the house of the richest man in Africa looks like.
Africa Cradle reports that they have been allowed to visit the mansion of the successful businessman, Aliko Dangote, in Abuja. The media portal says that the house is on sale, after the billionaire has lived in it for 12 years. Dangote has allegedly purchased a new house in the United Kingdom, where he wants to watch Arsenal FC and be present at all the games of his favourite team.
The house looks amazing both outside and inside…Dangote was quoted as saying as he was showing his living room:
“I have to be there! I have to be there. Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn’t have in your home. I love watching television. I watch a lot of business channels, such as Bloomberg TV, which is my favourite and many others. I look forward to the day when Africa will have quality media, which gives us good entertainment, and insightful information into African business trends and those from other parts of the world as well. But yeah, welcome, this is my living room.”
The majority of business discussions are held in the room specially designed for meetings with partners and government officials.
Showing the correspondents into the kitchen, Dangote said:
“They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where the meals are created – it fuels the bodies, minds and souls of friends and families all over the world. Some say that while life may be created in the bedroom, it is certainly lived in the kitchen.”
The journalists’ journey continued with the demonstration of Dangote’s home office: the place where great business ideas emerge.
“Whether you work from home full time or a few hours a week, setting up your home office properly is important for your comfort and productivity. I have hosted a number of very important people here, including Bill Gates, President Goodluck Jonathan, and many others I am not inclined to mention.”
Then comes the most private areas of the house: a bedroom and a bathroom. The billionaire discloses he does not sleep a lot, adding that sleep lovers end up being poor.
“I feel bad to show you where I sleep, you know. But here is where I sleep. My wife and I try the best we can to keep this place as serene and quiet as possible. To tell you the truth, I spend less time here than I do in my office and elsewhere where I can work. I do value relaxation and unwinding, and I have read a lot of news articles and research studies that recommend eight to ten hours of sleep. But why should one sleep so much? To relax? Don’t get me wrong, relaxing is good, but if you love to sleep, poverty will be your portion. Well, this is my bedroom, let’s move on.”
And finally the luxurious bathroom…
Recall that earlier this year Aliko Dangote expressed interest in buying Arsenal club, which he is a big fan of. After sounding his wish, Dangote was harshly criticized by Nigerians over not desiring to support a Nigerian club. In response, the businessman explained:
“The issue is that if I buy all the Nigerian clubs, the Nigerian flags will continue to remain here. But buying Arsenal will take the Nigerian flag worldwide. Just like whenever Abramovich is mentioned, the name of his country, Russia comes up, everyone knows he’s Russian.”
After 100 Days: NANS List Buhari's Achievements
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government at the centre has been commended by the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun state chapter.
The student-body stated that just days to the administration’s first one hundred days in office, their performance have been above average.
Ogun state students at a rally recently
This was contained in a statement issued today September 2 and signed by the state chairman, Comrade Dotun Opaleye, ak.a. Zamora
The body disclosed that it undertook a periodic review of the performance of the representatives and leaders as part of ways to deepen democracy in order to entrench accountability.
While assessing the Buhari administration in the last 100 days, NANS revealed that, in terms of the economy, the APC led government has restored confidence to the minds of the investors, but disclosed that the inability to name someone as the Finance Minister and appointments to other Ministries is causing a major setback economically.
The students’ body praised the government for the improvement witnessed so far in the area of power generation, corruption and fight against the insurgency.
NANS however appealed to the President to assist in getting the young innocent girls (Chibok Girls) abducted last year by the Boko Haram insurgents, as it promised during the electioneering campaign.
According to the statement, “Many investors are still in a state of limbo as to what to expect from this new administration. Buhari has also managed to stabilize the Naira against further slide to the dollar.
“Power supply has also improved mainly due to the fear of Buhari’s no nonsense personality rather than any pragmatic move by Mr President. We still await large amount of megawatts promised by the APC during the last presidential campaigns.
“Security especially in the Northeast has improved slightly. We believe that the three months ultimatum handed down by Buhari to his service chiefs is a wonderful step in the right direction, as we eagerly anticipate the return of the ‘Chibok girls’ abducted on the 14th of April 2014 by the dreaded terrorists, it is incredibly mind boggling that the #bringbackourgirls group have been loudly silent during President Buhari’s administration raising doubts about the sincerity and non partisanship of the leaders of the group who were very audible and conspicuous during the Jonathan era.
