Consider South East in your appointments - Okorocha appeals to Buhari

Consider South East in your appointments - Okorocha appeals to Buhari

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha has appealed to President Buhari to consider the people of the South East in his appointments. According to Vanguard, Governor Okorocha made the appeal during a meeting with selected stakeholders in the state over the weekend

"What I can only do is to continue to appeal to the president to consider the South-East 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.
Again, 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. In fact, if you ask me, I would say we should be more interested in the projects coming down to the South-East, and as much as we can get. The projects will bring about development of the South-East. Although the South-East had expected so much, we believe all will be well with the Buhari presidency and for the development of the South-East. It is wrong for some people to begin to use the issue to incite the people of the South-east against the president.

The government is about to celebrate its one hundred days, and the appointments are just beginning to come, and by and large, the South-East will get their dues. 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” he said

Photos: See the Local Government Corpers Lodge in idah Kogi state

Photos: See the Local Government Corpers Lodge in idah Kogi state

Photos: See the Local Government Corpers Lodge in idah Kogi state

As sent in by an LIB reader. More photos after the cut...

As sent in by an LIB reader. More photos after the cut...

APC will henceforth be fully involved in the subsequent appointments - Oyegun

APC will henceforth be fully involved in the subsequent appointments - Oyegun

On Thursday, August 27, Pres.Buhari drew the anger of many across the country when the list of his latest appointment was released. The list which contained six new key appointees was criticized as being lopsided. Responding to the widespread outrage and criticisms over the appointment, APC national chairman Chief John Oyegun in an interview with Thisday on Saturday in Abuja said,

"It is too early and superficial to say the appointments were lopsided; it is too early. We are just a little over two months into the government. The appointments made so far are personal staff members of the president. And it is his prerogative to make the appointments."

The chairman added, "Even though we were marginally involved in those appointments,the party will henceforth be fully involved in the subsequent appointments; that is where the supremacy of the party will come to bear. Nigerians should exercise a little patience. There will be board appointments,ministerial positions and a lot of other positionsat 9:50 PM

See the kind of food served for lunch at an IDP camp in Maiduguri

See the kind of food served for lunch at an IDP camp in Maiduguri

Twitter user @Fatiskira shared the very sad photo above. This was the rice/stew served at lunch to those inhabiting the IDP camp. She also mentioned something about '5 dry catfish being used to cook a meal for 3500 persons.' Apparently, even funds meant for feeding at the camp are embezzled...

Photos of Gov Fayose driving a Tipper Lorry to inspect flood control project

Photos of Gov Fayose driving a Tipper Lorry to inspect flood control project

Pictured above is Governor Ayo Fayose driving a tipper lorry as he went on inspection of the Channelization Project at Arowa - Darlimore area of Ado Ekiti. Excited residents surrounded his lorry to say hello. More photos after the cut...

Oshiomhole has forgotten so soon by Reno Omokri

Oshiomhole has forgotten so soon by Reno Omokri

Article written by former presidential aide, Reno Omokri. Read below...

On July 17, 2012, a recently re-elected Governor Adams Oshiomhole visited 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." 

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. 

Nigerians may read that investigative report here http://leadership.ng/news/world/455409/us-frowns-at-oshiomhole-over-comments-on-6bn-theft

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. 

That report could be read here http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/146634-hunger-level-falls-nigeria-remains-alarming-africa-global-report.html.

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.at 11:4

Amaechi fires back: Wike also corrupt, I won’t appear before his commission

Amaechi fires back: Wike also corrupt, I won’t appear before his commission

Former Governor of Rivers State, Gov. Amaechi spoke, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, while addressing loyalists of the All Progressives Congress, APC that he was in the Rivers State capital  to quietly attend a church program and will leave same day, adding that he had clear documents pointing at the alleged corruption acts of Governor Wike.

Amaechi vowed never to appear before  the Justice  George Omereji Commission of Inquiry investigating alleged sale of  the  assets of the state by his government, insisting that the establishment of the commission did not comply with constitutional provisions, that he will only appear before a properly constituted commission in the state.
He said:

“I have been listening while in Abuja to  Nyesom  Wike accusing me of corruption and I laugh. Even Nyesom Wike knows that I don’t like money, he knows that”.

“The pressure Wike is putting on us  is to  let somebody call us together to a meeting to withdraw our case  challenging his election from court.. The party has a right to go to court. The law of Nigeria says there is no independent candidate. Even if I, Amaechi, Peterside withdraw, APC will carry on with the case.

