The Kano State House of Assembly has set up an eight-man ad-hoc committee to investigate the allegations of mismanaging the sum of N4 billion which was leveled against the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. The Emir was said to inherited the money from his predecessor, late Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero.
A member of the Assembly representing Nasarawa constituency of the state, Ibrahim Gama, moved a motion to probe the monarch at the House plenary today, Wednesday.
Gama said that some of the allegations against Emir Sanusi, who was former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ought to be looked into.
He listed them as spending funds without the approval of the Governor of Kano, Umar Ganduje, attacking President Muhammadu Buhari’s polices and sending his daughter to represent him without wearing full traditional regalia.
The house adopted the motion after it was put to voice vote by the Speaker, Alhassan Rurum.
Labaran Abdul Madar, the chief whip of the house, will chair the committee. [myad]
“The sum total of the struggle by the IPOB (Indigenous People Of Biafra), which I am leading, is to ensure that there is dignity of life. And for us to fulfill that very mandate, we must be diligent, we must be focused, we must be sincere.”
The recently bailed leader of the Igbo group fighting for the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria, Nnamdi Kanu made those points today, Wednesday, when he visited the former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme at his Enugu residence.
Kanu added: “I have come to tell you that we find you invaluable in our advancement of our people and in our course to also make life better for the public and for the masses.
“It (IPOB) is, more or less, today, an expression, a political expression to the yearnings and aspirations of the society – that’s what we are trying to do.”
The Biafran leader said that he was humbled and delighted to visit Dr. Ekwueme, which would enable him to explain the reasons they have been agitating for justice and fairness for Igbo people in Nigeria.
“So, I have come here to brief my father as to why we do what we do, and to get his blessings. Anything he tells me is what we are going to do, in so far as it advances our political course as a people.”
Dr. Ekwueme responded by assuring the IPOB leader that he would not fail to offer advice to the agitators, adding: “I will make my best counsel available to him (Kanu) in his very onerous task of leading an organisation that is committed to bringing justice and equity among people, especially for our people.”
The elder statesman said that it was a pleasure to host Kanu after his release from detention.
“I thank God that you are free and able to move around.” [myad]
The family of a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ondo State, late Deji Falae has sued Associated Aviation Nigeria Limited, asking the court to hold that the airline’s negligence was responsible for Falae’s death on October 3, 2013.
Falae’s wife, Ese, and three children are, through their suit, seeking compensation in the sum $100,000 as general damages, as well as another N219,906,250 “which the deceased would have earned in 15 years as a lawyer, a commissioner and owner of a construction firm had he not died.”
They are also asking the court to declare that Associated Aviation Nigeria Ltd, and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority failed in their obligation of ensuring the safety of the passengers aboard the Flight 361.
Falae, then a serving commissioner, was among the people who lost their lives when an Associated aircraft conveying the remains of a former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu, from Lagos to Ondo for burial crashed at the Lagos airport.
The aircraft reportedly crashed just outside the aerodrome at about 9.32am, a minute after it took off. [myad]
DAAR Communications Plc, the owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT), has tendered unreserved apology to President Muhammadu Buhari over a documentary it aired during the 2015 Presidential campaigns, particularly to a former aide de camp of President Buhari, Mustapha Jokolo.
The company wrote in a retration: “DAAR Communications Plc states that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention whatsoever to embarrass or diminish the high reputation of Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo whom it holds in very high esteem.”
“DAAR Communications Plc hereby retracts the said documentary on the television station (AIT) titled ‘The Real Buhari’ aired on 24 January 2015 which was broadcast on its television station (AIT).
“DAAR Communications Plc hereby tenders unreserved apology to Alhaji Mustapha Haruna Jokolo for the broadcast of the said documentary on its television station (AIT).”
It would be recalled that in January 2015, the TV station broadcast a documentary entitled: ‘The Real Buhari,’ in which it alleged that Jokolo cleared 53 suitcases suspected to contain cash, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, for Buhari in 1984 when he was Head of State.
