Buhari Scores Saraki/Dogara Led National Assembly Low In Performance

May 14, 2019

President Buhari hosts NASS leadership for iftar

President Muhammadu Buhari has assessed the performance of the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki as President and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives and concluded that it below expectations of Nigerians.

He made it clear that the nation deserved better than it got from the outgoing National Assembly, and hoped for a better working relationship between the two arms of government with the 9th National Assembly soon to come.

The President, who spoke today, Tuesday at Iftar dinner (breaking of fast) he hosted for the leadership of the National Assembly led by Senate President Bukola Saraki at the State House, emphasized that the relationship between the executive and the legislature has not be the best.

“Relations between the Executive and the Legislature were not the best in the 8th National Assembly. I sincerely hope each one of us will do his utmost to ensure there is a better working relationship between these two arms of government in the 9th Assembly so that we can serve the people better,” said the President.

He argued that the principal task of the National Assembly “is to cooperate with the Executive so that together we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy. I appeal to the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people.”

The President congratulated the members-elect on their success in winning their constituency seats and opined that “this is a great burden and a great responsibility placed on you by your people. Our citizens are faced with challenges of poverty.

“Your principal task is to cooperate with the Executive so that together we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy. I appeal to the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people.”

He assured the leaders that his doors remain open “to all of you who have genuine concerns or advice to improve the quality of governance and service delivery to our people.”

The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki assured the President that the National Assembly will maintain focus on national interest at all times.

In addition to the President of the Senate and Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the event was attended by the Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker, the majority and Minority leaders and the majority and Minority Whips and their deputies.

Saudi Arabian Ambassador Breaks Fast With Prominent Nigerians In Abuja

Greenbarge Reporters

May 14, 2019

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan bin Mahmoud Bostaji, today, Tuesday, May 14, broke the ninth Ramadan Fast with prominent Nigerians in Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ambassador Adnan Bostaji had earlier extended invitations to top government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other notable Nigerians to the breaking of the Fast, the first that had ever been held by the Saudi Embassy in Nigeria.

In attendance were the minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri Erewa.

Also in attendance were the chairman, and chief executive officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigerian (NAHCON), Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar, publisher of the defunct Democrat newspaper, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua; Managing Editor (North) of The Nation newspaper, Alhaji Yusuf Ali; Editor-In-chief of Greenbarge Reporters online, Yusuf Ozi-Usman, national assembly members and other diplomatic corps as well as friends of the embassy that are not Muslims.

Addressing the guests, Ambassador Adnan Bostaji expressed gratitude for the large turnout of the embassy’s invitees even as he said that he was confidence of the unity that such gathering would foster, especially with people of mix religions in attendance.

He stressed the importance of continually developing, at any level available, the strong and cordial relation that has been existing between his country and Nigeria, one of which was the breaking of Fast with Nigerians.

Safety Of Kaduna Road: Whoever Believes In Senate Negativity Is Mentally Ill – el-Rufai

Greenbarge Reporters

May 13, 2019

“If you believe everything that comes out of the Nigerian Senate, you will have serious mental health problems. There are things that are said that are just for the gallery and for the media.”

Kaduna State Governor made the statement today, Monday while reacting to recent Senate description of Kaduna-Abuja express Way as the most dangerous highway in Africa.

Governor el-Rufai said that he believed in facts and statistics and wondered what statistics the senators used determine that the Kaduna-Abuja road is the most dangerous anywhere.

“I like facts, I like using figures. I wish the people that said that would use figures. But I am saying that no matter what anyone said, last week, I am assuring Nigerians that the Kaduna -Abuja road is quite safe now and would be so long as the initiatives put in place by the various security agencies, details of which I am not willing to disclose.

“I am saying as the governor of the state based on the security measures put in place, I am confidence that the road is safe and I drive on that road.”

He said that he had already briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the general security situation in Kaduna which he used to do from time to time and also to update him on the various initiatives by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the SSS, and the Army Forces with a view to improving the security situation in Kaduna in general and particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna road.

Presidency Steps In To Resolve Land Dispute Between Army And Abuja Indigenes

Editorial staff

May 13, 2019

The Presidency has moved in to stop the raging dispute between the Nigerian Army and the indigenes of Abuja over 7,000 hectares of land cutting across Gwagwa, Idu, Zuba and Giri communities in the Federal Capital Territory.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was accosted last week by protesters as he went for official assignment in the Federal Capital Territory, has, according to his spokesman, Laolu Akande, already directed the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to submit to his office, a comprehensive report on the disputed land and what it has done to resolve the matter.
The Vice President, who had a meeting with a delegation of Gbagyi leaders comprising political office holders, traditional and youth leaders, at the Presidential Villa today, Monday, gave assurance that the government will adopt all necessary measures that will lead to the amicable and just resolution of the land dispute.

