Ignore Those Who Speak About Good Old Days, Osinbajo Advices Youths

May 17, 2019

“Be suspicious of those who speak of the good old days; they are probably suffering from memory loss. Your own days are the best days yet.”
Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo made the statement today, Thursday at a lecture he delivered: titled: Africa Centres of Excellence in African Universities: A Veritable Catalyst for Nation Building and Development, during the 23rd Convocation of the Lagos State University.

Professor Osinbajo quoted Fareed Zakaria, the CNN journalist, who told a Harvard graduating class in 2012, “that the smartphone you have in your hands, has more computing power than the Apollo space capsule that went to the moon. That is to demonstrate to you that you have more in your pockets today, more in your hands today, much more technology than was available when the Apollo spacecraft landed on the moon.”
Osinbajo told the students that they were not by any means disadvantaged, saying: “you are graduating at the most advanced moment in human history. The challenge for you and for which I am confident you are prepared is to make your own contributions, to make your own times better now and in the future.”

Carry Go… Buhari Tells CBN Boss, Emefiele

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2019

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele seems to be beside himself with joy as President Muhammadu Buhari has a warm handshake with him for being champion in his own right. Emefiele was just confirmed today, May 16, by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after he was reappointed by the President for a second term of another five years as Governor of the apex bank. CONGRATULATIONS to the CBN mover, from us at Greenbarge Reporters.

INEC Postpones Kogi, Bayelsa Governorship Polls, Campaign Is August 18

Editorial staff

May 16, 2019

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the 2019 governorship elections in Kogi and Beyelsa states with campaign proper beginning from August 18.

The elections which were earlier scheduled for November 2, 2019, have now been shifted to November 16, 2019.

A statement today, Thursday, by INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Festus Okoye, said that the postponement was due to various appeals for the commission to reschedule the polls to a later date

Lawyer, Her Boyfriend Land In Court Over Alleged Duping Overseas Friend Of N4.6 Million

Editorial staff

May 16, 2019

A 30 year old lawyer, Abimbola Adeyinwolu and her 40 year old boyfriend, Adeola Ikumola, have been arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly defrauded their overseas friend of N4.6 million.

The prosecutor, Michael Unah, told the court today, Thursday that the accused persons committed the offence, bordering on conspiracy, stealing, forgery and obtaining money under false pretenses with some other persons at large on December 31 2018, at 64 Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The prosecutor added that the accused persons collected N4.6 million from the complainant, Jennifer Obaseki, who lives abroad on the pretext of setting up a law firm for her.

The court heard that the lawyer and her boyfriend forged tenancy agreement documents in respect of 40 sq for an office space. He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 287, 314, 325, 365 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, (Revised)

Chief Magistrate A.A. Fashola admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Fashola ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of three years tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

He also ordered that the sureties must be blood relatives of the accused persons who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

The case was adjourned to May 30.

Financial Autonomy For Legislature, Judiciary’ll Ensure Sustained Democracy – Governors

Editorial staff

May 16, 2019

Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have bought into the idea of financial autonomy for States legislatures and judiciary, which according to them will ensure sustainable democracy in Nigeria, apart from ensuring highest level of transparency and openness in governance.

Chairman of NGF and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, who gave the assurance at the opening of a two-day conference on the implementation of autonomy of state legislature and state judiciary in Abuja today, Thursday, said that the governors will work with the federal government to achieve the implementation strategy and ultimately ensure full autonomy of the legislature and judiciary at sub-national levels.

Governor Yari, who was represented by the Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, said that Nigeria’s democracy is now 20 years old and needed to be smoothened through proper financial accountability at all level of government, even as he commended Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s focus in ensuring that the new dispensation will take the country to the Promised Land.

The Governor said: “I totally aligned with the motion that the legislature and judiciary autonomy are necessary precondition for an enduring democracy. This enhances efficiency, transparency and accountability in government. May I also assure you that the state governors are collectively committed to the enthronement of a strong and viral democracy in Nigeria and would work with the federal government to achieve the National implementation strategy and ultimately ensure full autonomy of the legislature and judiciary at sub-national levels.

“The NGF fully supports Mr. President reform agenda and share its passion for transparency and zero corruption. We commend the efforts of the committee in putting together this very decisive conference to see that Nigeria attends the highest level of transparency and openness in governance.”

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, commended President Buhari for his assent to the bill, noting that autonomy is central to the practice of democracy especially separation of powers

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said that local government areas need to be strengthened and asked State Houses of Assemblies to act fast on the matter.

