8 Times Buhari Messed A Handshake Up

As president, he hosts many foreign guests at Aso Rock. He is also meant to shake many hands. Often, however, it doesn’t work o

We Don't Have Money To Release, For Capital Projects: FG

The Federal Government on Thursday declared that the delay currently been experienced in the execution of capital projects, as captured in the N6.06trillion 2016 budget is due to procurement procedure and low level of revenue generation.
Speaking while appearing at a meeting organized by the Senate Committee on Appropriation, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said the problem arose from the six months requirement for procurement process on execution of new projects as provided for, in the Public Procurement Act.

He said “no new project is ripe for any capital releases because of the six months of procurement process, including advertising and so on. It is only existing projects which already met the criteria for the various procurement stages that are qualified for capital releases”.


On the problem of low revenue, he believed that the overall revenue for the first quarter, was about 55% of the projected revenue expectations, which according to him, was caused by agitation in the Niger Delta by militants and earlier difficulties faced by importers in accessing foreign exchange.

According to him “The bulk of the problem of low revenue generation came from militant agitations in the Niger Delta, which affected oil production and prevented us from reaching the 2.2 million barrel, even though the price is going up.

“At a point, production went down to one million barrel but right now, we have been informed by the Minister of Petroleum that it is going up again to about N1.9 million barrel, but the revenue will come in three months time because the generation of today is not the revenue of today but of three months time”.

The minister assured the committee that many of the new capital projects captured in the budget would be executed since duration for their implementation had been extended till May next year by the National Assembly.


He said “The National Assembly gave us till May next year to carry out the capital expenditure and we still have 10 months of capital spending to do.

“Nevertheless, out of the capital for MDAs, out of N1, 587,598, 122, 028, we have released N235, 916, 566, 642 (15 percent).

“In personnel releases, the budget was N1, 723, 819, 398, 198 but what we released was N871, 459, 760, 939 which comes to about 50 percent. This is the way it should be because we are already in July and we have done six months, which is half of the year.

“For overhead, the budget is N218, 368, 364, 886 and we have released N52, 913, 047, 226 (25 percent)”, he explained.

The committee chairman, Danjuma Goje in his remarks said the committee would in the remaining 10 months for capital budget implementation, continue to assess the budget performance.

www.dailypost.ng/2016/07/15/low-revenue-responsible-for-delay-in-release-of-capital-projects-fund-fg/

Melaye: Remi Tinubu Has Arrived Menopause, I Couldn't Have Said I'll Impregnate

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district at the national assembly, says it is impossible for him to impregnate Oluremi Tinubu, who represents Lagos central senatorial district, because she has already “arrived” menopause.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Melaye refuted reports that he threatened, during a closed door session of the senate on Tuesday, to beat up Tinubu and impregnate her.

He said he did not use any insolent, abusive, or degrading language when the disagreement ensued.

“It is malicious and a lie that I said I would impregnate Mrs Tinubu,” Melaye said.

“Biologically, it is even impossible to impregnate Mrs Tinubu because she has arrived menopause. How can you say you want to beat somebody and at the same time impregnate the person.”

Melaye explained that he only told the senate that since it had passed a resolution saying that its rules were not forged, senators who went to court should withdraw the case of face suspension.

“Unfortunately, Senator Oluremi Tinubu got up and was recognised to speak and immediately she started speaking, she specifically mentioned my name, “he said.

“For reasons only known to Senator Remi Tinubu, she got up and the first thing she said was that she was being harassed in this chamber by Senator Melaye at this point.

“She went ahead to say that why would he come here and be threatening senators and there was a large chorus from senators. At that point I was still calm. She got up again and said that this thug must be tamed. At that point, I got up and told her that she was very stupid.

“The next statement from her was ‘You are a dog’. She called me a dog, and when she called me a dog I stood up and reacted and I told her that this was not bourdillon and she should look at my face, I am not one of those senators who normally come to prostrate to them in bourdillon and I am from Kogi —and not from Lagos.”

He also said that there was no talk about the reported impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Somehow she got falsehood sold to SaharaReporters; nobody among those of us who spoke there talked about impeachment. The issue of the presidency was not the subject matter. But because of deliberate wickedness and satanic manifestation, they brought in the issue of presidency to garnish their aim and purpose.”

https://www.thecable.ng/melaye-i-cannot-impregnate-oluremi-tinubu-she-has-already-arrived-menopause

I Will Beat You Up And Impregnate You – Dino Melaye Threatens Tinubu’s Wife

Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber broke into an uproar today with some members threatening President Muhammad Buhari with impeachment, and Dino Melaye threatening to ‘impregnate’ Remi Tinubu, the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader.

The Senators who met behind closed doors were incensed by the proposed trial of the leadership of the Senate for forgery.



In his words, Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) said that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, must be brought before the Senate to be thoroughly grilled and humiliated for charging the Senate leadership with forgery in court.

Mr. Melaye called on the Senators in attendance to fight the presidency to a standstill. In his rant, he issued a wide variety of threats. Recognized to speak, Senator Remi Tinubu (APC) Lagos Central said the Senate should not be reduced to a kindergarten where Senators could just issue childish threats, and called on Senators to close ranks and seek reconciliation amongst its members.

That was when Melaye flew into rage, calling her names. “I will beat you up on this floor and nothing will happen,” he threatened.

