Former Head of State, retired General Yakubu Gowon has described budget padding as a strange phenomenum even as he painted a good picture of how the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his then minister of finance carefully handled the nation’s budget in his regime.
“We had the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in-charge of our finance during my time and he taught us to survive without borrowing. Such (budget padding) should stop, there is no point doing that.”
Dr. Gowon spoke with news men on Wednesday at the Health Caravan and Award Ceremony for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, who was conferred with the title of Royal Ambassador for Hepatitis Advocacy in Nigeria, by the Seham Health Care Foundation.
Gowon wondered why budget padding has become the order of the day in Nigeria, emphasizing that such never occurred during his administration.
“If that is true; If anybody is doing that, the person should be checked and stopped to ensure that such does not occur in the future. We didn’t do it during my time.”
The former Head of State advised President Muhammadu Buhari to firm up the ailing economy in order to alleviate the suffering of the masses. [myad]
Zainab Dokubo-Asari, the first wife of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has died in a motor accident on her way to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Her death was announced on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Oyo State Muslim community, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni. Alhaji Ishaq Sanni said thatZainab was already a Muslim years before she married Dokubo-Asari. He said in a statement: “when their lives were in danger during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, she and Mujahida, the second wife moved to my house with their children in Ibadan. When Jonathan came on board, their husband wanted them to move to Port Hacourt but she begged him to allow her to stay in Ibadan, the atmosphere she found very Islamic being a pious Muslim lady. “Eventually she had to locate to Yenagoa capital of Bayelsa when she was appointed Secretary of the pilgrims board. Even then there was hardly any month she was not in Ibadan for one Islamic programme or the other. She was a member of many Islamic organizations in Ibadan, including Oluyole Muslim community under the Imamship of Imam Mudashir Bada. “It is interesting she was coming to her preferred town Ibadan when she met her destiny. “She was survived by four children: Amirah, Hassan, Hussain and Osama. “May Allah accept her multifarious and multidimensional jihad as acts Ibadah and admit her to jannat Firdaus.” [myad]
A Constitutional Court of South Africa has ordered the country’s President, Jacob Zuma to return to the public coffers, the sum of $500,000 which he had used to upgrade his ancestral home in Nkandla. According to a South African anti-corruption watchdog, the total cost was $23 million. The 2014 report revealed that Zuma and his family had “unduly benefited” from the upgrades. Thuli Madonsela, a government appointed public ombudswoman, had earlier described the upgrades as “unethical and unnecessary.” President Zuma had been ordered to repay some of the money spent on the renovations. In March, the Supreme Court of Appeal found that President Zuma had breached the constitution by defying this order and was asked by several veterans of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), to step down. The Treasury said that President Zuma should pay back $509,000 for the upgrades to his home. He has been given a 45-day ultimatum to follow through with this request. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said that the sum was too low, but the findings still constituted a “damning” indictment of the President. DA spokesman. Mabine Seabe told AFP Africa: “the president should pay back 100 per cent of the non-security upgrades – previously we determined that amount to be up to 52.9 million rands ($3.4 million).” Speaking on the implications of the report, Seabe added: “this (the treasury’s report) sends out a clear message to those involved in corruption, especially those in the ANC, that you will be held accountable for your actions, even if you are the President.’ The calculations by the Treasury will be reviewed by the Constitutional Court. Amidst scandals that included the sacking of two finance ministers in four days last year which led to the rand currency plummeting and a dismissed appeal from against the ruling that he should face almost 800 corruption charges that were dropped in 2009 shortly before he came to power, Zuma retains widespread loyalty in the ANC. South Africa’s revolutionary socialist party, the Economic Freedom Fighters has said: “Zuma paying is an admission of guilt. The next step is criminal charges.” [myad]
Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection has finally captured a man who was said to have been arrested for more than fifty times in the past for operating beggars syndicate in the capital city and has been escaping justice. The man, whose name was given as Baba Gwarma from Kaduna State, was said to be operating with three personal vehicles for movement of beggars in and around Abuja as well as neigbouring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna states. Baba Gwaram, who is said to live in Karma-Jiji, a suburb of Abuja with the leader of the syndicate called simply as Sarki, in the same vicinity. The man was believed to own houses which he used to rent out, providing shelter for the beggars in Karma-Jiji near the Abuja city centre. The Chairman of the FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection, retired Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel, who paraded the suspects at the FCDA Police Station in Abuja said that the suspect has been arrested more than 50 times in the past, but that this time, he would be charged to court. The Task Force Chairman said that the arrest was effected with the collaboration of security agencies in the Task Team through intelligence sharing. Squadron leader Monjel said that the suspect uses dangerous weapons to attack law enforcement team. Meanwhile, the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has paid an unscheduled visit to Kubwa Satellite Town in Bwari Area Council where he predicted that the communities around the new rail station in Kubwa would gain tremendously from various business opportunities which the railway will bring to the area. “These communities by their virtue of playing host to the railway lines and stations, have the unique opportunities of witnessing increased business activities, which could bring tremendous development to the area within a short time frame”. “Kubwa, being much closer to the expressway as well as the point before the final station at Idu, chances are that most passengers would embark and disembark in this satellite town, with its attendant effects on economic activities. “If these communities handle the environment well, they could witness tremendous development within the next few years. “Before you know it, the whole of this place will become good commercial area and the land values here will all appreciate. So, your people will benefit and you are going to get a lot of revenue and employment opportunities.” The Minister called on the Area Councils’ authorities to cleanup and beautify the environment by planting attractive trees to make it conducive for those coming to Abuja by rail, especially considering that it would be their first point of contact. Responding, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Musa Diko appreciated the thoughtfulness of the Minister to wake them up of their responsibility. He promised to immediately move in to clean up the areas using community efforts to ensure that the people own the project. [myad]
Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole has beaten his chest that in his eight year administration, he has been able to revoke acres of land illegally acquired by the Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and that the next government of Godwin Obaseki will revoke more of such land from the same person.
