The President f the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba has said that president Muhammadu Buhari’s bailout to states to pay salaries and pensioners made the difference between life and death for Nigeria’s workers.
“Your Excellency, I can stand here today and say your intervention was the difference between life and death for many workers.”
Ayuba Wabba, who led the leadership of organized labour comprising Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on a visit to the president today, Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said: “government and labours are primarily partners in progress. The success of government is linked to its workers. And the success of workers is linked to government.
“We all remember the special bailout, Paris club refund and budget support package you introduced to support state governments during the recession. Your directive during this intervention was that state governments must offset accumulated arrears of salaries and pension liabilities. I remember your publicly and openly asked state governors, “how do you manage to sleep at night when the salaries of workers in your state are not paid?
“We also commend you for paying off the pension and accumulated entitlements of disengaged staff of Nigeria Airways and many other pensioners whose pension had been left to accumulating by successive governments. Despite the recession, you did the right things.”
Responding, President Buhari described the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government as the era with unprecedented, irresponsible expenditure.
According to the President, the PDP has not been been able to successfully explain to Nigerians what they did with the unprecedented earnings during the period as no tangible infrastructure was built.
Buhari recalled the negotiations that led to the approval of the N30,000 minimum wage, saying that he had to ask the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige to remind the workers what his administration met on ground and what its been able to achieve with minimal resources.
“During your negotiation with the minister of labour and when he briefed us in council on N30,000 minimum wage, I gave an analogy of a mad woman, who went to fetch firewood but when she realized it was too heavy for her to carry, instead of reducing it, she added more.
“I said, we are struggling to survive as a nation. You (workers) knew what this country was earnings between 2009 and 2015, you knew the state of infrastructure when we came in. God gave them 16 years of unprecedented earnings. Multiply 2.1 million by $100 by 16 years. I don’t think the PDP has been able to successfully explain to Nigerians what they did with that money. Because some of the roads, especially the main ones, from here to Onitsha, to Port Harcourt have been there since PTF days. You know the rail was virtually gone and power, I asked where is the power? They spent $16 billion on power and Nigerians are asking, where is the power? It was unprecedented, irresponsible expenditure.
” Most of you are unanswerable to Nigerians, I appealed to you through our mutual friend, the minister of labour to tell you where we found the country, where we are, and what we have been able to do with the resources available to us.
“Oil production from 2.1 million barrels per day went down to half a million. The militants were unleashed on this administration, and yet as confirmed by your leader, we had to ensure pensioners who were dying to collect their entitlements. So really, there were terrible management of this country in last 16 years and we are just trying to make up.
“We cannot succeed without your cooperation. I appreciate the pressure you are under from your respective constituencies, most especially if you have to submit yourself for elections, you have to prove to your members that you are with them rather than with the government and we understand.”
President Buhari also commended the labour unions for their patriotism during the Presidential and National Assembly elections that assisted many Nigerians travel to their constituencies to vote.
According to the NLC President, these institutes are key pillars in Labour-government relations. “The activation of the boards will surely ensure our successes to date are taken to the Next Level. Please be rest assured we are ready to do our bit.”
A United States of America Senator, Martha McSally, has opened up on the widespread sexual scandals in the military circle. She was the first female US fighter pilot to fly in combat.
The Arizona Republican Senator, who was testifying in a hearing on the armed services’ efforts to prevent sexual assaults, said she did not report the rape as she felt ashamed and confused, adding that she had lacked faith in the system.
“I stayed silent for many years, but later in my career, as the military grappled with the scandals, and their wholly inadequate responses, I felt the need to let some people know, I too was a survivor.
“I was horrified at how my attempt to share generally my experiences was handled.
“I almost separated from the Air Force at 18 years of service over my despair. Like many victims, I felt like the system was raping me all over again.”
Reports of sexual assaults across the military jumped nearly 10 percent in 2017, according to the Pentagon. In January, another female senator said she had been raped.
Joni Ernst said she was sexually assaulted while she was a student at Iowa State University by someone she was in a relationship with who was “physically and sexually abusive”.
The Iowa Republican told Bloomberg she had called the campus sexual assault hotline and ended the relationship but did not report the incident to police.
Venezuela’s government has expelled the German ambassador, Daniel Kriener, after he and diplomats from other embassies welcomed home opposition leader, Juan Guaido at the Caracas airport.
The government declared Kriener persona non grata and gave him 48 hours to leave the country, accusing him of meddling in internal affairs, although it did not give specific details.
“Venezuela considers it unacceptable that a foreign diplomat carries out in its territory a public role closer to that of a political leader aligned with the conspiratorial agenda of extremist sectors of the Venezuelan opposition,” the government said in a statement.
Most Western countries, including Germany, recognise Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state and back his plan to install a transition government ahead of free elections. Guaido denounces Maduro as an usurper whose re-election last year resulted from a sham vote. Maduro said that he is victim of an attempted coup.
German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas said European support for Guaido was “unwavering.”
“This is an incomprehensible decision, which escalates the situation instead of easing tensions,” Maas said in a statement.
