Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has made it clear that President Muhammadu Buhari he had come to know, is the one that would not cut deals as he presides over the affairs of the nation. Professor Osinbajo acknowledged that some people may regard President Buhari as being strict because of his forthrightness, but that “he is the kind of leader we need now. He is a president who will not cut deals and who is only interested in moving Nigeria forward. “We are very happy that we have a President who is honest, a President who is straight forward, a President who is operating from the genuineness of his heart, this is the kind of leader that we need now.” Vice President Osinbajo spoke on Friday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Deeper Christian Life Church, led by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi at the Presidential Villa. He said that he and the president have worked together “very, very well,” adding that the government did not create the sordid economic conditions Nigeria is facing. “The reason we are here at this time is known to the Lord Himself. Everyday I wake up knowing there is a cause for being here and it is to move the country forward.” Osinbajo told Pastor Kumuyi the Ogoni clean-up in Niger Delta is very important, a situation which he said is very bad. “I have been in the area a few times, but we need peace in the area to be able to carry on with the clean-up exercise.” He said the clean-up exercise will take decades but that with the phased implementation, people can gradually return to fishing and farming. On the power sector, Professor Osinbajo said that by February this year the country was doing 5000MW of electricity for the first time in history. The Vice President said however that the continued militants’ attacks on the pipelines has made things bad not only on electricity, but also cutting the oil revenues of the nation. He assured that government is working diligently on effective solutions to those challenges as he expressed the hoped that God has a purpose for choosing the President and himself to serve at this time. “This is the doing of the Lord.” Earlier, Pastor Kumuyi had thanked God for the progress made so far by the Administration. “God will fulfil the purpose for which He brought you at a time like this.” Pastor Kumuyi invited the Vice President to the crusade, even as he pledged his contributions and prayers for the Buhari administration and for the progress of the country. [myad]
The Group Chairman of NICON Investment Limited, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, has made it clear that nobody in Nigeria can seize his properties. Ibrahim, who in a statement, was reacting to a report which said a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, had given Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), an interim judgement to take over his firms over N50 billion debt, said: ‘’My attention has been directed to lies being spread around by an institution called AMCON over an interim order of injunction she had lied to collect before an innocent Federal High Court in Lagos. ‘’AMCON is aware that we keep a deposit of Eighty-Six billion Naira or 172 million pounds with Union Bank and AMCON is aware that application to collect the money from Union Bank is pending before an Ikeja High Court. All of these facts, it has not disclosed to an innocent Federal High Court. ‘’AMCON deceived Nigerians to believe that they got judgement against me when there was nothing like that. An interim order of any court last for 14 days. AMCON is executing the interim order even when the Judge has not signed the execution writ. ‘’We have since filed an application to discharge the interim order. I’m not in the category of people that AMCON or anybody can intimidate. It is laughable and a wide ambition to say anyone in Nigeria can seize my property! What a day dream!! ‘’We shall abide with the law and any interim order of court even when they are made in error as we are not far away from justice.’’ [myad]
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has described workers of the agency as strategic partners to whose welfare it is committed. Peterside, who spoke when the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) led by the President General, Comrade Anthony Nted Emmanuel paid courtesy visit to the Agency’s Headquarters in Lagos, said that maritime workers are very important to the development of the maritime sector and by extension the Nigerian economy. He commended the leadership of MWUN for the role played in the past in maintaining industrial peace in the sector and that the impact of a crisis ridden maritime sector on the Nigerian economy cannot be over emphasised. The Director General said that Maritime Workers are the Agency’s strategic partners and that NIMASA will ensure the training of dockworkers as well as create an enabling environment for them to work. “We consider maritime workers our strategic partners whose input, support and dedication we cherish. Our role therefore is to ensure that they work under the right conditions that are in line with the ILO and IMO instruments.” Dr. Peterside said that the process of Dockworkers registration and issuance of biometric identity cards is on-going, saying: “We have already initiated the process of the issuance of biometric identity cards for Dockworkers as part of our automation process in line with our digital transformation strategy”. In his response, the President General of MWUN commended NIMASA’s Management for its new drive of ensuring a stakeholders’ driven maritime sector. He advised the management of the Agency to pay more attention to training of dockworkers and their welfare even as he stressed the need to revisit the pooling system of dockworkers which was very effective in the monitoring of activities of the maritime workers in the Ports and on board vessels by relevant Agencies. It would be recalled that NIMASA recently mediated in the dispute between the Dockworkers and the operators of the ENL terminal in order to continue to ensure that the workers’ interests are protected and ensure that industrial harmony is maintained in the maritime industry. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regrets over the resignation of British Prime Minister, David Cameron, which will come into effect in October. President Buhari acknowledged that Nigeria has enjoyed remarkable goodwill, support and understanding under the capable leadership of the outgoing Prime Minister over the years. A statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu said Cameron’s resignation in response to the outcome of a referendum that supported Britain to leave the European Union “was a demonstration of courage by a democratic leader who respects the will of the people, even if he didn’t agree with their decision.” President Buhari noted that by putting the will of the people before his political future, the Prime Minister proved himself to be a selfless leader with respect for democracy and voters’ sovereignty. The President said that Nigeria looks forward to greater cooperation and consolidation of shared interests with Britain, despite the outcome of the referendum. [myad]
Analysts have predicted a lot of job losses in Britain, following the decision of its citizens that the country should pull out of the European Union (EU).