Governor Oshiomhole, who spoke at a political rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Okada community, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state; the home of Chief Igbinedion, on Wednesday, said that such retrieved land would be handed over to investors. He told the parties supporters who thronged the campaign venue that his administration has granted waivers to investors to encourage them in the industrialization process of the state. The governor declared that he is determined to stop any Benin Chief from taking over the position of the Oba of Benin, stressing that the Oba’s position cannot be faked but must be respected as a divine institution. “I will stop any Benin Chief who wants to take the position of the Oba of Benin. I am aware that I have had cause to revoke some lands illegally acquired by Chief Igbinedion. I will revoke more and give to investors. “We granted waivers to investors in order to encourage investors to set up companies in the state. “With Godwin as the next governor, you will have nothing to fear.
“We will build more roads, schools and bring more investors to the state. “PDP wants to come through the back door back to power because they want to continue to use your money to feed the god fathers and we must stop them. This was even as the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Obaseki admitted that governor Oshiomhole had laid the foundation for growth and development of the state. “My job is to raise the house upstairs because the foundation will carry sky scrappers. “We will continue to build on infrastructure, build more roads in the Local Governments, build more schools and recruit more teachers. “If elected as governor of the state, we will put more money into Usen Polytechnic to improve the standard of teaching in the school so they can be one of the best in Nigeria. “The polytechnic will groom students into becoming land inspectors, surveys that can be employed in the state Ministry of Works. We will give small loans to market women. “Our major priority is to create empowerment for women and youths.” At the campaign, over 1,500 persons, including a cousin to the Esama, Ewemade, defected to the ruling APC.
The defectors said they decided to dump the PDP due to the giant strides and developmental achievement by the Oshiomhole-led government in the state. [myad]
The former chairman of House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has asked the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to go ahead and sue him, even as he insisted that the speaker is corrupt.
This came on the heels of Dogara’s threat to sue him if within seven days he did not withdraw the allegation of corruption and apologize.
Jibrin, who floated the kite that Dogara was involved in a fraudulent attempt to pad the budget with projects worth about N40 billion after he was removed last week as chairman of the appropriations committee over allegation of breach of trust, said: “I know he will rush to court in order to invoke the house rules that matter in court cannot be heard on the floor. He failed to realize that the law is not intended to protect corrupt people. It is such a shame.”
He vowed not to withdraw the allegations against the Speaker and three others, namely, Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuf; Chief Whip, Alhassan Doguwa; and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor.
“I have responded to their allegations rather than respond to mine, he is rushing to court. I stand by my allegations and will not withdraw them!”
He said: “I am happy to announce that my lawyers have officially approached the EFCC and the ICPC towards working out a date for me to personally submit my petition against Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuf, Whip, Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor.”
Jibrin also responded to counter allegations of fraud by the House against him.
Text of his full statement goes thus:
THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION BY YAKUBU DOGARA AND MY RESPONSE TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY HON ABDULRAZAK NAMDAS ACTING ILLEGALLY AND WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE HOUSE ON BEHALF OF THE QUARTET OF SPEAKER YAKUBU DOGARA, DEPUTY SPEAKER YUSUF LASUN, HOUSE WHIP ALHASSAN DOGUWA AND MINORITY LEADER LEO OGOR
After going through the press text by Hon Namdas, I had made up my mind not to bother wasting my time responding to a much publicized press conference that turned out an anti climax but for my Hon Colleagues and general public who may fall for such cheap blackmail, I had to respond. All the accusations were a compendium of lies put together by the QUARTET who are desperately looking for something to nail me but can’t find anything. Again for the purpose of emphasis I did nothing wrong neither have I abused my office, public trust or corruptly enriched my self. The press statement surely failed to make allegations on me with precision like the specific allegations that I have raised against the QUARTET which they are yet to respond to a single one!
I will respond to the lies they told one after the other and explain other issues I believe my Hon colleagues and the public should know. As I mentioned in the past, I had written a lot on some of these issues especially the 2016 budget which I intend to publish in my personal memoir LIFE AT 40: MY STORY as part of my 40th birthday in September. The memoir when published will give an insight on my life so that the public will understand some of these issues in proper perspective.
Let me also state that the way and manner Hon members of the house, civil society groups, security and anti corruption agencies and the general public handle these issues and allegations will certainly determine if people in different sectors who have the courage to fight corruption, abuse of trust and offices will have the necessary support and encouragement to step up. Just imagine if these QUARTET and their accomplice like Hon Herma Hembe are found guilty and sent to jail. It will be a defining moment and a huge accomplishment for our fight against corruption.
Today, my lawyers have officially approached the EFCC and ICPC towards working out a date for me to submit my petition and brief the agencies. Rather than respond to my allegations, he is threatening me with court action. I stand by my allegations against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and 3 others and I shall neither apologize nor withdraw my statement. I know he will rush to court in order to invoke the house rules that matter in court cannot be heard on the floor of the house. He failed to realize that the rules are not intended to protect corrupt people. It is such a shame.
MY RESPONSE
DISPLAYED IMMATURITY AND LACK TEMPERAMENT, DEALING WITH TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AMONG OTHER SIMILAR LIES
At the level these matter had gotten to I expected that what ever they will accuse me of should be backed with instances. They failed to cite such instances where I had displayed such qualities.