“Politically, Buhari has been fairly consistent with his ideology. His intention of restoring the defunct National carrier Nigerian airways reveals people oriented approach and his socialist leanings,” the statement said.
The Ogun NANS however advice the president to start with a short term plan to improve the lot of the average Nigerian
Ogun state students at a rally recently
This was contained in a statement issued today September 2 and signed by the state chairman, Comrade Dotun Opaleye, ak.a. Zamora
The body disclosed that it undertook a periodic review of the performance of the representatives and leaders as part of ways to deepen democracy in order to entrench accountability.
While assessing the Buhari administration in the last 100 days, NANS revealed that, in terms of the economy, the APC led government has restored confidence to the minds of the investors, but disclosed that the inability to name someone as the Finance Minister and appointments to other Ministries is causing a major setback economically.
The students’ body praised the government for the improvement witnessed so far in the area of power generation, corruption and fight against the insurgency.
NANS however appealed to the President to assist in getting the young innocent girls (Chibok Girls) abducted last year by the Boko Haram insurgents, as it promised during the electioneering campaign.
According to the statement, “Many investors are still in a state of limbo as to what to expect from this new administration. Buhari has also managed to stabilize the Naira against further slide to the dollar.
“Power supply has also improved mainly due to the fear of Buhari’s no nonsense personality rather than any pragmatic move by Mr President. We still await large amount of megawatts promised by the APC during the last presidential campaigns.
“Security especially in the Northeast has improved slightly. We believe that the three months ultimatum handed down by Buhari to his service chiefs is a wonderful step in the right direction, as we eagerly anticipate the return of the ‘Chibok girls’ abducted on the 14th of April 2014 by the dreaded terrorists, it is incredibly mind boggling that the #bringbackourgirls group have been loudly silent during President Buhari’s administration raising doubts about the sincerity and non partisanship of the leaders of the group who were very audible and conspicuous during the Jonathan era.
“Politically, Buhari has been fairly consistent with his ideology. His intention of restoring the defunct National carrier Nigerian airways reveals people oriented approach and his socialist leanings,” the statement said.
The Ogun NANS however advice the president to start with a short term plan to improve the lot of the average Nigerian
Protesters Storm APC Secretariat Over Audu's Emergence
There is an on-going protest at the National Secreteriat of the All Progressives Congress following the emergence of Abubakar Audu as the party’s governorship candidate in Kogi state, The Punch reports.
According to the report, scores of protesters carrying placard stormed the gate of the secretariat while the candidate was waiting to collect his certificate of return.
It was gathered that the protesters urged the party to get a credible candidate to fly its flag.
Prince Abubakar Audu (former governor of Kogi state)
Some of the placards had such inscriptions like ’Kogi state say No to Audu’, ‘ We need a credible leader’, ‘APC, do the right thing’.
According to Sulaiman Mohammed, the leader of the protesters, the people of the state deserved a better candidate.
Audu who is standing trial for corruption, emerge as its candidate for the upcoming elections.
He defeated 27 other contestants to emerge to be the APC flag bearer in the forthcoming Kogi state governorship election , polling 1,109 in the primaries ahead of his closest rival Yahaya Bello who received 703 votes.
Audu who has contested the governorship position of the state since the inception of the state, 1991, 1999 (which he won), 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015, had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission shortly after his governorship tenure expiration in 2003. His trial is reportedly still on-going.
The Kogi state governorship election is scheduled to hold November 21 2015.
It was gathered that the protesters urged the party to get a credible candidate to fly its flag.
Prince Abubakar Audu (former governor of Kogi state)
Some of the placards had such inscriptions like ’Kogi state say No to Audu’, ‘ We need a credible leader’, ‘APC, do the right thing’.
According to Sulaiman Mohammed, the leader of the protesters, the people of the state deserved a better candidate.
Audu who is standing trial for corruption, emerge as its candidate for the upcoming elections.
He defeated 27 other contestants to emerge to be the APC flag bearer in the forthcoming Kogi state governorship election , polling 1,109 in the primaries ahead of his closest rival Yahaya Bello who received 703 votes.
Audu who has contested the governorship position of the state since the inception of the state, 1991, 1999 (which he won), 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015, had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission shortly after his governorship tenure expiration in 2003. His trial is reportedly still on-going.