The statement caused a commotion on the floor as Senators in her support gathered to protect her. Senate Presient Saraki nodded as Melaye called mrs. Tinubu unprintable names according to Senators who intervened to save her from the rampaging Melaye.


SOURCE :http://www.nigerianewsheadlines.com/2016/07/12/i-will-beat-you-up-impregnate-you-and-nothing-will-happen-dino-melaye-threatens-tinubus-wife/

Buhari, Your Citizens Are Dying- Oby Ezekwesili

Former Minster of Education and Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, activist, Oby Ezekwesili ‏has voiced out her concerns as regards the incessant attacks by the herdsmen on citizens of the country.

Oby in a series of tweets called out the Federal Government on its inaction to the massacres and attacks perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen.

She further called on the president, Muhammadu Buhari to sit up and act accordingly in order to bring an end to recurrence of the mayhem.

She wrote:

– No nation survives Government inaction in the face of persistent assault on VALUE of LIFE. At what point will FG DECISIVELY TACKLE HERDSMEN?No nation survives Government inaction in the face of persistent assault on VALUE of LIFE. At what point will FG DECISIVELY TACKLE HERDSMEN?

– Many times, one has asked the FG to replicate its counter-insurgency effort in tackling #HERDSMEN. Why is there a seeming lack of TRACTION?

– I had written several other times that TENTATIVENESS on #HERDSMEN is eerily similar to how Boko Haram was handled in early days. WHY REPEAT?

– Human Dignity is the CORE VALUE on which healthy social interaction is forged & social capital accumulated. WHY HAVE WE TRASHED THIS VALUE?

– My heart goes out to our Benue State kith & kin who once again have NEEDLESSLY been slaughtered. FG MUST ACT TO END TO THE KILLINGS. ACT!!!

– Why has NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE failed to offer the Nigerian public a COHERENT information on this menace of #HERDSMEN? WHO ARE THEY, REALLY??

– President @MBuhari Citizens DEMAND that YOU not only ACT but be ACTUALLY SEEN TO ACT on the #HERDSMEN MAYHEM. Your CITIZENS ARE DYING. ACT!

– My heart goes out to our Benue State kith & kin who once again have NEEDLESSLY been slaughtered. FG MUST ACT TO END THE KILLINGS. ACT!!!

She further metioned the recent killing of two women, Bridget Agbahime in Kano and more recently, Eunice Elisha’s killing by suspected Islamists in Abuja. She wrote:

– Two women – Bridget Agbahime & now
Eunice Elisha have been NEEDLESSLY KILLED for their faith. FG & @PoliceNG OWE THEM SPEEDY JUSTICE.

– As I had indicated when #BridgetAgbahime was killed in cold blood in Kano, WE are following the @PoliceNG prosecution CLOSELY 4 her JUSTICE.

– ALL CITIZENS MUST DEMAND that FG ACTS DECISIVELY with JUDICIARY to MAKE EXAMPLES of those that KILL fellow Citizens 

Read Her Tweets Below

Why I Don't Attend Council Of States Meeting With President Buhari – Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has revealed reasons why he decided not to attend President Muhamamadu Buhari's council of states meeting each time its being called upon.

Fayose, in an interview with Vanguard over the weekend said: “Each time they call meeting, my deputy goes there. You remember I was in Abuja, and I said expressly there that they were calling it economic summit; they brought all of us there, but when I saw the list of the people that will lecture us; I couldn’t allow a sick man to be treating me – people I knew ran the economy of their states aground were to be the lecturers in the summit”.

“And when you see the figures they brandished for arrangements and feeding running into over N250m; that is not economic summit. That is economic stealing. So, I send my deputy regularly”.



“I wrote three letters to the president, none of them was replied. Initially, when he became president, I didn’t start like this. About two – three times I called the villa they would divert my call to the CSO, saying I cannot talk to the president. I should say whatever I want to say to him; a sitting governor? That is not Nigeria. So, at that point, I had to steer clear because they were on a vendetta mission”.

The governor explains further that: “The fact that I criticise you; I don’t have to be in your party! The APC, every day they come here to do rallies, they say that Fayose should resign, they say Fayose is fraudulent, did you see me slapping anybody? I will just look at you. There is freedom of expression. Even in the face of intimidation and even in the face of misbehaving, as a leader, you should accommodate all. Let me give you one instance, which the APC can never do to anybody. Throughout the tenure Fayemi was here, I never used a word that is unclean on him. I tell him he is our leader because anybody God has put there is our leader truly!”
https://www.nigerianbulletin.com/threads/why-i-dont-attend-council-of-states-meeting-with-president-buhari-–-fayose.216752/

Buhari is a Religious Bigot - Northern CAN

Jos—Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 Northern states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has accused the Federal Government of marginalization of Northern Christians in its appointments.

Chairman of the group, Rev. Yakubu Pam, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to be fair in the sharing of political appointments in the country.

In a statement weekend in Jos, the group decried the exclusion of qualified Christians in the appointment into strategic positions by the Federal Government even with the numerous competent Christians from all states in the north.

According to Northern CAN, while there were allegations from the South that the appointment made so far were in favour of the north, facts on ground revealed that these appointments were lopsided in favour of Muslim core north to the detriment of northern Christian community.

Pam advocated for fairness and equity in the appointment of qualified Nigerians into positions of government, insisting that the appointments made so far in the last one year by President Buhari had generated concern among northern Christian community, with the appointment of security Chiefs as typical example.

It advised President Buhari to carry out a review of appointments so far to ensure that all sections of Nigeria were given a sense of belonging.