This is how we have systematically destroyed our institutions because “maturity” and the right “temperament” is when you can cover corruption, injustice and abuse of office and public trust and you cannot stand up anywhere you are for the truth without minding whose ox is gored. If that is the definition of maturity to the QUARTET, then I shall gladly remain immature for the rest of my life. I am not new to dealing with highly placed government officials.
They probably failed to research properly about me. With the risk of sounding immodest, I started very in life. I started business at the age of 19. I started meeting a Nigerian president in my mid twenties. I have had an extensive experience over the last two decades in the process building a massive network in both the political, business, academia, traditional, religious, union and civil society among others in Nigeria and beyond. I was prepared for leadership.
COLLATING SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION TO BLACKMAIL AND COMPLAIN OF HARASSMENT
Who did I blackmail? No instances were provided just complete lies. It is a no news that I will have access and insight on a lot of government information both classified and non having served as chairman of the sensitive finance committee of the House and until recently appropriation committee. But because of my family upbringing, experience in life, training and mentorship I have enjoyed all my life, I grew up to be very organized by nature. I document everything that should be documented.
I keep a diary of events. Hardly is there any record regarding my job that I cannot produce and hardly is there anything you will ask that I cannot explain or defend. I thought that should not scare or intimidate any upright leader who has nothing to hide but should attract any leader to utilize such qualities effectively. No, that will not attract Speaker Dogara and his 3 cohorts who are so small minded and prefer to have a small group of mediocres around them. I think they were shocked to realize that I have everything documented.
I did NOT document it to blackmail anyone but just to keep the records as part of my responsibility. However, if the need arises to use such documents to expose corruption and abuse of office, I shall not hesitate to give it out even at the risk of such blackmail and propaganda from the QUARTET
Here again they failed to cite just a single instance. Which agency did I harass? For what? It is my tradition in the House except under such necessary circumstances, I do not see heads of MDA’S like the way Speaker Dogara has converted his office and home, and guest houses to center of pilgrimage for head of MDAs. I don’t go to government offices except on oversight. I will wait for Speaker Dogara to tell the country who I harassed.
LEADERSHIP LAUNCHED AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AND FOUND ME GUILTY
This accusation alone is enough for my colleagues and Nigerians to clearly see the desperation, manipulation, lies, blackmail and the poor quality of leadership of the QUARTET. When was the internal investigation instituted? Who are those that conducted the investigation? How come I only knew I was investigated through your press statement yesterday?
Why wasn’t I given fair hearing? Under which house rules was I investigated without my knowledge? Where is the report of the investigation? Isn’t this the same speaker Dogara that openly defended our 3 colleagues accused of sexual harassment in the US on the grounds that they were not granted the right to be heard? Now Nigerians can imagine and start seeing the heavy witch hunt that they mounted on me. This is a huge shame and an embarrassment to the Speaker and the 3 other principal officers. I challenge Speaker Yakubu Dogara to answer the questions. This is completely baseless.
DAURA PROJECTS IN 2016
Yes, I take responsibility for this as I will on any matter that I know I am responsible for. I don’t know how to lie. I don’t need permission or consent of Mr President to put in the budget water scheme, agricultural and rural development projects in Daura.
I have said severally and will repeat, are people of Daura not Nigerians? During the budget process, people come to the House from all over the country to lobby for projects in their constituencies but nobody from Daura including Mr President came to lobby. At a meeting with Mr Speaker and some principal officers, I admit I told him that I have looked at the budget, there was almost no project in Daura.
I reminded him that Mr President will NEVER lobby us for such but he is human and will appreciate if Nigerians in Daura enjoy a bit of the budget so long as what ever projects taken there is not too much compared to other states. I also reminded them that he is twice the Head of this country we should not abuse the fact that by his nature he will never ask. If he is a selfish leader, he can turn Daura to a small London instantly. But he believes in fairness for all. That is why great Africans like Mo Ibrahim instituted the monetary award for African heads of states like Buhari who will not steal under any circumstance. What I did was in tandem to this.
Now you can imagine the quality of leaders like Speaker Yakubu Dogara who wants to turn this against me and set me on collusion with the presidency. It is such a shame that our so called leaders can not appreciate and support such a simple cause.
A man like Mr president who has held every position in the country and twice president without any success to blackmail him, is it the very few projects I put in Daura that will be used to blackmail such a man? When Speaker Dogara and the 3 other principals inserted projects worth over 20billion in their constituencies? God Almighty is with the innocent. PROJECTS WITHOUT LOCATIONS OR CLEAR DEFINITION
This is a non issue. They are just looking for more flesh to tidy up their blackmail and lies. In EVERY BUDGET YEAR such situations are found. The secretariat work extremely hard during the budget period to insert all items into the budget template. Since this job is done by human beings like us, there are bound to be some errors like the aforesaid and even more. It is such a simple issue and there is a standard way of dealing with it instantly through what we call CORRIGENDUM. It is a correction to any appropriation act. Indeed the first CORRIGENDUM I signed with respect to the 2016 budget was for the projects of Speaker Yakubu Dogara. One of such projects I later discovered was a water project he diverted to his personal farm somewhere in Nasarawa. Both of us have the records.
I FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO ARMS OF GOVERNMENT
This I found very laughable. What did I do and how did I do that? Again, a case of desperate Speaker Dogara looking for something against me. Let me use this window to explain something. After the standing committees of the House forwarded their reports we discovered that over 2000 projects were inserted into the budget by just 10 out of the 96 standing committees of the House.
My self and Sen Goje had to find a balance between the executive submissions and standing committees reports. It was during that period that we met the president. Mr President belongs to all of us. Nobody be it presiding or principal officer has the right to stop any member from seeing the president. Immediately we came out of the villa, i went straight to brief Speaker Dogara.
