Screenings: Lawan Under Fire Over Bow And Go Song

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July 27, 2019

By Uche Mbah

Ahmed Lawan, the President of the 9the Senate, has become a but of jokes and innuendoes over his handling of the screening of ministerial nominees, which he has shown the predilection to “get it over with”, and no inclination to actually drop anyone, tending to confirm fears that the ninth Senate has become an appendage of the Presidency.

Lawan, since he became the Senate president, has been having a difficult task defending the ninth senate-and himself- saying that, contrary to speculations, the Senate is independent.

Since he became the senate President, he has all but become the unofficial spokesperson of the Presidency in the absence of an official minister of information. He flies into defense of the presidency anytime a criticism arises in the senate and, during a recent visit of the principal officers of the National assembly to the presidency, praised the Presidency for his “support during the NASS elections” and pledging loyalty to him.

His handling of the screenings have become the butt of jokes on social media, with many querying why there was screening at all.

But if anything, the screening appears to have brought out the inner thinking of the government. Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the federation, tried to justify why the presidency was not obeying Court orders on the floor of the senate, suggesting that they prefer extrajudicial means to achieve their aims-yet there was no eyebrows raised on the floor of the senate.

In answer to a question, he said:”Unfortunately the example you cited, Murtala Mohamed then as Military heads of states, I think the tactics (they ) used may suggest to me that nobody will succeed in fighting indiscipline and corruption in this country unless he uses extra judicial means, simply because we don’t like obeying orders”.

He was told to bow and go.

For Hadi Sirika, former minister of Aviation, no questions were asked about the Nigeria Air Logo that gulped millions of dollars without an Aircraft.

He was told to bow and go.

“Really, ‘the bow and go’ privilege is reserved for former members of the national assembly, but I do not think it has ever been this abused. Of the 14 nominees that were ’interviewed on Thursday alone, 10 were asked to ’bow and go’”, wrote Frederick Nwabufo, a social commentator.

Lawan is giving the privilege to everyone who has any legislative experience either at state of federal level. Other senates limited the privilege to former senators. At the end, only few nominees were screened. It was extended to all nominees from Katsina state, and the home state of National officers of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Civil society Organizations have made feeble noise about the issue, with some of them mumbling under their breath about weakened checks and balances.

Insecurity: Shiites, Boko Haram, Maitasine, Others May Have A Common Nexus

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Uche Mbah

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July 26, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Shiite issue may snowball into a crisis that the government may find difficult to manage, as they appear to be doing the wrong things to curtail the Shiites, who may not be acting alone, the Magazine can report.

It will be recalled that in recent times, the Shiite group had become emboldened and had decided on several pronged attacks on the institutions of state. Their first target, it was alleged, was Aso Rock, the Nigerian seat of Power,but they ended up at the gate making broadcasts about their detained leader. They could not penetrate due to the high level of security in the area. They went back and regrouped, and after some weeks, now came back in full force at the National Assembly, forcing the Chambers of the law making body to hurriedly adjourn plenaries while escaping with their lives. They turned their activities to the Federal Secretariat, the seat of the Nations bureaucracy, leaving trails of death and destruction in their park. The result is that Abuja is on lock-dow. It has become a police state.

At the end of days of mayhem, more than twenty had died-official figures placed it at about eleven, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police and a Reporter-and still it appears that it is not yet Uhuru for Abuja residents.

Many of the victims died because Abuja hospitals refused to admit gunshot wound victims, even though the law advising such has been repealed by the police.

The Shiites, a violent branch of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, has been under the Leadership of Ibrahim El Zakzaky, a virulent preacher that attracts follower-ship across board, though his anti establishment preaching are said to appeal to youths more.

It was the same group that formed the Maitasine group that rocked the country under the presidency of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. They are the second largest Islamic group in the world, with headquarters in Iran, as opposed to the Sunni Muslims, the largest group. Nigeria has always been a battleground between these Islamic sects, with Osama been laden, the gentle looking giant that oversaw the formation of Al Qaeda, now late, once declaring that “Nigeria is ripe for liberation”.

