Raymond Dopkesi arrayed in Court for money laundering by EFCC in federal high court, Abuja on Wednesday 09, December, 2015.
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Former Governor Apkabio Fired.
Appeal court today has fired former Governor Akpabio. Immediately ordering for a rerun within 90 days.
Looks like all PDP friends are been fired...
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Remembering A Fallen Solider: Late President Shehu Musa Yar'Adua.
On this day, 18 years ago, Nigeria lost one of her greatest democrats and nationalists, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua. His legacy lives.
How I Helped Ohakim Secretly Buy Abuja Home For $2.29million Cash - EFCC Witness
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, has told Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja how the former governor allegedly gave him the sum of $2, 290,000.00(Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand Dollars) to purchase a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
In his testimony on Monday, December 7, 2015, Abu Sule, told the court that he met the accused person in Lagos State sometime in the mid-nineties while he worked as a consultant on a project to which the accused person was a contractor.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, Sule, Managing Director, Tweenex Consociate H.D. Limited, further told the court that the accused person, whom he described a ‘‘senior friend and benefactor’’, did not sever his relationship with him, after he had become governor.
In his testimony, he said: ‘‘Before 2008, Chief Ohakim had requested that I find him a house that he could buy in Asokoro. I later found a house at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja. Immediately, I informed him about the property and he trusted my judgment on it.
‘‘I told him the price, which was N270m and he provided the money in cash. It was $2.290m then and he paid in one tranche. I received the money from him at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, at night.”
Sule further told the court that he called one Alhaji Isah Muntair Maidabino the following day and arranged to meet him at the Unity Bank, Maitama Branch, Abuja.
According to him, Maidabino, upon receipt of the money, decided to off-set some loans he had obtained from the bank immediately.
He added: ‘’When I collected the original documents of the property from Maidabino, I informed Chief Ohakim and also asked for the name to use on the Deeds of Assignment and Power of Attorney. After some delay, he said I should use my Company’s name. I agreed to do it because he had been my benefactor.”
When asked if the house was given to him as a gift, Sule told the court that the property had never been his.
Speaking further, he said: ‘‘I gave the original documents of the property to Chief Ohakim, but I only have photocopies.”
Both the Sales Agreement and Deeds of Assignment documents were tendered by the prosecution counsel and admitted in evidence as Exhibit EFCC 14 A and B by the court.
Testifying further, Sule also stated that the accused person instructed him to carry out the renovation of the house, which was done over a period of one and a half years before he allegedly handed over the house to him.
According to him, ‘‘in 2012, Chief Ohakim made me do a tenancy agreement, after mounting a lot of pressure on me. We gave him an offer letter and he wrote an acceptance letter to us. It was accompanied with three cheques for N20 million. We issued him a receipt and tenancy agreement.’’
The prosecution counsel also tendered copies of the various correspondences between PW2 and the accused person, which were all admitted as Exhibits EFCC 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 A and B.
When asked if he had ever written a letter demanding renewal of the rent by the accused person given that the receipt he earlier issued to him (the accused person) would have expired in April 2014, he answered in the negative.
He also told the court that the accused person had not contacted him about his tenancy since the supposed tenancy expired in April 2014.
While explaining what he spent the N20 million he collected from the accused person for, he said, ‘‘Chief Ohakim gave me the money to renovate his property on 8, Halie Sallassie Street, Asokoro. We later handed the property to him, after the renovation.’’
The defence counsel led by Awa Kalu, SAN, raised no objection to the testimonies by PW 2.
However, counsel to the defence prayed the court for the release of the accused person’s international passport, which was submitted to the court in fulfillment of the bail conditions, granted him on Thursday, July 9, 2015, to enable him travel for medical check abroad.
Justice Ademola granted interim release of the accused person’s international passport to enable him travel for four weeks to undergo medical check; but ordered that the accused person must surrender his international passport to the Court Deputy Registrar within 72 hours of returning from his medical trip abroad. The defendant’s surety must also give a written undertaking to guarantee the appearance of the accused person in court, failing which he would be held in place of the accused person.
The case has been adjourned to January 26 and 27, 2016 for continuation of trial.
Monday, 7 December 2015
Breaking News: Bayelsa Decides
Militants loyal to one of the aspirants have taken over the streets of Bayelsa state, preventing INEC officials from moving the southern Ijaw results to the INEC state headquarter. Meanwhile, the Returning officer for Southern Ijaw LGA has already announced the result at the Local government level which favoured Gov Sylva.
Sunday, 6 December 2015
11 Questions For Okonjo-Iweala Over The $5billion Dollar Abacha Loots- SERAP
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has rejected the accusation of political agenda by the immediate-past Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, saying that “the issue of how over $5 billion recovered Abacha funds were spent under her watch deserves serious attention.”
In a statement on Sunday by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said that, “By making unfounded allegations against SERAP, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has provided little more than an unhelpful distraction, which can only serve to undermine genuine efforts to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria, the country that she claims to love so dearly.”