To say I was shocked with his reaction was an understatement. He went ballistic! And kept shouting, why should you go to the villa, why? I looked at Dogara and remembered the quote “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Well, I ignored his selfish reaction and briefed him what we intend to do moving forward. In the following days, we consulted wildly with ministers and got their key inputs. We prepared two scenarios, one to provide a balance between the House submission and that of the executive while the other is to carry largely the standing committees recommendations.
I discussed everything with Mr Speaker and he asked me to stay action to allow him consult with other principal officers. In between he travelled to London. It was from London that he called and instructed me to adopt the committee version. At that point all the great consultative work we did with the ministers became a waste. And I knew he did that deliberately to embarrass me and ensure we fail in the eye of our executive counterparts.
That is how vindictive Speaker Dogara can be. At a meeting of Principal officers of the House, When Mr president returned the budget because he considered insertions by NASS too much, I explained that we had worked out a balanced scenario for the budget with the executive but the Speaker directed that we forward the other version. The Speaker unfortunately tried to deny and the atmosphere became tensed.
The duo of Lasun and Ogar took time to direct that when we go into the executive session that morning, I should talk less to members when I am asked to give my briefing and specifically say nothing about the N40billion they took. I rejected that. I told them my reputation is at stake. At that point everybody in the country was attacking me.
Where on earth will I say I took N40 billion to? Even the best accountant in the world cannot hide such huge sums. Lasun and Ogor almost brought down the roof of the office. I maintained my calm and apologized to Mr Speaker and the rest of them. It was at that meeting that I was asked to stop further comments to the press.
God Almighty is a living witness. We proceeded to the executive session, I briefed my colleagues and told them the truth. Since then Speaker Dogara and the 3 others effectively blocked me from further meetings and briefing sessions and sponsored an extensive internal and external propaganda against me to give my colleagues and the general public the impression that everything about the 2016 budget is Hon Jibrin. That is why many members carried on without the true picture of what transpired and of course their anger towards me.
But since I started opening up, I have received hundred of calls from my colleagues querying why I didn’t let them know all these. They will soon realize that I am not alone and members will not allow such serious allegations of corruption to be swept under the carpet. I kept pressure on the Speaker to allow me opportunity to brief my colleagues to no avail.
The insincerity and conspiracy of silence from the few standing committee chairmen that inserted about 2000 projects into the budget and unnecessary movement of huge sums of money didn’t help my case. Some of the biggest culprits are chairmen of standing committees on Power Hon Dan Asuquo, Higher education Hon Zakari Mohammed, Water resources Hon Aliyu Pategi, health Hon Chike Okafor, interior Hon Jagaba Adams, FCT Hon Herma Hembe and police affairs Hon Haliru Jika among few others.
So I was taking heat both within the House and outside. It was a very trying moment for me but praise be to God Almighty.
INCREMENT OF SIZE OF BUDGET BY 250 BILLION NAIRA, 4.1 ALLEGATION AND THE KANO FILM VILLAGE PROJECT
There has never been any version of the 2016 budget that was produced with an increased size of 250billion naira. It is an extension of the wicked propaganda and and desperate search for lies and blackmail by Speaker Dogara and the 3 others. If at all there is, let them bring it out.
One Single allegation that I may probably carry on with it and keep explaining for the rest of my life is the 4.1 billion worth of project I allocated to my constituency. When this allegation came out, I was already under instruction by Speaker Dogara to stop talking to the press. I could not respond. By the time it became convenient for me to speak, the tempo had died down.
I decided to simply include it in my 40th birthday memoir to be released in September. There was nothing like projects worth 4.1billion naira in my constituency in any version of the budget. It was a huge blackmail which I only later realized it was instigated by Speaker Dogara and the 3 others. Aside few projects in my constituency, I was more interested in projects that will help not only kano but the whole of Nigeria like the Kano Film Village, Irrigation projects, dams and roads. At the end I succeeded in promoting the Kano film village which has raised unnecessary controversy.
The Kano Film village is designed by the Nigerian Film cooperation NFC Jos to be a world class film village with ultra modern training institute, cinematography center, theater, premiere square, diverse skill acquisition center, male and female hostels, hotel accommodation, 1,500 capacity conference hall, shopping mall, eateries, mini zoo, Nigerian and world culture exhibition center, history and documentation center, clinic and every conventional facilities that are required for a world class film village.
When I saw the proposal of the project and knowing the massive potentials of the Kannywood, I did not hesitate to buy into it for many obvious reasons. It will create massive employment opportunity for our teeming youth, open up sources of revenue for the federal government, boost economic activities in kano which is the 2nd largest commercial city in nigeria, serve as a center to promote our country, culture, people and many more through films.
Today, it’s a shame we have no standard films on the lives of our founding leaders like Awo, Zik, Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Aminu kano and the host of others. We do not take advantage of films to promote our good culture and sell every aspect of our country from our economic potentials to tourism attraction.
We don’t even care that we don’t have documentary and films of our great religious leaders like Oyedepos, kuka, Shiek Gumi, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi and many others. No films on our great traditional leaders and institutions.
If it were in Europe or America, they surely would have commenced films on the great lives of the late Oni of Ife and his highness the late Emir of kano or even their charismatic successors like ours, his Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Do we have to wait for foreigners to make films on our great Gani Fewehinmi, Olusegun Obasanjo or the greatest leader today on the African continent, a natural successor to Nelson Mandela, President Muhammadu Buhari?
