And the Boko Haram Menace Continues!

Today BBC got reporting how Boko Haram Overwhelmed and ran riot killing Over 8 People and Hoisting their flags in three Villages in Maiduguri Despite claims by the Nigerian Armed forces oF discipating them. Last week also I saw on BBC Television a Video Footage showing the Much dreaded Leader of the sect Claiming Contrary to reports of him being injured in an Air Raid carried out by the Air-Force, he was in good Form, Speaking Hausa, Kanuri and English. BBC suggested they couldn't ascertain or verify when the Video with Shekau was made but suggested it to be a rescent video..

We can only pray and hope the Military's efforts in contineous bombardment of the sects Enclave in the North-east yeilds required results soonest.

Written By OMA for Oma's Blog.
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2016.

Powere Outage as Minister Of Power Mounts Podium to Talk Power Issues.

Hilarious, Comical and Ironic.
So, Earlier Today the Minister OF Power, Works and Housing was at the Eko Hotel to talk Stakeholders on Measures the Government of the day was putting in Place to Address The Electricity deficiency and inadequate Power supply in the country and just when he Mounted the Podium and was about to commence with his speech! Guess What! The Usual or do I say the Unthinkable Happened. :D

Fashola visibly looked embarrassed as he had to wait For a while for power to be restored. When Power was finally restored, the super minister had a sheepish smile on his face and Embarrasment written all over.

Naija we Hail the!

Written By OMA for Oma's Blog.
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2016.

Sule Lamido Joins the Band-Wagon Accusing Buhari Of "incompetence" Oweing To Recession.

Former Governor oF Jigawa State and PDP Stalwart has Joined the Band-wagon of People That Opins President Muhammadu Buhari is Incompetent and has not been able to Keep to His Promises, Talking to DailyTrust newspaper Corresponce, he made His stance known and drew this Analogy...... “President Buhari is simply incompetent on the provision of the welfare of the citizens because he was never ready for the job, and so, he lacks the capacity to source for the wherewithal to do it well to the satisfaction of Nigerians,” Lamido said.
According to him, “If he (Buhari) cannot ensure the provision of basic needs of Nigerians, tell him to hand over to me and see how I will source for the wherewithal to do it.”

The opposition party chieftain drew an analogy: “Imagine a husband who, before marrying his wife, promised her that he would provide all her legal and legitimate needs according to the obligations of matrimony, only to confront the wife shortly after the wedding and tell her that he didn’t know that he would have to provide her ‘this’, and he has now realized that he cannot, and she should please bear with him; and the wife, because of the love she has for him, overlooks that limitation.

“The following day, he confronts her again, explaining his inability to provide another basic need, pleading with her to overlook it, and she does so; again he comes to her another day to say he didn’t know that he also has to provide so and so to her, and now he has realized he cannot; it should dawn on the wife that he simply cannot discharge the obligations of matrimony to her, and it is legal and legitimate for her to seek divorce,” he said.  

Written By OMA for Oma's Blog.
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2016.

Las Gidi ! Center of Excellence. Lagos Governor wins best Performing Governor in New York.

Eko o ni Baje.

So it happened Eko remained the pace setter state at home and even the diaspora had no choice but to recognise Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the best performing Governor.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode spoke at the 2016 International Forum on African Leadership.

 He received an award for Best Performing Governor in Nigeria, organised by the African Leadership Magazine and held at the Regis Hotel, New York, USA, said since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, efforts have been geared towards creating a conducive and friendly environment for investors and for businesses to thrive.

Although the Governor was not present in person but the representative he sent conveyed his goodwill message.

 He was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, apologised for his absence to receive the award, but said that he acknowledged the importance of the event hence his decision to send a powerful delegation including Durosinmi-Etti; the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; his Special Adviser on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass; and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, to represent him.

 He said that Lagos is also playing a leading role in the Nigeria economy, and as such must not shy away in ensuring that it takes the lead as Nigeria restrategises to restructure its economy for greater prosperity.

“Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa is like a country and with the momentum with which the State is moving, it might soon emerge as the biggest economy in Africa. It is home to almost every religion, tribe and colour and accommodates the largest pool of black people all over the world, including Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is from Nigeria and has a home in Lagos”, the Governor said.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of African Leadership Magazine, Mr. Ken Giami while thanking participants for finding time to honour the occasion, said the focus of the Forum was for good governance and how it could impact on the African continent.

“We have to connect, build bridges and cultivate both intra and inter African interests and connection, continue discussion and conversation on how to move Africa forward.

“A continent that has all the natural resources but still at the lowest ebb in the rank of other continents, needs trade and investment because there are many opportunities that abound in Africa. This is the time for countries all over the world to explore the resources that abound in the continent to make the world a better place for us”, Giami said.

As Put together By OMA, For Oma's Blogs.

All rights reserved.

Copyrights 2016.

Nnamdi Kanu As seen today..

 

When i saw this picture of Nnamdi Kanu today, i was marveled the guy is in great form hale and hearty contrary to reports making the rounds about him being manhandled in custody..

Truth is, Treasonable felony is not something any government would take lightly.. he was charged for treasonable felony, i really feel for him, he was mis-lead, powers that seemed to have been with him seems to have deserted him, lately i read in the papers even the Ohaneze Ndigbo had said the Biafra project doesn't have their endorsement and when i read what President Buhari said last about "BIAFRA" I knew that was it..

During the Sallah break when president buhari was in Katisna to rest for Sallah with his kinsmen, i heard the National Youth Copa's under going their ONE YEAR Mandatory NYSC program, were briefed by president Buhari and he  told the Copa's from the South East  to tell their People to forget Biafra..

it would take someone with a lot of in-dept in strategy to see thru this tactics deployed by president Buhari..