Professor Osinbajo said that he had briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter and would find out from the Chief of Staff to the President, what the presidential committee constituted to look into the issues has so far done.
According to the Vice President, “what is very important now is that we do not allow a situation where things are not done according to the law and due process. It is also important that this issue is resolved amicably and justly.
Last week Tuesday, on his way to the airport to launch the Homegrown School Feeding Programme in Ekiti state, the Vice President ran into some protesters at Goza village. The protesters blocked Osinbajo’s motorcade prompting him to alight to engage with the angry youths, a move that culminated into today’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Senator Philip Aduda, representing the FCT at the National Assembly, was at the meeting with the Vice President, dismissed the claim by the Army authorities that the land was allocated to it and appreciated the intervention of the Vice President.
This was even as the Secretary of the Area Councils Services Secretariat, Senator Isa Maina said that the FCT authorities in an effort to address the issue has already proposed to allocate a plot of land to the Nigerian Army in Kwali.
He said that contrary to the directive by the presidential committee that all parties involved in the matter maintain status quo, the Nigerian Army has proceeded to construct structures on the disputed land.
On his part, the Emir of Jiwa, Idris Musa said that the indigenous people of Abuja are not against the Nigerian Army in any way but want a just and amicable resolution of the matter.

I Owe Nobody Apology For My View On Retiring God-Father In Politics – Gov El-Rufai

Editorial staff

May 13, 2019

The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru Ahmad el-Rufai has made it clear that he owes no one an apology for his comment on his ability to retire god-father from his state.

The governor who spoke to news men today, Monday, after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, stressed: “I have no apologies; I don’t apologize for my views.

“My views are thought-out and I put them there. I don’t have to explain anything to anyone. This is a democracy, and in a democratic space, there must be room for people to express their views. “You can disagree, you can abuse me if you don’t like my views but that is it.

Governor el-Rufai, who was answering question as to whether such comments by him had not created conflict between him and the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu, said that there is no dispute between him and anyone in the APC, adding that the APC is one family.

“I don’t dispute with my own party. They may dispute with me but I don’t. I made comments about how to retire god-fathers; it’s a template that we have used in Kaduna and it has worked. If anybody thinks he is a god-father, the template may apply to him but I am not in dispute with anyone.

“I expressed my views firmly and very clearly. There is no human being that I am afraid to express my views on, and when I am ready to express my views specifically on a particular name then I will do so but I haven’t. I made a general statement but people have gone in to overdrive, creating fake news, abusing me and so on. I am thick-skin, I can take the abuse and I will wait for my time when I want to….”

Asked if he would want Tinubu to be retired, he said that he never even knew that Tinubu is a god-father of Lagos, adding that he was only referring to his State for which the question was originally asked.

“What I know for sure is that we have retired God-fathers in Kaduna and I have told those that asked me the question that ‘there are six million registered voters in Lagos but only one million voted,’ in the last election. So there are five million people that you can bring into the electoral play ground and you can defeat anyone if you work hard. It is hard work, and it is four years. That is what I said and if anyone feels offended by that, that is his business or her business.

“I have not recommendations to Lagos; I am the governor of Kaduna State. I know Kaduna politics pretty well and I played my role in my party towards the success of the party. I have not recommendation for anyone, I am just saying, if I am asked a question and I gave an answer, anyone that feels offended by the answer, it’s his own business.”

Police Officers In Africa Converge On Abuja To Brain Storm On Transnational Crimes

Editorial staff

May 13, 2019

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu will host West African Police and Security Chiefs in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, from May 14 to 16, under the auspices of WAPCCO to address security challenges in Africa.

The meeting is coming as part of the ongoing efforts at galvanizing multinational efforts towards finding a lasting solution to transnational crimes, especially terrorism, violent extremism, kidnapping, illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons, human trafficking, maritime security, herders and farmers’ conflict amongst others.

According to statement by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, the event will be attended by the INTERPOL Secretary General, representatives of African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), members of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa and representatives from Committee of Chiefs of Police from Central Africa among other key Security Stakeholders.

The statement said that the meeting will present an opportunity for all Security Chiefs across West Africa to re- commit themselves to collaborate more effectively towards tackling trans-border crimes and other regional security threats in an increasingly globalized world.

The West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) is a structure under ECOWAS designed to bring together Heads of Police of ECOWAS Member States to exchange and share intelligence and collaborate with one another in the fight against criminality and Security threats in West Africa.

WAPCCO’s areas of interest include the tackling of illicit trade on drugs, enforcement of immigration laws, policing of marine space, customs activities, and financial intelligence amongst others.

