Nigeria Will Disintegrate Before Buhari's Very Eyes - Femi Fani-kayode

FFK just shared this on his Facebook page some minutes ago...

On 29th July 2016 CNN reported that "the Nigerian government is preparing troops for a crackdown in the Niger Delta if peace talks fail". 

This is sad and ominous. As United States Senator Ted Cruz once said "the light of truth is stronger than the terror of darkness".

It follows that the biggest mistake that the Buhari administration can possibly make is to attempt to "crack down" on the Niger Delta and kill innocent civilians. 

If this ever happens, for whatever reason, it will set off a chain of events that will lead to the end of Nigeria as we know it. 

Nigeria will disintegrate before Buhari's very eyes if any more innocent blood is shed and if the towns, creeks and villages of the oil-producing states are shelled and reduced to rubble. 

The cause of the people of the Niger Delta, and indeed that of the Igbo people of the eastern states, is just and their struggles and aspirations are legitimate and reasonable. 

Self-detetmination is a right. It is a concept and principle that is universally accepted and that has the backing of international law. 

You do not threaten and bomb those that seek to exercise that right: you treat them with respect, decency and decorum and attempt to persuade them to stay. 

This is a point that is lost on President Buhari and those around him. The Avengers are not Boko Haram: taking them on in the field of battle would be a monuemental error.

Sorced From ;

https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10154348472937210&id=62188827209

Charles Okah, Kanu May Be Freed As MEND, FG Strike Deal To End N-delta Crisis

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Federal Government currently engaged in a dialogue through the oil companies and security agencies have reached far-reaching compromises, including the release of former militant leader, Henry Okah, in prison in South Africa and Charles Okah, incarcerated in Nigeria.

They also agreed that ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo , alias Tompolo, would not be harassed by government if he makes himself available as a delegate on MEND Aaron Team 2, while the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, would be released on condition that he renounces the agitation for “Biafra Republic.”

MEND in a statement by spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, today (Saturday) announced other breakthroughs in the discussions that will end the revolt in the South-South and South East regions in a jiffy.

However, it said the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, still has opportunity to embrace peace failing which a combination of military forces and volunteers in the region, would smoke them out.

The statement read: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the only militant group from the Niger Delta region who are presently engaged in a dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria – through oil companies and security agencies -with a view to resolving the current Niger Delta crisis.”

“Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful, various concessions and guarantees have already been secured. Some of which include, but are not limited to: Release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze; Review of the life sentence handed to Mr. Edmund Ebiware based on a proposal put forward by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus Wabara.

“Also, conditional release of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce their agitation for a “Biafra Republic,” the group said.

Furthermore, MEND said they agreed: “That Mr. Government Ekpemupolo shall not be arrested, harassed and/or intimidated whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND Aaron Team.”

It added: “That international arbitrator and conflict negotiator, American Dr. Judith Asuni shall be accepted as the representative of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on the MEND Aaron Team; that the criminal charges against Urhobo freedom fighter, Mr. Kelvin Prosper Oniarah shall be reviewed.

“That the life sentence which was handed to seven soldiers in 2008, who actively supported the Niger Delta struggle be reviewed under the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The affected persons are: Suleiman Alabi Akubo, Major. Mathias Peter, SGT, Alexander Davou, L.Cpl., Moses Nwaigwe, L.Cpl., Nnandi Anene, L.Cpl. Taatihi Emmanuel, L.Cpl and Caleb Bawa, PTE,” it said. .

“However, one of the most immediate and urgent fallout of the ongoing dialogue is the imperative for the Federal Government and MEND to jointly and separately take proactive steps to rescue and secure the region. This is in the event that the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) continuing on its senseless and politically-motivated path of attacks on the country’s oil assets,” it noted.

MEND asserted: “To this end, both parties agreed that the Special Forces of the Nigerian Army should commence the purely routine but strategic military exercise code-named “Operation Crocodile Tears”; while MEND would commence a meet-the Government-Actors-and-People tour of the Niger Delta region code-named “Operation Moses”.

More details soon

Sourced From ; 

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/henry-charles-okah-nnamdi-kanu-may-freed-mend-fg-strike-deal-end-n-delta-crisis/

Atiku And Mimiko Plot New Party, Joint Ticket

Apparently dissatisfied with the suppressed musings in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the perennial crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ), key figures in both parties are mulling what a source called ‘a strong third force’.

If ongoing secret consultations are fruitful, the third force is a new political party ahead of the 2019 presidential election that would witness the pairing of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the incumbent governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, as presidential candidate and running mate respectively, Sunday Telegraph gathered. Curiously, while Atiku, with eyes glued to the presidency, belongs to the APC , the Ondo State governor is of the PDP and indeed , a key figure in the resolution of the crisis in the opposition party.

Mimiko’s tenure will lapse in February 2017 . According to a highly placed source , the new party will emerge in the last quarter of 2017, even as a positive outcome (for the PDP ) of the November 2016 governorship election in Ondo State is the likely template for the permutation.

The SDP , Falae / Afenifere link

As part of the plan , a meeting between the former vice president and former presidential candidate and national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP ), Chief Olu Falae, might hold in a couple of weeks, barring the unforeseen.

The source said the SDP is one of the options being stratified by the duo of Atiku and Mimiko , if the idea of a fresh political party appears cumbersome. Falae, an Afenifere chieftain from Ondo State and political benefactor of the governor, is expected to mobilize the pan Yoruba organisation across the South West as a ‘counter force to the existing power equation in the region ’.

The source said, ‘’ Like a nation in want of leadership, proper leadership and a new dawn will soon face the country because what Nigerians are getting is not what they bargained for . The change mantra appears to be fading and some persons are beginning to think otherwise.

‘’As it was in the run up to the last presidential election, whereby hitherto antagonistic persons came together for a common cause and installed the current government, we are looking at the possibility of mobilizing all and sundry to rescue the nation from nepotisim.