There was a lot of strategy and Tact in his message through the NYSC to the people of the South-East..

First, the NYSC is a program structured to promote National Integration, so the idea of Biafra is one that is not in-tandem with the NYSC program, Asides from Former President Shehu Shagari and President Buhari, i think of all the Nigerian presidents alive today, General Yakubu Gowon is the only one that has staunch interest in the "Project Nigeria" and indeed "One-Nigeria"

President Buhari sending NYSC members to tell their people to forget Biafra had more undertone than meets the ordinary ears.. i think people who still nurse a thing for Biafra should sit back and think to themselves, the Copa's president Buhari was able to address in Katsina being from South-east extraction, should it not have been for this NYSC Program, would they ever have known or seen the beauty and expanse Nigeria spans, what on earth would an Igbo boy graduate be doing in Katsina if not for NYSC?

If there was a Biafra, would he ever know a place called Katsina and would he require a Visa to cross from the Democratic republic of Biafra to whatever would be remained of Nigeria? these and many more questions ran and flashed past my mind...

i am glad to see Nnamdi Kanu is alive and well..

Igbo people should please desist from this secessionist theory..

It Pays to be One-Nigeria, even if we have to Re-structure and do so many other things.

Put together By OMA For OMA's Blogs

All rights reserved.

Copy right 2016.

President Jonathan Should be Talking More Rather than Keep Mute.

I Am really glad president Jonathan is at-least coming out from his shell to speak up instead of the silent posture he assumed in the meantime, i mean, not everything that went wrong under Jonathan regime was exclusively a Jonathan affair, i mean, his regime was hijacked and sabotaged, if you ask me, i think he was C in C, but was not necessarily in charge, i think the cabals out-weighed him. To me, Jonathan was a very good man and wanted to make everybody happy, but not in this our very Nigeria, give a man an inch and watch him take a mile.. Nigerians to a large extent are very very indisciplined. indiscipline stems from irresponsibility, if you ask me, i think nobody is responsible for Nigeria, Nigeria is an Orphan in my own opinion Nobody owns her and hence nobody takes responsibility for her, not the Hausa's, Not the Igbo, and certainly not the Yorubas, Not christains and not Muslims, Not the Political class and not the electorate and Hence Corruption takes control... Nigeria is like a public toilet every body comes shit there and nobody washes it, but when you get to your private homes and use your toilets, you wash them clean..
Ownership for Nigeria is a real big deal, everybody just comes patronises ethnic agenda and when their time is done, the next regime comes and patronise their ethnicity, lets face it, Nigeria Under Buhari has been over 80% hausa/fulani appointment..
To me, i would largely agree with former president goodluck jonathan to a very large extent success of the railway system in Nigeria can be attributed to his regime, but lets also not forget that Obasanjo had a hand in it too and it saw the light of day under President Buhari..

This is it.. If Goodluck Jonathan wants to take some credit on some achievements of his government, he should also be willing to take fault and blames for all that went wrong under his watch..

Written By OMA For omalitics.blogspot.com

All rights reserved Copyright 2016.




Reference source to text :
http://punchng.com/jonathan-disagrees-buhari-railway-achievement/[/quote]

Buhari Accused Of Plagiarising Obama’s Speech

September 16, 2016 Samuel Ogundipe

President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign suffered a setback Friday following a newspaper report that the president allegedly plagiarised President Barack Obama in the speech he delivered while launching the project.

The government says the campaign will help curb “widespread act of immorality” by Nigerians.

The report, which detailed how Mr. Buhari allegedly lifted quotes from a 2008 speech by Mr. Obama, came on the heels of another damaging allegation that the ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign contained elements belonging to another anti-corruption effort, ‘Not in My Country’.

Mr. Buhari on September 8 launched the ‘reorientation’ campaign in Abuja as part of his government’s strategy to make Nigerians eschew “dishonesty, indolence, unbridled corruption and widespread impunity” and embrace daily introspection over their “immoral” conducts.

He also used the occasion to sue for national consensus amongst Nigerians on issues ranging from spirit of service to patriotism.

“We must resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness and immaturity that have poisoned our country for so long. Let us summon a new spirit of responsibility, spirit of service, of patriotism and sacrifice, Let us all resolve to pitch in and work hard and look after, not only ourselves but one another.

“What the current problem has taught us is that we cannot have a thriving army of rent seekers and vested interests, while the majority suffers,” Mr. Buhari said.

But facts have emerged indicating Mr. Buhari did not author those quotes.

Adeola Akinremi, a columnist with Lagos-based THISDAY Newspaper, was the first to spot possible instances of plagiarism between Mr. Buhari’s speech and a speech delivered by Mr. Obama when he was first elected in 2008.

In a speech delivered after his victory on November 4, 2008, Mr. Obama said to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters:

“Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

“So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other. “Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.”

After highlighting the seeming plagiarism, Mr. Akinremi said the act was “unethical” and lampooned Mr. Buhari for allegedly indulging in it.

“It is immoral to plagiarize other people’s work, but even worse to use dishonesty to launch a campaign about honesty.

“When you use another person’s work without acknowledgement, you have plagiarized. You simply pretend as if it is your own. It is unethical. It makes a mess of the campaign from the start. That is what Buhari has done, nobody will believe in the ‘change begins with me’ campaign, because it was built on lies,” Mr. Akinremi said.

When contacted Friday morning, presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said he was just becoming aware of the allegation and that the presidency would investigate.

Mr. Akinremi’s column was published a week after associates of Akin Fadeyi, creator of ‘Not In My Country’ accused the Buhari administration of stealing his concept to launch ‘Change Begins with Me.’

The associates said Mr. Fadeyi, a creative artist and former head of communications at Airtel Nigeria, met with the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in December 2015 to intimate him of ‘Not In My Country,’ an episodic narrative that deploys humour to underscore societal ills and appeal to Nigerians to shun sharp practices.

