Saudi Arabia Washes Hands Off The Disappearance Of Journalist Khashoggi

October 13, 2018

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it has no hand in the disappearance of its citizen and Journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.

Reacting to media reports linking the Kingdom to sudden disappearance of the journalist, the Interior Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz said that the allegations trending in media are not true.

The minister regretted the allegations which said sought to disrupt the intense investigation going on to unravel the mystery surrounding the missing of the journalist.

Speaking in connection with the news regarding the order to kill Khashoggi, he described the rush by the media to accuse the Kingdom as against the royal government’s commitment to the principles, rules, and traditions, as well as international law and conventions.

The minister lauded the collaboration with Turkey through the Joint Investigation Commission and other official channels, adding that there is need for the media to play it’s important role of transferring facts and not affecting investigation and judicial proceedings.

He reiterated the Kingdom`s determination to safeguard the interests of its citizens at home and abroad, particularly to provide clarification on the complete truth on the disappearance of citizen Khashoggi.

Al Jazeera had reported that Saudi journalist Khashoggi had entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct 2 to obtain documents, stating that he had divorced his ex-wife. Since then, Khashoggi was never seen.

Turkish sources informed the media that they believed the Saudi writer and critic died in the consulate in what they described as “planned murder.”

Saudi officials have denied the allegations and insisted that Khashoggi had left the building before being declared missing.

I Won’t Leave APC, But Will Remain To Fight Injustice, Zamfara Governor

Greenbarge Reporters

October 12, 2018

Zamfara state Governor, Abdulazeez Yari has made it clear that he will not leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but will remain it to fight injustice.

He said: ”I don’t know whether that is a joke or otherwise but for me, if you check my history since 1998, APP, and 2002 when Buhari joined ANPP, and 2015 APC, no time that I shifted from one party to another. That is not in my culture. So, the issue of leaving the party is not true.

“Yes, I cannot deny pressure from the people that we should leave APC but what I told them is that what we are looking for is just justice.”

Governor Yari, who answered questions from news men today, Friday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja accused the national body of the party of trying to produce governorship candidate for Zamfara State through the method which he described as crude.

He referred to section 87 of the party’s constitution is very clear of the Act that the party must follow a process before producing any candidate.

“Therefore, the most important thing is that we conducted election on the 3rd and 4th of October and all agencies INEC, Civil Defence, Police, and DSS were there and they signed for us and the report was written by the REC that elections were conducted.

“Unfortunately, for the INEC to say that there was no election, we don’t know where they got their information but we believe they have a report directly from the representative there, that election was held in Zamfara state. So, it depends on what they want to do.”

Part Of Challenges In 2018 Hajj Are Aged, Unaccompanied Pilgrims – Hajj Commission’s Boss

Greenbarge Reporters

October 12, 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Barrister Abdullahi Muhammad Mukhtar has said that the major problems encountered in the just concluded Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia are the aged and unaccompanied pilgrims from Nigeria.

“Basically, the main challenge we have has to do with medical fitness of some of the pilgrims; in some states, you see people who apparently are aged; and they don’t have accompanying relations to support them.”

Barrister Mukhtar, who presented the report of the 2018 hajj to President Muhammadu Buhari today, Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that the Commission did not oppose to aged people performing hajj, but that they should be accompanied by able body relations.

“We are not saying no to the registration of aged people (for the hajj), but they should have an accompanying relations who should give them all the support they should require to perform the hajj in the best manner.

“To address this, we are going to strengthen our education and enlightenment programme and also the medical screening aspect of it will be strengthened.”

The Commission’s boss, who promised to consolidate the gains the Commission had recorded in the 2018 exercise, with the concert of the national medical team to make sure that this is achieved in subsequent hajj, said that he briefed President Buhari on the outcome of 2018 hajj and that the President was very happy with the outcome.

According to him, the President commended Nigerian pilgrims for behaving excellently during the hajj and directed that the Commission should do everything humanly possible to sustain the tempo and the successes recorded and to commence preparations for the 2019 hajj in earnest.

“I briefed Mr. President about the turn out of the pilgrims and we all appreciate the reasons and what ought to be done in future to make sure that Nigeria fills up its quota.

“Part of the measures to be taken will be the introduction of the Hajj Saving Scheme (HSS) programme which will enable pilgrims who want to pay over a long period of time to start paying by installments. All regulatory framework to ensure the success of the Hajj Saving Scheme will be put in place and government will do the needful for the take off of the scheme in due course.”

2019: Atiku Picks Peter Obi, Ex Anambra Gov As Running Mate

Editorial staff

October 12, 2018

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar has finally settled for the former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi as his running mate.

Atiku announced the name of Peter Obi shortly he held a closed door meeting with him. Obi was believed to be the preferred choice of both the party and the presidential candidate as well as stakeholders in the party and outside it.