The Shiites have been trying on a violent overthrow of the system, which they consider as wrong, because the ruler-ship of the Nigerian state is dominated by their arch rival the Sunnis, many of which are of the Wahhabi extraction. Thus the same tactics being employed by the Shiites today was not new. It was the same method used by Mohammed Marwa the leader of Yan tasine, himself popularly called Mai tasine or the fierry preacher. Mai tasine started during the colonial era, was sent to exile by the British government, returned and opened up shop in Kano where he preached hate. He was killed in 1980 by the military under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. The general who led the onslaught against him and his group was Muhammadu Buhari, currently the president of Nigeria. The operation stamp out Yan Tasine cost nigeria an estimated five thousand lives.

Soon another group emerged after Yan tasine gradually died within five years, with remnants of his followers forming kennel of Boko Haram, or Western Education is Forbidden. It was led by Mohammed Yusuf, said to be the son of Mohamed Marwa, the Maitasine himself. His surname Marwa stems from his place of birth, Marwa in Cameroon. Government clampdown on it resulted in Yusuf being killed in police custody after the military handed him over to the police when he was arrested. His murder may have been done with the belief that Boko Haram will fizzle out like the Maitasine did after the death of Marwa.With his death, other international cells that were looking for opportunities for inroads into Nigeria cashed in-more so as Yusuf’s deputy, Abubakar Shekau, took over, and the Northern elite, including the current president, saw their activities as what should be used to push former president Goodluck Jonathan out of power. Boko Haram became humongous, its Shiite base completely obliterated as more political interests took over.

It was alleged that during Jonathan Administration, governors of North east and North west were mandated to donate ten millions monthly for the support of Boko Haram.

By the time Jonathan left, it has become difficult to manage. Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, Islamic state, Fulanis joined hands to make it a sore that will never go. It was also alleged that it became taken over by foreign intelligence agencies for their covert operations. Hence it has become a Frankenstein monster, that even the Army has fifth columnists allegedly working for them right up to the highest echelon.

Today, government, apparently believing they have learnt their lessons, decided to hold El Zakzaky in detention instead of having him killed. But this has pitched them against the Nigerian constitution they swore to uphold, as it is being counted against them as his case has swelled up the number of cases where Buhari finds himself in contempt of Court by refusing to obey court orders. It does not speak well too as he is seen to be using state power to push Sunni Islam to the fore. “Many Supreme Court judges are said to be Sunni Sharia Lawyers, including the current Chief Justice, Mohammed Tanko), declared a Lawyer last week.

Currently, government is torn between international outcry and decisive action on Shiites. And the diplomatic war is on the balance. Reactions are quietly subdued because of the current Iran-US face-off, since Iran is the main backer while the Trump administration is not well disposed to Buhari. It will then be difficult for Iran and US to support the same cause. But the reports of international human rights group may be considered independent.

Chances that the crisis may dovetail into the Boko Haram issue, as those allegedly bent on destabilizing Nigeria may not relent by a long stone. It will be suicidal for this government to give them the arsenal. “You cannot be pushing your own brand of Islam to the fore, and forcing your tribe to take over the country while suppressing other groups and religions. It does not work that way. Not when you do that in total disregard to the economy and sensibility of the masses, who are impoverished every day. One day, something will give. We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder” a Nigerian diplomat confided in this magazine.

That sounds like a dire warning, but will the government listen? Time shall tell.

Islamic Banking On The Rise

By

Bayo Bernard

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July 25, 2019

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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has acceded to rising demand for Islamic financing also known as Islamic banking in Nigeria by increasing the number of Islamic Bank to two.

The apex bank recently announced that it has licensed more banks for operations. Two more commercial banks, Blobus Bank and Titan Bank have been given approval to operate, thus increasing the number of commercial banks in the country to 23.

The CBN also gave approval for Taj bank to operate as an Islamic financing institution.

In 2012, then CBN governor, Lamido Sanusi Lamido approved the formal take off of Islamic banking after it granted license to Jaiz Bank.

Since then, more Nigerians and indeed, faith based organisations have demanded more Islamic banks to be licensed for operation across the country.

Sources in CBN told the magazine that pressure mounted on the apex bank by those dissatisfied with conventional banks, led to the approval, which has now expanded the number to two.

Arbitrary interest charges and other unconventional acts by commercial banks in the country, has opened a window of opportunity for Islamic banks to thrive, analysts say.

Meanwhile, the magazine’s investigations found that call for non-interest banking is a bi-partisan one across faiths and creed in the country.

This is more so, considering that operators of Islamic financing institutions in the country have created products that are attractive and beneficial to the banking public.

Apart from Jaiz Bank, the major operator of full fledge Islamic banking, there are other commercials banks that have created Islamic financing on approval from the CBN.