They said Mr. Mohammed declined interest in the concept, only to turn around to adapt it for ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign.

But Mr. Mohammed denied the allegations, saying he started ‘Change Begins with Me’ before he was appointed minister.

“We started working on ‘Change Begins with Me’ before the honourable minister was nominated and we’ve been working with the agency that produced the campaign,” Mr. Mohammed’s associate said.

The ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign had earned Mr. Buhari widespread criticism, with many Nigerians accusing him of shifting blames to them and wondering why they gave him their mandate if he would ultimately saddle them with the duty of effecting the change he promised.

But the government said the campaign became necessary to rally all Nigerians in the effort to cleanse the country of corruption and other malaise plaguing it.

Source:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/210515-nigerias-president-buhari-in-fresh-plagiarism-scandal-of-obamas-speech.html

See Pictures of President Buhari Leaving for New York For 71st UN General Assembly

His Excellency, GCFR Deoarting Nigeria for New York for the 71st United Nations General Assembly Meeting..

Allah eh Dawo de shi Lafiya..

Written by OMA

omalitics.blogspot.com

Tell Your People To Forget About Biafra: Buhari Tells Igbo Corpers

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Daura called on Nigerian youths to make the country great again through pursuit of knowledge, patriotism and commitment to values that promote national unity.

Receiving over 100 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Daura local government area, in his residence, President Buhari pledged his unalloyed commitment to the unity and prosperity of Nigeria.

He urged them to remain focused in life, pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and disintegration of Nigeria.

The President, who specially recognised corps members from the Niger Delta and South-Eastern states serving in Daura, praised the vision of former President Yakubu Gowon in setting up the scheme in 1973.

The President said the scheme had creditably promoted national unity and cohesion by exposing young people to the uniqueness and cultural diversity of Nigeria.

“I asked for those from the other extreme of Nigeria because I very much appreciate the NYSC scheme and whenever I see General Gowon, I always thank him for that”, he declared.

Speaking specifically to corps members from the South Eastern states,

the President said: “Tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget about it.’’

“As a military commander, I walked from Degem, a border town between the north and the east, to the border between Cameroons and Nigeria.

“I walked on my foot for most of the 30 months that we fought the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, in which at least 2 million Nigerians were killed.

“We were made by our leaders to go and fight Biafra not because of money or oil, because oil was not critical factor then, but because of one Nigeria.

“So if leaderships at various levels failed, it was not the fault of the rest of Nigerians who have no quarrel with one another.

“So please tell your colleagues that we must be together to build this country. It is big enough for us and potentially big enough in terms of resources.

”Those who work hard will earn a respectable living. I have seen this country, I fought for this country and I will continue to work for the unity of this country,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, Mr Egbewumi Adebolu, the Corps Liaison Officer in Daura, thanked the President for the honour of receiving them and making their stay in Daura memorable.

He said the youths strongly believed in the programme of the President to reduce unemployment and create jobs for more Nigerians.

Adebolu thanked the President for his personal gifts of cows, bags of rice and cash to corps members in the community for Salah celebration.

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2016/09/13/tell-people-forget-biafra-buhari-tells-igbo-corps-members-daura/

Why I Will Not Serve In Buhari’s Govt – Okonjo-iweala

LAGOS—FORMER Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday said it was better to allow those managing Nigeria’s economy to do the best they could, noting that there could be solutions to the present economic decline in the country.

She also noted that she would not be available to serve the present administration if overtures were made to her by President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that Nigeria boasts of competent people, who would offer their services when called upon.

Okonjo-Iweala, who said this while participating in an Aljazeera programme: The Stream, regretted that the economic gains recorded in Africa started eroding a few years ago, noting that solving macroeconomic question was key to fixing the continent’s economic challenges.

She specifically said that having a firm control over the rate of inflation in addition to ensuring a stable exchange rate should be prioritised by African governments.

She said: ‘’ One of the things you learn as you get wiser is to talk less as you grow older. I have spent my time contributing to the country. It will be better to live those managing the economy to do what they know how to do. There can be solutions.

“I am not a typical politician. I went in as a technocrat. I think on the continent we have seen a period when the economy was doing well, in the last two years we have been experiencing challenges. We need to focus on the basics which are macro-economics. You must get the fundamentals like having a stable exchange rate and having inflation under control.

“I served my country for seven years and it was a great honour. The second time was very tough but it is still an honour. I am not the only person who is a repository of knowledge. There are other people who can equally try their hands in running the economy.

“I will advise young people not to wait for employment. They should create jobs to employ six people or more. During my time in government, we had a programme called You Win designed to support young entrepreneurs. The whole idea was to have a business plan competition.

“The idea was that they should create jobs. And each, created 9-10 jobs. The World Bank did an evaluation of it and found it good. I do believe that the government should come in. We started a peer to peer mentoring. Now, one of the things I want to say is that creating employment is not only about struggles, it is about managing success.”

Also, counseling people on accounting, bookkeeping and not falling apart is very important.”

Responding to a question on how the anti-corruption war was fought during her time in government, she said: “It was a very tough fight, I must thank my team, you don’t do it alone, I had the support of an economic team in the Ministry of Finance. It was tough because at the end of the day you need to have some principles.”

On her roles as a Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala said: ‘’The average life span of a Finance Minister is two year in a country. No one likes a Finance Minister because it is the business of saying no. It is very difficult and challenging. It was interesting for me. I wish I had seen myself as wielding power. All I saw was the job because I was seeing myself working for the country.”

Source:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/will-not-serve-buharis-govt-okonjo-iweala/

Why Nigeria's Economy Is In Recession – Lai mohammed

THE Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Tuesday said Nigeria’s over-dependence on oil is to blame for the recession the nation’s economy is passing through.

