Appeal court reverses Taraba judgement, declares Ishaku winner

…..says tribunal has no power to declare APC candidate, Alhassan, winner

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA —The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reversed the judgement of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which sacked governor Darius Ishaku of the People Democratic Party, PDP. In a unanimous judgment this afternoon, the appellate court panel headed by Justice Justice Abdul Aboky, held that the tribunal acted outside its jurisdiction when it invalidated Ishaku’s election on the premise that he was not validly nominated by the PDP

Edo State Tribunal

The appellate court maintained that the issue of nomination of a candidate by a political party “is clearly a pre-election matter which no tribunal has the jurisdiction to entertain”. It stressed that neither the All Progressives Congress, APC, nor its candidate, Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan, had the locus-standi to query the outcome of the governorship primary election of the PDP.

“There is no dispute whatsoever in this case that the 1st and 2nd respondents have not said that the appellant is not a member of a political party. From the pleadings and facts, it is obvious that the appellant is a member of the PDP”.‎ The court held that under section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, only those that participated in the said PDP primary election has the right to challenge its outcome at the Federal High Court or State High Court.

“The right to complain is severely limited to participants in the primary election. Whether the primary election was done rightly or wrongly cannot be subject of an election petition. “The most important question to be asked here is, was the appellant a member of a political party or sponsored by a party to participate at the election?

“All evidence before the tribunal pointed to the fact that the appellant was duly sponsored by the PDP and INEC duly received his nomination. INEC did not at any time queried his eligibility to participate in the election. “Both oral and documentary evidence before the tribunal clearly showed that the appellate was a member of the PDP and was validly sponsored.

“I hold that the 1st and 2nd respondents have no right to challenge the primary election at which the appellant emerged as none of them is a member of the PDP. “Nomination of a candidate to participate in an election is the sole responsibility of a political party. Issue of nomination of candidate is within the domestic affair of a political party”, the court added.

‎Besides, the court held that the tribunal “grossly misdirected itself”, when it not only nullified governor Ishaku’s election, but went ahead to declare the candidate of the APC, Alhassan, winner. “There is no basis for the finding of the lower tribunal‎”, Justice Aboky held, saying the tribunal had no power whatsoever to declare a person that came second at an election as the winner.

It said the best the tribunal could have done under section 142 of the constitution was to order for a fresh poll. “The judgement of the lower tribunal ‎is hereby set aside. We are of the view that the appellant’s appeal is meritorious and is hereby allowed. “I hereby make the following consequential orders. The order of the tribunal made on November 7 is hereby set-aside. The election and return of the appellant in theApril 11 election is hereby upheld.

“The Certificate of Return ‎issued to the appellant by the 4th respondent in this matter remains valid. I make no order as to cost”, the court held. It will be recalled that the Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar led Tribunal had on November 7, declared Senator Alhassan‎ of the ‎APC as the bona-fide winner of the April 11 governorship poll in the state.

The three-man panel tribunal which conducted its sitting in Abuja, said it was satisfied that governor Ishaku was not validly nominated by the PDP to contest the election.

The tribunal said there was overwhelming evidence that the PDP in Taraba State, sidelined the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, and the 1999‎ constitution, as amended, when it decided to hold the primaries that produced Ishaku as its candidate in Abuja instead of Jaligo the Taraba State capital.

It held that the purported nomination of Ishaku for the election, without a valid primary election monitored by INEC, was in breach of sections 85, 87 and 138(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as well as section 177 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. The tribunal stressed that the governorship primary election PDP held at its National Headquarters in Abuja on December 11, 2014, was not known to the law and was therefore invalid

It held that PDP failed to give cogent and verifiable reason why it decided to hold the said primary election in Abuja without the consent of  INEC. Meantime, judgement is still ongoing in three other appeals that were lodged against the decision of the tribunal. Whereas two of the pending appeals were filed by the PDP and INEC, Senator Alhassan who had since been appointed as a Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari, equally filed a cross-appeal‎.

Appeal court reverses Taraba judgement, declares Ishaku winner

Nigeria’s foreign reserves drop to $29.13 billion

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday said that the nation’s foreign exchange reserves declined to 29.13 billion dollars as at Dec. 29.

The bank said on its website that the drop represented 2.43 per cent from $29.31 billion recorded as at Dec.23

The nation’s external reserves stood at 34.49 billion dollars as at Jan 5, 2015 from the $34.47 billion recorded in Dec. 31, 2014.

But shortages of US Dollars has forced Nigeria’s external reserves into a massive decline hitting a new low of $29.73 billion as at Dec. 11, while the value of the Naira declined in the unofficial foreign exchange market.

The central bank had spent around $5 billion between January and July defending the Naira, which was hit by the 2014 plunge in oil prices.

The CBN in November said it was able to save $300 million as at August from Bureau De Change (BDC), through its provision that request for forex must be accompanied by the BVN of the customers.

(NAN)

Nigeria’s foreign reserves drop to $29.13 billion

#Presidentialmediachat: Buhari notdifferent from Mussolini, Hitler, Idi Amin - PDP

• Media Chat Exposed Buhari’s Undemocratic Character”- PDP
  
  Says President Should Apologize for Labeling Nigerians ‘Difficult Lot’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at the Wednesday Presidential Media Chat were not only embarrassing but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.

Olisah Metuh

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Thursday also said the President confirmed his partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

“Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.

“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.

“This extremely shocking dictatorial tendency being brazenly exhibited by the President in total disdain for our laws and judicial institutions portends great danger for our democracy and constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the people, and should be resisted by the citizens before it festers.

“The scorn for the principle of separation of powers, especially the independence of the legislature, is further manifested in the declared craving to regulate the funding and running of the National Assembly, a matter constitutionally vested outside the jurisdiction of the executive. We are most uncomfortable about his attempt at trying to whip up public sentiments against an independent arm of government, especially the one vested with the constitutional power of appropriation.

“Following from the foregoing, therefore, it may be necessary to suspend the application of our Constitution and allow the President to operate as maximum ruler for four years after which the nation can return to a democracy.

“On the issue of the Chibok girls, President Buhari’s embarrassing declaration of seeking information on the whereabouts and state of the girls betrays an obvious insincerity which is in total conflict with his campaign promises in that regard. Thus by this declaration, our dear President has accepted failure on this issue and should therefore apologise to Nigerians for all the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on the past administration by himself and the leadership of his political party.

“On the issue of devaluation of the naira, there is an obvious conflict between the budget speech wherein the president stated that the government is assessing the foreign exchange rate with a view to attracting foreign investments and his categorical pronouncement during the media chat that the naira would not be devalued. We invite Nigerians to note that the president obviously does not understand the currency that applies in the devaluation of the naira (laugh out loud).

“Furthermore, Nigerians were shocked by the President’s labeling Nigerians as ‘very difficult lot’ while responding to questions on the strategy to be adopted in implementing his promised N5,000 social welfare package.

“This unhealthy portrayal of the citizens by the very father of the nation, who has remained unrelenting in de-marketing his country through unguarded statements, is indeed a great disservice to Nigeria and its international image. Consequently, we reject this negative labeling of our citizens and reiterate our confidence in them, especially the millions who remain honest, hardworking and credible.

“Finally, Nigerians must take copious note of the fact that the President gave no inspiring answers to questions pertaining to his campaign promises, the fight against insurgency and rescue of the Chibok girls, the poor state of the naira, sudden plunging of the economy under his watch, and the gradual loss of democratic rights and freedom.”

#Presidentialmediachat: Buhari notdifferent from Mussolini, Hitler, Idi Amin - PDP

Buhari media chat a disappointment - Delta group

 

A Delta State based group, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC) has described President Muhammadu media chat as disappointing.

General Buhari

The group in a communique by its National President Barr. Alaowei Cleric said the chat brought to mind subjugation particularly the President playing the role of judge in the ongoing anti corruption war.