Stambic IBTC and Sterling Bank are examples of commercials banks selling Islamic banking products. But analysts insist that the two banks have not fully gained the confidence of customers craving for alternate financing.

In spite of this, the quest for the islamic banking has gained support from international Islamic bodies and organisations.

In March, 2017 for instance, Sterling Bank Plc got a $15 million facility from the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) to expand its operations in this area.

Sterling Bank has since 2016 raised number of branches offering non-interest banking services to 200.

Jaiz Bank on its part has been expanding its operation since it first took off in 2012 in states such as Kano, Abuja and Kano.

It has now opened more branches in Oyo, Kaduna, Katsina and Osun states, raising the number of its branches across the country to 39, Jaiz Bank said in March this year.

How does Islamic bank operate? Why is its operation different from commercial or conventional banks?

According to Jelil Mustapha, an expert of Islamic financing, Islamic banking is operated in strict Islamic tenets which forbid interest on loans.

“While commercial banks buy and sell money and benefit from interests, an Islamic bank collects deposits from customers, invest same in some commercial activities, such as property business, whatever profit is made from the transaction is now shared at agreed percentage by the bank and depositor,” Mustapha said.

He explained that in most cases the transaction is carried out with the approval or consent of depositors.

He said the major similarity between commercial and Islamic banks is “that both are risk-takers.”

Like the money banks “depositors are not guaranteed profit or remuneration,” he said.

Bola Ayedegbe, a rice seller in Daleko market, Lagos told the magazine that her faith conforms with the way Islamic banks operate.

According to her, Islamic religion forbids a banking system that thrives on interest based loans or usury. She said since CBN licensed the operation of Islamic bank, she has opened accounts with one of the braches of Jaiz Bank in Lagos.

Despite some challenges “the acceptance of Islamic bank will grow as other people begin to understand that peace of mind is the ultimate in all human endevours,” she said.

Another trader, Bitrus Bulama said his faith as a Christian has not prevented him from taking advantage of alternate banking provided by non-interest financing.

According to him, he embraced Islamic banking as a result of its customer friendly products.

“A situation when you can only get a loan from commercial banks by being charged bogus interest is not palatable. In fact, the manner in which they charged you the interest is not transparent most of the time,” he said.

Some Islamic banking products include Musharakah, where the bank carries out financing that is not related to the collection of a certain percentage but participates in the profits received.

In Mudarabah, the bank receives an instruction from a client to invest his/ her money on a certain investment the profit is now shared based on certain proportion.

Others include, Salam, Ijar, Ijarah-wal-Iqtina and Sunset, a compulsory tax (2.5%), according to the Koran, levied on the property of wealthy Muslims and directed to support the poor population of the Muslim society and create projects for improving the life of the poor.

There’s also Qard Hassan and Bai bi sila, a transaction in which the buyer pays part of the advance for goods.

Financial experts insist that demand for Islamic banking will grow among Nigerian Muslim population and other customers who prefer alternate/non-interest banking system.

Jubilation In Imo As EFCC Descends On Okorocha and Family

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The Source

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July 25, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

The prayers of Imo people were finally answered on Wednesday, July 24, when officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, descended on Imo state.

They were there to seal a number of properties owned by the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and members of his family for investigation. As the EFCC did that, there was wild celebration in Imo by a number of people who tripped out to cheer them.

For months running into years, in his eight years in office, Imolites were unanimous on what they described as the brazen looting of the state by Okorocha and Family. Not a few people insist that Okorocha owns about 50 % state capital and some more across the state. He allegedly brazenly seized people’s land, tampered with local government funds, state allocations, internal revenue, and more.

On arrival the EFCC sealed, among many others, the luxurious Spring Palm Estate owned by his wife Nkechi, and two high profile schools East High Academy and East High School owned by his daughter, Mrs Uloma Nwosu. They also sealed off the Royal Palm Hotel

But as they did so, the people have given the Commission a shopping list of what to seize from, and investigate Okorocha on, all running into billions of Naira.

The shopping list include:

*The alleged N21.6 billion taken from the local government system of the State by Okorocha.

*The Eastern Palm University, allegedly built with state funds money but personalized by Okorocha. The University was approved by the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, as the 42nd State University. Before the former Governor sought and got approval for the said university, he had acquired land with government instruments and built all the houses at the University premises for the relocation of the Imo State University to his Community, Ogboko, where the University is situated today.