Experts said that a number of large companies, particularly banks, are likely to pack up at least some of their workers and move them out of London now that the U.K. has voted to exit the EU. In all, the city that has long been considered the financial capital of Europe could lose as many as 40,000 workers in the wake of Brexit.
The analysts said that much of the exodus could come from the big U.S. banks and those foreign financial firms were some of the remaining camp, and that the consequences of voting to leave the EU would make London a less advantageous place to do business.
Goldman Sachs spent at least $500,000 helping to fund the remain campaign and has 6,000 employees in London. It hadn’t said how many it may move out if the vote went for “leave.”
Other banks have been more upfront in saying that it would have at least some of their staff exit London.
Last week, Morgan Stanley said that it would relocate as many as 1,000 workers if the U.K. was to leave the EU. I.P Morgan Chase, prior to the vote, said it was likely to move 4,000 employees out of Europe. But on Friday morning after the vote, Dimon said JPMorgan was committed to keep a large staff in London. Still he said J.P Morgan is likely to move at least 1,000 people out of London.
“For the moment, we will continue to serve our clients as usual, and our operating model in the U.K. remains the same, Dimon said in a memo to staff, adding: “in the months ahead, however, we may need to make changes to our European legal entity structure and the location of some roles.” [myad]
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has appealed to a Chinese firm, CAMC Engineering Company Ltd to come over to the state and build a 10 Megawatt W solar plant.
The governor, who received a delegation from UNIDO and CAMCE at the Governor’s Lodge in Abakaliki said: “on the issue of power, hospital, mining, agriculture, industry we are very much interested.”
He specifically told the officials of the Chinese company led by the Director-General, Yu Tao: “we will like if we can get like 5MW to 10MW solar plant to light up the streets in our towns. This is very important to us because we need to extend business hours and check crimes in the state.”
Governor Umahi, who described Chinese investors as very reliable and dependable, thanked the United Nations Industrial Development Organization for being another strong development partner that has been assisting the state in various sectors like Rice mills, ICT and provision of medical solar lamps. He said that the Chinese are very prudent in management, even as he assured all intending investors of safety and conducive environment.
“We find it very fascinating working with the Chinese because they are very serious-minded people. They are not extravagant. When I gave some bridges to some Chinese to build for us, they brought certain kinds of equipment. So people started texting me, asking ‘are these not multinational companies? Why is it that their equipment is not reflecting this?’
“I said to them ’wait for them to start work and see what they will produce. And so when they started, people, including some in government, began to wonder that a company that can does quality jobs like Julius Berger is in Ebonyi State.”
Governor Umahi,who had earlier noted the giant strides of his administration particularly in the provision of electricity and street lights across the state, described Ebonyians as very honest and hardworking people.
He however told the team which was led to the meeting by the UNIDO Country Representative, Dr. Chuma Ezedinma and the Managing Director of Urban Tech Engineering Ltd, Kingsley Agha, that they needed to quickly tidy up all arrangements to enable them start work on the power, agriculture, mining, manufacturing and health sectors.