The group called on President Buhari to act as father of all and not allow the few elements around him to push him into taking actions that would not move the country forward.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/appointments-northern-can-flays-fg-marginalising-christians/

US GOVT: Fayose’s Allegation On President Buhari’s Wife Aisha Was True (photos)

US COURT DOCUMENTS REVEAL AISHA BUHARI’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE ATIKU-JEFFERSON SCANDAL

The United States Justice Department, revealed that the All Progressive Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha Buhari (posing as Buhari’s daughter), was used as conduit and engaged in fraudulent wire transfers, from her Nigerian account in favour of Congressman Jefferson, via the ANJ Group LLC.

The US District Court Memo, states that Congressman William J. Jefferson, between August 2000 and August 2005, sought hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of himself and family members.

In return, the defendant used his congressional office to promote the business interests of bribe-paying companies, whose very success was dependent upon the approvals of certain United States and West African government agencies and officials.

Congressman Jefferson, further compounded his criminal culpability by conspiring with others to pay a bribe to the then-sitting Vice President of Nigeria.

The WhistleNG, in an exclusive report, stated that in hushed and sometimes cryptic taped recorded conversations, Congressman Jefferson, explained in details how the success of the Nigerian telecommunications venture depended on bribing the Vice President of Nigeria, who the defendant described as “really corrupt.”

The US District Court during their investigation, also revealed that Williams Jefferson, in one of his numerous bribe schemes, wired $170,000 to a Nigerian account in the name of Aisha Buhari.

“During the investigation of his numerous bribe schemes, law enforcement agents learned of several wire transfers from offshore territories into U.S. financial accounts, that were either controlled by the defendant or whose proceeds were made available for his benefit.


See Donald C. Semesky, Jr., Tr. at 104 – 116; see also Government Exhibits 36-87 (6/26/02 $170,000 wire transfer from account in Nigeria in the name of Aisha Buhari, to an account in the name of The ANJ Group, LLC, identifying “William Jefferson” as Beneficiary), Government Exhibits 36-90 and 36-91 (11/28/03 $50,000 wire transfer from account in British Virgin Islands in the name of Dawson Creek Traders to an account in the name of Jefferson Interests, Inc.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in their report dated June 22, 2006 also stated that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, was summoned by the US government for Investigation into the iGate/NDTV business deals involving Congressman Jefferson, which also contained Haija Aisha M. Buhari’s bank records and transfer history.

Reports from New York Times Story (April 29, 2007) revealed Aisha Buhari on the dubious $1.2m campaigning contract, to help the former Akwa Ibom State Gov., Obong Attah, boost his image and attract investment to Akwa Ibom in his bid to become President of Nigeria, as well as a contract where Aisha Buhari, served as a consultant to orchestrate enormous name golfers to go to the opening of the Uyo Golf Resort, commissioned by former Governor, Obong Attah.

http://www.weeklypostng.org/2016/06/us-govt-fayoses-allegation-on-president.html

As indicated by the New York Times story, “she (Aisha Buhari) told him that her father was the former military ruler of Nigeria, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and that her American friends included politicians like Mr. Jefferson of Louisiana.”

The former Governor, also verified the claim by the New York Times when he said, he knows Ms. Buhari’s daughter, who is still a powerful Nigerian politician, by reputation. He also met her, he said, in 2001 when she accompanied a group of American politicians that included Mr. Jefferson to Akwa Ibom, to see oil-related pollution problems there.

“All I needed to do was ask Aisha if she knew him,” Mr. Attah recalls.

General Buhari, has since denied that Aisha Buhari is his daughter, in spite of the contrary proofs, pretty much as he denied his adopted son, Mr. Mohammed Buhari, who was likewise captured in May 2014, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for swindling a woman Mrs. Nwokwocha Florence, of N20m to put resources into an oil and gas business with a guarantee to make mouthwatering returns to the woman.

Dead Body Of Eunice Mojisola Olawale Killed In Abuja While Preaching

Here are photos of the female pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and mother of seven, Mrs. Eunice Mojisola Elisha, who was gruesomely murdered by suspected Islamic fanatics on Saturday morning while preaching around the Gbazango-West area of Kubwa, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory.

Pictured is the moment after she was killed and left her in the pool of her blood -with her megaphone and cell phone placed beside her dead body (as seen 

How Female Redeemed preacher was killed during morning evangelism

Pictured above is a man on a sole protest at Oyo state broadcasting corporation Ibadan over the murder of Mrs Mojisola Unice who was killed while preaching in Abuja.The protester Apata Emmanuel claims to be a brother to late Mrs Unice.

Those Who Brought Buhari Will End Up In His Stomach — Fayose

The temptation to believe that Ayodele Fayose was now also among the prophets of God was a serious temptation last Friday at the rally ground at the centre of Ado Ekiti. On the rostrum was Fayose attired in a flowery T-shirt upon a pair of jeans trousers reeling out bible verses or the Word of God as his defence against the goliaths he claimed were ranged against him. His fight of faith which was intermittently laced with political histrionics was enthusiastically lapped up by the audience that consisted mostly of the working class. His audience bussed in from various parts of the town to Ojumose Roundabout in the centre of town hung on to every word of the prophet who shouted and railed as a prayer warrior in combat against a host of darkness set to entrap him into hell. Fayose fought with the word which has lately become his sword in the increasingly trenchant political warfare directed against him from various quarters.The day before, his antagonists mainly from the local opposition in the All Progressives Congress, APC and some elements of civil society had organised a rally to demand the governor’s resignation on account of what they claimed as his involvement in the arms gate scandal. The response from Fayose, a governor who has proved himself above any other governor in Nigeria history, to be a street organiser, was swift the following day. His supporters mainly the lower cadre of society and artisans in their thousands descended on the streets and converged at Ojumose Roundabout at the centre of the town to hear their prophet’s response.