FHRACC said Buhari has passed judgement to selected few, adding that there is no law that denies anybody standing trial bail.

Cleric said ” President Buhari’s first media chat is disappointing. It brings to mind misery and subjugation of popular will particularly his resolved to be a judge in the anti corruption war. Those accused of corruption particularly some select people have already been convicted by Mr President. ‘

“He is now exercising the functions of the judiciary by passing an executive judgment against some alleged corrupt individuals standing trial. There is no law in Nigeria that denied Dasuki and any body standing corruption trial bail. Also in the case of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as far as our judicial system is concerned, bail is the discretion of the court no matter the gravity of the offense.

“If Buhari is not satisfied with the courts decisions, let him order the prosecuting agencies to file an appeal against the verdicts. It is not in his position to decide who to be granted bail and who not to be granted bail. That is the exclusive function of the judiciary. He should be guided with the principles of separation of power enshrined in the Constitution, 1999 (as amended).

“His postures clearly showed that he has no respect for the constitution. His answer to the IPOB’s protests in the South East is provocative, scornful and it smack of total disregard to provisions of the constitution which seeks to balance the Federal appointments among the six geopolitical zones. Mr President cannot expect the Igbos to feel being part of his Government when he denied them of sensitive positions in his Government in gross violation of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) particularly under section 14 of the Constitution.

“His media chat in all, gives no hope in sight to the growing economic challenges the Country is facing as he failed to answer so many critical questions. The only good thing we can get from the chat is his condemnation of the impending financial recklessness in National Assembly although to failed to tell Nigerians the truth about the alleged N18b he is planning to service the Villa in 2016 in the face of the growing hardship in the land”.

 

Buhari media chat a disappointment - Delta group

A Regime Of Illiterates, By Illiterates, For Illiterates, And The Rest Of US (1) by Prof Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

In his “The New Deal”, the late great Gil Scott-Heron intoned: “I’d said I was gonna write no more poems like this, but the dogs are in the streets….” Yes, I had promised myself to stop pointing out the negatives about our existence as a country. But it seems that our capacity for finding depths to plumb when I could have sworn that we had hit rock-bottom means that it would be next to impossible to keep my promise. No, human foibles and the stupidities of the American government and society at large kept Scott-Heron writing poems like that till he passed. I am more than proud to follow his lead. Except we be rid of the last louse, we cannot but have blood under our fingernails.”

Few who are knowledgeable about Nigeria and its affairs in the last two or so decades would deny that, pound-for-pound, the country must be in the front ranks of the countries with the highest number of degrees and other formal qualifications per capita in the world. And this not just because of the exponential growth of institutions handing out degrees by their thousands within its borders.

It is that Nigerians would go to the ends of the earth, hell even, to obtain a certificate, any certificate. As a result, the country is awash—I nearly said drowning—in a sea of formal qualifications across all demographic and economic sectors. Ordinarily one would expect that a country like that, one that even wrote into its constitution—such as it is—minimum educational qualifications for eligibility for elective offices across the length and breadth of the country, would do the most things right when it comes to running its affairs.

Unfortunately, a degree does not an educated person make. One sees a persistent disproportion between the proliferation of certificates and the quality of leadership in all areas of life in Nigeria. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the infiltration of university-educated types into the business of the country has witnessed the calamitous decline in the quality of the nature, level, and scope of services in all aspects of our life.

Over the years, I have often wondered why this has been so. Here is what I have come up with for an explanation. I am convinced that, contrary to received wisdom, the principal functions of public life in Nigeria—government and its related institutions, education system, health systems, agriculture, etc.—are designed by illiterates and run by same. It is a self-perpetuating regime of illiteracy with only the personnel changing from one set of operatives to another.

This is why successive occupiers of these institutions, their functionaries, from the president on down to the lowliest local government councilor, from the chief of defence staff to the newly-minted second lieutenant, from the primate of major church denominations and chief imams of major mosque congregations to the fresh inductee into either clergy, with all their fancy certificates in multiples, no less, form one of the largest coteries of illiteracies the world has ever seen. Notice how little change there was when we had our first doctorate holder as president.

If the knowledge of our functionaries is notable for its deficiencies, if the ranks of those who know better have no say in determining how things are, what we end up with is exactly what we have in Nigeria as I write this: a state of illiterates, designed by illiterates and run by illiterates for the benefit of illiterates. The rest, including the vast masses of our people who expect that their functionaries would at least have some idea of what they are doing, be damned!

I can only give you what I take to be representative samples of the ways of this confederacy of illiterates that passes for functionaries in my homeland. The question that keeps recurring as I write this is how, with all our talents and formal qualifications, we could be so consistently inept, inefficient, clueless, etc.—supply your own adjective. I can only hope that the irony is not lost on us that the country that proclaims its mostest in everything in the African continent could at the same time suck at the most basic task of organizing life and thought within its borders.

Where does one even begin? A plane flies into one of those prestige badges that have become a must-have for Nigeria’s beggared constituent states: an airport. I don’t think that one requires degrees and similar qualifications to know that a runway and an enclosed terminal do not an airport make. That if you are not flying those small planes that have their gangways built into their main doors, you need gangways for embarkation and disembarkation of aircraft. Yes, our local airlines fly jet aircraft but Bauchi Airport, on that fateful December day, had no working gangway for passengers to disembark on their arrival there in this most recent illustration of our capacity for high-class ineptitude.

The pilot, aware of his professional responsibilities, insisted on flying back to the port of origin. But, trust our multi-degreed, formally educated, Nigerian passengers, some of whom I am certain included the functionaries whose behaviour is referenced in this article. They asked the “officials”, not minding the pilot’s preference for the right thing—fly back if conditions were not right for disembarkation—to improvise. Lo and behold, a ladder materialized and our elite—few amongst the masses fly—disembarked. The cash-and-carry, let’s-get-it-done-somehow mentality that ruins our lives, corporate and personal, won the day, again. It is not beyond imagination that, given their conviction that that is how life goes in Nigeria, they might have turned their flowing garbs into rope ladders had those aluminium ladders not been available.

This incident encapsulates all, repeat all that is wrong with how we live, and die, as the elite segment of our society. To start with, airports now vie with universities as the latest-chieftaincy equivalents for states and communities in our land. Everyone can have one and with time, must have one. There is no rhyme or reason to why they are established, how they are built, who builds them, who will use them and, most important, how are they to be funded in perpetuity. After all, in the places from which we borrowed these ideas, building an airport is much more than laying asphalt and enclosing a terminal.

Aircraft are responsible for two major types of pollution that decent societies led by thinking men and women worry and talk endlessly about when they think it is time to have an airport built or expand an existing one: noise and air. Has anyone ever heard of a debate in Nigeria in the last half-century over whether or not to build an airport with due regard to the environmental impact of such a venture? When was the last time the public was consulted on whether or not an airport should be built, where, and so on? The elite decide they need an airport because their peers in other states have one and they need to be spared the indignities that road and rail travel entails in Nigeria, etc. Pronto, one is built! No cost-benefit analysis, no studies on whether it would repay the investment, who will use it, and are the personnel available to run its very advanced operations? We build them in exactly the same way that newly-empanelled chairmen of local government councils put a wall around a dirt pitch and launches a new ultra-modern motor park!

What happened in Bauchi is the harvest of planlessness that is itself a fruit of our thoughtlessness. Of course, once the incident happened, all the other manifestations of our multiplex illiteracies kicked in. Certainly, you cannot have anything happening at the airport that answers simply to the officials on the ground as the agents primarily responsible for what transpires in their neck of the bureaucratic woods. The Minister has to intervene and has to appear to be doing something in the heat of the moment. Like clockwork, the minister has promised a “probe into the incident”. This is now part of the DNA of our functionaries and our fresh bevy of doctorate holders and other degree-wielding equivalents never pause for a moment to realise that the smell around them is coming from their own farts. Worse, sometimes as often happens, what are essentially crime scenes are contaminated by ministers—massive illiteracy!—and their retinue in tow appearing to be doing something by visiting the scene and ‘condoling’ with the victims justice for whom has been made unavailable because the scene has been messed up by the minister’s intervention!