Last week, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala described the call by SERAP for her probe over the spending of the Abacha loot as a politically-sponsored action; that SERAP is compromised; that SERAP is a tool for reprehensible, corrupt vested interests; and that the returned Abacha loot was properly appropriated and channelled into roads, electricity, education, water and health across all six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
The response by the organisation reads in part: “As a public trust, SERAP has an important role to play in revealing the discrepancies between the World Bank documents and the clear lack of access of millions of Nigerians to quality education, adequate healthcare, clean water, safe roads and regular electricity supply during the period covered by the documents.”
“If she truly loves Nigeria, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala should have come out to say exactly how the over $5 billion of Abacha loot was spent under her watch. Trying to dodge responsibility for the spending of our commonwealth or attacking SERAP that is trying to get to the bottom of what happened to the funds is a betrayal of that love. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala should not be immune from accountability for what happened to Abacha recovered loot just because she is no longer in government.”
“If the aim of these allegations is to bully us into stopping our work to seek accountability on the spending of over $5 billion recovered Abacha loot, then it has failed, as SERAP will never back down in its pursuit of justice in the face of such attack.”
“These new allegations echo those that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala made against us in March to divert attention from SERAP freedom of information suit on the spending of N30 trillion by the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan. SERAP has fully responded to these allegations. SERAP’s credibility is exemplified by the fact of several awards it has received nationally and internationally including nomination for the UN civil society award in 2008; nomination for the Ford Foundation Jubilee Transparency Award for 2011, and the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award SERAP received in 2014.”
“As we continue to study the documents received from the World Bank, we have identified 11 questions that Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to answer as a matter of priority”.
“First, the World Bank confirmed that of the 51 projects reviewed, 23 were described as “completed”, 26 were at various stages of completion, and 2 were described as “abandoned”. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to show us evidence of the 23 projects allegedly completed, and whether the 26 projects where actually completed; and what became of the 2 abandoned projects.”
“Second, the World Bank confirmed that 6 out of 8 health centres reviewed pertained to physical infrastructure but were not completed. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain why these projects were not completed on time, and whether in fact they were completed at all; as well as location of completed projects.”
“Nigerians would also like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain the letter she wrote to the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria January 9, 2005 that of the 174 health centres built with Abacha funds, 138 were fully functional and that remaining 36 were expected to be commissioned in January 2005. Nigerians would appreciate it if Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala could identify and name all the health centres mentioned in her letter.”
“Third, as regards power projects, the World Bank confirmed that payments by government to contractors could not be verified “because in most cases contact information for contractors was not available,” and that 10 of the 18 power projects pertained to physical electrical installations. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to identify and name the 10 installations, and to provide contact details of the contractors that executed the projects.”
“Fourth, the World Bank confirmed that most of the recovered funds were used to repay domestic borrowing. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain how much exactly was involved as a part of 2004 annual budget execution in anticipation of the repatriation of the looted funds in 2004, as well as repayment terms of the funds and from which banks.”
“Fifth, the World Bank confirmed that the government opened a special US dollar account for recovered funds with the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, to which various transfers of Abacha loot were made. The World Bank also confirmed that some $50 million was received before 2005 which was kept in the special account. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain how much was left in the account by the time she left office in May.”
“Sixth, the World Bank confirmed that the data on inflows of recovered funds are broadly identical but that there was one material discrepancy, which was unexplained. The Bank also said the information it received from the government ‘does not contain a reference to the transfer of $5.2 mn in August of 2006.’ Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain the material discrepancy, and why the transfer of $5.2 mn was not disclosed to the Bank.”
“Seventh, the World Bank confirmed that Abacha returned loot was used as source of 2005 budget deficit financing, and that the funds were directed to co-financing of capital expenditure and balancing the 2005 budget. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain exactly the capital expenditure involved.”
“Eighth, the World Bank confirmed that the Abacha funds were used to provide additional financing for the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program in the amount of NGN24.25 bn to support basic education throughout the country. This amount was fully disbursed and fully utilized. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to identify the number and location of schools which benefited from these funds at the time.”
“Ninth, the World Bank confirmed that there were problems with collecting project-related information because of under-developed reporting and accounting standards, and absence of properly set-up databases for sectoral project portfolios; and weak administrative capacity in the ministry of finance. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain why this was the case under her watch.”
“Tenth, the World Bank confirmed that 13 road projects were completed including 3 of the largest road and bridge projects in each geo-political zone. Also, the Bank regretted that it was not possible to interview many contractors in order to obtain independent confirmation of amounts spent on individual projects, and record their comments on project status. Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain exactly happened, and to identify unconfirmed individual projects, including the largest roads and bridges completed.”
“Eleventh, the World Bank confirmed that no special arrangements were made for project selection and monitoring. According to the Bank, ‘Given the weakness of general budget reporting systems at the moment, this decision greatly undermined the opportunity for tracking the returned Abacha funds and analysis of their utilization.’ Nigerians would like Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to explain why this was the case under her watch.”