He was unsparing of his enemies last Friday on the rostrum even as he painted himself and his two advents in 2003 and 2014 with messianic connotations. It was not easy to puncture his claims especially given the extraordinary coincidence in his return to power eight years to the date of his forced exit from power in 2006.

As the rally dovetailed into a walkabout town, with Fayose in the company of tailors, commercial drivers, road transport workers, commercial motorcyclists and different categories of artisans moved round Ado-Ekiti, the state capital in seeming demonstration of peoples’ power.

Following the walkabout, Fayose sat down later in the night for an interview in which he opened up. He spoke on every issue raised by the journalists with the notable exception of on his one time political partner, Senator Buruji Kashamu on who he insisted he would not utter a word. Excerpts:

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

What informed your position against President Buhari?

Incidentally, this year I will be 56. I am a grown Nigerian when President Buhari was president of this country. I was well grown enough to know what he represented. The people that voted largely for President Buhari were under 40 years old because they dominated the social media and Bible says “My people die because of lack of knowledge.

He became president 1984, and you will want to recall that anybody that would say I am 40 years at the time President Buhari contested was only nine years (when he first ruled).

Fighting corruption

Nine years doesn’t know what Nigeria represents and that was why they voted for him because you must know who you are giving your life to – who you are giving your future to.

You must know you are not taking your life to Golgotha. So, as a man who knew President Buhari – then I was in Ibadan. I knew the total misrule of 1984 to 1985 – how the military suffered Nigerians, how a lot of leaders were clamped in chains using decree 2.

So, President Buhari is living true to type. If you look at the way he is governing Nigeria today, it is the same way he did before; by his appointments, by is taking away the right of the people, by doing things without recourse to due process.

Fighting corruption is a great thing. It is good, but anything that does not represent the truth is simply corruption. You’re oppressing some people now either because they are not from your region or because you had issues with them before; it is a mission for vengeance.

So, let me round it up, there is nothing personal between President Buhari and myself. Let us look at the APC, most of the people they were bashing in those days, but when they get to APC they become saints.I have told the people who brought Buhari that they will end up inside his stomach. The story is like the story of a rich man who brought a lion home.

They asked him “where did you get lion from”, he said “they gave me, and they know that I have what it takes to keep it in the house” and people were telling the man, because they were afraid to tell him the truth because he is a rich man; they said this thing is usually not domesticated at home, it lives in the bush.

He said no, it has to be at home. Gradually, the lion became a man-lion.

First, it chopped the man’s children, got out of the gate, went to the surroundings, those who kept quiet and chopped them too. This is one chance government that we have entered under this man. Nepotism is another story; lying upon lying.

In fact, opposition is the strength of democracy. It is where the average man can get value for money. You are trying to silence Femi Fani-Kayode; you are trying to silence Metuh and others. My brothers, where in Nigeria have people contested election, vied for office and not spent money? All the aircraft carrying President Buhari during campaigns, is it cows that were carrying him around?

I want to make it clear that there is nothing personal between myself and President Buhari, but I want to make it expressly clear again to you that what they are doing is not in the interest of Nigeria to cow the people once opinion differs from yours. After all, this state was run by APC when Jonathan was president. They had peace to run their government. Today, if you want to call the police, they are afraid.

Political interests

When you want to use the FRCN, they will say no. The president will not allow. They will go and report us to APC in Abuja. So, what kind of life is that? The FRCN here they don’t carry PDP news. It is that bad!

So, what nation are we building? A nation built on sectional and political interests? As much as you can call Jonathan’s name, the man never took a political prisoner.

That takes me to the issue of salary. I have said it several times. The money owed in this state was not owed by me. I was governor between the year 2003 and 2006; I left N10. 4bn in the coffers of this government when I was leaving; I left hurriedly. Part of the N10.4bn was what I used in the recapitalisation of Wema Bank through Oodua. I came back, and I met this state in debt. Don’t forget I left on October 16, 2006, and I came back again October 16, 2014. That is divine!

But you don’t attend the Council of States meeting to tell the president the reality, why?

Each time they call meeting, my deputy goes there. You remember I was in Abuja, and I said expressly there that they were calling it economic summit; they brought all of us there, but when I saw the list of the people that will lecture us; I couldn’t allow a sick man to be treating me – people I knew ran the economy of their states aground were to be the lecturers in the summit. And when you see the figures they brandished for arrangements and feeding running into over N250m; that is not economic summit. That is economic stealing. So, I send my deputy regularly.

I wrote three letters to the president, none of them was replied. Initially, when he became president, I didn’t start like this. About two – three times I called the villa they would divert my call to the CSO, saying I cannot talk to the president. I should say whatever I want to say to him; a sitting governor? That is not Nigeria. So, at that point, I had to stay clear because they were on a vendetta mission.

The fact that I criticise you; I don’t have to be in your party! The APC, every day they come here to do rallies, they say that Fayose should resign, they say Fayose is fraudulent, did you see me slapping anybody? I will just look at you. There is freedom of expression. Even in the face of intimidation and even in the face of misbehaving, as a leader, you should accommodate all.

