Monday, August 31, 2015

N140bn spent on 2nd Niger Bridge, Oshiomhole insists

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has insisted that he will not back down on his claim that the Jonathan administration expended N140 billion on the yet to be completed 2nd  Niger Bridge in Anambra State.


Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole


Similarly, the governor has stood his ground that the sum of $700 million was surreptitiously moved from the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, for the same bridge, which has not risen above the foundation stage.


Oshiomhole, who made the claims in reaction to denials by former Works Minister, Mike Onolememen, asked him to apologise to Nigerians over his misdeeds as a minister.


In a statement released by the governor in Abuja, yesterday, Oshiomhole asked the former minister to direct his energy to the managers of the SWF, who had depleted the savings on the claim that the money was meant for the controversial bridge rather than attacking him.


Oshiomhole’s statement which was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, was made available to Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday.


“They told our committee that about $700m dollars were taken from the Sovereign Wealth Fund for the Second Niger Bridge project. Rather than crucify Comrade Oshiomhole for the disclosure, former Minister of Works should direct his energy and explanation to the managers of the Sovereign Wealth Fund who have depleted the savings on the explanation that it was meant for the 2nd Niger Bridge.


“Fully aware that not much has been achieved on that project, Onolememen and the managers of the Sovereign Wealth Funds should explain to Nigerians what really transpired instead of asking Comrade Oshiomhole to apologize to Nigerians.


“The real people, who should apologise to Nigerians for their many sins against the country are those who expended so much of our resources without any corresponding achievements to show for it.”


According to Oshiomhole, any right thinking Nigerian should be ashamed of the state of Nigerian roads, especially with the enormous resources budgeted for road rehabilitation and construction.


The governor regretted that rather than build new roads and rehabilitate them, the Ministry of Works under the former minister vandalised existing roads and made them almost impassable.


The governor said: “In Edo State, the Aduwawa end of the Benin-Auchi Road is almost impassable, especially during this rainy season. As we speak, erosion has cut off the Benin-Auchi road into two and motorists are going through hell passing through that road.


“What about Benin-Abraka Road; it is one hell of a road completely abandoned and vandalized. In the name of politics, they came trying to impress Edo people, but ended up depressing all of us.


“When we complained of utter neglect of Edo State in the scheme of things, they hurriedly brought caterpillars to site and vandalize the roads, pretending to be working.


“If you visit Federal Government roads today in Edo State, you will weep for Edo people. People should find time to pass through Uromi-Agbor road, a major highway connecting the eastern part of the country. It is an eye-sore, yet we had a Minister of Works who hails from Uromi.


“Former Minister Onolememen should explain to Nigerians how he expended the billions of naira that were budgeted for the Ministry of Works because what we have on ground as a product of such expenditure cannot score for any pass mark.


“Roads from Oyo to Ilorin, Ilorin to Jebba and Bida, from Ore to Ijebu-Ode, from Ikom to Calabar, Onitsha to Enugu are amongst the several roads that explain the sad commentary on the state of Nigerian roads.


“Aside from being death traps, they represent in graphic terms, the poor performance of the last regime in terms of road construction and rehabilitation. Rather than hide his head in shame, Onolemhemen is still oozing out diatribe against Nigerians. We deserve explanation and no amount of blackmail can stop us from speaking out about the fate of our country.”


 



N140bn spent on 2nd Niger Bridge, Oshiomhole insists

Buhari is a northern President - Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said the steps taken by President Muhammadu Buhari since he took over on May 29 are tainted with ethnic colouration.


Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC

Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC


The governor, who said the retired general was operating as a “president of northern Nigeria only” said, “appointments made by Buhari so far negated the principle of federal character.”


Fayose, according to a statement issued on Monday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said it was wrong for the President to have made 31 major appointments with only seven coming from the South.


“Under Buhari, are people from southern Nigeria only meant to be hounded and harassed by anti-corruption agencies and the Department of State Services while those from the North are meant to enjoy Federal Government’s juicy appointments?” he asked.


Apart from lopsided appointments made by the President, the governor said he was worried that the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway had slowed down while work had stopped on Lokoja-Abuja road.


These roads, he said, “are the major roads linking the southern part of Nigeria with the North.”


“Also, we have been told by the Federal Government that the Second Niger Bridge project has been suspended and one is now beginning to remember how Buhari cancelled the Lagos Metroline Project in 1985 at a loss of over $78m (then) to the Lagos tax payers.”


Fayose maintained that Nigeria could only move forward if there was equity and fairness, saying those who made the country’s constitution and enshrined the principle of federal character in it were mindful of the ethnic diversity of the country.


But the Presidency appealed to Nigerians to ignore Fayose.


The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said appeal to ethnic and regional arithmetic would not give back to the Peoples Democratic Party what it lost at the poll.


He said, “Let me say at this stage that mere appeal to ethnic and regional arithmetic will not give back to the PDP what they lost. They seem to be making a dangerous calculation with their recent outbursts.


“The mere appeal to sectional and religious will not give the party its lost relevance or electability. Nigerians are smarter than Fayose thinks.


“The governor’s outbursts are intended to be a trigger for a clash between communities in areas where deliberate attempts had in the past also been made by the PDP to stoke ethnic and religious fault-lines.


“Our appeal to Nigerians is that they should ignore these tantrums. President Buhari is a healer not a divider.”



Buhari is a northern President - Fayose

100 Days: Nigerians fire Buhari over APC denial of campaign promises

The Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress have come under fire for saying that President Muhammadu Buhari never promised Nigerians that he would achieve specific things within his first 100 days in office.


Buhari

Buhari


Nigerians on social media expressed disappointment at the party and Presidency’s excuses.


The protest on Twitter, which was titled, #100dayspromise, was directed at the APC and the Presidency for being insincere with Nigerians during the electioneering.


The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said during an interview on Channels TV on Monday that Buhari never promised to do anything within his first 100 days in office.


Mohammed said, “Buhari never promised to do anything in 100 days, that’s the honest truth. You see, when you are running a campaign, all kinds of literature will emerge from all sorts of groups but there are only two documents that you can judge a party with: That is the constitution of the party and the manifesto of the party.


“Those are the only two documents that are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission; you can go to court or hold a party accountable for them.”


Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, distanced Buhari from the many promises that were made during the electioneering.


Shehu, who was the Director of Media of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, denied the authenticity of a document titled, “My Covenant with Nigerians”, which was purportedly signed by Buhari and posted on the APC’s website in March.


He also denied the authenticity of another list of promises titled, “One hundred things Buhari will do in 100 days.”


However, Kayode Ogundamisi, a social commentator, said on his official Twitter handle that it was hypocritical of the APC, having allowed the said documents detailing Buhari’s promises to be flying around on the Internet throughout the electioneering, only to rubbish the documents when it was time for reckoning.


He said, “The APC and President Buhari are telling us that they never saw the ‘100-day promise’ document; failing the integrity test so soon?


“Prof Yemi Osinbajo mentioned free meals as contained in the 100-day document during his US tour; is he also a loose organ?”


Another Twitter user, Okezie Moses, said, “If the 100-day promises are now ‘unrealistic’, it means votes were obtained by false pretences.”


Abdulrahman Muazu also wrote on Twitter, “The APC made a lot of unrealistic promises and all of us heard it directly or indirectly, so denying it now won’t work.”


Similarly, Obiogumu F. tweeted, “Buhari, APC and Lai Mohammed’s denials confirm lack of policy direction and a propaganda-based government.”


Nwachukwu Oluchukwu posted on his Twitter handle, “When will the APC and the Presidency stop lying? This is becoming childish.”


In the same vein, Akhehicols said, “Rather than deny the 100-day promises, Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina should focus on highlighting the achievements so far.”


A commentator on an online news website, The Cable, wondered why the APC did not deny the authenticity of the documents before the elections.


The commentator, Yasin, said, “You did not disown those so called publications then because they suited your agenda. Now all we get from you is persistent use of the Peoples Domocratic Party as an excuse to cover your gross incompetence. We are not fooled.