Saturday, 5 December 2015
Kogi decides. Results released updates
AGALI LGA
Reg Voters 2166
Accredited 931
APA 06
APC 878
PDP 12
IDA LGA:
REG VOTERS 310
Accredited 141
APC 62
CPP 01
DPP 01
PDP 70
VALID 136
REJECTED 01
TOTAL 137
YAGBA WEST LGA
375 Reg Voters
165 Accredited Voters
ADC 01
APA 02
APC 86
DPD 73
VOTERS 162
REJECTED 00
TOTAL VOTES 162
Apasu & Odaki
APC 406
PDP 281
PPA 01
UDP 01
695 valid
03 rejected
Total 698
Okehi LGA;
APC 108
PDP 0
Sunday, 29 November 2015
Does Muhammadu Buhari Have Conscience??? - Femi Fani Kayode
Former Minister Femi Fani Kayode posted on his facebook page on the deaths of the Nigerian soldiers and the President's reaction.
”Aside the 105 soldiers killed by Boko Haram, additional 34 soldiers were killed two days ago but it wasn’t in the news”- Deji Adeyanju.
I concur with Mr. Deji Adeyanju. The most heartless and reprehensible thing that our government could have done is to cover-up the fact that 105 of our soldiers were killed by Boko Haram a few days ago. To do such a thing is simply evil.
A soldier ought to be honored in death and this is especially so if he dies in the course of doing his duty and fighting for his nation.
The government has not only dishonored them by not acknowledging their sacrifice but they have also buried them in the wilderness like rabid dogs.
This is wickedness of the highest order and President Buhari, his Chief of Army Staff and his Minister of Defense should bury their heads in shame.
Anyone that buys the lie and propaganda that the 105 soldiers never died and that they are still alive is a compound fool or village idiot.
Will the military also deny the fact that a few days ago 34 of our soldiers were killed by Boko Haram? These boys died for their country. Why deny them?
I am outraged by the fact that a soldier will sacrifice his life for his country yet the citizens and authorities of that country don’t even appreciate it.
Pictures of the dead bodies were posted on social media. Everyone in the military knows that those soldiers are dead. It is an open secret. Yet because government denies it so many people just choose to believe them.
The truth is that Boko Haram must have used chemical weapons in the attack.When you look at the pictures of the dead bodies this is obvious. It was probably mustard gas.
All we want from the military is the truth. If 105 soldiers were not killed then how many actually were?
The whole episode happened last week in Borno state and the military authorities are denying it. I am sickened by that.
If others cannot appreciate the importance of honoring our dead soldiers, I can. I will not be intimidated and I will not remain silent.
Tell us where our boys are buried and if you refuse to do so we will keep asking. There must be accountability and respect for those that have made the supreme sacrifice just to keep the rest of us safe. Our soldiers deserve that much.
Finally let it be said loud and clear that since President Buhari came to power he has not bought one bullet for the military. Considering the fact that we are in the middle of a protracted and very bloody war I believe that this is utterly shameful. If you say you want to fight and defeat Boko Haram then why are you not buying arms for your troops?
This brings me to other matters and raises other questions about our President’s sincerity of purposes and commitment.
You say that you are fighting Boko Haram yet you are travelling the world drinking tea with world leaders whilst your soldiers are secretly being slaughtered.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet you were nominated as their spokesman and chief negotiator 2 years ago in proposed peace talks with the Federal Government.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram but the man you appointed as your National Security Adviser was retired from the army a few years ago for ordering the release of Boko Haram terrorists under suspicious circumstances.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram but the first thing you did when u came to power was to remove military checkpoints.This guaranteed Boko Haram free movement and access to the entire country.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet last year you told the world that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north.
You say you are fighting terror yet since you came to power Boko Haram has grown in strength, has regained lost territory and has been declared the ”worlds number one most deadly terror group” by the Global Terror Index.
You say you are fighting terror yet since you came to power Nigeria, according to the Global Terror Index, has been declared as not just having ”the first most deadly terror group in the world” which is Boko Haram but also of having ”the fourth most deadly terror group in the world” which is a group that the Index describe as the ”Fulani militants” and that we call the Fulani herdsmen.
You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet since you came to power Nigeria has been declared the world’s ”third most terrorised country” by the Global Terror Index after Iraq and Afghanistan which were declared first and second respectively whilst Syria and Pakistan were declared fourth and fifth.
You say you are a ”born again democrat” yet you voted against the protection of human rights at the United Nations alongside Iran, Zimbabwe and North Korea.
You say you respect human rights yet you barricade Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser, in his home, endanger his life, deny him medical attention, flout court orders and make him critically ill.
You say you respect human rights yet you arrest Governor Boni Haruna simply for standing as surety for Dasuki and you try to force him to abandon his friend.
You say you respect human rights yet you raid Governor Attahiru Bafarawa’s home and arrest and detain his son simply because he is friends with Dasuki.
You say you respect freedom of speech and human rights yet you lock up Nnamdi Kanu indefinitely and your security agents shoot two unarmed and harmless pro-Biafra youths to death in Enugu simply because they were involved in a peaceful demonstration.
You say that you are a believer in the rule of law yet you ordered your secret police to storm a sitting governors official home in Akwa Ibom knowing that he enjoys immunity from such matters.
You say you love Nigeria yet a bomb goes off in Kano killing over 21 people and instead of coming back home to mourn with your people you continue junketing around the world.
You say you know how to run Nigeria but according to Paul Wallace and Michael Cohen of the United States magazine known as Bloomberg Business your ”bounce has become bust”, your ”policies irk investors”, you have ”destroyed Nigeria’s economy” and you ”do not have the capacity to move the country forward”.