Let me give you one instance, which the APC can never do to anybody. Throughout the tenure Fayemi was here, I never used a word that is unclean on him. I tell him he is our leader because anybody God has put there is our leader truly!

Israel nation

When you go out of the Government House, before you hit the road, you will see a building called Women Centre, I named it after Fayemi’s late deputy. That is statesmanship! When Fayemi was to be cleared as a minister, I enjoined all senators from Ekiti to cooperate with him. That is statesmanship! That is leadership! It’s different from politics.

The problem they have is that I am an Israel nation in the midst of its enemies, and as you look at me, nobody can overcome me. That is why if you look at my leaving and my coming back, even when I defeated them, I defeated them in all the 16 local government areas. In Nigeria, I am the first governor to defeat two incumbents. Each time you have an election, it is taken that it is the incumbent that defeats the challenger, but I have always defeated them.

But Aluko is saying a different thing now.

Who is Aluko?

He is saying the elections were manipulatedGoodluck to him sir; they will continue to say something until I finish my government. Your enemies will continue to say something until you get to where you are going. My enemies always take me to the next level. Somebody was saying something when they took me out of office, when I came back they were still talking. When I was to be sworn-in, Aluko was talking because I didn’t make him my Chief of Staff. He said it himself, but I don’t want to join issues with Aluko; Aluko is a small boy.

I am used to all these things. They are petty people. I am the issue in Ekiti politics. I am the first Ekiti man to be governor two times. I spent three and half years the first time, and I have spent over one and half years now, so, apparently, I have served over five years.

I am the longest serving Ekiti governor. These things are not man-made; they are God’s purposes and plans for me! I am their problem, even in Nigeria today.

You said you found money in my account. Yes, it is my money! If you give me money to do marriage, when I finish the marriage, am I supposed to return the money to you?

But you know, they are looking for just anything to log on to the National Security Adviser. They just want to paint me black like they did in 2006. It will not work!

Why are you so confident that this money issue you will get out of it?

I have told you that it is a familiar terrain.

The money in contention runs into billions, can you tell us exactly how much is involved?

They said Obanikoro brought N1. 2bn. And I am telling you; I had no encounter with Obanikoro financially. No money was transferred to me from the office of the former NSA. Money laundering or whatever you are trying to establish is a chain; you must be able to trace the chain of money.

You are faulted for bringing Ali Modu Sheriff to be chairman of the PDP?

I did what I did in good faith. I am neither a perfect person nor someone who can see beyond my eyes. There are physical parameters; Ali Modu Sheriff is a former two-term governor, a former senator, so I feel that I did the right thing.

Narrating his dream

When you recommend me, and I fumble, it is not your fault. Do we blame Jesus Christ for not seeing that Judas Iscariot will betray him? Do we blame Joseph for narrating his dream to his brothers?

A man will do what he would do because we are limited, we may not be able to see through or perceive. I had to confront Sheriff when the issue of Sheriff/Fayose ticket came up. I had to ask how Sheriff and Fayose can contest the presidential election when Sheriff wants to be party chairman. I never knew that the thing was going on until it got to a point that people started saying that he told them that he would make them vice president, including myself.

Everybody realised it at the same time. That meant that the same way we were then trying to help him move from the temporary three months in office to substantive chairman if we were not careful, he would become our presidential candidate in 2019, and we would become helpless. So, this problem is even better now. If you look at his antecedent and all he has been doing, you will ask: is this a life and death issue?

Have you tried to reach out to him since the crisis started?

No! I can’t because I am a very straightforward man. When I realise the facts in an issue, I step back. You cannot talk to somebody who doesn’t want to see reasons.

Don’t you want to become the vice president?

That is a different issue. Even the governorship position that I am occupying now is God’s will for me. I have never seen a man come back after eight years. So, who knows what will happen tomorrow. If you want me to become vice president, it is only God that will make such happen. And you should realise that nobody vies for the office of the vice president. It is only posterity that can put you there.

Do all these controversies not disturb your ability to govern?

Nobody follows a politician without knowing that he or she is able to deliver. For me to come back as governor after years that I left office shows that I have virtues others don’t have. For me to defeat an incumbent in an election shows that I have virtues that others don’t have. Delivering of democratic dividends is the simplest thing one can do when one has the support of the people.

Are you not troubled about what would be your fate after your tenure?

Forget about that because nobody knows tomorrow.

Do you have a succession plan?

I will support somebody because it’s my right to do so, and I will consult widely. I am going to present three or four personalities before the people to make a choice. There is no one who is part of the process of the emergence of a candidate who will not vote for him in the governorship election.

Governorship election

My identity is the common man’s identity, and that is why the elites don’t like me. They feel insulted that Fayose is leading them despite all their grammar. It is not their fault, and I don’t blame them for that but to who God has chosen, He has anointed and to who He has anointed He has chosen.

Your speeches are always laced with Bible quotations, are you born again?