I’ve Transformed From Techno Politician To Full Politician – Gov Ambode Of Lagos

Editorial staff

May 13, 2019

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that he had learnt his mistakes in politics and has transformed from what he called ‘techno-politician’ to full politician.

Answering reporters’ questions today, Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ambode said that he is now wiser, having learned the job for four years in office.

“You see, every politician learns every day. The fact remains that I came in as a technocrat, so I used to call myself a techno-politician. But I think I am wiser now. I am more of a politician than a technocrat.”

Ambode lost his re-election bid to Babajide Sanwo-Olu after failing to win the primaries of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His visit to the President today clashed with the funeral of the father of Lagos Deputy Governor-elect, Obafemi Hamzat.

Celebration Of Democracy Day On June 12 Takes Shines Off Buhari’s Inauguration On May 29 – Lai Mohammed

Editorial staff

May 13, 2019

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that the shifting of Democracy Day to June 12 will be fully celebrated with fanfair this year over and above the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.

Speaking to news men today, Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Lai Mohammed explained that a number of events slated for the inauguration will now be held during the first celebration of Democracy Day on June12.

The Minister said that the decision to place more emphasis on the new Democracy Day over the inauguration of the the President was taken at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) lastWednesday, May 8.

According to him, invitations have been sent to all world leaders to attend the ceremonies marking the Democracy Day

‪on June 12.‬

”Since the first observance of ‪June 12‬ as Democracy Day falls into an

election year, and as a measure to sustain ‪June 12‬ as Democracy Day,

the celebration of the inauguration and the advancement of democracy

in the country will now take place ‪on June 12‬.”

Lai Mohammed said that details of the two events will be made public at a world press conference scheduled for ‪May 20th‬ in Abuja

Men Flock To Swaziland Where Govt Decrees 5 Wives Per Men Free

Greenbarge Reporters

May 13, 2019

Information reaching us in Greenbarge Reporters indicates that men from other countries are flocking into Swaziland, a small country around Southern Africa with population of 1.4 million to pick wives for free.

It has been authoritatively confirmed that the country’s King, King Mswati III has decreed that every male adult MUST marry at least five wives, with a warning of sending to prison anyone that violates the order. He gave assurance that his government would pay for the marriage ceremonies and buy houses for men that marry at least five wives.

King Mswati warned that any man or woman who opposes the decision “will face a life sentence”.

He stressed, while speaking in Mbabane Swaziland that adult males should begin to carry out his order from March 2019 or face the consequences of failing to do so.

On the strength of the King’s request on males from other countries to find their ways to his country for the purpose of marrying no fewer than five women free, men from other countries, especially the neighbouring South Africa are thronging Swaziland.

Information has it that the Department of Home Affairs in South African has been witnessing an increasing number of men coming to get their passports sorted so they can travel to Swaziland to get wives for themselves.

King Mswati III is confirmed to be having 15 wives and 25 children even as his father and predecessor has more than 70 wives and 150 children.

The King was quoted as saying that Swaziland is facing a very serious problem as there are more women than men in the country.

Men are therefore required and expected to take more wives so that every woman gets a husband. The country which is known to be full of virgins, is also said to have more women than men.

Senator Ekweremadu Gives His People Notice Of Plan To Quit Senate In 2023

Editorial staff

May 12, 2019

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has announced that he would not seek re-election into the Senate in 2023 after he might have served them for about 20 years.

The Senator, who spoke today, Sunday at an event to mark his 57th birthday and to appreciate God and his constituents for his re-election and triumphs, said: “my dear brothers and sisters, you must admit that no matter how melodious a song may be, it will definitely have an end. Therefore, as I thank you for these 16 memorable and splendid years as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as I thank my distinguished colleagues for honouring me as the Deputy President of the Senate for three consecutive times; as we recall the accomplishments of the projects of my representation in the last 16 years; as I acknowledge your kindness in keeping me in the Senate for these 16 years; and as I prepare to further represent you by your mandate for the next four years, let me seek your understanding and indulgence to now announce that this will be my last term as your Senator.

“As we get set for the 9th Senate, be assured that I will focus on the completion of all ongoing projects we attracted and ensure that communities that are yet to benefit from our vision in infrastructure adequately benefit.

“I will work with other patriotic Nigerians within and outside the National Assembly and across party, ethnic, and religious lines to address issues of disunity, insecurity, and poverty currently threatening our nation. I believe that together we can pioneer a new order characterised by peace, justice, unity, prosperity, egalitarianism, and boundless opportunities for all.”

Ekweremadu recalled how he became the Chairman of his age grade association at age 10 and served as President-General of Mpu Town Union, pioneer elected Chairman of Aninri LGA, Chief of Staff of Enugu Government House, Secretary to Enugu State Government, fourth term Senator, third term Deputy President of the Senate, and the first Nigerian Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

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