“The funny thing about the young man is that he knows I know him. I was his governor, I have documents to show that he is a contractor. I am not a thief; so I don’t know what this young man is talking about.”

The former governor, who accused INEC, SSS, Army and militants of  conniving to rob the APC of victory in the last gubernatorial election  in the state, said he and his party will continue to fight until they get justice from the court.



Vanguard

Former Pres. Jonathan and Diezani face probe over $6.9m campaign stages

Former Pres. Jonathan and Diezani face probe over $6.9m campaign stages

The ongoing probe of former Pres Jonathan's administration by President Muhammadu Buhari is to find out the  dealings behind the alleged purchase of 3 mobile stages, that cost $6.9m, Presidency source has said.

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 former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The fund was said to have been withdrawn from one of the numerous accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for the purpose of buying 3 pieces of 40-feet mobile stages for use by Jonathan during mass public speaking events.

 

According to the document, apart from the fact that the sum for the stages was “incredibly inflated”, there is currently no evidence that the stages were bought since the money was withdrawn.

The document read"

“While the cost of mobile stages ranges in sizes and designs, only outlandish rock star musicians in Europe and the US spend hundreds of thousands on their huge stages way bigger than the 40-feet stages.

“Even then, those musicians and superstars would not pay over $2m per stage, according to industry sources.

“The process of procurement of the three mobile stages was neither known to extant Nigerian laws and due process regulations nor were the offices of the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General in the know, according to the investigators.”

It added that the phony purchase was carried out in late 2011, a few months after Jonathan won the presidential election for a full term after having completed the term of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Jonathan’s CSO was said to have initiated a memo to the former President on October 17, 2011, asking for the purchase of three mobile stages.

He was reported to have written in that memo to Jonathan that memo referred to “my earlier discussion with Your Excellency on the security implication of your public appearances and your subsequent directive on the need to procure a secured presidential platform.”

The Presidency source said on the same day, without any financial advice or purchase order reviews, the former President approved the request to buy the three stages and minuted the memo to the then Minister for Petroleum Resources.

In his minute, Jonathan was said to have written, “We have discussed this, please deal.”

According to the document, on the same October 17, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administrative Matters, Mr. Matt Aikhionbere, did another letter on the strength of the President’s approval requesting the minister to take action on the request to purchase the stages for $6.9m.

It added, “By the next month, an NNPC payment voucher, number 3840336, was already in place, revealing that the money was released.

“NNPC directed that the money be taken from one of its accounts in New York CITIBANK with sort code CITIUS 33, and Routing number 021000089.

“It was first routed from the US bank to an NNPC account in Zenith Bank account number 5000026593, Maitama branch in Abuja, from where the money was sent to a private account.

“The sum of $6.9m was then credited to a Sterling Bank account of one J. Marine Logistics Limited, Abuja, a company investigators said was registered by Obuah.

“The CSO himself, according to investigators, has not been able to show proof of the purchase and his memo irked his bosses at the SSS that he took the initiative to write requesting for the stages, an action which officials said was way above his pay grade.”

“The former President approved the procurement of the mobile platforms without due process and bypassing the Procurement Act; neither was there an appropriation in the 2011 budget for such facility,” the document quoted investigators as saying.

It added that neither the then Minister of Finance nor the Director-General of the Budget Office was aware of the deal.

“Investigators say this is just one of the several instances, where the Jonathan administration used secret NNPC accounts to fund many questionable projects and for alleged personal financial aggrandisement.

“Already, the CSO has been questioned over his role and activities in the Jonathan Presidency. It will be recalled that he was arrested, detained, questioned and later released.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh is set to respond to the allegations.

 

 

Punch 

Photo of the 72 year old carpenter Fayose made caretaker of a LGA

Photo of the 72 year old carpenter Fayose made caretaker of a LGA

Above is the photo of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state and the 72 year old carpenter, Pa Olatunde Afolayan, who appointed as the caretaker chairman of Moba Local Government. While appointing him yesterday August 28th, Fayose said;

"In my government, whether you are educated or not, you will get something. The vote of a professor and an illiterate is the same. So, under my administration, those who are not educated can rise to any level they want.”

Responding, Pa Afolayan said

"I have never gone to school for a day, but that does not diminish my intelligence. I may not be educated or certificated, but I have the experience to pilot the affairs of the council. I promise to surpass the records left behind by my predecessors to justify Governor Fayose’s assertion that local people are intelligent and visionary.”.

