Oshiomhole Cries Out: Thieves Have Come To Govern Edo

July 19, 2016

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has cried out that those who looted the nation’s treasury and have confessed to stealing public funds are now offering themselves to govern Edo State.

He said that such self-confessed treasury looters will be rejected at the polls on September 10 by the people of Edo State.
Governor Oshiomhole who received his Lagos counterpart, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday, at the Edo state government House in Benin said: “I know there are a lot of people who don’t quite understand what is going on. Our party inherited a federal treasury that was completely bastardized, emptied, emptied from the vaults to soak away pits, to farm houses, and even in Edo here, the people who are asking for Edo votes are those who have already made statements to EFCC that they collected N500 million, N700 million: that is already N1.2 billion.
“And their leader confessed in his own right that he collected N300 million from money meant to secure Nigerians against terrorism called Boko haram.
“And it is people who diverted such money, who collected it and they have owned up to it in black and white in their hand writing that are asking Edo people to surrender the state.
“So for us, our campaign message is cut out for us.
“The choice is between a bunch of people whose philosophy is ‘share the state money’ and those who believe that the state money belongs to the people and the task is for the governor to manage it in a way that will deliver prosperity to the people.”
Governor Oshiomhole commended Ambode for taking his assignment as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council for Edo State governorship election very seriously.
“For us in Edo, it is clear that you have taken this assignment seriously. It is one thing to accept an assignment, but the passion with which you have accepted it, and to the extent to which you are determined to go to ensure that we do everything we need to do to continue to retain the governance of this state.
“Under your leadership, I have no doubt. We couldn’t have had a better campaign organization. So, I thank you for that.”
Oshiomhole, who introduced the governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, and his running mate, Philip Shaibu, to Governor Ambode, said: “We have a credible messenger that you are going to be able to help us to market, and we also have a compelling message to put across to Edo State. And we believe the election will be won on the basis of the pedigree of the political parties, the pedigree of the individual and what the two parties have to show to the people.”
On his part, Ambode said that Lagos and Edo States will immediately develop a major commerce and economic relationship as soon as Obaseki emerges as Governor of Edo State, saying this will ensure that Edo State develops at a faster pace.
“I have come here this afternoon to accept physically the daunting task which has been laid upon me by our national party and appointing me as the chairman of the gubernatorial campaign committee of the gubernatorial election coming up in Edo State.
“I am very pleased and humbled by that appointment. And I have come here, firstly, to apologize for not being around on Saturday when the committee was inaugurated because of some exigencies, and to show my presence a few days after, and my commitment to ensure that our gubernatorial candidate not only wins the election, but he is able to show his footprints just like what the present governor has done, that the APC and the change mantra is really in totality about what we want governance to be in Nigeria.”
Ambode promised to establish bilateral relations between Lagos and Edo State: “What I can promise your Excellency is that we have decided that we will bring the whole machinery of the Lagos model to Edo State. In addition to that, we believe strongly that Edo State has the potential of becoming a giant in Africa also, and this relationship is beyond the fact that it is historic, we also want to use this platform of this campaign to start a major paradigm shift in terms of economic and political relationship between Edo State and Lagos State.
“If we are to look deeply, we believe strongly in the potential of Edo State which actually lies in the symbolic relationship that it can have with Lagos. And that is why I am personally taking this responsibility of being the campaign chairman to ensure that beyond the campaign and the success of the election, a major commerce and economic relationship commences immediately with the in-coming governor, and also to let us actually start to have bilateral economic and political relations that will be of benefit to the people of Edo State, firstly, and then to the improvement of the economic growth of Edo State.
“I like to also say that what we have ahead of us as a party, that is, APC, is beyond ordinary election. We need to take Nigeria out of its doldrums, and the only party that can do that is APC, of which we are happy to be aligned with your state and other progressive states in the country. And that is why we are here as brothers, we offer ourselves and we will continue to also send the same message across board across all the progressive states.
“On a personal note, I am very proud of all the things you have done for Edo State and even this country Nigeria, and I can say the few achievements I have actually attained in Lagos State were driven and inspired by the kind of energy you bring to governance, and I am very proud to be associated with you and the government of Edo State.” [myad]

Buhari Charges Nigeria Olympic Hopefuls To Avoid Shameful Acts In Brazil

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged athletes and members of the Team Nigeria who are due to leave shortly for Brazil for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, to avoid things that would bring shame to Nigeria while taking part in and outside the games.