‘’ From all indications, the current leadership has failed the nation and if you read what a North West leader said in an interview today (yesterday ), you need no one to tell you that we require a drastic political direction.

‘’In the process, anything can happen, including the registration of a new political party or reviving an existing one because in all the major parties, that is PDP and APC, there are problems.

‘’ So we are going to reach out to our major political bloc, the Afenifere, as well as some of the Third Republic SDP governors who are now sidelined in the two parties. ” Asked about the possibility of a new party flourishing in the South West, when the current vice president hails from there , the source said it was immaterial.

‘’ That is immaterial. As far as some of us are concerned, whether he is VP or not, Osinbajo does not have the political sagacity of the Ondo State governor. I ask, can a Buhari or whoever and Osinbajo APC ticket beat an Atiku/ Mimiko ticket ?

‘’ They can longer deceive our people because the truth has come out . They shouted restructuring before election and abandoned it after their victory . Are these people trustworthy? Definitely, a counter force to the existing power equation in the region is about to be reinvigorated ’’, the source said.

. . Any role for Kuku as Ondo guber race test- runs plot ?

Sunday Telegraph gathered that as a possible inroad and sustenability in the South West , the former vice president was partly instrumental to the choice of the immediate past Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr . Eyitayo Jegede , as Governor Mimiko’s preferred candidate of the PDP for the November governorship election. Atiku and Jegede are friends, the latter having resided in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, for almost two decades and has been a personal friend and counsel to the former vice president.

The opposition from a section of the party ’s leadership notwithstanding, Jegede looks good to emerge as the PDP candidate and he ’s reportedly groomed to prepare grounds for the new party if he becomes governor.

Mimiko is said to have also successfully planted his loyalist, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, as South West chairman of the PDP even as he has opened discussions with self- exiled former presidential aide, Kingsley Kuku. Governor Mimiko, it was gathered, has sent a delegation of state government officials to Kuku in the United States of America, where he is currently based, to firm up details of the governor ’s overtures.

Details ares still sketchy as at the time of this report, but it was gathered that Kuku has reportedly insisted that he should be picked as Jegede ’s governorship running mate to have his support.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that in the ensuing permutation, Kuku , of the Ijaw extraction, has promised to leverage on his links with his kinsmen, the largest ethnic group in the South South cutting across Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom, to mobilize for the envisioned party and make an Inroad into the troubled Niger Delta.

Kuku had declared his intention to be governor before fleeing the country, following manhunt for him my the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial impropriety as head of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Atiku has maintained, on many occasions, that he remains a committed member of the APC, but reports have been rife since the beginning of the year that the former vice president has severally complained of being sidelined in the affairs of the party.

His subtle but controlled criticism of the present government has been noticed in the last few months just as he has secretly embarked on a nationwide consultation with his political associates with a view to redirecting his political future.

It will be recalled that Atiku drew the ire of the Presidency and leadership of APC as, aside decrying lack of focused leadership, he openly canvassed for the restructuring of the country, an idea President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo , have discredited.

Although it could not be independently confirmed, Atiku was reportedly summoned and cautioned by the national leadership of the APC for his various utterances in the media.

He was said to have equally protested against the return of the erstwhile chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the APC.

Atiku and Ribadu, both from Adamawa State, have had several running battles.

While Ribadu held sway at the EFCC under former president , Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku was dislodged from the then ruling party, the PDP, in the run up to the 2007 presidential election.

Reports have it that the former anti corruption czar, an elder brother of the president’s wife, Aisha Buhari, was encouraged to join the party by the First Lady and former president, Obasanjo , who is yet to mend fences with his estranged former deputy for over 10 years now.

Sourced From ;

https://newtelegraphonline.com/secret-deal-2019-atiku-mimiko-plot-new-party-joint-ticket/

4 Pictures here as usual how Fayose Buys Corn From A Woman At Iju-Itaogbolu Road.

Governor Ayodele Fayose was pictured yesterday evening patronizing a local corn seller along Iju/Itaogbolu road. Everyone around the woman was happy to have the August visitor in their midst, they were HAPPY, that's the Koko.

This man and his closeness to the masses eeeh!

Source: http://www.trezzyblog.com/2016/07/fayose-pictured-patronising-local-corn.html

Impeachment Threat: Pro, Anti-saraki Forces Set For Showdown

•PDP SENATE CAUCUS REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR SENATE PRESIDENT

FORCES loyal to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set for a major battle ahead of Senate’s resumption in September following indications that a former president had advised President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the Senate leadership by all means possible.

Some online outfits reported last week that the visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Presidential Villa last week Centred on the need for the president to remove the leadership of the Senate to stave off distractions to his government.

Though there was no official confirmation of the discussions between Obasanjo and Buhari, it was confirmed that senators loyal to both sides of the divide are already weighing options ahead of the battle royale.

Sources close to the Senate said that the lawmakers loyal to Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu see an impeachment bid as a tall order but are not ready to take chances.

The Presidency has refused to patronise the National Assembly as a result of divisions within the ruling APC over the emergence of Saraki as Senate President.

Sources in the Senate said that Saraki’s loyalists got a boost two weeks ago when the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met and further decided to firm up a working relationship with Saraki.

But insiders in the National Assembly said that if the Presidency was ready to “roll out the drums” the support base of the Senate President and his deputy could get eroded.

“Right now, the support base of the Senate President and Senator Ekweremadu appears solid. The executive has failed to treat the National Assembly as a partner and thus has alienated the lawmakers. But if the rule changes, we cannot be too sure what will happen,” a lawmaker said on Saturday.

Sources said that the Senate already had a fertile ground for opposition to Saraki with the existence of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF).

“Right now, it appears that very few senators will back Saraki’s ouster in view of the collateral damage they have suffered from the executive in the last one year. The only game changer would come if the people see real changes,” another senator said.

Other members of the Senate, however, condemned the advice attributed to Obasanjo, saying it shows he doesn’t want the Buhari government to know peace.

