APC Governors Meet Buhari, Thank Him For Release Of N2 Trillion For Governors

June 18, 2019

All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum today, June 18, met with President Muhammadu Buhari to, among other things, thank him for releasing about two trillion Naira over the years to the governors of the 36 States of the Federation.

Speaking to news men on behalf of his colleagues shortly after their closed door meeting with the President, chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Atiku Baguda of Kebbi State said: “we are quite happy with his support for states where close to N2 trillion was given to states in form of restructuring of loans, refunds on federal roads, refund for Paris Club.”

He said that the funds had helped encouraged economic activities in the states, including the payment of salaries, payment of pensions, payment of gratuities and overall investment by infrastructural spendings.

“We are also appreciative of increased investment in agriculture which has been because of conscious decision to support agriculture as a way out of economic challenges and provide economic growth.”

Governor Bagudu said that the governors pledged to work with the President in his effort to increase economic performance, ensure security of the country and social cohesion.

On whether they discussed the issue of ministerial list, the governor said that it was not discussed, saying: “it is an executive decision.”

Kano Gov Describes Gorilla Swallowing N6.8 Million As Junk Journalism, Says It’s Armed Robbery Case

Greenbarge Reporters

June 18, 2019

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has described the news flying around that Gorilla swallowed the sum of N6.8 Million at the Kano zoo as junk journalism.

“The issue of Gorilla is junk Journalism. This is because there is even no Gorilla in that zoo. We are told that there was an armed robbery incidence in which the entire safe at the zoo was carted away.”

Governor Ganduje, who was answering questions from news men shortly after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said that he had already directed the anti- corruption agency in Kano to wade into the issue “and they are still investigating.

“But all l can say now is that preliminary reports indicate that there was armed robbery at the zoo, and not the issue of Gorilla.”

He said that the investigation is likely to unveil the circumstances that led to such huge amount being kept in the zoo, adding: “but l am sure that there is something wrong anyway.”

On the rift between him and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, the governor said it is still going on.

Asked if it is true he wants the Emir removed, Governor Ganduje retorted: “who told you that? Discussions are still going on.”

Nigeria Enjoys Steady Capital Flows, Foreign Direct Investment, CBN Counters Report

Editorial staff

June 17, 2019

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made it clear that Nigeria presently enjoys steady capital flows and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as a result of the prevailing stable macroeconomic environment and sustained investors’ confidence in the economy.

Reacting to report by Reuters, a foreign news agency that quoted World Investment Report, 2019 in a recent release by UNCTAD on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to African countries, the CBN called on Nigerians to take advantage of several of its publications and that of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which give adequate and accurate statistics on the subject matter.

In a statement today, June 17, the apex bank’s Director of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor said that while the CBN is not privy to the methodology used in arriving at the figures, “we wish to state that available records show a significant increase in FDI in Nigeria during the period 2018, contrary to the Reuters’ report.

“For instance, in 2018, the total capital inflows to the country stood at $19.07 billion out of which FDI accounted for $7.78 billion.

“Furthermore, total capital flows to Nigeria, from January to May 2019 stood at $14.2 billion of which FDI accounted for $2.87 billion, representing a 20.18% of the total amount.”

The Reuters’ report quoted UNCTAD as saying that there was a decrease of over 40% in FDI inflows to Nigeria in 2018.

Why We Did Not Use Server For 2019 General Elections – INEC

Editorial staff

June 17, 2019

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it did not use server for the transmission of electoral results in the 2019 general elections even though it was only used to experiment during some staggered elections held in 2018.

The commission’s National Commissioner, Solomon Soyebi, who spoke today, June 17 during the post-election retreat organized for the staff and ad hoc staff gave reasons why the commission had to drop the idea of electronic transmission of the results to a central server.

Solomon Soyebi said that late release of INEC’s budget for the 2019 elections and controversies over the Electoral Act, among others reasons, forced the Commission to jettison the idea of using the technology to transmit results to the central server.

“We piloted the use of transmission of election results electronically in Sokoto, in Anambra, even in Osun. What happened was that we were trying to pilot to see the desirability of such technology in our electoral process.