“The menace of drug use in sports is threatening the core foundation of sports and has led to embarrassing situations as well as sanctions of some great sporting nations. I therefore urge you to keep the integrity of our nation intact by competing clean and fair at the Olympic Games.

“Please bring as many medals back home as a result of your efforts and endeavour. But remember it is more important to compete and acquit your country as a fair sporting nation than to bring a pack of medals as a result of bending the rules and denying the Games of fair competition.”

President Buhari spoke on Tuesday when he officially unveiled the qualified athletes of Team Nigeria to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which takes place in Brazil from 5th to 21st August. Nigeria has 49 qualified male athletes and 29 female athletes, bringing the total of 78 athletes in 10 sport disciplines.

“As the Federal Government formally hands over our athletes and officials for the Rio Olympics to the Nigeria Olympic Committee today, I want to charge all athletes and team officials going to the Olympic Games to be worthy ambassadors of our great country, both on the field of play and outside the sporting arena. The eyes of the global community are on you and as such, you should desist from acts that could dent the image of our great country, Nigeria.

“You are very aware of recent doping allegations which cast aspersions not only on the individual athletes but on their home countries. Please keep Nigeria clean.”

President Buhari who congratulated the athletes for their outstanding performances, at their various qualifying championships, which have led to the qualification of a sizeable number of them who will fly the national flag at the premier global sporting occasion, assured them that the government would take adequate care of their financial and other needs.

“We are all aware of our nation’s dwindling revenue and the current global economic challenges. It is therefore imperative that funds provided for the Games are utilized judiciously. “In this regard, any official who has no business at the Games should stay at home to cheer the team from here and if they must travel to the Olympics, they should do so at their own expense.”

The President assured the athletes of the support of over 170 million sports-loving Nigerians who he said are solidly behind them as they depart to bring glory to their fatherland in Rio.

“Therefore, Go for Gold in Rio! Go Team Nigeria! Go!” [myad]

Don’t Hasten Me To Punish Innocent Minister, Buhari Cautions Media

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has cautions media practitioners in the country not to rush him into punishing his minister on account of unfounded allegations of wrong doing.

The President, who reacted to unnamed online medium which he said raised unfounded allegation against the minister of state for Petroleum resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu on the issue concerning the phony investigation over crude oil swap deals, made it clear that he is committed to probity, accountability and integrity but that such would be based on facts and figures.

“Terrible and unfounded comments about other people’s integrity are not good. We are not going to spare anybody who soils his hands, but people should please wait till such individuals are indicted.”

A statement by the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina quoted Buhari as promising that transparency remains his government’s watchword, which he said would never be trifled with.

The President appealed to discerning Nigerians to therefore, ignore orchestrated attempts to sully the integrity of ministers and other senior government officials, who are being tarred with the brush of corruption without any concrete evidence.

“President Buhari appealed for decent and civilized comments, particularly when it has to do with the integrity of those who are serving the country.”

The online media was said to have alleged that Kachikwu, who is the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and currently the minister of State for Petroleum, is being investigated over crude oil swap deals and gas lifting during his tenure as GMD of the petroleum corporation. [myad]

Orange, Sonatel Acquire Airtel 100 Percent

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

Orange company and a Senegalese Sonatel have announced the joint acquisition of of 100 per cent of the mobile operator Airtel in Sierra Leone.

Commenting on the acquisition, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Orange group and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa, Bruno Mettling, said: “we are pleased to announce that the acquisition of the mobile operator Airtel in Sierra Leone has been finalized. This new acquisition, which will be consolidated by Sonatel, will further strengthen Orange’s strategic position on the African continent.”

The acquisition deal was announced on Tuesday by Orange, saying that it has obtained all the official approbations necessary to complete this transaction after the signature of an agreement with Bharti Airtel International (Netherlands) BV in January 2016.
Airtel is the leading mobile operator in Sierra Leone with over 1.3 million customers (on the basis of active customers within a 30-day period) for a total population of 6.3 million people.
With a mobile penetration of around 50 per cent of the population, Sierra Leone offers considerable growth potential, particularly at a time when significant investments are underway to extend the operator’s 3G network.
This network, which already offers good coverage in Freetown and other major towns in Sierra Leone, is set to provide internet access to customers living outside major urban areas.
The investments planned in the coming years will enable customers in Sierra Leone to benefit from the support of the Sonatel group and take advantage of the Orange group’s expertise and momentum in terms of innovation and development of the digital ecosystem.
Following the recent launch of operations in Liberia and Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone becomes the 21st country in Africa and the Middle East to join the Orange group. [myad]

Minister Promises To Complete Nyanya Transport Terminal

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has promised to complete the multi-million-Naira modern Nyanya transport terminal as a way of tackling the notorious traffic congestion along the Nyanya axis.

