Home Blog Page 2370

PDP Crisis: Wike Goes For Broke

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
Nyesom Wike

By James Orji

The failure by the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP to hold its National Executive Council, NEC meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday may have been as a result of a fresh plot to remove the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus. Behind the new onslaught, the magazine learnt, is Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state who appears unrelenting in his plot to sack the embattled chairman.

Secondus got a respite last week after the leaders of the party failed to agree on his ouster.

Indication has since emerged that top PDP leaders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state among others saved Secondus from being disgraced out of office, by a clique in the party led by Rivers helmsman, who are not happy with the leadership style of the PDP boss. Still, Secondus traducers appear not to have surrendered their plot to get him sacked.

The magazine learnt that the decision of Atiku and others not to support Governor Wike is not unconnected with the fact that, they all consider what is going on in the party as a solo effort by a powerful cabal in the party, led by the Rivers’ helmsman to hijack the PDP ahead the 2023 presidential election.

For instance, the trio of Atiku, Saraki and Governor Tambuwal (who until now is a close ally of Governor Wike) “has seen between the lines that Wike is trying to undermine the National Chairman for his own personal gain, majorly for the 2023 presidential election,” a source in the party said.

“These our leaders know that they have something to lose if Governor Wike who have shown the tendency to be a dictator is allowed to have his way. That, obviously, is not what these leaders want particularly considering that the 2023 election is a make or mar for the PDP.

“They will not allow one man to run the show of determining the party’s destiny,” the source said.

Governor Wike has denied he has presidential ambition.

Last week, the leaders of the party including PDP state governors and other top echelons brokered a truce which will allow the embattled chairman to remain in office until November when a new set of leaders who steer the affairs of the party will be elected at the party’s national convention.

The expanded stakeholders’ meeting, which comprised state governors, Board of Trustees, BoT, former ministers, former governors and National Assembly Caucus, who met in Abuja, also directed Secondus, to convene the NEC meeting to ratify the processes ahead of the October national convention.

In spite of the peace deal, the Rivers governor appears unsatisfied and still want Secondus to be sacked before the end of his tenure, sources in the party informed the magazine on Thursday.

Uche Secondus
Secondus: Embattled PDP Chairman

‘Governor Wike is seriously working to ensure that the election is moved forward to October. He’s doing this to show that he still wields a great influence in the party and that his views cannot be totally disregarded on the future of Secondus as National Chairman, following a resolution by party leaders last week that the chairman should remain in office till November,” a member of NEC said in confidence.

Speaking on a live television interview in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Wike said for the PDP to win the 2023 general elections, the Secondus-NWC must be removed.

According to him “If you go to the public and ask Nigerians if PDP is ready to take over power in 2023, if you take referendum, you will know that Nigerians are even waiting for PDP.

“But the fear of Nigerians is whether PDP is ready to take over power. So, people are concerned about it. Obviously, it is ripe for PDP to take over, but you must be prepared to take over.

“And we said with what we have now, it will be difficult to take over power in 2023 if there is no amendment. Leadership was the problem.”

He said Secondus cannot lead the party to a presidential victory.

“The point is this, the current NWC, as it is today, cannot lead the party to victory. Nobody has said they have not done well, one way or the other, but we are talking about the challenges ahead.

“That is why we are pushing for the party to have other people to lead the party and to give it a different strength altogether. If you know APC, you know that you need a robust, determined leadership of the party (PDP) to make sure you match them word by word, action by action,” Wike said.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the reason why Governor Wike wants Secondus to be sacked by all means, may not be unconnected with his calculation that the embattled chairman, considering the bi-partisan support he now enjoys among major stakeholders in the party, could be re-elected for a fresh term.

The PDP Constitution allows the National Chairman to seek a re-election.

OPINION: Oh My God! Gov. Masari Has Lost Confidence In Mr President

By
The Source
-
0

By Comfort Obi

You know Aminu Masari. You should.

He has been around. He had been the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

That position made him the number four man in the country.

Ordinarily, that should have been the ultimate, unless he became the President, Vice President or the President of the Senate.

But you know Nigeria. Being a Governor, an Executive Governor, with executive powers is the ultimate.

So Aminu Masari became the Governor of Katsina State. And, as an icing on the cake,  Muhammadu Buhari, from same State with him, became the President. That’s a privilege.

An advantage. The President must give attention, special attention to his State. And so would attention and patronage seekers, even members of his cabinet and Service Chiefs. They do things for the State to make the President happy, to curry his favour.