You say that you know how to manage the economy yet stocks and shares have crashed, small businesses are folding up, our foreign currency has dried up, industries are collapsing, agricultural output has decreased, our foreign reserves have been spent and the value of the naira has depreciated since you came to power and it continues to fall.
You say you know what you are doing and how to manage Nigeria’s affairs yet the U.S,-based Washington Times newspaper says that you lied to America about your so-called good intentions for Nigeria and that you have ”duped the United States of America” with your false promises and empty words.
You say that you are fighting poverty yet according to the Business Day Newspaper Nigerians are ”getting poorer for the first time since 1999”.
You say that you will restore our countries fortunes yet the fuel queues are back and the prices of food, transport and basic commodities are soaring by the day.
You say that you are a man of your word and after you were declared winner of the election you promised not to malign, persecute, witchunt, demonize, disrespect or go after President Goodluck Jonathan and members of his administration unless you had concrete evidence of wrongdoing yet when you came to power you did precisely that.
You say you are fair-minded, true to your friends, loyal to your supporters and always reasonable yet you did not concede even one ministerial slot or approve one ministerial nominee of the two men that helped you more than any others to win the presidential election, namely President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Bola Tinubu.
You say that you want the country to change, that you believe in fairness and equity, that you are a progressive, that you believe in a generational powershift and that you want the country to move forward yet you are trying to destroy Bukola Saraki simply because he won an election and became Senate President.
You say that you are fighting corruption yet no-one has been made to face the music or brought to book over the 25 billion naira REMITA and Systemspecs scandal and neither has the matter been clarified or resolved even though it has been established that the whole deal was struck under your watch.
You say you love Nigeria and all Nigerians yet your Fulani kinsmen, under the guise of herding cattle, are slaughtering thousands of innocent people all over the south and Middle Belt, yet you remain their Grand Patron and you refuse to utter to a word of condemnation for their actions.
You say you respect Nigerians yet every time you travel out of the country you spend your time telling foreigners and the foreign media how useless, rotten and corrupt your people are and how you are the only saint in Nigeria.
In view of all this I am constrained to ask whether President Muhammadu Buhari has a conscience or is it that he has just lost touch with reality? Everything that I said about him during the Presidential campaign has been confirmed and in just six months he has betrayed the trust and squandered the goodwill that the Nigerian people bestowed upon him in the March presidential elections. I have to say that I am not surprised by this because his ”change” mantra was just an illusion.
What he and his APC failed to disclose to the Nigerian people during the campaign is that what he meant by ”change” was a change from light to darkness. Sadly our people trusted him and now he has plunged our nation into that darkness.
May God enable him to find the courage to retrace his steps before it is too late and may the Lord deliver Nigeria from those that are around him that fail to tell him the truth.
I gather that they call those of us that oppose President Buhari and that are PDP supporters the ”wailing wailers”. That is an interesting expression because by the time Buhari finishes with Nigeria I have little doubt that the entire country will be wailing.
The truth is that I would rather be a ”wailing wailer” that posterity vindicates than a ”lying liar” or a ”howling howler” who has lost his way and who continues to have confidence in a man like Buhari and a party like the APC that is hell bent on destroying our country and our cherished democratic institutions with their Rambo-like insensitivity and total ineptitude.
All those ”lying liars” and ”howling howlers” that voted for President Buhari should clap for themselves for the terrible mess our country is now in. We will remember them in our prayers too.
Femi Fani-Kayode was former Aviation Minister.
Bayelsa Guber Race: Moses Siasia to Create 30,000 Jobs
Moses Siasia the 30 year old Governorship Aspirant under PDM party has promised 30,000 jobs in less than 1year and 6 months of his tenure if he wins.
Explaining to a channelstv correspondence, he revealed that he would:
1. Create an industrialization process in Bayelsa State. Encouraging industrialists and investors to invest in Bayelsa.
2. Enhance the already existing agricultural sector by improving the oil palm, rice production, etc. He said that the agricultural sector can employ over 17,000 people especially when he creates a rice processing plant. Further adding that creating an oil processing plant can employ 6,000 people working on a shift.
3. The tourism sector is another area which can be enhanced and employ good number of people.
Going by his age some people say he has no experience but Moses Siasia said " idea rules the world and not experience "
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Prince Audu Abubarka Dead
The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi state, Mr. Abubakar Audu is dead. Mr. Audu died of undisclosed medical reasons shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared his victory at the elections inconclusive. Though some sources claim he had a cardiac arrest when the result of the polls were declared inconclusive by Inec.
More updates to the breaking news shortly...
Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Biafra Agitations: South Eastern Governors Meet
The Governors of five south-eastern states will meet on Sunday over the increasing agitation for the cessation of the zone by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, said at the end of the governors meeting in Enugu on Tuesday that the forum needed to ensure lasting peace in the zone.
Okorocha said the governors resolved to consult widely with the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the zone, traditional rulers, development unions, the clergy and other stakeholders.
“In furtherance to this, the south-east governors scheduled an emergency meeting of stakeholders on Sunday November 22, 2015 at Enugu.
