Police in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested a 37 year old mother of four, who was alleged to be parading herself as Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari. The woman, whose name is actually Aisha Muhammed Bello was paraded before news men by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Abubakar Bello. She is from Plateau State. The police boss said that the suspect has been using the name of Aisha Buhari to solicit for contracts and financial assistance from unsuspecting members of the public, especially heads of government establishments. “The suspect was arrested by Police operatives on 10th January, 2018 at Fadama III Project Office, Maitama, Abuja following a report that she contacted the Coordinator of the Project that she wants assistance in her capacity as the First Lady. Upon her arrest, a phone and a newly acquired Airtel SIM Card registered in the name of Aisha Buhari, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was recovered from the suspect. “Investigation is on-going with a view to contacting other people she must have duped in the name of the First Lady. At the end of the investigation, she will be charged to court. Members of the public are hereby advised to always be double sure of who they are dealing with before they part with their property or money.”[myad]
The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has announced the release of the sum of N35 billion to settle the backlog of promotion arrears owed the federal civil servants. It covers years 2011 to 2016. Ahmed Idris who spoke after receiving a briefing from the Chairman of the Committee on the Verification of civil servants that are entitled to Promotion Arrears, Mohammed Kudu Usman, expressed satisfaction with the success recorded from the exercise. The Accountant General said that the payment has helped the workers meet some of the most pressing needs, adding that federal government is committed to fulfilling its promises and commitments to the workers. According to him, the payments which are being made in batches have seen staff from over 261 MDAs so far being paid the sum of N22,596,120,830.44. Breakdown of the payments revealed that the first six batches were for 231 MDAs enrolled under the IPPIS, while there was another batch comprising 36 Non-IPPIS MDAs. He said that another set of 68 MDAs, comprising a batch of 54 IPPIS MDAs even as another batch of 12 Non-IPPIS MDAs respectively were verified and their monies are being processed for payment. The total sum of N8,249,083,829.50 has been released for the settlement of these verified MDAs. Meanwhile, the Accountant General has said that some MDAs that are yet to submit their claims are still submitting to the committee on Promotion Arrears verification for scrutiny. He asked staff with complaints to refer to their various MDAs, even as he assured that all MDAs with genuine claims will be fully paid.[myad]
Some of the vehicle delivered to Nigerian Army headquarters
The Nigerian Army has started taking delivery of vehicles it ordered from Innoson Motor Manufacturing Company which were configured for deployment for Operation Lafiya Dole and other military operations. The Nigerian Army and Innoson Motors, an indigenous vehicle manufacturing company had recently signed agreement and partnership towards the manufacturing of locally made military equipment and vehicles for the army. A statement from the army said that, it would acquire 100 variant of utility vehicles from the company to support its operations, especially in the Northeast. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai had announced the development recently when the management of the company, led by its Managing Director, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, visited the army headquarters. Buratai said that the army would partner with the company in the modification and production of other military equipment, including armoured fighting vehicles. He said that the army had already acquired 40 vehicles from the company after it donated three vehicles to the Theatre Command of the Operation Lafiya Dole. Buratai said that the the 40 vehicles were acquired after the donated vehicles were tested and found suitable for the North-East terrain. He added that the vehicles were deployed in combat operations and “proved to be useful, comfortable and convenient for military operations. He, therefore, solicited the cooperation of the company in building the capacity of its personnel. The army chief said that this was necessary now that the army is assessing its special vehicle plant and central workshop located in Kaduna State and other areas to in order to produce required equipment.[myad]
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has injected another sum of $210 million into the Inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market, to meet customers’ requests in various segments of the market. Figures obtained from the Bank today, Monday, indicate that the CBN offered $100 million to authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $55 million. Customers requiring foreign exchange for Invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, were also allocated the sum of $55 million. The Bank’s Acting Director in the Corporate Communications Department (CCD), Isaac Okorafor, confirmed the figures, saying that those who made bids in the wholesale window would receive value for the bids tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16. Okorafor reassured the public that the Bank would continue to intervene in the interbank foreign exchange market in line with its resolve to sustain liquidity in the market and maintain stability. According to him, the steps taken by the CBN in forex management had yielded many positive results, particularly as it had to do with reduction in the country’s import bills and accretion to its foreign reserves. It will be recalled that the CBN last Friday, January 12, intervened in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) to the tune of $262.5 million, to cater for requests in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors. Meanwhile, the naira continued its stability in the FOREX market, exchanging at an average of N360/$1 in the BDC segment of the market today, Monday, January 15. [myad]