If in doubt, check the number of high profile tertiary institutions and other projects domiciled in Katsina since Buhari’s Presidency.

When the Katsina Central market went up in flames, the Jagaban, Bola Tinubu, flew to Katsina and gave them N50m. Some traders in Lagos, the State where Tinubu was a two-term Governor, and still the emperor, and who had suffered the same fate as their Katsina counterparts, made some noises, asking why they were not that lucky.

They forgot something.

Comfort Obi
Comfort Obi

President Buhari is from Katsina, not Lagos. Tinubu didn’t need to do that in Lagos to attract anybody’s attention. Katsina is important to any future aspiration.

The latest largesse to Katsina came from Senator Rochas Okorocha. Yes, Okorocha, former two-term  Imo State Governor.  The one who wants to be our President. Yes, Nigeria’s President in 2023!

A few days ago, Rochas announced he would build a University in Katsina, an Islamic  University, free accommodation, free feeding, specifically, in Daura, President Buhari’s Emirate.

So you see, Masari should be happy?

Not true.

He says the President’s office has not helped the State security-wise. He has given up on the President’s ability to protect the state.

Ever since he became Governor, he has had no peace of mind. He has been humiliated in every which way by bandits. The State is bandit-prone. On, at least, one occasion, he was reduced to sitting down and  negotiating with heavily armed, gun-toting bandits.

Bandits, who has made hell out of his Government.

They have no respect for him. And they have no respect for Mr President.

At a point, remember, Masari declared himself a failure as a Governor. He said he couldn’t protect his people, and so, a failure.

This order day, recently, he declared he was not happy being a Governor. Why, in the face of all these, Masari wouldn’t quit his office is a story for another day. Otherwise, when one declares oneself a failure as a Governor, one should quit. But Masari is still there,offering nothing but failure.

Yet, nothing compares to Masari’s latest submission. It takes the cake.

Masari Has given up on himself. And worse, he has given up on President Buhari. He has lost confidence in both them. He says both of them are incapable of protecting Katsina people. His State, the President’s State.

Both of them are overwhelmed by insecurity. By Bandits. The disrespectful bandits.

Some schools in the President’s and Masari’s State are closed. If they open, Bandits would abduct them. And both men are seem helpless, or so Masari tells us.

This order time, the cheeky bandits were so disrespectful that they  kidnapped  over 200 students the day President Buhari arrived Daura to rest.

Speaking in not too many words, Masari has told his people they are no longer able to protect them. That the people are on their own. That they should buy arms – guns, matchetes, daggers, cudgels – anything to protect themselves. He advised them not to watch, sit by, while bandits kill them.

Fight back, he told them.

He told them to pray, but insists prayers are not enough. That prayers are not the only weapon. They should fight back, and pray.

Hear the Governor: “We must intensify prayers with clean minds to seek God’s forgiveness and intervention.

“We must rise up to counter the insecurity challenge. We must not sit and watch some people buying guns and attacking our houses. We too should buy the guns and protect ourselves”

Governor Masari didn’t stop at that. He blames the people for their fate. He blames them for being meek. He says their meek submission embolden the bandits “to continue with their heinous activities.”

And, as parting shot, he said the usual: Security is not the sole responsibility of the Government.

Of course we know. But when a Governor gives up the way Masari always gives up, it is  a problem. What does the Governor expect the people to do?

In case Masari does not understand the implications of what he said, here they are:

He has given both the State and Federal Government a vote of no confidence as far as security is concerned. And by encouraging people to buy arms, he has encouraged lawlessness.

The President should be worried. My suggestion:

Quit office Mr Governor. Go home. And since you also declared, recently, that you have no interest in another political office, the retirement can start earlier than May 29, 2023. It can start now. That is the most honourable thing to do.

Enjoy.

Former Yobe State Governor, Bukar Ibrahim, Bereaved, Loses Eldest Daughter

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Bukar Ibrahim

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Yobe State Governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, is devastated. He has just lost his eldest daughter, Aisha, to the cold hands of death.

Death struck and played a cruel one on the former steward of the North West State in the early hours of Wednesday when his daughter succumbed to the cold hands of death at the Cairo Hospital, Egypt after a protracted illness.

The burial arrangement of the late Aisha is currently ongoing in Cairo, while reception for condolences and prayers for the soul of the deceased is organised at the residence of her Father at Senator (Dr.) Bukar Abba Ibrahim residence at No 13A Owena Close, Off Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja.