“First, our budget came out very late, there was also issue (with) the Electoral Act. For these and some other reasons, the Commission did not adopt that option. 2019 elections were conducted according to Law.

“We used the Constitution of the Federal Republic; we used the Electoral Act and our guidelines for 2019 elections. If you look at the three instruments carefully, the issue of server was not highlighted.

“Once in a while, you will see an experiment going on but we have to pilot it before we will deploy wholesale for election. We did not use it because of circumstances beyond the control of the Commission.”

President Trump Sends His Chief Of Staff Out Of His Office For Coughing

Greenbarge Reporters

June 17, 2019

President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has sent his chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, out of his Oval Office for interrupting an interview with his coughing.

President Trump was caught by video camera saying: “I don’t like that, you know, I don’t like that. If you’re going to cough, please leave the room. You just can’t, you just can’t cough. Boy oh boy.”

ABC News was recording an interview with President Trump in the famous circular room at the White House when the chief of staff began to cough.

The interview was about the President’s release of his financial documents.

Asked if he would share his financial statements, Trump said: “at some point’ he’d like to have people look at them.”

Trump described the document as ‘fantastic.’

PDP Presidential Running Mate, Peter Obi, Insists INEC Must Produce Server

Editorial staff

June 17, 2019

Peter Obi, the running mate to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the February 23 presidential election, has insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must produce the serve it used for the election.

Peter Obi, who spoke Ogbaru local government of Anambra State where he led the PDP family in the state to a special Thanksgiving victory service, said that all hopes were not lost in their bid to reclaim “the mandate Nigerians gave to us the PDP.”

The Presidential running mate reassured that as the court case is still on, PDP would not give up, saying: “INEC must provide the server they used, because they know what they used for the election. They used the server for the election and they must provide it.”

The victory thanksgiving service which held at Central School Atani, Ogbaru, was in honour of Senator Stella Odua, representing Anambra North senatorial district; Hon. Chukwuka Onyema, representing Ogbaru Federal constituency; Hon. Noble Igwe, representing Ogbaru 1 and Hon. Somto Udeze, representing Ogbaru 11, both of Anambra State House of Assembly.

Peter Obi, who was two-term governor of Anambra State, expressed the need for all to be faithful to God as without God it would have been impossible for PDP to achieve anything in the election.

“The election has come and gone and now is the reality. We have to thank God Almighty for without Him, we would not have succeeded in the election.”

He advised the newly-elected lawmakers to consider the interest of the masses first and use public money for public good.

“You are nearer to the people. There is no road in Ogbaru and so many areas need to be revived again. There is a lot of work to be done in Ogbaru constituency.

“So many people are hungry, so many things are happening to Nigeria. Let those who are in power today please use public money for public good. Our children are not working because there are no jobs. People are not working while some are working and suffering. We have to know that it is time to work as we are nearer to the people.”

I Will Surprise Opposition In Committee Appointments – Reps Speaker, Gbajabiamila

Editorial staff

June 17, 2019

The new speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that he would surprise opposition members of the House when he makes appointment of chairmen of committees of the House in a few weeks time.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke to news men shortly after an audience with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, June 17, said: “the committees (members) will be unfolded in the next few weeks and you will see how we intend to carry them (members of the opposition) along. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag but you can be assured they would be carried along.”

The Speaker said that his leadership would do things differently from what it used to be, adding: “we are going to build on whatever the achievements are of the eighth Assembly, and it’s going to be a reformed House.

“Like I have said, the reform will be fished out in piece meal so as not to shock the system. But they will be reforms that will be for the benefit of the country. We expect the cooperation of all facets of government, including the executive and you – the journalists and including our constituents.”

Elumelu Suggests 2 Special Ways To Lift 100 Million Nigerians From Poverty

Greenbarge Reporters

June 17, 2019

Renowned African business entrepreneur and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu has said that there are many ways 100 million citizens of the country can be lifted from poverty.

Elumelu, who spoke at the graduation ceremony of Bayero University Kano (BUK), where he was conferred with Honorary Doctorate of Business Degree, said: “there are a variety of ways to lift 100 million citizens from poverty, but two of them stand out. We can increase the number of jobs in the economy or we can create more opportunities for our young entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into small businesses that employ labour.