“Attendance at the emergency meeting will include all National Assembly members, ministers from the zone and other invited stakeholders from the zone,” he said.
The governor advised IPOB/MASSOB to continue to toe the line of peace “as this is the only way to ensure development of the zone”.
Okorocha said the forum was concerned about the state of federal roads in the zone, particularly the Enugu-Onitsha express road, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Owerri-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Port Harcourt roads.
He called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently on the roads and many others in deplorable conditions.
The governor said the forum agreed to appoint a high level Economic Advisory Committee to harness the economic potential of the people of the area.
Imo State Salary: Civil Servants Cry out To God
CIVIL SERVANTS in Imo State, have embarked on prayer and fasting begging God to turch the heart of Governor Rochas Okorocha to pay them their salaries. The civil servants in the Imo State House of Assembly who had their own prayer session concluded recently, said that they had no other alternative than to plead with God Almighty to divinely intervene in their present predicament.
At the time of this prayer and fasting session, the civil servants said that they were owed seven months salary arrears adding that in their present situation, it was very difficult for them to fulfil their financial responsibilities to their respective families, owing to the fact that they had not been paid their salaries for long. They also pointed out that the only possible alternative was for them, to ask God to divinely intervene in their difficulties.
Also, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Imo State, is currently on strike for the same reason of a lack of payment of salaries, not only that, they also lamented bitterly against the decision of the Imo state government to slash the salaries of the magistrates in the state, adding that such a move by the government was an impeachable offence advising that, instead of the salaries of the magistrates to be slashed that Governor Rochas Okorocha ought to emulate from his predecessors Chief Achike Udenwa and Chief Ikedi Ohakim who improved on their package for magistrate during their tenures.
Citing the provisions of the constitution that may lead to impeaching the governor, on the slashing of the salaries of the magistrate in the state, the Chairman Owerri Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA,
Stanley Chidozie Imo Esq. said in a press release made available to South East Voice that “Any reversal in the present salary structure, with the attendant effect of downgrading same will be unconscionable, punitive and brazen breach of the provisions of the1999 Constitution as amended which same is even an impeachable offence”.
Also, it is the same in the state Health sector, going by the confusion emanating from the sector, over the plan by the state government to handover the management of the public hospitals to private individuals. A step which has generated a lot of controversies and concerns from public spirited individuals. Which also, prompted a reaction from the Imo State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Emele
Hyacinth saying that its union had disagreed with state government’s plan to “sell” the hospitals. And went further to say that it was improper to commercialize the health institutions. Not even, in a situation, where the citizens are expecting improvement in the health sector, in order to have affordable and low cost health services.
But If the government finally succeeds to “commercialize” the hospitals, the NMA said that the challenges would get worse and may well reduce the standard of living of the people, given the reason that, the main purpose and goal of the new management will be based on profit making rather than to provide the basic healthcare assistance to the people.
For this not to happen, going by the sorry state of the health institutions in Imo, the NMA said that it could only be rescued from near collapse, if the government in power define properly it agenda to fund better the health institutions and as stipulated by the law.
Also, where all the rules and regulations guiding the running of public health institutions are respected that standard would be maintained. In all this, that the welfare packages of the health workers ought to be taken into serious consideration adding that, it is also discouraging to the system and may lead to monumental damage.
In a situation, where the health workers in the state, would not be given proper attention and allow for their imput in the formulation of any health policies. It is also not out of place to say that, one of the fears of the NMA , was that the government may prefer to hurriedly implement any of it policies without a proper consultation to the health personnel who know in detail the challenges facing the public health institutions. At worst, without duly considering the negative effect on the citizens of the state.
As part of the questions confronting the decision of the government that may have not been properly answered include why is it that the government thought it wise to “sell” the existing hospitals built by the past administrations and at the same time embarked on the construction of about 27 new general hospitals, in the 27 Local Government Areas in the state ?
Is it possible for health workers, in a situation where the health sector is under funded and faced with outdated facilities to perform optimally? Another pertinent question is, is it true that the ongoing new construction of 27 general hospitals, if completed will also be sold?
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Rev Fr. Mbaka says pro Biafra protests ‘evil’
Enugu – A Catholic Priest in Enugu, Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka has condemned the recent agitation and protests for Biafra nation describing the action as `evil.’
Mbaka made the condemnation in Enugu on Saturday in a sermon at his weekly Adoration Ministry.
The cleric urged youths in the South East and South-South to go back to their business as the protest could lead to their death.
“Locking up your shops and disrupting economic activities will not add any naira to your pocket, whatever grievance you have could be resolved through dialogue,’’ the cleric said.
He lambasted those leaders that were behind the agitation and protests, saying that they should use their children for the struggle.
Mbaka commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing ministers from the zone and assigning them with good portfolios.
“President Buhari’s action has proven that the South East has not been marginalized. I would have reacted if no minister emerged from the zone,’’ he said.
He said that the five states in the zone had minister each as prescribed by the Nigerian constitution as well as other key security and protocol officers that serves under president and his wife.
The reverend father attributed the recent free health screening initiative by the Wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari, in Enugu to her love for the people of the region.
He blamed the Igbo leaders for not living up to the expectation of the people in the area, adding that past governors, National Assembly members failed woefully in discharging their mandates.