It was gathered that other arrangements for the 4th and 8th day prayers would be announced in due course by the family.

Ibrahim was Governor of Yobe State from 29th May 1999 to 29th May 2007.He also served as Governor of the State from January 1992 to November 1993. He was a member of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP)at the time.

In 2007, he was elected to the Senate for the Yobe East constituency. He ran for re-election in the 9 April 2011 Senatorial contest for Yobe East on the ANPP platform, and won with 115,763 votes against former Senator Lawan Jalo Zarami of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who gained 67,438 votes.

AFCON 2022: Mixed Reactions Trail Super Eagles Pairing Of Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Super Eagles at Teslim Balogun Stadium

By Akinwale Kasali

This is a repeat of the 2010 African Cup of Nations tournament hosted in Angola, where the Super Eagles of Nigeria was paired alongside the Pharaohs of Egypt in Group D.

At the draw of the 2022 AFCON Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the Coach Gernot Rohr-side is grouped alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau.

This has, however, elicited mixed reactions among soccer analysts, enthusiast and pundits over the possibility of the Super Eagles topping the Group  scaling through to the knockout phase of the Championship.

At the 2019 AFCON Championship hosted by Egypt, the six time African Champions was booted out in the Second Round by the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, despite boasting of star players like Mohammed Salah, Mohammed Elneny, Mohammed Trezeguet, Ahmed Hegazy among other top European Players, while the Super Eagles got the Bronze medal, defeating Tunisia in the Third Place Match courtesy of a Jude Odion Ighalo strike.

Some Soccer analysts believe that the Egyptian team are better coordinated and organized than their West African counterpart, with most of their players playing in the Egyptian league and have better understanding, unlike their Nigerian opponent.

According to Lekan Joseph Ologbon, a soccer administrator, “Nigeria has what it takes to top the group and override Egypt looking at the players in the fold of the National side.

“Nigeria will top the group, while Egypt will be second in the group. This will be possible if the players going for the tournament are picked on merit”.

For Kingsley Itafo Ifoga, Nigeria’s toughest team and obstacle in the group is Egypt, who he says could spring up a surprise by shocking the Super Eagles.

“On Paper, Nigeria is a better team to Egypt, but the Egyptians could top the group with Nigeria qualify as the second team”.

Michael Wells, a soccer analysts on Tungba Radio, said that Guinea Bissau and Sudan are his fear in the group.

“There are no more minnows in African football. Guinea Bissau made their qualification for the 2019 AFCON and didn’t do badly. For them to have qualified for this AFCON shows that they are serious minded that are no push overs.

“It would be recalled that Nigeria recorded a back to back victory over Sudan in the qualification series for the 2019 AFCON defeating Sudan 4-0 and 3-2 respectively, but we narrowly got a win. The Sudanese came from two goals down to draw the game before Ighalo got the needed goal to give us the maximum point.

“So Sudan is a difficult team to play, and I see Egypt been a minimal threat to our qualification from the group, but Guinea Bissau is also a team to be wary of”, he said.

The last time the Super Eagles played Egypt in an international friendly at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium in Delta State, Nigeria, a 58 seconds strike from Paul Onuachu gave the Nigeria team a 1-0 win.

It would also be recalled that at the 2010 AFCON tournament, Egypt defeated Nigeria 3-1 in their opening Group match, despite fielding mostly home based players then headed by Mohammed Aboutrika.

In the other groups, host Nation, the Indomitable Lions of Cameron are paired with Burkina Faso, Cape Verde and Ethiopia.

In Group B, Senegal will play Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi.

Group C has the Atlas Lion of Morocco,  Black Stars of Ghana, Comoros and Gabon.

Other groups have; Algeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.

Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia are the last team occupying  Group F.

My First Encounter with Ibrahim Mantu

By
The Source
-
0
Timi Alaibe and Ibrahim Mantu

By ‘Timi Alaibe

We have been in this season of bad news for too long. When are we getting out of it? When will death give up on us? Who can stop death from claiming our best—in business, in politics, in leadership, in the military, in sports, in everything? Where did we go wrong?

No death is good news. Every life has its value. God created everyone for certain divine plans and purposes. Why should death keep us in constant tears? You never know who is next on the line until the phone rings at an ungodly hour, or the news media screams: breaking news!