I cannot tell you that I am a perfect man, but I believe in God. I am one man that counts my blessings; name them one by one and thank God for what he has done in my life. When everybody leaves in the night, I read the Bible and look for words that will carry me the next hour. I had the privilege of being raised in a Christian home and my understanding of the Bible is deep. And as God will have it I have a praying mother and a giant in Christ as wife. If my wife tells me that this will happen, it will happen. If she tells me not to fight any battle, I don’t, and if she tells to go on, I do. She told me that nothing would come out of the present battle they are waging against me, and I strongly believe that 

Buhari’s appointments: A tilt towards the North

LEKE BAIYEWU examines the controversy that has continued to trail President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, which are seen as lopsided to favour a particular section of the country
Amidst grievances from the different parts of the country over the appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari, which are widely believed to be lopsided in favour of the North, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, on Wednesday dismissed such insinuations.
Enang, who is from Akwa Ibom State in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country, at an event in Abuja, said the Federal Government deserved the support of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom people as well as the entire inhabitants of the South-South because the current administration had been kind to them and generous in terms of appointments from the two states.
He noted that Buhari gave the two states the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Chief of Naval Staff.
Enang said, “He (Buhari) has given us the Chief of Naval Staff, a very high ranking officer in the federal security council. He has given us the Minister of Budget (and National Planning) and, then, my humble self, as the Senior Special Assistant (to the President) on National Assembly Legislative Matters. He has also given us the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
“In the entire South-South region, he gave us Minister of Transportation in charge of about three ministries merged together. He also gave us the Minister (of State) of Petroleum.
“When I see people trying to incite others against the President over matters of appointments, I conclude that they are being unfair; and that is why we gather here today to appraise the appointments and to appreciate the President.”
But out of the six appointees in the batch named by Buhari on August 27, 2015, Enang, who defends the lopsidedness, was the only one from the entire southern part of the country.
Along with Enang, the President had approved the appointments of Babachir David Lawal from Adamawa State as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Abba Kyari from Borno State as his Chief of Staff; Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd.) from Kano State as Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service; Kure Martin Abeshi from Nasarawa State as Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service; and Suleiman Kawu from Kano State as SSA on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
Then, several individuals and groups had raised their voice against the perceived preference for the North to the South under the new administration.
It was then that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told the critics of the lopsided appointments that the President would respect the Federal Character as stipulated by the Constitution.
He said, “Nobody can fault the fact that the persons appointed were appointed on merits. In terms of the spread, the President has prerogative to appoint and he knows there is Federal Character. I am sure that there will be balance in the future.”
Like Enang, Adesina was the only southerner in his own batch.
The northerners in this batch of appointments were the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura; Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Amina Zakari (who succeeded Prof. Attahiru Jega, a northerner, and had since been replaced by another northerner (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu); the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mordecai Danteni Baba Ladan; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
Also in the batch were the President’s Chief Security Officer, Abdulrahman Mani; State Chief of Protocol, Abdullahi Kazaure; Aide-De-Camp, Lt.-Col. Muhammed Abubakar; and the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
Only Adesina, who hails from Osun State in the South-West, came from the South.
The President would later on June 23, 2016, get another CSO, Abdulkarim Dauda (who replaced Mani), and Officer in Charge of Presidential Movement, Kayode Sikiru Akande, after their promotion from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Many observers saw Enang’s epistle on Wednesday as an effort to shoot down the fresh outrage over Buhari’s recent appointments, against their hope in Adesina’s words that the appointments would “balance out.”
The latest public outcry is on the lopsided appointment of heads of security and safety agencies in the country. Less than two weeks ago, several southern groups had kicked against what they described as pro-North appointments.
Findings have showed that 14 of the nation’s 17 security agencies are currently being headed by northerners; only three are from the South, while the majority of them were appointed by President Buhari.
For instance, the current Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), under whose purview are the Nigeria Prisons Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, hails from Kaduna State.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, is from Borno State. The National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.), is also from Borno State. Also from Borno State is the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
The Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (retd.), hails from Zamfara State, while the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is from Bauchi State. The acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, hails from Niger State.
Also from Niger State is the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu. The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Musa Daura, is from Katsina State.
All of them are from the North.
However, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, is from Ekiti State in the South-West.
Also from the North are the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, (Jigawa State); the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd.) (Bauchi State); the Controller-General of the Nigeria Prison Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed (Kebbi State); and the Federal Road Safety Commission boss, Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, is from Kwara State.
But the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Cross River State) is from the South.
The heads of security and safety agencies, who were appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan and have not been replaced, are the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Joseph Anebi and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Sani Didi, from Kaduna State. They are both from the North.
The only Jonathan appointee in this category who remains in the office is the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, from Oyo State.
One of those who criticised the imbalance in the distribution recently was the Secretary General of the Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo, Dr. Joe Nwosu, who said the appointments so far had not reflected the Federal Character as embellished in the country’s Constitution.
He said, “We have been crying out loud since the first appointments — of the ministers were made — when out of the 36 ministers, 24 were chosen from the North. Now that other Nigerians are complaining, it means we are not alone. As a tribe, we have had a long history of marginalisation from governance in Nigeria.
“The President said the appointments were made on merit, so are we now saying that only the Northerners have merit? Where is the federal character which we talk about in Nigeria?”
Nevertheless, two days after the outrage by the southern groups, President Buhari on Monday removed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, as Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and replaced him with Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru.
Kachikwu is from the South; Baru is from the North.
The President also approved the composition of the Board of the NNPC as provided for under Section 1(2) of the corporation Act of 1997, as amended.
The new board would now have Kachikwu as its chairman, while most of the members are northerners. Members of the board are the Baru; Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance; Dr. Thomas M.A. John; Dr. Pius O. Akinyelure; Dr. Tajuddeen Umar; Mr. Mohammed Lawal, and Mr. Yusuf Lawal.
The cries of marginalisation, especially from the southern part of the country, did not start now. The criticisms had begun from the first sets of appointments made by the President.
It is mandatory for the President to appoint at least one minister from each of the states in the country to form his cabinet. However, apart from ministers, the President has the powers to appoint whoever he chooses as member of his kitchen cabinet and head of parastatals, agencies, institutions and departments, including members of their boards – who are far more than the presidential cabinet.
In this regard, while a school of thought believes that all geopolitical zones and states have been represented in the Federal Executive Council, to another school of thought, the appointments have been unfair outside the mandatory ministerial appointments.
For instance, before ministerial nominations were made and the ministers were sworn in on November 11 – about six months after Buhari came to power – the president had appointed a number of Nigerians – mostly northerners – into different non-political and executive offices.
By the end of July 2015, the president had appointed nine persons as aides and heads of departments and agencies. Eight of them were from the North, while one was from the South.
By the end of August 2015, of the 30 appointments made by the president, only seven of them came from the southern part of the country, while the rest were northerners. And out of those from the South, none was from the South-East geopolitical zone.
While the alleged lopsided appointments generated protests from within and outside the All Progressive Congress, Buhari had defended his appointments in an interview with BBC Hausa on September 9, 2015, saying he chose those he could trust and who he had worked with over the years.
He said, “If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party; whom we came all the way right from the All Nigeria’s People Party, Congress for Progressive Change and APC, and have remained together in good or bad situation; the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to anything wrong?”
Speaking on the appointment controversy, a lecturer of political science in the University of Lagos, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, noted that while he shared the sentiments of those aggrieved by the lopsided appointments, Nigerians should also consider the eligibility and competence of those appointed.
Akinboye, who is also the Dean of the College of Post-Graduate Studies of UNILAG, said, “I also share in the belief that they are a bit lopsided but one has to take into cognisance the fact that some of these appointments are based on certain criteria, irrespective of where somebody comes from. And once that is the case, then, it will be difficult to say that something untoward has been done.”
But another lecturer in the Department of Political Science of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Emmanuel Onyebuchi, toldSUNDAY PUNCH that all those eligible for various positions cannot all be from a section of the country.
According to the political scientist, Buhari is the President of Nigeria and not that of any particular group. He stated that whether a section of the country voted for him to be president or not, the election had been won and the preoccupation of the president should be how to unite the country.
Onyebuchi said, “A critical analysis of the appointments made so far (by the president) shows that all the appointments are skewed in favour of a particular section (North) of the country, and even within the particular section, a particular geopolitical zone – the North-West. It appears from the appointments made so far that the South is disadvantaged.