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has narrated how Gani Adams beat 25 eminent sons of Yorubaland to become the Aare Ona Kakanfo which was last held by late MKO Abiola. The Alaafin said that the title of Aare Ona Kakanfo was bestowed on Gani Adams because of his passionate commitment to the protection of the culture and territorial integrity of Yorubaland. Oba Adeyemi spoke during a thanksgiving service on Sunday at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Oyo to mark his 47th year on the throne. He said that out of 25 candidates shortlisted for the title, Adams was found to have paid dearly and earnestly for the interest of Yorubaland. “After he came first at the examination and scrutinization by men and earthly beings, his appointment as the 15th Are Ona Kakanfo was also subjected for approval and subsequently sanctioned by the gods and all the elemental forces in the firmament. “We also ensured that the three religions being fervently practised by the Yoruba prayed and endorsed his appointment. “The benchmark of selection was not hung at the sentinel of political engagement, solidity in terms of gold, wealth or fortune, neither was it on the number of properties acquired on global pedestal, but on agrarian and blind engagement of those who have abused and abusing, those who have infringed and infringing on the territorial and cultural territory of Yoruba. “Whatever methods employed by him and his association, the fact still remains that there was a counter balance check valve which sent jitters down to the spines of the irrational irredentists who hitherto thought that they can make mincemeat of Yoruba land. “And for his bold steps at ensuring that Yorubaland was not desecrated or lorded over both by blue-collar miscreants, ethnic irredentists and he paid dearly for it.” Oba Adeyemi said that Gani Adams has been poignantly consistent in fighting for the protection of Yoruba, adding that he had for many times humiliated, disgraced, manacled and jailed. It is natural for you either to hate, love and dislike him. “However, the truth must not only be told that he was there when the Yoruba needed a person who is bold, strong and ready to lay his life for the defence of the heritage. Thus, we find it expedient to be here today not only to give and pray to God through Mother Mary, the Holy Virgin for my 47th year on the throne, but also for the successful installation ceremony of the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. “The role of an Aare Ona Kakanfo both in the peace and war period is not a deal for the Lilly or jelly livered or for a spineless fellow. It is the consignment of a man with a Lion’s heart and an eagle spirit, which we have found in Aare Gani Adams.” [myad]
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is obviously angry with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom who he said he was ‘shocked’ with a news report in which the governor was quoted as saying that he forewarned Osinbajo about the savage and inhumane killings by alleged herdsmen in Logo and Guma local government areas which took place on the 1st of January 2018. The Vice President said that he did not believe that the Governor could ever have said such thing, but that “it will be a terrible falsehood to suggest that I was ever informed by the Governor or anyone else, of the imminence of the killing of citizens of our country in those or any other local governments in Benue State.” A statement by the senior special assistant to the Vice President on media and publicity, Laolu Akande admitted that governor Ortom wrote to the Vice President at the time he Acting President, on 7th June 2017 protesting a newspaper publication where the leadership of Miyetti Allah was reported to have stated that it was opposed to the Open Grazing Prohibition law of the State and that they would mobilize to resist the law. He said that the Miyetti Allah had also written to the Vice President on the 5th of June 2017 on the same law protesting several sections of the law. “The Governor went on to say that the leadership of Miyetti Allah should be arrested because they used words such as “wicked, obnoxious and repressive,” to describe the law, and because these were “utterances that are capable of undermining the peace…” “The Vice President subsequently met with the Governor, discussed the matter and the security situation in the State and then ordered law enforcement agencies to be on the alert to prevent any attacks or violence. This was in June 2017! “In the said letter written by the Governor, there was no mention of any threat to any specific one of the 23 local governments of Benue State, so the best the law enforcement agencies could do even then was to await information or intelligence of an imminent attack. None came. “Since then, the VP has held several meetings with the Benue State Governor, including a visit to the State on the 6th of September, last year at the behest of Mr. President during the tragic floods in the state last year. “At all such meetings, the Vice President discussed the security situation of the State with the Governor. “Following that, the then Acting President convened a major national security retreat which was attended by all State Governors, service chiefs and heads of security agencies. The Retreat featured very detailed discussions on the herdsmen/ farmers’ clashes. “To the best of our knowledge, neither Governor Ortom nor the Federal Government was aware of the imminence of the cowardly attack on Logo and Guma on the 1st of January, and therefore any suggestion that the President or the Vice President ignored the State Governor’s warning is both absolutely false and certainly misleading.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari met with Some Benue elders earlier today at the Aso Villa, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to deal with all the trouble makers that have made Benue State a hot bed of ethnic clashes. He stressed that those found to be operating illegal militia in possession of arms, will not be spared. The President, who spoke at an audience with governor Samuel Ortom, leading Benue State leaders and elders, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Monday, advised the government and people of the State to exercise restraint. The President emphasised that all those involved in the conflict that culminated in loss of lives would not escape justice, including any illegally armed militia in the state. He commiserated with the victims of the attacks and the families who lost loved ones and properties. President Buhari said that relevant agencies had been directed to start catering for the humanitarian needs. “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Service and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished. “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your country men. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation.” The President told the delegation that his administration had already begun a process of finding lasting solution to the perennial challenge of herdsmen conflict with farmers and communities around the country. President Buhari said that the Inspector General of Police had since relocated to Benue state to provide security for lives and properties. He advised indigenes of the state to trust the security agencies and report all suspicious cases of movements in the state. Governor Ortom had said that the tension would be reduced as the federal government has intervened to find a lasting solution to the herdsmen attacks. “We will leave here to rebuild confidence in our people,” he said. The Tor-Tiv of Tiveland, Professor James Ayatse, also said that his entire domain has been thrown into mourning due to the incessant attacks. “We want you to put an end to the gruesome situation,” he added. Present at the meeting were Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, former Senate President, David Mark, former Benue State Governor, Senator George Akume and Senator Barnabas Gemade. Others include Senator Joseph Waku, retired General Lawrence Onoja, retired Brigadier General John Atom Kpera; former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa; Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbir Kyambe and other members of the National and State Assemblies from the State.[myad]
As Nigeria prepares for the 2019 general elections, a few people have already started subtle campaign. Of course, you can be sure that the starting point is in the media as always and the torchbearers are the journalists and writers; hack or hired writers or otherwise.
From what is coming out in the media and self-appointed soothsayers, it appears that the shape of the campaign for the 2019 general elections will not be different from what we have always had, especially what we had in the 2014/15 campaign/election period. It is looking as if it will be full of insults, hatred, verbal attacks, innuendos, mudslinging and all such other negative and archaic political jibes.
As a matter of fact, the campaign is not likely to be issue-based, for the simple reason that none of the political parties, much less the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can claim to have clearly defined ideology. Not even the Presidential candidates that will emerge from the lot.
It is strangely interesting to know that while President Muhammadu Buhari has not come out to declare his intention to run for a second term, a few writers, preachers and professional hack-writers are already in town churning out hateful comments on why he should not even think of coming out to seek for a second term.
The concern here is not really about what such writers are saying, but the ignorance that is built into the write-ups; I mean ignorant about how democracy works, how leadership emerges in democracy and so on.
One of such write-ups had already expressed fears that the candidate he favours to be President from 2019 will be prevented from winning election by what he called cabals, as if the cabals are a group that installed leader or leaders.
Of course, if the present President has not performed enough to enable him become the next President, it is the electorate across the country that will deny him such privilege with their votes, and it has been made clear time without number that Nigeria had gradually grown beyond the crudity which such writers are thinking of.
This point is made strong with the example which the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had set, having handed over the reign of power to the winner of the 2015 elections, who happened to come from the then opposition political party.
It will be a clear intimidation and denial of right for anybody to say that President Buhari should not seek for second term or that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or even any other Nigerian should not contest the next year election. What is important is for us to grow out of our archaic, undemocratic thinking. The thinking that it is a sin for even a none performing leader, this time, President Buhari, to contest election or re-election as the case may be. Or, that by contesting, it means that he is being floated by unseen cabals.
From the example which Dr. Jonathan had set, it will be difficult for any body, even the incumbent leader, to cling to power when the electorates say it is all over.
So, instead of dissipating energy fearing the method of installing the next President, in a clear democracy which Nigeria has long embraced, the campaigners would do well to begin to sell their candidates and their programmes, if any, to those who will vote in 2019.
The issue of cabal or that a section of the country has enslaved the other parts of the country by the mere fact of the man at the helm of the nation’s affairs, should be left where it belonged: political dustbin.
At any rate, by the way, the constitution is designed and being practiced in a way that no candidate from whichever part of the country can be President unless he wins election in not less than 26 out of 36 states of the country, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
As a matter of fact, Article 134 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a presidential candidate will be duly elected after attaining both the highest number of votes cast, and having received at least a quarter of the votes at each of at least two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
If therefore, an Igbo man for example, wins election in at least 26 states of the federation, crossing all the geographical and ethnic boundaries, how, for God sake, would such President be regarded as being floated by cabals or that his part of the country is enslaving the other parts?
The campaigners should learn to know that, despite those hiding under the new social media to spread hateful and divisive political antics, Nigerians are no fools; they understand the workings of democracy and the method of electing President.
What Nigeria wants as the 2019 beckons, are Presidential candidates that would come up with clear idea of how they will address the numerous economic, security, social and other challenges of the country, and how they will bring about job opportunities and other welfare packages, not who is going to contest, why is he going to contest and or reading meaning into where such candidate comes from.
Where anybody comes from ought not to be anybody’s business, in a democracy, because, every adult and educated Nigerian is qualified to contest. [myad]
Against the background of her confessed attachment to the former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jumai Alhassan, has made it clear that she will remain in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The minister, who had in September last year said that she would support Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 presidential election even if President Muhammadu Buhari decided to run, now pledged allegiance to President Buhari, saying: “I am and I will continue to remain in APC.’’
In a telephone interview with an online medium MyNationNews, the minister, who is popularly called Mama Taraba, said that she was not forced to leave the PDP on which platform she became a senator and that she would remain in the APC.
“Politics is all about interest, and nobody forced me to leave PDP to join APC, so no want will force me out of it. I will continue to work for APC and that’s why I travelled out to Taraba, to campaign for our party’s candidate Sanusi Jambawaile.
“I know many may wish to see me leaving APC, but let me assure them I will remain in APC! How can I destroy the house we collectively built?”
Although, she would not make comment on Atiku Abubakar’s defection from to the PDP, Aisha said that the APC, from where her godfather defected “is intact in Taraba.
“There is no squabble or faction, and our great party APC in Taraba is intact. That’s why we all work and campaigned together with His Excellency, the former Acting Governor UTC.
‘’So, we are one no any problem as some of you thought,’’ she further.”
Mama Taraba, had, late last year vowed to follow Atiku to wherever he would go because: “Atiku is my godfather even before I joined politics.”
Aisha, who spoke in Hausa language said: “let me tell you today that if Baba (President Muhammadu Buhari) said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah, I will go before him and kneel and tell him that ‘Baba,’ I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister but Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather. If Atiku said he is going to contest.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting with political, traditional and opinion leaders from Benue state on Monday, January 15, to comprehensively address the security challenges facing the State in recent time.
A source in the Presidency said that the meeting is coming on the heels of the frequency and scale of deadly violence that had taken dangerous shapes and the reactions that trailed such violence.
The Presidency is believed to have been embarrassed by the large scale loss of lives as a result of repeated violence against innocent people.
It was learnt that the discussions at tomorrow’s meeting will centre on the issue of herdsmen/farmers’ clashes and the resultant loss of several lives, as well as the issue of the arming, training and financing of militia groups by some State governments.
The Presidency is said to have taken notice of the recent arrest of some armed militia members by the army who allegedly confessed that they were being armed by the Benue State government.
It was gathered that such incidence has added a new twist to the Benue State saga.
“It would not be a surprise if the Presidency seeks an explanation about this from the Governor with a view to getting at the root of the state’s security challenges,” the source hinted.
Reacting to the information, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said confirmed that Benue leaders will hold a parley with the President tomorrow, but that he had not been briefed about the issues being brought to the table for discussions.
According to Garba Shehu, President Buhari is ready to embrace any initiative by any group that would provide lasting solution to be country’s security problems.
He added that security is the business of everyone and should elicit collective participation of all.
He said that it would therefore be better for all the stakeholders to come together and find solutions, instead of people trading blames. [myad]
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Police in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested a 37 year old mother of four, who was alleged to be parading herself as Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has announced the release of the sum of N35 billion to settle the backlog of promotion arrears owed the federal civil servants. It covers years 2011 to 2016.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has narrated how Gani Adams beat 25 eminent sons of Yorubaland to become the Aare Ona Kakanfo which was last held by late MKO Abiola.
[myad]