He also reiterated the need for State Police, even as he expressed gratitude to the federal government for its interest in the implementation of the law.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate) who is also the Secretary of the panel, Ita Enang, commended the those who attended the conference.

“We are impressed by the attendant. Out of 36 states, 34 of the chief judges of the federation are here, and 31 speakers are also here in person while the rest of them are presented at this conference.

“The report and recommendation of the retreat will be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari and the implementation at the state level will start immediately in the next one week after the resolution of this retreat.”

Senate Confirms CBN Governor’s Reappointment For 2nd Ternure

Editorial staff

May 16, 2019

The Senate has confirmed Mr Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a second term of five years.

This followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions presented by Senator Rafiu Adebayo during Thursday’s plenary.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, urged the CBN governor to use his second term to improve Nigeria’s economy.

Emefiele’s reappointment came one day after the Senate Committee cleared him during a screening session where he was and asked some questions relating to the nation’s economy.

Emefiele Impresses Senate Committee Members At Screening, May Be Confirmed Soon

Greenbarge Reporters

May 15, 2019

The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions has expressed satisfaction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for contributing immensely to the stability of the Nigerian economy, in spite of the recession the country witnessed in 2016.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim Adebayo spoke today, Wednesday, during the committee’s screening of Emefiele for a second term following his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari for a second and final term in office as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Senator Adebayo, while grilling the nominee on the state of Nigeria’s economy, said that the reappointment of Emefiele was an indication that the President recognized the Bank’s contribution to the health and stability of the economy.

Adebayo, who also dismissed recent allegations of fraudulent activities in the CBN through a leaked audio tape, expressed satisfaction with the presentation of Emefiele even as he charged the CBN Governor and his team of Board and Monetary Policy Committee members not to be deterred but rather redouble their efforts at ensuring the promotion of a sound and stable economy

Other senators who took turns to speak also commended the CBN Governor on the successful reforms carried out during his first tenure, and called for greater improvement in the areas of foreign exchange management, development finance and access to credit among others. They also sought clarification on the issue of foreign exchange windows

In his response to the questions, Emefiele said that more needed to be done to get Nigeria to the desired heights, even as he promised that the impact of the Bank’s development finance interventions would become very visible within the next two years.

Alluding to the pace of development in some Asian countries that were Nigeria’s peers at independence in 1960, Emefiele promised to implement the Bank’s policies for the betterment of the Nigerian people, who are at the heart of the Bank’s vision of a people-centred Central Bank.

The screening exercise followed the call by the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, to the committee at the plenary on Tuesday to carry out the screening and report back to the Senate within one week.

Emefiele was appointed as CBN Governor on June 2, 2014, is due to end his first tenure on June 2, this year.

President Muhammadu Buhari last week transmitted a letter to the Senate requesting that Mr. Emefiele be confirmed as CBN Governor for a second and final term of five years.

Meanwhile, it is expected that the Senate will confirm the nomination of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria next week after receiving the report of the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions.

Atiku Describes Information Minister As Liar, Buhari As Desperate Dictator

Editorial staff

May 15, 2019

Defeated Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the just concluded election in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has bore his fangs on President Muhammadu Buhari who he said is a desperate dictator and information minister, Lai Mohammed as a liar.

Reacting to Lai Mohammed’s earlier statement indicting the PDP candidate and his party of carrying the act of opposition politics beyond ordinary, Atiku said that it is not surprising that such a despicable lie is emanating from Lai Mohammed, President Buhari’s aptly named Minister of Information.

Atiku wanted to know why the desperation on the part of the Muhammadu Buhari government to rope in the Peoples Democratic Party and its Presidential candidate in phantom plots, adding that President Buhari wants to replay the Phantom plot saga of his now deceased mentor, who threw former President Olusegun Obasanjo in jail after falsely accusing him of treason in order to perpetuate himself in power.

The full text of Atiku’s statement goes thus:

My attention has been drawn to accusations by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration against the candidate of the Presidential Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 elections and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, alleging that he has made treasonable statements.

It is not surprising that such a despicable lie is emanating from Mr. Lai Mohammed, President Buhari’s aptly named Minister of Information.

Lai Mohammed is so associated with lies that even Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said, on Monday, May 13, 2019, as follows:

“People like Lai Mohammed, Abba Kyari, Adamu Adamu they are usually very well behaved during the Ramadan. But I’m not even sure that that is true anymore.”

When we have a situation where even those who employed him know that Lai Mohammed is a liar, who will even lie during the holy month of Ramadan, then why should Nigerians be surprised at this latest lie?