From daybreak to midnight on Monday, August 16, nothing pointed to the fact this would happen. No one saw it coming—except the Almighty Himself. Then suddenly, something snaps. An era ends. A life passes on. The nation weeps. Tears roll down several cheeks. A wife is widowed. Children become orphans. We are left speechless.

When the phone rang in the midnight of Tuesday, I was still awake—though far from the Atlantic Coast. I knew it was early morning in Nigeria. Somehow, I had an instant feeling of some news coming in. But what manner of news it was, I could not predict. The number was familiar.

As I picked the call; and heard the tone of the voice at the other end, I wasn’t impressed. Bad news has its peculiar tone. This one was no exception. Before the words spill out, the contents were obvious. Death, the mysterious intruder, has struck again.

“Have you heard?”

“Heard what” I was obviously impatient, curious, within a split second.

“Ibrahim Mantu is dead”

“What did you say?” I heard him quite well. He did not stammer. There was no network problem. But I just didn’t want to hear what he said.

“I said Ibrahim Mantu is dead. He passed on just about two hours ago.”

I became dumbstruck. It didn’t sound like a joke. Death has never been an ingredient for pleasantries. The news hit me with all the complements of unbelief. Ibrahim Nasiru Mantu, dead? Just like that? What? How? Why? I couldn’t make sense of what he said.

Till now, I can’t recall what I said next. My thought was on alarm. I can’t even tell how the phone left my hand. Time passed. The tea got cold. I lost appetite for everything except tears.

My thought travelled—not in kilometres—but in years; across seasons. I was quickly reminded by my sub-consciousness about the first time I met Mantu physically—just about 23 years ago. He had a soft, almost inaudible voice. His eyes were sharp—just like his intellect. His pace of understanding knotty issues was quite unimaginable.

How did I know him? His nephew was my friend. He had secured admission to study abroad; but had no cash backing. He approached me. I helped out. After all, what are friends for! The young man went and told his uncle (Mantu) about me and what I did. From that moment, Mantu insisted on meeting me in person. He called, we spoke on phone. He sounded excited.

In 1998, I finally met him in Lagos. It was a beautiful encounter. He radiated an unhidden friendly mien. We ate and drank as though we had met before. I was a banker. He was a politician. He asked about my future career aspiration. I told him I was tired of banking. I needed something in the public sector. He promised to keep his eyes and ears open as democratic governance was by the corner.

A year later—just after the 1999 elections—Mantu was now a senator. He called me to set up a meeting. He told me about a top opening at what is now NIMASA. I told him I was interested. He took my CV to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who seemed obviously impressed by my profile. But he had other ideas.

The VP told me about plans to establish the Niger Delta Development Commission. He said as someone from the Niger Delta region, I was fully qualified to occupy a higher position at the Commission.

That was how the journey to my appointment as executive director, finance and administration, at the NDDC, commenced. Mantu volunteered and personally took me around to introduce to many senators for a buy-in and acquiescence to my Senate confirmation and approval for appointment.

Beyond that little assistance I gave his nephew, I don’t know what he saw in me that ignited his interest in my person. But Mantu’s love for me was instant. He unhesitatingly adopted me as a god-given son. He later told me that he saw in me what he would love his children to be. I was flattered; but I loved it.

At every opportunity, I honoured him as a father. He respected and treated me as a beloved son. Anytime NDDC needed a covering fire from the National Assembly, I rushed to him. When we needed attention from the Villa, considering his close relationship with President Obasanjo, we knew who to talk to.

In friendship, he was reliable. Wait a minute! Did I just say ‘was’? What does that mean? He is no more! What a loss! What becomes of his wonderful, motherly wife? What about his cherished children!

In politics, Mantu was quintessential. Yes, that’s the word. He was an embodiment of political activism. He lived politics. He spoke politics. He understood politics. He loved politics. That was Mantu! He had his weaknesses because he was human. But his strong points dwarfed all of that. The expression: ‘I’m sorry’ was always close to his lips.

I am still trying to make sense of the news. Mantu dead? I’m still trying to wake up from the shock. This death is a serious crack on the walls of never-give-up brand of politics. Mantu moulded great minds in leadership. He affected several lives by lifting the fallen. We will surely miss him. We will miss his politics—the old school politics of persuasion.

To his beloved wife, be strong. I know the shock. It’s a familiar feeling. It doesn’t go fast. The hand of the Lord comforts you. To the children, take delight in who your father was. Walk in his footsteps. Be strengthened in the Lord.