“The PDP left a mess; an ex-minister stole $6bn, etc. When will you stop distracting the masses and sit down to govern? Has PDP/Goodluck Jonathan prevented you from naming any ministers?


“Your first 100 days will pass without any significant achievement to show, not even the quick wins recommended by (Ahmed) Joda committee. Your present press release and others to come are aimed at dampening expectations. How can you achieve anything significant without ministers, without policies? This is not the change we voted for”


A member of the APC Situation Room, Gbenga Olorunpomi, who was one of those in charge of issuing press statements and other Internet materials on behalf of the party, had in March, sent emails to news rooms, including The PUNCH.


One of the emails had the document titled ‘My Covenant with Nigerians’. Efforts to reach Olorunpomi, who also live tweeted APC’s activities during electioneering, on Monday failed as his phone was switched off.


Earlier, he had sent an email containing an article from Shehu to The PUNCH.


The article contained the denial of Buhari’s ‘covenant’ document.


Shehu, in the piece said he had no knowledge of the two campaign documents, which reportedly emanated from the party’s “many centres of public communication which, for whatever reason, were on the loose.”


Shehu stated, “Both pamphlets bore the authorised party logo but as the Director of Media and Communications in that campaign, I did not fund or authorise any of those. I can equally bet my last kobo that candidate Buhari did not see or authorise those publications.


“As a consequence of these publications, expectations have been raised unreasonably, that as President, Muhammadu Buhari will wave his hand and all the problems that the country faces – insecurity, corruption, unemployment, and poor infrastructure – would go away.


“That notwithstanding, President Buhari has given the job his best shot and the whole country is saying that we never had it so good. He has re-established the values of hard work and administrative efficiency. The President says times without number that this country needs to fix governance and that he won’t tolerate laziness.


“In the area of economic management, Nigerians are already seeing things happening that they thought were not possible in so short a time.”


It will be recalled that the Senior Special Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, had also warned Nigerians not to confuse Buhari’s promises with those of his party, the APC.


Adesina, while speaking with Ogundamisi, two weeks ago, said Buhari could not be stampeded into declaring his assets publicly when it was the APC and not him that made the promise.


He said, “You need to get his words right. Go and check all that the President said during the campaign. In no place would you see it attributed to him as a person.


“But then there is a document by his party, the APC, saying he would declare publicly. So, we need to set that right; it was a declaration by his party. The law requires public officers to declare their assets and he has done that.”


Apart from Twitter, Nigerians also lambasted the APC and the Presidency on different websites.


For instance, on Nairaland, a commentator, Kakameks, wrote, “We are in for it. The way this government is going is really mind blowing. Campaigns are over now, the reality of the work ahead is gradually setting in and the goal post is continually being shifted.”


Amazondepth also wrote, “It is really troubling to see the APC failing the integrity test so soon. In fairness to PMB, he has a monumental load of work on his hands but the promises hoodwinked the gullible masses and coming to deny that is shameful to say the least.”


Away from the social media, some lawyers who spoke with The PUNCH on Monday said Buhari needed to fulfil promises made during electioneering.


A Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said, “If those promises were made in the course of the presidential campaign and they were made by the party for Buhari as the presidential candidate, then it is only proper that the President should deliver on those promises and Nigerians should hold him accountable regarding those promises.


“But then, I can vouch for President Buhari. I travelled with him and I was with him at Chatham House when he was asked a question on what he would do in the first 100 days; and Buhari’s reply was very simple. He said, ‘I consider all of these promises about my 100 days in office fraudulent. I am not going to commit myself to any 100 days promises.’


“That was what he said at the Chatham House in London.


“But if the party made any promises regarding 100 days, perhaps the President should have corrected them at that time.”


The Executive Director of the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project, Adetokunbo Mumuni, also said the party was like Buhari’s principal and the President was bound by the promises made by the APC.


“The party is more or less like the President’s principal and so it would not be out of place for Nigerians to hold the President accountable for the promises made by his political party, especially the promises made on the campaign train,” he said.


Another Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, said, “All the promises that the President made are anchored on a very clear agenda. He made promises on security, corruption, economy and infrastructure; those are clear promises based on his agenda and they are the template on which he would be assessed.


“Buhari contested on the platform of the APC and on the strength of that, he is obliged to implement the manifesto of the APC and the promises made to Nigerians. The promises he made as a presidential candidate are anchored on the manifesto of the party.”



100 Days: Nigerians fire Buhari over APC denial of campaign promises

APC, governors, others join row over Buhari’s choices

SGF, Oshiomhole, Okorocha, Oyegun: they’re on merit


Ohanaeze urges Igbo to be calm


The Nation – CRITICS of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments yesterday got a reply  – they are based on merit.


The All Progressives Congress (APC) and some governors defended the appointments which have been criticised as sectional.


President Buhari

President Buhari


The President’s men also denied that they were appointed based on sentiment, after three of them took the oath of office yesterday in Abuja.


The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Southeast’s leading socio-cultural group, urged the Igbo to remain calm. Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) said the appointments came strictly on merit.


President Buhari swore in Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Babachir David Lawal, National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr. Femi Adesina.


Adesina was appointed on May 31.  Monguno was appointed on July 13 and Lawal was appointed August 27.


At the brief ceremony, Lawal, who spoke on behalf of others, said: “We want to thank God for granting President the vision, wisdom, kindness and boldness to consider us worthy for positions of responsibilities.


“We got appointed into these positions, not because of our tribes or our faiths or our political groups.


“If it is such, I am sure none of us would have been considered worthy of these appointments. We appreciate the President and we appreciate God that he has blessed us with these privileged appointments.


“It is a privilege to serve Nigerians in these capacities at this point in time. Nigeria is at the threshold of achieving greatness and it is our honour and privilege to be senior members of the team that will propel the country to this greatness.”


He told the President: “We have in you and the Vice President leaders that lead by example, leaders that are focused; whose goal is to build a Nigeria where there is liberty, security, economic prosperity and the rule of law.


“We are grateful that we are part of the team to deliver this goal. Accept our assurances that by the grace of God, we will not fail you, we will not fail our country, we will not fail ourselves, our families and our friends. By the grace of God. We will strive at all times to serve our country and to serve you with excellence, hardwork and integrity.”


APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun assured Nigerians that President Buhari is not unmindful of the principle of federal character in the appointments of public officers.


He said the President will definitely balance appointments across all the geopolitical regions.


Speaking when he received a delegation from MBO Dynamic Support Group, led by its national coordinator, Hon. Usman Ibrahim, the APC chairman urged Nigerians who are aggrieved by the appointments to remain calm and give the President the chance to balance his appointments.


Odigie-Oyegun said there was a lot of fight back from the people who want to draw back the nation under the Buhari administration, adding: “There have been a lot of unfortunate misinformation and uproar against appointments at this stage. We have two sets of appointments that have been made.


“One set is the personal privilege of Mr. President –  as far as his personal staff are concerned. The other set has to do with a few important and strategic persons that are going to help him either in the fight against corruption or the fight against insurgency in the Northeast of our country, but this is not where to play the political balancing game.


“These are serious and the President has the right to appoint those he has confidence in because these are the areas where he has made promises to Nigerians. But we have thousands of political appointments and he has just made a few appointments while thousands are still waiting.


“The balancing must happen when the political appointments are being made but we must not at this particular point in time with the few appointments say that one must be from the North, one must be from South or from the East; not at this stage.


“So, one must make that clear. Nobody, no leader can disadvantage any part of this nation, that will not happen.”


On the anti-corruption battle, Odigie-Oyegun said: “If a particular group has ruled for 16 years, then who is guilty of corruption? And all the fight, witch-hunt are neither here no there.


“What is important is that everybody who has a skeleton in his cupboard has something to fear; if you do not have any skeleton in the cupboard you go to sleep and sleep very sound but of course if you have, you will pretend and try to divert attention.”


Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday urged Ndigbo in Nigeria and in the diaspora to avoid any confrontation with the government.


Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary-General Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, told reporters in Enugu that the best option “especially in view of the present circumstance of skewed pattern of appointments by President Buhari, which has completely excluded Ndigbo from key strategic positions in the Federal Government is to remain calm and watch events as they unfold.”


Okorocha said the President’s decision was in the nation’s best interest.


He said the President had the right to appoint anyone from any part of the country and that no one could dictate to him who to appoint.


“Most of the appointments the President has so far made are like his personal staff.  I don’t think the Southeast will ever be forgotten in this administration. We will get our due. He has the right to make appointments that will make him succeed and nobody should dictate to him who to appoint or who he should not appoint,” Okorocha said, adding:


“What I can only do is to continue to appeal to the President to consider the Southeast in his appointments.  And as far as I am concerned, the President has executed what the office empowers him to do, and it is believed that he did that in the best interest of the nation.


“In fact, if you ask me, I would say we should be more interested in the projects coming down to the Southeast, and as much as we can get.  The projects will bring about development of the Southeast. There is no cause for alarm.  It is too early in the day to begin to judge Buhari’s intention.  I think he means well.  Let us give him a chance.  Nigeria is one nation.  A nation for all of us.  We must start thinking about the nation rather than thinking about sentiment of where we come from.


“Although the Southeast had expected so much, we believe all will be well with the Buhari presidency and for the development of the Southeast.  It is wrong for some people to begin to use the issue to incite the people of the Southeast against the President.  The government is about to celebrate its 100 days and the appointments are just beginning to come and, by and large, the Southeast will get its due.


“The point is that we cannot begin to judge President Buhari with the appointments so far made.  We cannot obviously use it to judge his intention.  I think he means well for the nation and with every geo-political zone inclusive.  So let us give him a chance.”


Oshiomhole said Nigerians should praise Buhari “for having the uncommon courage to take plausible decisions in the appointments”.


He said the appointments were based on merits and not political sentiments or ethnic consideration as some tribal jingoists would want Nigerians to believe.


In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said it was time to use the best hands to confront the peculiarity of the country’s problems and not descend to the level of geopolitical balancing.


Oshiomhole noted that unusual methods should be used to solve an unusual problem and added that the level of decay required very seasoned hands and incorruptible Nigerians that would help to translate the APC agenda of change for the benefit of all Nigerians.


“We must not reduce governance to political patronage of bread and butter. The Comrade Governor wishes them well in their new jobs of helping to sanitise a system that has become so rotten and corrupt as a result of manifest incompetence and mismanagement.


“If we must make a huge difference in the lives of Nigerians, things must be done differently. We cannot continue to apply same template in the recruitment of persons and expect different results. The new appointees are Nigerians who have served the country in different capacities before now and deserved every bit of our cooperation and support to make them excel in their new jobs.”



APC, governors, others join row over Buhari’s choices

China backs Nigeria’s bid for UN permanent security council seat

China has expressed support for Nigeria’s quest to occupy a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.


Nigeria

Nigeria


China’s position was disclosed by the Speaker of the People’s Parliament of China, Mr. Zhang Dejiang, during a meeting with the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Mr.  Yakubu Dogara.


A statement by Dogara’s office on Monday said the two presiding officers met in New York, United States, on Sunday.


The Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, who signed the statement, quoted Dejiang as giving his country’s position after Dogara had pleaded with him to support Nigeria’s bid.


The statement said Dogara had urged China to use its influence as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to democratise the organ.


“We appreciate China for its effort to democratise the institution of the United Nations and appeal that you support our bid to occupy a permanent seat on the security council,” the Nigerian speaker had stated.


Dejiang, in his response, told Dogara that China believed Nigeria was a leading developing country that should sit on the UN Security Council.


“We support the legitimate demands of Nigeria for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, together with the reform of the UN,” the statement further quoted the Chinese speaker as saying.


It explained that Dejiang and Dogara had met  on the sidelines of the ongoing convention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union holding in New York.


China, the US, Britain, Russia and France are the five permanent members of the UNSC.


But, of late, developing countries, particularly Nigeria, India and Brazil, have intensified campaign for the expansion of the council to accommodate more members.


Meanwhile, Dejiang also assured Dogara that China would look into Nigeria’s appeal to China to review its five  per cent tax on the country’s agricultural exports.


The Chinese speaker also condemned the wave of insurgency in Nigeria, assuring that his country would give Nigeria the necessary support to win the war against insurgency.



China backs Nigeria’s bid for UN permanent security council seat

Rivers State: Kidnap of Dornu Kogbara underscores breakdown of security - APC

By Nwaorgu Faustinus


The All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter says it is in great pains following the abduction of renowned essayist /columnist, Ms Dornu Kogbara last Sunday in Port Harcourt by unknown gun men.


The APC who made its view known in a press statement signed by Mr Chris Finebone said: “A sundry reflection on the security situation of our dear Rivers State indicates that the several efforts made by the previous administration which significantly brought criminality to its lowest ebb across the State have now been reversed in just 3 months of the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike. The present sorry state of security in the state did not come by accident”.


The statement reads:


“Before and during the last electioneering campaigns, the APC warned that the worst thing that would happen to Rivers State was for Nyesom Wike to become governor of our dear state especially with regard to security of life and property. The warning was based on a clear assessment and observation of the individuals who call the shots in the Rivers State chapter of the PDP and those they chose to engage as their foot soldiers to snatch electoral victory through the use of the gun.


“Today, the worst fears of the APC have come to stay in Rivers State considering the skyrocketing level of killings, armed robberies and kidnap sweeping through the length and breadth of the state with negative impact on the economy and social life of the people and residents of the state.


“The APC would like to call on security agents in Rivers State and beyond to do all they can to ensure a quick and safe retrieval of the kidnapped journalist of international repute whose only crime was to visit the family in Port Harcourt, her home state capital.


“It is the belief of the APC that Rivers people do not deserve the present state of insecurity that has been imposed on them by a band of individuals who deployed criminality to steal the peoples’ mandate and now cannot find meaningful engagement for their foot soldiers who now resort to self help in armed robbery, kidnap and other crimes. The PDP and its governorship candidate sowed an ill wind of violence and we all are now made to face the accompanying whirlwind.


“Dornu Kogbara must be freed NOW!”



Rivers State: Kidnap of Dornu Kogbara underscores breakdown of security - APC

Amaechi’s Refusal To Appear Before Commission Of Enquiry, An Admission Of Guilt – PDP

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says former governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s refusal to honour the invitation extended to him over allegations of monumental frauds and acts of illegality committed by him while in office is born out of fear and guilty conscience.


Rotimi Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi


The State PDP chairman, Bro Felix Obuah made the observation in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam.


According to the State Party boss, a clear conscience fears no accusation which obviously implies that if Amaechi is innocent of the charges leveled against him, he should be bold and man enough to appear before the justice Omereji Commission of Enquiry investigating his administration.


Bro Obuah recalled that when a similar Commission of Enquiry was set up by Amaechi in 2008, both former governors Peter Odili, Celestine Omehia and the former Minister of Transport, and Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Abiye Sekibo who were invited by the Commission willingly honoured and appeared before the panel to clear their names.


He wondered why Amaechi who paraded himself as an apostle, and product of rule of law would flagrantly flout the order of legally constituted authorities.


The State PDP chairman challenged Amaechi to submit himself before the Commission and respond to the charges of gross mismanagement of State resources and sale of State assets for personal gains if he has no skeleton in his cupboard.


“Notwithstanding, the Commission, we believe would stop at nothing to carry on with its mandate of unearthing all the hidden frauds and, or recover all the stolen property and resources of the State by all those involved, make recommendations including prosecuting all the culprits no matter their social standing in the interest of the State.


One good thing however, is that the whole world can now see that all the claims of transparency by Amaechi while his reign lasted was a mere hoax which ultimate objective was just to hoodwink unsuspecting Rivers people to loot their treasury which he actually did and has to pay back”, Prince Obuah declared.