Mr. Mohammed made the assertion at a news briefing at his residence in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area in Kwara State.

He said the prevailing economic situation was not about trading blames,as “those who understand knew that this recession was bound to happen in such circumstance”.

He said the crash in global price of oil exposed the country’s defective economic policy, with oil accounting for over 60 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The minister said the situation was further compounded by inadequate reserve to cushion the effect of oil “misfortunes’’ on the country.

“We have a very defective economic structure, which depended largely on a single platform of crude and fuel.

“Crude oil accounts for between eight and 12 per cent of our GDP and another 53 per cent of the GDP which we call non-oil, unfortunately also depend on the same oil.

“When the price of oil now crashes in the international market, definitely you are bound to have this kind of shock in the economy,” he said.

He decried the citizens’ preference for imported goods to local products, saying that substantial amount of the country’s foreign exchange earnings was being expended on importation of goods and services.

Mr. Mohammed also blamed past administrations’ inability to achieve massive investment on infrastructure to assist manufacturing industries and boost agriculture production for part of current problem.

According to him, such inadequacies are responsible for the socio-economic imbalance being experienced in the country today.

The minister, who acknowledged that there was growth in the nation’s economy between 2010 and 2014, however, said the growth was only fueled by consumption.

“The growth was not fueled by production or fueled by investment, and that explains why it was shortlived,” he said.

He said the present administration’s efforts to correct past anomalies could not be felt immediately because the rots in the system were too enormous for short term remedies.

Mr. Mohammed said the administration inherited a debt of N65 billion on fertilizer procurement alone.

He listed part of the administration’s reforms to include investment in infrastructure and agriculture production.

“People say we should not talk about what happened yesterday but it is pertinent to learn, understand and move away from past mistakes.

“In the whole of 2014 the government then, expended about N18 billion on roads, but spent N35 billion on travels.

“This year alone, we have spent N70 billion on roads.

“People say why are these steps not being felt immediately? It is because the last government refused to pay contractors between 2012 and 2015 even when crude was selling at 100 dollars per barrel.

“Out of the N70 billion being owed Julius Berger, we have paid N14 billion.

“If government was not owing Julius Berger in the past — and we paid N14 billion to them — you would have seen them busy on the roads,” he said.

He said “Change Starts with Me” initiative launched by the Federal Government on Tuesday was to instill discipline and the needed change of attitude in both the leaders and the people.

According to the minister, such remained the basic foundation and the driving force for actualising socio-economic transformation for the country.

“Nigerians have to change their attitude from the past; it is not only about the leaders but also the followers.

“This is the only way we can achieve our desired progress, growth and development,” he said.

(NAN)

Source:

http://www.socialtimesng.com/2016/09/why-nigerias-economy-is-in-recession-lai-mohammed/

Okonjo-iweala May Not Be Guilty Of Fraud — Joda

Transition Committee Chairman, Ahmed Joda, said his panel did not find anything to believe a former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was guilty of graft.

Okonjo-Iweala served last in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Joda, who spoke with select journalists in Yola, Adamawa State, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which had beamed its searchlight on the last administration, might never find Okonjo-Iweala guilty of any wrongdoing, despite the various financial malfeasances that had been traced to the Jonathan administration.

However, Joda expressed surprise at Okonjo-Iweala’s, action of not resigning her position even when it became obvious that many people in the administration were not acting in good conscience.

Joda said this while responding to a suggestion on whether or not Buhari could bring back the likes of the former Finance Minister to help the administration fix the economy.

Joda said despite the perfidy committed by some persons during the administration, Okonjo-Iweala always sought presidential approval, and by so doing shielded herself.

He noted that such tactfulness from her made it difficult for anyone, including the EFCC, to be able to link her with fraud.

He said, “Okonjo-Iweala is a professional and she guarded herself, if you look at what she did. Whenever, they said this happened she was able to produce papers to say, ‘look oh!’ We had a meeting, presided over by the President and attended by the National Security Adviser and others. And we agreed.

“And she would go back and write the President and say, ‘I have received a request to release so many billions in accordance with our minutes. Your Excellency, if you will approve.’ And His Excellency would approve it. So, she covered herself, thus you can’t pin anything on her.”

Joda said Jonathan’s misdemeanour was because he gave presidential approval to virtually everything his aides came to seek from him.

He noted that this even extended to the affairs of state which ought to have been handled independently of the Presidency’s consent.

The elder statesman said he was surprised that the recession in the country was not as worse as envisaged, given the “character of the country which consumes without producing.”

He added, “We were pretending, given our character as a consumer country, even the oil and gas we are not producing; if we are to tell ourselves the truth. We have four refineries. We can’t refine; we are importing. We don’t have enough facilities to import the quantity of fuel that we require. We are badly managing our affairs, we are destroying our economy.

“I’m not surprised that we are in this situation. I’m only surprised that we are not even worse.”

For him, the current economic challenges bedevilling the country should not necessarily be blamed on the immediate past administration and that the problem was traceable to “What we failed to do as a nation.”

According to him, no one can excuse himself of culpability.

He maintained that President Buhari’s Presidency as a civilian was bound to face some governance challenges because democracy was a different terrain.

Joda said, “When he (Buhari) was a military president, he could jail people and order people to queue up. But today he can’t; because he didn’t come through the bullet, he came through the ballot box. And this ballot box says okay, Mr. Buhari you are no longer a General, if you like you can call yourself Alhaji or Mallam. But here are the courts, here is the National Assembly and this is the way you are going. You cannot jail anybody or even lock them up for even one hour. You have to follow due process.”

