Corruption: Never again would politicians seek public office for personal gains – Buhari

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

New Delhi-President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his main target for fighting corruption was to stop corrupt individuals from seeking to occupy public offices for selfish gains.

President Buhari

This is even as he stated that his government would not relent in the current anti-corruption war, stressing it would continue to many years.

According to him, the prosecution of alleged criminals would serve as a deterrent to others, stating that he was committed to curbing corruption, plugging all loopholes in public sector accounting and deploying available resources for the good of all Nigerians.

The president spoke, Wednesday, during a meeting with members of the Nigerian community in New Delhi, India where he is attending the 3rd Summit of the India and African Nations.

President Buhari also prioritized the recovery of looted funds, saying he was conscious of the devastating consequences of the illegal diversion of public resources meant for national development into private bank accounts.

He said: “The anti-corruption campaign will be on-going for many years. We are committed to the enthronement of good governance that plugs the loopholes in public sector accounting, and the use of scarce resources for public good.

“We are determined to demonstrate exemplary leadership that will make our citizens to change their ways in a manner that lays a solid foundation for reconstruction and development.

“I am confident that our approach to fighting corruption through value re-orientation, improved internal processes and systems and the rule of law, as well as enhancing the capacity of the various anti-corruption agencies and institutions will prove more enduring in addressing this evil.

“In the meantime, we will continue to prosecute those who have been indicted for corrupt practices and ensure that stolen funds are recovered, to serve as deterrence to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gain”.

The President told the Nigerian community he was fully aware of the expectations of Nigerians who elected him on the platform of change, integrity, probity and accountability, and was therefore doing his utmost best to meet those expectations.

He also vowed to stabilize the economy to enable many teeming youth to get jobs.

The president hinted he was that he was taking proactive measure to end insurgency in the country.

“I wish to assure you that we shall do our best to fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming population of our youths and make the home environment safe, secure and more attractive to Nigerians outside the country like your good selves.

“On the economy, our aim is to address the challenge of infrastructure in all its ramifications, especially power and transportation. We are seeking to create jobs through agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition and the promotion of small scale enterprises.

“We are also taking steps to address criminality across the country. We are tackling the menace of terrorism posed by Boko Haram head on and I am pleased to note that though sporadic attacks on soft targets have not stopped, the over-all capacity of Boko Haram to hold territory and determine the course of the conflict has been severely degraded.

“If the current positive trends are maintained, we are confident that by the end of this year, we would have succeeded in permanently turning the tide against the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria,” President Buhari said.

Corruption: Never again would politicians seek public office for personal gains – Buhari

Politicians are liars - Pastor Adeboye

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The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Friday has said he does not trust politicians.

Pastor Adeboye

Adeboye spoke in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, during a two-day interdenominational prayer.

According to the cleric, politicians in most cases hardly fulfil their promises.

Adeboye illustrated his claim with the story of three travellers – an Indian, a Jew and a politician.

He said while the three men were travelling, they had a problem and went to a farmer for help, but the farmer said he could only accommodate two people.

Adeboye said the Indian volunteered to sleep in the barn, but returned few minute later that there was a cow there.

The Indian, according to the illustration, said he couldn’t sleep in the barn because cows were gods worshipped in his country.

The Jew also came back complaining that pig was inside the barn and that the place was dirty.

The politician also volunteered to sleep there, but instead of the politician to come back to complain, Adeboye said it was the pig and cow that came knocking that the politician should be sent away because he promised to make the environment, including the barn conducive with air-conditioner.

The cleric said, “I don’t trust politicians. Politicians are liars. They don’t fulfil most of their promises. A politician can tell you that they will give all of you (students) chicken each, which we all know it is impossible.”

The RCCG General Overseer, however, asked Nigerians to stop worrying themselves over who would emerge winner in the next general elections.

According to him, God is a master planner who has already planned the leadership development of Nigeria.

Adeboye said, “God has already planned who will be the President of Nigeria. God has already planned that before we were born. God is not like human beings who doubt what is to be done. He has plan for everything.”

Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Bamitale Omole, hailed the cleric for his yearly presence in the university, saying the initiative was having positive impacts on the school.

He said, “We appreciate the love of Pastor Adeboye. With God and his presence last year, we had no calamities and also emerged as the best university in Nigeria. I urge students to be prayerful and cautious of what they do as God will continue to protect us.”

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Politicians are liars - Pastor Adeboye

Rivers PDP Lauds Nigerian Students For Walking Out On Gov. Amaechi

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wishes to commend the Nigerian Students, who walked out of a gathering conveyed by Gov Amaechi for unjustifiably castigating President Jonathan and for threatening the students to support his personal political ambition at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Monday 24, 2014.