It would be recalled that Amaechi who sneaked into Port Harcourt over the weekend told newsmen that he would not honour the Commission’s invitation after failing to stop the Commission from investing him through the court



Amaechi’s Refusal To Appear Before Commission Of Enquiry, An Admission Of Guilt – PDP

Edo: Baby dumper begs for forgiveness

A 28 years old girl who threw her new born baby away is begging for forgiveness from her parents and Nigerians.


Joy Osarhiakhi had on June 13, 2015 delivered herself of a baby girl in a bathroom of the house she lives with her parents and immediately packed the baby in a nylon bag and threw her away in the same neighbourhood.


It took three days before the baby was discovered by neighbours who immediately called for help from the police.


Joy who said she successfully hide her pregnancy from her parents for nine months, attributed her action to the fact that the baby’s father, denied being responsible for the pregnancy.


Joy has been remanded in prisons since July after spending about three weeks in the custody of the Nigeria Police who arrested her upon her confession on June 16.


“I regret my action and have begged my parents, siblings for the pains and embarrassment I have caused them. I also want Nigerians to forgive me.


“I want my baby back. I want to take proper care of her and promised that I will not in any way harm her.


“It was never my intension to do what I did; I just took the decision immediately I delivered.


“I felt labour pains when I was about to bath and when I had the baby, I held her in my hands for some minutes and asked myself what to do with the child.


“It was then I saw a N10 nylon bag and rapped her inside I quietly dropped her across the fence. I regret my action and appeal for forgiveness from everybody.”


Also speaking, parents, Mr Ebohon Osarhiakhi and his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Osarhiakhi who both denied any knowledge of her pregnancy, stressed that they would not have allowed her take the decision she took if they were in the know.


Mr. Osarhiahki said he and his wife were even part of those reigning curses on who dumped the baby without knowing it was their daughter.


‘When we heard of neighbour cry after discovering the baby, we joined them to curse whoever did it and never knew the person was with us.


“I don’t know what my wife discovered for her to later ask me to question my daughter about the baby who actually confessed to it. I immediately handed her to the security agency for her to face the appropriate punishment.


“I have received lot of pleas from families and neighbours who appealed for me to assist her out of prisons. You don’t throw a bad child away and I want her back to be assisted in whatever capacity.


Osarhiakhi said though, pride price was yet to be paid on her daughter, but noted that it was the same man who she had her first child for that was responsible for the pregnancy.


“My daughter told me so but the boy has denied it and even said he would carry out paternity test on the first child. They never quarreled but had an arrangement for my daughter to be staying in my house she it was closer to where she learn fashion design.


“I do not only want my daughter back but my granddaughter who has been kept in an orphanage home after being discharged from hospital,” he stated.



Edo: Baby dumper begs for forgiveness

Police arrest abortion doctor in Benin City

The Managing Director of the Ofure Royal Medical Centre located at Upper Uwa Street, Benin City, Dr. Omokhomion Kingsley, has been arrested for allegedly conducting abortion at his clinic.


Dr. Omokhomion was arrested by operatives of Zonal Criminal Investigation Bureau, Zone 5’ police headquarters, Benin City, after complaints that a woman’s pregnancy was terminated.


Police sources said its operatives brought a patient who posed as pregnant woman and asked for abortion.


The doctor and four nurses at the hospital were arrested while trying to carry out the abortion.


Items recovered at the clinic, according to source included, a lifeless foetus and hospital equipment suspected to be abortion apparatus.


The raid on the clinic followed complaints received by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Mr. Musa Daura, that the woman whose pregnancy was terminated is on a danger list at another hospital.


The acting spokesman for Zone, Emeka Iheanacho, confirmed the doctor’s arrest.


He said they are investigating a case of abortion and that the hospital has been under surveillance.


“All of them were arrested because they were involved in the act and they are telling us their involvement in the act.


“As I am talking to you the person involved is still laying critically in a hospital,” Iheanacho said.



Police arrest abortion doctor in Benin City

Nobody can dictate who Buhari should appoint - Okorocha

…says appointments so far are in the interest of Nigeria


Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday said all the appointments made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari decision are in the best interest of the nation.


Okorocha

Okorocha


He said the President has the rights to appoint anyone from any part of the country, adding that no one can dictate for him on who to appoint or not.


The governor’s statements followed condemnations that trailed last week appointments made by the President.


Okorocha said, “Most of the appointments the President has so far made are like his personal staff.  I don’t think South-East will ever be forgotten in this administration, we will get our due. He has the right to make appointments that would make him succeed and nobody should dictate for him who he should appoint or who he should not appoint.


“What I can only do is to continue to appeal to the President to consider the Southeast in his appointments.  And as far as I am concerned, the President had executed what the office empowers him to do, and it is believed that he did that in the best interest of the nation.


“In fact, if you ask me, I would say we should be more interested in the projects coming down to the Southeast and as much as we can get.  The projects will bring about development to the Southeast. There is no cause for alarm.  It is too early in the day to begin to judge Buhari’s intention.  I think he means well.  Let us give him a chance.  Nigeria is one nation, a nation for all of us.  We must start thinking about the nation rather than thinking about sentiment of where we come from.


“Although the Southeast had expected so much, we believe all will be well with the Buhari presidency and for the development of the Southeast.  It is wrong for some people to begin to use the issue to incite the people of the Southeast against the President.  The government is about to celebrate its 100 days and the appointments are just beginning to come, and by and large, the Southeast will get its due.


“The point is that we cannot begin to judge President Buhari with the appointments so far made.  We cannot obviously use it to judge his intention.  I think he means well for the nation and with every geo-political zone inclusive.  So let us give him a chance.”



Nobody can dictate who Buhari should appoint - Okorocha

Gunmen kill APC chieftain in Edo State

Some yet- to- be identified gunmen last Thursday killed Captain Samson Amineshi (rtd.), a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko- Edo local government of Edo State.


Double Barrel GunHe was shot along the Igarra-Okpe road.


Amineshi, a former councillor, was believed to be preparing for the forthcoming council polls in the state.


He was said to be driving back home to Okpe after attending a social function in Igarra with two other occupants.


They were reportedly flagged down by the first set of gunmen who he was said to have dodged by speeding off.


Unknown to him, another group of gunmen laid metres ahead of him.


The late Amineshi told the occupants of his car to dock when the second set of gunmen suddenly appeared and fired directly at him.


The victim was said to have died on the spot. His killers later made away with undisclosed amount of money collected from the occupants.


Another version of the story suspected assassination as the gunmen were said to have shot directly at him and sped off in a motorbike parked nearby.


He was a former councillor and was believed to be preparing for the forthcoming council polls in the state.


Family sources said the matter has been reported at the Igarra police station.


The State Police Public Relations Officer, Stephen Onwochei, could not be reached yesterday for confirmation.



Gunmen kill APC chieftain in Edo State

IGP donates medical equipment to Edo IDPs

Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has donated medical supplies and three tanks for storing water to Internally Displaced Persons at a camp in Uhogua village, Ovia North East Local Government.


Out of the 900 Boko Haram victims that were brought to camp, 142 of them were returned to their families two weeks ago.


Arase assured the IDPs who are mostly children that adequate security would be provided for them.


Represented by Force Medical Officer, AIG Grace Okudo, Arase promised the IDPs that they would not lack anything.


The police boss said his men would be on ground to meet the needs of the Boko Haram victims especially as it relates to their general well-being.


According to him; “We will do our best for you. We know many diseases can be caused by water so we brought these Geepee tanks.


“You will not miss anything. Our team from Asaba and Benin will be visiting to know your needs particularly as regards your health issues.  We will be coming always to see what we can do.”


Founder of the International Christian Mission, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, thanked the police boss for his intervention.



IGP donates medical equipment to Edo IDPs

Power supply now 4,029.83MW

Energy Sent out by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) last Sunday hit 4,029.83MW, The Nation learnt Monday.