Why do we need any ministerial intervention into a simple bureaucratic-cum-technical snafu at Bauchi Airport? They had equipment that was not operational. The pilot did not know or, what is more likely, pretended he had no reason to believe that he was flying to a destination that was nowhere ready for his flight. Meanwhile, the passengers, all clad in their flowing robes complete with the ‘shmiling’ in the face of ‘shuffering’ that is a hallmark of life in our homeland—apologies, of course, to Fela—had no difficulty defying, yes, defying the pilot. In civilized societies, in those situations the pilot has the last word and whosoever should disobey would have committed a felonious act for which they would go to jail. And the pilot, knowing full well the culture of impunity in which he operates could only shrug and watch his professional integrity flushed down the drain of collective lack of capacity for shame.

Pray, what would the minister’s intervention do that would make a difference? What did interventions by previous ministers do to ensure that what took place never happened in the first place? Sadly, given the generalized illiteracy of our elite and the functionaries we put in charge of our affairs respecting the nature, scope and mechanics of government and its operations, we have no reason to believe that things would turn out differently.

We are already seeing the signs that that is one area where change would not occur no matter how many changes of regime we witness. The new minister in charge of aviation who has already put in the ritual fulmination is not likely to step back and ask himself: why is it my business to ensure that things are done right at a regional airport with all the necessary functionaries already in place and paid, no less, to ensure that things are done right? Does the airport in question have a management? What is the management there paid to do? Where is the structure of responsibility? Who ought to have done what and when in the command chain of the airport where the incident took place?

When we have ministers in place who take a deep breath, take a hard look at what they have been appointed to superintend, some of them might begin to wisen up and see how often they play the fool in the name of performing their official functions. It may actually make some of them conclude that it is more honourable for them to decline the fool’s errand that their portfolio has saddled them with. But, first, they must be thinking men and women; nor ‘action ministers’.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Prof Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò teaches at the Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A.

A Regime Of Illiterates, By Illiterates, For Illiterates, And The Rest Of US (1) by Prof Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Biafra: Why I can’t release Kanu – Buhari

ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, explained why he cannot release leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

The President disclosed that Kanu has two passports, one Nigerian, one British and came to the country without using any passport.

President Buhari

President Buhari also made a robust defence of the integrity of all 36 ministers in his cabinet challenging anyone with a contrary view to present evidence against such a minister.

Speaking in his first media chat, the president said the first gains of the war against corruption would become evident by the end of March, next year, even as he accused erstwhile National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) of having allegedly committed atrocities against Nigeria through reckless disbursement of billions of government funds.

The president made his first dismissal of the agitation for Biafra stating that Igbo were in strategic position in the cabinet including holding the petroleum and labour portfolios besides the stewardship of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

President Buhari also assured of the administration’s readiness to implement the N5,000 monthly transfer to vulnerable Nigerians even as he said the campaign promise did not emanate from him but from his then running mate, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. He also frowned at the allocation of N47.7 billion for the purchase of vehicles by the National Assembly even after the lawmakers had collected car loans from the government.

The president, who expressed his readiness to negotiate with any credible leadership of the Boko Haram sect for the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls also disclosed his readiness to consider a ban on the use of hijab should the trend of bombing through young veiled girls continue.

Noting the dire economic conditions facing the country, President Buhari was, nevertheless, against the immediate devaluation of the naira even as he revealed that N1.5 trillion had been recovered into the federation account through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account.

The president also spoke on the fate of the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, saying that he had allowed the Kaduna State government and the military authorities to take the lead in the investigations. He affirmed that the cleric had over time overstepped his bounds to the distress of the communities he lived.

On the panel that interviewed the president yesterday were Kayode Akintemi, Channels TV; Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbulam, Media World International; Munir Dan Ali, Daily Trust and Ibanga Isine, Premium Times.

On the ministers

“I don’t think I tolerate corruption, I don’t think I picked anybody that I know will embarrass my government. But if you have any evidence about any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I have.

“I don’t think I took anybody among the ministers who has got a case in court. Tell me one out of the 36. I don’t think I will deliberately make that mistake.”

Asked if he would sack any of the ministers if he or she is charged to court for corruption, he said:

“No, I will insist that the case go through the courts.”

On the location and condition of the Chibok girls, he said he would be prepared to negotiate with credible elements in the Boko Haram leadership if there is precise intelligence that could help return the girls to their parents. He, however, affirmed that presently he did not superior intelligence on the fate of the girls.

“We are still keeping our options open. If a credible leadership of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them without any pre-condition. This we have made absolutely clear. But while they are keeping the Chibok girls, they must not get away with the idea that we will not attempt to secure the rest of Nigeria.

“We have no firm intelligence on where they are physically and what condition they are in. But what we believe from our intelligence, they keep taking the girls around, they are not keeping all the girls in one place, we don’t know how many divisions they made of them and where they are.

On the crisis in Kaduna involving followers of the Shite leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky, he said:

“I expect the Kaduna State Government to set up a judicial inquiry because it happened in Kaduna, in one of the cities and it has been there for the last twenty years from what I have been reading from papers. They will occupy a federal highway, sometimes from Kano to Kaduna. This is what I heard.

“We have a system of investigation, the military that was involved too have a tradition of investigation and I am the head of the federal government, I have to wait for the official report before I can come out as head of the federal government and make a statement. So I am allowing the Army and the Kaduna State government to submit their report of inquiry. Meanwhile it does not mean that the police, the SSS and other directorate involved are not doing their own part of constitutional role.

Frowning at the activities of the group, he said:

“Unfortunately it is very serious. How can any group proclaim statehood in a state? I don’t want to speak about it in details now, I better leave it still after the report of the inquiry but there are a number of clips I saw, where some excited teenagers were visually hitting the chest of a general, mounting road blocks and threatening them with missiles.

On the contentious issue of subsidy, the president said that by the end of the next quarter that there would be no more talk about subsidy in the price of petroleum.

Money recovered

“Money has been recovered but whatever we recover, has to end up in court because I feel personally that Nigerians are entitled to know the truth and the truth will be what the court has discovered by the submission made to them in terms of documentation and the documentation includes the bank statement of where our money was lodged, when it was lodged and how much. Whether it is petrol from NNPC or Customs and Excise or money directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Told that he was limited in his disclosure of his assets, the president said that he had declared his assets at least four times in the past.

The president expressed reservation on proposals by the National Assembly to commit N47.7 billion to purchase new vehicles after members had collected car loans from the government.

N5,000 monthly stipend for the less privileged

“When my VP was quoted, how can I come here and disown it? First, I believe in getting facts, how many are involved? How are we going to do it? Is it state by state or geo-political zone by geo-political zone? In trying to get the bottom of the problem, a lot of work has to be done and if it is undertaken, we have to look at it very well.”

On Dasuki, Kanu and others

Asked on the alleged flouting of court orders by the state on the issue of Dasuki and detained Biafran agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, he said:

“Technically, if you see the kind of atrocities those people committed, if they jump bail? I am sorry to say this publicly…the former president just wrote to the governor of the CBN and said give N40 billion to someone while you have two million Internally Displaced Persons, what kind of country do you want to run?

“The one you called Kanu, do you know he has two passports? One Nigerian, one British and he came to this country without using any passport? Do you know that he brought sophisticated equipment into this country and started broadcasting for Radio Biafra? There is a treasonable charge against him and I hope the court will listen to the case.