Alaibe, a grassroot Politician was the MD/CEO of the NDDC, and was later, the Boss of the Presidential Amnesty Programme

Angry Kanu Pulls IPOB From the Brink; Threatens Action

By
The Source
-
0

By Gideon Njoku

Many people had, in the past few days, feared two things: An implosion in the, otherwise, strong-willed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, or a big Crack in its leadership. But it’s Supreme Leader,Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the custody of the Federal Government of Nigeria where he is, has taken full control of the situation, and pulled it from the brinks. And he warns the IPOB family: No indiscipline will be tolerated, or there will be consequences for, and against, anybody who either incites it, or indulges in it.

Many has hailed the way he handled the simmering, almost, bad situation, as a mark of good leadership on his part. A number of his admirers hailed him as a leader who knows when to pull back and/or put his feet down.

It started gradually. Then, it gained momentum.Crisis of confidence followed. Everybody was suspecting everybody. Nobody was spared, including the detained, but resolute Leader, Mazi Kanu. On the suspicious list too were members of his hardworking Legal  team.

They were all accused of compromise. They said they had sold out to the Federal Government; an unkind deep cut, considering that Kanu is under detention. An unkind cut considering that his lead Counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, escaped arrest in his  home, but lost his Personal Assistant in a horrendous manner when his, Ejiofor’s house, was raided; an unkind cut, considering how far Kanu’s Special Counsel, the deep Barrister Alloy Ejimakor, has gone to sensitise and draw the attention of the International Community to Kanu’s case, especially, Britain, which citizen Kanu is.

But the mob bayed for blood. It was baying for blood. To them, everybody has become the Biblical Judas Iscariot.

The problem started with what was thought to be an intelligent amendment on the weekly sit-at-home order  clamped on the people of the South-east by IPOB.

The organisation had ordered all Igbo to sit-at-home every Monday to protest the continued detention of Kanu on the orders of a Federal High Court Abuja. The detention was a consequence of Kanu’s rearrest in Nairobi Kenya, and, repatriation (rendition, Ejimakor enlightened us from the onset) to Nigeria after he was forced to breach the bail granted him by the Court.

In 2017 while he was enjoying his bail in his father’s palace (his father was the Traditional of their Community, Afara- ukwu) Soldiers stormed it. Kanu and his parents were lucky to escape. But not so, reportedly, some others and a family dog. There were fatalities. The story behind that invasion has not been properly told. It’s all been a jumble. Sadly, Kanu’s parents died in exile.

Kanu was to surface later in Isreal in 2019, and went on to Britain, which citizen he is. From there he continued his struggle for an independent Biafra.

He never stepped into Nigeria until that other day when he was brought back from Kenya as a sole passenger on a private jet.

To pressurise the FG into releasing him, IPOB declared a total sit-at-home order every Monday until he is released.

The first observation was total, and bloody, and expensive. It came at a huge cost. It was also very much criticized by not a few people.

Aside from its socio-economic loss, it cost a generation of Igbo children the opportunity to take the NECO examination along with their counterparts country-wide. The full effect of missing that examination will be felt in future. And then, there was the accompanying bloodshed. Unnecessary loss of lives. Many felt  it was like cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face.

Two days to that Monday, many were relieved when one Kanunta Kanu whose name had not been heard within the IPOB hierarchy, but who was introduced as IPOB leader’s younger brother, issued a statement to the effect that the sit-at-home order had been canceled to enable the Igbo children take their NECO.

Two things worked against it.

One, nobody had heard Kanunta’s name before. He had never issued any statement on behalf of IPOB before. The person the world knows is Emma Powerful, IPOB Spokesman.

No wonder Kanunta’s statement created a crisis of confidence when Powerful issued a counter statement that the sit-at-home order stood. Many felt rivalry has set in.

Anyway, last Monday, the order was officially canceled. But that opened the flood gate of suspicion.

Barr Ejiofor and the legal team  were accused, in some quarters of lying using Kanu’s name. Kanu was accused, by some others, of  compromise. Ejimakor was accused of no less. A false allegation that stung on all sides.

Ejiofor was the first to issue a strongly-worded statement decrying the allegation against the legal team. Two days ago, he issued another statement after a meeting Kanu, in company with Powerful.

The statement conveyed Kanu’s anger over the allegations against his legal team. He said the order to review the sit-at-home order, and observe it only on the days he would appear in Court, came from him and the leadership of IPOB, and not the Lawyers.