Jokolo, who is the current Emir of Gwandu, then filed a libel suit against AIT, but the matter was eventually settled out of court. One of the conditions for settlement was that AIT must retract its story and tender a public apology. [myad]
When President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) entered the presidential race in 2015, he might not have appreciated, as a fact, that he was taking his luck too far, given his age and, more importantly, his health status. Recall that he had unsuccessfully run for the position of president in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Following his defeat in 2011, he had, amid lachrymal emotion, announced that he would not contest the presidency again.
But the opposition forces, which had done their political calculations, realized that the only person who could passionately galvanize popular support in the north was Buhari. Little wonder they made available all the resources needed for his presidential enterprise while he only made himself available.
Those opposed to his presidency panicked because of the cult-like following that he enjoyed in the north. Added to the south-west votes that would be mobilized under the formidable leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the opposition was confident it would most likely upstage the applecart of Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency.
Therefore, so many stratagems were introduced into the campaign mix. For instance, Jonathan’s handlers made so much noise about Buhari’s failing health. But his supporters, and Nigerians, who wanted anybody but Jonathan, discountenanced the public service announcement by casting their votes for Buhari and his promised change.
Buhari was confident to sweep into power on the wings of the legacy party- the All Progressives Congress (APC). The issue that probably preoccupied his mind was his health. Would it be able to withstand the strains and rigours of governance? Rewind: perhaps, if he had been lucky in 2003, or 2007 or even 2011 to become president, the narrative might have been different, given the fact that he would have been younger, stronger and, perhaps healthier in office than he now is.
Today, Buhari is sick and unable to attend to governance. Recent developments have convincingly indicated that what ails the president appears to be very serious, although, the nature of his sickness has not been officially confirmed. When he returned from his first major medical voyage to the United Kingdom recently, he said he had not been this sick in his life. He even confessed that he had blood transfusion.
His inability, in recent times, to rise to the challenges of governance such that on three consecutive occasions, he could not attend the weekly meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), in addition to staying away from other public functions, has been confirmatory of a health condition that is degenerating.
What should then happen in this circumstance? What should Buhari do, knowing full well that his presidency is a long distance race – up to 2019 and, by reason of strength, good health and life, through the intervening years to 2023 on a second term basis? But does he have the endurance to go the entire hog? This is the pertinent question, which only Buhari can answer and relate to.
In 2009/2010, this was the situation that confronted the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was terminally ill, before he died in office on May 5, 2010. By the time Yar’Adua was debilitated by ill-health and became vegetative, he could not, personally, answer that question. The cabal or the hawks around him, who were enamoured by presidential power and were afraid to lose their privileged positions and access to the nation’s commonwealth, did everything possible to sustain Yar’Adua in office. The only thing they could not do was to mummify and prop him up after death on his seat as if he were still alive.
Should history be allowed to repeat itself as a farce with Buhari’s ill-health? The Punch in its editorial of May 4, 2017, titled: “Deepening uncertainty over Buhari’s health”, brilliantly dissected the circumstance in all its ramifications and surmised that the president should immediately declare his health status to put an end to the speculations surrounding it. This has not been done. Second, that he should not hesitate any further to embark on another medical vacation and transfer power to the vice president, which he has now done.
The other outstanding call, which the newspaper editorial considered the most important, was for him to resign right away, discountenancing the advice by the power hawks around him who might want to advise to the contrary. I concur with this advice. But it will take nationalism, statesmanship and selflessness, which advance the interest of the nation and defer personal interest in a situation like this that beckons on the president to actuate the doctrine of necessity.
There is nothing wrong on the surface of it if Buhari decides to resign. After all, as I have always told my friends, there are no more points for him to prove. He has done his best for the nation and for himself. His health should be paramount to him now. If he can no longer commit himself to governance due to ill-health, it should be in his interest as a man of integrity and the nation whose people gave him their sacred mandate, to honestly make a historic declaration to that effect.