Biafra and marginalisation of Ndigbo

“They say they are marginalised but they have not defined the extent of marginalisation. Who is marginalising them? Where? Do you know? Choosing a minister is not a matter of ethnicity, it is a matter of the constitution. I am limited by what the constitution says that there must be a member of the executive council from each state. There is a lot of partisan politics in it. Who is the Minister of State for Petroleum? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the governor of the CBN? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the Minister of Labour? Who is the Minister of Science and Technology? What do they want? I stood elections and I won, I am limited by the constitution, I have a member of every state in the Federal Executive Council and I have to listen to them when I sit as chairman. That is the limit the constitution gave me”.

Biafra: Why I can’t release Kanu – Buhari

B’Haram: Nigeria has much work to do, says US

The United States of America and Britain have condemned the recent attacks carried out by Boko Haram, saying the insurgents have no regard for human lives.

The US government noted that much work remained to be done by Nigeria and its neighbours involved in fighting the Boko Haram.

Between December 25 and 28, the Islamist sect renew its onslaught against the North-East by killing scores in Borno and Adamawa states.

In a statement following the December 27 and 28 attacks, the British Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said Britain would continue to provide assistance to Nigeria to bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end.

He added, “Boko Haram attacks on civilians in recent days, some of whom were in a mosque, show a contemptible disregard for human life. I utterly condemn them.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives or were injured. The United Kingdom continues to support the Nigerian authorities as they fight terrorism and to provide aid to those suffering because of Boko Haram’s actions.”

Also, in a statement by the US Embassy in Nigeria, the US government condemned the terrible attacks by the insurgents.

According to the US Department of State spokesperson, Mark Toner, Boko Haram has rendered more than two million people homeless across the Lake Chad Basin region, noting that at least 170,000 Nigerians had been displaced.

Toner stated, “The United States condemns the terrible attacks carried out by Boko Haram in Nigeria, December 25–28, as well as other recent attacks in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Boko Haram killed dozens of innocent people who were targeted as they went about their daily lives—attending service at a mosque, shopping in a neighbourhood market, or simply travelling down a road.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and we stand with the people of Nigeria and the region in the fight against Boko Haram.

“The United States remains committed to helping Nigeria and its neighbours counter Boko Haram’s senseless acts of terror. Despite much progress over the past year — due in large part to newly bolstered Nigerian and regional efforts — more work remains to ensure the people of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria live in peace.”

B’Haram: Nigeria has much work to do, says US

We’ll suspend our members convicted of corruption - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said it did not ask any of its members who were indicted of corruption to steal while serving in different positions.

PDP

It therefore urged any of its members who might be undergoing trial for corruption to be ready to face suspension if they were found guilty by the courts.

The party’s position was made known through the body of its National Vice Chairmen who met in Abuja on Tuesday night.

The communiqué of the body’s meeting, which was signed by the National Vice Chairman of the party in the South-South, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh, was made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

The body said the party was in support of the anti-graft war of President Muhammadu Buhari.

But it asked President Buhari to also investigate and prosecute any member of the All Progressives Congress and ministers accused of corruption.

The communiqué read, “That the body supports the anti-corruption drive of the Buhari administration.

“The body affirms that if corruption is not eradicated, the growth of Nigeria as a nation will remain stunted. We therefore dissociate the party completely from any corrupt practices while the party was in power.

“The body notes with great concern the various allegations and charges against some PDP members that served in government, even as these allegations and charges are yet to be proven, we call on the President to also investigate some of his serving ministers and associates that even more grievous allegations have been levelled against.

“The PDP as a party dissociates itself from any of its members so indicted.

“Any member so convicted shall also face intra-party disciplinary action and will be severely sanctioned accordingly.”

Ojugboh, who is also the secretary of the body, said the party stood steadfast by the ideals of the G-34 founding fathers of the party.

He added that the ‘principle of the rule of law,’ which he said was a cardinal point of the party while in government, remained sacrosanct and immutable.

The former member of the House of Representatives called on PDP members to remain resolute and await the pending repositioning of the former ruling party. He said square pegs would be put in square holes and justice and equity would prevail.

He said the party would no longer be led by those he described as mediocres.

He said, “Furthermore, we reaffirm that mediocres will no longer be allowed to govern the affairs of the party. Power will now be returned to the people at the grassroots.

“We make bold to say that those who are corrupt have left the party and those who left are indisputably mercenaries and soldiers of fortune.”

Ojugboh added that in spite of having lost the presidential election, the PDP remained the largest party in Nigeria and Africa.

While admitting that there were corrupt people in the party, he nevertheless said that the vast majority of PDP members at the grassroots were not corrupt, adding that the party “frown on and reject the notion and tagging of the PDP as a corrupt party.”

He said that Nigerians would soon realise that the PDP remained the only viable choice for the progress and the unity of Nigeria.

We’ll suspend our members convicted of corruption - PDP

Ribadu won’t join APC, says PDP scribe

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party , Prof. Wale Oladipo, has said the visit of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, has no political undertone.

Oladipo, who said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Wednesday, said Ribadu was not defecting from the PDP to the ruling party.

He said, “Ribadu has always been like a son to Baba Akande. I read about the visit and I am sure he is not defecting to the APC.

“The visit did not have any political meaning. He just simply visited him in Ila-Orangun. He has always been close to Baba and that does not mean he is leaving.”

He said there was nothing wrong in politicians having friends among those who were not members of their political parties.

The former EFCC boss had visited Akande at the latter’s residence in Ila-Orangun on Sunday and both of them said the visit had nothing to do with defection.

However, the Director of Publicity and Strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, had berated Ribadu for visiting Akande, who is a former governor of the state.

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

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

Meanwhile, the first civilian Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, has assured Nigerians of the Senate’s determination to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former governor said this in a New Year message that the upper legislative chamber was ready to work with the executive arm of government to ensure that the nation was repositioned for greatness.

Ribadu won’t join APC, says PDP scribe

El-Zakzaky not in our custody, says Kaduna Prisons

Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna

The authorities of the Kaduna Prisons on Wednesday distanced itself from purported claim that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi’ite, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was in the prison.

Picture of bleeding sheikh Zakzaky. Source: @ZahradeenAAhmad

While dismissing the claim, the Controller of Kaduna Prisons, Abubakar Argungu, however, said 191 members of the IMN were in the custody of the prison.

“We only have 191 followers of the Shi’ite leader in our custody. But we do not have their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, with us,” Argungu said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government said on Wednesday that it would soon announce members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the recent clash in Zaria between the Nigerian Army and Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

In a statement issued by Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, the government said it had completed the composition and terms of reference of the proposed commission.

It added that effort was being made to contact all the nominees for the membership of the commission as well as the secretariat and resource persons.

The statement partly read, “The Kaduna State Government has largely completed work on the composition and the terms of reference of the proposed Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

“However, the government is still engaged in extensive consultations that are required prior to a formal announcement.

“Efforts are also being made to contact all the nominees for membership of the commission, as well as the secretariat and resource persons that will support the work of this important inquiry.

“These consultations and contacts have been impacted by the holidays. Therefore, the Kaduna State Government will be delaying the announcement of the membership of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry until early in the New Year.

“Best efforts have been applied to ensure that the announcement is made within the two-week window envisaged when the decision to establish the commission of inquiry was made. But it has now emerged that a little more time is required.”

El-Zakzaky not in our custody, says Kaduna Prisons

DSS re-arrest Dasuki at prison gate after meeting bail conditions

Olusola Fabiyi and Ade Adesomoju,  Abuja

Operatives of the Department of the State Security Service have re-arrested a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki

He was re-arrested at the gate of the Kuje Prison, Abuja, while he was about leaving the prison after meeting the bail conditions set for him by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

The DSS took custody of  Dasuki shortly after perfecting the third bail granted him by Justice Peter Affem after two other courts had done same.