Unfortunately, the whole idea was misrepresented with Speaker Dogara playing a clear script behind the scene using a member from kano to oil the misinformation that the center was going to be a dancing club and center for all sorts of negative social activities.
Some of Our religious leaders in kano fell for these lies and commenced protest against the project. A very sad situation.
PROOF OF EVIDENCE AND INACCESSIBILITY AND APPROPRIATION MEMBERS
I have and will provide evidence on all the allegations at the appropriate time. When the secretariat of the appropriation committee was taken away from me twice how much more members of the appropriation committee. I have shortchanged no one. I left the committee in harmony with my members that is why most of them were seated with me when I announced my resignation. A lot of them sympathized with me because they understand very well the dirty game that was played by Dogara. The few occasions when I attempted to open up to members of appropriation committee, I was accused of trying to topple the leadership of the House. It was a very difficult situation. I had lived life on a fast lane, I have slowed down considerably. Everybody knows my schedules. I try to retire home as early as I can. I avoid late night meetings or unnecessary socializing like frequent parties organized by the Speaker. I keep my weekends for my parents, family, relatives and constituents. I go to work early enough and hardly will you ever find a file lying down on my table unattended. I mind my business as much as I can but they will not let me be. So if anyone is accusing me of inaccessibility, he is not being honest. May be they want me to join the gang of late night plotters.
MY TENURE AS CHAIRMAN FINANCE
As chairman finance, I had a very eventful tenure. I conducted many investigations and left an unblemished record. The committee was vibrant and we recorded so many milestone. I won so many awards both home and abroad and got inducted as fellow into several professional bodies. I have never been accused of corruption or any wrong doing all through my tenure. I lobbied and attracted some projects to my constituency which were executed and some are yet to be paid for by government. The allegations in these regards are not different from all others. Desperate people looking for something to nail me. It is a wild wild goose chase, baseless allegation and arrant nonsense. They should forward what ever they have to the EFCC.
TRADITION OF N40BILLION OUT N100BILLION GOING TO LEADERSHIP
I am not aware of any tradition, rules or decision of the House that grants 40billion out of the 100billion naira constituency funds to the leadership. This is a clear case of fraud and abuse of trust committed by Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the 3 others. This is one question they must answer.
CONCLUSION
I have written so much about the House which will further address these and many other issues to be published in my 40th birthday memoir. Some people may never understand why it is imperative that I fight this to its logical conclusion. It will force an internal reform in the House for the benefit of the country. It will send a strong message to anybody no matter how highly placed you are in the house, if you get involved in corrupt acts or abuse your office, you will face the law. It will also scare corrupt people from attempting to get into the house. And finally, I am 39 and will be 40 in September. I am fairly blessed with everything that a man can ask for from God on earth. I consider myself extremely lucky. All I have left is my integrity. Many people including my colleagues don’t know the facts of the issues. I must continue to explain so that all the facts will be laid out. I will never allow anybody to destroy my hard earned integrity especially corrupt people like Speaker Dogara and the 3 others when they fight back.
Finally, I have responded to their allegations within 24hrs, they are yet to respond to mine almost a week after. I am once again calling on all Hon Members of the House of Representatives and the general public to call on Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the 3 others to answer the 20 allegations I have raised against them and reconvene the House immediately to allow for an independent investigation by the House.
Thank you
Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin PhD MBA APC-Kano Kiru-Bebeji Federal constituency Kano. [myad]
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has given a seven-day ultimatum to Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin to tender an unreserved apology to him and retract all allegations made against him or face legal action. A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, Turaki Hassan, said that the demand was contained in a letter written and addressed to Jibrin by the counsel to Dogara, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan & Co. It was signed By Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), the Principal Partner of the firm. The letter, entitled: “REQUEST FOR A RETRACTION AND AN APOLOGY OF A LIBELOUS PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY YOU ON MONDAY 25TH JULY, 2016,” noted that the claims of the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, who was removed for allegedly padding the budget and other actions, that the speaker is corrupt and abuses his office is aimed at tarnishing his image at home and abroad and is a clear case of libel. The letter reads in part: “We act as solicitors to Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives of Three Arm Zone National Assembly Complex, Abuja herein after referred to as ‘our client’ and on whose instructions we write this letter to you. “The attention of our client has been drawn to a libellous press statement you issued on Monday 25th July 2016 which was made available to members of the press (print and electronic media) titled “THE CORRUPT SPEAKER YAKUBU DOGARA AND HIS 3-MAN CABAL. “In the said publication, you published words to the following effect concerning our client and three other principal members of the House of Representatives- “Honourable colleagues and fellow Nigerians, I wish to make further revelations. Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his senior cabal namely Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Ogor has (sic) promoted corruption so badly in the House that if President Muhammadu Buhari with his disdain for corruption and corrupt people have the slightest idea, he will ban the QUARTET permanently from the Villa before they eventually allow for proper and unbiased investigation by the House. “Mr Speaker and Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun diverted millions of naira all in the name of paying for guest houses and official residence. The issue became so messy that the Deputy Speaker openly accused Hon Herma Hembe of short changing them of millions of naira in the deal to the shock of many Hon Members. “Speaker Yakubu Dogara frequently abuses his office amounting to conflict of interest by soliciting for inappropriate favours from agencies and Multinational companies. He forced an agency to grant loans and a construction company blackmailed to do some work at his Asokoro ‘plot’ “Speaker Yakubu Dogara has carefully designed a scheme to scam Hon Members through deduction from their salaries certain amount of money for a so called mortgage arrangements to build houses for members. He has been applying every under hand tactics to ensure Members agree to the deal. “Speaker Yakubu Dogara has consistently refused members access to the financial dealings and internal budget of the House. He runs the financial management of the House like a cult aided and abated by the Chairman House services Hon Babanlle Ila. It is no longer news that all over the House, Hon Members are aware of the monumental fraud perpetrated by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in this regard. “We are even told that this is a child’s play compared to the mess and allegations of money laundering he left behind as Chairman house services in both the 6th and 7th Assembly. The EFCC should have something to start working with in respect to his tenure as Chairman House services if they properly dust their files. “These members of the body of principal officers were not comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves N40bn out of the N100bn allocated to the entire National Assembly. The four of them met and took that decision, in addition to billions of wasteful projects running to over 20bn, they allocated to their constituencies. They must come out clean. My inability to admit into the budget almost 30bn personal requests from Mr. Speaker and the three other principal officers, also became an issue. “The personal references are obviously directed at our client, and amount to a very serious libel. “By the said publication and without putting to the public any shred of evidence, our client is portrayed as a criminal, corrupt, dishonest, fraudulent, dishonourable and unfit to hold the position of Speaker of House of Representatives. “Our client’s reputation has further been brought down in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and he has been thrown into public opprobrium, odium, scorn and ridicule. “Consequently, we consider your publication on the matter as not only libellous but made in bad faith; an act of vendetta owing to your recent removal as the Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation. “The said publication is also aimed at causing disaffection between Nigerians and members of the House of Representatives. “Sequel to the above, we have to request you to submit immediately to us a clear and unqualified apology and retraction of the publication in an equally conspicuous position in all the print and electronic media where the publication appeared. “TAKE NOTICE that in the event of your failure/refusal to comply with the above mentioned demands within seven (7) days of your receipt of this letter, we have further instructions to institute a suit against you in a court of law. “If we have to pursue this course, we shall be claiming aggravated and exemplary damages.” [myad]
Six Nigerians are among the 14 prison inmates, including four Indonesians and 10 foreign nationals, who are expected to face the firing squad this weekend in Indonesia.
While the names of the 14 drug convicts are being kept secret by Indonesian authorities, a group of lawyers from the Community Legal Aid Institute has leaked the list which is dominated by Nigerians.
It also featuring two other Africans: Seck Osmane of Senegal and Frederick Luttar of Zimbabwe. Below are the details of the six Nigerians as extracted from a Guardian of London report, quoting the Community Legal Aid Institute:
Humphrey Jefferson Ejike Eleweke
Jefferson, then a restaurant owner, was arrested in 2003 after police found 1.7kg of heroin in a room used by one of his employees. He was sentenced to death in 2004 and has until now declined to ask for presidential clemency as it would entail seeking forgiveness for a crime of which he says he is innocent. His lawyers say there is evidence that he was framed.
Michael Titus Igweh
Titus was found guilty of possessing 5.8kg of heroin in 2002. At the time he was 23 years old. He was sentenced to death the following year. He claims he was subject to beatings and torture in detention, this May telling the district court in Tangerang during his appeal that his genitals were repeatedly electrocuted to elicit a confession under duress.
Okonkwo Nonso Kingsley
Arrested at Polonia airport, in Medan, in 2003, Kingsley was caught with 1.1kg of heroin and sentenced to death in May 2004. The heroin was stored in dozens of capsules that Kingsley had swallowed, found after customs apparently noticed the odd shape of his stomach. The supreme court rejected a judicial review filed by Kingsley in November 2014.
Ozias Sibanda
Sibanda was reportedly arrested with three other nationals from Nigeria at Soekarno Hatta airport in 2001. Like Okonkwo Nonso Kingsley (see above), Sibanda had arrived on a flight from Pakistan and had swallowed capsules of heroin. Sibanda was initially identified as a Zimbabwean national, as he was travelling on a forged passport.
Obina Nwajagu
Nwajagu was reportedly sentenced to death after he was caught at an Ibis hotel trying to buy 45 capsules of heroin from a Thai national. He has been held at Nusa Kambangan prison in Central Java since 2003. Nwajagu’s appeal for clemency has been rejected by the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo.