“If it is true that Baba [Obasanjo] said President Buhari should impeach the leadership of the Senate, that would be counterproductive and doesn’t show the former president wants peace for the new government. We should find solutions rather than heat up the polity,” a lawmaker of the APC said.

It was however gathered that loyalists of the APC hierarchy had mapped out measures aimed at getting at Saraki.

One of the measures is to draw up a list of those who could be reached with mouthwatering largesse from those who want the Senate President out.

“By September, both camps would be ready. I assure you it would be a big battle if the executive kick started it,” another senator said.

Sourced From ;

http://tribuneonlineng.com/impeachment-threat-pro-anti-saraki-forces-set-showdown-•pdp-senate-caucus-reaffirms-support-senate-president/

Military rains bombs on Ijaw militants in South-West, OPC To Give Protective Service In Ijegun

Military rains bombs on Ijaw militants in South-West

•Over 100 militants killed, many injured –Source

Fidelis Soriwei, Samson Folarin and Afeez Hanafi

No fewer than 100 people suspected to be militants have been reportedly killed as the Nigerian military on Saturday continued the aerial bombardment of Fatola, the base of militants and pipeline vandals in the Arepo area of Ogun State.

One of our correspondents who was around the scene of the incident at the time, observed that the attack started at about 12pm and lasted for about 30 minutes.

Our correspondent counted at least eight missiles fired by a fighter jet, which flew across the creek at intervals.

Another aircraft was observed hovering around the area.

Residents, who were caught unawares, ran for their lives due to the ground-shaking effects of the missiles.

Business activities were grounded and many residents fled their houses for fear of being hit by missiles.

A resident who was on the road when the shots were fired said the Saturday attack was more intense than previous air raids.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, she said, “The air raid started on Thursday evening. It was just a missile that was released, but the effect was serious. On Friday evening, another airplane which flew across the creek released gunfire which lasted for some minutes. I could hear the shots as if they were fired close at me. But the Thursday and Friday attacks were child’s play compared with that of today (Saturday).

“The aircraft releasing the missiles had three short wings with a sharp mouth. It maintained a visible presence in the sky and anytime it wanted to fire, it flew down as if it was about to crash. I never knew the military had such a weapon.”

Another resident, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that he lay flat in his apartment during the Saturday attack.

He said, “I was alone in the house with my son. The boy shook with fright every time a missile landed. I carried him and lay flat on the floor. The missiles shook the whole ground. I am not sure if I would continue to live here because of this. My landlord left with his family yesterday.”

A source close to the millitants told SUNDAY PUNCH that the missiles levelled the base of the militants, adding that more than 100 people were killed.

He said, “The whole place has been levelled. From the information I just gathered, those killed today (Saturday) cannot be less than 100. I am aware that some of them (the militants) are presently in the waters where they are hiding. They are making calls and seeking escape routes from the place.”

Another source, who asked the military to intensify attacks on the militants, said the militants abandoned their ammunition in the creeks.

He said the men could regroup and cause greater havoc if given a breathing space.

He said, “The heat is on them. One of them said it was because of the kidnap of a monarch in Lagos (Oniba of Iba) that the missile attack was intensified.

“He said he had asked his colleagues to release the monarch, but they didn’t listen. I am aware that the monarch will be released between today and tomorrow, if he has not been killed.

“The military should deploy secret officials in Ibafo, Pakuro, Wawa and other villages. I believe those places will be their next hideouts. They must not be given any breathing space. If they are allowed to regroup, there will be serious problems.”

The acting Director of Defence Information, Brig-General Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the air strikes.

He said, “The joint operation will continue until the area is secure and free from all forms of unwanted and criminal gangs whether they are militants or vandals.”

Abubakar, told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Saturday that while he would not confirm the exact casualty figure, the knew that some of the camps of the vandals were destroyed.

He gave the assurance that the military would ensure the destruction of more camps in the ongoing operation.

He said, “No, we cannot confirm the exact casualty figure in the operation. There are so many camps, and we will continue to destroy them in that operation.

“We have taken some camps. The casualties cannot be confirmed but I know that we were able to target some of their camps and locations.”

Meanwhile, in an attempt to forestall the spate of militants’ attacks, the Onijegun of Ijegun land in Lagos State, Oba Nureni Akinremi, on Friday convened a meeting at his palace.

Sunday PUNCH learnt that the meeting, which was attended by all the chairmen of community development associations in Ijegun, examined the solution to security challenges posed by the militants.

A source close to the palace and who also attended the meeting told one of our correspondents that the community had resolved to hire members of the Oodua People’s Congress to man strategic locations in the neighbourhood.

The source added that operational vehicles, motorcycles and walkie-talkies would be provided for the operatives to ensure effective performance.

He said, “We have agreed to engage members of the Oodua People’s Congress for the protection of the whole Ijegun against all the attacks that claimed lives in the community. We plan to hire 70 guards who would be deployed in various strategic points in the community.

“The guards are specifically meant to checkmate militants’ attacks but they will also be working with the existing security men in each CDA. We have budgeted N5m to ensure their smooth operations and they will start by Monday.

“People have made donations and contributions are on going in each CDA. We want to buy three buses and at least 10 motorcycles to aid their operations. We have already bought walkie talkie for them to communicate with one another and they are well armed. By God’s grace, the buses will be available on Monday.

“The operatives are a registered security organisation and they have their uniform and identity cards.”

The source added, “Apart from that, we have resolved that from 12am till 5am, no okada rider will be allowed to operate in the community except there is an emergency.

“We also want to create awareness for all residents on the need to be security conscious. We are going to do this through distribution of pamphlets and announcements on radio stations. The abduction of the Oniba of Iba and attacks on communities in Lagos and Ogun states are very disturbing. That is why we are taking all these measures.”

Sourced From ; http://punchng.com/military-rains-bombs-ijaw-militants-south-west/

Jibrin: Dogara Diverted FG Project To His Farm In Nasarawa

Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the federal house of representatives, has vowed to “exposing” Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, until he is removed.