Guaido had risked arrest on his return to Venezuela for flouting a court-imposed travel ban to visit other Latin American countries.
To try to hasten Maduro’s exit, the United States placed sanctions on the OPEC nation’s oil industry in late January, and last month attempted to ship humanitarian aid into Venezuela despite Maduro’s opposition, in the hopes it would prompt the military to flip its loyalty to Guaido.
The bid was ultimately unsuccessful, and Maduro retains the support of the armed forces and control of state functions. The United States ratcheted up the pressure on Wednesday, with National Security Advisor John Bolton warning foreign banks that they could face sanctions if they participate in transactions benefiting Maduro.
The United States will also revoke the visas of 77 people associated with Maduro, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said, adding to a list of 49 others whose visas were revoked last Friday.
But Maduro has continued to defy the Trump administration. Venezuelan military counterintelligence agents detained American journalist Cody Weddle and his Venezuelan colleague Carlos Camacho early on Wednesday, Venezuela’s National Press Workers Union said on Twitter, adding that the government has arrested 36 journalists this year.
Weddle, who recently covered Guaido’s return to the country for Miami television station WPLG Local 10 News, was arrested at his home on charges of treachery, according to free speech group Espacio Publico. Agents took Weddle’s computer and equipment, the group said.
Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
The move, which came a week after Venezuela deported a team from U.S. television network Univision, drew condemnation from Organization of American States Secretary-General Luis Almagro and Florida Senator Rick Scott.
“He must be released immediately and the U.S. will not stand for this kind of intimidation,” Scott, a Republican, wrote on Twitter.
Kimberly Breier, the top U.S. diplomat for the Western Hemisphere, said on Twitter that the State Department was “aware of and deeply concerned with reports that another U.S. journalist has been detained in Venezuela,” without naming Weddle.
WPLG reported on its website that its management’s attempts to reach Weddle “have proven unsuccessful” and that his last contact with station employees was on Tuesday afternoon.
The Court of Appeal has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have access to all certified copies of the materials used in conducting the 2019 presidential election.
This, according to the court, is in pursuant to section 151(1 & 2) of the Electoral Act as amended in 2010 which states that:
(1) An order for an inspection of a polling document or an inspection documents of a document or any other packet in the custody of the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or any other officer of the Commission may be made by the election tribunal or the court if it is satisfied that the inspection is required for the purpose of instituting, maintaining or defending an election petition.
(2) A document other than a document referred to in subsection (I) of this section relating to an election and which is retained by the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or any other officer of the Commission in accordance with this section shall be open for inspection on an order made by the Election Tribunal or a Court in exercise of its powers to compel the production of documents in legal proceedings, but shall not otherwise be open for inspection.
The three-member panel led Abdul Aboki also ordered INEC to make available to Atiku and the PDP all documents and electoral materials used for the election for the purpose of the inspection.
Delivering a unanimous ruling on the exparte motion filed by Atiku and the PDP, Justice Aboki, however, refused the applicants’ prayers for scanning and forensic analysis of the election materials.
The court also refused to direct INEC to make available all polling documents for forensic analysis as requested by the applicants.
The court, in addition, refused to order the electoral body to permit forensic experts of the applicants to examine form EC48 and other relevant forms used for the election.
Justice Aboki noted that the applicant’s lawyer, Chris Uche, had rightly based his argument on a previous decision of Election Petition Tribunal, but observed that the decision which permits applicants to inspect, to scan for forensic analysis has been overruled by “this court because it confers unfair advantage to the applicant.”
The appeal court serves as the election petition tribunal for the presidential election. Atiku and the PDP are challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 presidential election.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has rolled out the dos and donts to officers that will be taking part in the March 9 Sate governorship and Houses of Assembly elections across the country.
The army boss, who spoke at a meeting with Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), General Officers Commanding (GOC), Operational Commanders and Directors of the military at the Army Headquarters in Abuja today, Wednesday ahead of the elections, charged commanders to be vigilant to ensure that cases of infiltrations to scare off voters are not allowed even as he made it clear that hobnobbing and fraternization with politicians during this election period is totally prohibited.
“Commanders must ensure robust and extensive patrols are carried out to cover all flash points; enforce the no movement restrictions and carry out thorough searches of vehicles and persons.
“Commanders must deal decisively with any electoral crime or action such as electoral thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, illegal possession of electoral materials and firearms as well as other crimes that would mar the smooth conduct of the election.
“There must be no military escort for any politician or retired military personnel until after the elections.
“Commanders must ensure that no retired military officer is allowed to use Service weapons hitherto authorised for their personal safety during the period of the election.
“Commanders must ensure that troops remain on the ground to counter and deal ruthlessly with any post-election violence.
“Commanders must work in conjunction with the police and other security agencies to dominate the environment to forestall any form of violence.
“Commanders must maintain force protect and respond decisively to prevent any surprise attack on troops of Operation SAFE CONDUCT and eligible voters by armed militia groups or political thugs.
“Commanders must act according to the Rules of Engagement and within the code of conduct as well as have respect for fundamental human rights in the performance of their assigned roles.