“President Buhari is not the cause of poor roads, unemployment and other decay infrastructures in the south east, we should blame our leaders.
“Most of the roads had been awarded but our leaders squandered the fund, even the university teaching hospital in Enugu is a no-go-area and our leaders are not concerned about it,” he said.
Mbaka called on the new Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to use his office to employ youths in the zone, adding that it would stop what he called another Boko Haram in the south east if not curtailed.
He praised Buhari’s war against corruption, saying it had enthroned due process and sanity in governance.
The cleric, however, urged Nigerians to be patient with the president as he had good plans for the country.
Friday, 13 November 2015
Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Ministerial posts: Double & Triple portfolios
President Muhammadu Buhari has assigned his newly-appointed ministers offices.
Former governor of Ogun State finance commissioner, Kemi Adeosun, is the new finance minister.
Others are:
Former Lagos state governor, Tunde Fashola, is the Minister of Works and Housing.
Adamu Adamu – Minister of Education
Former Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, is the Minister of Transportation.
Chris Ngige – Minister of Labour and Employment
Former Army Chief, Abdurrahman Dambauzau is the Minister of Interior
Udo Udoma – Minister of Budget and National Planning
Lai Mohammed – Minister of Information
Former Ekiti governor – Minister of Solid Minerals
Ogbonnaya Onu – Minister of Science and Technology
Usani Usani – Minister of Niger Delta
Aisha Alhassan – Minister of Women Affairs
Audu Ogbeh – Minister of Agriculture
Ibeh Kachikwu – Minister of State, Petroleum
Enelemah – Minister of Trade of Investment
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Pro-Biafra Protests: Okorocha Set To Meet With South East Governors and Stakeholders
Imo State governor and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has stated that he will meet with other governors in the South-East, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, and other stakeholders in the geo-political zone over how to check the activities of pro-Biafra groups in the area.
The meeting, according to the governor, is expected to take place this weekend in Owerri, the Imo state capital. Already the governor has begun to make all the necessary contacts to ensure that all those expected to be at the meeting, would be in attendance.
Okorocha had earlier, while taking exception to the pro-Biafra violent protests in some of the South-East states and few other neighbouring states, disassociated the governors and leaders in the south-east states from the MASSOB protest.
He described the whole exercise as embarrassing, disturbing, counter-productive and to a large extent, distracting.
According to Okorocha, the pro-Biafra protests could not be in the interest of the south-east people but were only sending wrong signals to the rest of Nigerians.
He added that it has become increasingly necessary for the governors in the zone, Ohaneze leaders and other stakeholders in the area to meet and make a pronouncement on the issue.
It is also expected that at the end of the Owerri meeting, the governors and other leaders will take a common position and invite the leaders of the pro-Biafra groups for a meeting to let them know the socio-economic and political implications of their activities including their demand for sovereignty in a united Nigeria.
Govt. Warns FMC Union Against Strike
Speaking in Abuja at the formal presentation of the report of a fact-finding Committee into the industrial crisis that paralysed activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for the substantial part of 2014 and middle of 2015, Dr. Illoh said active players in the industrial space must seek to employ social dialogue in resolving industrial disagreement.
He stressed that if various actors in industrial disputes would embrace social dialogue in resolving their differences, the developmental agenda of government would be realized, adding that all management and union officials should see social dialogue as an indispensable tool in the resolution of disputes and do well to also bargain in good faith.
His words: "In his words the penchant to resort to strikes and disruption of work processes remains inimical to the overall development of the country and more importantly and in the case of Federal Medical Centre Owerri (FMCO) jeopardize the lives of Nigerians who need the services of the Centre in order to stay alive."
Femi Gbajabiamila & Dogara On A Cold war
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Monday, inaugurated the 96 special and standing committees of the Nigerian lower legislative body.
However, the inauguration ceremony confirmed the leadership cold war in the House was still far from over.
The Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who had accused Mr. Dogara of undermining the offices of the principal officers in the process of constituting the committees, led his loyalists in the ruling All Progressives Congress to boycott the ceremony.
APC legislators have complained that the nature of the composition of the committees favoured the opposition of Peoples Democratic Party and that it was capable of “sabotaging the change mantra” of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Of the 96 committees, while APC got 48 committees, PDP clinched 46, including some of the relatively sensitive ones like committees on Petroleum (downstream and upstream), Gas, Aviation, Army, Works and Foreign Affairs.
Social Democratic Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance also got one committee chairmanship seat each.
At the inauguration, the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki, said both chambers of the legislative body were committed to legislations that would better Nigeria and support the change agenda of Mr. Buhari.
He sought support for the 8th Assembly.
Mr. Dogara defended the number of the committees which Nigerians have criticised as oversized.
“Some commentators have decried the large number of Committees as being unwieldy and non-cost effective,” Mr. Dogara said.
“This criticism, even though, apparently well intentioned, misses the point. Experience gained from the operation of Committees since 1999, shows that some ministries’ functions and mandates are very wide indeed and cannot be effectively supervised and overseen by a single Committee.