According to the Federal Ministry of Power in its Power Statistics of Sunday 30th August, power supply leaped by 32.02MW from the last statistics of August 25.


Of the total energy generated in period under review, the company recorded 87.9MW spinning reserve or stranded energy which the it could not wheel  to the electricity distribution companies.


The ministry made this disclosure on its website Monday, adding that the peak power generation that was 4,810.7MW on August 25 dipped to 4,516.5MW on Sunday.


It also noted that Energy Generation rose to 4,117.73MW from the last record of 4,080.86MW.

Highest peak power generation in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) was the 4,810.7 MW of August 25.


There has been significant increase in the electricity supply to customers, which most consumers have described as the usual ploy of electricity distribution companies when they are preparing to dispatch their monthly bills.


The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had recently decided that the Discos’ fixed charge should now be proportional to energy charge, although The Nation could not confirm whether the adjustment was effected in the August bill or whether it would commence in September.



Power supply now 4,029.83MW

Saraki, Ekweremadu shun hearing of suit seeking their sack

…Judge frowns at Senate leaders’ conduct


Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and three others Monday in Abuja shunned the resumed hearing of a suit seeking their sack.


Although it was not mandatory for Saraki, Ekweremadu and the other defendants in the suit to attend proceedings in person, they were required be represented by their lawyers.


Justice Ademola, who was uncomfortable that none of the defendants was represented in court, noted that the choice of Monday as the hearing date was with the consent of lawyers to the parties to the suit.


Bukola Saraki

Bukola Saraki


The judge, following the decision by plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mamman Osuman (SAN) to withdraw his motion for interlocutory injunction, struck out the motion.


Justice Ademola agreed with Osuman that the motion, which sought to restrain the Senate leadership from constituting adhoc committees, has been overtaken by events, and that the prayers contained in the motion were similar to those contained in the plaintiffs’ ex-parte application which Justice Kolawole earlier refused to grant.


The judge, whose time as the vacation judge will end soon, said he will return the case file to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment at the end of the court’s vacation.


Other defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015, are the National Assembly, the Clerks of the National Assembly and the Clerk of the Senate.


Senators Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi  Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi are the plaintiffs.


It is their contention that the election of Saraki and Ekweremadu as President and Deputy President was invalid on the ground that the Senate Standing Orders 2015 used for the election was a forged document.


The plaintiffs argued that since the Senate Standing Order 2011, which was the valid Senate Rules as at the proclamation of the 8th Senate on June 9, was not known to have been validly altered before the election, the 2015 Rules could not be said to be a legitimate document.


They stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the Senate Standing ‎Orders 2015 was “contrived” from the amendment of the 2011 version of the Orders without following its (the 2011 edition’s) relevant provisions and those of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


The plaintiffs argued that the said amendment was in breach of the “prescriptive procedures” stipulated by the extant provisions of section 60 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Rule 110(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended).


They therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs:


*A declaration that the Senate Standing Order 2011(as amended) is the proper, valid, constitutional and subsisting Rules/Standing Orders of the 8th Senate.


*A  declaration that the Senate Standing Order 2015(as amended), not being a product of any legitimate amendment pursuant to the extant provisions of Rule 110 of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended), is invalid, illegal, unconstitutional.


*A declaration that the election of the 1st and 2nd defendants as the President and Deputy  President of the Senate of the 8th Senate pursuant to the Senate Standing Orders 2015 and contrary to the provisions of Rules 3(3)(e) and (k), Chapter II of the Senate Standing Orders 2011, is illegal and unconstitutional


*An order setting aside the purported election of the 1st and 2nd defendants as Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate; an order setting aside the Senate Standing Orders 2015 and an order directing the 8th Senate to elect its presiding officers in accordance with the provisions of Section 54 of the Constitution and Rules 3(3) (e) and (k) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011.



Saraki, Ekweremadu shun hearing of suit seeking their sack

Buhari Swears In Femi Adesina, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday swore in his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, a few weeks after his appointment was announced.


Others sworn in at the event held inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal; and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.).


The brief event attracted top government officials including the nation’s service chiefs and permanent secretaries, among others.


The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, also attended



Buhari Swears In Femi Adesina, Others

Abuja Accident: Akpabio rushed to National Hospital

…escapes death in an auto crash


By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor


Immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has been admitted at the National Hospital Abuja after being involved in a motor accident this morning.


His siren-blaring convoy was said to have crashed into other vehicles, with the former governor sustaining injury. The extent of his injury was not disclosed by the doctors at the National Hospital, who claimed that it was the family that had the right to do so.


But Governor Udom Emmanuel has visited his predecessor at the National Trauma Center of the National Hospital.


 



Abuja Accident: Akpabio rushed to National Hospital

Oshiomhole has forgotten so soon by Reno Omokri

By Reno Omokri


On July 17, 2012, a recently re-elected Governor Adams Oshiomhole visited the Aso Rock Presidential Villa and on his way out he had a chat with State House Correspondents and said as follows “what the Edo election has confirmed is that when the President and Commander-in-Chief puts the country first and conducts himself as a statesman, not just as a party leader, credible elections are possible, because people were apprehensive that the Nigerian Army could be misused. But of course, I told them I didn’t think they were right, but the President’s clear directive was that the votes must count.


Reno Omokri

Reno Omokri


The former labour leader continued in his praise of then President Jonathan saying “We need to appreciate the President and encourage him to sustain this principle of truly reminding all of us, who hold political office, that we are at the mercy of the electorate, not of the Presidency. I think the President has done that. The President has demonstrated statesmanship. I think there is hope for Nigeria”.


Going by the statement he made above, many Nigerians were shocked to read his recent statement on August 23rd, 2015 where he said inter alia “if the Igbos were marginalized, it was President Jonathan and the PDP. If Nigerians know what these people did, they will stone them to death – jungle justice.”


How is it possible that three years ago, Governor Oshiomhole saw President Jonathan as a well behaved statesman who rose above partisanship to put the nation first and then make a 180 degree turn to attack the same person and suggest that he be stoned by the public?


Anyone who knows Former President Goodluck Jonathan knows that the first description of him by Governor Oshiomhole is correct.


Former President Goodluck Jonathan is a man who does not lust for power and refused to reach out to grasp power even when it was within his reach in 2010 during the saga occasioned by the tragic illness of his boss, President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.


Jonathan demonstrated loyalty, patience and complete submission to the will of God and God elevated him.


When Dr. Jonathan lost the March 2015 Presidential election, he did not wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission to finish declaring results before calling then candidate Muhamnadu Buhari to concede.


As a result, for the first time in her history, Nigeria does not have any judicial challenge against the winner of a Presidential election.


President Jonathan is a man of honour who does not deserve the treatment being meted out to him by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.


The Comrade Governor should come to an awareness that his party, the All Progressive Congress, is now in power. They are no more in opposition.


The Jonathan administration remains the only administration in Nigeria’s history that promoted freedom of Speech by signing the Freedom of Information Bill into law so Nigerians could have access to any information they so desire.


Versions of the Freedom of Information Law are also in force in Western nations including the US.


Only on August 21st, 2015, an investigation by Leadership Newspapers (whose publisher is an APC chieftain and former Presidential Aspirant on the platform of the party) revealed that no US official ever told Governor Adams Oshiomhole or any other person that one minister stole $6 Billion under President Jonathan’s watch and challenged the Comrade Governor to name the US official that said so and the minister involved.


Governor Oshiomhole may want to take advantage of the FOI law by ensuring that his aides use it to verify any allegation he may have before he going public with it.


For example, he could have accessed freely available information from the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, as to the total cost of the 2nd Niger Bridge and he would have established that the entire cost of the bridge was ₦108 billion. How is it then possible to pay a consultancy fee of ₦140 billion for a project of ₦108 billion as the comrade Governor alleged?


When the comrade Governor said that the Agricultural Transformation of the Jonathan administration was a hoax, did he know that the International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI, revealed in their annual Global Hunger Index that hunger in Nigeria reduced while Jonathan was President?