Ejiofor explained that Powerful would issue a statement on their visit to Kanu at his detention centre in Abuja.

Part of Ejiofor’s statement, which was entitled Update read:

“We just concluded today’s routine  visit on a very sound note. What made today’s visit unique is that today marks it the first Day Our Client -Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is setting his eyes on his sibling.

“In my company during the Family’s maiden visit to Our Client is Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Fine Boy), the Representative of Our Client’s family.

“Our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi  Kanu is very strong in spirit.

You will hear the rest  from Prince Emmanuel Kanu.

“Our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was visibly shocked by the unwarranted embarrassment, insults and criticism meted out to his Lawyers by those who should know better.

“Discipline he emphasised is the watchword, which is apparently lacking today.

“If at this point in time people who deliberately choose to be mischief makers, are throwing accusations and insults on his Solicitors,  he wonders when they will learn.

“Note for the umpteenth time for those who care to listen, that nothing on the face of this earth will make us  compromise or change our ways. We are whiter than white!”

As expected Kanu’s intervention doused the crisis of confidence. And was sealed by a statement by Powerful.

PIB Act: Ignoring Outrage, Buhari Sets Up Implementation Committee; Has One Year Mandate

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ayodele Oni

Ignoring the uproar that greeted his signing of the Petroleum Implementation Act, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a committee to immediately begin the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act in 12 months.

The South-south zone in particular, whose soil is the refuge of Oil and Gas, had protested the signed PIB Act, insisting that it is not only skewed against the Zone, but confirms Buhari’s insensitivity to the sufferings of the Zone.

The Committee is headed by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, a South-south son from Bayelsa State.

President Buhari, before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council, (FEC) meeting in Abuja, gave the approval on Wednesday, while giving a remark on the Act which he assented to two days ago.

The President assented to the bill on Monday, after both Chambers of the National Assembly, Senate and House of Representatives- passed it a  couple of months ago.

There has been mixed reactions after the bill was signed, as some believed that some sections of the new law ought to be reconsidered in the interest of Nigerians.

One of the stakeholders in petroleum industry, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) described as insensitive President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), despite the overwhelming outcry and condemnation that greeted its passage by the National Assembly.

According to the group, the paltry three percent provision for the Host Communities Development Trust Fund and the brazen appropriation of an outrageous 30% of NNPC Ltd profit for a dubious, nebulous Frontier Oil Exploration Fund.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken Robinson, PANDEF insisted that the PIB fell way short of the expectations of the Oil and Gas Producing Communities, which bore the brunt of ‘unconscionable’ industry operations.

It would be recalled PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had last month warned that any thing short of 10 percent as the actual annual operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream petroleum operations affecting the host communities for funding of the Host Communities Trust Fund, peace and security might not be guaranteed in the Niger Delta region.

“This assent by President Buhari simply speaks to the repugnant attitude of disregard, propelled by arrogance, disdain and contempt with which issues concerning the Niger Delta Region are treated, particularly by the present Administration.”

“What this act signifies is an unequivocal message to the Niger Delta people that how they feel and what they say, do not count, at all, in the Schemes of the Nigerian Project.

“That’s insensitive, abominable and afar every boundary of proper Democratic practice, and, therefore, unacceptable to the good people of the Niger Delta, the critical economic nexus of the entire Nigerian territory.

“The Niger Delta people will speak, shortly, after full consultations, on this callous act, on the best legal and political response.”

“This assent by President Buhari simply speaks to the repugnant attitude of disregard, propelled by arrogance, disdain and contempt with which issues concerning the Niger Delta Region are treated, particularly by the present Administration.”

“What this act signifies is an unequivocal message to the Niger Delta people that how they feel and what they say, do not count, at all, in the Schemes of the Nigerian Project.”

President Buhari had early today before the FEC meeting, met with the leadership of the national assembly led by the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, during which he made the announcement.

The President hinted that relevant ministries, departments, agencies have been tasked to work with the minister towards the successful completion of the implementation process.

He decried that the lack of political will has hampered the growth of the industry, adding that the country has lost about $50 billion in the last 10 years.

However, President Buhari is hopeful that the new Act will coordinate the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and reposition it for further progress.

2023: After Osinbajo, Another APC Stalwart Warns Party Faces Imminent Defeat

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
Muhammadu Buhari - Londo Trip

By James Orji

Tony Okocha, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers state has predicted that the woeful performance of the party could hinder it from winning the 2023 presidential election.