Jibrin started slamming allegations of corruption against Dogara and other members of the house leadership when he was removed as the chairman of the appropriations committee last week.

On Wednesday, Dogara had given him seven days to apologise for the allegations or face a lawsuit, but the legislator vowed not apologise to Dogara, instead calling the speaker a “shameless fraud”.

Continuing on Thursday, Jibrin accused Dogara of diverting a federal government project to his farm in Nasarawa.

Allegation no21 to MrSpeaker:why did you fraudulently divert a Fed Govt water project to your farm in Nasarawa&how are you funding the farm?

— Abdulmumin Jibrin (@AbdulAbmJ)

July 28, 2016

“Good morning fellow Nigerians. Every day, I will give additional allegation against Mr Speaker and the three others until the law catches up with them,” he said.

“Allegation No 21 to Mr Speaker: Why did you fraudulently divert a federal government water project to your farm in Nasarawa and how are you funding the farm?

“When a new speaker emerges and the other principal officers replaced, I will write to the presiding officers of both chambers to commence a radical internal reform in the entire national assembly beyond budget to cover performance assessment, running cost and allowances, investigations etc

“If the reform so done on the national assembly is not made public latest by December, I will shall take it up and lay before the general public even if I am alone.

“The idea is to do a clean up, flush out corruption and corrupt members so that in 2019 only corrupt-free people who want to serve will come in.”

Source : http://www.thecable.ng/jibrin-dogara-diverted-federal-government-project-farm-nasarawa/

Reps Gather 113 Signatures For Dogara, Jibrin Probe By EFCC

Abuja – The ‘Transparency Group’ of the House of Representatives on Wednesday demanded the investigation of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged padding of the 2016 budget.

The lawmakers made this known in Abuja while briefing journalists.

They insisted that Dogara and other principal officers mentioned in the budget padding scam, and Abdulmumin Jibrin, former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, be investigated by relevant “external” government agencies.

Jibrin had alleged that the 2016 budget was jacked up using 10 of the 96 Standing Committees in the House.

Speaking on behalf of the Transparency Group, Rep. Musa Soba (APC-Kaduna) claimed that about 113 signatures had been collected from lawmakers from the six geopolitical zones and across party lines before Sallah break.

According to him, this is to compel the speaker to explain noticed discrepancies in the budget.

“We call for an external investigation into the matter, to enable us know if our principal officers are guilty or not.

“For this group, we say the budget was padded and as such, the budget being a document that belongs to all Nigerians, it is no longer an internal affair”, Sabo said.

He called on the speaker to desist from making Jibrin’s allegations look like a problem of the house.

He maintained that henceforth, the speaker, the deputy speaker, the majority whip and the minority leader should confront the allegations made against them as individuals.

“We urge the leadership of the House of Representatives to stop presenting the 2016 budget padding allegations as the problem of the entire house.

“Let those at the centre of the controversy answer to all the allegations made against them individually and collectively in line with legal practice and our criminal justice system,” Soba added

Sourced From : www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/reps-gather-113-signatures-dogara-jibrin-probe-efcc/

Dogara Gives Jibrin 7-days To Retract Libelous Allegations, Or Face Legal Action

As shared by Speaker Dogara.....

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has given a seven day ultimatum to Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin to tender an unreserved apology to him and retract all allegations made against him or face legal action.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs  to the Speaker, Mr. Turaki Hassan,  stated that the demand was contained in  a letter written and addressed to Jibrin by counsel to Dogara, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) & Co. It was signed By Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, who is the Principal Partner of the firm.

The letter, entitled, ‘REQUEST FOR A RETRACTION AND AN APOLOGY OF A LIBELOUS PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY YOU ON MONDAY 25TH JULY, 2016’, noted that the claims of the former Appropriations chairman, who was removed for padding the budget and other actions, that the speaker is corrupt and abuses his office is aimed at tarnishing his image at home and abroad and is a clear case of libel.

The letter read in part,  “We act as solicitors to Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives of Three Arm Zone National Assembly Complex, Abuja herein after referred to as “our client” and on whose instructions we write this letter to you.

“The attention of our client has been drawn to a libelous press statement you issued  on Monday 25th July 2016 which was made available to members of the press (print and electronic media) titled “THE CORRUPT SPEAKER YAKUBU DOGARA AND HIS 3-MAN CABAL”.

“In the said publication, you published words to the following effect concerning our client and three other principal members of the House of Representatives-

“Honourable colleagues and fellow Nigerians, I wish to make further revelations.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his senior cabal namely Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Ogor has (sic) promoted corruption so badly in the House that if President Muhammadu Buhari with his disdain for corruption and corrupt people have the slightest idea, he will ban the QUARTET permanently from the Villa before they eventually allow for proper and unbiased investigation by the House.

Mr Speaker and Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun diverted millions of Naira all in the name of paying for guest houses and official residence. The issue became so messy that the Deputy Speaker openly accused Hon Herman Hembe of short changing them of millions of naira in the deal to the shock of many Hon Members.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara frequently abuse his office amounting to conflict of interest by soliciting for inappropriate favours from agencies and Multinational companies. He forced an agency to grant loans and a construction company blackmailed to do some work at his Asokoro ‘plot’

Speaker Yakubu Dogara has carefully designed a scheme to scam Hon Members through deduction from their salaries certain amount of money for a so called mortgage arrangement to build houses for members. He has been applying every under hand tactics to ensure Members agree to the deal.

“Speaker Yakubu Dogara  has consistently refused members access to the financial dealings and internal budget of the House. He runs the financial management of the House like a cult aided and abated by the Chairman House services Hon Babanlle Ila.  It is no longer news that all over the House, Hon Members are aware of the monumental fraud perpetrated by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in this regard.

We are even told that this is a child’s play compared to the mess and allegations of money laundering he left behind as Chairman house services in both the 6th and 7th Assembly. The EFCC should have something to start working with in respect to his tenure as Chairman House services if they properly dust their files.”