“For instance, the House split the Committee on Education into two, namely: Basic Education and Services and Tertiary Education and Services. The old Committee on Education had a mandate to oversight the budget and policy issues of the following institutions:
“Unity Schools, 22 No. Federal Colleges of Education, 36 No. Federal Universities and 24 No. Federal Polytechnics.”
“There is no way a single Committee can adequately oversight all these agencies with House members also attending to other issues in Plenary Sessions, like lawmaking and other representational responsibilities,” he said.
Orubebe Ducked Over Alleged N70m Bribe
The Federal Government, yesterday, arraigned former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe , before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja.
Orubebe pleaded not guilty to the four-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the government.
He, through his lawyer, Mr. Larry Selekeowei, SAN, told the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal that he was ready for trial, even as he dared the government to go ahead and open its case against him.
At that point, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Musa Usman, told the tribunal that his witnesses were not available.
He urged the tribunal to adjourn the matter for two weeks to enable him to assemble them.
His application infuriated Orubebe’s lawyer, who insisted that the charge was only aimed at tarnishing the hard earned reputation of his client.
Accusing the Federal Government of not being serious with the case, Orubebe’s lawyer said: “My lords, we are really surprised that they are not ready to proceed today (yesterday) despite all the noise they have made for the past 10 days.
“On our part, we are ready for this trial. Though we cannot force them to open their case, but looking at the rules of this tribunal, Rule 5(1) is a part they can fulfil today (yesterday). It clearly mandates them to disclose the evidence they have against the accused person.
“They can at least clear that part before we get to the issue of whether they have witnesses or not. If the witnesses are not here, he should state the evidence. This kind of case should not be for mere jamboree.”
Relying on the provision of section 164 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, Orubebe, through his lawyer, maintained that he was ready for his prosecution.
Cutting his submission short, Justice Danladi asked, “Counsel are you giving us the citation of the accused person?”
Selekeowei answered in the negative, saying “My Lords, I am only praying that my client should be granted bail on self recognition.”
Meanwhile, before adjourning the matter till November 26 for definite hearing, Justice Danladi, slammed the Federal Government for not producing any of its witnesses before the tribunal yesterday.
Meet The Newly Appointed Permanent Secretaries
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.
The appointment is coming after the retirement of several Permanent Secretaries by the government on Tuesday.
Those who were not retired were also redeployed.
The information was contained in a statement on Tuesday evening by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.
Those newly appointed are:
1. Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba
2. Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse
3. Mr. Taiwo Abidogun
4. Dr. Bukar Hassan
5. Mrs. Wakama Belema Asifieka
6. Mr. Jalal Ahmad Arabi
7. Mr. Sabiu Zakari
8. Mrs. Obiageli Phyllis Nwokedi
9. Mr. Aminu Nabegu
10. Mr. Bamgbose Olukunle Oladele
11. Mr. Alo Williams Nwankwo
12. Dr. Shehu Ahmed
13. Mr. Ogbonnaya Innocent Kalu
14. Mrs. Nuratu Jimoh Batagarawa
15. Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa
16. Mr. Bassey Apkanyung
17. Mr. Louis Edozien
18. Dr. Ugo Roy
Those deployed are:
1. Dr. Shehu Ahmad – Fed. Min. of Agric & Rural Development
2. Arch Sunday Echono – Fed. Min. of Communications
3. Alh. Sabiu Zakari – Fed. Min. of Transportation
4. Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba – Fed. Min. of Information & Culture
5. Amb. Danjuma Sheni – Fed. Min. of Defence
6. Dr. Shade Yemi-Esan – Fed. Min. of Education
7. Mrs. Fatima Mede – Budget & National Planning
8. Alh. Mahmoud Isa Dutse – Fed. Min. of Finance
9. Amb. Bulus Lolo – Fed. Min of Foreign Affairs
10. Dr. Amina Shamaki – Fed. Min. of Health
11. Mr. Aliyu Bisalla -Fed. Min. of Industry, Trade & Investment
12. Mr. Bassey Akpanyung – Fed. Min. of Internal Affairs
13. Mr. Taiwo Abidogun – Fed. Ministry of Justice
14. Dr. Habiba Lawal – Fed. Min. of Science & Tech.
15. Dr. Clement Illoh – Fed. Min. of Labour & Productivity
16. Dr. Jamila Shu’ara – Fed. Min of Petroleum Resources
17. Mrs. Binta Bello – Fed. Min of Women Affairs
18. Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye – Federal Capital Territory
19. Mrs. Rabi Jimeta – Fed. Min. of Water Resources
20. Dr. Bukar Hassan – Fed. Min of Environment
21. Mrs. Wakama B. Asifieka – Fed. Min. of Niger Delta Affairs
22. Mr. Istifanus Fuktur – Fed. Min. of Solid Minerals
23. Mr. Christian Ohaa – Fed. Min of Youth & Sports
24. Engr. A.G. Magaji – Fed. Min. of Works & Housing
25. Mr. Louis Edozien – Fed. Min. of Power
26. Mr. Jalal Arabi – State House
27. Mr. Mohammed Bukar – General Services Office, OSGF
28. Mr. Abbas Mohammed – Ecological Fund Office, OSGF
29. Dr. Ugo Roy – Council Secretariat
30. Mr. Aminu Nabegu – Special Services Office, OSGF
31. Amb. Bamgbose Akindele – Political Affairs Office, OSGF
32. Mr. Alo Williams Nwankwo – Economic Affairs Office, OSGF
33. Mrs. Obiageli Nwokedi – Special Duties Office, OSGF
34. Mr. Innocent Ogbonnaya -Career Management Office, OHCSF
35. Mr. S.K.Y. Adelakun – Common Services Office, OHCSF
36. Mrs. N. Batagarawa – Service Policy & Strategies Office, OHCSF.
Adesina said the new appointments and deployments are with effect from Tuesday, November 10, 2015.
