Others on the delegation are Deputy House Speaker, Yusuf Lasun and Senate majority leader, Ahmed Lawan. See more photos after the cut...
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Photos: President Buhari receives Bukola Saraki, Yakubu Dogara, others in London
Others on the delegation are Deputy House Speaker, Yusuf Lasun and Senate majority leader, Ahmed Lawan. See more photos after the cut...
House Of Reps Member Bello Sani Is Dead
Until his death, Sani represented Mashi/Dvisi Federal Constituency on the platform of the APC. He was said to have died this Wednesday morning, at the age of 51.
“Our late colleague was humane, principled and a cosmopolitan who interacted freely with all members,” the Speaker said in a statement while condoling with his family.
Mr. Sani is the second lawmaker to die in office within the last one year, coming months after Adewale Oluwatayo from Lagos State died in Abuja.
Abubakar Adamu, an aide to the late lawmaker said his principal had suffered protracted illness for several months leading to his death.
Adamu said Hon. Sani's illness became worse two weeks ago and he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Kaduna.
After spending days there without much improvement, he was moved to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on Saturday evening where he remained until his death around 11:00 today.
According to PT, Sani's death came 6 months after he was kidnapped along Kaduna-Abuja road.
He had barely returned to the country after spending weeks abroad for medical care when he was abducted.
“He was kidnapped in August 2016 which was just a few days after he returned from foreign trip to get medical attention,” Mr. Adamu said. “He had not been able to recover since then.”
May his soul rest in peace.
See What The N167bn Kano Economic City Will Look Like
Monday, February 13, 2017
PDP is still the biggest, strongest party, irrespective of … – Jonathan
The trio spoke as they met separately with the Strategy Review and Inter-Party Committee, led by Prof. Jerry Gana, to chart a new course for the party. Jonathan, who received members of the committee in his Maitama residence, said what the country needed now was the strengthening of institutions that would hold leaders accountable when they tended to deviate from their missions, adding that no country could grow and develop without strong institutions. While commending the party’s leadership and committee on the outcome of the work, Jonathan said: “I am among the persons who believe that for a nation to grow, the institutions must be very strong, just like you mentioned about INEC.
“There is no way a nation will grow with weak institutions because everything about politics is about the people, not about the individuals. As long you are interested in the people, you are interested in growth of the society, the development of the nation.” Speaking on the fate of his party ahead of 2019, Jonathan said: “PDP is still the biggest and the strongest party, irrespective of what happened in 2015 general elections. “Yes, we lost the presidential election but that doesn’t diminish us. Every other party still knows that PDP is a leading party. Losing the Presidency is something temporary. “We should be able to get that position back as long as we are able to get our acts together. I am happy that you people are working towards that.”
Statutory delegates
On how to check some of the deficiencies that led to the party losing election in 2015, Jonathan advocated the use of more statutory delegates for the party’s primaries to check imposition of candidates. “Direct primaries is the ultimate; it is the best way of selecting candidates but the greatest problem a society has is how to manage direct primaries. It means if you want to elect president or governor, you cannot bring everybody to one place. It means that voting will take place from ward level or local government level. “The best way to stop imposition is to make sure that people don’t control the delegates. If we go by delegates election, it will be easiest to manage. How to select delegates is by ensuring that at least 70 percent of the delegates are not under the control of anybody.
I still have interest in national issues —Anenih
Meanwhile, former chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, said he would show more than a passing interest in issues affecting the nation, even though he has resigned from active partisan politics. He said the PDP and its leaders should not be embarrassed if they saw him embark on visits to either President Muhammadu Buhari or Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in order to rub minds on issues of national interest. Anenih restated his position, which he made last year at the public presentation of his book, that he would no longer be available for night political meetings but would not hesitate to offer advice to the PDP if the party leaders decided to tap from his wealth of experience. He, however, had harsh words for the party leaders who he accused of promoting their selfish interests at the expense of the party’s. He said:
“PDP is where it is today because of selfishness on the part of its leaders, a vast majority of who want to be either a presidential candidate or national chairman.”
Tukur expresses happiness
In his remarks, former chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, expressed happiness that the PDP was now rebranding and trying to return power genuinely to the people, adding that there was no place in the country where a member of the party was not found. He urged the Jerry Gana committee not to relent or be deterred in its efforts to restore the glory of the party, noting that the party is not owned by any individual but the generality of Nigerians. “To me, this is a very interesting day to see that you are now keeping faith with democracy because PDP as a party is involved in rebranding to give back the party to the people just like its slogan says ‘Power to the People’.
INEC, a tool for APC—Gana
Gana, while addressing the three elder statesmen, at the separate visits, noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had become a tool in the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. He added that the present administration had been associated with oppressive tendencies which led to political prisoners which never reared its ugly head during the entire 16 years of PDP administration. Gana, who disclosed that the PDP was set to organize an international summit on the defence of human rights, decried the “threat to democracy to the extent that basic human rights that we took for granted.” Among those that accompanied Prof. Jerry Gana on the consultative visits, were two former governors, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Achike Undenwa (Imo), Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Shehu Garbam and Senator Stella Omu.
Gov. Shettima blames Ali Modu-Sheriff & Goodluck Jonathan's ineffective response for the rise of Boko Haram crisis into full blown insurgency
"I have restrained myself from blaming the previous government for the emergence of Boko Haram, but the fact of the matter is that Ali Modu Sheriff allowed his ego to stand in the way of a dispute between the army and followers of Mohammed Yusuf.. Ali Modu Sheriff mismanaged the crisis by ignoring the situation, and he played into the hands of the insurgents," Shettima said.
He also said that until a fact finding mission during his courtesy call at the Government House in Maiduguri in 2013, former President Jonathan initially believed the conspiracy theory which said northerners in the opposition were using Boko Haram to destabilize his administration.