The Minister, who spoke when he and the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye paid an unscheduled visit to the old Nyanya bus terminal that was bombed by terrorists in 2014, expressed displeasure over the commencement of the project without taking into account the construction of an access road to the new terminal.

He wondered why such a gigantic project would start without the award of contract for the construction of the necessary road network to connect motorists in and out of the terminal, stressing that everything would be done to ensure that the terminal is completed and made operational to not only tackle traffic congestion in that axis, but to also improve security of the motoring public.

The Minister also visited the new Nyanya Transport terminal under construction which is about 62 percent complete, and is expected to gulp a total sum of N628,265,998.63.

The development of a new Nyanya bus terminal was conceived by the FCT Administration to provide a secure and convenient facility with adequate services for use by commuters, sequel to the series of bombing at the old Nyanya Motor Park, which led to the loss of many lives.

The construction work which began in the first quarter of 2015 is expected to provide arrival terminal building, departure terminal building, security block, Bank, Driver’s lodge, maintenance block, communication block and commercial block. Other structures under construction also include a church, a mosque, an Administrative block as well as public conveniences. [myad]

All Nigeria Editors’ Conference Holds In Port Harcourt August 3

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

All is now set for the 12th edition of the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference scheduled to hold from August 3 to 7 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the theme: “Economic Diversification: Agriculture as Option for a Prosperous Nigeria.”
No fewer than 300 Nigerian editors, a collection of mainstream farmers, agriculture financiers, policy makers and captains of industry are expected to grace the event.

This year’s edition has been tailored primarily to focus on agriculture as a counterfoil to the dwindling receipts from crude oil.
Speakers include a rich mix of practising farmers, agriculture financiers and policy-makers.
The Founder of HoneySuckle PTL Ventures, Mosunmola Cynthia Umoru, would speak on Agriculture as Panacea for Unemployment, while Kola Adeniji of Niji Farms would talk on Agriculture as a Foreign Exchange Earner.
The Chief Executive of the Bank of Agriculture, Prof. Danbala Danju, would be explaining the Role of Banks in Agriculture Financing, while Kano State-based farmer, Muhammad Abubakar, the Managing Director of L&Z Integrated Farms, would experientially explore the topic: Making the Most of Agriculture Value Chain.
The Acting President of the Guild, Funke Egbemode, said: “The sole emphasis on agriculture for this year’s conference was in response to the falling price of crude oil at the international market which has automatically reduced government’s earnings and revenue base. This is the first the conference is focusing on agriculture in the most pragmatic sense and it is meant to draw the nation’s attention to the limitless opportunities that abound in agriculture.”

The All Nigeria Editors’ Conference is the largest gathering of Nigerian editors.
It is a watering hole of ideas that have shaped government policies and programmes over the years. The maiden edition was held in 2004 at Ada, in Osun State.
Subsequent editions have been held in different parts of the country.
The conference also attracts both local and foreign speakers as well as editors from organizations such as the West African Editors Forum, the African Editors Forum, the World Editors Forum and the World Association of Newspapers.
Host Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said the conference would afford the state the opportunity to showcase its investment potentials.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, governor Wike said that the conference would be a fitting platform to partner with editors and the media to consolidate development in both the state and the nation at large.
He said that the state is hosting several national and international events as a demonstration of the fact that Rivers State is an investors’ destination, stressing that the state is peaceful and the people hospitable.
“Hosting this year’s conference will also make the editors witness first-hand the development projects and programmes of my administration which has improved the living standard of the people,” the Governor said.
Previous editions have bordered on good governance, electoral values among others.
In 2005, the then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, facilitated the conference in Abuja with the theme: Media, a Catalyst for Good Governance.
In 2006, the government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, then the Governor of Bayelsa State, sponsored the conference, which was held in Yenagoa and the theme was Media and the Challenges of Political Transition.
In 2007, ANEC was held in Bauchi State, with the support of the government of Malam Isa Yuguda.
The theme then was: The Media: Electoral Reform and Election Management.
The 5th edition was held in 2008 in Kaduna with the support of the government of the then Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo, with the theme: Vision 2020, Economic Growth and the Nigerian Editor.
In 2010, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State hosted, and theme was: Oil and Gas, Post-Amnesty and the Nigerian Editor, while in 2011, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State hosted the conference, with theme: Deepening our Democracy: Role of the Nigerian Editor.
In 2012, the Akwa Ibom State government hosted, and theme was: National Security and the Nigerian Editor.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State hosted in 2013 and the theme was: Nigeria Beyond Oil, while in 2014, the Katsina State government hosted, with the theme: Credible Elections and Good Governance – The Role of the Editor.
Last year, Bayelsa State hosted and the theme was: Nigeria: The Change We Need – Role of the Editor. [myad]