“These members of the body of principal officers were not comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves N40bn out of the N100bn allocated to the entire National Assembly.

The four of them met and took that decision, in addition to billions of wasteful projects running to over 20bn, they allocated to their constituencies. They must come out clean. My inability to admit into the budget almost 30bn personal requests from Mr. Speaker and the three other principal officers, also became an issue.”

It continued,  “The personal references are obviously directed at our client, and amount to a very serious libel.

“By the said publication and without putting to the public any shred of evidence, our client is portrayed as a criminal, corrupt, dishonest, fraudulent, dishonourable and unfit to hold the position of Speaker of House of Representatives.

“Our client’s reputation has further been brought down in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and he has been thrown into public opprobrium, odium, scorn and ridicule.

“Consequently, we consider your publication on the matter as not only libelous but made in bad faith; an act of vendetta owing to your recent removal as the Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation.

“The said publication is also aimed at causing disaffection between Nigerians and members of the House of Representatives.

“Sequel to the above, we have to request you to submit immediately to us a clear and unqualified apology and retraction of the publication in an equally conspicuous position in all the print and electronic media where the publication appeared.

“TAKE NOTICE that in the event of your failure/refusal to comply with the above mentioned demands within seven (7) days of your receipt of this letter, we have further instructions to institute a suit against you in a court of law.

If we have to pursue this course, we shall be claiming aggravated and exemplary damages.

Yours faithfully,

For: Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) & Co

Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN

Principal Partner.”

Recall that Jibrin has been circulating all manner of falsehoods against the speaker after he was removed as the chairman of the committee, a decision the whole House took after due consideration of his gross incompetence and immaturity to handle the position of Appropriations Committee Chairman, among other issues.

Source: http://www.trezzyblog.com/2016/07/dogara-gives-jibrin-7-days-to-retract.html

I Rejected Obasanjo’s N50m Bribe – Na’Allah

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, on Tuesday took on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, over his sweeping statement that all members of the National Assembly were corrupt.

The former president also reportedly dismissed members of the National Assembly as lacking in integrity.

Na’Allah in a statement entitled: “I am not corrupt and I have integrity,” dared Obasanjo to prove a single act of corruption against him.

The Kebbi South lawmaker reminded Obasanjo that he rejected his “N50 million inducement to subvert the Constitution and provide a constitutional framework for the third term ambition of the ex- president.”

Na’Allah insisted that he was prepared to vacate his seat as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if Obasanjo could prove a single record of corruption against him.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to a purported statement attributed to former president Olusegun Obasanjo where he made a sweeping statement that there are no men of integrity in the National Assembly.

“I am respectfully taking exception to the statement which I express the hope is not true.

“To start with, it is not in my character to join issues with elder statement who have had the privilege of superintending over the affairs of our great country Nigeria.

“This exception has become necessary in view of the enormity of the alleged statement to my person and integrity.

“If former president Obasanjo can come out with one proven record of corruption against me as a person I promised to vacate my seat as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“For the records I was the only member from Kebbi State who did not find it worthy at that time to collect the sum of N50 million as an inducement to subvert the Constitution and provide a constitutional framework for the third term ambition of president Obasanjo.

“I find this statement if it is true to be reckless and terrifying. The implication of the statement is to say that the entire over 170 million Nigerians have not elected a single person with integrity among the 469 members of the National Assembly.

“This is definitely rhapsodic and does not conform to commonsense and reason.”

Source : http://thenationonlineng.net/i-rejected-obasanjos-n50m-bribe-senator/

See 8 Photos here of Abuja-Kaduna Rail way Commissioned today and Ready for Use.

Today i saw live on NTA Television President Muhammadu Buhari commission and rode in one of the train coach as part of his excellencies steps to open for usage by the general public railway transport from Abuja to Kaduna.. Laudable Feet..

Below are some pictures at the Grand Breaking Ceremony..

The federal government has finally completed Abuja-Kaduna railway project. It was commissioned earlier today by President Muhammadu Buhari. Also at the commissioning were; Senate President Bukola Saraki, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Kaduna state governor El Rufai, among other dignitaries. See more pic below;

Bola Ige’s Murder: We Were Paid Huge Money In Abuja – Suspects

Late Bola Ige.. RIP Sir.

Two yet-to-be named suspects undergoing investigation in connection with the murder of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, have reportedly opened up on their involvement.

This is coming after the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, set up the Special Investigative Team, SIT, to probe the murder of Ige who was shot dead on December 23, 2001, by unknown gunmen in his Ibadan, Oyo State home after his security guards took permission to go and eat.

While the SIT is said to be working on unravelling some mystery financiers who provided large sums of cash for the operation to kill the ex-chief law officer, Vanguard is reporting that four days before Ige was murdered, the prime suspects in the murder had allegedly travelled to Abuja to collect huge sums of money with which the operation was paid for.

Reports say two of the suspects in the murder case at the weekend confessed in their statements that the ‘Ogas’ told them to give them some time to enable them travel to Abuja to get money to sort out the cost of the operation.

The newspaper is claiming that a source said, “In fact, about four days to the date of Bola Ige’s murder, one of the prime suspects traveled to Abuja for funds. Even during the first encounter, the visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, where the cap of Bola Ige was removed and thrown away, the prime suspects had returned from Abuja with cash.”

According to the report, information about the money was revealed by one of the suspects because the sharing formula did not favour him.

Curled from : http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/25/bola-iges-murder-paid-huge-money-abuja-suspects/

Why Babangida, Gusau Removed Me From Power – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he was removed from office 31 years ago because he was planning to purge the military hierarchy of corruption.

Mr. Buhari, who has not spared the military even in his ongoing anti-corruption war, said senior military leaders, led by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Aliyu Gusau, removed him in August 1985, to save themselves from his wrath.

In an exclusive interview published in the current edition of The Interview magazine, Mr. Buhari challenged Messrs Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth on why they carried out the coup against him.

“I learnt,” he said, “that Aliyu Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took import licence from the ministry of commerce which was in charge of supplies and gave it to Alhaji Mai Deribe.