“Some people have argued that they (the appointments) are based on merit but I don’t want to believe that we have more qualified people from the North than from the South.

EFCC's 7 Most Wanted Fugitives 2016

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) presently has at least 76
persons on its list of wanted individuals.
Among the number of persons wanted for
various offences are a few politicians and former
public office holders, most of whom are high
profile and well-known.

In compiling the list of the seven most wanted, we
have taken into cognizance the effects of their
crimes on the country, the sheer size of their
alleged loot and the profile of such persons.
Here are the seven most wanted persons on
EFCC’s watch list.

GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO A.K.A TOMPOLO


Tompolo is a former militant leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND).

He is wanted for conspiracy and illegal diversion
of the sum of N34,000,000,000.
The former militant warlord is alleged to have
mismanaged money from Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Two bench warrants have been issued by a
federal high court sitting in Lagos for Tompolo’s
arrest but thus far, the security agencies have not
been able to arrest him.

According to the EFCC, Tompolo’s last known
address is No 1, Chief Agbanu Street, DDPA
Extension, Warri, Delta State.

MARIANO ALBINO

Mariano Albino is an Italian who was declared
wanted in connection with a case of obtaining
money under false pretence, stealing and money
laundering.

According to information made available to the
public by the EFCC, the amount involved in the
alleged sharp practice amounts to the tune of
N989, 288,400.

Fifty-three-year-old Albino speaks Italian and
English languages fluently.
His last known address is No 9B, Ezekwuese
close, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

JERRY OGBONNA OBIKE PHILLIP

Phillip is alleged to have withdrawn a sum of N45
million that was erroneously sent to his account.
Following the alleged act, EFCC notified the
public that “Phillip withdrew the sum of
N45,000,000.00 that was mistakenly credited into
his account in a new generation bank”.
“However, it was learnt that, before the money
could be reversed to its rightful owner, Phillip had
allegedly withdrawn the said amount.”
The money was said to have been paid into his
account by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Phillip
hails from Ovim in Isuikwuato local government
area of Abia state.

FADY EL-DAHER

Fady El-Daher was declared wanted by the
EFCC in March 2015.

A staff of El-Alan Construction Company located
at No. 9, Macgregor Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, El-Daher
is wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy,
obtaining money under false pretence and
stealing.

Fady, a Lebanese, served as the project manager
to the company’s construction site at Kofo
Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He allegedly colluded with some of the sub
contractors employed by the company to inflate
the cost of materials and measurement of work
done on site.

Fady was last spotted at Murtala Mohammed
International Airport Ikeja Lagos on July 27.

ABDULRASHEED MAINA


The former chairman of Pension Reform Task
Team (PRTT) was declared wanted for his alleged
role in the alleged pensions biometric contracts
scam.