Counsel for Dasuki , Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), told one of our corespondents on the telephone that the former NSA had met all the bail conditions given by Justice Affem but regretted that the court order was not obeyed by the operatives of the DSS.

He said, “That’s correct, he was re-arrested by the operatives of the DSS and whisked away to an unknown destination.

“He met the bail conditions set for him by the judge, but as he was stepping outside the prison, he was arrested.”

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court also in Abuja had granted the ex-NSA bail on November 3 in the charges of unlawful possession of firearms, but the bail was on November 4 scuttled by the DSS who laid siege to his Asokoro Residence and placed him under house arrest.

The claim of the security agents was that Dasuki was being investigated on another matter.

He was later arraigned before justice Yusuf Baba of the Abuja High court on breach of trust an was granted bail but which was also refused to be obeyed by the security operatives.

Dasuki was also moved to another high court of Justice Affem who also admitted him on bail on the grounds that the offence was a bailable one.

Raji who perfected the bail condition of his client disclosed that the actions of the security agents was an affront to the rule of law under democracy.

The lawyer appealed to the authorities of the security agents and the federal government to respect court order and allow Dasuki to enjoy the bail granted him by the court.

Dasuki is facing two sets of criminal charges involving alleged diversion of about N45bn meant for arms procurement along with others before two judges of the FCT High Court, Abuja.

DSS re-arrest Dasuki at prison gate after meeting bail conditions

Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu apologises to Buhari, Jonathan

THE leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile in his radio broadcasts.

Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director

Kanu, who has been charged along with two others by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of treason and other ancillary offences, said he intended to write a private letter to Buhari to express his apology to the President.

He also apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for “some uncomplimentary things” he said about them.

The 48-year-old pro-Biafran agitation leader, who is, however, unapologetic about his demand for a Republic of Biafra, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since his arrest in Lagos on October 14, 2015.

He tendered the apology for his comment against Buhari and others in a statement which he made to the DSS on October 23.

The prosecution, in its summary of the case, alleged that in one of the radio broadcasts by Kanu on August 1, 2015, he expressed his resolve to actualise the Republic of Biafra and “cast aspersions on the person and the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The statement read in part, “Reference to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile is regrettable and uncalled for and for that, I unreservedly apologise and will be doing so in a private letter to the President.

“Before PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) there was the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. I also said uncomplimentary things about him and Igbo elders as well, which I now recognise should not have happened because it is un-African to be rude or insolent to elders.

“All I was trying to do is to draw attention to the problems afflicting society and something done about them.”

Kanu, who described himself as a Nigerian and a British citizen, justified his agitation for a Biafra Republic.

He said IPOB’s secessionist agenda was informed by the “incessant hardship, lack of holistic development in the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria, lack of youth employment, corruption in high offices and economic regression.”

He added that the agitation by IPOB, which, according to him, was founded in London in 2012 by a group of people from the South-South and South-East regions of the country, was in line with the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ratified by African countries, including Nigeria.

In contrast to the counts of managing and assisting in the management of an unlawful society preferred against Kanu and two others, the Radio Biafra founder stated that IPOB, which the prosecution described as unlawful, was registered with the UN to pursue the rights of the people of Biafra.

He stated, “I can confirm that I, Nnamdi Kanu, is the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide as a legitimately and duly registered body at the United Nations pursuing the rights of a specific indigenous people, in this case, Biafra, to seek self determination according to the said charter.

“The reason for the formation of the Indigenous People of Biafra is to avail those referring to themselves as Biafrans the opportunity made available as a result of the United Nations declaration to seek the peaceful rebirth of Biafra in line with international law.”

Kanu, who is a son of a traditional ruler in Abia State, Sir I.O. Kanu, said he operated Radio Biafra, whose programmes “are designed to wake up the public from its slumber and address the issues of the time” because of his belief in free speech and freedom of expression.

He explained that the intended Biafra Republic comprised Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states as well the Igbanke part of Edo State; Igala part of Kogi State and Idoma/Igede part of Edo State.

Apart from Kanu, one of the two other defendants in the six counts filed by the Federal Government is a Field Maintenance Engineer, David Nwawuisi, charged with the responsibility of maintaining MTN masts in Enugu State.

The other defendant, Benjamin Madubugwu, was said to be living in the Ubilisiuzo, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he allegedly received custody of a container, housing transmitters, from Kanu.

On December 23 during the accused persons’ appearance in court for their scheduled arraignment, Kanu refused to take his plea due to what he called his lack of confidence in the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

The judge promptly returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge and the three accused persons were returned to the custody of the Department of State Services.

The fresh charges were filed against the three men barely 24 hours after Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a ruling on Kanu’s bail application on December 17, ordered his unconditional release from DSS custody having been detained for about two months without any valid charges filed against him.

The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government had alleged that transmitters for Radio Biafra, spreading secessionist agenda for carving out Biafra region from Nigeria, were found to be installed on MTN masts in Enugu and Anambra states between April and May 2015.

No new date has been fixed for the arraignment of the accused persons.

Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu apologises to Buhari, Jonathan

Pandemonium in Badagry over iman’s alleged bid to use lover for money ritual

By Ifeanyi Okoli

LAGOS—Mowo 11, a suburb of Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Badagry area in Lagos State, was yesterday thrown into pandemonium, as an Islamic cleric, Mallam Shehu, popularly referred to as Alhaji Sambo, attempted to use his 20-year-old lover, Busayo Amdalat, for money ritual.

The victim, who resides in Ibeju-Lekki, was said to have visited the cleric at Mowo Phase 2 in Badagry to spend the Christmas holidays.

It was gathered that in the early hours of yesterday, the cleric had a visitor known as Ifa and they asked the victim to put on a white cloth and when she did, the cleric and his accomplice hit Busayo with an iron rod on her head.

Slashing the victim’s throat

It was gathered that when Sambo’s accomplice, Ifa was slashing the victim’s throat, she was able to muster courage by hitting Ifa on the head with a bottle and in the process ran to a nearby street where a carnival was taking place.

Rushed to hospital

Some residents, who saw her drenched in a pool of blood with injuries inflicted on her neck and other parts of her body, quickly rushed her to an undisclosed hospital in the area.

A resident, Taiwo Abdulraman, who spoke with Vanguard said, the residents quickly mobilized themselves into two groups; one of them went after the cleric and his friend, Ifa, while others took the lady to hospital.

“We quickly mobilised and went after him, when we got to his house, we saw blood in parts of the building. There were lots of charms and other fetish substances in his house. We saw the iron rod and the sharp knife he used on her, but we didn’t meet him in the house. We also quickly mobilized and went to his second house at MTN Bus Stop, but he was nowhere to be found, he said.”

When Vanguard paid a visit to the hospital where the 20-year-old victim was being treated, her face and neck were covered with plaster.

The victim speaks

Narrating her ordeal, Miss Amadalat said “We both had a quarrel before now for close to three weeks. I knew his first wife before she died but the second wife did not want him (Sambo) to marry me but he resolved that he was going to marry me. I even got pregnant for him but he rejected the pregnancy at some point in time.

“I went to report him to a Muslim cleric but the cleric said there was nothing he could do to convince my lover to accept the pregnancy. For about two months, I did not call Sambo and because of the issue, I changed my telephone number.”

She said after Sambo apologized to her she forgave him.

Her words: “So, yesterday, Sambo and a man called Ifa were having a discussion in his house. Before I knew it, he started taking lots of alcohol, when I cautioned him; he refused to listen to me. He even offered me some but I rejected it.

“Later that night, he asked me to wrap myself in a white clothing of which I obliged. The man called Ifa wanted to use a cloth to cover my face and in the process, Sambo came in with an iron rod and hit me on the head. I shouted but nobody heard me because it was a bushy area.