The plot to relocate Imo state University was resisted, prompting him to jettison the idea of relocation to apply for a fresh license from NUC. In a chat with the media two years ago, he disclosed that the state fund in the university was to the tune of N650 million only. But reliable sources in the state insist that he had invested, at least, N15 Billion of State, funds on the university. Today, the former Governor goes around saying that Imo State has only ten percent equity in the Eastern Palm University while his Rochas Foundation has ninety percent

*The alleged N96 billion of Imo’s IGR for eight years.

*The over N40 billion allegedly looted through the failed 27 general hospital project in the 27 LGAs in the state.

*There is the sprawling premises of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Orji, which the former Governor used his office as Governor and converted the asset to himself, after building gigantic blocks at the facility with government money.

*There is, also, the Nekede and Orji Mechanic Villages. The vast expanse of land occupied by the artisans and mechanics at the Nekede mechanic village as well as Orji Mechanic village was forcefully taken by the former Governor and given to his family members and cronies.

*Also, the vast expanse of land on the Sam Mbakwe Airport road was acquired by the Government for the purpose of attracting a Naval Base. But over 70% of the said land was converted to a personal estate by the former Governor.

*There is the Adapalm Ohaji, which Okorocha leased out to investors, only known to him, and now, left in ruins.

*The Concorde Hotels, built by Sam Mbakwe, a former Governor of the State which was, allegedly,acquired by Okorocha through some proxies.

* Westbrook Hotels which is linked to Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.

*WODDI Wellness Center owned by Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi, built on the former Imo State Secretariat Annex, a land forcefully acquired from the State, allegedly,by Uche Nwosu, when he was Commissioner for Lands.

* The Reach FM owned by Uche Nwosu.

*The multi billion Naira Farmers Market built by Geraldine, Okorocha’s sister, on a land belonging to the State.

*Over twenty-five plots of State land, allegedly, acquired by Uche Nwosu upon which El Freeda Foundation was built. This is the Foundation through which billions of Naira, allegedly, have been laundered out of the State.

*Extervia Mega Supermarket opposite the Civic Center Estate, owned by Ogechi Ololo, Okorocha’s sister.

*The Municipal Plaza owned by Nkechi Okorocha, built on a land forcefully acquired from a civil servant by Uche Nwosu.

*Twitter Bites acquired by Geraldine Okorocha forcefully from Mr. Fans.

*Spibat Estate most of which land was, allegedly, forcefully taken from Mbieri people by Okorocha.

*House of Freeda Malls in Owerri, Abuja and Lagos built by Uloma, Uche Nwosu’s wife.

*A large poultry farm beside Shoprite owned by Uche Nwosu on a land forcefully acquired.

*A probe into the JPROS financial sleaze perpetrated during Okorocha’s first term for which his first deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, was falsely framed and impeached.

*Recovery of over N800 million, allegedly, given to Okorocha’s sister, Geraldine, per annum, for Christmas trees.

* Recovery of the N600 million, allegedly,diverted through the supposed renovation of the Imo State Secretariat.

*Recovery of N18 billion, allegedly, looted through the alleged construction of primary school blocks across the State.

*Recovery of all the markets in the State which Okorocha has, allegedly, claimed 30% ownership.

*Recovery of the ISOPADEC funds and the 13% of oil derivation funds which amount to over N20 billion.

*Recovery of the cardboard industry at Owerri-Ebeiri in Orlu.

*Recovery of the about N2 billion diverted, allegedly, through the construction of the completely worthless Akachi Tower.

*A probe into, and recovery of over N120 billion diverted through failed road projects. There is no single road project done by Okorocha that is not a failure.

*Recovery of hundreds of plots of land taken from the State by Okorocha and family, spread across the state.

*Recovery of Imo’s security votes which Okorocha, allegedly, personalized for eight years

*Recovery of the billions of Naira looted through the construction of deadly concrete beams on the roads and overhead iron projectiles.

*Recovery of IRROMA, equipment worth billions of Naira, allegedly,looted by Okorocha.

*Recovery of ITC vehicles and investments, allegedly, appropriated by Okorocha.

Okorocha, in a statement accused the Imo State government led by Ihedioha of being responsible for his EFCC ordeal. An accusation Ihedioha vehemently denies.

For the people of the state, however, the question is not who is responsible, but: If Okorocha is guilty of the overwhelming allegations or not.