The Kogi state governorship election is scheduled to hold November 21 2015.
PDP Defector, Inokoba Dies 2 Weeks After Joining APC
Reports reaching us indicate that Col. Sam Inokoba, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa state is dead.
This comes just two weeks after the ex-PDP chairman defected to the All Progressive congress.
Before his death, Inokoba was an APC governorship aspirant in Bayelsa state and had obtained his nomination form to contest the governorship primaries of the APC.
Sam Inokoba
In a report on The Nation, reactions have trailed the ex-PDP chairman’s death as some claimed he died of heart attack while others attributed his death to food poison.
It was gathered that Inokoba died in Lagos this morning, September 2 and his remains has been deposited at the morgue of the Military Cantonment Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.
There was an earlier scare as to the condition of Inokoba’s health after the ex-PDP chairman allegedly slumped during a town hall meeting in Nembe, Bayelsa state on August 22.
Inokoba, 68, was a PDP chieftain for over three years before he dumped the party for the APC.
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This comes just two weeks after the ex-PDP chairman defected to the All Progressive congress.
Before his death, Inokoba was an APC governorship aspirant in Bayelsa state and had obtained his nomination form to contest the governorship primaries of the APC.
Sam Inokoba
In a report on The Nation, reactions have trailed the ex-PDP chairman’s death as some claimed he died of heart attack while others attributed his death to food poison.
It was gathered that Inokoba died in Lagos this morning, September 2 and his remains has been deposited at the morgue of the Military Cantonment Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.
There was an earlier scare as to the condition of Inokoba’s health after the ex-PDP chairman allegedly slumped during a town hall meeting in Nembe, Bayelsa state on August 22.
Inokoba, 68, was a PDP chieftain for over three years before he dumped the party for the APC.
Want to read news with extra convenience? Install our app from HERE
ICPC Lands Four Ex-Governors In Trouble
Following the petition against former governors the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) has started investigations of all four of them.
Shema (upper left ), Amaechi (upper right), Kwankwaso (lower right) and, Chime (lower left) are under investigation
The four ex-governors are former governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano.
Four investigative teams departed from Abuja on Monday to the states of Rivers, Enugu, Katsina and Kano to check the accuracy of the financial statements of the former APC governors.
“We will ensure that we thoroughly investigate all allegations brought before us so that nobody would be left in doubt about our commitment to fighting corruption, ” told the press the source inside ICPC who declined to be identified, adding that “the [ICPC ] chairman has dispatched a team to the affected states and they are expected to report back in the next two weeks. ”
Speaking on conditions of anonymity, the source concluded that if found guilty nobody would be spared from punishment.
Despite ICPC didn’t confirm the fact of on-going investigations against ex-governors officially yet, it is rumoured that the investigative teams focus on the allegations of possible corrupt practices concerning the shady tenders of contracts awarded to relatives and friends of the then-governors.
Six days ago the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a probe into the administration of the former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi.
The probe is based on a petition by a Port Harcourt-based group, the Integrity Group, which on July 29 wrote to the EFCC detailing three instances of alleged corruption, graft and abuse of office under Amaechi’s government.
Shema (upper left ), Amaechi (upper right), Kwankwaso (lower right) and, Chime (lower left) are under investigation
The four ex-governors are former governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano.
Four investigative teams departed from Abuja on Monday to the states of Rivers, Enugu, Katsina and Kano to check the accuracy of the financial statements of the former APC governors.
“We will ensure that we thoroughly investigate all allegations brought before us so that nobody would be left in doubt about our commitment to fighting corruption, ” told the press the source inside ICPC who declined to be identified, adding that “the [ICPC ] chairman has dispatched a team to the affected states and they are expected to report back in the next two weeks. ”
Speaking on conditions of anonymity, the source concluded that if found guilty nobody would be spared from punishment.
Despite ICPC didn’t confirm the fact of on-going investigations against ex-governors officially yet, it is rumoured that the investigative teams focus on the allegations of possible corrupt practices concerning the shady tenders of contracts awarded to relatives and friends of the then-governors.
Six days ago the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a probe into the administration of the former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi.
The probe is based on a petition by a Port Harcourt-based group, the Integrity Group, which on July 29 wrote to the EFCC detailing three instances of alleged corruption, graft and abuse of office under Amaechi’s government.
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