To be sure, history and posterity will not forget him as a leader who, for love of country, resigned from office when he became encumbered by ill-health. He would not be the first leader to make such a sacrifice in human history. In August 2001, the late Bolivian ex-dictator, Hugo Banzer Suarez, who guided the country to democracy, resigned from office after falling ill with lung cancer that had spread. He died on May 6, 2002.
As I have noted supra, nothing is wrong on the surface of a decision by Buhari to resign. But underneath, there is bound to be a mélange of political considerations, permutations and calculations, which typifies the nation’s political plurality as well as ethnic and regional complexities in the contestation for and management of presidential power.
It is sad that due to a natural occurrence, the north was understandably “shortchanged” in 2010 when Yar’Adua died and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan had to take over from him. It will even be sadder if a similar situation repeats itself such that the north’s shareholding in the presidency is again threatened. This is why intensive prayers must be offered for Buhari to stay alive, hale and hearty.
Otherwise, there is nothing wrong if Buhari decides to put in place a concrete arrangement that will ensure a seamless transition and transfer of power, preparatory to 2019 presidential election. He can even make a statement to the nation that for reasons of his failing health, he is resigning and that his vice president will complete the remaining of his term in office, subsequent to which the political system will be guided to do the needful: ensuring that power returns or is retained in the north in 2019 to 2023.
This will settle the matter. The fears will be gone. The battle for the presidency will be pigeonholed or localized in the north. Political forces in the country will all look northwards. This will, certainly, assuage the fears of the north, particularly the far north. Commonsense.
Mr Ojeifo, an Abuja-based journalist, contributed this piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com [myad]
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (right), shakes hands with a visually impaired member of the entourage of Kpakpando Foundation, Mr. Danjuma Attah, while the Chairman of the Foundation, Senator Osita Izunaso, (middle) looks on, when they paid the FCT Minister a courtesy visit in Abuja today…Tuesday. [myad]
A legal practitioner and mediator who negotiated the release of the 82 Chibok girls by Boko Haram insurgents, Barrister Zannah Mustapha, has said that some of the abducted girls chose to remain with Boko Haram insurgents who abducted them from the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno state in April 2014.
Zannah Mustapha, who spoke with Reuters, said that the refusal of the other girls could be as a result of the fact that they have been radicalized by the Boko Haram group or might be afraid, ashamed or even felt too strong as terrorists to return to their old lives.
He said: “some girls refused to return. I have never talked to one of the girls about their reasons. As a mediator, it is not part of my mandate to force them (to return home).”
The lawyer said that future talks between the government and the insurgents would extend beyond the release of the remaining Chibok girls in captivity, and that such talks will also focus on negotiating peace in the North-East.
Zannah Mustapha said: “we are not just talking; we are still actively working towards peace.
“Even though we have got (some of) the girls back, I don’t feel we have made much progress. After the (release of) the 21 girls, how many hundreds have been killed by suicide bombings?”
“While Boko Haram may indeed hold out in releasing all of the hostages to maintain some form of leverage, the reality is that the girls have limited value to the sect outside of public relations capital and are likely placing a strain on resources.” [myad]
Following unresolved face off between the Kogi State government and the striking medical doctors in the state civil service, there are indications that no fewer than 80 percent of the doctors are set to resign their appointments and seek greener pasture elsewhere.
The doctors had embarked on strike over nonpayment of their salaries even as they expressed deep disappointment on the outcome of the screening exercise which saw more than 30 of their members dismissed.
The acting chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State chapter, Dr. Godwin Tijani, in a statement, confirmed that the striking doctors had indicated their readiness to resign.