“It was worth N100,000, a lot of money at that time. I confronted them and took the case to the Army council in a memo…I wanted Gusau punished.”

In a statement on www.theinterview.com.ng, the Managing Director/Editor-in-chief of The Interview, Azu Ishiekwene, said, “This is one edition that won’t let sleeping dogs lie.”

Mr. Babangida had told The Interview in its December edition that there was nothing in the memo which Mr. Buhari said he submitted to the Army council.

“Don’t forget that I was one of Buhari’s closest aides. I was the chief of army staff. So, I had an important position, an important role to play within that administration. I don’t think it had to do with a memo,” Mr. Babangida said.

But in a tone which revealed that the past may neither have been forgotten nor forgiven, Mr. Buhari challenged Messrs Babangida and Gusau to come clean on why they removed him, asking The Interview to choose whose story to believe.

He also fielded questions about his health, the 2016 budget, the pace of his government, former President Goodluck Jonathan and why Babatunde Fashola was handed three ministerial portfolios.

The edition also features interviews with Liberian presidential hopeful, Winston Tubman, and retired Justice Dahiru Saleh, the controversial judge whose court nailed June 12.

And in an interview which indicates that the battle for 2019 could be well and truly underway, pharmacist and rotarian, Mike Omotosho, reveals his ambition for the Kwara State Government House.

His road map would give rivals sleepless nights, Mr. Ishiekwene said.

Sourced from : http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/207426-babangida-gusau-removed-power-buhari.html

PDP: Nigerians Already Counting Days For APC ’s Exit From Power

•Declares Sheriff, Ojuogboh, Uzodinma rebels

•Makarfi inaugurates 88-man zoning committee

By Brandon Real in Abuja

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday declared that Nigerians are eager to have the party back in power at the national level because of the biting scarcity, hardship and poverty in the land.

Spokesman of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, Dayo Adeyeye who spoke to journalists in Abuja yesterday said Nigerians are already counting days for the All Progressives Congress, APC, because they want this government to go.

Adeyeye said: “They want PDP to come back to power. In the days of the PDP’s 16 years in power, it was a time of plenty and we have seen one year of scarcity, hardship and poverty in the land. It is obvious that Nigerians are not happy with the present state of affairs; so they are eager to have PDP back.

“People are already counting days for the APC because they want this government to go and PDP is poised to take over power but we need to do the needful, organise a transparent convention to bring in the right men and women to take over the operations of the party.”

The PDP spokesman also described the activities of the former national chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff, his key allies, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh and Senator Hope Uzodinma as “rebellious.”

He said it was a wrong perception for one to think that because a few disgruntled elements in the party are aggrieved, then the party has broken into factions.

Adeyeye, who spoke shortly after the inauguration of the 88-member zoning committee for the forthcoming PDP national convention said the party had decided not to wield the big stick but rather to continue to seek reconciliation in hope that the aggrieved party men will retrace their steps.

He said: “There are no factions in the PDP.

You see, there could be a few rebels, a few disgruntled people for one reason or the other but if you know our party and the array of personalities in it, you will ask yourself what is a party made up of? The answer is that in a party, you have the governors, members of the National Assembly, state chapters and elders, all of them are together”.

Adeyeye said that as far as he was concerned, PDP is one united family, adding that the fact that one or two people are complaining and registering their unhappiness does not mean there is a faction of the party.

“We are going to have a very free, fair and open convention, a unity convention in Port Harcourt on August 17. PDP remains the biggest party in Nigeria and I can confidently say that by this time next year, our opponents, who are today in power, a good number of its members will be begging to join the PDP. Nigerians are yearning for PDP.”

While inaugurating the zoning committee headed by the Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, Makarfi noted that it was senseless for the Party to have zoned both presidency and chairmanship to the same region (North) during the ill- fated May 21 national convention.

He however urged the committee to ensure that they conclude their assignment within one week.

Makarfi said he believed that with the quality of personnel in the committee, there was no doubt that they would leave up to the expectations of members.

“Whatever decision you reach will be widely accepted by all. I do not see you coming up with recommendation that would be querried. Open the political landscape and not restricting the chairmanship of the party to one corner.

“Open the political landscape so that all the materials that we have from the south will come out; so that we get the best from the pack.

“I assure you, we are not going to print a single form for any position. We will print forms for all aspirants for any office. It is not an anointment but an election,” he said.

Sourced from : http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/07/23/pdp-nigerians-already-counting-days-for-apcs-exit-from-power/

Return Home, Militants Advise South-east, South South Indigenes.

*SAY NO GOING BACK ON AUGUST 1

*MEND WORKING TO FREE HENRY OKAH, AVENGERS’ AFFILIATE TELLS FG

The Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA) and other militant groups have asked indigenes of South-East and South-South all over Nigeria to immediately come back home.

Specifically, they called on former President Goodluck Jonathan; elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark; King Alfred Diete Spiff; Ankio Briggs; Joseph Eva; Patrick Fufein, Pastor Good, past and present military personnel from the Niger Delta region, present senators and members of the Houses of Representatives to come to Kaiama for the official declaration of the Niger Delta Republic on August 1.

In a statement issued on Sunday, July 24, General Edmos Ayayeibo, the group’s spokesman, reiterated the earlier order that Northerners and South Westerners should vacate the South-South before August 1.

He warned the Federal Government to “move out all military personnel and all government agencies out of the Niger Delta,” noting that “failure will lead to destruction of military barracks and personnel.”

General Ayayeibo also warned that non-indigenes of South-South and SouthEast who remained in Niger Delta after the declaration of independence would have themselves to blame.