Rotimi Amaechi

The PDP receives the report of the students’ action with contentment, saying it was the appropriate response to the Governor’s continued disrespect and unwarranted abuses on the nation’s President in which he (Amaechi) superintends over the affairs of a constituent State, as Governor.

While calling on the Rivers State students and indeed all Nigerians not to be deceived or influenced by the revolutionary actions of Gov Amaechi which expose his childish and immature attitude, the PDP notes that Gov Amaechi’s actions are in pursuit of his selfish Vice Presidential aspiration on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Party is also of the view that rather than listening to the many lies, abusive and treasonable statements from Gov Amaechi, the students should seek explanations from him on the delayed bursary payment and unpaid Civil Servants’ salaries.

PDP notes with regrets that a Governor, who has failed woefully in offering good governance to the people in the State is going around talking on issues he has failed to address in the State, stressing that in addition to the collapse the health and education sectors and the infrastructure in the State, Gov Amaechi has at today sold out most public facilities to his relations and friends.

The Party further urges the students to rise and demand explanations on the state of their bursaries, the position of the monthly salaries of their parents, who work with the State Ministries but remain unaware of their salary table since the inception of Gov Amaechi’s administration.

All we know is that Gov Amaechi is only using public funds to bribe his way to become Vice President to former military dictator, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the APC. While we recognize the rights of the Vice Presidential aspirant, Gov Amaechi, to solicit for support under the ambit of the law, we urge him to stop abusing the President, Dr Jonathan, whom the people of the South-South and indeed all Nigerians have confidence in, and are desirous to ensure he continues on his transformation agenda, which has rekindled the hope of the once depressed people of Nigeria.

We also believe that if the Governor loves students and the youths he would not hesitate to pay their bursaries as at when due and accurately and will also desist from encouraging them to engage in revolutionary and violent acts capable of terminating their dreams.

The PDP, reacting to the Governor’s comments today, Monday, November 24, during the gathering with the students, said it was wrong and disrespectful for him to organize the students only to incite them against the Jonathan administration, leaving the myriad of issues unattended to in the State.

The Peoples Democratic Party again cautions Gov. Rotimi Amaechi over his continued seditious statements and abuses on the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan at every forum he attends.

Gov Amaechi needs to be civilized and mature in his actions and should stop exposing his youthful exuberance.

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Rivers PDP Lauds Nigerian Students For Walking Out On Gov. Amaechi

Jonathan did not concede tickets to 40 Senators, says Senator

A senator, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has described as “untrue” the claim that President Goodluck Jonathan granted automatic tickets to 40 of the 72 Peoples Democratic Party senators to return to the Senate next year.

President Jonathan

This is contained in a statement on Sunday by his media aide, Michael Jegede.

Mr. Jonathan, accompanied by the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, had met with about 60 of the party’s senators last week over their agitation to seek re-election to the upper house.

The senate had called off sitting midway on two days last week in the bid to protest the refusal of the PDP to give them automatic tickets.

It was later reported (not by PREMIUM TIMES) that the President had requested the party to allow automatic tickets for 40 senators.

But Mr, Abatemi-Usman, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, said neither the president nor the national chairman conceded automatic tickets to the senators.

He alleged that the source of the erroneous report was a well-known Senator who has been trying to create the false impression that he is close to the national PDP leadership and the Presidency.

He said the senator even claimed recently that the president had endorsed him as the next Senate President.

“My colleague should be careful as he is becoming known as the purveyor of dubious information. I was at the meeting from the beginning to the end and at no point was any list of Senators drafted,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that a fellow Senator would peddle such rumours and that respected national newspapers would publish the report without checking the facts.”

Explaining what transpired at the meeting, Mr. Abatemi-Usman, said Mr. Mu’azu merely treated the case of each state on their merit.

He said, “What our national chairman did after some Senators had spoken their minds was to look at the situation in each state, and he said where there are issues they will be resolved amicably.

” If there was any such list my name definitely would have been included because the chairman said he is not aware that I am having any problem in Kogi Central while speaking on the situation in Kogi State. He said the problem in Kogi West will be resolved. That was the manner in which the Chairman went through all the States.

“Neither he, nor the President at any time mentioned names of Senators to be granted automatic tickets. It seems my colleague behind the purported report is being mischievous in spreading this story and the public should disregard his claims.”

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Jonathan did not concede tickets to 40 Senators, says Senator