“Ifa and Sambo attacked me with a knife but I managed to lock myself in a room. I now lied to them I had called one of the neighbours, it was in that process that they left and I managed to escape from the house.”

Pandemonium in Badagry over iman’s alleged bid to use lover for money ritual

2016 Budget: FG to spend N4.1bn on cars

*Finance Ministry takes lion share of N1.5trn

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

Lagos— Further details emerging from the recently presented 2016 budget have shown that the executive arm of the government would spend the lion share of N5.87 trillion, or about 96.5 per cent of the total N6.1 trillion about N205 billion or 3.5 per cent to the other arms of government, with the Legislature and the Judiciary, spending N115 billion and N90 billion respectively.

Buhari

The breakdown of the budget also indicates that the government intends to spend N39 billion in running the Office of the President with major allocations going to car purchase at N3.9 billion and another N189 million to change tyres for some specified vehicles in the Presidency.

Some details provided indicate that the vehicles that will gulp the budgeted sum for tyres include Mercedes Benz bullet proof and plain, Toyota cars, trucks Land Cruiser SUV, Prado SUV, Hilux, Peugeot 607 and 406, BMW trucks, ambulances as well as utility and operational vehicles.

Also, the Presidency will spend about N1.4 billion on travels during the fiscal year, according to the budgetary provisions.

The budget breakdown shows that some super ministries could be identified by the relative amounts allocated to them with Ministry of Finance taking the lion share of N1.5 trillion followed by Budget and National Planning with N1.15 trillion.

Buhari to spend more than Jonathan on Presidential Villa

In 2014, Jonathan spent N12.2 billion on the State House, while in 2015, the government spent N6.6 billion for the presidential office, amid dwindling revenue occasioned by sliding oil prices.

The costs cover the State House headquarters, the president’s office and the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. They also cover the budgets of the State House medical centre and the Lagos Liaison office.

One of the most outstanding State House spendings in 2016 will be the purchase of BMW saloon cars at N3.63 billion. It is not clear yet what purpose the cars would serve.

The State House budget also contains a repeat of projects the Jonathan administration repeatedly allocated funds for. An example is the purchase of computers, which has featured in budgets of previous government each year.

In 2016, the State House will spend N27. 5 million on computers, while N268.9 will finance computer software acquisition.

Aso Rock will spend N764.7 million on recreational activities.

The installation of electrical lighting and fittings, which received substantial allocations in 2014 and 2015, will gulp N618.6 million next year.

The budgets are subject to the approval of the National Assembly.

Presidential food.

Other big spenders are Ministry of Interior with N498.5 billion, Education ministry is to spend N483.7 billion while the amalgamated Ministry of Works, Power and Housing is to spend N467.6 billion.

2016 Budget: FG to spend N4.1bn on cars

Oshiomhole, others win Governor of the Year, 2015 awards

Adenuga is African Businessman of the year

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

A common streak in the quartet is the way and manner they altered the pace and pattern of governance in the states they govern. Even more remarkable is the reconstruction of the political dynamics in the four states governed by Adams Oshiomhole, Edo, Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun, Kassim Shettima, Borno and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe.

Governor Oshiomhole

The handsome effort of the four was reflected in the ease with which all four won re-election for a second term.

For their efforts in making a difference, Governors Oshiomhole, Amosun, Shettima and Dankwambo are recognised as Governors of the Year, 2015.

Governor Kashim Shettima (Borno)

Arguably, no governor in the country faced the kind of pressure Governor Shettima got from the disparate forces that tackled him for most of his first four years in office. While the Boko Haram insurgents tackled from one bestial side, local political adversaries working in league with foes in Abuja regularly tackled him on the political plain.

The challenges nonetheless, Governor Shettima has won praise from far and near for his remarkable efforts in building hope, houses and unusual honesty in the heartland of Boko Haram.

Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe)

Described as the last man standing, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo was the only PDP governor who won re-election in the last general election. His feat was, however, not unexpected given the landmark achievements of the administration in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture among others.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo)

The advent of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State in 2008 led to the massive reconstruction of roads and other infrastructure that had until his coming almost laid in perpetual disrepair. Besides road infrastructure, Governor Oshiomhole has in seven years made differences in the health and education sectors in the state.

Equally remarkable is his role in reshaping the political configuration of Edo State, taking the initiative from the old political order that had until recently held sway in the state.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun)

Friends and foes of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun State are agreed on the massive reconstruction of roads that have given a new face to some of the ancient towns in Ogun State. While critics lament the high priority given to road infrastructure by the administration, Governor Amosun like a man with vision has soldiered on, focused on the bigger picture that opening up the state would in turn bring the state to a new lease of life.

African Businessman of the Year

Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr.

The one time Nigerian success story captured by the phenomenal business outreaches of Michael Adenuga Jnr. has remarkably branched out to the rest of the continent with Nigeria’s second richest business man planting his roots in Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, South Africa among others.

Dr. Adenuga may have become an African business icon, however, in the opinion of many Nigerians, he remains an inspiration and a bulwark whose entry into the GSM sector reshaped the pricing regime that foreign investors had at one time made hellish.

Adenuga’s investments in the continent range from telecommunication, oil and gas, banking among others

Oshiomhole, others win Governor of the Year, 2015 awards

Boko Haram: We"re still living in fear - residents

Residents of northeastern Nigeria were gripped by fear and anxiety on Tuesday after two days of bloodshed blamed on Boko Haram, pouring scorn on government claims the jihadist group was “largely defeated”.

More than 50 people were killed in a 48-hour wave of shootings and bombings in the volatile region, just days ahead of the government’s end of year deadline to stamp out what has been described as the world’s deadliest terrorist group.

Nigeria soldiers fighting Boko Haram

In the latest attacks, two female bombers detonated their explosives in a crowded market in the town of Madagali on Monday, killing 30 people.

A spate of suicide bombings and shootings in and around Maiduguri, the capital of neighbouring Borno state, killed another 22 people in two days and injured scores more.

In Madagali, armed soldiers were patrolling the dusty streets of the agricultural town on Tuesday, searching vehicles and passengers for explosives and weapons.

– ‘People still jittery’ –

But despite the heightened security, residents were bracing for more violence.

“Security has been beefed up everywhere but people are still jittery. No one knows the next target because the bombers have no known identity,” resident Timothy Manzo told AFP.

“We try to be calm and go about our daily routine but the fear is still there, we are only suppressing it because life has to go on.”

The latest carnage highlighted Boko Haram’s continued ability to stage deadly attacks even after the Nigerian government vowed to end the group’s deadly insurgency by December 31.

“They (Boko Haram) know they are on their way out,” Information Minister Lai Mohammed told journalists in Lagos.

“They lack the capacity to launch horrendous attacks they used to do in the past.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, who took office at the helm of Africa’s most populous nation in May, had said last week that Boko Haram was “technically” defeated.

Over 17,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram’s six-year quest to create an independent Islamic state in Nigeria.

– ‘Same mistakes’ –

For Buhari, a continued Boko Haram insurgency is a potential threat to his credibility — and popularity — going into 2016.

“It is always a bad idea for the leaders of countries to declare highly active terrorist groups dead,” Max Abrahms, assistant professor of political science at Northeastern University in Boston, told AFP.

“History shows that terrorist groups are extraordinarily difficult to snuff out once they have reached a critical mass,” he said.

“The truth is that terrorism is very easy to perpetrate.”

The previous administration under Goodluck Jonathan made repeated pledges of a swift end to the conflict, all of which came and went, hurting government credibility and becoming a major factor in Jonathan’s ousting in the March election.

“A decisive victory against the sect was the cornerstone of Buhari’s election campaign, yet it increasingly appears that he is creating the same mistakes as his predecessor,” said Ryan Cummings, chief Africa analyst at the South Africa-based crisis management group Red 24.