Mr Lai Mohammed is only being clever by half when he says “It beggars belief that a candidate who prides himself as a democrat can so allow desperation to becloud his sense of propriety to such an extent that he will be associating with anti-democratic forces or making inflammatory statements.”

Atiku Abubakar is a man of peace and a thoroughbred democrat. It is preposterous that those who threatened to ‘soak the dog and the baboon in blood’ are now audacious enough to point the finger at lifelong democrats. Truly, if the farmer does not raise the alarm on time, the thief will accuse him of being a thief.

How can a man who wined and dined with Nigeria’s most brutal dictator, how can a man who overthrew a democratically elected President and held a grudge against him even in death (as evidenced by the empty condolence register he left in Sokoto, last year) accuse a man who has never been as much as associated with such tendencies, of being an anti-democrat?

We want to know why the desperation on the part of the Muhammadu Buhari government to rope in the Peoples Democratic Party and its Presidential candidate in phantom plots? Obviously, President Buhari wants to replay the Phantom plot saga of his now deceased mentor, who threw former President Olusegun Obasanjo in jail after falsely accusing him of treason in order to perpetuate himself in power.

Could it be that they are now aware that the electoral fraud they perpetrated during the last Presidential election is about to be exposed beyond a shadow of a doubt?

If anybody is “beating the drums of war”, it is precisely those who have issued statements threatening Nigerians and foreigners alike with “body bags”.

For the avoidance of doubt, let me inform the minister of disinformation that Atiku Abubakar resisted the Abacha dictatorship, of which President Muhammadu Buhari was a prominent member, and it is his resistance and the sacrifice of his co-travellers, like chief MKO Abiola and Alex Ekwueme, amongst others, that gave rise to the democracy that the current government is now trampling on.

Mr. Lai Mohammed is advised to face the cesspool of corruption that has been exposed in his ministry by the investigative website, Premium Times, which revealed that Mr. Mohammed’s fingers may be stickier than sticky glue.

Army Chief Fingers Defeated Politicians In Heightened Security Challenge In Nigeria

Editorial staff

May 15, 2019

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai has fingered some politicians defeated in the just concluded general elections of being responsible for the current heightened security situation in parts of Nigeria.

Buratai, a lieutenant-general, who spoke today, Wednesday in Maiduguri when he received the House Committee on Army led by its Chairman, Remande Shawulu, at the Theatre Command, said: “the myriad of security challenges we are facing now in the North West, North Central and other parts of the country, I want to believe and rightly so, is the fall out of the just concluded general elections.

“There are several political interests, politicians in particular not happy with their defeat and therefore, trying to take revenge, sponsoring some these criminal activities.

“There are strong political undertone, strong political influence. So, I will use this opportunity to call on the honourable members here to prevail on some of these politicians to look at national interest first before any other political or sectional interest.

“We have some strong evidence but we are still being cautious so that we don’t get it wrong.

The army chief advised those politicians against doing anything to aggravate the security challenges.

Earlier, Shawulu said that the committee was at the theatre for its usual oversight function.

He paid tribute to officers and soldiers, who had died in the course of the counterinsurgency operation. He said they sacrificed their lives for the security and peace of the North East and country at large.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee visited the Maimalary Military Cemetery, where three personnel killed by IED on Monday were buried and 7 Division Military hospital to empathise with wounded soldiers.

EFCC Seizes Passport Of National Assembly Clerk, Ataba Omolori

Editorial staff

May 15, 2019

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized the international passport of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CAN), Alhaji Mohammed Ataba Sani Omolori after being subjected to six hours interrogated yesterday, Tuesday. The interrogation was said to be part of the moves to effect changes on the mode of conducting the election into the leadership of the National Assembly.

It was gathered the EFCC invited the CNA on issues related to records of finances of the Assembly as well as the inauguration of the ninth National Assembly.

It was gathered that Ataba Omolori who was not seen at the National Assembly the whole of yesterday, was interrogated by the officiers of the EFCC from 11am to 5pm.

Apart from initial questions on records of finances of the National Assembly, it was gathered that Ataba Omolori was asked a specific question on the method of election of the presiding officers of the ninth National Assembly, just as he was said to have been asked which of the rules he would use for the election.

The high point of Omolori’s stay at the EFCC was the seizure of his international passport.

Prior to Ataba Omolori’s invitation, the former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, was equally quizzed.

It was gathered that Clerks, Desk officers and other key officials of the National Assembly including the Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Representatives as well as their deputies were also invited to the commission today, Wednesday.

When contacted, authorities at the EFCC confirmed Ataba Omolori’s interrogation.
source: NAN.

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