“Commanders must not take any unlawful orders from any politician no matter how highly placed that will jeopardize the apolitical stand of the Nigerian Army.
“Commanders must ensure troops under their command remain apolitical, neutral and should deal ruthlessly with electoral lawbreakers as well as avoid compromise with any politician and political party.
General said that there have been reports of alleged compromises by some personnel during the February 23 Presidential and national assembly elections.
“We have received complaints from some stakeholders, major political parties, Governors of Bayelsa, Oyo and Ogun States of allegation of misconduct as well as unprofessional conduct by some of our personnel. Unfortunately some other states have gone to the press with unsubstantiated allegation without resort to the NA leadership.
“Nonetheless, all these complaints are noted and will be addressed appropriately. A high powered committee had been convened and instituted to investigate all cases of alleged misconduct by troops arising from the 2019 General Elections.
“This is aimed at ensuring that all cases are thoroughly looked into for the purpose of dispensation of justice and to uphold Nigerian Army’s credibility, professionalism, and apolitical stand.”
Part of Buratai speech goes thus:
Once again let me welcome you all to another expanded weekly meeting as done 2 weeks ago. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you all for the professional manner in which you executed my directives for Operation SAFE CONDUCT. The proactive intervention of NA in the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly Elections contributed greatly to its successful conduct and credibility. I am glad to note that both international and local observers and indeed the Nigeria print and electronic media applauded the professional role played by the Nigerian Army in ensuring that a secure and conducive environment was created for eligible voters to exercise their civic rights. Unfortunately, some level of violence was still recorded leading to disruption of polls, burning of ballot boxes in some areas as well as loss of lives, including the death of an officer and 3 soldiers. The Nigerian Army to a larger extent ensured that the large scale electoral malpractices and acts of thuggery aimed at disenfranchising voters as witnessed in previous elections were curbed despite the campaign of calumny orchestrated by some politicians against us.
Overall, I am delighted to note that the first phase of Operation SAFE CONDUCT was a huge success. Despite the bomb explosion in some parts of Maiduguri and attack in Geidam, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE were able to decisively defeat the attacks and secured the area for a successful conduct of elections. We must therefore consolidate on this success and prepare adequately for the second phase of the election by reviewing our plans with a view to correcting observed lapses a peaceful poll that will reflect the wishes of Nigerians that have the right to determine those that govern them.
Recent security threat assessment and analysis of the coming elections showed that politicians have made plans to use all means available to truncate the peaceful conduct of the elections. There are indications of their intent to take advantage of and to use the farmers/herders crisis, armed political thugs and ethnic militias to perpetrate acts of violence including bombings. Some of them also intend to infiltrate domestic staff of political opponents, employ mercenaries to carry out acts of assassinations, use the social media for smear campaigns, hate speeches and spread fake news in a bid to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections. We must not allow them succeed.
Let me reiterate that the NA will enforce all guidelines in support of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections in line with its constitutional roles. I therefore want to remind us all not to rest on our oars. We shall not allow those who are determined to undermine our electoral process to succeed. These forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections are very crucial. This is an election that touches on the interest of the people at the grassroots and could likely be volatile in nature. It is important to reiterate that politicians will employ and deploy all means to outwit each other to gain control of power at this level. We may recall that in the recently concluded polls, some politicians in their quest for power, armed thugs and miscreants with automatic weapons; induced and coerced youth corpers and INEC ad-hoc staff to perpetrate acts of electoral malpractices. We must therefore continue to support the NPF and other security agencies to prevent these malpractices from occurring again. I therefore urge all commanders to work assiduously and closely with the civil authorities and all law abiding individuals as well as groups to ensure the success of the forthcoming elections.
During the course of the recently concluded elections, troops of the Nigerian Army were able to make arrests of persons who perpetrated acts of electoral offences. These suspects are to be immediately handover to the police for prosecution. I want to state and categorically warn that the Nigerian Army will not tolerate any acts that will undermine national security. This time around we shall be tough on those who plan to rig or disrupt the electoral process. I therefore want to appeal to Nigerian youths to shun any attempt by any politician to use them to perpetrate any form of violence. As we mourn the death of the young officer and soldiers killed on the course of their lawful duty during the recently held election, I want to assure their families that their death will not be in vain. In line with the tradition of the Nigerian Army they will be given heroic burial as they are indeed the heroes of our democracy. I have directed that their full entitlements be paid. Let no one be in doubt that those desperate politicians and criminals that attacked our troops in the course of carrying out their legitimate duties will be tracked down and brought to justice.
We have all seen the advantages of the NA Situation Room for Elections Security Monitoring. This laudable innovation to security monitoring has received accolades from different quarters and already promoting inter-agency cooperation. There is no doubt it assisted us in timely decision making and more timely response to situations. I want to urge all commanders to further key into the platform. As we take decisions and respond, we must have at the back of our mind that the army must remain professional and apolitical all through the electoral process.