This fact was carried by no less a medium than Premium Times and most Nigerians would know that Premium Times would not publish anything good about the Jonathan administration if it was not true.


Governor Oshiomhole should note that four years is not such a long time. Every time spent in distracting President Buhari from the task of governance by attacking ex-President Jonathan is borrowed from time that should have been spent in helping the new administration succeed.


You do not try to please a man who may be kind to you by demonizing a man who has been kind to you. When you do that, you are sending two messages.


First, you are telling the man who has already been kind to you that he was foolish for being kind to you. Secondly you are communicating to the man who may be kind to you that he will be foolish if he goes on to extend kindness to you.


I pray that my Christian advise does not meet with the bombastic response that previous attempts at engaging the Comrade Governor have received. I mean no harm as I only want to draw the attention of Governor Oshiomhole to the fact that no condition is permanent on earth.


Reno Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California, author of Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God and Why Jesus Wept and the host of Transformation with Reno Omokri (Thursday at 10pm on the Impact Network, Chanel 268 DISH and Monday at 12am on San Francisco’s KTLN, Chanel 25 on Comcast).


 



Oshiomhole has forgotten so soon by Reno Omokri

Probe: Go defend yourself - Wike tells Amaechi

RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, to go and defend himself before the judicial commission of inquiry sitting in the state.


The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has predicted that the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, will be eventually vindicated

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi


Wike, who was reacting to Amaechi’s declaration on Saturday that he (Amaechi) would not appear before the Justice George Omereji-led panel of inquiry, said it was wrong for the former governor to describe the commission as illegal even when the court had ruled that the panel was in order.


The governor, who spoke on Sunday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, said he would not take issues with Amaechi over the setting up of the judicial commission of inquiry.


Wike stressed that it was necessary for Amaechi to defend himself on certain issues concerning how the state was managed during his tenure.


The incumbent governor recalled that a former governor, Dr. Peter Odili, appeared before a panel of inquiry.


Wike had set up the panel to probe the sale of state’s assets and other related matters by the immediate past administration.


Amaechi had told his supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress in Port Harcourt that Wike failed to comply with the laws setting up an administrative panel and, as such, would not appear before it (panel).


Wike explained that the former governor was put to shame when the court pronounced that nothing was wrong with the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the immediate past administration.


“It is laughable that Amaechi would call a panel that has already been declared lawful by a court of law illegal. This means that as of when he questioned its proprietary in court, he thought the court would declare it illegal but was shamed.


“This is no media trial and the government (Rivers) will not be embroiled in any war of attrition. He (Amaechi) should go and defend himself just like Dr. Peter Odili did during the Kayode Esho panel,” Wike said.


He, however, dismissed the allegations against him by Amaechi, adding that trying to whip up sentiment in the media will not help the former governor.


According to him, “Media trial will not vindicate him as the sentiment he is trying to whip up has failed. Wike has no skeleton in his cupboard.


“We will not take issues with a paradox like Amaechi who claims in one forum that he left N7.5bn (in the state’s coffers) and in another, he said 10bn.”



Probe: Go defend yourself - Wike tells Amaechi

Buhari’s appointments violate federal character - Ijaw youth

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council, has said the appointments so far made by President Muhammadu Buhari contravene the provisions of the country’s federal character principle.


General Buhari

General Buhari


The council, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said Buhari’s lopsided appointments did not respect the principle as stipulated in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.


Omare said, “Though we are not surprised because we have always known that President Buhari’s understanding of Nigeria is from Lokoja to Sokoto. Buhari has never regarded the southern part of Nigeria as a part of the larger entity called Nigeria.


“However, the IYC is pained that the leaders of Buhari’s All Progressives Congress from the South-South and South-East zones lack the gut to insist that the constitutional provision on federal character should be obeyed.


“It is, indeed, strange that the same people are now comfortable even with the most flagrant violation of the Nigerian constitution by President Buhari and lack the courage to challenge Buhari’s lawlessness.


“Ironically, some of them take delight in maligning former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on a daily basis instead of focusing on how to give the South-South and South-East zones attention in Buhari’s administration.”


He said the IYC completely disagreed with the argument that Nigerians should concentrate on competence rather than federal character in making appointments.


Omare said while the council agreed that competence is important, it added that there was no section of Nigeria that did not have competent hands to manage any position given to them.


He stated that the northern part of Nigeria could not claim to have more competent people than the southern part.


Omare called on South-South and South-East leaders in Buhari’s party to demand that what was due to the two zones should be given to them.


He said the contribution of the two zones to the emergence of Buhari was completely irrelevant when appointments were being made.



Buhari’s appointments violate federal character - Ijaw youth

Boko Haram kill 56 in Borno State

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has said Boko Haram fighters attacked a village in the state and killed 56 persons.


The governor, who said this during a presentation of gifts on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari to parents of abducted Chibok schoolgirls on Saturday in Maiduguri, said 56 persons were killed in Baanu village in Nganzai Local Government Area of the state.


Shettima said, “Boko Haram crisis is a calamity that befalls us, as the insurgents do not discriminate against anybody before they kill. They don’t care if somebody is a Christian or a Muslim neither do they respect tribal affiliations. Just yesterday (Friday) they killed 56 people in Baanu village of Nganzai Local Government, as I am speaking to you their corpses still litter the streets of the village.”


Those that fled from the village who narrated their ordeal to journalists in Maiduguri however insisted that more than 68 persons were killed in the attack.


One of the fleeing residents, Abubakar Suleiman, told our correspondent in Maiduguri that 68 persons were killed while several others were injured during an attack.


Suleiman said many insurgents came on horses at about 8.30pm on Friday and went about killing everybody they came across.


He said, “We had to flee into the bush and after they left, we returned to pick some of our belongings and fled into Maiduguri but before we left I counted 68 corpses. Some were slaughtered while some were shot to death.”



Boko Haram kill 56 in Borno State

US embassy attends to visa complaints on Google Hangouts

Three officials of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, of Friday, interacted with Nigerians from different parts of the country for an hour and three minutes. They spoke on what applicants should do or avoid when processing the US visa.


Barrack Obama mourn Nelson MandelaThe live show was not a television programme. Recognising the growing influence of digital media, the visa officers took to Google Hangouts to provide answers to questions bordering applicants while busting various myths around visa processing.


The officers said they took to Google Hangouts to help applicants relate with the embassy directly instead of patronising touts and agents.


The session, which was moderated by Oluwaseun Olaniyan, an on air personality, gave the US embassy officials an opportunity to explain the differences between the immigrant and non-immigrant visas, tricks in the application process and likely pitfalls that applicants should avoid.


The visa officers also explained the rationale behind some common questions and how responses increase or reduce applicants’ chances of getting a visa. For instance, they spoke on why social and economic ties had become an important question during an interview.


In the course of the interactive session, viewers were given an opportunity to ask personal or general questions. All that was required was a click on a keyboard.


Few days before the Google Hangouts, the embassy sent a press statement, inviting interested individuals to hook on to the event. It also gave an hashtag – #AskTheVOs – through which questions would be received.


Indeed, participants bought into the show, sending questions bordering on income range that could be considered satisfactory for anybody to be given a visa.


But the officers said that the important thing, in the case of non-immigrant applicants, was applicants’ ability to prove that they had economic ties with their countries of residence. They noted that those who satisfied all conditions were never refused.


“Ties are essentially the various aspects of your life that bind you to your country of residence: your possessions and family relationships. Visa officers pay a particular attention to ties as they have to do with an applicant’s home country or country from which they are applying,” they said.


The officers advised visa seekers against relying on agents to fill application forms, adding that visa agents were only motivated by the financial rewards instead of helping their clients to secure visas.


“We strongly discourage the use of touts and agents at any point in the visa process. These agents often give applicants false information. Ultimately, touts and companies are primarily interested in making money not getting you a visa. They do applicants a disservice.