It was gathered that Obi’s name and that of Atiku will be sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) next week.

I Bear No Grudges Towards Anybody, Gov Fayose Says, As He Bows Out

Editorial staff

October 12, 2018

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has handed over the instruments of office to the State’s Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, saying that he holds no grudge towards anybody.

Governor Fayose, at a special valedictory State Executive Council meeting today, Friday, at the new Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, said that history would be kind to him the way he managed the resources in trust for the people of the Fountain of Knowledge.

The outgoing governor, who presided, for the last time, over the State Executive Council said: “I’m a man who came, saw and conquered. I can’t finish all, I have done my best.

“History will be kind on me as a man who has given his best to the people. I will remember all for your support, I bear no grudges against anyone.”

Fayose said that he would be available to answer questions on how he ruled the state anytime he is called upon to do so even as he thanked the people of Ekiti for their support.

He asked them to cooperate with the incoming administration to take the state to greater heights, saying: “I thank the people of the state for their cooperation and urge them to extend same to the incoming administration. There should never be a vacuum; our priority in Ekiti must be discharge of our duties.”

At the special cabinet meeting which was attended by traditional rulers, legislators, senior government officials and party leaders, Fayose said: “what has a beginning must have an end. It is not the number of years spent but the quantity and quality of achievements.”

Economy: Whatever Comes In, Goes Out Must Be Accounted For, Buhari Insists

Editorial staff

October 12, 2018

President Buhari receives in courtesy visit President and Member of the Governing Council of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in State House on 12th Oct 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted his government, in order to ensure continued accountability in the country, will insist always that whatever comes into the reasury and goes out it must be accounted for.

He made it clear that his government did not bring into force the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for the fun of ti and cannot be taken as optional for growth.

The President, who played host to the executives of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) led by its President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Ladan at the Presidential Villa, today, Friday, said that he will insist on better financial structure which he said, required much sacrifice and focus on the part of the government.

“One of the cardinal objectives of this administration is that people and all government institutions must give account for what comes in and goes out.

“We did not introduce TSA, but we enforced it. TSA makes a lot of sense that you must have to give account for whatever comes in and goes out in government finance; that’s accountability.”

President Buhari advised accountants to remain focused and support the government in the ongoing fight against corruption, even as he warned that they might not be liked by many people because of their professional ethics.

He assured them that the sacrifice is necessary for the country to grow.

In his remarks, Alhaji Ladan commended President Buhari for the laudable achievements in ensuring an inclusive and strong economy by plugging leakages, and making youth empowerment and infrastructure top priority.

“This government has instilled fiscal discipline by plugging leakages,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s image in the comity of nations had also improved significantly, attracting more Foreign Direct Investments.

The ANAN President noted that the President’s assent to the Not-Too-Young-To- Run bill further encouraged youth participation in governance.

He said that the fight against terrorism is commendable as the Boko Haram insurgents had been degraded.

He extolled the administration’s effort in getting the economy out of recession and repositioning it for diversity through agriculture.

“Your second term, Mr. President, will bring more succour to Nigerians.”

Presidential Panel Recovers Over N4 Billion, $7 Million

Editorial staff

October 12, 2018

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) has said that it has recovered over N4 billion and $7million in cash as well as physical assets in its various operations.

The chairman of the Panel, Okoi Obono-Obla, in a statement today, Friday in Abuja said that the $7 million was recovered from the previous management of the Nigeria Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank which had illegally placed it in Heritage Bank.
The naira component of the recoveries, according to him, include N533 million and land valued at N1.5 billion also from the former NEXIM management.

The assets, according to him, have since been returned to the bank.

Obono-Obla said SPIP also recovered N24 million misappropriated by some directors of the National Theatre, and two hectares of land worth N2 billion, belonging to the National Council for Acts and Culture.

Also recovered is part of the Agura Hotel belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), according to the chairman.

“The property illegally annexed by some so-called powerful persons with untouchable connections for over 20 years, have since been returned to the NPA.

“The panel is investigating the failure of a contract awarded to a company to dredge Calabar Channel, after the company had received 12 million dollars.”

Obono-Obla said that the panel also recovered 86 assorted vehicles valued at N500 million from a director in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

“Other assets recovered from him are six houses in highbrow areas of Abuja and a large farm also in Abuja.”

Obono-Obla reaffirmed the panel’s commitment to its mandate, even as he advised public servants to desist from converting official property to personal use.

The SPIP was inaugurated by the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in August, 2017.

Source: NAN.

APC Senators Suspend Impeachment Move Against Senate President

Editorial staff

October 12, 2018

There are indications that the hot air blown by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the impeachement of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on resumption of the legislative business Tuesday this week has been watered down.