Eugene Ape
Ape was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to death after 300g of heroin was found among clothes in a bag that he owned. Prosecutors at the South Jakarta district court initially called for a sentence of 12 years before he was handed the death penalty. [myad]
Nigerians are stressed almost beyond measure. Some are so affected by the effects that rational reasoning seems to be eluding them. Certainly, no one can rightly blame anyone in this class because there is always a difference between the levels of resistance in even two average individuals. Right now what is required most is something that can divert attention, a comic relief if you like, to help disperse the effects of prevailing trying economic realities. The good news is that comic relief is coming in droves from members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State. For ardent supporters of Pastor Osaze Izeh-Iyamu, PDP personified in the September 10 governorship election, talking loudly or nineteen-to-the-dozen, is equal to unassailable knowledge. So, almost always, they tend to reach organism when discussing the pastor’s pulpit points on both social media and beer parlours. They get so convinced that shouting his voice coarse at every campaign rally is a sure-fire panacea for turning hard times to a one stop dream life that they label Godwin Obaseki as inauspiciously inept in terms of having a hold over what is required to manage our way out of the doldrums. His quiet mien, they assume, is a give-away, beyond-reproach evidence. I can’t stop laughing at the apparent naïveté of a people grovelling in the assumption that a talking drum is far better than a working brain. Jokes apart, it is sad that there are still individuals who regard the people of Edo state as a bunch of simpletons. It is sadder that they do not appreciate the fact that the people know for sure that action speaks louder than words. It is even more heart-rendering that they still nurse the ill notion that Edo people do not have the capacity to see beyond facade or discern between low-life opportunists and individuals with sterling antecedents that advertised both quality actions and noble intentions. Sadly for them, the people are familiar with the antecedents of everyone of those aspiring to leaf the state right. They know the different between a talking drum and a working brain and will express their knowledge via the ballot in September. However. let me talk about Godwin Enogheghase Obaseki, the man with a past I can relate with for reasons of his noble antecedents. I am a bona Fide citizen of Edo state, very familiar with its political history. I know about its yesterday when those we elected stole the state blind and kept its wealth in family vaults. I am equally very familiar with today seeing others helping to redefine how ideally the little resources we have can be creatively redistributed for the general good of the people. I know Obaseki to belong to the latter group. With him in control, I can, with great hope, look forward to a greater future for the state and its people. Let emphasize that while the contest for who became the face of the All Progressives Congress lasted, my sentiments were for someone else. I actually said this much to him in a chance meeting I had with him. But looking back now, I know for sure that my position then was based, in the main, on what I did not know about him. I have since made the discovery that the relationship between Obaseki and Edo state is basically the same between a parent and love child. For the sake of the child, the parent is ever willing and ready to do just about any thing necessary to put the child on a sure but firm footing. That includes reaching out to those with all the requisite materials needed to give the child a steady and sure path to real growth. Thus far, Obaseki has proven that his love for the growth and development of the state and its people is worth every sacrifice he can make. Quietly too, he made more sacrifices for the state than most people can imagine. For starters, let it be said, even for the umpteenth time, that he has been an invisible but prime player in the Oshiomhole administration that is generally said to have reconnected the state to the path of real growth and development. As head of the economic team, his team is reputed to have introduced the policies that shaped the administration’s enviable economic and managerial conducts which produced its highly commendable development initiatives. His contributions were also instrumental in steering the state away from recession despite the debilitating national financial malaise that rendered more than 27 other states practically unable to meet monthly obligations. And he did all these without receiving a salary in seven and a half years. We need no rocket scientist to explain that this is as good as any sacrifice can be. Yet, there is another part of Obaseki largely unknown to the people of the state. Many have wondered why Oshiomhole almost insisted that he must be succeeded by investment banker. Politics aside, it is for the good of the state and its people. That much was revealed recently in Lagos and by the governor himself, during the fund raising dinner organized for the APC flag bearer. According to Oshiomhole, Obaseki, along with a few other well-meaning patriots co-opted him into mainstream politics by insisting that he must enter the governorship race against those that presided over and superintended one of the biggest democratic errors against the state and its people. But beyond successfully persuading him, they also went the extra mile of raising the required funds. They were also there in the process of securing his earned victory at the various tribunals. With victory secured, some of them were persuaded to join the administration in order to provide the all-needed expert direction. Obaeeki heeded the call and was made head of the administration’s economic team that mid-wived the strategic direction which resulted in its visible development successes. Yet he never received any salary for all the sacrifices. Indeed, sacrifice is more like a second nature to Obaseki. It tallies with his belief that governance should never be seen as an avenue for getting rich. Instead, it should be seen for what it is-an avenue for rendering services to the people. For the same reason, he believes quite strongly that one’s contributions are enough talk. So far, Obaseki lived up to his word by remaining taciturn, leaving his contributions to the growth of the state and those in the know to do the talking. Somehow however, political jobbers seem to be feasting on his quiet mien, employing same to foster their patent achievement-rumour mongering. Among others, they insinuate that for lacking in clear-cut administrative or economic direction, he comfortably allows the governor to be his voice. Unfortunately, those who hold this view ignorantly forgot that the people of the state are beginning to get a grasp of his sterling antecedents and contributions to the success of the same man they claim to be his voice. Of course his traducers will continue to be blind to the fact that unlike Obaseki’s voice, whatever represents it, will be quiet, dead quiet, if it has nothing to talk about. Definitely, his voice, whoever the opposition identifies as the one, can proudly sign-post the administration’s visible and admirable achievements to the high heavens. They are achievements made manifest by Obaseki’s contributions. Lest we forget, Obaseki has been described variously as the “brain”, “software”, “arrowhead”, etc. None of the description is misplaced more so because the governor himself said as much. There is something one can take home when an Obaseki, with less authority is given such credit. There is more to take to the bank if he obtains requisite democratic authority to ensure that, as the axiom has it, the buck stops at his table. In other words, if he could work from the sideline and receive plaudits for performing admirably, he is very likely to do more when conferred with democratic authority. In additional to his professional expertise, he is best placed to implement, spot on, all 21st century-compliant investment, economic and administrative policies. Certainly, the job requires a working brain, not a talking drum. . Omoarelojie writes from Benin City, Edo State. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari, who commissioned a new rail transport on Abuja-Kaduna route on Tuesday, took a ride, with the minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, from Idu to Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), signalling the commencement of rail transportation in the country after several years. [myad]
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A Constitutional Court of South Africa has ordered the country’s President, Jacob Zuma to return to the public coffers, the sum of $500,000 which he had used to upgrade his ancestral home in Nkandla.
Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection has finally captured a man who was said to have been arrested for more than fifty times in the past for operating beggars syndicate in the capital city and has been escaping justice.
Edo Race: Between A Talking Drum And A Working Brain, By Ernest Omoarelojie
Nigerians are stressed almost beyond measure. Some are so affected by the effects that rational reasoning seems to be eluding them. Certainly, no one can rightly blame anyone in this class because there is always a difference between the levels of resistance in even two average individuals. Right now what is required most is something that can divert attention, a comic relief if you like, to help disperse the effects of prevailing trying economic realities. The good news is that comic relief is coming in droves from members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State.