“The Nigerian community is aware of what happened some weeks back after our seven days ultimatum given to the multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta. Every one witnessed how many lives that were lost and how many oil installations that were destroyed,”

General Ayayeibo said. The statement reads in part, “We are also using this medium to call on the Niger Delta famous sons and daughters. Pa E. K. Clark, King Alfred Diete Spiff, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Ankio Briggs, Joseph Eva, Patrick Fufein, Pastor Good, the children of late Pa Isaac Adaka Boro, past and present military personnel from the Niger Delta region. “Past and present governors from the Niger Delta, past and present senators and Houses of Representatives members. “Finally all sons and daughters of Niger Delta Republic to come to Kaiama for the official declaration of the Niger Delta Republic.” Independent recalls that on Wednesday, July 20, leaders of the Hausa and Yoruba communities in Warri dismissed ABA’s August 1 ultimatum to leave the South South.

One Mallam Rabiu Abdulraman, leader of Hausa youths in the town who spoke in Hausa Quarters, Igbudu area of Warri, said while the Ijaw militants had the right to agitate “for whatever they claim to be their right, they should also remember that other law-abiding Nigerian citizens who believe in the unity of the country have their rights to be protected and live in any part of the country of their choice.”

Similarly, Mr. Abiodun Oguntomisin, a Yoruba youth, said that no group could chase away Yoruba people from any part of Nigeria.

He said that the Yoruba also have militant group in Nigeria known to all and warned the Niger Delta militants to rethink their decision.

Oguntommisin accused the militants of pursuing a selfish agenda and added that “nobody will benefit from this unbridled brigandage of the Niger Delta militants.

Their leaders and our so-called human rights groups should call them to order now instead of keeping quiet in the face of the wreckage they are causing the nation because of imagined or perceived marginalisation by successive governments.”

Independent further recalls that ADA had on Tuesday, July 5, indicated that it would team up with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to attack more oil installations in the Niger Delta.

The activities of these militant groups have negatively affected Nigeria’s crude oil production and sales. As at May 2016, Nigeria’s oil production had dropped to 1.65m barrels a day, the lowest output in 22 years, as a result of resurgence of militant activities in the Niger Delta region.

Meanwhile, Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta (UWND), an affiliate of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), alleged on Sunday that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which recently unveiled the names of some respected leaders from the region to negotiate on behalf of the militants, is only working to free Henry and Charles Okah.

MEND had earlier confirmed that it was in talks with the Federal Government to end attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region and urged the Federal Government to ignore NDA, whose members it described as criminals.

Sourced from : http://independentnig.com/2016/07/25/return-home-militants-advise-south-east-south-south-indigenes/

Hear Dogara Out! Did he try to Pad 30Billion in Budget?

Dogara responds to allegation he tried pad N30 billion into budget

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday said he would not engage his former ally and House member from Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin, in political mudslinging.

Mr. Dogara was responding to a deluge of requests from Nigerians online who asked him to respond to allegations of high-level corruption leveled by Mr. Jibrin against him and other principal officers.

Mr. Jibrin was sacked as chairman of House Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday.

In a lengthy statement Thursday, he accused the speaker of attempting to insert questionable projects worth N40 billion into the 2016 budget.

“I won’t respond to jokes. I’m not a mud wrestler,” Mr. Dogara said in response to a tweet from a Twitter user, Comrade Abdallah, late Thursday. He said he would no longer comment on the matter in public.

“I owe a word on the subject to my friends on this platform. The rest would be dealt with by the Institution.”

Mr. Jibrin had on Thursday delivered a blistering attack on Mr. Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, and Minority Whip Leo Ogor, accusing them of treachery, incompetence and corruption.

Mr. Jibrin called on the four to resign their positions immediately, saying he “can no longer bear the brunt of abuses and baseless allegations keeping quiet all in the name of ‘confidentiality’” expected of him.

Mr. Jibrin’s turbulent outburst came a day after he was dismissed by Mr. Dogara, who said the lawmaker representing Kano’s Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency had committed serial betrayal of trust reposed in him by his colleagues.

Mr. Dogara also said Mr. Jibrin was removed because he abused his position as the chair of Appropriation Committee and smuggled line items into the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

In a statement read on the floor of the House Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Dogara said Mr. Jibrin had earlier approached him to intimate him about his decision to step down from the chairmanship position.

“He met me and said he does not think he would continue as the committee chairman due to pressure of the work,” Mr. Dogara said.

But the notification came too late as the House leadership had already concluded plans to remove him from the position, Mr. Dogara said.

But in a lengthy tirade on Thursday, Mr. Jibrin tore into Mr. Dogara, Mr. Lasun and Mr. Ogor, saying their action was “a complete misrepresentation of the facts, false, mischievous, unfair and a calculated attempt to bring my name to disrepute, blackmail, silence and use me as a scapegoat”.

Mr. Jibrin said Messrs. Dogara, Lasun and Ogor began plotting against him when he thwarted their attempt to “allocate to themselves 40 billion naira out of the 100 billion allocated to the entire National Assembly.”

Other allegations raised by Mr. Jibrin included how the House leadership had been victimising him because of his staunch opposition to any immunity clause for lawmakers.

Mr. Jibrin also said Mr. Dogara had been plotting against President Buhari, warning the president to distance himself from the Speaker, saying he “wines with Mr. President and dines with Mr. President’s enemies”

In a swift response, the House leadership denied all the “wild allegations” from Mr. Jibrin in their entirety.

Abdulrazak Namdas, spokesman of the House, said Thursday that Mr. Jibrin manufactured the allegations as a way of protesting and getting back against those responsible for his dismissal, which was carried out in line with rules and conventions of the parliament.

Curled From : http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/207323-dogara-responds-allegation-tried-pad-n30-billion-budget.html

"Dogara Is A Hypocrite & A Coward, He Tried To Pad N30b Into Budget" – Sacked Jibril

The immediate past Chairman, Committe on Appropriation , House of Representatives,.Hon Abdulmumni Jibril, has taken to Twitter to narrate and reveal in detail, how they padded the budget by inserting numerous constituency projects at behest of Mr.speaker ..

Read his full statement:

I am obliged to make further statement after listening to the full statement of Speaker Yakubu Dogara on why I had to leave as Chairman Appropriation. It is a fact I went up to the Speaker and told him clearly I wanted to leave. He confirmed this in his statement but it appeared he wished he had fired me instead of my personal decision to step down.