There have been reports of alleged compromises by some personnel during the elections. We have received complaints from some stakeholders, major political parties, Governors of Bayelsa, Oyo and Ogun States of allegation of misconduct as well as unprofessional conduct by some of our personnel. Unfortunately some other states have gone to the press with unsubstantiated allegation without resort to the NA leadership. Nonetheless, all these complaints are noted and will be addressed appropriately. A high powered committee had been convened and instituted to investigate all cases of alleged misconduct by troops arising from the 2019 General Elections. This is aimed at ensuring that all cases are thoroughly looked into for the purpose of dispensation of justice and to uphold Nigerian Army’s credibility, professionalism, and apolitical stand.
Once again let me reiterate my charge to you concerning this election:
Commanders must be vigilant to ensure that cases of infiltrations to scare off voters are not allowed.
Hobnobbing and fraternization with politicians during this election period is totally prohibited.
Commanders must ensure robust and extensive patrols are carried out to cover all flash points; enforce the no movement restrictions and carry out thorough searches of vehicles and persons.
Commanders must deal decisively with any electoral crime or action such as electoral thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, illegal possession of electoral materials and firearms as well as other crimes that would mar the smooth conduct of the election.
There must be no military escort for any politician or retired military personnel until after the elections.
Commanders must ensure that no retired military officer is allowed to use Service weapons hitherto authorised for their personal safety during the period of the election.
Commanders must ensure that troops remain on the ground to counter and deal ruthlessly with any post-election violence.
Commanders must work in conjunction with the police and other security agencies to dominate the environment to forestall any form of violence.
Commanders must maintain force protect and respond decisively to prevent any surprise attack on troops of Operation SAFE CONDUCT and eligible voters by armed militia groups or political thugs.
Commanders must act according to the Rules of Engagement and within the code of conduct as well as have respect for fundamental human rights in the performance of their assigned roles.
Commanders must not take any unlawful orders from any politician no matter how highly placed that will jeopardize the apolitical stand of the Nigerian Army.
Commanders must ensure troops under their command remain apolitical, neutral and should deal ruthlessly with electoral lawbreakers as well as avoid compromise with any politician and political party.
Finally, I want to seize this opportunity to thank all well-meaning Nigerians for their support to the Nigerian Army. Our Situation Room and hotline contact numbers are open for timely passage of information. We urge them to take advantage of the facilities. I want to assure Nigerians that we are more than committed to ensuring the successful conduct of the election. In the words of Sun Tzu I quote “The general is the safeguard of the state. If the safeguard is flawed, the State is surely weak”. The Nigerian Army must, therefore, work to keep the promise to our nation and make it strong by ensuring that the election is free of all forms of violence. We must, therefore, strive to make a difference. On this note, I want to also most sincerely thank His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for giving the Nigerian Army the opportunity to exercise its constitutional role without any bias or interference. We must, therefore, remain totally committed to the defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I wish you all a successful conduct of Operation SAFE CONDUCT and a violence-free election.
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has acknowledged the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled his promises he made to them in 2015, on the Baro Dry Port, the Mambilla Hydro power, self- sufficiency in agricultural produce, road construction and rehabilitation, and oil and gas exploration before the 2019 elections..
At a courtesy visit to the President today, Wednesday, to congratulate him on his February 23 electoral victory, the Northern socio-cultural group, recalled that in 2015, a similar delegation of ACF visited and congratulated the President on his victory at the Presidential elections held earlier that year.
The leader of the group, Malam Adamu Fika, recalled also that in May 2016, President Buhari granted an audience to another delegation of the Forum, led by late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano.
The delegation then, he said, drew attention to projects of concern to the North and of benefit to Nigeria at large.
“The projects included the Baro Dry Port, the Mambilla Hydro power, self- sufficiency in agricultural produce, road construction and rehabilitation, and above all, oil and gas exploration.
“It is pleasing to note that since then, the Baro dry port has been commissioned, while all other projects have been reactivated and now being implemented.
“We pray that those organs of Government charged with the responsibility for the implementation will double their efforts to ensure that these projects are executed fully to their logical conclusion within reasonable time.”
Responding, President Buhari assured that he will work harder to consolidate on providing security, improving the economy, creating jobs, fighting corruption and upgrading infrastructure.
“This is my last lap. I will try and work even harder than I have done. I assure you that I will not let you down. I pray that my best will be good enough.”
The President, who thanked members of the ACF for their consistent and dogged support, said he remained appreciative of their goodwill.
A self-made prophetess, Linda Mabi-Praise has been charged to an Ikeja, Lagos Special Offences Court, accused of swindling a company to the tune of N1 billion.
Linda Mabi-Praise of Temple of Praise Church located at off Adeniran Ogunsanya St., Surulere, Lagos, was said to have committed the offences in 2017 in Lagos along with her company, Mutano Energy Ltd.
The Prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Frank Ofoma told the court that the accused person received N503.3 million in five tranches from the complainant, Tophara Ventures Nigeria Ltd and subsequently issued three dude cheques to the company.
“On April 4, 2017, the defendants fraudulently obtained the sum of N80 million from Tophara Ventures Nigeria Ltd by falsely representing to the company that the money was for costs of diesel importation.