“Let me mark it that the only bad behaviour we have is that we are very much in a hurry. We have no patience at all when it comes to development. We dont want projects that will be on the table for six months before takeoff; we want to start moving as quickly as possible.”
Earlier, Ezedinma who introduced the delegation, said he was pleased with Governor Umahi’s efforts to develop the state. He mentioned the 5MW Rice Husk Power plant as one area the governor had consistently been on his neck to get started. [myad]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised alarm that some fraudsters have taken over its operations by using the name of its Acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu to extort money from suspects that are under investigation.
A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said that the commission has not and will never mandate any individual to demand gratification from persons under investigation.
The statement said: “It has come to the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that some unscrupulous individuals now parade the streets posing as representatives of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, and extorting money from persons under investigation, promising them a soft-landing and, in some instances, giving them assurances that their cases would be closed.
“Intelligence available to the commission indicate that some of them who are known to have relationships with the acting chairman are exploiting this knowledge to position themselves as agents of the anti-graft czar, to extort desperate suspects under investigation by the commission.”
The EFCC said that it stood by its earlier warning to Nigerians to beware of some fraudulent individuals who were using Magu’s name illegally to solicit funds.
It asked anyone who approaches them for gratification to either report to the nearest office of the EFCC or police station.
“In the recent past, the commission notified the public of the activities of some individuals who cloned the phone number of Magu, using same to illegally solicit funds. Some even opened fake Facebook accounts in the name of the EFCC boss and proceeded to use same to con unsuspecting citizens.
“But despite the alarms, it would seem that criminal minds are not deterred as their number seemed to have swelled.
“The commission, for the umpteenth time, wishes to warn members of the public not to fall for the wiles of fraudsters and scammers exploiting the good name of the acting EFCC Chairman to defraud desperate citizens.
“Mr. Magu has not and will never mandate any individual to demand gratification from persons under investigation.
“Members of the public are advised to report anyone who approaches them with a request for gratification on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, to the nearest EFCC office or police station.” [myad]
The immediate past governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam has described his successor, Samuel Ortom of lacking in wisdom as he has made it a cardinal duty to always blame him for everything that is happening in the state.
Suswam, in a long statement described Ortom’s mindset and approach as lacking in veracity and wisdom, considering that the people of the state are neither blind nor are they deaf that they cannot see and hear well enough to know if the governor is telling the truth in his endless accusations or merely trying to create a smoke-screen to divert the attention of the people from his own activities and performance so far in office. “Is it really true that as Governor of Benue State, I, Gabriel Suswam, did arm youths in the state with dangerous weapons and encouraged them to perpetrate violence and commit crimes, as Ortom is accusing me? It is on record that I am not a violent person and I abhor violence in whatever guise, which Ortom knows.”
Full text of the statement, titled: “Benue State is today in a better shape than I met it,” goes thus:
My attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and published in some national dailies, where he alleged that I had “equipped” the youths in the state with arms to perpetrate violence during my tenure in office as governor of the state. The statement quotes Governor Ortom as alleging that his administration has recovered over 600 assorted weapons, which I had given to the youths from over 800 of them, who surrendered during the Amnesty Programme, and that I and my cohorts believed in violence and could take everything by force.
I like to state here clearly that nothing could be further from the truth than these unfortunate remarks from Ortom, which clearly bear the stamp of his well-known trade mark of leveling all manner of allegations against me, since his assumption of office, no matter how bizarre, absurd and preposterous such allegations might be. But, by now, I am aware it has become obvious to the people of Benue State and even beyond that throwing accusations at me has not only become a favourite pastime of Governor Ortom, it is also a cardinal lynch-pin of his administration’s policy drive.
However, this mindset and approach of my successor, Governor Ortom, is lacking in veracity and wisdom, considering that the people of the state are neither blind nor are they deaf that they cannot see and hear well enough to know if the governor is telling the truth in his endless accusations against me, or merely trying to create a smoke-screen to divert the attention of the people from his own activities and performance so far in office. Is it really true that as Governor of Benue State, I, Gabriel Suswam, did arm youths in the state with dangerous weapons and encouraged them to perpetrate violence and commit crimes, as Ortom is accusing me? It is on record that I am not a violent person and I abhor violence in whatever guise, which Ortom knows.