Source:

http://punchng.com/okonjo-iweala-may-not-guilty-fraud-joda/

Boko Haram Threatens To Capture Buhari In New Video

One of the factions of the deadly Boko Haram sect has unveiled a new video showing how the terrorists in their thousands observed prayers during the Eid ceremony.

The militant sect under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau showed members in three separate praying grounds in Borno and the Lake Chad area. Meanwhile, the leader of the faction, Shekau was obviously absent in the recording.

The recording, narrated in Hausa, showed was posted on YouTube on September 13, Tuesday, and the group said it was using it to send out message that it remained a strong force.

The Boko Haram faction threatened President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that its members are still many and stay resilient despite the Nigerian army operation that killed scores of its foot soldiers and recaptured Nigerian territory under its control.

The group said: “This is our eid prayer from us and by the support of our leader Imam Abubakar Al-Shekau. We are extending our greetings to our people and fighters. “Message to the infidels and the leader of the entire infidels (kafir) who is the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, that he should know we are very strong and doing very good. “By the will of Allah under the leadership of our leader (Shekau) will capture Buhari with our hands.”

While the Buhari government claimed that it had defeated the militant group after retaking much of its territory, the terrorists still have a massive capacity for inflicting destruction and casualties. Recently, two rival factions in Boko Haram have launched a war for true Islam in Borno state, close to Lake Chad. One faction is loyal to Shekau, the group’s leader since 2009, and the other led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who was recently announced as the group’s commander in a publication of the Islamic State militant group.

Source:

 https://www.naij.com/966673-watch-thousands-boko-haram-members-pray-new-video-threaten-president-buhari.html

Nigerians Will See True Change By 2018 – Vice President Osinbajo

Although the Federal Government is committed to ensuring the current hardship faced by Nigerians is alleviated, the full impact of a positive change of government may not materialise until 2018, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hinted on Sunday.

Mr. Osinbajo, during an interview with journalists after a church programme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, said the Muhammadu Buhari administration is “focused and determined to ensure this country is put on the right track.”

He said the government was aware a lot of Nigerians had become sceptical of the ‘Change’ mantra of the administration.

“There are lots of people who will say where is the change they promised,” he said. “People will condemn and shout, but we are very focused, calm and extremely confident that God is on our side and this country will not be the same.”

He, however, indicated that the full impact of the change may take a couple of years, until 2018.

“In another couple of years, we will see the difference,” he said.

“All of us have a part to play in the change. Nigerians must be patriotic in our dealings and daily activities. We should be committed to the nation,” said the vice president whose administration has come under heavy criticism from Nigerians for the handling of the economy.

PIPELINE VANDALISM

Mr. Osinbajo also said pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta is the major cause of Nigeria’s current economic recession.

He said vandalisation has led to the loss of about 60 per cent of oil revenue, government’s major income source.

“One of the key reasons why we are in recession is the fact that we lost about 60 per cent of our revenue due to the vandalisation of the pipelines on the Niger/Delta and we lost almost 40 per cent of the gas,” he said.

The Vice-President, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon overcome the challenge of vandalism

“Once we are able to resolve that, we would at least be able to earn more revenue,” he said.

Mr. Osinbajo’s optimism might be related to the fact that the Federal Government recently commenced negotiations with militant groups in the Niger Delta.

The Niger Delta Avengers, the main group responsible for most of the vandalism, recently announced a unilateral ceasefire, agreeing to conditional talks with the government.

On Sunday, Mr. Osinbajo also said the best way for the government to fully revive the economy was to diversify into agriculture and solid minerals.

He said work has begun in those two sectors and results would be gradually achieved.

The vice president said government was concerned about the number of unemployed youth.

He said the government would soon commence the implementation of the 500,000 job opportunities for volunteer corps as well as implement the planned micro credit facilities to a minimum of one million market women and artisans.

IT’S CORRUPTION

Mr. Osinbajo alluded to corruption as another major reason the country was facing its current economic challenges.

“These are challenging times. It is very obvious and we know the reasons,” he said.

“It is high level of corruption and we have dealt with that. We are controlling government expenditure. Once you can control corruption, we are out of it.”

Mr. Osinbajo, a Redeemed Church Pastor before his election, said he believes Nigeria “is one that God has a hand in its affairs.”

“In fact, the reason why President Buhari is in office is because God has a plan and hand in this nation; that this nation will be governed properly; that stealing of resources will stop; that we focused on issue of development.”

Source:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/210262-nigerians-will-see-true-change-2018-vice-president-osinbajo.html

Houseboy, Driver's Names Used To Open $15m Accounts For Patience Jonathan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested four domestic servants, including a driver and a houseboy, whose names were used to open bank accounts for Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sources within the anti-graft agency said on Sunday that the companies’ accounts were opened at Skye Bank.

The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited.

The four companies’ accounts, which have since been frozen by the EFCC, have a balance of about $15m while another account, which bears Patience Jonathan’s name, has $5m.

Mr. Sammie Somiari, who deposed to an affidavit on behalf of the ex-President’s wife, said the former First Lady was the owner of the money in the accounts.

She had revealed that she gave millions of dollars to the then Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, to open accounts for her.

Somiari, however, claimed that Dudafa opened five accounts for Patience and that only one of the accounts was in her name, while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.

A detective at the EFCC, however, revealed that Dudafa used his domestic servants’ names to open the four other accounts and then deposited the money into the accounts.

The operative added, “We were investigating Dudafa when we stumbled on those four companies’ domiciliary accounts opened at Skye Bank with a balance of about $15m. On further investigation, we were able to identify the directors of the companies.

“When we detained the directors, we found out that they were Dudafa’s domestic servants. One of them was a houseboy while another one was a driver. Their photographs were used in opening the accounts and their signatures were forged.