Thereafter I proceeded to my office. I was therefore not surprised when an aide of mine walked into my office to inform me that the Speaker had announced my departure. I was relieved and went straight to address the press and released a statement. It was only later in the evening while monitoring the news that I watched the full statement he made on the floor. Speaker Dogara’s statement was a complete misrepresentation of the facts, false, mischievous, unfair and a calculated attempt to bring my name to disrepute, blackmail, silence and use me as a scape goat.

The plan is to execute it just before the recess so that by the time we return I would have been buried and the issue forgotten. Mr Speaker, this issue will never be swept under the carpet. We are closing for recess with it and we shall commence the next session with this issue. This was the last option they had after every attempt to find something to nail me failed. It is a known fact that I am a very blunt person by nature. I don’t know how to pretend. I don’t do eye service neither will I ever be a sycophant. I don’t give returns. I just do my job faithfully and dedicatedly. My offence was asserting my independence and insisting that we do the right thing at all times and expose corrupt people in the House.

Lately I openly disagreed with some principal officers on the issue of immunity for Lawmakers and budget issues. I still maintained I will never support immunity. I strongly believe with every conviction that in cleaning up the budgeting system and considering what transpired during 2016 budget which I have all the facts documented, Speaker Dogara, Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and minority Leader Leo Ogor should resign. These members of the body of principal officers were not comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves 40billion naira out of the 100billion allocated to the entire National Assembly.

The four of them met and took that decision. In addition to billions of wasteful projects running over 20 billion they allocated to their constituencies. They must come out clean. My inability to admit into the budget almost 30 billion personal requests from Mr. Speaker and the 3 other principal officers also became an issue. I have every documented evidence to this effect. After the submission of the first version of the budget which was returned by Mr. President, I briefed members in executive session and told them as agreed at our pre budget meeting with chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees, we simply adopted their reports with little amendments. No body faulted my submission.

Members insisted they must know how the N100 billion was allocated. I told them the truth. Since after that meeting, Mr Speaker with the suport of the three other principal officers effectively blocked me from briefing members, ensured I was not at the last executive session and refused to investigate issues I raised that I believe must be addressed if we intend to build a better budget system for the House. I gave Mr. Speaker statistics of 2000 new projects introduced into the budget by less than 10 committee chairmen without the knowledge of their committee members he did nothing about it because he was part of the mess yet he is talking about improving the budget system. I did nothing wrong. I worked within the rules of the House and instructions of Mr. Speaker. During the budget period, Mr. President graciously granted myself and Sen. Goje audience.

It was a very good meeting. Speaker Dogara took it extremely personal that we saw the president without his knowledge and went on to scuttle all our efforts to help the president during the budget process because he wanted to be seen by the president as the only good man. He forgot that he sees heads of MDA’s daily which he enjoys doing more than his job as Speaker for reasons best known to him anyway, without Mr. President’s knowledge. That is how petty and narrow minded Dogara can be. A coward, hypocrite and pretender of the highest order. Mr President must be very careful with him. He wines with Mr. President and dines with Mr. Presidents enemies. I am glad that I am finally free from his emotional blackmail of constantly trying to make me see my appointment as appropriation chairman as a favour.

He has failed to realise that I came a long way and even attained chairman finance when he was chairman House services before this appointment. Seeing as the Speaker claimed that they have taken the decision or were going to take decision to replace me, he now has a responsibility to tell the world why they took or were going to take such decision. I challenge them to tell the world why? I will be releasing a more detailed statement in due course.

Meanwhile, I intend to explore all internal avenues of the House to brief my colleagues in detail and testify against Speaker Dogara, Deputy Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Leo Ogor on why they should resign. If I am not allowed to exercise my privilege, I shall consider legal options. I can no longer bear the brunt of abuses and baseless allegations keeping quiet all in the name of “confidentiality” expected of an appropriation chairman. I will not allow anybody no matter how highly placed to destroy my life as intended by the full statement of Speaker Yakubu Dogara. Now Nigerians will see clearly the ulterior motive behind the desperate moves for immunity for principal officers of the National Assembly.

Speaker denies

The speaker has denied the allegations.

A statement by the spokesperson for the house, Abdulrazak Namdas, dismissed Mr. Jibrin’s claims.

Full statement:

Our attention has been down to media statements made by the former Chairman of House Appropriation Committee, Hon Abdulmumuni Jibrin wherein he made wild allegations against the House of Representatives and its leaders.

We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection Committee of the House to appoint and remove Committee Chairmen. That power has been so exercised in the case of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin as chairman of Appropriation Committee.

Most of the allegations on the 2016 budget process and his opposition to immunity of Presiding officers are non-issues and mere afterthought manufactured simply because the House relieved him of his position.

If he had all these ‘facts’ before, why didn’t he make them public? Why is he doing that now?

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, like any other member of the House knows that there are conventions and precedents as it relates to budgets and projects for principal officers of the National Assembly. Why is he making it an issue now? In any case, he is entitled to his opinion as a Nigerian and as a legislator while acting within the laws of Nigeria and rules of the House.

We must make it abundantly clear that he was not removed because of his support or otherwise on immunity bill. After all he is not the only one who opposed the bill.

The bill is still pending before committee on review of constitution and it has to be voted upon by each and every member of the House, get Senate concurrence, endorsed by two-third of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and be assented to by the President. It is a cheap blackmail on the part of Hon. Jibrin to even insinuate that he was removed because he opposed immunity bill.

He should not distract the House from giving legislative support on important issues facing the government concerning the revival of the economy, insecurity in the country, pursuit of anti-corruption measures, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development etc. The Nigerian people are simply not ready to waste their time on personal issues and personal egos of our leaders. We should face the urgent tasks before us for which we were elected

Curled From : http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/207306-breaking-dogara-tried-pad-n30-billion-budget-sacked-house-appropriation-chair.html