A retrospective look at my political trajectory is very clear that no violent activity was perpetrated or could be traced to me unlike the records of my accusers and traducers as their kinsmen can attest to. Were security a sector one could score hundred per cent I would have scored that as governor, but that is a record that is globally being sought for. On assumption of office as governor in 2007, I had moved decisively to turn around the state of insecurity, which pervaded the state as a fallout from politically motivated violence, which wreaked havoc on some parts of the state, particularly in Kwande, Tarka and Gwer-East Local Government areas, resulting from failed local council elections in those areas, where an indeterminate number of persons were killed and many others maimed for life.
In co-operation with the Nigeria Police and the Army, rapid response security units were set up in the state, such as ‘Operation Zenda’ and the ‘Red Scarf’ which my administration funded properly with the attendant result that throughout the eight years of my reign as governor, Benue State enjoyed the status of the most peaceful and secured state within the much troubled North-Central region of the country, a ‘peace and safety haven’ which witnessed rapid influx of people fleeing violence and unrest from other states in the country.
I also initiated the setting up of cross-border security outfits with neighboring states to curb the menace of inter-state criminal elements, particularly Nasarawa State, which though was under the rule of a governor from a different political party (CPC), co-operated with me to achieve results, which till date, no security operation in any part of the country has equaled the positive results from that exercise.
Regrettably, now that both Nasarawa and Benue States are in one political party – the ruling APC – such co-operation is not there. I will not be surprised if today, Ortom blames me for the present lack of co-operation and attendant poor result. I can, today, proudly flaunt as one of the achievements of my tenure in office the fact that Makurdi during that period earned the distinction of becoming the second fastest growing city in the whole of the West African sub-region of the African continent, but before my tenure, Makurdi was never on any global radar for positive reasons.
It should also be noted that when Fulani herdsmen and their militia descended on parts of the state visiting death and destruction on whole villages and communities, with a carefully thought out framework and strategy, my administration was able to curb the menace and the peace and security status of the state and its socio-economic stability and equilibrium were not adversely affected.
Such a feat was possible through a wide-embracing process of consultations and integration of stakeholders of the Benue project, most of whom were top-rated security experts and technocrats, under a number of technical committees, such as the Gen. (Rtd) John Atom Kpera-led committee, and also the involvement of a Civilian Task Force drawn from the locals that seamlessly complemented the efforts of security agencies, and together, we were able to harness effectively internal peace and security architecture.
I like to reiterate here that the issue of the peace and security of any state is too weighty and sensitive a matter to be thrown to the pedestrian walkway of petty politics, where the major considerations are rather dangerously trivial and only capable of undermining the deeper foundations of the prosperity and wellbeing of that state. For Governor Ortom to seek to extend his endless and rather shallow blame game against me to the issues of security in the state, which flies in the face of reason and truth is an unfortunate and sad reflection of his lack of appreciation of the weight and responsibilities of the office of governor, and this is further suggestive of a basic lack of capacity on his part for such high office.
To buttress his apparent lack of preparedness for the task of being governor, Ortom even had no idea of the basic procedure for structuring his so-called Amnesty Programme, which he so loves to flaunt now, and it took the urgings of elder statesman, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, for the governor to realise that he needed to put in place an Amnesty Committee, and this was well after the programme was purported to have gotten underway. What this strongly suggests is a lack of consultation and wide enough involvement of Benue sons and daughters, who are knowledgeable in such matters and who could bring their weight of expertise and experience to bear on such a programme for the peace, security and overall good of the state.
Unfortunately, but predictably, Ortom’s Amnesty Programme today is the sham and failure that it is, with top officials of his administration being accused of involvement in crimes under the guise of the purported programme. For the very first time in the history of this state, a governor’s top security Aide has been assassinated and the accused culprits are members of the governor’s kitchen cabinet, yet he is apparently incapable of reining in his appointees.
The implication here is that Governor Ortom, as the supposed Chief Security Officer of the state, is not in control of the security apparatus of the state, and does not, therefore, have the authority over certain individuals and vested interests, and this reflects a bigger security menace than could be imagined in a modern society which is presumed to be operating on the principles of rule of law and order. Is it Gabriel Suswam, who is responsible for all of these? The answer is obvious to all.