NNPC reduces crude lifting firms from 43 to 16

NNPC reduces crude lifting firms from 43 to 16

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reduced the number of companies that will handle the contract of lifting Nigeria’s crude from 43 to 16. The drastic reduction is part of the Corporation’s transformation agenda aimed at keeping its operation small, efficient, transparent and reduction of cost.

NNPC spokesman, Ohi Alegbe said the decision is a novel move to instill transparency and accountability in the award of the annual Crude Oil Term Contract for 2015/2016.

He said:

“NNPC yesterday mapped out measures to execute the 2015/2016 award of contract to companies for the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements.”

In a statement, NNPC stated that it was part of measures to optimise the marketing of Nigeria’s crude oil and secure new market potentials. It said the number of off-takers for the proposed 2015/2016 term contract which would emerge after a planned rigorous competitive bid exercise has been pruned from 43 to 16.

 The statement read:

“In the days ahead, we shall place advertisement for the 2015/2016 Term Contracts and the publication will run for one month in major National and International print media to ensure effective message penetration. Later the guidelines for the selection of new off-takers would be published and subsequently a special bid evaluation committee would be constituted to conduct due diligence on successful applicants.”

He also stated that apart from Oando, Calson, MRS, BP/Nigermed and Total Trading that were earlier selected to bid for the new Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA),  invitation was also extended to Forte Oil and Mobil to bid for the OPA contract.

 

 

The Nation

 

Full list of appointments made so far by Buhari and their states of origin

Full list of appointments made so far by Buhari and their states of origin

Below is a list of all appointees made so far by president Buhari and their states of origin
1. Aide de Camp to president: Lt. Col Abubakar Lawal, [Kano State, North-West]
2. Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the president: Femi Adesina, [Osun State, South-West].
3. Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity: Garba Shehu, [Kano State, North-West].
4. State Chief of Protocol/Special Assistant (Presidential Matters): Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, [Jigawa State, North-West].


5. Accountant General of the Federation: Ahmed Idris [Kano State, North-West}

6. National Security Adviser: Babagana Monguno [Borno State, North-East]

7. Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonishakin, [Ekiti State, South-West]

8. Chief of Army Staff: Tukur Buratai, [Borno State, North-East]

9. Chief of Naval Staff: Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, [Cross Rivers, South-South]

10. Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, [Bauchi State, North-East]

11. Chief of Defence Intelligence: Monday Riku Morgan [Benue State, North-Central]

12. Director General, State Security Services, SSS: Lawal Daura, [Katsina State, North-West]

13. Acting Chairperson, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Amina Zakari, [Jigawa State, North-West]

14. Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA: Habibu Abdulahi [Kano State, North-West]

15. Special Adviser, Niger Delta Amnesty Office: Paul Boroh, [Bayelsa State, South-South]

16. Acting Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration, Safety and Security Agency, NIMASA: Baba Haruna Jauro [Yobe State, North-East]

17. Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission: Umaru Dambatta [Kano State, North-West]

18. Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS: Babatunde Fowler, [Lagos State, South-West]

19. Director General, Budget Office of the Federation: Aliyu Gusau, [Zamfara State, North-West]

20. Engr. Babachir David Lawal – Secretary to the Government of the Federation{Adamawa state}

21. Alhaji Abba Kyari – Chief of Staff to the President{Borno state}

22. Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service{Nassarawa state}

23. Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service{Nassarawa state}

24. Senator Ita S.J. Enang – SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) (Akwa Ibom}

25. Emmanuel Kachikwu- Group MD NNPC {Delta state}

Photos: This is hilarious! The internet truly never forgets

Photos: This is hilarious! The internet truly never forgets

Twitter user @SMahmoud posted these pics of the new SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) from his 'gate climbing' days and captioned it:

"Very happy for Hon. Kawu Sumaila, now SSA Nass to the President. He literally fought for this" Lol

Hon. Kawu Sumaila was one the lawmakers who climbed the gates when a combined team of security operatives barricaded the entrance to the main complex of the National Assembly to prevent then Speaker Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from gaining access to the floor of the chamber last year

Economic diversification very high on our agenda - Buhari

Economic diversification very high on our agenda - Buhari

Press statement from the presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday in Abuja that Nigeria, under his leadership, will work more closely with other countries facing the challenge of falling oil prices to rapidly move away from dependence on crude oil exports for economic survival.

Speaking at an audience with the new Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Abdullah Sefyan, President Buhari affirmed his administration's commitment to faster development of Nigeria's non-oil sectors and the speedy diversification of the country's economy.

‘‘For more than 30 years, Nigeria has depended on oil as its major source of revenue at the expense of agriculture and the non-oil sector which could be the mainstay of our economy.
"As oil exporting countries facing similar challenges due to the down turn in the international price of crude oil, we should be working closer together.