Rochas Says He Is A Victim of Persecution By EFCC; Imo People Disagree, Tell Their Story With Him

Nwajiuba: The Surprise On The Ministerial List

By

The Source

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July 24, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

When President Muhammadu Buhari, finally, released the names of his long awaited ministerial list, there were just two surprises. Senator Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara), and Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba.

Saraki was, obviously, appointed to spite her elder brother, and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. Between both siblings, there is no love lost.

But the star suprise was Nwajiuba. He is a member of the House of Representatives. And, technically, not a member of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. He became a member of the House under the banner of the Accord Party, AP, a party he defected to after the Rochas-Okorocha magic during the APC Primary. He was defeated by Hon. Chika Okafor, a former Okorocha’s Finance Commissioner, and loyalist, who he, in 2015, sponsored to the House.

2019 was to be his second missionary journey, but the victory was snatched from him by a court which ordered INEC to retrieve the Certificate of Return already given to him and, hand over same to Nwajiuba who contested under the AP.

Nwajiuba was thus sworn-in during the inauguration of the NASS.

A core Buhari loyalist, and his favourite for the Speakership of the House, the plan was aborted at the last minute, in favour of Femi Gbajabiamila, because of the circumstances surrounding his membership of the House on the platform of the AP.

On Tuesday, July 23, Buhari rewarded him for his loyalty by appointing him a ministerial nominee, dropping Okorocha’s candidate, and in-law, Former Minister of State, Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka.

By this appointment, Nwajiuba has beaten two APC stalwarts in Imo, Senator Hope Uzodinma and the immediate past Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere. The expectation was that one of them, especially, Uzodinma would make the President’s cabinet.

Uzodinma was the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 elections. He was defeated by the PDP candidate, The Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha.

Nwajiuba’s appointment is a confirmation of the President’s promise, a couple of weeks ago, to appoint, as Ministers, only those known to him, personally.

Nwajiuba is not only one of them, he is in the inner circle. He is expected to supervise a key Ministry.

On assumption of office in 2015, Buhari had also appointed him the Chairman of TETFUND, a position he quit after he was inaugurated as a member of the House.

He is expected to, soon, dump the AP for the APC, where his heart really is.

CBN: More Banks Amid Recapitalisation Row

By

Bayo Bernard

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July 24, 2019

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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has increased the number of deposit money banks in Nigeria to 23.

A non-interest/ Islamic bank, was also licensed for operation increasing the number to two.

TAJ Bank Limited joins Jaiz Bank a non-interest bank licensed by then CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The development came on the crest of CBN/MPC meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The apex bank had last month said it was considering a fresh recapitalization exercise for all commercial banks in the country.

“In the next five years, we intend to pursue a programme of recapitalising the Nigerian banking industry so as to position Nigerian banks among the top 500 in the world,” Emefiele said in June.

The new deposit money banks are Titan Trust Bank Limited and Globus Bank Limited.

In July 2004, the CBN announced the recapitalization of the banking sector from N2 billion to N25 billion with effect from December 31, 2005.

This led to the reduction in the number of banks to 24 from 89.

Mergers and acquisition has seen the figure drop to 21

Ministers: Why Buhari Dropped Kachikwu, Ambode

By

Bayo Bernard

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July 23, 2019

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PICKS MAMORA TO PACIFY TINUBU

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the magazine‘s report last month that former minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu will not make his new cabinet.

President Buhari yesterday forwarded 43 ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The president is statutorily bound to nominate at least one minister from each of the 36 states in the country.

It however appears that the president has decided to expand the cabinet this time unlike in his first tenure when he only appointed 36 ministers.

Meanwhile, the biggest upset so far is the name of former governor of Lagos state, Akinwumi Ambode conspicuously missing from the list.

The former helmsman was poised to become minister after he lost his ambition to be re-elected for another four year term, to political rivalry in his party APC.

The magazine has learned from some trusted presidential aides that the former Lagos helmsman was a victim of power struggle in the state.

Ambode lost being governor for a second term over disagreement with his former confidant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also an ex-governor of the state.

Tinubu is the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The nomination of Babatunde Raji Fashola, immediate past minister of Works, Power and Housing and Olorunimbe Mamora has put paid to the quest of Ambode to become minister, watchers of the state politics said.

Mamora, a former speaker of the state house of assembly is the current managing director of National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.

“The NIWA boss was nominated by Asiwaju Tinubu. This is to show his closeness to the president and power-that-be in APC.