“On April 24, 2017 the defendants falsely obtained N238.2 million from the complainant by claiming that the funds were for the purpose of diesel trade and supply.
“On April 24, 2017, the defendants dishonestly stole and converted N137.1million from the complainant and sometime in 2017, she also stole N48 million from Tophara Ventures Nigeria Ltd.”
The prosecution said that the prophetess with intent to defraud, had on May 3, 2017, issued three dude United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc cheques to Tophara Ventures.
The first cheque dated Oct. 30, 2015 had the number 77148231 while the second cheque was with number 77148216 and was dated May 3, 2017.Both cheques were for N5 million each.
“On May 3, 2017, she also issued a third cheque for N10 million which had the number 77148217 and was dated May 3, 2017.
“All three cheques were dishonoured on presentation for payments on the grounds were standing in credit in Mabi-Praise’s bank account,” the EFCC prosecutor said.
According to the EFCC, the offence, contravened the provisions of sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006, Sections 258(1), 9(b) and 278(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.
The offence also contravened the provisions of Section 1(1) of the Dishonoured Cheques and Other Related Offences Act 2004.
The judge, Justice Sherifat Solebo, gave order for the remand of Mabi-Praise in Kirikir female prison pending when she would perfect her bail conditions, even as the accused person pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge of stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and issuing dud cheques.
Justice Solebo had earlier admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N25 million with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must be resident in Lagos, provide proof of residency and proof of payment of tax.
The judge then adjourned the case to March 25 for trial.
A socio-cultural group in Kogi State Central Senatorial District, De Club 10 Nigeria, has appealed to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to use the early part of his second term to complete for full operation, Ajaokuta Steel project and other projects in appreciation of the historic support the people in the District have been giving him.
In a congratulatory message to President Buhari on his re-election at the February 23 Presidential poll in the country, De Club 10 Nigeria expressed confidence that the president will also see to the full operation of Itakpe Iron Ore project, located in the Senatorial District.
The congratulatory message, which was signed by the Club’s President, Alhaji Saidu Yusuf, pleaded with present Buhari to, as a matter of priority; embark on the construction and full operation of Ekuku and Osara Dams.
It said that while Ajaokuta and Itakpe iron ore projects will provide jobs for thousands of Nigerians, the Dams will boost agricultural business for over 85 percent farmers that constitute the entire populace in the District.
“Such farmers will continue to remember you long after you leave office, as the leader who had brought the ease of doing food growing business to their doorsteps.”
De Club 10 Nigeria also pleaded with the president to appoint a minister from the senatorial district because of the massive support he had been enjoying from the people in the area.
“It is important to let you know that over 95 percent of the people in the senatorial district, including civil servants, petty traders, business people and farmers who form the bulk of your support base, have consistently been voting for you since 2003 that you made foray into the nation’s democratic contest for leadership.”
The Club appreciated the attention which Buhari government had given to infrastructural development across the country, especially the Itakpe-Warri rail line, and pleaded that he extends similar thing, especially the construction of dilapidated federal roads from Lokoja to Okene, Okene to Kabba, Okene to Auchi and others in the area.
The Club then prayed to God to grant the President-elect sound health, political wisdom and courage to take the country to the next level of development in all sectors.
On February 27, 2019, lawyer and activist, Mike Ozekhome, wrote a piece under the headline, ‘Buhari’s skewed view of the Igbo race.’
On face value, the piece seemed to advocate the cause of the Igbo race, but a dispassionate analysis shows it for what it truly is: drivel meant to incite the Igbo against the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and further inflame passions that would pedestal the ethnic nationality against the rest of the federation. Ozekhome appeared to be a friend to our brothers and sisters across the Niger, but in actual fact, he was a ravenous wolf in sheep’s clothing. Shakespeare describes such as “goodly apple but rotten at the cheek.”
It is always so very easy to claim that Nigeria is disunited, while at the same time be a purveyor of hatred and discord. What Ozekhome did was simply to fan the embers of hatred, bile and disunity, playing the Igbo against the rest of the country, while appearing to be their friend. Well, it is not surprising, as the Good Book tells us that even Satan has a way of appearing like an angel of light, to deceive and beguile the unwary.
The verbose and bombastic article (make it simple, is one of the principles of good communication) is filled with half truths, outright falsehood, and vitriol, all to ensure that the Igbo nation sees President Buhari as its arch enemy. It is example of an outsider weeping more than the bereaved.
Lawyer Ozekhome has a right to his political persuasion, which is also very well known. He is a friend of that rent seeking political class, which is fast becoming endangered species in Nigeria today. Under President Buhari, it is becoming crystal clear by the day that the political breed that the lawyer loves is becoming a vanishing sect. And that breed may never control the levers of power, and the purse strings of the country again. What grief for lawyers that thrive better under such circumstances!
See a portion of the acerbic piece that betrayed Ozekhome’s political preference: “It was enough that President Jonathan had been sacrificed and booted out of office by APC and its international collaborators, led by the US, UK and EU. These are the same countries the very government is now tagging meddlesome interlopers in our internal affairs.”