Frenchman, Paul Le Guen, Turns Down NFF Offer As Super Eagles Technical Adviser

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

52 year old Frenchman, Paul Le Guen, has turned down the offer from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to head the technical crew of the Nigeria Super Eagles as Technical Adviser.

Herve Penot, a journalist at L’ Euipe, wrote via his handle @hpenot_lequipe: “Paul Le Guen rejects Nigeria. Frenchman insists the country’s FA (NFF) yet to meet terms and conditions to be coach.”

The dream Technical Adviser was quoted as saying that lack of order and openness in the manner football is run in Nigeria as being one of the reasons why he would not take up the job offered him by the Nigeria football ruling body.

He was also quoted as saying that NFF did not meet the terms and conditions that would make him work for Nigeria.

The Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday named Le Guen as the new Technical Adviser of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles while Nigerian Salisu Yusuf was named as his assistant, who takes the role of Chief Coach.

The NFF has said the appointments are subject to agreement of contract terms with its Executive Committee.

The development means that the NFF would scurry back to the marketplace to shop for a fitting Technical Adviser for a rudderless Super Eagles team. [myad]

Kogi Governor Directs Immediate Reopening Of State University

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has directed the Vice Chancellor of the Kogi State University, Anyigba to reopen the school immediately.
This was after three months industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities of the institution.
Governor Bello said that having met the major demands of the lecturers, they are expected to return to classes.
He said that his government will continue to place premium attention to education, urging the different heads of tertiary institutions in the State to deepen the culture of patriotism and hard work among their staff members.
According to the Governor, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) will soon come afloat in the State, stating that public accountability will remain the hallmark of his administration.
Bello said having paid six months salaries in just six months into his tenure, his government should be trusted by the lecturers.
The Governor promised to look into cases of over-taxation of lecturers in the past, adding that cases of unjust taxation will be redressed, adding that the approval on the subject matter, which was handed over to him, was for tax waiver.
He directed full scale audit of all tertiary institutions in the State.
Responding, the heads of the tertiary institutions thanked the Governor for paying four months salary arrears owed by the previous administration.
He said that the gesture is a signature of the Governor’s commitment to tertiary education in the State. [myad]

Mass Death: Malnourishment May Take Over From Boko Haram In Borno – UNICEF

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm that the next possible weapon for mass death in the aftermath of the devastating Boko Haram is malnutrition, especially amongst the young ones in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Borno State.
In a statement assessing the current situation as it is prevaling in the state most hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, UNICEF sais that nearly a quarter of a million children are severely malnourished in Borno state, and are facing a high risk of death.
UNICEF said that as the scale of the humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram emergency continues to unfold and more areas are becoming accessible to humanitarian assistance, the extent of the nutrition crisis affecting children is becoming even more apparent.
The UN children’s agency therefore appealed to all partners to join the humanitarian response and donors to urgently provide resources.
It said: “out of the 244,000
children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Borno, an estimated 49,000 children – almost 1 in 5 – will die if they are not reached with treatment.
“Some 134 children on average will die every day from causes linked to acute malnutrition if the response is not scaled up quickly.”
The statement, signed by the UNICEF Regional Director for Western and Central Africa, Manuel Fontaine, who just returned from a visit to Borno state said: “we need all partners and donors to step forward to prevent any more children from dying. No one can take on a crisis of this scale alone.”
While visiting newly accessible sites, previously under Boko Haram control, Fontaine witnessed destroyed
towns accommodating displaced people, families with little access to adequate sanitation,
water or food, and thousands of frail children in desperate need of help.
“There are two million people we are still not able to reach in Borno state, which means that the true scope of
this crisis has yet to be revealed to the world,” Fontaine said.
“There are organizations on the ground doing great work, but none of us are able to work at the scale and quality that we need. We must all scale up.”
The statement said that UNICEF is working with partners to screen and treat children for malnutrition and improve access to water and sanitation.
It said that UNICEF’s humanitarian response also includes providing medical care, immunization, education
and psychological support to the children affected by the violence.
“In early 2016, UNICEF appealed for $55.5 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria, but has so far only received $23 million – 41 percent. As the children’s agency gains access to new areas with vast
humanitarian needs in the coming weeks, it expects the appeal to increase significantly.” [myad]