“Touts and agents are part of the reason the consulate reaches out to the Nigerian public through events like this Google Hangouts. We strongly recommend that people apply for a visa and go through the entire process on their own,” they said.


According to the officers, visa process could be carried out by applicants without any assistance. The embassy’s website, they noted, was a sufficient guide for even a first-time applicant.


“Application for a U.S. visa is simple and straightforward. Every piece of information you need can be found on our website,” they noted.


One of the issues they emphasised during the session was that getting a visa does not guarantee an entry into a foreign country but only allows the holder to present himself at a port of entry. They described the visa as “an endorsement issued by a government.”


At the end of the Google Hangouts, the embassy’s representatives said members of the public whose questions were not addressed, could relate with them through #AsktheVOs.


But some of the participants said U.S. visa process was not as simple as the officers made Nigerians to believe, asking why hundreds of applicants were still disqualified daily if it were that simple.


For instance, tweeting on @Davidbeloveth, David Arogundade said, “Some questions are not thoroughly dealt with because I don’t think it is that simple.”



US embassy attends to visa complaints on Google Hangouts

Sunday, August 30, 2015

EFCC begins probe of Alison-Madueke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced a full investigation into the activities of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.


Alison Madueke

Alison Madueke


It was learnt on Sunday that the commission constituted a four-member committee of crack detectives to probe all the NNPC accounts which were supervised by the former minister.


It was learnt that the committee was led by a Superintendent of Police, who was seconded to the commission.


Investigations revealed that the other three members of the committee were pioneer civilian operatives of the commission with high capacity for investigation.


Sunday PUNCH had on Sunday reported that the ongoing probe of the immediate-past administration by President Muhammadu Buhari was to beam its searchlight on the alleged purchase of three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, by former President Goodluck Jonathan and two of his officials.


According to a document, which was obtained from the Presidency on Saturday, the deal, which is now a subject of investigation, was allegedly carried out by Jonathan; his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Gordon Obuah; and Alison-Madueke.


The fund was said to have been withdrawn from one of the numerous accounts of the NNPC.


The $6.9m (about N1.37bn) was said to have been withdrawn for the purpose of buying three pieces of 40-feet mobile stages for use by Jonathan during the campaign.


Besides the latest allegation, it will be recalled that a group, Crusader for Good Governance, had petitioned the EFCC accusing the former minister of squandering million of dollars of public funds to charter private jets.


The petitioners also accused her of spending $300,000 on an average international trip.


The group also alleged that the NNPC, a government agency she oversaw, maintained a Challenger 850 Visa jet which serves the former minister’s needs as well as those of her family. The cost of running the jet is $500,000 per month.


She was also accused of going to a meeting of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries in Austria in a private jet.


It was gathered on Sunday that the committee set up by the EFCC had since commenced probing the NNPC accounts and activities of the former minister.


A top operative of the EFCC, who confided in The PUNCH, said, “I think the commission has commenced investigation into this Diezani issue. It is not just about inviting her, the commission has set up a four-man team of crack detectives to investigate her operations in the NNPC.


“The terms of reference of the committee include to look into all the NNPC accounts which were under the supervision of Mrs. Alison-Madueke.


“The committee has since commenced work; they are still working. I think a very senior police officer, a Police Superintendent, is leading the other operatives in the probe of Diezani and multiple accounts of the NNPC.” The source said.


When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on the activities of the EFCC Special Committee on the NNPC, the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.


But Uwujaren had earlier said that he was not aware if the commission had commenced a probe into the allegation that $6.9m was spent on campaign stages.


Uwujaren said that he had not been briefed on any such investigation.


“I am not aware of such a probe; I have not been briefed on such a probe,” he said.


Meanwhile, Obuah has denied the allegation of purchase of three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, for public appearance of the then President.


Obuah, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Andrew Tsekiri, in a telephone conversation with one of our correspondents on Sunday, said the allegation was false and challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to produce evidence instead of putting him on trial in the media.


Tsekiri said his client had been confronted with the allegation while in the detention of the Department of State Services, which he said investigated it and found it to be untrue.


The lawyer said, “Let me tell you, nothing like that exists. Obuah did not make demand for that money for any stage. Let them show to Nigerians evidence that he took the money. When Obuah was in their (DSS) detention, they investigated this particular matter and found out that it was false.


“He was confronted with the allegation. Mr. Obuah told them that he knew nothing about it, and they found that the allegation was false. They released him, why are they bringing it up again?”


He said since the release of the former President’s CSO from the DSS detention in July, he had not been contacted over the allegation by any government agency since then.


He said, “They have investigated the allegation and they found out it was false, since then no government agency had contacted or invited Mr. Obuah.


“They should show how Diezani authorised the payment of the money and how it left Citibank to Zenith Bank, to Access Bank to Sterling Bank and they should show how it ended in Obuah’s account.”


Tsekiri said the outcome of the allegation would soon show that the Buhari Administration was not interested in governance but to frame up allegations against people.


“They are just lying against Diezani and Mr. Jonathan. That is what they are doing. Let me tell you what they want to do. They will charge Obuah to court, make all the noise about the allegation that has been published, knowing full well that the matter will not be decided in about a year or two, and by then, the public would have forgotten about it but they would have spoilt your name.”



EFCC begins probe of Alison-Madueke

We performed well; we were not corrupt - Jonathan"s ex-minister tells Buhari

The ministers who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan have defended their performance, saying they did well in office and were not corrupt.


President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan


The ex-ministers, Sunday, in a statement by Abubakar Suleiman, former Minister of National Planning, said “contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption, rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process.”


They mentioned some of the anti-corruption successes of the Jonathan administration to include the stop in billions of naira stolen under the subsidised government fertiliser scheme, the development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform, The Single Treasury Account (TSA), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS).


They said they were not afraid of being probed by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which has vowed to ensure that all monies stolen from public purse in the last administration are returned and persons found guilty brought to book.


“We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all Nigerians equally and with the fear of God,” the former ministers said.




Read their full statement below:


Give Jonathan administration due credit, former ministers tell Buhari We, the Ministers who served under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, have watched with increasing alarm and concern the concerted effort by the Buhari administration and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to condemn, ridicule and undermine the efforts of that administration, in addition to impugning the integrity of its individual members.


While we concede that every administration has the right to chart its own path as it deems fit, we nevertheless consider the vilification of the Jonathan administration, to be ill intentioned, unduly partisan, and in bad faith. The effort that has been made to portray each and every member of the Jonathan administration as corrupt and irresponsible, in an orchestrated and vicious trial by media, has created a lynch mentality that discredits our honest contributions to the growth and development of our beloved nation.


We are proud to have served Nigeria and we boldly affirm that we did so diligently and to the best of our abilities. The improvements that have been noticed today in the power sector, in national security, and in social services and other sectors did not occur overnight. They are products of solid foundations laid by the same Jonathan administration.


Contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption,

rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process. For the benefit of those who may have

forgotten so soon, it was the Jonathan administration that got rid of the fraud in fertilizer subsidies, which had plagued the country for decades. This helped to unleash a revolution in agricultural production and productivity.


It was also the Jonathan administration that supported the institutional development of strong systems and mechanisms to curb

corruption in the public service and plug revenue leakages. These included the development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform, The Single Treasury Account (TSA), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS), in addition to the biometric registration of civil servants and pensioners which saved the country over N100 billion paid to ghost

workers and ghost pensioners.


To ensure greater transparency and integrity in the oil and gas sector, the Jonathan administration ordered investigations and put

mechanisms in place to check the theft of Nigeria’s crude oil. It was also under the Jonathan administration that a Nigerian Content policy was introduced, which opened up that sector to Nigerians in a manner that was not previously the case. It was also the Jonathan administration that mobilized and secured the support of our neighbouring countries to ensure a robust multinational response to the menace of terrorism and insurgency, resulting in notable advancements in the fight against terror. President Jonathan personally initiated the collaboration that led to these advancements and ensured that Nigeria provided the needed financial support for the Multinational Joint Task Force.