While Nigeria’s military has won back swathes of territory from the jihadists in recent months, Boko Haram has expanded its network in neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

“It is evident that Boko Haram has expanded outside of Nigeria’s borders,” Cummings said, adding that the lack of regional cooperation was cause for concern.

An 8,700-strong Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) compromising troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin was supposed to be deployed earlier this year, but little has been heard about its activities.

According to the Global Terrorism Index, a report released by the New York-based Institute for Economics and Peace, Boko Haram “has become the most deadly terrorist group in the world”.

The Islamic extremists have increasingly relied on children as weapons, often deploying young girls strapped with explosives into crowded marketplaces and mosques.

Boko Haram: We"re still living in fear - residents

N1.84 trillion means Nigeria to borrow N5bn a day - PDP

N6.08 Trillion Budget: ‘Nigeria Going The Way of Greece’ – PDP warns

…Tasks Buhari On Repayment Plans

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown more light into why the N6.08 trillion 2016 federal budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari is a huge fraud, warning that with the proposed N1.84 trillion borrowing, the nation is going the way of Greece.

Olisah Metuh

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, explained that a breakdown of the N1.84 trillion shows that Nigeria would be borrowing N5 billion a day for the next 365 days, starting from January I, 2016, without corresponding provision for economic production and a clear repayment plan, a scenario that spells doom for the future of the nation.

According to Metuh, “Some people may be wondering why we raised an alarm about the budget. The reason is simple. When we analyzed the budget, we discovered it is a misshapen attempt at a Keynesian economics of applying deficit spending to stimulate growth even when studies have proven that GDP growth rates decrease by over 50% when debt goes from low or moderate to high. But then we know the borrowing here is to pay huge campaign debt and fund a political war chest.

“By every standard, this budget is a booby trap against the nation. When you break down the proposed N1.84 trillion borrowing, you discover that it amounts to borrowing N5 billion everyday for the 365 days in 2016. The questions are: for what specific projects are they borrowing N5 billion per day and how do they intend to pay back?

“The President should explain to Nigerians how they intend to pay back the loan. Is it by continuous borrowing to service the interests, and does he intend to accumulate colossal debt for future generations of Nigerians?

“The truth is that this administration cannot justify this proposal. There is no known economy in the world where you can justify borrowing N1.84 trillion without specific projects and precise repayment outline. This is worse still in an oil-driven, mono-economy at a time crude oil is selling at $30 dollars per barrel and is speculated to go down to about $20 dollars or even lower in the next one year. The idea can only come when you diversify the economy and boost production capacity in manufacturing and other critical sectors, a direction, which the budget clearly failed to provide.

“From all indicators, the borrowing will be negative. They are driving us to be like Greece, and to plunge us into unnecessary debt. When the PDP took office in 1999, we achieved the cancellation of inherited debts. This administration, in seeking to accumulate debts, should know that there is no possibility that any country in the world will give us debt cancellation anymore.”

Metuh added, “More importantly, we are really worried about negative economic policies of the present administration and the copying of strategies that failed in other economies. Recall that we had earlier alerted on the negative consequences of the retrogressive foreign exchange controls wherein this government is making it impossible for honest Nigerians to engage in free trade and regulate their personal activities.

“There seems to be the erroneous belief that the controls will create foreign exchange stability or strengthen the Naira by limiting foreign currency outflows. This policy had badly affected other countries in the recent past; including Argentina, whose new government had to reverse the policy to save their economy. Why then are we copying a policy that failed in other countries?

“In practice, the kind of crude controls the Federal Government is implementing have been proven ineffective in preventing capital flight. By limiting the local availability of foreign exchange, the controls have instead increased the demand for foreign exchange, putting greater pressure on the naira and achieving the exact opposite of what the government in its naivety believed would happen.

“The negative impacts of the ill-conceived controls include the hindering of international trade and discouraging of foreign investment. We have seen first-hand the crippling of the private sector in the last six months, upon the implementation of these measures were out. Traders, importers and all manner of businesses are being destroyed as a result of the contrived unavailability of foreign exchange.”

The PDP spokesman challenged the Federal Government to a public and open debate on the budget devoid of the sentiments of the APC-controlled National Assembly and who are minded against any cuts in their own allocation.

N1.84 trillion means Nigeria to borrow N5bn a day - PDP

Boko Haram: Buhari vows to find missing Chibok girls

ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, said his administration would do everything within its power to ensure the safe return of the over 200 missing Chibok ‎girls.

General Buhari

The girls were in April 2014, abducted from the Federal Government Secondary school, Chibok, Borno State, by members of the Boko Haram terrorist sect.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, who spoke when the BringBackOurGirls campaign movement visited his office in Abuja yesterday, described the abduction of the girls as “tormenting and psychologically traumatising” for the nation‎.

He said: “It is tragic for a nation to have a budget meant for arms procurement for the protection of lives and property of the citizens, and end up not having the arms but compromising the process of making adequate provisions for the protection of lives of its citizens.

“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated sufficient skill and commitment to the protection of lives and property within the shortest practicable time of coming into existence, it has recorded tremendous success including confronting Sambisa forest head-on with the hope rescuing the Chik girls.”

Boko Haram: Buhari vows to find missing Chibok girls

Sen. Sani will continue to criticise Gov. el-Rufai’s - Aide

Malam Suleiman Ahmed, the Special Assistant to Sen. Shehu Sani (APC- Kaduna), on Politics and Ideology, says nothing will deter his principal from criticising the “anti-people” policies of the state government.

Shehu Sani

Ahmed stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Kaduna on Tuesday while reacting to the alleged suspension of the senator by the Tudun Wada North, Ward 6 of APC.

The party at the ward level had in a letter dated Dec. 7 and signed by the party’s Ward Secretary, Malam Ahmed Abdullahi; the Public Relations Officer, Malam Auwal Anguwa; and an Ex-Officio member, Malam Aminu Alilan, suspended Sani for 11 months.

The letter said that Sani was suspended for consistently criticising the policies of Gov. Nasir el-Rufai, an act which the APC ward executives described as “anti-party”.

The aide said that the suspension would only strengthen his principal’s resolve to criticise any policy of the el-Rufai administration that he considered “anti-people”.

“This letter is not relevant; it has no value to us; this letter will energise him the more; it will strengthen his resolve to criticise the government of the state if it goes wrong.

“The senator will continuously criticise any (government) policy that is anti-people up to the end of (his tenure in) the Senate and beyond.

“So if you feel that the senator should not criticise the government of the day because he is part of the party that brought the current government to power, then when he comes out to re-contest in 2019, do not vote for him.

“He will criticise the government, whether or not he comes back as a senator in 2019.

“This is because Sani has been consistent in his criticism of anti-democratic processes and elements; he did not start his criticism (in the current) democratic (dispensation).

“He has been doing criticism anti-people policies right from the military era. That’s what has taken caused his imprisonment on several occasions.”

The aide said that the senator would consider seeking legal redress if served with a genuine suspension letter in line with standard procedure.

He explained that the ward executives had invited the senator to the ward office to defend himself against some allegations levelled against him.

According to him, barely 24 hours after receiving the invitation, the ward office of the party sent a suspension letter to him.

He said, “This is a clear violation of standard procedure in line with the party’s constitution, which renders the letter invalid.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the party in Makarfi Local Government Area, Malam Tukur Abba, has condemned the alleged suspension of Sani.

Speaking at a news conference in Kaduna, Abba said that due process was not followed in the purported suspension of the senator.

“We are at the executive committee level of the party. Who is the complainant? What is the nature of the complaint? Who is the alleged offender?

“Is the action in compliance with the provision of the party’s constitution? Is the state executive committee properly constituted to carry out the purported action?

“Is this action not the handiwork of few members of the State Working Committee members purporting to act as a superior body to the State Executive Committee?