Maina, ex-head of service Steve Oronsaye, and
two others allegedly mismanaged over N2
billion pension funds.

He was, on July 21, 2015, charged at a federal
high court on a 24-count of procurement fraud
and obtaining by false pretence.

While Oronsaye and two others were present in
court during their arraingment, Maina was amiss
and has since remained at large.

The INTERPOL has issued a worldwide red alert
on Maina, based on a request from the EFCC.

DESMOND OSAWARU

Osawaru is wanted by EFCC for obtaining
$200,000 from a client under false pretence.
His unsuspecting client fell victim to a phony boat
transaction and parted with the aforementioned
sum.

Osawaru’s last known address is No.8. Alaka
Street, Benin City, Edo state.

IBRAHIM SAMINU TURAKI

The former governor of Jigawa state is wanted in
connection with a case of criminal conspiracy,
stealing, money laundering and misappropriation
of public funds to the tune of N36 billion.

Turaki has been on the run since his re-
arraignment in 2011 on a 36-count charge at the
federal high court Dutse, Jigawa state.
During the last sitting on November 13, 2014,
50year-old Turaki was absent despite a subsisting
warrant for his arrest.

In May 2016, agents of the EFCC stormed the
Abuja home of the former senator at 16 Dennis
Osadebe Street, Aso Villa.

The team of operatives who carried out the raid
were unsuccessful in their attempt to
apprehend the former governor, as only
members of his family were found at home.

EFCC's 7 Most Wanted Fugitives 2016

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) presently has at least 76
persons on its list of wanted individuals.
Among the number of persons wanted for
various offences are a few politicians and former
public office holders, most of whom are high
profile and well-known.

In compiling the list of the seven most wanted, we
have taken into cognizance the effects of their
crimes on the country, the sheer size of their
alleged loot and the profile of such persons.
Here are the seven most wanted persons on
EFCC’s watch list.

GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO A.K.A TOMPOLO


Tompolo is a former militant leader of the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND).

He is wanted for conspiracy and illegal diversion
of the sum of N34,000,000,000.
The former militant warlord is alleged to have
mismanaged money from Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Two bench warrants have been issued by a
federal high court sitting in Lagos for Tompolo’s
arrest but thus far, the security agencies have not
been able to arrest him.

According to the EFCC, Tompolo’s last known
address is No 1, Chief Agbanu Street, DDPA
Extension, Warri, Delta State.

MARIANO ALBINO

Mariano Albino is an Italian who was declared
wanted in connection with a case of obtaining
money under false pretence, stealing and money
laundering.

According to information made available to the
public by the EFCC, the amount involved in the
alleged sharp practice amounts to the tune of
N989, 288,400.

Fifty-three-year-old Albino speaks Italian and
English languages fluently.
His last known address is No 9B, Ezekwuese
close, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

JERRY OGBONNA OBIKE PHILLIP

Phillip is alleged to have withdrawn a sum of N45
million that was erroneously sent to his account.
Following the alleged act, EFCC notified the
public that “Phillip withdrew the sum of
N45,000,000.00 that was mistakenly credited into
his account in a new generation bank”.
“However, it was learnt that, before the money
could be reversed to its rightful owner, Phillip had
allegedly withdrawn the said amount.”
The money was said to have been paid into his
account by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Phillip
hails from Ovim in Isuikwuato local government
area of Abia state.

FADY EL-DAHER

Fady El-Daher was declared wanted by the
EFCC in March 2015.

A staff of El-Alan Construction Company located
at No. 9, Macgregor Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, El-Daher
is wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy,
obtaining money under false pretence and
stealing.

Fady, a Lebanese, served as the project manager
to the company’s construction site at Kofo
Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He allegedly colluded with some of the sub
contractors employed by the company to inflate
the cost of materials and measurement of work
done on site.

Fady was last spotted at Murtala Mohammed
International Airport Ikeja Lagos on July 27.

ABDULRASHEED MAINA


The former chairman of Pension Reform Task
Team (PRTT) was declared wanted for his alleged
role in the alleged pensions biometric contracts
scam.

Maina, ex-head of service Steve Oronsaye, and
two others allegedly mismanaged over N2
billion pension funds.

He was, on July 21, 2015, charged at a federal
high court on a 24-count of procurement fraud
and obtaining by false pretence.

While Oronsaye and two others were present in
court during their arraingment, Maina was amiss
and has since remained at large.

The INTERPOL has issued a worldwide red alert
on Maina, based on a request from the EFCC.

DESMOND OSAWARU

Osawaru is wanted by EFCC for obtaining
$200,000 from a client under false pretence.
His unsuspecting client fell victim to a phony boat
transaction and parted with the aforementioned
sum.

Osawaru’s last known address is No.8. Alaka
Street, Benin City, Edo state.

IBRAHIM SAMINU TURAKI

The former governor of Jigawa state is wanted in
connection with a case of criminal conspiracy,
stealing, money laundering and misappropriation
of public funds to the tune of N36 billion.

Turaki has been on the run since his re-
arraignment in 2011 on a 36-count charge at the
federal high court Dutse, Jigawa state.
During the last sitting on November 13, 2014,
50year-old Turaki was absent despite a subsisting
warrant for his arrest.

In May 2016, agents of the EFCC stormed the
Abuja home of the former senator at 16 Dennis
Osadebe Street, Aso Villa.

The team of operatives who carried out the raid
were unsuccessful in their attempt to
apprehend the former governor, as only
members of his family were found at home.