“As I am speaking with you, the doctors are monitoring the activity of the state as it regards the no work no pay policy government has adopted and the threat of sack if NMA failed to suspend the ongoing strike, anything otherwise the doctors will tender their resignation letter. “Remember, Kogi State has one of the poorest health indices in the federation and the lowest numbers of doctors in the country about 3.5% of the expected numbers. Majority of doctors in the state service have left because of poor welfare. “Imagine a doctor evicted from his apartment because of his inability to pay house rent, his children sent out of school because he cannot pay school fees, trekking to work and cannot eat well and you expect to get the best from such a doctor? You are putting innocent patients’ life at risk. A hungry and angry doctor is a dangerous doctor.”
The NMA acting chairman called on stakeholders to appeal to the state government to pay doctors their salaries rather than constantly threatening them.
He pointed out that they are demanding for the payment of their salaries and reinstatement of their 2015 colleagues.
“The Commissioner for Health sent an SMS to doctors yesterday. The SMS which was sent through the Director Administration Hospital Management Board (HMB) directed all hospitals to submit to his office attendance register on daily basis, failure to comply will lead to termination of appointment.
“This is the level we are now instead of looking for amicable resolution; we are being faced with sack threat and intimidation on a daily basis.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has told Nigerians that he is confident in acting President Yemi Osinbajo to run the government smoothly in his indefinite absence.
In a tweet via his @MBuhari handle, Buhari said: “As I noted earlier, I have absolute confidence that government will continue to run smoothly while I’m away. God bless the Federal Republic.”
The President, who handed over power to Osinbajo as he left the country on Sunday night for another medical consultation in London, assured Nigerians that they have no cause to fear.
Buhari had personally received the 82 Chibok girls that were freed by Boko Haram insurgents before he jetted out.
The President’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement, said that the duration of his principal’s stay in London, would be determined by the doctors. [myad]
A court has sentenced the outgoing governor of Jakarta, Indonesia, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, to two years in prison for questioning a verse in the Holy Qur’an which was considered to be a blasphemy against Islam that could lead to inciting violence.
Ahok, who was the first ethnic Chinese Christian to run Indonesia’s capital, was said to have insulted Islam by referring to a verse in the Qur’an during a campaign speech.
According to the BBC, the judge had told the court that the governor was “found to have legitimately and convincingly conducted a criminal act of blasphemy, and because of that we have imposed two years of imprisonment.”
Ahok was said to have made blasphemy comments during a pre-election speech last September which implied that Islamic leaders were trying to trick voters by using a verse in the Qur’an to argue that Muslims should not vote for a non-Muslim leader.
His remarks, which were widely shared in an edited video, sparked outrage among religious hardliners. They staged regular large rallies calling for him to face trial.
Throughout the trial, Mr. Purnama denied wrongdoing, but did apologize for his comments nonetheless.
Ahead of the verdict, protesters for and against Mr. Purnama had gathered outside the court demanding respectively his acquittal or a long prison sentence.
Disappointed with the eventual verdict, some protesters demanded the outgoing governor to be hanged.
Around 15,000 security personnel from the police and military are providing security at the scene, with riot police and armoured vehicles separating the rival groups.
Mr. Purnama became governor after his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, was elected president in 2014.
As an ethnic Chinese Indonesian and Christian he is a double minority, and was Jakarta’s first non-Muslim governor for 50 years.
His political success was also seen as a significant development given the violent anti-Chinese riots that occurred in the city in 1998.
Before the blasphemy allegations, he had been widely hailed as a straight-talking politician with a strong anti-corruption stance. But the controversy overshadowed scheduled elections last month.
Despite his enduring popularity with many in Jakarta for his efforts to improve living standards, he lost to conservative Muslim candidate Anies Rasyid Baswedan.
Indonesia is the world’s most-populous Muslim country. About 85 percent of its population are Muslim, but the country officially respects six religions. [myad]
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President Muhammadu Buhari has told Nigerians that he is confident in acting President Yemi Osinbajo to run the government smoothly in his indefinite absence.