3 Civil Society Groups Fault Proposed Amendment To Public Procurement Act

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2016

Three civil society groups in Nigeria have sent a joint protest to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, protesting on the dangers inherent in the proposed amendments to the Public Procurement Act 2007 now before the Legislature.
The groups are: Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative (PRADIN), Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
In a letter of protest, dated June 28 and jointly signed by the National Coordinator of PRADIN, Mohammed Bougei Attah, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and the representative of TUC, Comrade Aliyu Abdulhakeem, the groups warned that the House of Representatives’ Public Hearing of Tuesday July 19 and the Senate version on Thursday May 26 have political undertone and that there are several inconsistencies in the proposed amendments to the Act.
The protest letter, titled ‘Joint Position and Memorandum by Coalition of Civil Society Organizations Working in the Areas of Sound Public Procurement System through Good Governance, Transparency and Accountability’ read in parts: “we wish to put on record that this Memorandum and Joint Statement represents the voice of over 150 CSOs in Nigeria and as represented by Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative (PRADIN) and Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Thus, this letter is a follow up to the earlier Memorandum submitted to the Senate Committee on Public Procurement in response to the invitation to the Public Hearing and Call for Memorandum of Thursday 26 of May 2016 as advertised on Thursday May 24”
In particular, the groups noted that the subject of the Public Hearing, as advertised, and as contained on the schedule distributed by the Office of the Clerk to the Senate and House Committees are similar to the amendments proposed earlier in the last two dispensations of Presidents Umar Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan administrations. For the record, the group noted that this is the fourth time the Legislators have attempted to amend the PPA 2007 but failed due to inconsistencies and lack of genuine concern for the subject of transparency that the Act stands.
Further, the groups pointed out certain flaws in the planned amendments which is as advertised reads “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Public Procurement Act 2007, by Adding a new Member to the Council, Amending the Procedure for Appointing the Director General of the Bureau and Extending the Application of the Act to Defence Procurement; and for other Matters Connected Therewith – HB. 16.03.475”
In a swift reaction to the above, the group argued that assuming but not conceding that the intention of the lawmakers – and by extension the Public Hearing – was to amend Section 1 (2) of the Principal Act by removing the Minister of Finance as the Chairman of the National Council for Public Procurement and replacing it with the President, Section 1 (2) (f) of the Principal Act by adding The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors as member of the National Council for Public Procurement, Section 1 (4) of the Principal Act by deleting ‘The Chairman and other members of the Council shall be appointed by the President’ to only ‘Other members of the Council shall be appointed by the President’ and Section 7 (1) of the Principal Act by making the appointment of the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) a competitive selection on the recommendation of the Council but to be confirmed by the National Assembly, “the attempt to reinvent or reintroduce what has previously being debated and addressed under the 6th and 7th Legislative Assemblies make the process a self ridicule”
PRADIN, CISLAC and TUC pointed out that the proposal to make the President the Chairman of the yet-to-inaugurated National Council for Public Procurement violates Chapter VI, Part 1 Section 138 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The section states unequivocally that “The President shall not, during his tenure of office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever”. The wisdom here is that the President already holds such Executive Powers that are above what is currently sought. It is important here to note that the Minister of Finance as the Chairman of the Council (as in the Principal Act) is a representative of the President, much so other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).”
In the letter, the groups said that if they entertain the request and evaluate it against other standards, by making the President of the country as Chairman of the Council, it implies that the Executive body will now be the Alpha and Omega as well as presiding judge in their case while other arms of government and sector will be at their mercy.
“By this act also, any such statutory report, such as the bi-annual procurement audit report coming from the Council and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) will be biased because it will be solely an executive affair. Again, the independence of the Bureau would have been compromised here because there are three arms of government and the Council is expected to recognize this. The crafters of the law are very conscious of the need for checks and balances such that it does not allow the Council to be at the mercy of one party. It was created in a way that it accommodates all the sectors – public, private and the non-profit sectors – as council members with equal powers.” [myad]

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