“I am sure majority of the above questions will be answered in the negative. I therefore, disassociate myself from whatever decision taken.”

Sen. Sani will continue to criticise Gov. el-Rufai’s - Aide

2016 Economic Growth: FG, World Bank disagree over budget target

LAGOS — Contrary to the projections of the World Bank that pegged the Gross Domestic Product growth rate at 3.7 per cent, the Federal Government economic agenda as contained in the 2016 budget breakdown insisted on GDP growth rate of 4.37 per cent thus making it ambitious.

Earlier this year IMF cut its growth forecasts for the global economy on the back of a slowdown in China, looming recession in Russia and continuing weakness in the eurozone.

Source: U.S Department of Agriculture

The Washington-based fund, while warning of a significant declines in growth rates across global economies especially among emerging markets including Nigeria’s against the backdrop of crash in oil prices, cut its 2016 forecasts from 4.0 per cent to 3.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s 2016 budget envisioned an expansionary fiscal measures expected to galvanize the economy to a growth momentum for the forecast GDP rate significantly above 4.0 per cent.

GDP is derived from the value of all goods and services available for final uses and export.

The expenditure approach measures the final uses of, or expenditure on the produced output, as the sum of final consumption expenditure; gross capital formation (investment activities carried out in the economy), and exports less imports.

Though the 2016 target is lower than 5.5 per cent revised projection in 2015 budget it is clearly ambitious in the light of revised figures given by multilateral institutions and several multinational and local financial institutions as well as real outcome recorded so far in 2015 fiscal year.

Budget Breakdown

The growth rate projection, according to the breakdown, would be achieved through alignment of fiscal, monetary, trade and industrial policies.

Also the government intends to enhance the realization of this target by ensuring job creation on every aspect of the execution of the 2016 budget.

Its inclusive growth strategy would entail a reduction in tax rates for smaller businesses as well as subsidized funding for priority sectors such as agriculture and solid minerals.

However a breakdown of the 2016 spending plan showed that non-debt recurrent expenditure was cut by 9.1 per cent to N2.59 trillion indicating that the expenditure approach to GDP will point downwards.

To offset this scenario capital expenditure was increased by 223 per cent to N1.8 trillion which is 30 per cent of total budget.

Works, Power and Housing got the biggest capital votes of N433.4 billion, followed by transport (N202 billion), Special Intervention Programs (N200 billion), Defence (N134.6 billlion).

Economy analysts believe these allocations would add to GDP rate more significantly.

Also budget deficit of N2.2 trillion which translates to 2.16 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and an overall debt to GDP of 14 per cent, is expected to further stimulate growth.

The economy has witnessed one of its worst declines in the out going year with GDP initially projected at 6.4 per cent revised by the Federal Government to 5.5 per cent and subsequently revised further down by various multinational organisations including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Renaissance Capital, one of the world’s leading private sector financial institutions as well as Bloomberg, world’s leading financial media giant and African Development Bank, AfDB, Africa’s multilateral financial institution.

Nigerian-based financial institutions such as FSDH Economic Research, an arm of the FSDH Merchant Bank, Afrinvest Group, a Lagos based investment house, among many others have also analysed the economic trend.

Cumulatively, all these organisations brought down the forecast GDP growth rate for 2015 to between 2.5 and 2.8 per cent by year end 2015.

Real GDP growth rate has been largely in the negative this year declining to 3.38 per cent in the first quarter and further down to 2.57 per cent in the second quarter but it made slight improvement in the third quarter to 2.84 per cent, thereby giving an overall picture close to the forecasts by international and local financial institutions.

In the medium to longer term, the Buhari administration intends to pursue economic diversification through import substitution and export promotion.

The policy thrust of the budget included stimulating the economy and making it more competitive by focusing on infrastructural development; delivering inclusive growth; and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians.

2016 Economic Growth: FG, World Bank disagree over budget target

Ask EFCC to leave Tompolo alone, ex-militants beg Buhari

WARRI — FORMER Niger Delta militants, weekend, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to leave ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, alone and follow the rule of law in its dealings with him. The erstwhile agitators, who met under the auspices of the Transformed Niger Delta Ex-militants Forum, asserted that some persons, who were envious of Tompolo, wrote a petition against him to the EFCC, but advised that the commission in the discharge of its duties should respect the rule of law.

In a communiqué signed by its national president, Meshach Bebenimibo and others, they said, “We appeal to the President as a matter of urgency to instruct the EFCC to follow due process within 1999 Constitution as amended.” At the meeting held in Warri were Prince Bebenimibo, Bayelsa , Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Ondo coordinators of the group, Peter Ayeebide, Austin Peremobowei, Korebor Minama, Anthony Youbai, Oluwah Michael and Oloye Tamarayende.

They said: “We want EFCC to leave Tompolo alone because the petitioners are acting out of jealousy to indict and incarcerate him, that is why they are lying to the whole world that Tompolo sold the land for the building of Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko.”

According to the communiqué, “The petitioners know the truth and the truth is that Tompolo only sold the International Diving Institute buildings at Kurutie community and the place was sand filled before he built the school. Among the structures are lecture halls, multipurpose pavilion, administrative block, vice- chancellor’s lodge and hostels for male and female students.”

“The previous government brought valuers and did all necessary legal things and collected VAT money before paying him about 90 per cent as agreed.

“We also urge EFCC to have a rethink and defreeze Mieka and GlobalWest accounts.” The group, however, commended President Buhari for his interest in the region, particularly the inclusion of fund for the Amnesty programme in the 2016 Budget presented to the National Assembly, saying, “We really appreciate your kind gesture.”

Ask EFCC to leave Tompolo alone, ex-militants beg Buhari

We’ll technically defeat Boko Haram as planned - Lai Mohammed insists

Lagos—The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has expressed optimism that despite the recent attacks by insurgent, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari’s would technically defeat Boko Haram before the end of this December deadline.

Lai Mohammed

Meantime, he also assured Nigerians that the National Art Theatre  will not be sold for whatever reason as been speculated in some quarters.

Mohammed made the remarks in Lagos yesterday, while briefing newsmen. He was accompanied by representatives of the Lagos Police Command and Department of State Services, DSS, at the premises of the National Theatre shortly after inspecting facilities at the complex as part of the tour of the parastatals under his ministry.

Reacting to attacks on Jiddari Polo, and Adawari Village, near Maiduguri metropolis, both in Borno State, where scores of people were killed between Sunday and Monday, the Minister said, “We have been vindicated because Bokom Haram have been decapitated compared to the past records.”

While insisting that Boko Haram sect has been technically defeated by the Nigerian military, Muhammed said the pockets of attacks still being witnessed in the country could not be compared to what the near war situation the sect subjected the country to same time last year.

National Theatre

On the National Theatre, Muhammed said; “We are not averse to a Public-Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement that will add value to the iconic (National Art Theatre) complex. The process of selecting a preferred bidder under the PPP arrangement is currently under way.

‘’The National Theatre is a national monument and a tourist attraction. We will not allow it to go derelict or become a magnet for hoodlums. This monument is the pride of the nation, and it has always served as the point of convergence for Nigerians seeking fun and relaxation, especially during festive periods, and a centre for the promotion of arts and culture,’’ he said.

Muhammed added that the security around the complex would be beefed up to prevent a recurrence of the molestation by hoodlums of fun seekers at the National Theatre on Christmas Day, and also ensure the safety of the priceless artefacts within the complex.

Earlier, the General Manager of the National Theatre, Mallam Kabir Yusuf Yar’Adua, conducted the Minister around the facilities at the complex, which include; the banquet, cinema and exhibition halls, the sub-power station, the water works, the police post and the artiste village, among others.

We’ll technically defeat Boko Haram as planned - Lai Mohammed insists