So, after all, the piece was not about love for the Igbo nation. At the substratum level is love for the free spending Goodluck Jonathan administration that frittered away the commonwealth of the country, looting everything from the Federation Account, to Excess Crude Oil Account, central bank, and the foreign reserves. Some lawyers possibly made a killing under such laissez faire atmosphere, and wished it had lasted forever. But here’s the truth for Ozekhome: the Jonathan administration is gone, and gone forever. Nigerians are not likely to ever afflict themselves with such squander-mania again. Those who long for the onions, garlic and cucumber of Egypt had better accept the fact that we have left the land of servitude forever. We are now almost in Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, and there’s no turning back.
Ozekhome described the February 23 presidential election as “complete murder of democracy and electoral process by the Buhari government.” Really? Millions of Nigerians don’t think so. Rather, the day of the election goes down in history as one in which bloody nose was given to the confederacy of wheeler dealers that wanted to seize the public treasury again, and make a mess of it. However, the people said a resounding no. It pains the lawyer and his ilk to the marrows. But not to worry, he can still make some fast bucks from the community of senior lawyers being assembled by Atiku Abubakar in a futile bid to regain a ‘mandate’ which never existed in the first place.
The Agenebode, Edo State born lawyer merely used the Igbo nation as a smokescreen to display his angst against the Buhari administration. Hear what he wrote about the Igbo in respect of the February 23 election: “However, notwithstanding the militarized process and disenfranchisement of many Nigerians, the Ndigbo people tenaciously stood their ground as a proud race. They clearly rejected Buhari through the ballot box.” True? False. What about the Igbo that gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari more than the required 25 % in Abia, Imo and Ebonyi states? Are they not members of the ethnic nationality again? Does Ozekhome think Atiku Abubakar, or anybody else, would ever become Nigerian president by just locking down two geo-political zones out of the six in the country? It will never happen. They are the ones that fooled the old political war horse into believing that he was already president before the first ballot was cast. Soon, they will leave the man in the lurch, and look for economic benefits somewhere else. But they should never forget that the days of free money are gone in Nigeria. Yes, you can still get quite wealthy in this country, but you must work for it. And hard, too.
Ozekhome gave himself away as a typical person that speaks from both sides of the mouth. He said President Buhari did not visit Anambra State till he found the need to go for political campaign, first in the gubernatorial election of 2017, and the recent presidential race. You never can win with some people. Head or tail, you lose. They can cavil, and live permanently at the complaint counter of life. The president visits a state, he is criticized. He doesn’t visit, he is excoriated. The best thing is just to ignore the professional complainers, and do what you think is right.
Pretending to love the Igbos, while inciting them to what may tantamount to political doomsday, the lawyer said President Buhari never attended the burials of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe, and Dr Alex Ekwueme. Some people make political capital out of everything, including shedding crocodile tears at burial ceremonies, but not Muhammadu Buhari. We all know what he did when Dr Ekwueme took gravely ill, and he arranged medical evacuation by air ambulance abroad. The government also footed the medical bill. The state burial was attended by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. So impressed was the Igbo nation that a high powered delegation came to the presidential villa to say thank you. Yet, a man from Agenebode, pretending to love the Igbo more than themselves, is playing cheap politics with burial ceremonies.
See this pettiness about the mausoleum of the great Zik, which had been abandoned before the Buhari administration completed it: “He was in Onitsha to commission his only project and ‘federal presence’ since 2015, the repainted grave tomb of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa) whose burial obsequies he had also shunned in 1991.”
If Ozekhome had been less consumed by hatred, he would have realized the deep friendship that existed between the then Gen Buhari, and Zik’s son, Bamidele. They were so close that the latter played host to Buhari many times in Onitsha.
Bile and ‘bad belle’ also led the lawyer to describe the magnificent mausoleum as ‘repainted grave tomb.’ This was a project that Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, personally supervised, and delivered in grand manner. But Ozekhome probably has not been to Onitsha, and does not even know the road to the city. That’s why he calls it a repainted tomb. Yes, the horse of an adversary is never tall. If it stands at over six feet, the enemy says ‘oh, see this dwarf horse.’ Hatred blinds. Animosity addles the mind, and poisons the soul.
Sometime last year, Federal Government unveiled about 69 projects currently being executed in the South-east alone, including the Second Niger Bridge, roads, other bridges, electrification, and many others. But people like Ozekhome would not see it, as they would rather chase briefs in Ekiti State under Ayo Fayose, for which they got humongous legal fees. God dey!
In the Good Book, wise men came from the East to see the holy child, Jesus. Wise men still abound in the eastern part of Nigeria. They know what pertains to their peace, and they voted wisely on February 23. The Igbo must inevitably produce the President of Nigeria. But that eventuality will not come by listening to hate preachers like Mike Ozekhome. We have seen how hate preachers from the pulpit failed resoundingly in the presidential election. Hate preachers from the bar will also fail, and no mistake. You can only be president when you build a coalition round the country, and not by circumscribing yourself in two regions. That, at best, can only give you a clan head.
Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity.
Kylie Kristen Jenner, born August 10, 1997 and an American reality television personality, model, entrepreneur, socialite, and social media personality has been voted the new youngest self-made billionaire of all time. She snatched the title from Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg.
Jenner was finally given the title after months of speculation on Tuesday by Forbes as it unveiled its annual billionaires list.
At 21, she is both the youngest self-made billionaire and the youngest billionaire on Forbes’ ‘young billionaires’ list.
Jenner has amassed a personal net worth of $1billion through her wildly successful range of make-up, Kylie Cosmetics.
She overtakes Zuckerberg, who was 23 when he made his first billion 11 years ago in 2008. Now, he is the eighth richest person in the world with a fortune of $62.3billion.
Jenner is the youngest in her famous, reality TV family, the Kardashians and the first to hit the billion dollar landmark.
She was surprised by the success of her cosmetics company which was only founded in 2015 but is now worth an estimated $900million.
Jenner, who owns a 100 percent stake in it, has separate income from endorsements and her family’s reality TV show. She also owns an impressive portfolio of real estate.
That’s a nice pat on the back.
Kylie Jenner who spoke on becoming the world’s youngest self-made billionaire said,
‘I didn’t expect anything. I did not foresee the future. But the recognition feels really good.
‘That’s a nice pat on the back,’ Jenner told Forbes.
She credits her success to her enormous social media following which ensured her customer base before she made her first product.
‘It’s the power of social media. I had such a strong reach before I was able to start anything,’ she said, adding that she sees the company going ‘very far’.
‘I see Kylie Cosmetics going very far. I work really hard,’ she said.
Her mother Kris would not rule out that she may sell the company in the future.
‘It’s always something that we’re willing to explore,’ she said.
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A United States of America Senator, Martha McSally, has opened up on the widespread sexual scandals in the military circle. She was the first female US fighter pilot to fly in combat.
Venezuela’s government has expelled the German ambassador, Daniel Kriener, after he and diplomats from other embassies welcomed home opposition leader, Juan Guaido at the Caracas airport.
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has acknowledged the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled his promises he made to them in 2015, on the Baro Dry Port, the Mambilla Hydro power, self- sufficiency in agricultural produce, road construction and rehabilitation, and oil and gas exploration before the 2019 elections..
A self-made prophetess, Linda Mabi-Praise has been charged to an Ikeja, Lagos Special Offences Court, accused of swindling a company to the tune of N1 billion.
A socio-cultural group in Kogi State Central Senatorial District, De Club 10 Nigeria, has appealed to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to use the early part of his second term to complete for full operation, Ajaokuta Steel project and other projects in appreciation of the historic support the people in the District have been giving him.
It said that while Ajaokuta and Itakpe iron ore projects will provide jobs for thousands of Nigerians, the Dams will boost agricultural business for over 85 percent farmers that constitute the entire populace in the District.
Kylie Kristen Jenner, born August 10, 1997 and an American reality television personality, model, entrepreneur, socialite, and social media personality has been voted the new youngest self-made billionaire of all time. She snatched the title from Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg.
Ozekhome: Fanning Embers Of Disunity And Subjugation Of Igbo Race, By Femi Adesina
On February 27, 2019, lawyer and activist, Mike Ozekhome, wrote a piece under the headline, ‘Buhari’s skewed view of the Igbo race.’
On face value, the piece seemed to advocate the cause of the Igbo race, but a dispassionate analysis shows it for what it truly is: drivel meant to incite the Igbo against the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and further inflame passions that would pedestal the ethnic nationality against the rest of the federation. Ozekhome appeared to be a friend to our brothers and sisters across the Niger, but in actual fact, he was a ravenous wolf in sheep’s clothing. Shakespeare describes such as “goodly apple but rotten at the cheek.”
It is always so very easy to claim that Nigeria is disunited, while at the same time be a purveyor of hatred and discord. What Ozekhome did was simply to fan the embers of hatred, bile and disunity, playing the Igbo against the rest of the country, while appearing to be their friend. Well, it is not surprising, as the Good Book tells us that even Satan has a way of appearing like an angel of light, to deceive and beguile the unwary.
The verbose and bombastic article (make it simple, is one of the principles of good communication) is filled with half truths, outright falsehood, and vitriol, all to ensure that the Igbo nation sees President Buhari as its arch enemy. It is example of an outsider weeping more than the bereaved.
Lawyer Ozekhome has a right to his political persuasion, which is also very well known. He is a friend of that rent seeking political class, which is fast becoming endangered species in Nigeria today. Under President Buhari, it is becoming crystal clear by the day that the political breed that the lawyer loves is becoming a vanishing sect. And that breed may never control the levers of power, and the purse strings of the country again. What grief for lawyers that thrive better under such circumstances!
See a portion of the acerbic piece that betrayed Ozekhome’s political preference: “It was enough that President Jonathan had been sacrificed and booted out of office by APC and its international collaborators, led by the US, UK and EU. These are the same countries the very government is now tagging meddlesome interlopers in our internal affairs.”