It was the Jonathan administration that repaired and rehabilitated over 25, 000 kilometres of our nation’s roads. Nigeria also became a profitable and preferred investment-friendly destination. It was under President Jonathan, for example, that Nigeria’s electric power sector became more competitive and attractive to local and foreign investments.


The same administration promoted the rule of law, free speech, fundamental human rights, and a robust freedom of information regime. Women’s rights to participate in public life and the Federal Character principle as well as other Constitutional principles were also respected. In every respect, our administration promoted inclusive governance and encouraged all stakeholders including the private sector to play key roles in the transformation of Nigeria.


It should also not be forgotten that the Jonathan administration strengthened electoral institutions and created a peaceful environment for democracy to thrive. On this score, it is sad and ironic that the chief beneficiaries of that same legacy are the most vociferous today in condemning President Jonathan and his team.


Perhaps the new administration and the APC would be sincere enough to publish the details of the hand over notes they received.


In addition, the Buhari administration should be fair enough to acknowledge the good works of the Jonathan administration. No administration can be either completely bad or completely good.


President Jonathan’s achievements in moving this country to greater heights deserve to be duly acknowledged. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to build on these achievements.


We also urge him to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a fair and non-partisan manner, in line with due process, and not as a

political witch-hunt.


The various lies and fabrications being peddled by some self-appointed spokespersons of the administration may entertain the unwary, but such sensationalism may achieve the unintended effect of de-marketing our

country within the international community. All such persons playing to the gallery for whatever gains should be called to order. The

name-calling of members of the Jonathan administration and the trial by news media should also stop.


We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all

Nigerians equally and with the fear of God.


We have reserved our comment until now, in the fervent hope that once the euphoria that may have inspired the various attacks on the past administration wears off, reason will prevail. But we are constrained to speak up in defence of the legacy of the Jonathan administration, and shall do so again, for as long as those who are determined to

rubbish that legacy, are unrelenting in their usual deployment of blackmail, persecution, and similar tactics.


Dr Abubakar O. Suleiman

Former Minister of National Planning



We performed well; we were not corrupt - Jonathan"s ex-minister tells Buhari

Bayelsa Gubernatorial Poll: Tinubu moves against spoilers, urges Sylva to contest

The former governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Chief Timipre Sylva to contest the December 5, 2015 Governorship election in Bayelsa State.


Tinubu also charged Bayelsans to ensure that Sylva becomes the next governor of the state in view of placing the state on the right path.


“I want him to contest the governorship election because of his proven leadership qualities and our belief that he can bring change to the state” he said.


Tinubu who met Sylva at his Abuja home not only endorsed him as the party’s consensus candidate for the December 5, 2015 governorship election but commended him for his contributions to the development of the party in Nigeria, particularly Bayelsa State.


“It is time for Bayelsans to unite and support a person who can effectively enhance unity, provide opportunities for all and lead the people in a different direction”


He expressed total and unreserved support for Sylva’s aspiration to clinch the party’s ticket and governorship seat.


He mandated APC leaders and members in Bayelsa State to support his choice.


“If you want change, if you’re unhappy with the direction of Bayelsa State, then you must join the governorship race and change the state for the people”.


Tinubu, who also described Sylva as an agent of change, is pushing for the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, to occupy the governorship position.

Source: Henry Ebi



Bayelsa Gubernatorial Poll: Tinubu moves against spoilers, urges Sylva to contest

DSS arrests Boko Haram Commander linked with suicide attacks

Nigeria’s secret police on Sunday, disclosed that it had arrested notable Boko Haram suspects, including a key commander, linked with several suicide attacks across the country, reports AFP.


Boko Haram leader, Shekau

Abubakar Shekau


The Department of State Services (DSS) said in a statement said that Usman Shuiabu known as Money and other frontline members of the hardline Islamist group were picked up in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe states between July and August.


“Of particular note was the arrest on 8th July, 2015 in Gombe state of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos.


“Shuaibu admitted being the leader of the team of nine sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the suicide attacks,” it said.


It said the arrest of Shuaibu and other core members of his cell had stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect.


The DSS said its operatives had also frustrated plans by the insurgents to attack the financial capital of Lagos.


“The sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos state points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the state and in fact, other parts of the country,” it said.


“The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area,” it added.


The DSS said it would continue to work with other stakeholders in the fight against Boko Haram extremists.


The agency said on Friday it had arrested a 14-year-old boy spying for Boko Haram at the Abuja airport.


The Islamists have carried out deadly ambushes across Nigeria’s borders and in recent weeks suicide bombers, many of them women, have staged several attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.


Boko Haram, which is seeking to carve out a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, has killed some 15,000 people since 2009.


A regional 8,700-strong force aimed at ending the insurgency is due to deploy within days.


 



DSS arrests Boko Haram Commander linked with suicide attacks

APC alleges, lists more massive looting under Jonathan

The All Progressives Congress has listed new instances of alleged looting of the treasury by some officials of the Jonathan Administration, saying the corruption mess that characterised the administration was so pervasive that until it is cleaned, Nigeria will not be able to actualise its potentials.


Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed


”Those who would rather give comfort to the looters by dismissing the media exposure of looting cases as mere hell-raising should realise that no sane person can be silent in the face of what is unfolding as the worst cases of brazen stealing of public funds in Nigeria’s history,” the party said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.


”On August 16, 2015, we listed some instances of the breath-taking looting of the treasury by some officials of the immediate past administration. Today, we bring three more heart-rendering cases to the attention of Nigerians. We will not relent until closure has been brought to this issue,” it said, listing the new cases as:


– A mind-shattering 2.2 billion-US-dollar arms scandal.


– A 6.9 million-dollar fraud by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Jonathan, committed under the guise of buying three mobile stages for the President.


– A 2.5 billion-Naira scam involving the rent of house boats.


”While those charged with handling these cases are finalising the details of bringing the suspects to justice, our immediate concern is the attempt by the PDP, under whose umbrella the looting took place, to blame the Buhari administration for the mess and then infer that things have been worse in Nigeria in the last three months under the APC-led federal government than in the 16 years under the PDP. This is totally provocative, shameless and uncharitable.


”They say we are yet to fulfil our campaign promises to Nigeria, but they have forgotten that if only the PDP/Jonathan administration had not stolen Nigeria blind, there would have been more than enough money to give school children in Nigeria not just one, but three meals a day and even pay 5,000 Naira to 50 million most vulnerable Nigerians, not just the 25 million we promised in our manifesto,” APC said


Despite the almost daily discovery of cases of corruption under the Jonathan administration, the party assured Nigerians of better days ahead, as all its campaign promises would be kept because of the commitment and determination of President Buhari, not only to cleaning the Augean Stable, but also ensuring purposeful governance for the benefit of all Nigerians.


”It is clear to all Nigerians that the debilitating impact of 16 years of PDP’s misrule cannot be reversed in just three months. It is an obvious truth that it is always easier to destroy than to construct, but nothing will stand in the way of the Buhari administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Nigerians and making our country to function again,” it said.


It said a major cog in the wheel of faster progress for the new Nigeria under President Buhari had been the discovery that the pot housing the commonwealth had been licked dry by the looters of yesterday, hence the need to work meticulously to recover the looted funds and facilitate the delivery of good governance that would manifest in abundant jobs, strong economy and improved welfare and security for Nigerians.


APC said while the PDP, ever steeped in the pursuit of lies, presented the recently released data on job creation and economic growth as “clear signals” that President Muhammadu Buhari was failing Nigerians, the disgraced party mischievously omitted the fact that those numbers were basically a manifestation of the disastrous final days of President Jonathan’s failed economic policies.


It commended Nigerians for showing absolute understanding and faith in the leadership of President Buhari to change the way that Nigeria has been misruled in the last 16 years, saying in the days ahead, the painstaking efforts of the President would manifest even more than Nigerians had already witnessed.



APC alleges, lists more massive looting under Jonathan