“We found out that these domestic servants were completely innocent because they had no access to the accounts. We have since released them. The sole signatory to the accounts was Patience Jonathan and she was issued with a special card, which is accepted worldwide. She has a separate account, which was opened in her name and has a balance of $5m.”

The detective said a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, who allegedly helped Dudafa to perpetrate the fraud, would also be arraigned.

It was learnt that two Skye Bank executives, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi, who helped Dudafa to open the accounts on March 22, 2010, were also being investigated.

The detective added, “This is a clear case of fraud and there is no way the bank officials will say they did not know what was going on. They are under investigation and those found culpable will be arraigned.”

The EFCC operative said he could not immediately confirm if the transaction was reported to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.

He explained that the commission had discovered a trend which politicians used in laundering and concealing funds, saying it was becoming more rampant due to the operation of the Bank Verification Number which links all accounts owned by an individual.

He added, “What we have noticed is that in order to conceal funds, what politicians and top civil servants do is to open bank accounts in the name of family or friends and then make themselves the sole signatory to the account.

“Don’t forget that we traced about 17 bank accounts to the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.).

“Often times, they do this in connivance with bank officials and that is why the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has said henceforth, whenever we are investigating a bank official, we will probe the entire bank as well because these officials usually act under the instruction of their superiors.”

Jonathan’s wife has, however, sued Skye Bank for freezing her bank accounts and giving the EFCC vital information about her finances.

She also wants the court to order Skye Bank to pay her damages in the sum of N200m for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal properties under Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution.

Source:

http://www.punchng.com/houseboy-drivers-names-used-open-15m-accounts/

National Assembly Fails To Account For N9 Billion - Audit Report

The National Assembly management failed to account for a total expenditure of over N9.4 billion in 2014, the latest audit report has revealed.

The money included N9.39 billion for which no “documentary evidence” was provided and a N47 million to be returned to government coffers out of which only N360,000 was returned; giving a total of N9,440,844,572 (nine billion, four hundred and forty million, eight hundred and four thousand, five hundred and seventy two Naira).

The audit report of government bodies (2009-2014) was submitted to the Clerk to the National Assembly in March 2016 as statutorily provided. The full contents were recently publicly disclosed by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation on its website.

The report indicted several government bodies of illegal and profligate spending, and failing to remit over N3 trillion into government’s treasury.

Apart from the National Assembly, other key bodies indicted include the state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ministry of Interior, the Presidency, Central Bank of Nigeria and some foreign missions.

According to the report, between January and December, 2014 under the leadership of David Mark as Senate President and Salisu Maikasuwa as the Clerk, the Management Department of the National Assembly Commission transferred N9,392,995,515.00 (Nine billion, three hundred and ninety-two million, nine hundred and ninety-five thousand, five hundred and fifteen naira) from the general services account to other accounts in different banks.

The purposes stated for the transfer include Senate General Services, Appropriation, Constitutional Review, House of Representatives Services, UNDP Projects and Research Office Services.

However, “no expenditure returns or documentary evidence were rendered to account for how these sums were expended,” the report said, raising question of accountability and legality.

In another case, the report disclosed that the National Assembly management remitted only N360,000, out of a N47 million balance of total personnel vote release and actual expenditure for 2014.

“It was further observed that the total Personnel Vote release for the year 2014 was N1,856,510,517.00 (One billion, eight hundred and fifty-six million, five hundred and ten thousand, five hundred and seventeen naira), and the Actual Expenditure for the same period was N1,808,661,460.18 (One billion, eight hundred and eight million, six hundred and sixty-one thousand, four hundred and sixty naira, eighteen kobo), resulting in a balance of N47,849,057.00 (Forty-seven million, eight hundred and forty-nine thousand, fifty-seven naira).

“However, only an amount of N360,115.08 (Three hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred and fifteen naira, eight kobo) was paid back to treasury at the end of the year.”

No Denial

In May – after the audit report had been submitted to the National Assembly, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts led by Andy Uba (PDP-Anambra) held a public hearing during which a number of government bodies refuted certain findings of the audit report, particularly the disclosure that they didn’t submit their internal audit reports between 2009 and 2014.

Some of the bodies that challenged aspects of the report were CBN, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Nigeria Pension Commission.

However, the National Assembly has not denied the findings of the audit report as they related to the lawmaking body – though its committee castigated the then Auditor-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukara, for an “unsatisfactory report”, cashing in on complaints by other government bodies.

The law says the National Assembly should refer the audit report to its committee on Public Accounts for consideration.

After considering the report, the committee is empowered to pass a resolution to either publish the report in the National Assembly journal or government’s official gazette.

Since the committee considered the report, it has not passed the resolution for its publication in either channel.

Efforts to reach Mr. Uba for comments were not fruitful. He did not pick calls to his phone or reply to text message.

National Assembly

Source:

http://saharareporters.com/2016/09/11/national-assembly-fails-account-n9-billion-audit-report

Prostitution: Women Demand Apology From Betty Obaseki

Women drawn from different organisations at a meeting in Benin City at the weekend put Mrs. Betty Obaseki, the wife of the APC candidate to task. She was put on the spot over a statement, credited to her in which she faulted past PDP administrations for contributing to the problem of prostitution among the women of the state. 

They also asked her to tender an unreserved apology in all national dailies even as they called on all women in the state to rally round the PDP governorship candidate in the governorship election because he has demonstrated through the conduct and utterances of his wife, Idia, a University Professor, that he is a caring husband, father, and pastor. 

Addressing the women, Deaconess Regina Oviasu said that it was worrisome that the same woman wants to lead Edo women she has tagged prostitutes. 

She said, “I want to stand and say that Mrs. Obaseki should apologise to all Edo women as mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters for the statement she made. She does not know Edo women. An Edo woman has integrity. She commands respect. She is hardworking. I think it’s a slip of the tongue on her part, and she must apologise”. 