Okocha told the Leadership newspaper in an interview that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has performed below expectations of Nigerians since coming to power in 2015.

The APC chieftain’s comment comes on the heels of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s comment that it will be difficult for the APC to win election once Buhari leaves power.

Osinbajo told some APC youths on Monday that President Buhari’s popularity has been winning election for the party, adding that once the president is no longer in the picture the party will struggle to win.

The vice president said “today, the APC can win elections, why not, we have a very popular President who can control significant votes, we have partners everywhere.

“Whereas, in the coming years, when we do not have such a political leader who is as popular as the President, you are going to need to do the hard work. We can’t assume that the votes will all come in.”

Okocha, who is the former chief of staff to Rivers State Government House, said Nigerians are not happy with the

President Buhari-led federal government, following its inability to live up to its promises to the citizens as well as uphold the ruling party’s change mantra.

He said “APC came to power in 2015 with a whole lot of promises to Nigeria. In fact, it was on the mantra of change that the APC came to government. What was the change all about?

“Change was an ideology, a philosophy, a coinage that APC had to adopt because the period of the leadership of PDP in Nigeria was seen as a period when Nigerians and Nigeria backslid in virtually all ramifications; the economy was down, corruption was at its peak, infrastructures were not just there and so forth and so on.

“So, APC came with that mantra of change. As a founding member of the party in the state, our concern was how to reduce the spate of corruption that was eating deep into the nation. We also boasted that we were going to revamp the economy, that what used to be a minus would be a plus in APC government.

“Looking back, six years gone, I can’t pick anything that one can hold to say yes, this is the change we promised to bring. Poverty is everywhere. Nigerians can barely feed, the roads are terrible, the hospitals are still not there. In fact, we promised that our country will be a medical tourist centre, but our President still travels overseas when he is sick,” the APC chieftain said.

$700m Recovered Loot: Malami Tells Govs To Shut Up

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

By James Orji

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has faulted 36 state governors in the country for dragging the Federal Government to court over the $700 million recovered loot.

The Buhari government has received several millions of dollars from Europe and other countries in late dictator General Sanni Abacha loots. The governors are now demanding accountability of the funds.

The governors have filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the Federal Government on the status of recovered funds and failure to remit same to the federation account.

In the suit, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration by the provisions of 162 (1) and Section 162(10) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), all income, returns, proceeds, or receipts derived from confiscated, forfeited and/or recovered assets constitute revenue must be remitted to the Federation account for the collective benefit of the Federal, State and Local Governments.

Amongst other things, they are also seeking a declaration that the failure and/or refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Finance, the office of the AGF, and the Accountant-General of the Federation, and all her relevant authorities and/or agencies of the Federation to remit the receipts, income, returns or proceeds derived from all assets recovered, seized, confiscated and forfeited into the Federation account to be distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution is unconstitutional.

They also asked the court to declare that “it is unconstitutional for the President, through the Federal Minister of Finance, the AGF, or any other authority whatsoever, to utilise, apply, allocate, expend and appropriate same to itself or distribute same in any other manner howsoever without due allocation from the Federation.”

Reacting, Malami in a statement signed by his media aide, Umar Gwandu, argued that international recoveries are not subjected to local laws, because several sovereignties are involved.

The statement said, “International recoveries are more or less governed by international conventions, negotiations, and agreement of parties. It is never a straightjacket application of local legislation.

“Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission Act has nothing specific on funds recovered from indicted public officers. It merely mentions accruals and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account. So questions of recovery of stolen funds from indicted public officers are appropriately dealt with by other relevant laws.

‘It is, therefore, misleading to give the impression that such recoveries and usage of stolen funds and stashed abroad are provided for by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act.

“One cannot situate rights and entitlements on looted funds and recovered assets with myopic and narrow understating of concepts of the application of local legislations. For the avoidance of doubt and the purpose of setting the record straight, the application of the looted funds can only be factored within the context of mutual understanding and negotiations of international and multifaceted jurisdictional and territorial legislative issues.

“The recovery of stolen assets and the subsequent uses to which these funds may be employed are subject to international agreements between Nigeria and the affected countries, thereby bringing the conflict of laws into contemplation.”

The statement added that, “Importantly also, these repatriated funds are based on cooperation and mutual assistance agreements, especially the United Nations Convention against Corruption and Implementation of the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principles on the Repatriation of Stolen Assets. The African Union and the ECOWAS Protocols on recovery of illicit funds are equally relevant when it comes to the role of Nigeria in relation to its other partners.