So, after all, the piece was not about love for the Igbo nation. At the substratum level is love for the free spending Goodluck Jonathan administration that frittered away the commonwealth of the country, looting everything from the Federation Account, to Excess Crude Oil Account, central bank, and the foreign reserves. Some lawyers possibly made a killing under such laissez faire atmosphere, and wished it had lasted forever. But here’s the truth for Ozekhome: the Jonathan administration is gone, and gone forever. Nigerians are not likely to ever afflict themselves with such squander-mania again. Those who long for the onions, garlic and cucumber of Egypt had better accept the fact that we have left the land of servitude forever. We are now almost in Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, and there’s no turning back.
Ozekhome described the February 23 presidential election as “complete murder of democracy and electoral process by the Buhari government.” Really? Millions of Nigerians don’t think so. Rather, the day of the election goes down in history as one in which bloody nose was given to the confederacy of wheeler dealers that wanted to seize the public treasury again, and make a mess of it. However, the people said a resounding no. It pains the lawyer and his ilk to the marrows. But not to worry, he can still make some fast bucks from the community of senior lawyers being assembled by Atiku Abubakar in a futile bid to regain a ‘mandate’ which never existed in the first place.
The Agenebode, Edo State born lawyer merely used the Igbo nation as a smokescreen to display his angst against the Buhari administration. Hear what he wrote about the Igbo in respect of the February 23 election: “However, notwithstanding the militarized process and disenfranchisement of many Nigerians, the Ndigbo people tenaciously stood their ground as a proud race. They clearly rejected Buhari through the ballot box.” True? False. What about the Igbo that gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari more than the required 25 % in Abia, Imo and Ebonyi states? Are they not members of the ethnic nationality again? Does Ozekhome think Atiku Abubakar, or anybody else, would ever become Nigerian president by just locking down two geo-political zones out of the six in the country? It will never happen. They are the ones that fooled the old political war horse into believing that he was already president before the first ballot was cast. Soon, they will leave the man in the lurch, and look for economic benefits somewhere else. But they should never forget that the days of free money are gone in Nigeria. Yes, you can still get quite wealthy in this country, but you must work for it. And hard, too.
Ozekhome gave himself away as a typical person that speaks from both sides of the mouth. He said President Buhari did not visit Anambra State till he found the need to go for political campaign, first in the gubernatorial election of 2017, and the recent presidential race. You never can win with some people. Head or tail, you lose. They can cavil, and live permanently at the complaint counter of life. The president visits a state, he is criticized. He doesn’t visit, he is excoriated. The best thing is just to ignore the professional complainers, and do what you think is right.
Pretending to love the Igbos, while inciting them to what may tantamount to political doomsday, the lawyer said President Buhari never attended the burials of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe, and Dr Alex Ekwueme. Some people make political capital out of everything, including shedding crocodile tears at burial ceremonies, but not Muhammadu Buhari. We all know what he did when Dr Ekwueme took gravely ill, and he arranged medical evacuation by air ambulance abroad. The government also footed the medical bill. The state burial was attended by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. So impressed was the Igbo nation that a high powered delegation came to the presidential villa to say thank you. Yet, a man from Agenebode, pretending to love the Igbo more than themselves, is playing cheap politics with burial ceremonies.
See this pettiness about the mausoleum of the great Zik, which had been abandoned before the Buhari administration completed it: “He was in Onitsha to commission his only project and ‘federal presence’ since 2015, the repainted grave tomb of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa) whose burial obsequies he had also shunned in 1991.”
If Ozekhome had been less consumed by hatred, he would have realized the deep friendship that existed between the then Gen Buhari, and Zik’s son, Bamidele. They were so close that the latter played host to Buhari many times in Onitsha.
Bile and ‘bad belle’ also led the lawyer to describe the magnificent mausoleum as ‘repainted grave tomb.’ This was a project that Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, personally supervised, and delivered in grand manner. But Ozekhome probably has not been to Onitsha, and does not even know the road to the city. That’s why he calls it a repainted tomb. Yes, the horse of an adversary is never tall. If it stands at over six feet, the enemy says ‘oh, see this dwarf horse.’ Hatred blinds. Animosity addles the mind, and poisons the soul.
Sometime last year, Federal Government unveiled about 69 projects currently being executed in the South-east alone, including the Second Niger Bridge, roads, other bridges, electrification, and many others. But people like Ozekhome would not see it, as they would rather chase briefs in Ekiti State under Ayo Fayose, for which they got humongous legal fees. God dey!
In the Good Book, wise men came from the East to see the holy child, Jesus. Wise men still abound in the eastern part of Nigeria. They know what pertains to their peace, and they voted wisely on February 23. The Igbo must inevitably produce the President of Nigeria. But that eventuality will not come by listening to hate preachers like Mike Ozekhome. We have seen how hate preachers from the pulpit failed resoundingly in the presidential election. Hate preachers from the bar will also fail, and no mistake. You can only be president when you build a coalition round the country, and not by circumscribing yourself in two regions. That, at best, can only give you a clan head.
Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity.