Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has made it clear that the Paris Club refund which the federal government has been disbursing to the state in tranches is not a free gist or loan.
He said that the Parish club fund is actually the property of the states which the federal government used to settle its external debt.
Answering reporters’ questions today, Thursday while giving details of the decision taken at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, governor Okorocha recalled that state governments had, a few years ago, sued the federal government on the issue but that the case was later withdrawn to allow for out of court settlement.
Governor Okorocha said that the previous government, especially, of Goodluck Jonathan failed to honour the gentleman agreement as a component of the out-of-court settlement, until Muhammadu Buhari came to power and decided to implement the agreement by refunding the money to the states in tranches. [myad]
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state got furious today, Thursday, against the former Senate President, David Mark, whom he accused of being jealous of him over his achievements as governor in two years.
He said that he had before now, regarded Senator Mark as an elder statesman in his state, but that with his pettiness which he had shown clearly, he no longer respects him.
Governor Ortom, who has been at loggerhead with his fellow Benue political leader over whether or not he donated wheelbarrows to Benue state as empowerment tools, made the accusation while answering questions from news men at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC).
Ortom explained that the wheelbarrows which Senator Mark has been taking negatively about him, were actually not donated by him or his government, but were given by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for onward distribution to victims of the herdsmen attack in some parts of the state.
The governor said that for political mischief by those who have been uncomfortable with his numerous achievements, his name was inscripted on the wheelbarrows to make them look like it was his idea, adding: “immediately it was brought to my notice, I ordered that the distribution of the wheelbarrows be stopped. And yet, David Mark continued to give it some kind of emphasis.”
According to him, Senator Mark and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are trying to pull him down against the background of the 2019 general elections, swearing that they would fail because majority of the people in the state are satisfied with what he has been able to do to better their lives and conditions in the last two years. [myad]
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has reminded the agitators for the creation of Biafran Republic from the Nigerian State that no country has ever been perfect.
No country is perfect; around the world we have seen and continue to see expressions of intra-national discontent. Indeed, not many Nigerians seem to know that the oft-quoted line about Nigeria being a “mere geographical expression” originally applied to Italy.
It was the German statesman Klemens von Metternich who dismissively summed up Italy as a mere geographical expression exactly a century before Nigeria came into being as a country.
From Spain to Belgium to the United Kingdom and even the United States of America, you will find many today who will venture to make similar arguments about their countries. But they have remained together.
Osinbajo, who spoke today in Abuja at the Colloquium on Biafra: 50 Years After, organized by Yar’Adua Foundation said that of the fallouts of bitter wars is the anger that can so easily be rekindled by those who for good or ill want to resuscitate the fire.
“Today some are suggesting that we must go back to the ethnic nationalities from which Nigeria was formed. They say that secession is the answer to the charges of marginalization. They argue that separation from the Nigerian State will ultimately result in successful smaller States. They argue eloquently, I might add that Nigeria is a colonial contraption that cannot endure.
“This is also the sum and substance of the agitation for Biafra. The campaign is often bitter and vitriolic, and has sometimes degenerated to fatal violence. Brothers and sisters permit me to differ and to suggest that we’re greater together than apart.
“No country is perfect; around the world we have seen and continue to see expressions of intra-national discontent. Indeed, not many Nigerians seem to know that the oft-quoted line about Nigeria being a “mere geographical expression” originally applied to Italy. It was the German statesman Klemens von Metternich who dismissively summed up Italy as a mere geographical expression exactly a century before Nigeria came into being as a country. From Spain to Belgium to the United Kingdom and even the United States of America, you will find many today who will venture to make similar arguments about their countries. But they have remained together.”
Professor Osinbajo explained that many, if not most nations of the world are made up of different peoples and cultures and beliefs and religions, who find themselves thrown together by circumstance.
He added that nations are indeed made up of many nations and that most successful of the nations of the world are those who do not fall into the lure of secession. But who through thick and thin forge unity in diversity.
“Nigeria is no different; we are, not three, but more like three hundred or so ethnic groups within the same geographical space, presented with a great opportunity to combine all our strengths into a nation that is truly, to borrow an expression, more than the sum of its parts.
“Let me say that there is a solid body of research that shows that groups that score high on diversity turn out to be more innovative than less diverse ones. There’s also research showing that companies that place a premium on creating diverse workplaces do better financially than those who do not. This applies to countries just as much as it does to companies. The United States is a great example, bringing together an impressively diverse cast of people together to consistently accomplish world-conquering economic, military and scientific feats.
“It is possible in Nigeria as well. Instead of trying to flee into the lazy comfort of homogeneity every time we’re faced with the frustrations of living together as countrymen and women, the more beneficial way for us individually and collectively is actually to apply the effort and the patience to understand one another and to progressively aspire to create one nation bound in freedom, in peace and in unity.
“That, in a sense, should be the Nigerian Dream – the enthusiasm to create a country that provides reasons for its citizens to believe in it, a country that does not discriminate, or marginalize in any way. We are not there yet, but I believe we have a strong chance to advance in that direction. But that will not happen if we allow our frustrations and grievances to transmute into hatred. It will not happen if we see the media – television and radio and print and especially social media – as platforms for the propagation of hateful and divisive rhetoric. No one stands to benefit from a stance like that; we will all emerge as losers.
“Clearly our strength is in our diversity, that we are greater together than apart. Imagine for a moment that an enterprising young man from Aba had to apply for a visa to travel to Kano to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams, or that a young woman from Abeokuta had to fill immigration forms and await a verdict in order to attend her best friend’s wedding in Umuahia. Nigeria would be a much less colourful, much less interesting space, were that the case. Our frustrations with some who speak a different dialect or belong to a different religion must not drive us to forget many of the same tribe and faith of our adversaries who have shown true affection for us.
“My God-son is Somkele Awakalu, his father Awa Kalu, SAN, and I taught at the University of Lagos. My first book was dedicated to Somkele and my two other God-children. Chief Emmanuel Dimike is almost 80, he was my father’s friend and business associate in his sawmills in Lagos. Chief has been like a father. I see him most Sundays, he worships with me at the chapel.
“The individual affections and friendships we forge some even deeper than family ties, must remind us that unity is possible, that brotherhood across tribes and faiths is possible.
“Let me make it clear that I fully believe that Nigerians should exercise to the fullest extent the right to discuss or debate the terms of our existence. Debate and disagreement are fundamental aspects of democracy. We recognize and acknowledge that necessity. And today’s event is along those lines – an opportunity not merely to commemorate the past, but also to dissect and debate it. Let’s ask ourselves tough questions about the path that has led us here, and how we might transform yesterday’s actions into tomorrow’s wisdom.
“Indeed our argument is not and will never be that we should ‘forget the past’, or ‘let bygones be bygones’, as some have suggested. Chinua Achebe repeatedly reminded us of the Igbo saying that a man who cannot tell where the rain began to beat him cannot know where he dried his body. If we lose the past, we will inevitably lose the opportunity to make the best of the present and the future.
“In an interview years ago, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, explaining why he didn’t think a second Biafran War should happen, said: “We should have learnt from that first one, otherwise the deaths would have been to no avail; it would all have been in vain.”
“We should also be careful that we do not focus exclusively on the narratives of division, at the expense of the uplifting and inspiring ones. The same social media that has come under much censure for its propensity to propagate division, has also allowed multitudes of young Nigerians to see more of the sights and sounds of their country than ever before.
“And for every young Nigerian who sees the Internet as an avenue for spewing ethnic hatred, there is another young Nigerian who is falling in love or doing business across ethnic and cultural lines; a young Nigerian who looks back on his or her NYSC year in unfamiliar territory as one of the valued highlights of their lifetime. These stories need to be told as well. They are the stories that remind us that the journey to nationhood is not an event but a process, filled as with life itself with experiences some bitter, some sweet. The most remarkable attribute of that process is that a succeeding generation does not need to bear the prejudices and failures of the past.
“Every new generation can take a different and more ennobling route than its predecessors. But the greatest responsibility today lies on the leadership of our country. Especially but not only political leadership.
“The promise of our constitution which we have sworn to uphold is that we would ensure a secure, and safe environment for our people to live, and work in peace, that we would provide just and fair institutions of justice. That we would not permit or encourage discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, beliefs or other parochial considerations. That we would build a nation where no one is oppressed and none is left behind.
“These are the standards to which we must hold our leadership. We must not permit our leaders the easy but dangerous rhetoric of blaming our social and economic conditions on our coming together. It is their duty to give us a vision a pathway to make our unity in diversity even more perfect.” [myad]
Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna state has uncovered the discriminatory action of the immediate past Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in the disbursement of ecological funds to state governments.
El-Rufai said that the ad-hoc committee which he heads to look into the management of the ecological funds, found out that the former President used his personal discretion to disburse N2 Billion of the fund to only the states controlled by his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the interim report of the 11-man committee which he presented at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today, Thursday, the Kaduna state governor said that 19 States plus Abuja are yet to benefit from the fund.
He named the states as Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, and FCT.
“Several other states had benefitted in the previous administration, in 2013, an action described as discriminatory. Thirteen billion Naira is now available for sharing to States, since N20 billion must be left in the account for unknown national emergencies.
Governor El-Rufai said that before the sharing formula is designed, states which did not partake in the sharing during Jonathan’s government should be given the same N2 Billion to level up.
The governor said that the revised sharing formula of the Ecological Funds as modified is as follows:
– Federal Government – 1%
– States – 0.72%
– LGAs – 0.60%
He said that all States and Local Government Areas have got their share of the Ecological Fund, and that the only thing left is the Federal Government’s share of 1%
“Of the 1% belonging to the FG, (which now stands at N33.6 billion) NEMA and Great Green Wall project are statutorily entitled to 20% and 15 % respectively.
“Only 65% of the FG’s share is available for sharing
“The report gave details of how the entire Ecological Fund has been utilized and noted that there is need to establish a clear criteria for sharing the 65% of the FG share among States of the Federation.” [myad]
Governors of the 36 states of Nigeria have unanimously commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for the way he had kept the country going smoothly in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as system stabilizer.
Rising from the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today, Thursday, at the Aso Presidential Villa, Abuja, the governors noted that since President Buhari left for London on medical vacation, the system of governance has been moving smoothly.
The NEC, which is dominated by the governors and presided over by the acting President, lauded the leadership qualities of Professor Osinbajo.
The Governors and members of the Council stressed that Nigeria has been very stable because of the role the acting President has been playing.
“God bless you our Acting President, thank you very much.”
They prayed that God Almighty should give Professor Osinbajo more strength to carry out the task of national re-engineering.
Highlights of the NEC meeting are as follows:
REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT BY ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
∑ The Accountant General of the Federation presented to Council, an update on the Excess Crude Account
∑ He told Council that the balance in the Excess Crude Account as at 24th May, 2017 stands at $2,300,389,201.51.
UPDATE ON BUDGET SUPPORT LOAN FACILITY BY HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
∑ The Accountant General of the Federation informed Council that the current Budget Support Loan Facility will end in May 2017.
Council Decision
∑ Council noted the concerns of States and directed the Minister of Finance to work out the modalities for the continuation of the programme.
COMMENDATION:
At the end of today’s meeting, Governors lauded the Acting President.
OTHER ISSUES:
INTERIM REPORT OF THE NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ECOLOGICAL FUND BY THE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE
∑ 11-man Committee on Ecological Fund submitted an Interim Report
∑ The Report of the Committee was presented to Council by the Committee’s Chairman, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
∑ The Committee informed Council that the revised sharing formula of the Ecological Funds as modified is as follows:
– FG – 1%
– States – 0.72%
– LGAs – 0.60%
∑ That all States and Local Government Areas have got their share of the Ecological Fund, and that the only thing left is the Federal Government’s share of 1%
∑ Of the 1% belonging to the FG, (which now stands at N33.6 billion) NEMA and Great Green Wall project are statutorily entitled to 20% and 15 % respectively.
∑ Only 65% of the FG’s share is available for sharing
∑ The report gave details of how the entire Ecological Fund has been utilized and noted that there is need to establish a clear criteria for sharing the 65% of the FG share among States of the Federation.
∑ The Committee informed Council that 19 States plus Abuja are yet to benefit from the 1% of the share of the Ecological fund. These are Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, and FCT. Several other states had benefitted in the previous administration, in 2013, an action described as discriminatory.
∑ Thirteen billion (N13 B) naira is now available for sharing to States, since N20 billion must be left in the account for unknown national emergencies.
Council Decision
∑ Council applauded and appreciated the enormous and painstaking work the Committee has done, noting that it will await the final report of the Committee before taking decision.
REPORT OF THE NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE REVIEW OF THE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON LAND REFORM BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, THE GOVERNOR OF BAUCHI STATE
∑ On September 2016, the report of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) Tagged “The Land Use Act (LUA) draft Regulations” was presented to the Council
∑ The Council constituted an Ad-hoc Committee comprising 7 Governors to review the regulations.
∑ The Committee considered the report, and today presented its findings and recommendations to Council
∑ Highlight of the report includes:
the need to introduce systematic land titling and registration throughout Nigeria
(b) radically increase the existing dismal volume of land registration in Nigeria.
(c) substantially reduce the cost of securing land titles in Nigeria.
(d) set out standard guidelines and processes for land titling and registration in Nigeria
(e) to optimize the socio-economic benefits of land to both the Government and the people.
Council Decision
∑ Council thanked the Committee for the comprehensive report and directed the Committee to further reflect the views and concerns raised by States, especially as it has to do with mining rights and the role of States, Local Governments and Communities for onward submission to the Council of States for consideration
PRESENTATION ON ADDRESSING SEVERE SHORTAGE OF TRACTORS IN THE COUNTRY BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
∑ As the 2017 farming season enters its critical stage, the Minister of Agriculture, made a presentation, and charged Council to prevail on States Government to acquire more tractors, 100 at the very least per State to support the efforts of farmers in boosting food production in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
∑ He told Council that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to lend a helping hand to States Government in other areas of critical needs, including the provision of threshes, mini-harvesters, water pumps as well as the provision of loans at single-digit interest rate for farmers.
∑ He informed Council that agriculture is still leading the path of GDP growth which stood at 3.5% in the second quarter of 2017, and that there is need to give greater impetus to agricultural production in order to speed up the country’s economic recovery.
Council Decision
∑ Council urged States to step up efforts to acquire more tractors to boost agricultural production. [myad]
Nigeria may have concluded arrangements to shut down five foreign missions and embassies in the countries which are yet to be disclosed.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who dropped this hint in an interaction with news men today, Thursday, in Abuja said that the process for the closure of the embassies had reached advanced stage and awaiting the approval of the President.
“We do not want to indicate the embassies that will be closed yet because we are in the process of submitting the proposals, the cost analysis and also the political analysis we did to the president. When he sees that, he may or may not want to close some, so we have not yet reached the stage of closing some.”
The minister said that closing missions abroad is “extremely expensive. The expense, costs of closing embassies is so high and prohibitive but in the long run it will more economical.
“The government is following up on that and we have sort of prepared the roadmap; we have started the implementation of that and made also recommendations in that context.
“Paradoxically, closing missions is extremely expensive. At first sight it seems obvious that you close it you are saving cost but you will actually find that the cost of closing is almost prohibitive.
“But in the long run it will be cheaper, but in the immediate and short term it is expensive but we have started the process.”
From left Chief Edwin Clark’s Younger sister, Mrs. Koshare Omo-Udoyo; his Brother Ambassador Akporode Clark and he celebrant, Chief Edwin Clark and wife, Mrs. Bisola Clark at the 90th Thanks Giving Church Service of marking his 90th birthday at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja on Thursday. [myad]
The Lagos state police command has announced that the State’s Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni is personally leading the rescue and investigation team for the six kidnappedtion students of Model College at Igbonla, Lagos state.
The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, narrated that suspected Kidnappers, in the early hours of today, at about 05:00hrs, gained entrance into Igbonla Model College School, Igbonla, near Epe Axis of Lagos state abducting six students.
According to Famous-Cole, investigations revealed that the criminal elements used the Imeru/Iji waterway to access the swampy forest bordering the School, bore a hole on a part of the School fence and gained entrance into the premises.
Famous-Cole said: “the dastardly act of these criminal elements is nothing other than sheer wickedness as there is no justification whatsoever to abduct innocent children. However, we appeal for calmness of parents/guardians to enable Security Agencies focus on rescue operations and apprehension of the suspects as we understand the trauma being gone through at this difficult moment.
“We have intensified necessary measures towards ensuring safe return of the abducted six and apprehension of the suspect to face the full wrath of the law.” [myad]
The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 29, as a public holiday to celebrate the 2017 Democracy Day.
Minister of Interior, retired Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau, in a statement today, Thursday in Abuja, congratulated Nigerians for witnessing yet another Democracy Day which marked the second anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
The statement which was issued by the Director Overseeing the Permanent Secretary’s Office, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, assured Nigerians of the government’s continued efforts towards guaranteeing security, revitalizing the economy and tackling corruption.
It said that a lot had been achieved in the area of security, particularly in the northeast, and in tackling corruption, and that recent statistics by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated tremendous improvement in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“No doubt, the nation is closer to getting out of recession, particularly with the recently launched Economic Recovery and Growth Plan which seeks to revitalize the nation’s economy soonest.
“With the recently signed Executive Orders on Ease of Doing Business, we have opened our doors wider for both domestic and foreign investors.”
The statement quoted the minister as saying advising the citizens to join hands with President Buhari “in his sustained efforts in building a peaceful and enduring democratic legacy.” [myad]
The National chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday in Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos received in audience ex four-time heavyweight boxing champion, Evander Holyfield. The former champion is in Nigeria to take on Asiwaju Tinubu on what has been termed ‘Rumbles,’ which is a charity boxing match with Holyfield. The charity boxing tornament has been scheduled to take place on Thursday at the Landmark Event Center, VI, Lagos. [myad]
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