Thursday, 5 November 2015
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Sunday, 14 June 2015
Reasons For President Buhari's Ministerial Delay
Clearing the air on the controversy why the President is yet to hit the ground running at least unveiling the ministerial nominees, a Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, called on Nigerians to give the new president time. As these were the reasons for the delay when speaking with SarahaTV. He recalled that after the 2011 elections, many South-West governors took several months to form their governments.
He said that the President did say he would hit the ground running, but he has not been given the chance to hit the ground running because:
1. Failure of the past Administration-the Jonathan administration to deliver the handover notes until two or three days to the inauguration, meaning that these handover notes were submitted at a time when everyone had been consumed by (inauguration) activities.
“Unfortunately, there was no time to look at them until after the President had been inaugurated. The President was left in the dark. He had to understand what the situation was and what was on the ground. That was why he set up a different transition committee. It was only this week that the committee, led by Dr. Ahmed Joga, scrutinised the handover notes and handed over the report to him (Buhari).
“To be fair to him, he would have hit the ground running if the previous government had handed over the notes early.
2. Failure by the past administration to corporate with the Buhari Transition committee. "The Jonathan government did not even permit any minister to interact in any way with the Buhari Transition Committee. Evidently, we had our hands tied behind our backs until we took over. Thus, there is nothing shady about it.”
Shehu explained that the ministerial appointments was yet to be made because the committee needed to conclude its findings on 800-page report which was presented to Buhari on Friday.
Thursday, 11 June 2015
Political Opinion: This is Laxity Not Blaming
Politics is about space and opportunity. When you don't take space, another shall take it. Senate President Bukola saw the space left vacant by the other house members especially APC fractions who are loyal to the Party authority "powers that be" and therefore he took advantage. APC members should have seen this coming because Bukola Saraki made it clear from the beginning. Come to think of it, what if all the members obeyed and went for the so called meeting scheduled on the same day and almost the same time of the NASS election & inauguration and PDP decides to play hard politics on them. Obviously , they would loss it all and rant the way they are ranting now. You don't take anything or anyone for granted believing you are in charge. I advice APC party to bring their head down & eyes to where it all started, the different blocks, different interests and how to reconcile them. If they start this early rejecting hand shakes, holding separate contracting press conferences then their peacook parade will certainly not last. There is called "hit the running" Nigerians are yet to feel that. Nigerians at this critical moment need democratic governance and not party politics. We don't need political maradonas and mandelas with good moves and great speech but can't score for the nation or even liberate Nigerians from all sectoral wrecks. Thank you fellow Nigerians and our leaders please resume duties.
Saturday, 30 May 2015
Read What President Buhari Has Already Ordered For
President Buhari Inaugural Speech
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Okonjo Iwuala Exposed the Governors; Imo State Got N72 billion Plus...
Saturday, 9 May 2015
Uche Ogbuagu in 10Bilion Naira Hot Sue
The state Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has sued Mr Uche Ogbuagu 10billion for libel over the production and publication of offensive materials both in tapes, CD , various audio and video materials captioned 'k' opuo.
The Governor of Imo State and Chief Ihedioha in Abuja Yesterday
A clear show of the wise saying " give honour to whom honour is due".
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Underaged voting in 2015 nigerian election
These are really the people that made up the million voters in the north.
Monday, 30 March 2015
APC loses in Imo State
APC has 133, 253
PDP has 559, 185 announced by the INEC collation officer Prof. Ibidabo Obe.
Can this be one of the shockers as Muhamdu Buhari Okechukwu loses in Imo state???
APC loses in Imo
APC has 133, 253
PDP has 559, 185 announced by collation officer Prof Ibidabo Obe.
Can this be one of the shockers, Buhari losing in an APC state?
PDP has 559, 185 announced by collation officer Prof Ibidabo Obe.
Can this be one of the shockers, Buhari losing in an APC state?
APC is in for a Shocker - Femi Kayode
This night on a phone conversion with channels correspondents said that APC is in for a shocker as their so called strong hold states will be seen going for PDP. What informed him, is on the facts of the result of a free and fair election or is there something he is not telling Nigerians???
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Prof.Viola Onwuliri Acussed
Prof.Viola Onwuliri was alleged to have imported widows with red cards to help disrupt the proceedings of the public political forum.
Scheduled Forum For The Guber Candidates Ended In Fiasco
Okorocha Shutdown Owerri
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Bill Board War in Imo
APC, PDP, APGA guilty of Bill Board destruction galore in Imo as Captain Iheancho counters Imo Govt.orders.
Imo Traditional rulers lay causes on Onwuliri
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