The appointment of Ambode as minister would have upset the apple’s cart in Lagos, now that the two warring political groups in the state led by Tinubu and Fashola have foisted a common front to work together for the benefit of the party.

It’s their resolve to unite that produced Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor,” the source said.

Some former ministers have luckily staged a comeback.

Among the returnee ministers are Fashola, Chris Ngige, and Rotimi Amaechi.

Others who will also work with president except their nominations are rejected by the Senate are Adamu Adamu and Ogbonaya Onu.

Dr Kachikwu however, was among those “who were edged out due to some political exigencies,” an APC source told the magazine today.

The source had last month reported that some political considerations are against the return of the poet turned oil technocrat to the government for the second time.

Recall also that the president appointed Dr Thomas John as acting Alternate Chairman of the board of state owned oil company, Nigeria National Petroluem Corporation, NNPC.

That position is statutorily reserved for the minster of petroleum.

Various sources who spoke with the magazine at the time said the former minister had lost out in the power struggle with NNPC former GMD Maikanti Baru.

Other sources also disclosed that top presidential aides did not favour the return of the former minister.

In spite of this Dr Kachikwu was very sure of his return as minister representing oil rich Delta state in the cabinet.

But President Buhari has now nominated Festus Keyamo as Delta state representatives in the yet to be constituted cabinet.

Pan Yoruba Group, AOKOYA Lauds Ooni, Alaafin On Herdsmen Position

By

The Source

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July 23, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

Foremost Pan Yoruba group, Apapo Oodua Koya, AOKOYA, has praised the courage of two foremost Yoruba traditional rulers for speaking out in defense of their people.

AOKOYA, a coalition of several Yoruba organisations said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, have spoken the minds of Yoruba people irrespective of political, religious or social creed.

“We appreciate the courage to speak truth at a critical moment in Yoruba history. It should be recalled that AOKOYA was the first to alert the world about the sinister motives of the armed Fulani herdsmen that are currently occupying Yoruba territories in what in manner the group described as most provocative and unacceptable. They told Nigerians that there were 1,123 armed Fulani cells across Yoruba land. Their report came out about two months before former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke about an alleged Fulanisation and conquest plot.

The cells, it is revealed, host armed Fulani men from across West Africa. This fact is known to security chiefs. It is alleged, in many quarters that they may have refused to do anything because the Fulani herdsmen fit the political shape being constructed by a section of the political class.

“This report was based on our intelligence gathering using modern techniques. We are glad that finally, the truth is coming from the mouths of our most respected traditional rulers. We have been vindicated.”

AOKOYA officials, Col Abimbola Sowumi and Deputy Secretary, Publicity, Ismail Abiodun said in a statement both signed.

The group also called on the Government of Ondo State to disband the Fulani Vigilante set up by the state.

AOKOYA said the State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, was economical with the truth when he alleged lied that he said his government has not set up a Fulani Vigilante group, adding that it has in its possession official documents indicating the Fulani Vigilante group was set up four weeks ago.

The group said “For centuries, we have seen Fulani herdsmen come to Yorubaland without any incidence. What we detest is the kidnapping, the raping, the siege and the atmosphere of violence that have now been introduced to Yorubaland.

The Fulani have been firing shots and killing innocent Yoruba people. Our offence is that we complain about the imposed violence and killings which have tripled”

ID Card allegedly issued to the Vigilante Members by Ondo State government

The group said it is very unfortunate that some people are accusing Yoruba people who speak out against violence in their homeland as calling for war.

“It is very shameful and a source of disgrace that some people say because Yoruba complain about violence in their ancestral homes then they are calling for war. How can you shoot a mother and when the children cry you retort that the children are calling for war? Have people really lost their senses? Do people find it difficult to think straight? Can a people because of porridge deny their own conscience and support evil aimed at exterminating their own people?”

According to AOKOYA, the people looking for war are not the Yoruba people killed daily. “The people working towards civil war are those with illegal weapons, they are those that are armed to the teeth with AK 47. They are those that have taken over lands that do not belong to them. They are those that want Yoruba people to be raped and killed and all they expect from us is to bless the killers and offer them our daughters after they had raped our mothers. If our forefathers had not resisted the Fulani invasion in 1804, Yorubaland would have been a conquered territory like Hausaland till date.

The offspring of those who resist Uthman Dan Fodio Jihad must never betray the future generations of Yoruba people.”