“As a member of the committee of nations and a respectable international partner, Nigeria must always strive to fulfill its international commitments in the repatriation and use of stolen funds and assets.

“By way of example, the Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into numerous agreements such as the one with the United States and the Island of Jersey in 2020 and including with other countries around the world. Where the agreements assume an international character, the specifics of the agreement often dictate the trajectory of recovery, sharing, transfer, and implementation.

“Some element misunderstood the issue of international recoveries and locally generated funds in relation to monies belonging to the Federal Government that are locally generated. It is not to be confused with stolen funds and assets domiciled in foreign jurisdictions whose recovery and subsequent repatriation are based on international legal arrangements between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the foreign custodians of these funds.

“It needs to be further noted that even recoveries of local assets are in most cases regulated by the applicable legislation and judicial pronouncements associated with this legislation and not Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission Act exclusively. One can cite for the purpose of clarity recoveries done by the NDLEA, EFCC, ICPC among others,” Malami said.

Buhari Abuses CBN’s Ways& Means, Borrows N14tn In Six Years

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

By Fola James

The federal government’s borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has reached an alarming level, as latest figures indicate that the Buhari administration has taken an overdraft from the apex bank more than any previous administrations.

From barely N700 billion when Buhari came to power in 2015, the figure has risen astronomically to over N15 trillion in just six years. what that means is that the Buhari government has borrowed over N14 trillion from the CBN since he came to power.

The development has even become more worrisome following allegations that the administration has been abusing the W&M.

The Ways and Means, according to the CBN Act is an avenue whereby the federal government borrows from the CBN to finance budget deficit. But the same Act provides that the overdraft should not exceed five per cent and must be paid within the budgetary year.

According to Section 38 of the CBN Act, 2007, the bank may grant temporary advances to the Federal Government in respect of temporary deficiency of budget revenue at such rate of interest as the bank may determine.

The Act says, “The total amount of such advances outstanding shall not at any time exceed five per cent of the previous year’s actual revenue of the Federal Government.

“All advances shall be repaid as soon as possible and shall, in any event, be repayable by the end of the Federal Government financial year in which they are granted and if such advances remain unpaid at the end of the year, the power of the bank to grant such further advances in any subsequent year shall not be exercisable, unless the outstanding advances have been repaid.”

That obviously, analysts of the apex bank said, is where the administration has failed considering that the federal government’s overdraft has risen to as much as 80 per cent of the yearly budget since Buhari came to power, according to reports from the Godwin Emefiele-led bank.

The situation has raised more concerns among Nigerians who said the nation’s total debt stock has risen to over N48 trillion since Buhari came to power in 2015.

According to figures provided by the Debt Management Office, DMO the total debt by 36 state governments and federal government stands at over N33 trillion. If added to the CBN overdraft, the total debt stock now stands at over N48 trillion.

But this seems not to be the concern to the administration following President Buhari’s comment that his government will borrow more to finance critical infrastructure in the country, and that he’s prepared to go to jail if the need arose.

In an audio interview recorded just before the 2019 presidential election, the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said the president was adamant about taking loans and had vowed to go to jail over the same issue.

Amaechi said “And I like the president’s disposition. He says, ‘let’s borrow it. They can say whatever they like. When we finish, once we are borrowing to the infrastructure, and we finish developing, Amaechi, don’t worry. I’ll go to jail on your behalf. You won’t go to jail.”

In the first six months of this year, the Federal Government borrowed N2.4trillion from the CBN, more than half of what it got in the whole of last year.

The N2.4trillion is also much higher than five per cent of the Federal Government’s retained revenue of N3.9trillion in the previous year.

As of June 2015, the total government borrowing from the apex bank stood at N648.26billion. It jumped from N856.33billion in December 2015 to N2.23trillion in December 2016, the CBN data show.

The total borrowing from the bank grew by N1.08 trillion in 2017 to N3.31tn. It rose further by N2.1tn in 2018 to N5.41trillion. It surged by 61.18 per cent (N3.31trillion) to N8.72trillion at the end of 2019.

Last year, the government turned to the apex bank for a record N4.9trillion to plug its fiscal financing gap, bringing its total borrowing to N13.11trillion as of December 2020.

 

1...2,3692,3702,371...2,987Page 2,370 of 2,987