"Saudi Arabia has done excellently in manufacturing, building of infrastructure and exploration of solid minerals and I believe that greater bilateral cooperation between us in this regard will be mutually beneficial," the President told the new Ambassador of Saudi Arabia.

President Buhari said that in keeping with his commitment to the accelerated development of Nigeria's non-oil sector, the Federal Government will ensure that all pending agreements on trade and economic relations with other countries are speedily concluded and signed.

President Buhari, who also received the new Ambassador of Turkey, Mr. Hakan Cakil and the new Ambassador of Sudan, Mr. Ibrahim Bushra Mohammed, commended Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Sudan for their cooperation with Nigeria in the war against terrorism.

The President restated his conviction that the war against terrorism in Nigeria and other countries can only be won with greater and more effective international collaboration.

All the new ambassadors assured President Buhari that they will work very hard to boost trade and economic relations between Nigeria and their respective countries.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 27, 2015

Pregnant woman, baby, among those killed in Damaturu bomb blast

Pregnant woman, baby, among those killed in Damaturu bomb blast

A pregnant woman and a baby were among those who died in a twin suicide bomb attack at a bus terminal in Damaturu in Yobe state this morning. The state police commands spokesperson, DSP Toyin Gbadegeshin said this to news men after the incident

“The suicide bomb girl detonated the explosive at the screening centre of the motor park gate, killing herself and four others, including a pregnant woman and a baby. The other explosive went off at about the same time with the first one at Pompomari, when a suspected male suicide bomber, sensing he will be apprehended, ran into a nearby bush and the explosive went off, killing him alone,” he said.

Photos: Buhari receives UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon

Photos: Buhari receives UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon

President Buhari this morning received the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon at the state house Abuja. More photos after the cut...

Buhari is still behaving like a military dictator- Afenifere chairman says

Buhari is still behaving like a military dictator- Afenifere chairman says

The Chairman of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti says President Buhari is still behaving like a military dictator since assuming office on May 29th. He said this while addressing newsmen in Akure, Ondo state over the weekend.

“President Buhari is running a one-man show. Let him appoint his cabinet and start serious business. I think the President should sit down and have a package. What people are saying is very correct that he is just picking people here and there. He seems not to have settled down to governance yet and  time is flying. Let him constitute the cabinet and start working. As it is now, Buhari is still behaving like a military dictator. Just picking on people, he should sit down to work. He is running a one man show now" he said.

Help in the fight against corruption- Buhari appeals to lawyers

Help in the fight against corruption- Buhari appeals to lawyers

President Buhari yesterday appealed to lawyers in Nigeria to assist in his administrations fight against corruption. President Buhari who made the appeal while speaking at the 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja, said corruption is the main reason why Nigeria is where it is at the moment.


He stressed that in putting an end to the menace of corruption, Nigeria needs lawyers that will never sacrifice the integrity of the legal system to cover the misdeeds of their clients, no matter how lucrative the brief may be.

"I am convinced that law, lawmakers, lawyers, law courts and the law enforcement agencies all have pivotal responsibilities to discharge, if the change we seek is ever to materialise. 

This administration has taken on the challenge of improving security, fighting corruption and revamping the economy, among many others.

The fight against corruption is a struggle for the restoration of law and order. Corruption and impunity become widespread when disrespect for law is allowed to thrive in society.

Disrespect for law thrives when people get away with all sorts of shady deals and the court is unable to check them. Ability to manipulate and frustrate the legal system is the crowning glory of the corrupt and, as may be expected, this has left many legal practitioners and law courts tainted in an ugly way.

In a gathering such as this, I do not need to elaborate on the way that corruption and impunity have damaged our economy. But I would like to say more on what, I believe, should be your role as legal practitioners, in helping us back to the path of rectitude.

First, we need to make our courts functional and effective again. This means that we must have lawyers who take the ethics of the profession very seriously; lawyers who will not frustrate the course of justice, even though they defend their clients with all legitimate means and resources.

Nigeria needs ethical lawyers who always keep the end of justice in mind and will never sacrifice the integrity of the legal system to cover the misdeeds of their clients, no matter how lucrative the brief may be.”he said

Photos from Chief of Army Staff's visit to Borno over the weekend

Photos from Chief of Army Staff's visit to Borno over the weekend

Photos from the Chief of Army Staff,  Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai's visit to some military stations in Mafa, Dikwa part of Borno state over the weekend. More photos after the cut...