The group said if the current situation of herdsmen violence continues, the Fulani herdsmen and their collaborators will be held responsible for whatever follows.

Ministerial List: Still A Long Wait, As Senators Proceed On Annual Recess This Week

By

The Source

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July 22, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Senate will embark on its Annual Recess this Friday, 25th July, 2019, and reconvene on October 2019.

This development was disclosed by the Chairman, Senate ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs Affairs, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye.

In line with the National Assembly calendar, members are meant to go on their annual recess on July 26 and resume on September 26.

But, there is a problem.

President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to send his ministerial list to the Senate since his inauguration for a second term as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If the President fails tp send his ministerial list to the Senate before the end of this week, it would mean that the nation would have to wait till October when the Senate reconvenes after its annual recess.

Adeyeye said the red chamber would proceed on its annual two-month recess this week if the Senate did not get the ministerial list by Friday.

Adeyeye explains that “If the list does not come before Friday, the Senate will proceed on its annual recess. We are not giving the President any ultimatum. The schedule of the Senate will go ahead if the Senate does not receive the list. The list is the only thing that can hold us back.”

It would be recalled that during the first term administration of President Buhari, it took six months before he submitted his ministerial list to the Senate for screening. This is a repeat of 2015.

President Buhari had, during a dinner with leadership of National Assembly, appealed for more time to collate his cabinet list, stating he will only work with people he personally knew.

With just five days before the Senate embarks on its recess, political observers, enthusiasts, analysts and Nigerians are waiting anxiously to see whether President Buhari would hasten in submitting the list of his ministers for screening, or the nation would still wait till October to get the economy working.

The six-month delay in 2015 sent Nigeria into recession.

For The Aviation Industry, Still The Icarus Syndrome

By

Uche Mbah

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July 22, 2019

0

By Uche Mbah

Remember the fable of Icarus, the man who fixed feathers to his arms with wax and became the first man to fly, but flew too close to the Sun and got the wax melted and crashed from the heights to the ground? That is the sorry story of the Nigerian Aviation Industry.

Last week, the Nigeria celebrated the one year anniversary of the Nigeria Air logo that was launched by the Federal government. After gulping $308.8, the idea of a National carrier was jettisoned-and appeared in the 2019 budget again. Perhaps as a continuous conduit pipe. Some of these and more were the butt of discussions when stakeholders met at Raddison Blue Hotel at Ikeja last week. It was lamentation galore. Last year, when they gathered under the same aegis, it was not much different. This has prompted a stakeholder to gleefully announce that this year’s meeting was a remix of last year’s hit song, Save Our Souls. Unfortunately, last year participants cannot claim copyright. The hit dates back further down to the evergreen days when Nigeria Airways rose to become the biggest airline in Africa as it clocked a fleet of sixty four, after which it deteriorated to only two by 1999 when former President Obasanjo decided to scrap it-and dash out it’s multi million Naira assets at ridiculously low prices to Arik Air, while some of its choicest properties went to favorites of the then Bureau of Public Enterprises, headed by Atiku Abubakar and managed by Nasir el-Rufai. Soon Arik was ran the way of Nigeria Airways, and more came on board-but, like the leaves of the oil bean tree, they were many but nothing can be wrapped with them. “They are more interested in shows than performances”, a bank source told this magazine, “and most times come to us to finance some of these white elephant projects”.And they get them too. An airline, for example, took up an office in Benin, gave it a makeover, but never flew there for one year-and had to close it down again.

And the Chief Executive Officers of these Airlines are not acting differently from the time of the Nigerian Airways.During their time, government officials all travel with their families first class on free tickets.That is besides the smuggled passengers with fake travel documents that come back deported, costing the airlines fortunes in penalties. A report was made of the CEO of a certain Airline who pulled an aircraft from its normal route and commandeered it to Ghana just to buy Suya.

Most times, these are the most vocal at forums lamenting their inability to fill in their ICAO quota. They complain bad policies, lack of continuity while the foreign Airlines are taking over the Nigerian Airspace. They complain that other airlines allocated multiple entry points, asking for code sharing from other airlines. Who would like to code share with an Airline that will bring passengers to Dubai and leave them stranded? In all these the regulatory Agencies play to the gallery-only that the gallery is filled with thieves and miscreants.

Icarus may never fly again-but may gather his people every year to complain and wail against their own home made problems. They are not different from the government they criticize.

Next year will be another gathering of vultures. And a new remix will be released.