“By promoting entrepreneurship, creating favourable policies and building infrastructure to help these entrepreneurs, we enable them to create jobs, and become employers of labour.

“Our young people need jobs that governments and big corporate bodies alone cannot provide.” The business entrepreneur, who is the Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation, as well as Chairman of UBA Group and Heirs Holdings, asked everyone to join hands to lift Nigeria’s youth from poverty to prosperity.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello said that Tony Elumelu’s conferment was in honour of his immense contribution to human capital development across Africa and especially in Northern Nigeria.

Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurship which he founded in 2010, he has empowered 7520 entrepreneurs across Africa; almost 1000 of the entrepreneurs are from Northern Nigeria.

In addition to the current beneficiaries, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently partnered with Tony Elumelu Foundation to empower an additional 1,000 African entrepreneurs from the seven countries in Africa’s Sahel and Lake Chad regions, including the Northern Nigerian region.

By the end of 2019, total beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation will be 8,520.

During the conferment, the Dean, School of Postgraduate studies, Bayero University, Professor Umar Pate commended Elumelu’s commitment to lifting young Africans out of poverty.

In a citation, he spoke of Elumelu as “an illustrious son of Africa that has excelled at home and abroad, an economist that has empowered countless people through job creation and philanthropy, and a symbol of the African spirit of hope.”

Other awardees were Senator Bello Hayatu-Gwarzo, LLD, Dr. Folake Solanke, the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, LLD and Prof. Abdulkadir Dangambo.

Police Introduce CCTV In Cities, Return Highway Patrol

Greenbarge Reporters

June 17, 2019

The Nigeria Police Force have concluded arrangement to introduce Close Circuit Television (CCTV) and other cutting-edge technologies for surveillance in major cities of the country.

The Force, in an attempt to strengthen the security system of the country, have also concluded plan to re-organise and re-launch the Safer Highway and Safer City Models of Policing that will entail the acquisition of new fleet of vehicles.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who dropped the hints today, June 17 when he addressed top officers at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, said that the current attempts at adopting and implementing the concept of Community Policing also represents part of enduring strategies aimed at changing the policing narratives of the country.

“This will ensure the effective integration of the citizens to our internal security framework, guarantee the concept of policing by public consent and build partnership required to address peculiar communal threats.”

The police boss charged the top ranking officers to redouble their efforts in ensuring the safety and protection of lives and property in their areas of jurisdiction.

He asked them to provide the requisite leadership to officers and men under their supervision to desist from acts that widen the gap between the Police and the community “as it is only when we present a common front that we can defeat the criminals that constitute our common enemies.

Mohammed Adamu assured Nigerians of the commitment of his men and officers to sustain the war against crimes by taking the battle to the door steps of criminal elements in furtherance to their mission to guarantee the safety and security of our communities.

“We only request one thing which is the continued goodwill, understanding, and support of all citizens across socio-economic background.”

Atiku To Mischief Makers: There’s God O

Greenbarge Reporters

June 16, 2019

Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has vehemently protested a statement circulating in the social media Linkin him to threat to mobilise Nigerians on a nation wide protest if the Presidential election Tribunal does not favour him.

In a statement by his spokesman, Atiku attributed such statement to mischief makers, aimed at discrediting what he called his spotless democratic credential.

In the statement circulating in a section of the media, Atiku was said to be planning to lead a street protest in the event that the election petition tribunal rules against him and his party on the issue of a server for the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“I wish to emphatically state that such a statement did not emanate from me. It is the work of mischief makers who want to mar his spotless pro-democratic record and lay the ground work for their threatened actions against him on false charges of being a threat to national security.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar believes in the Rule of Law and in the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In his almost four decades in politics, he has never taken action or spoken words against democracy and will not start now.

“Atiku Abubakar and his team have confidence in God and thus call on those bent on mischief to have the fear of God and retrace their steps. Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. The culture of fear being created now cannot rein in our democracy. Nigeria and Nigerians have a consistent history of outlasting tyranny and will continue to do so by the grace of God.”

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