As governor, I did my best possible within the limits of resources available to me to ensure the security of the lives and property of citizens of Benue State, and to guarantee for them, an atmosphere of peace within which to pursue their endeavours. I did not arm any individual or groups with weapons of any sort neither did I encourage violence or criminality in any form, both in my private and official capacity. There is no record or proof anywhere to buttress these allegations of Governor Ortom that I did arm criminals with dangerous weapons. My regret now is that the honour, respect and clout my administration restored on the Benue man has been thrown to the gutters.
This is clearly yet another of the governor’s wild and baseless accusations against me, and the intention is yet all the more glaring, that he is desperately in need of something to divert the attention of the world away from non-performance and the serial scandals rocking his administration, from assassinations within his kitchen cabinet to, according to ICPC, embezzlement of workers’ salaries and loans, to lately, indictment of his regime by anti-corruption agencies, and the arrest and detention of government functionaries and his cohorts by the EFCC on charges of fraud. Governor Ortom is evidently having the worst of times as the leader of a failing administration, one which is being daily exposed in the eyes of the world for its fraudulent character. He is, therefore, a desperate drowning man clutching at straws in the form of those unfounded allegations against me.
But I urge the governor to pull himself together and go back to basics. Being governor entails much more than just riding about in motorcades blowing sirens. It demands clear-headedness and an open mind targeted more towards the larger goal of the pursuit of the good of the majority of the people. No governor can succeed in office by being a mere stooge and a willing pawn in the hand of some god-father, who has no ambition in life other than to lord it over fickle-minded people and imagine himself a mini-god.
I left Benue State in a much better state of peace and security than I met it, and it is my advice to Governor Ortom to strive with all the resources at his disposal to improve on my legacy. This is the only way government will always derive its legitimacy – to improve on the existing standards at any given point in time, and by so doing ensure the continual progress and development of society. On a last note, performance is needed to endear you to the people; blame-game can only buy you time. Once more, Ortom, roll up your sleeves and go to work. [myad]
Former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki has accused un-named top level leaders in government of revenging against him for the perceived past grievances.
Dasuki, through his lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu, (SAN), told a Federal High court in Abuja that he is being punished by some persons at the highest level of power in the country for perceived grievances held against him while in active military service many years ago.
Dasuki said that the punishment being meted out to him was unfortunate having been borne out of mere vendetta, adding that he has rested his case in God for the ultimate judgment.
“It is crystal clear that the defendant (Dasuki) is being punished by the powers that be for the perceived offences committed long before. We leave them to the Almighty God for his ultimate judgment.”
Dasuki had been arraigned before three different high courts for various allegations and was granted bail but was rearrested in December last year by the Federal Government and has since been held incommunicado.
At the resumed trial on Thursday, the Federal Government had approached the court, seeking secret trial of Dasuki who is facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms, money laundering and breach of trust. [myad]
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that by the time he leaves office after his service, Abuja will be better. He acknowledged though that Abuja is a difficult city to develop because of so many contending interests and forces, but that such would not make him to loose focus. The minister spoke on Thursday evening when he hosted the media team working in the FCT and media executives of various media organizations to the breaking of Ramadan fasting at his Life Camp residence, Abuja. Muhammad Bello acknowledged the support which media men and women have given him in the efforts to develop Abuja to international standards, even as he appealed to them not to relent. He particularly appreciated some media executives who have been there for him since 2006 when he started his public sector service, adding that whatever he becomes, he would not forget them. The minister called on all the stakeholders to intensify effort together on the task of transforming the city. Some of those who attended the breaking of Ramadan fast with the minister are the Deputy Editor in Chief of Daily Trust, Mahmud Jega; Chief Operating Officer of Peoples Daily, Ali M. Ali; Editor-In-Chief/CEO of the Greenbarge Reporters, Yusuf Ozi-Usman; executives of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Radio France (Hausa Service), Voice Of America (VOA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) among others. [myad]
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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has made it clear that President Muhammadu Buhari he had come to know, is the one that would not cut deals as he presides over the affairs of the nation.