Also speaking, former Executive Director of the Edo State Poverty Alleviation Agency in the APC government, Chief Evelyn Igbafe who used the event to announce her decision to pitch tent with the PDP, called on all women voters in the state to vote against the APC. She said, “We are not happy that a woman who has a husband who wants to be the governor of Edo state will tag Edo women as prostitutes. We reject her aspiration. She can never become the first lady of Edo State. We will not close our eyes and allow such a woman who is not even from Edo State to tarnish our hard earned image”. Other women who spoke along the same line acknowledged that Edo had produced great women who are renown all over the world for their industry like Dr. Margaret Idahosa, Apostle Eunice Osagiede, and Mrs. Margaret Agbonifo, who are leading evangelists known globally.

Source:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/prostitution-women-demand-apology-mrs-obaseki/

APC Open To All Nigerians Interested In Development, Says Oyegun

Chief John Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the party is open to all Nigerians interested in the development of the country.

It was reported Oyegun made the declaration on Wednesday in Benin when he received some members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, who defected to the APC.

He said that the party was committed to turning things around in the country and would welcome any one genuinely aspiring to move the nation forward.

The APC national chairman noted that the party has made tremendous impact in Edo, adding that all those genuinely interested in the progress of the state, should ensure APC’s victory in the Sept. 10 election.

“Massive development has already started in the state and we welcome people who have the interest of the state and are progressive minded, to join and continue with this development,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Gov. Adams Oshiomhole said the defection of Dennis Evbuomwan, and other PDP leaders in Oredo, marked the end of the PDP in the state.

“To me, the coming of Evbuomwan and other leaders of the PDP in Oredo along with their unit leaders means they are here with a complete story.

“The unit heads are the real people on the field,’’ Oshiomhole said.

Earlier, Evbuomwan said their decision to join APC was based on “the historic developmental strides going on in the state.”

He described the PDP as a sinking ship, saying “when the ship is sinking, you don’t need to sink with it.

“I believe in the cause the APC is fighting, which is for the progress of the state, and I want to be part of that fight.”

Mr Ebima Ogbeide, another leader in the area who defected to the APC, said the occasion marked a home coming for him.

“It is a public knowledge that I resigned from the PDP three weeks ago, I am happy to be back home,’’ Ogbeide said.

He appealed for quick integration of those that decamped, to enable them canvass support for the APC governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki.

On his part, the state chairman of the APC, Mr Anselm Ojezua, said those that decamped were no strangers and promised to integrate them fully, so that they would contribute to APC’s success during the governorship election.

“The backbone of the PDP has been broken today. The PDP is dead in Edo,” Ojezua asserted.

Source:

http://www.herald.ng/apc-open-nigerians-interested-development-says-oyegun/#HhDC1ZYox2cTMdTc.99

Patience Jonathan Sues EFCC For N200m

Patience Jonathan Sues EFCC For Placing ‘No Debit Order’ On $31.4m Account

Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan has filed a N200m fundamental rights enforcement suit against Skye Bank Plc, following the freezing of four bank accounts, which she claims the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has used to inconvenience and embarrass her.

The four accounts, lodged with Skye Bank Plc, are in the name of four companies which is said to have a balance of $31.4m

The four companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited.

In an affidavit filed before the court and deposed to by one Sammie Somiari, a legal practitioner on behalf of Patience Jonathan, the deponents claims that the EFCC placed a No Debit Order on the four accounts in July in the course of probing one Waripamo Dudafa, a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

After its investigations, the EFCC went ahead to file an amended 17-count against Dudafa and seven others, including the four companies, with the defendants being accused of conspiring to conceal the monies which the EFCC claimed they ought to have known formed parts of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

In the affidavit however, Sammie Somiari claims that it was Dudafa who helped Mrs Patience Jonathan to open the four bank accounts which the EFCC froze.

According to him, Dudafa had on March 22, 2010 brought two Skye Bank officers, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi, to meet the former first lady at home to open five accounts.

He, however, claimed that after the five accounts were opened, Mrs Patience Jonathan later discovered that Dudafa opened only one of the accounts in her name while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.

Somiari added “that Mrs Jonathan complained about this to Honourable Dudafa, who at her prompting and instance promised to effect the change of the said accounts to the applicant’s name; and to effect this change, Honourable Dudafa brought the said bank manager, Mr. Dipo Oshodi, who claimed to have effected the changes. This was about April 2014.

“The bank official, Mr. Dipo Oshodi, as it would appear did not effect or reflect the instruction of the applicant to change the said accounts to her name(s) despite repeated requests.

The deponent also claims that Mrs Patience Jonathan who is said to be away for an urgent medical treatment abroad, is the sole signatory to the accounts as the money belongs to her.

The affidavit also said that the ATM credit cards bearing the said companies’ names were brought to Mrs Jonathan by the bank manager who promised to replace them once the cards bearing the changed names were available, but he never did.

“However, since 2010 up until 2014 and thereafter, Mrs Jonathan had been using the cards on the said accounts and operating the said accounts without let or hindrance. Even in May, June and July 2016, the former First Lady traveled overseas for medical treatment and was using the said credit cards abroad up until July 7, 2016 or thereabouts when the cards stopped functioning.”

In her fundamental rights action before the court, the wife of the former President is asking the court to compel the EFCC to immediately vacate the “No Debit Order” placed on her accounts.

She also says the action of the EFCC without a court order or prior notice to her is illegal, overbearing and constitutes a breach of her fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 33, 34, 35 & 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

She wants the court to order Skye Bank to pay her damages in the sum of N200m for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal property under Section 44 of the Constitution.

The EFCC on its part is set to arraign the former Presdent’s aide, Dudafa and his alleged accomplices for money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The case will be heard on Thursday, Sept 15.

Source:

https://www.channelstv.com/2016/09/10/patience-jonathan-sues-efcc-for-placing-no-debit-order-on-31-4m-account/

$550million Abacha Loot: Mr Nnaka, US-based Lawyer Insists On 40% As Legal Fees

Blame Nigeria’s Attorney General, not me, lawyer whose suit delays return of $550 million Abacha loot says

September 9, 2016 Nicholas Ibekwe

Godson Nnaka, the United States-based attorney involved in the controversy over the repatriation of $550 million Abacha loot, has absolved himself of responsibility in the delay of the funds being returned to Nigeria.

Mr. Nnaka was recruited in 2004 by the Nigerian government to recover funds stolen by late dictator Sani Abacha. He had instituted a case in a U.S. district court seeking 40 per cent of the recovered loot. He also asked to be made the funds’ exclusive attorney.

He was kicked out of the fund recovery case after he had spent money and time to find and recover the funds.

He also alleged that Nigeria’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, jilted him after he turned down his demand to part with a kickback of as much as 70 per cent of his fee in order to access documentations needed for him to act on behalf of the country.

He also threatened to sue the minister for defamation if he did not desist from making false claims about him. He had given Mr Malami 48 hours to publish an apology in PREMIUM TIMES and or be prepared to be slammed with a defamation charge.

However, a statement by Mr. Malami on Monday explained that according to the U.S. law, when stolen funds are discovered, the U.S. Department of Justice would first approach a court for the forfeiture of the funds to the U.S. government. If the court ruled in favour of the DOJ, the U.S. government, at the end of the process, would repatriate the money to the country from which the funds were stolen.

The AGF then claimed that Mr Nnaka’s suit demanding to be paid for representing Nigeria was the only thing standing in the way of the recovered loot being repatriated to the country.

Mr. Nnaka, in a statement released by his lawyer, Bennett Amadi, on Wednesday, replied that it was Mr Malami’s “corruption” and “greed” which was preventing the repatriation of the funds. He said all he was asking was to be paid for the services he rendered to Nigeria.

“Let it be noted that Nnaka is neither delaying the return of the Abacha loot to Nigeria nor attempting to extort anything from Nigeria. Rather, it is “corruption” and the selfishness and greed of Abubakar Malami that is centrally delaying the quick and safe return of the funds to Nigeria and to Nigerians. As it is commonsensical that every labourer is entitled to his wages, Nnaka is only asking to be paid for his services that he responsibly rendered and benefitted Nigeria with, and the cost and expenses incurred over several years pursuant to his agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria regarding the aforesaid loots.”

The statement claimed that since 2013, Mr. Nnaka had reached out to the Nigeria government on several occasions to ensure the funds are speedily returned to the country but he has repeatedly confronted a stonewall.

“However, it is the selfish, rapacity, bad faith, corruption and arrogance of the Nigerian Government officials, Abubakar Malami inclusive, that has forced Nnaka to recently approach the court in the United States to obtain justice. To be precise, when in April 2014, Nnaka and his team filed for the intervention and claim on behalf of Nigeria seeking for the prompt and safe repatriation of the loots to Nigeria to brief the then Attorney-general, Mr Adoke, and other government officials.

But for their deliberate inaction and corruption, the issue would have since been resolved. Following the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in May of 2015, Nnaka, in August of 2015 wrote to President Buhari seeking his intervention to ensure the prompt resolution of this matter. Nnaka also sought the assistance of well-placed Nigerians and even Senators to ensure the return of these Abacha loots back to Nigeria. All his efforts met brick-walls.”

The statement added that Mr. Nnaka’s representatives wrote to Mr. Malami on two occasions – November 17, 2015 and in February 2016 – asking him for an amicable settlement to his claim. He said Mr. Malami fixed a meeting with his representatives in Washington DC in April 2016, but when it became obvious that he was not going to dance to the AGF’s alleged demand for kickback, Mr. Malami cancelled the meeting and appointed a new lawyer for the case.

“Mr. Malami handed over the matter to a new lawyer who knew nothing about the case, for obvious selfish reasons. Faced with such arrogance, greed and selfishness, Nnaka perfected his appeal and petitioned the court for justice. So where in the world is Nnaka responsible for the delay in the return of the loots? Why can’t Nigerians be told the truth? What exactly does Mr Abubakar Malami intend to achieve in his present name-calling and image laundering antics? Does it bother him at all that Nigerian are wiser and more intelligent than he believes or thinks that they are?,” he asked.

“If Mr. Malami is sincere about the immediate and safe return of the present loots to Nigeria and to Nigerians, he knows exactly what to do instead of jumping from one newspaper house to another, Attorney General Malami and/or his attorneys for Nigeria are welcome to contact this office so that we may reasonably exchange ideas for the quick and immediate resolution of the issue in this matter and for quick return of these funds to Nigeria and Nigerians.

Mr. Malami and his lawyers know the telephone numbers and emails of this office. As always, our office is open to Mr. Malami and his lawyers for the sincere discussion and resolution of this matter. The present situation in Nigeria earnestly affirms that this matter should be sensibly looked into and resolved now so that these looted funds should go back to Nigeria without any further delay, and Nigeria can expand efforts to recover additional ones estimated at $20 billion in the next eighteen months.

“If the government of Nigeria fails to take advantage of this window, then Mr. Abubakar Malami should stop deceiving Nigerians with self-serving propaganda and tired image laundering antics, shut up and allow the United States Court to speak on this matter and render justice as it deems fit and proper. The matter is currently in court. Attorney General Malami should understand that civil litigation is not conducted on the pages of newspapers,” he added.

Source:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/210143-blame-nigerias-attorney-general-not-lawyer-whose-suit-delays-return-550-million-abacha-loot-says.html