For ardent supporters of Pastor Osaze Izeh-Iyamu, PDP personified in the September 10 governorship election, talking loudly or nineteen-to-the-dozen, is equal to unassailable knowledge. So, almost always, they tend to reach organism when discussing the pastor’s pulpit points on both social media and beer parlours. They get so convinced that shouting his voice coarse at every campaign rally is a sure-fire panacea for turning hard times to a one stop dream life that they label Godwin Obaseki as inauspiciously inept in terms of having a hold over what is required to manage our way out of the doldrums. His quiet mien, they assume, is a give-away, beyond-reproach evidence. I can’t stop laughing at the apparent naïveté of a people grovelling in the assumption that a talking drum is far better than a working brain.
Jokes apart, it is sad that there are still individuals who regard the people of Edo state as a bunch of simpletons. It is sadder that they do not appreciate the fact that the people know for sure that action speaks louder than words. It is even more heart-rendering that they still nurse the ill notion that Edo people do not have the capacity to see beyond facade or discern between low-life opportunists and individuals with sterling antecedents that advertised both quality actions and noble intentions. Sadly for them, the people are familiar with the antecedents of everyone of those aspiring to leaf the state right. They know the different between a talking drum and a working brain and will express their knowledge via the ballot in September. However. let me talk about Godwin Enogheghase Obaseki, the man with a past I can relate with for reasons of his noble antecedents.
I am a bona Fide citizen of Edo state, very familiar with its political history. I know about its yesterday when those we elected stole the state blind and kept its wealth in family vaults. I am equally very familiar with today seeing others helping to redefine how ideally the little resources we have can be creatively redistributed for the general good of the people. I know Obaseki to belong to the latter group. With him in control, I can, with great hope, look forward to a greater future for the state and its people.
Let emphasize that while the contest for who became the face of the All Progressives Congress lasted, my sentiments were for someone else. I actually said this much to him in a chance meeting I had with him. But looking back now, I know for sure that my position then was based, in the main, on what I did not know about him.
I have since made the discovery that the relationship between Obaseki and
Edo state is basically the same between a parent and love child. For the sake of the child, the parent is ever willing and ready to do just about any thing necessary to put the child on a sure but firm footing. That includes reaching out to those with all the requisite materials needed to give the child a steady and sure path to real growth. Thus far, Obaseki has proven that his love for the growth and development of the state and its people is worth every sacrifice he can make. Quietly too, he made more sacrifices for the state than most people can imagine.
For starters, let it be said, even for the umpteenth time, that he has been an invisible but prime player in the Oshiomhole administration that is generally said to have reconnected the state to the path of real growth and development. As head of the economic team, his team is reputed to have introduced the policies that shaped the administration’s enviable economic and managerial conducts which produced its highly commendable development initiatives. His contributions were also instrumental in steering the state away from recession despite the debilitating national financial malaise that rendered more than 27 other states practically unable to meet monthly obligations. And he did all these without receiving a salary in seven and a half years. We need no rocket scientist to explain that this is as good as any sacrifice can be.
Yet, there is another part of Obaseki largely unknown to the people of the state. Many have wondered why Oshiomhole almost insisted that he must be succeeded by investment banker. Politics aside, it is for the good of the state and its people. That much was revealed recently in Lagos and by the governor himself, during the fund raising dinner organized for the APC flag bearer.
According to Oshiomhole, Obaseki, along with a few other well-meaning patriots co-opted him into mainstream politics by insisting that he must enter the governorship race against those that presided over and superintended one of the biggest democratic errors against the state and its people. But beyond successfully persuading him, they also went the extra mile of raising the required funds. They were also there in the process of securing his earned victory at the various tribunals.
With victory secured, some of them were persuaded to join the administration in order to provide the all-needed expert direction. Obaeeki heeded the call and was made head of the administration’s economic team that mid-wived the strategic direction which resulted in its visible development successes. Yet he never received any salary for all the sacrifices.
Indeed, sacrifice is more like a second nature to Obaseki. It tallies with his belief that governance should never be seen as an avenue for getting rich. Instead, it should be seen for what it is-an avenue for rendering services to the people. For the same reason, he believes quite strongly that one’s contributions are enough talk.
So far, Obaseki lived up to his word by remaining taciturn, leaving his contributions to the growth of the state and those in the know to do the talking. Somehow however, political jobbers seem to be feasting on his quiet mien, employing same to foster their patent achievement-rumour mongering. Among others, they insinuate that for lacking in clear-cut administrative or economic direction, he comfortably allows the governor to be his voice. Unfortunately, those who hold this view ignorantly forgot that the people of the state are beginning to get a grasp of his sterling antecedents and contributions to the success of the same man they claim to be his voice. Of course his traducers will continue to be blind to the fact that unlike Obaseki’s voice, whatever represents it, will be quiet, dead quiet, if it has nothing to talk about. Definitely, his voice, whoever the opposition identifies as the one, can proudly sign-post the administration’s visible and admirable achievements to the high heavens. They are achievements made manifest by Obaseki’s contributions.
Lest we forget, Obaseki has been described variously as the “brain”, “software”, “arrowhead”, etc. None of the description is misplaced more so because the governor himself said as much. There is something one can take home when an Obaseki, with less authority is given such credit. There is more to take to the bank if he obtains requisite democratic authority to ensure that, as the axiom has it, the buck stops at his table. In other words, if he could work from the sideline and receive plaudits for performing admirably, he is very likely to do more when conferred with democratic authority. In additional to his professional expertise, he is best placed to implement, spot on, all 21st century-compliant investment, economic and administrative policies. Certainly, the job requires a working brain, not a talking drum.
. Omoarelojie writes from Benin City, Edo State. [myad]