The Senate majority leader, Ahmed Lawan, who spoke to news men today, Friday, shortly after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, alluded to the fact that the APC Senators have shelved the impeachment move “for more important national issues.

“The National Assembly is a Nigerian parliament and therefore the best thing to do is to ensure that Nigerians get a good deal and for now the good deal is for Nigeria to have all those pending requests of Mr. President approved by the National Assembly. I think the national interest for now, overrides any other interests.”

He said that on resumption of the legislative activities on Wednesday and Thursday, the law makers concentrated on the request of President Muhammadu Buhari or the funding of INEC for elections to be conducted in 2019 “and we passed in the Senate and the House did also.

“We passed the request of Mr. President for N189 billion for INEC activities for 2019.

“On Thursday, the committee on appropriation invited the head of the security agencies to come and defend the request which Mr. President made on their behalf for funding of their supervisory and oversight roles during the elections in 2019.

“We also had the referral of the request of Mr. President’s approval for foreign loan component of the 2018 appropriation and that is about 2.78 billion dollars Eurobond.

“We have gone full blast consciously, purposely to ensure that Mr. President gets what he requested; we lost time because some of the issues were requested for before we went on our recess.

“We have also in the Senate, passed confirmations of the CBN Deputy Governor, ICPC governing body and we are determined to continue to do this throughout this period. Our intention is to ensure that Mr. President doesn’t lack from inactivity of the NASS; that whatever he requests, the fundamentals aspects especially will be attended to. This is our determination both as APC senators and, in fact as senate and National Assembly.”

They Abused Us In Port Harcourt, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

October 11, 2018

Those who gathered in Port Harcourt last weekend to seek the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead Nigeria, through ballot box, from 2019, are supposed to be honourable, respectful and reasonable leaders.

They are supposed to be symbols of our national pride in all its ramifications. They are supposed to be the preservers of our collective heritage and promoters of all that we hold dear as an independent, vibrant and proud nation.

But, when such leaders, even at the party level; before they come down to seek for our votes to lead us, practically showed their preference for foreign currency in dealing with getting the delegates’ node over and above our local currency, one wonders what type of leadership they would provide at a larger pedestal, and what national values and pride they will promote.

I was disgusted, driven by a sense of patriotism for the only country I can proudly call my own, to see open display of unpatriotic act by the leaders who ought to show the youths the attitude of appreciating the national possession, especially, the nation’s currency no matter how low it has become.

For one, it was a big surprise that such large number of American Dollar was stashed away by the politicians at the time the nation was groping in pains over none availability of the same currency, that was at the time the government of President Muhammadu Buhari came to powe in 2015.

As a matter of fact, it is a total insult on our national collective pride that the politicians of the PDP extract under-rated the nations Naira, which of course, represents our pride as a nation. there was virtually no mention of Nigerian currency at the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt. It was as if they were in America!

It is even more shameful that Atiku Abubakar, who eventually got the ticket, allegedly gave out 5000 Dollar per delegate at the venue; the new PDP candidate that will be campaigning to preside over the affairs of this country.

One wonders what a prospective president would be thinking when he and his team downgraded the currency with which he will obviously use to advance the economy at the very time he was supposed to promote it.

Has Nigeria been so out of place that the person who wants to lead it would not even as much as pretend that he loves it and is committed to its advancement in the simple matter of using the country’s currency to appeal to the delegates?

Why would our politicians continue to abuse us, our national pride and all that we stand for as free born?

I’m wondering what the PDP leaders will tell Nigerians about the stabilization of exchange rate, which is mostly Dollar base, if the candidate they float becomes President, even as they had already played the Naira into the hand of the ever rising rate of Dollar.

I’m wondering if they and their candidate will have any moral right to complain about the reversed economic gains so far made if their candidate becomes President when, right from the beginning they have subjected the economy, in their own way, to the superiority of the Dollar.

They and their candidate should stop abusing the sensibility of Nigerians, by thinking and acting as if Dollar is equal to a ticket for them (Nigerians) to enter heaven.

APC Wishes ‘Men Of God’ In PDP Well

Editorial staff

October 11, 2018

Bishop Kukah, Obasanjo, Atiku and Dr Gumi

The campaign organization of the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari has wished those it called “men of God” who accompanied the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to Abeokuta, Ogun State to visit the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, well.

“We also note with interest the full participation of some “men of God” in the entourage of the Peoples’ Democratic Party for this political re-alignment.

“We are glad that they have publicly declared their partisan interest and urge all Nigerians to see all their previous, present and future attacks on President Buhari from their pulpits in the context of partisan politics and not in the context of nationalistic or altruistic commitment. We wish them well.”

The APC presidential campaign organisation’s spokesman, Festus Keyamo, in a statement today, Thursday named the “men of God” as David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Tabernacle, Mathew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese and Ahmad Gumi, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric among others.

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