"The President's (Goodluck Jonathan) revelation was an indication that he didn't understand the crisis before March, 2013. Whether his initial lack of understanding of the situation caused his ineffective response to the crisis before 2013, is a matter for conjecture." he added.
Read the full text of the speech. It is lengthy so happy reading:
"I came into office in the midst of the Boko Haram crisis in 2011. As at that time, the insurgents had began serial assassinations and planting of IEDs mainly in Maiduguri metropolis, which was, and now even more so, the most populated part of the State.
Last month, my predecessor Governor Ali Modu Sheriff issued a political statement. In it, he implied that as at the time he handed over to me in 2011, Boko Haram had asserted territorial control and carried out its atrocities within Maiduguri only. According to him, Boko Haram wasn't in control of local government areas. His statement, designed as it were to aim a cheap political shot, simply stood down both the facts and internal dynamics of the Boko Haram terror strategy. The thesis, yet to be punctured, is that the spread of Boko Haram was a consequence of creating and nurturing the enabling environment that started it in the first place, and that consciously carved out niches for it in governance and society.
Two years before I came into office, specifically, in July, 2009 when the Boko Haram launched its first major, concurrent attacks in Maiduguri, its cells carried out similar attacks in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area in Borno State. Cells, then yet to become active, existed alongside visible followers in other local government areas. In fact, the Boko Haram which spread to Bauchi (Bauchi State) and Potiskum (Yobe State) from Borno State attacked targets in these states within the same July, 2009. Boko Haram was by this time everywhere in Borno State.
I have restrained myself from blaming the previous Governor but the fact of the matter is that Governor Ali Modu Sheriff allowed his ego to override his actions by failing to amicably settle the violent disagreements that ensued between a group of armed forces and followers of the Boko Haram sect in 2009, who at that time were known as Yusufiyya. Between 2008 and 2009, the late Mohammed Yusuf was a regular critique of Sheriff’s administration in some of his sermons, I do not know the basis of their problems.
Then, in June, 2009, there were disagreements between Yusuf's followers and an anti-robbery squad code named, 'Operation Flush'. The disagreements were over the use of crash helmets in Maiduguri which resulted in one of the armed personnel in Operation Flush firing at 17 followers of the sect. I think the security agent said they attempted disarming him or so. It is true that the Boko Haram members had clear disregard for the policy on motorcycle safety (anti-crash) helmet and didn't wear it. But after a serious incident involving armed forces and a radical Islamic group, a Governor in his normal senses would at least visit victims of the shooting, even settle their medical bills to lay foundation for peaceful resolution and also set up a panel of Inquiry over the shooting of 17 radical sect members.
We all saw how Governor Nasiru El-Rufai quickly set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry over the Shiites crisis with the Army in Zaria, and a white paper has since been issued. But in the case of the June, 2009 Boko Haram crisis with Operation Flush in Maiduguri, then Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff mismanaged the crisis by blatantly ignoring the entire incident. The Governor was in Maiduguri when the incident happened but he neither set up at least a Commission of Inquiry after the incident nor did he visit those shot and hospitalized while he also didn't send anyone and didn't settle medical bills of victims.
Sheriff acted as if nothing happened. At the end, he played into the hands of the insurgents. It is possible that some of the insurgents wanted a Jihad to declare their kind of Islamic State and Sheriff's inactions and negligent disposition gave Mohammed Yusuf an opening to mobilize his followers and declare a Jihad. Radical groups normally seek basis to justify actions. And so, Mohammed Yusuf told his followers that the silence of the Borno Government was an indication that the attack on his followers was orchestrated by the Government and he threatened a retaliation. About a month after his threat, we had the first major attack in July, 2009. It was after that attack that Sheriff set up one committee to look into the whole incident, long after substantial damage had been done.
In 2010, the more vicious Abubakar Shekau emerged on the scene as a more offensive and daring catalyst. He threatened reprisals which have brought us to where we are today. As indicated earlier, the transition from Yusufiyya to Boko Haram under Shekau, dispatch of outposts outside Maiduguri in Borno State and to Yobe and Bauchi, all planned and coordinated from headquarters in Borno, had become contrived fait accompli under Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. We all know for instance, that President Barack Obama opposed the 2002 invasion of Iraq. He was a state Senator then and took part in campaigns against that invasion.
It was President Bush that dragged the United States to the war in Iraq but then it was President Obama's administration that suffered the consequence of that war in Iraq and as we have seen, the Democrats lost at the November, 2016 US elections. In our case, we inherited in 2011 a violent group which melted into the public, disguised, silently mobilising its adherents and deploying its fighters all over the nucleus and contiguous states in the typical fashion of a home grown insurgency with a broader political objective. The Boko Haram insurgency has led to deaths of almost 100,000 persons going by the estimates of our community leaders over the years. Two million, one hundred and fourteen thousand (2,114,000) persons have become internally displaced as at December of 2016 with five hundred and thirty seven thousand, eight hundred and fifteen (537,815) in separate camps; 158,201 are at official camps that consists of 6 centres with 2 transit camps at muna and custom house both in Maiduguri. There are 379,614 IDP'S at 15 satellite camps comprising of Ngala, Monguno, Bama, Banki, Pulka, Gwoza, Sabon Gari and other locations in the state. 73,404 persons were forced to become refugees in neighbouring countries with Niger having 11,402 and Cameroon having 62,002.
We have an official record of 52,311 orphans who are separated and unaccompanied. We have 54,911 widows who have lost their husbands to the insurgency and about 9,012 have returned back to various communities of Ngala, Monguno, Damboa,Gwoza and Dikwa. Based on the post insurgency Recovery and Peace Building Assessment (RPBA) Report on the Northeast which was jointly validated by the World Bank, the European Union, the Presidency and the 6 States of the Northeast, the Boko Haram has inflicted damages to the tune of 9 billion US Dollars in the region. Of this amount, the destructions in Borno State amounts to 6 billion US Dollars and they are supported by grim statistics.
A total of 956,453 private houses representing 30 % of the total number of houses in Borno were destroyed across the 27 local government areas in the State. A total of 665 municipal buildings comprising state ministries, LGA buildings, prisons, police stations and power distribution offices were destroyed in Borno. 5,335 classrooms and other school buildings were destroyed in 512 primary schools, 38 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions in the State. 201 health centres, mostly primary healthcare clinics, dispensaries and some General Hospitals were all destroyed. The insurgents also destroyed 726 power substations and distribution lines just like they destroyed 1,630 water sources including motorized boreholes, hand pumps, solar powered boreholes and facilities for piped water schemes. Across 16 local government areas of the State, the insurgents bombed parks, gardens, orchards, game reserves, Green Wall projects and poisoned ponds, Rivers, Lakes and stole over 500,000 cattle. All these were in addition to setting ablaze markets, large scale farms and hundreds of trucks that evacuated farm produce for export to neighbouring countries.
Today, hundreds of well-known rich farmers and transporters, among many others of the mercantile class, have become thoroughly pauperised and rendered dependent on food aid. Thousands of children have suffered various degrees of acute malnutrition either due to long stay in captivity and entrapment or due to complex problems associated with the management of IDPs. These include poor humanitarian relief delivery method (initially experienced), and cases of diversion of food by officials and volunteers. Painfully and paradoxically there are also cases of some of the IDPs cashing out their food by selling at below market prices to heartless profiteers.
Those rent seeking IDPs would then return to their camps wearing faces of neglect, hunger and hopelessness. This is the desperation borne out of supposed self-help that sometimes aggravates the scarcity of basic essentials of life among the IDPs.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, of all the impacts of the Boko Haram menace including the hugely expensive and time consuming reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation process, as well as supporting security agencies in the discharge of their counter-insurgency duties, I dare say that what has been the worst headache is managing the humongous humanitarian crisis, particularly managing both formal and informal IDP camps.
On one hand, there are IDPs who accept to be registered and admitted into camps. On the other hand, there are those who have set up their own camps themselves. They have defied all entreaties to relocate to the formal camps. In both camps, there are crisis of children and adults living in constant need of food, medications and habitable environment. International humanitarian agencies and NGOs have been of tremendous assistance and so are their local counterparts.
The problem, however, is that there are also the so-called NGOs who are mainly into humanitarian aid to divert donor funds. What is most worrisome in all of these, is that because the people of Borno State are beneficiaries of interventions, our Government is easily accused of not being appreciative when we ask questions. It is true that most humanitarian agencies announce the amount of resources they require or have spent, but certainly, the Borno State Government is mostly not involved in their procurements. Nor in the withheld "distribution" of undelivered humanitarian relief supplies.
The Murtala Muhammed Foundation have asked me to speak about my experiences and lessons for our diverse country and this brings me to CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND THE PRAXIS OF INACTION.
For me, the most critical experience and lesson I have had and learnt within the last five years, has been the power of conspiracy theories and how they can strongly undermine the fight against insecurity and the management of the humanitarian crisis. In the first place, the Boko Haram insurgency grew from strength to strength because of an initial conspiracy theory which began after the 2011 general elections.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, after the Boko Haram carried out its first suicide attack on the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force in June 2011 and a later attack on the UN building in August, both in Abuja, a conspiracy theory emerged immediately alleging that the Boko Haram was set up by Muslim-majority northern leaders to target Christians and make Nigeria ungovernable for His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Given the fact that both attacks took place in June and August, which were within three months after President Jonathan was sworn-in, this conspiracy hypothesis immediately assumed a life of its own. Those who believed the theory did not care to recall that the first major attacks by Boko Haram in Borno and Bauchi states which took place in June 2009, had occurred under the late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua, a Northern Muslim from Katsina State. The proponents of this ridiculous conspiracy theory didn't care to recall that a Northern Muslim from Kaduna State was actually the Director-General of President Jonathan's 2011 elections campaign. Surprisingly, when it suited their narrow political agenda even pro-Jonathan northerners propagated that the insurgency reflected the collective will of the Northern opposition to undermine the federal government.
What that meant in effect, was that the theory changed from all Northerners using Boko Haram to undermine Jonathan into a narrower theory that northerners in the opposition were using Boko Haram to destabilize Jonathan's administration. The end result was an alibi for the state not to admit its failure to rout the Boko Haram at the earliest opportunity.
It appeared the President himself initially believed the conspiracy theory. For instance, when he visited Borno State on Thursday, 13th of March, 2013, President Jonathan requested to meet differently with officials of the Borno State Chapters of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Jama'atul Nasril Islam. The President neither invited nor stopped me from participating but I understood he wanted to meet each group without me. Both meetings were arranged for the President without me knowing the agenda.
To his credit, I must acknowledge, President Jonathan was actually on a fact finding mission because the following day, during his courtesy call at the Government House in Maiduguri, he said that officials of the Christian Association in Borno State had told him that Boko Haram was not targeting only churches and Christians but rather, had attacked many Mosques and killed many Muslims. President Jonathan went further to say that from his findings, the Boko Haram had actually attacked more of majority Muslim communities in the State.
The President's revelation was an indication that he didn't understand the crisis before March, 2013. Whether his initial lack of understanding of the situation caused his ineffective response to the crisis before 2013, is a matter for conjecture. But Borno people consigned to the receiving end of poor policy articulation and response, were simply victims of the resultant inaction or paralysis. And they paid with their lives and property, for which the Nigerian Constitution in its fundamental derivative principles, compels the state to use its exclusive possession of the organised means of violence to guarantee.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, what got me very much upset was the Chibok schoolgirls' abduction of April 14, 2014 and the conspiracy theory that followed it. That abduction gave me the impression that the correct lessons were not learnt at the Presidency despite President Jonathan's personal findings in Borno. For instance, rather than the Federal and State Government combining strength towards rescue efforts, a conspiracy theory was immediately created that denied that an abduction of the poor schoolgirls was real. The theory presumed that key politicians in the opposition APC, cooked up the abduction story mainly to embarrass President Jonathan and the PDP.
Days later, when the Bring Back Our Girls campaigns began, the theory was changed from cooked abduction story to saying yes, there was abduction, but the abduction was designed and masterminded by the opposition led by our administration. Meanwhile, the failure by the state to perform its constitutional duty in rescuing the schoolgirls and bringing back the Sambisa forest into the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by whatever means necessary, were glossed over as an embarrassed nation sought refuge in yet another conspiracy to undermine a Christian and Southern President. As God would ordain it, President Goodluck Jonathan, in May, 2014, constituted an investigative panel to gather facts regarding the abduction. The panel had credible persons from all segments including representatives of the majority Christian community in Chibok, serving and retired personnel of the armed forces, local and foreign-based women and civil rights activists, journalists and some persons believed to be very close to both President Jonathan and his wife.
The panel met all stakeholders from heads of security establishments, leadership of the West African Examination Council in Borno State, and the panel was also in Chibok to meet agonizing parents and community members. After an exhaustive investigation, the panel submitted its report to President Jonathan. The Presidency didn't disclose the content of the report and didn't point any more accusing fingers at Borno State Government. I remember that the Thisday Newspapers in its edition of Friday, 24th of June, 2014, claimed to have obtained a copy of the report and said the panel's report absolved the Borno State Government of any complicity and in fact sympathized with us over some findings the panel made.
Ladies and gentlemen, while you may assume these experiences should be enough to make our dear country focus less on conspiracy theories, recent developments do not quite show that we are learning from the dangers of national paralysis and state inaction inherent in conspiracy theories. For instance, months after the 2015 elections and the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, another conspiracy theory was cooked up following resumed attacks by militants in the Niger Delta. There were some northerners who began to create a conspiracy theory that the militants were regrouped and being funded by those who lost out in the 2015 elections, in order to destabilize President Buhari’s administration.
There were those who even believed and supported the theory in the south and they went as far as posting through the online and social media, that it was the turn of the Niger Delta to exact revenge on how Boko Haram was used to destabilize President Jonathan's administration. Again, the main issue, namely the inability of the state to guarantee production of oil and secure vital strategic investments in the Niger Delta, being the only variable outside the price of oil in the international markets within the ability of the Nigerian state to influence for good, was side-tracked. Interestingly, even though it is crystal clear that conspiracy theories do no one any good, they seem to be stubbornly attractive in Nigeria because even as we speak, there have been series of social media messages in recent weeks, alleging that Fulani’s were being deployed to churches to cause mayhem.
The whole thing seems to be a sort of effort to link a Presidency led by a Fulani man with the activities of murderous criminals, some or most of whom may be Fulani’s by ethnicity. Conspiracy theories sometimes begin by a simple message and they grow wild. I have met someone who told me that President Buhari didn't visit Kaduna because those killed were mostly Christians and I had to remind the person that the same Buhari hasn't been to Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram. I am not saying it was right or wrong that the President visited neither Kaduna nor Borno State; my concern is our quick judgment to weep up ethnic and religious sentiments. The oxygen and carbon dioxide which most conspiracy theories require to breathe in and out are religious and ethnic sentiments.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, we must as Nigerians try to suppress our bias by working hard to get facts on all issues, otherwise, we will continue to fall victims of conspiracy theories. We must recognize that for every conspiracy theory, there is group that stands to gain politically. As Nigerians, we should regularly free our minds and ask ourselves, who stands to gain on any conspiracy theory we come across. We must also not, anymore, allow figments of crazy imaginations as excuses for the state to fail to protect life and property. We must stop condoning our collective callous attitude that predispose us to blaming victims for their losses in lives and property, the protection of which is a main reason for the existence of our national government. For as you can now see, there is no issue that has gained notoriety for conspiracy theory as much as the Boko Haram insurgency.
What makes the insurgency particularly worrisome is that anyone can easily move from being a victim to becoming a suspect. Boko Haram insurgents do not have particular looks unless those of them who openly professed their evil ideology and are known by locals. No matter how highly or lowly placed one might be, it is possible to innocently associate with someone secretly working or supporting the insurgents. The military have had instances where some soldiers were suspected of working for insurgents, there were also instances where some volunteers were identified and picked up, just as we had had cases were some officials of government at various levels were suspected of having some links with the insurgents.
The important take is that in all extenuating cases, whether among the military, volunteers or inside Governments and their agencies, the total number of those found to have questions to answer for collaborating with the enemy is neither significant enough to draw systematic conclusions, nor widespread enough to cast any doubt that the collaborative efforts of our military, volunteers, whole communities and governments at the three tiers, will give our country and her heroic armed forces a decisive military victory over the mortal enemy of our national wellbeing and sovereign aspirations.
OUR PROGNOSIS
Though the victory of our armed forces and intelligence services over the Boko Haram is a foregone eventuality, I have deliberately delayed talking about what we are doing to proffer enduring solutions, so that the organisers would not give me a bill for self-adulation. I would not do justice to this gathering if I do not state our proven capacity and commitment to make our state much better than we have met it.
Ladies and gentlemen, quality and affordable education is for me, the number one road map to addressing the Boko Haram insurgency. One of Nelson Mandela's most memorable quotes says "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use for to change the world". I am by no means trying to pass the buck, but it is obvious that the abject neglect which education suffered and the levity with which it was treated especially by the immediate past administration in our State did a great deal to fuel the embers of the Boko Haram insurgency. There are fighters who joined the Boko Haram out of hopelessness.
When people have little or nothing positive to expect in their tomorrow, they mostly don't see reasons to preserve themselves for tomorrow. A hopeless person in a state of lack doesn't mind everyone dying with him. We are therefore investing heavily in education. Our plan is to pass a legislation that will make education free and compulsory but we have to first put the infrastructures and teachers in place and this is precisely what we are doing. Virtually all our schools are being rebuilt in Borno.
We are investing 20 billion Naira in building brand new mega schools designed to provide quality boarding education for over 20,000 orphans created by the Boko Haram insurgency and other vices in Borno. If we don't take care of these orphans and other vulnerable children and give them hope, they may grow up and take care of us in a manner in which Boko Haram has dealt with their deceased parents and guardians. In the social realm, we plan to pair the orphans with widows of the insurgency through an arrangement which will involve evaluating both the kids and the widows, giving the widows means of livelihood that creates accommodation for them and the orphans they are encouraged to adopt.
We want a suitable widow with say one child, to be a foster mother for two orphans, while we bring experts and humanitarian partners to supervise the envisaged foster parenting and education. Of course, as you are all aware, we have refused to submit to the dictates of the Boko Haram terrorists as regards their resolve to eliminate education in the Borno and elsewhere, and we will never submit to them by the grace of God. We have even moved to kick off our own Borno State University. There is no better way of consigning the Boko Haram ideology to the dustbin of history, than to ramp up the value system that they have set about to stamp out of existence. We have invested heavily in agriculture and we intend to use our agricultural war chess to reposition the economy of Borno and create massive job opportunities for our people. We are currently building ten agriculture-based factories opposite the newly established Borno State University, and they will serve as drivers to add value to farm produce, processing, and packaging in order to create jobs.
We are also continually rebuilding, restructuring our destroyed and devastated communities, and resettling and rehabilitating our long suffering and beleaguered but highly resilient people. A deep sense of collective frustration, deprivation and disillusionment produced by poor and irresponsive governance triggered the radicalization of otherwise innocent, responsible and law-abiding citizens that are the monstrous Boko Haram insurgents.
Our firm resolve therefore, is to break this deadly link between violent extremism and extreme poverty and illiteracy through an aggressive policy of job creation especially through agriculture, reduction of inequalities, promoting education and building a just and inclusive society.
Perhaps this is not the forum to bore you with our modest efforts. Telling you everything may take too much of your day. We are gathered in the Murtala Muhammed spirit and once you are in that spirit, you would want to ask yourself how much committed you have been to the selfless discharge of your duties. It is my wish and prayers that we get leaders who would surpass the positive effects Gen. Murtala Muhammed made in our country in less than seven months. Until such a time when another of his kind leads our country, the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed remains Nigeria's most treasured iconic leader of all times. And Like the Scottish essayist Carlyle Thomas said,
"No great man lives in vain, for the history of the world is all about the history of great men." May Africa's martyr, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed's soul, rest in peace and continue to fire us up until the remnants of man's inhumanity to man, is brought to a terminal end in our country and continent. Amen.
Finally,finally,I would like to make it unequivocally clear that as a Muslim, Boko Haram does not represent me.As Federica Mogherini rightly posited ‘’ Boko Haram are not a voice of Islam – they are an enemy of Islam. Just like the Lord’s Resistance Army has nothing to do with the Lord. Only with warlords, child slavery, and black magic’’.
The Quran is very clear on the requirements for being a Muslim and boko haram has negated every single criteria. The Boko Haram approach is based on killing, kidnapping, raping, forceful conversion of their captives into their believes that totally negates the teaching and practice of Islam that is anchored on respect and protection of sanctity of human lives and property.
The Quran is clear that there is no compulsion or coercion in conversion for religion. Added to that, the Quran categorically states that 'if any Muslim kills any innocent soul, it is synonymous to killing the whole of humanity and that such killers will recompense in hell fire on the day of reckoning”.
Hell fire is certainly the end of unrepentant Boko Haram fighters and those who support them.
SHOCKING : Where is your president? White guys asks Nigerians
Recall that On Thursday, January 19, Buhari departed Abuja to the United Kingdom on a 10-day vacation during which he would undergo routine medical check-ups.
His trip and absence from the country has been trailed by controversy. There has been speculation that the president is sick and some even went as far as saying he was dead but all these reports have been debunked by the presidency.
Nigerians are really tired of all the lies Government is telling them about the whereabouts of president Buhari
Monday, February 6, 2017
Obasanjo is not an ordinary man - Ex-Governor reveals why
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently said it would do Nigeria well to produce an Igbo president a former governor of Anambra state, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has reacted to Obasanjo's argument
Former governor of Anambra state, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is not an ordinary person
Ezeife said this in an interview he had with The Punch concerning the 2019 general election that is already heating up the country.
“Obasanjo is not ordinary. There is a story I will tell you: When Obasanjo was in prison, many people were preparing for president, including myself.
“One morning, my wife, Ugoeze, told me that I should not waste my money on this presidency matter and that the issue had been settled.
“I said: ‘What do you mean?’ She said: ‘Obasanjo is going to be president’.
“I exclaimed and said: ‘Obasanjo is in prison’. But she said she saw Abdulsalami Abubakar decorating Obasanjo as president. You can remember that since then, he has been very crucial to whoever becomes president in Nigeria,” he said.
Ezeife recalled how Obasanjo brought out Umaru Yar’Adua to run for president on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Concerning Obasanjo’s interest in an Igbo presidency, Ezeife said: “He (Obasanjo) made (Goodluck) Jonathan run as a south-easterner by virtue of the death of Yar’Adua.
“Even Buhari, Obasanjo had a hand in his emergence and victory. So, it is not easy to just dismiss Obasanjo’s statement, especially as he has good reason.
“He says injustice and marginalisation cause problems among peoples and groups. He didn’t even look at the national level only. He mentioned Ogun state and said Ogun West should have the governorship. It has never had the governorship.
“Obasanjo can father than most of us and I think he appreciates justice,” he said.
The former president had recently said Nigeria should look in the direction of an Igbo president arguing that this would reduce tension and ensure justice.
APC dismisses threats by Ekiti Assembly to arrest Kayode Fayemi
APC accuses Ekiti Assembly of not following due diligence in the handling of its investigative power over the invitation extended to former Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi
The party says the Assembly lacks the power to invite Fayemi for an investigation because the matter is before a court
The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti state has berated the state House of Assembly for threatening to issue a warrant of arrest against former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, if he failed to appear before it on Tuesday, February 7, to shed light on the allegations of misappropriation and diversion of public funds made against him.
The party in a statement on Sunday, February 5 faulted the Ekiti House of Assembly for not following due diligence in the handling of its investigative power, Punch reports.
The publicity secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatunbosun, described the lawmakers as stooges of Governor Ayo Fayose who don’t know their right from their left.
Olatunbosun described Fayemi’s invitation by the House as an intention to persecute the minister by indicting him first through public statements and utterances before asking him to appear before them for investigation.
He said: "The matter is before the court and so the Assembly lacks the power to invite Fayemi for a clear case of persecution.
“It is unfortunate that a set of people, who ought to show the way in the protection of the law for the benefit of the citizenry is the same trying to create an impediment to the administration of justice by first delivering an indictment verdict on an innocent man and later ask him to appear before them for investigation.
“We are not surprised, however, that Ekiti members of the Assembly are acting in this manner against the background of the fact that some of the Assembly’s members are barely educated and cannot read the provisions of the law to know the protocols of their office and have a better understanding on what they were elected to do."
The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti state has berated the state House of Assembly for threatening to issue a warrant of arrest against former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, if he failed to appear before it on Tuesday, February 7, to shed light on the allegations of misappropriation and diversion of public funds made against him.
The party in a statement on Sunday, February 5 faulted the Ekiti House of Assembly for not following due diligence in the handling of its investigative power, Punch reports.
The publicity secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatunbosun, described the lawmakers as stooges of Governor Ayo Fayose who don’t know their right from their left.
Olatunbosun described Fayemi’s invitation by the House as an intention to persecute the minister by indicting him first through public statements and utterances before asking him to appear before them for investigation.
He said: "The matter is before the court and so the Assembly lacks the power to invite Fayemi for a clear case of persecution.
“It is unfortunate that a set of people, who ought to show the way in the protection of the law for the benefit of the citizenry is the same trying to create an impediment to the administration of justice by first delivering an indictment verdict on an innocent man and later ask him to appear before them for investigation.
“We are not surprised, however, that Ekiti members of the Assembly are acting in this manner against the background of the fact that some of the Assembly’s members are barely educated and cannot read the provisions of the law to know the protocols of their office and have a better understanding on what they were elected to do."
BUHARI's HEALTH: ‘Cabals Have Started Holding Nigeria To Ransom Again’
*Fayose, Junaid, Others React
On a day he is expected to return to the country preparatory to resumption of office today after 10 days official vacation, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, wrote the National Assembly to extend his vacation on medical grounds.
The extension, which was indefinite, yesterday, elicited mixed views in the polity. While some said it is in order and urged Nigerians to pray for his safe return, others said that a cabal had started holding the country to ransom and cautioned that Nigerians should not be taken for a ride. The President’s letter stated that the extension was to enable him complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.
Pray for Buhari, Fayose urges
According to Vanguard, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was one of those who opposed Buhari’s election on health grounds, was sober and terse.
He said: “What else do I say but to ask Nigerians to pray for him?”
Position of the law must be maintained – Oyetibo
A leading lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, who said the development is unfortunate for the country noted that a human being could fall ill at any time but the position of the law, which allows Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to function as acting president must be kept.
“It is unfortunate for the country but human beings can get sick any time. In this case case, what is important is that the position of the law be maintained and that is the Vice President continues as Acting President,’’ he said.
Cabals have started holding Nigeria to ransom again – Junaid
In his reaction, Second Republic, Dr Junaid Mohammed, said it is unfortunate Nigeria is being held to a ransom by some cabals within the administration of President Buhari.
According to him, “The development regarding the President’s health is a very bad indication and it is unfortunate Nigeria has found itself in another quagmire. It is also unfortunate that Buhari and his handlers are trying to cause another constitutional crisis rather than telling Nigerians the truth. This development is similar to that of Yar’Adua when a cabal with the help of his wife held this country to ransom and deceived Nigerians”.
He went further: “During Yar’Adua’s administration, 180 million Nigerians were taken for a ride. The same people in the Villa under Buhari have started towing the same path. I believe Nigerians should rise up against this if the Senate cannot impeach the President who now seems to be incapacitated and unable to discharge his duties as President of Nigeria.
“It is now seen that the cabal do not want an end to this and that is why they keep playing us. These are some of the things we have seen ahead and have been shouting that Nigerians should be told the truth about the President’s health. I pray God saves Nigeria but Nigerians must take their own destiny into their hands."
Buhari Should Declare His True Health Status – PDP, Others
President Muhammadu Buhari is sick, Nigerians are in the dark with regards to his state of health.
Before now, the Presidency had insisted that the President was not sick, saying he would only use the opportunity of his short vacation to undergo routine check-ups.
But a top government official has finally admitted that Buhari is sick.
He, however, added that Mr President is not terminally ill.
“The President is sick. But it will not be correct to say he is terminally ill. Illness has more to do with terminal disease. The President is only under the weather; he is not terminally ill,” he explained.
Before the announcement, however, arrangements were on to receive Buhari in Abuja, on Sunday, in preparation for his resumption on Monday.
Officials were put on the alert pending the confirmation from the Protocol Unit on the time the President would arrive.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria had also said it had mobilised 15,000 youths across the country to join in receiving Buhari at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
As of the time the statement on the extension was released, State House correspondents were on standby to join the delegation that would receive the President.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had, penultimate week, in an interview with CNBC Africa, monitored in Abuja insisted that Buhari was not ill.
Adesina had insisted that Buhari was only in London for vacation and was not in any hospital.
He had said, “The President is in London on vacation. He is not in any hospital and he is not ill."
Surprisingly, on Sunday, the same Presidency announced that Buhari’s 10-day vacation to the UK had been extended due to medical tests and waiting for the results.
The PDP and other groups in the country have insisted that the Presidency should not play games on Nigerians with regards to Buhari's true health status. They say Nigerians deserve the truth.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Babangida Returns Home After 7-Week Medical Trip
Speaking after his arrival at the Minna International Airport, IBB said, “I am feeling stronger and better now. I must thank Nigerians immensely for the prayers and concerns over my health.
“I must use this opportunity to also call on Nigerians to continue to pray for the leaders and the country to move forward in positive direction.
“We should remain united and work collectively towards the progress of our nation by thinking positively about the leaders and providing constructive criticisms and solutions to any challenge we may face.”
We wish him quick recovery.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Ambode okays death penalty for kidnappers...signs ant-kidnapping, sporting bills into Law
The law also stipulates that where a victim dies in the course of kidnap, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.
He said aside the enactment of the law, the State Government was also putting in place appropriate measures particularly in the schools and other vulnerable targets to prevent kidnapping and other security breaches.
The Governor said: “Security is of utmost importance to our administration and we are confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos.
“Why we use this law to address the challenge and punish the criminals, we are also putting in place appropriate measures particularly in our schools and other vulnerable targets to prevent security breaches and it is important that we ensure that everything we do in respect of this anti-kidnapping law is in good faith and good spirit to eradicate the issue of kidnapping once and for all in the State.”
Governor Ambode assured that the justice system would be activated to execute the anti-kidnapping law to the letter to ensure that any criminal caught is subjected to the full wrath of the law.
The Governor, at the ceremony, also signed the Sports Trust Fund Bill and the Sports Commission bill into law, explaining that the laws were enacted to address key issues bordering on security and effectively harnessing the potentials in the sports sector.
Giving insight on the laws, Governor Ambode said: “The Sport Commission Law will give legal backing to the formulation and implementation of sport policies in the State while the Sport Trust Fund will enable government to raise money for the development of sporting facilities and activities.
“This fund will provide a platform where the State Government can enter into partnership with the private sector to finance sports infrastructure, tournaments and programmes which will in turn create employment and generate revenue for the State.”
He added that as provided for in the law, a Board of Trustees comprising all stakeholders in the sports community would soon be inaugurated for the Trust Fund, saying that with the law, government was restating its commitment to scale up sports development and make the State the hub of sports in Nigeria.
He also appreciated members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for their efforts in the enactment of the laws.
In his remarks, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the signing of the bills into law by the Governor was a clear testimony of the commitment of the State Government to the security of citizens and sports development.
Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, said it was particularly gratifying to note that the anti-kidnapping law was an all-encompassing one which prescribes punishment for the actual actors, those that collaborate, aid and abet and those who see the act of kidnapping being perpetrated and do nothing about it, as well as confiscation of properties attached to the heinous crime of kidnapping.
He said the passage and signing of the law was a direct response and responsiveness of the government to the spate of kidnapping in the State, adding that the expansive provisions in the law would, in no long distant future, ensure the eradication of the menace in the State.
On the bills on sports, the Speaker said: “We are happy that Lagos State is taking a very bold step at ensuring that sporting activities get a boost from the government and this is a clear demonstration to the people of Lagos State and Nigeria that the State Government is paying adequate attention to sporting activities.”
SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
FEBRUARY 1, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Police seal Ondo State House of Assembly as leadership crisis deepens
A faction of 12-members had at the weekend purportedly unseated Akindele and elected Malachi in her stead.But at the rowdy session of the House yesterday, hell was let loose when the 14 members loyal to Akindele were pitched against the rest 12 colleagues who purportedly effected the leadership change.
It was gathered that Akindele, in the company of her 13 apologists, stormed the complex as early as 6:30 a.m. yesterday for parliamentary duties when the other faction stormed the House and disrupted the plenary, insisting that she could not perform the function having been “impeached.”
According to reports, the first female speaker in the state was rough-handled, resulting in free for all. It however, took the prompt intervention of the state Police Commissioner, Mrs. Hilda Harrison-Ibirufo, to bring the situation under control with the deployment of no fewer than 30 officers, just as she also stationed an Armoured Personnel Carrier at the entrance of the complex.
In a chat later, the chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Siji Akindiose, said a vote of confidence was yesterday passed on the embattled speaker and the other principal officers that were purportedly sacked. He noted that machinery had been put in place to resolve all outstanding issues.
But the Malachi faction, at a briefing, insisted that the impeachment of the principal officers for alleged fraud stands. According to its spokesman, Ogundeji Iroju, the mace is in their possession, maintaining that the Akindele group had no right to “go to the hallowed chamber to conduct the business of the day.”
He submitted that the police hierarchy in Abuja and Akure had been briefed of the change of guards, urging the police to immediately withdraw the security personnel attached to the “sacked” principal officers.
He equally warned banks from transacting business with them, warning that a breach would be seen as complicit. The Guardian however, learnt, that Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had waded into the crisis.
Ndigbo should talk about presidency after Buhari’s tenure – Okorocha
This came as the Senate Majority leader, Ahmed Lawan said that peace now reigned in the Senate caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress,APC, following his election recently.
Both men spoke to State House Correspondents after meeting with Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo behind closed doors yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Okorocha said that there were frantic efforts to unite the party in the south east.
He also maintained his earlier position that some governors from the region had indicated interest to join the APC.
He said: “What I do know is that Ndigbo should talk about presidency after President Muhammadu Buhari. I think we should support this government. President Muhammadu Buhari has a tenure to work for, four years or eight years according to the zoning arrangement and everybody should follow the zoning although I am not an advocate of zoning.
“The APC as a party is strong in the South East. We are trying to rebuild the party and redefine leadership, so there will be no confusion. As to whether the APC in the South East is in disarray as the case has always been, we want to have a united party in the South East.
” On the denial by south east governors that they have not joined APC and that he, Okorocha does not inspire any leadership, the governor said it was possible the governors were not ready yet.
“We are hopeful from all discussions that about two governors will be joining us in the South East to strengthen the party. Right now, we have agreed that Sen. Ken Nnamani should take a lead of the party in the South East to enable us have a common understanding, long with other leaders like Chief Jim Nwobodo.”
“I don’t think it is true, but if it is true it is probably because it is not time. It could be because I spoke when they were not yet ready.
“Leadership is not in question, we have agreed the Ken Nnamdi should lead. So, it is not about Rochas Okorocha, I am a governor”, he said.
Similarly, the Senate leader told journalists that he was in the Villa to brief the Acting President on the progress made so far on the budget even as he said that the Senate was ready now to work with the Osinbajo.
People flocking to APC because of Buhari’s performance
Meantime, National Auditor of All Progressive Congress, APC, and the party’s governorship aspirant, Chief George Moghalu has said that the Igbo were flocking to the APC because of the wonderful performance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking in an interview in Awka yesterday, Moghalu said Igbo had realized that the party would be the only platform that would enable them achieve their political ambition in the country.
He said though APC was not an Igbo party, Igbo people have realized that it is a national political party with Igbo interest in its agenda. He was happy that those who denigrated the party in the past were now trooping into it because of what President Muhammadu Buhari.
“You know we have suspended plenaries for three weeks. The idea is to have ample time to focus on the appropriation bill. The committees will start to work from this week raking the NDS on the budget defence that they need to do.
“Secondly, you know that the Acting President is an APC Ag President of this our administration. As a new Senate Leader, it is also important that I come here to this office to tell the Acting President and our administration that the APC caucus in the Senate is now a united caucus.
“We are ready as a caucus to support our administration. We are also ready as a Senate, that is both the APC and the minority parties, to work for the betterment of Nigerians. Our colleagues in the opposition have always been supportive and being there for the Senate to function.
“So, the whole development is to ensure that this government delivers in its campaign promises to Nigerians by the executive and the legislature working hand in give and in a synergistic manner in that our campaign promises become real and available to all Nigerians for the betterment of the country”, he said.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Imam Begs Nigerians to pray for Buhari
Since his vacation to the UK, there has been rumout that the president was ill although this has been refuted by the presidency.
Vanguard reports that the chief imam of Unguwar Gwari Central Mosque spoke on Friday, January 27 during the Jumat service where he urged Nigerians to develop the habit of praying for their leaders.
He said: “Nigerians should develop the habit of praying for their leaders for God’s guidance in ensuring good democratic government.
“Nigerians should ignore comments by rumour mill and pray for the president.
“God has a reason for creating us with different tribes, background, ethnic and religious differences.
“We must be seen to be tolerant with one another for peace, progress and political stability of our country.”
He urged Nigerians to continue to support security operatives by providing information that can lead to arrest of criminals.
Pray For Buhari, Stop Campaigning For 2019 – PDP tells Gov Okorocha
PDP in a statement signed by Hon. Ray Emeana, described the inauguration of the airline as the commencement of Okorocha’s 2019 presidential campaign, accusing him of assembling resources at the expense of the state for his presidential ambition in 2019.
"The said ‘inauguration of the airline’ did not only come as a rude shock to Imo people, but also showcased one of such pernicious falsehood blatantly peddled by Governor Okorocha wherein he claimed that, ‘Imo was not affected by the much talked about recession in the country because some people might wonder why the state should dabble into airline business in time of recession.
“While records show that Governor Okorocha has received on behalf of Imo State, over N150 billion between January to December 2016 in Internally Generated Revenue, federal allocation, ecological funds, 13% derivation, local government allocation, bailout funds and recently the Paris Club Debt cancellation deductions, yet there is no trace of these funds in any sector of the state.
“We had expected the governor to be bold enough to tell Nigerians that the aeroplane was procured as part of logistics for his 2019 presidential campaign. More worrisome is the governor’s haste at flagging off his presidential campaign at a time President Muhammadu Buhari is on a medical vacation rather than join well-meaning Nigerians to pray for the speedy recovery of Mr. President.”
ANOTHER NEW PHOTO OF PRESIDENT BUHARI?
But some people have insisted that this is an OLD photo, and that Governor Ibikun Amosun who is seen in the pic is presently in his home in Ogun State, Nigeria and not in London.
Who do we believe now?
The simple question those handling Mr President should try and answer is, why must the true state of Nigeria's President be so controversial? I guess if truly Baba is ok they should arrange for him to speak to Nigerians and end this unnecessary confusion.
Buhari's approach to effecting chnage is wrong - Ben Bruce
The common sense advocate in a tweet on Friday, January 27, said: "To paraphrase Barack Obama Change wont come if we keep blaming other people or other administrations. We must be the change that we promised!"
To paraphrase @BarackObama Change wont come if we keep blaming other people or other administrations.We must be the change that we promised!
Bruce said it was a shame that some people were peddling allegation that the former president did no achieve anything.
“In 2016, we placed too much emphasis on blaming the immediate past administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.
The blame knew no bounds with some alleging that Jonathan did not achieve anything by way of infrastructure,” he added.
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