At least 13 college students on a beach picnic have been reportedly drowned in the Arabian Sea off the coast of western India, police said today. The bodies of 10 girls and three boys were found at Murud beach in Raigad district, some150 kilometres south of Mumbai. “They had gone for a swim but were pulled to the sea by strong currents, the victims are all aged between 17 and 20 years,” Area Police Chief Rajendra Dandale, told newsmen. Dandale said the deceased were part of a group of 126 students from a college in the nearby city of Pune who had come for a picnic at the popular tourist spot. He said that six students, who were rescued from the sea, were receiving treatment at a local hospital, while the remaining students were safe and had been taken away from the beach. [myad]
It was like a dissenting voice against the All Progressive Congress and its campaign of change on the floor of the Senate in the National Assembly on Thursday, January 28. It came as a shock, a rude awakening if you like, not because of the message but the bearer of the message.
A voice so at odds with the ‘change’ mantra that we have come to associate with President Muhhamadu Buhari and the APC has been described in some political circles as rebellious.
But the message was loud, clear and simple. Things are not going according to script in the inner caucus and someone has finally decided to tell Nigerians what we, in fact, know and suspect, given how a certain Lion of Bourdillion has been relegated to the backwaters of the affairs of state by his political benefactor. And Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the Jagaban, the APC’s national leader, has given us a sneaker preview. What were her observations? She went vocal on no other subjects than those tied to the 2016 budget. That was the budget that never went missing but got its details revised in the dark of night and switched with an earlier document filled with some of the most outrageous proposals. Ones that proffer anything but change from a government that has made change its cardinal message. The same appropriation bill that was leisurely prepared, never recalled after its submission to the National Assembly but being tidied by the administration as revealed by the Minister of Budget Udo Udoma to the National Economic Council last Thursday.
Senator Tinubu veered into that controversial issue that no one else would want to be caught in between. And my God, she did deliver the message very well. Unfortunately for the senator too, Information Minister Lai Mohammed, who served under her husband and has been under his political tutelage, on the same day, was invoking curses on anyone, and everyone, that criticizes the social, political and economic stance of President Buhari’s administration.
At the communion of Lai Mohammed with heads of media houses in Abuja, he told them that pseudo analysts like Senator Tinubu and some hack writers were on the prowl, informing them that the ilk of the senator who disagree, criticize or condemn some of the current administration’s policies have been paid to disfigure the perfectly captured appropriation bill, a first of its kind for the Nigerian masses and to undermine the ongoing farce that its calls anti-corruption war against those accused of pilfering our commonwealth. But I can relate with Senator Tinubu. She was venting out the frustrations that comes with being dumped, especially having helped Buhari to win the presidency that has eluded him for so long. She may not be acting or playing the script of anybody but those of the real change agents and of how transitions should look like. How the socio-politico economic metamorphosis should really be, real change.
As President Buhari’s administration progresses, there is need to accommodate and endear the spirit of listening, especially to all discerning voices for or against various steps of government programs to form balances. The dissenting, the critical and those in the king’s pantaloon of old and today’s noise makers.
The same treatment should also play out in the case of the individuals who are non partisan or partisan. They don’t need to be knocked off the bridges of life because of their position for or against the government of the day at any given time. It is unpopular to accuse, intimidate and threaten those who hold opposing views against a government by a supposedly information manager. The pronouncement and actions of such people hired by the government are held as laws by law enforcement agents to detain all opposition voices with impunity and unlawfully because they dare to speak their minds as a result of their observations. Day in day out political aides paint terrible pictures about leaders, rewriting their interests and concerns towards the growth of the nation as against their personal interests that is geared towards self aggrandizement through self services. President Goodluck Jonathan was often mocked as clueless and was described recently as an “ineffectual buffoon” by the Economist magazine. And that’s due to 99 percent of the time to the actions and inactions of his aides while in office.
Months after the presidential election was won and lost and a new government installed, the name calling has continued with people still turned against themselves on the created divides. Those who seem to study and understand the body language of the president like members of the now ‘directorate of shoe shiners’ make life unbearable for perceived enemies of the government. This is not supposed to be.
Democracy allows the practice of human rights, upholding the principles of rule of law and not holding people captive or denying them certain privileges because they speak their minds or informally advice the government against any of its policies that may be unpopular to the people. If the president had held staff of the department of states services in contempt over their role during the build up to last year’s presidential elections, such attitude on which he held them in disrepute should not be accommodated while he is in the saddle of leadership. That is what governance is all about. It’s about assessments, stocktaking, accommodation, equity and not intimidation, partiality, eye service, shoe shining and other diminutive role of name calling being carried out by those with bigger assignments of strategizing and drawing up policies with about 40 billion naira in their control and their collaborators who cannot stop harassing writers and analysts on the pretense that the regime has relapsed into a draconian rule. Twitter: @MOkpogode. [myad]
The Lagos State Government, through the State Pension Board, has paid N649 million to another batch of 119 retirees from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the State Government.
Speaking at the 23rd Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation which took place recently, the Director-General (LASPEB), Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, said the presentation brings the number of retirees paid between August 2015 to January 2016 to 2,409 while total accrued pension rights paid by the State Government during the same period is N10.652 billion.
She explained that accrued pension rights are gratuity and pension entitlements due to staff that transited to the contributory pension scheme but had served under the “Pay As You Go” Pension scheme dispensation.
While reminding the beneficiaries to take good care of their health and invest the money wisely, Onanuga advised them to be wary of fraudsters and not accept any business proposal they don’t understand.
“If you cannot think of any business at the moment, keep your money in fixed deposit accounts with banks,” she said.
Responding, a representative of the retirees thanked the Management and staff of the Pension Board Office for the warm reception they always accorded them each time they visit the Office and prayed for the success of the present administration of Akinwunmi Ambode.
Meanwhile, the state ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has expressed its readiness to partner investors for the establishment of leisure and tourism facilities in all parts of the State.
The State Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, who made the declaration at the official commissioning of the redeveloped Apapa Amusement Park at the weekend, urged investors to take advantage of investment friendly environment provided by the current administration and invest in the state.
He described the new park as another significant step by the present administration to use Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sports (THES) as a tool to stimulate the economy of the State.
The Commissioner said that the park used to be the number one leisure spot for family entertainment, recreation and relaxation in Lagos, but suffered depreciation and as such the value derived from visiting the park diminished.
However, he said the State Government in conjunction with other stakeholders and a new concessionaire took interest and resuscitated the park, noting that the park now offers Lagosians an opportunity for the regeneration of family values and bonding as the facilities provided would go a long way to stimulate the mind through recreation and entertainment.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, said the park “provides picture-perfect moments and memories to last a time and serve as ideal place for family fun, which means that parents have extra time to spend with their children”.
She also commended the vision of the State and Local Governments as well as Messrs Cube Nig. Ltd for the re-investment in the park and for recreating a place of fun for the children.
The event was attended by many dignitaries including Mrs. Olufunmilayo Balogun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Hon. Ayodeji Joseph, member, House of Representatives; Hon. Babalola Mogaji, Secretary, Apapa Local Government; the Lisa and Ekerin of Ojora Kingdom, Chief Ojora Adejiyan and Brig. General (Rtd) Ayo Vaughan, Chairman, Apapa GRA residents Association, among others.
This was even as the state government has approved the appointment of Mr. Dehinde Tunwashe as the new General Manager of Lagos State Mortgage Board, custodian of Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos H.O.M.S).
Until his appointment, Tunwashe was the Executive Director in charge of Operations at Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) where he served for nine years rising from the post of Principal Manager.
He holds a degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance. He is also an Associate of both Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM).
Tunwashe has more than two decades of post graduate experience in the Banking Industry having worked at First Bank Plc before moving to United Bank for Africa Plc.
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to jet out to France and Britain tomorrow in his campaign for global action against terrorism.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu today said that the President would make a first stop in Strasbourg, France, where he would address a special session of the European Union Parliament on Wednesday. The special session is expected to be attended by members of the executive and legislative arms of the Union.
“The President’s address is expected to focus on terrorism, violent extremism, corruption, Nigeria and Africa’s current security, economic and developmental challenges, as well as the need for greater support from the European Union and advanced nations for their rapid resolution.
“President Buhari will also hold talks with the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Martin Schulz and the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker on the same issues before leaving Strasbourg for London to join other world leaders at the Supporting Syria and The Region Conference scheduled to open in the British capital on Thursday, February 4, 2016.”
The statement said that Buhari will use the opportunity of his participation in the conference which is being co-hosted by Britain, Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations to continue his push for more global understanding, collaboration and support for Nigeria and other countries in the frontlines of the war against terrorism who are striving to overcome its very adverse effects on affected populations.
The President is due back in Nigeria at the weekend. [myad]
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary in Ekiti State, Dr. Tope Aluko has shed more lights on how 400 ‘unrecognized’ soldiers were brough from Enugu to Ekiti election on June 21, 2014 to ensure emergence of Governor Ayo Fayose in the gubernatorial election.
Aluko, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, also revealed how the PDP rigged the governorship election, saying: “we went into the election with 1,040 recognized soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognized soldiers brought from Enugu by Senator Andy Uba.
“In addition, we raised 44 special strike teams brought in Toyota Hilux buses from Abuja and Onitsha. We made special stickers for the vehicles that conveyed members of the strike team and we gave each of them a black hand-band for identification.
“Each strike team was made up of 10 members headed by a soldier and comprising soldiers, policemen, DSS operatives and Civil Defence corps.
“They were detailed to attack and arrest prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments.
“We set up anchorage, mainly in residential houses, in every local government where the strike team members collected their welfare and other allowances.
“To encourage the strike team members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay their hands on in the houses of the APC chieftains they raided.
“Then we set up detention camps, mainly in primary schools where most of the APC chieftains were detained.
“Others were detained in police stations where the DPOs were friendly with us. We let them off after the election was over.
“A day to the election, we used the military to block all routes in the local governments and prevented the APC chieftains, including former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, from coming into Ekiti.
“So, we ensured that no APC chieftain was in sight on Election Day.
“We provided polling agents for the APC in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election results in the units.
“All these local and foreign observers that described the election as free and fair only witnessed the voting exercise on election day without knowing what transpired before the voting.”
Aluko, who was the Chief Returning Officer that signed the results of the election, said he was fully involved in the plot with Fayose from the very beginning. [myad]
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has described former Ekiti State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Temitope K. Aluko as a political parasite whose allegation against him would not need his response.
In a statement today by the governor’s special adviser on public communications and new media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “therefore, we won’t bother ourselves, responding to what a political parasite chooses to say because he wouldn’t have said what he is now saying today if he had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and it is sure that if he called today, and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song. He said that Aluko is already beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against him because of his refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he (Aluko) was not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury.
“For Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first have to report himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the Election Tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose. “If after giving evidence under oath at the tribunal that the Election was free, fair and credible and that security agents, including soldiers performed their duties creditably well, saying something else more than one year after is an admittance by Aluko himself that he is not a stable character. “It is also a demonstration of the fact that giving the right offer tomorrow, the same Aluko can also address the press tomorrow to deny all what he said today. He can even deny his own existence since he can deny what he said under oath just because he was not made Chief of Staff. “Also, the APC bad losers in Ekiti State should know that it will take more than recruiting and paying a disgruntled TKO Aluko to discredit an election adjudged by both local and international observers, including the United States government as free, fair and credible. They will probably need to pay INEC to tell Nigerians that an election it conducted, in which an incumbent governor lost in his own local government was not credible. “As per his claim that $37 million was given to the governor for the election, the governor got financial support from various sources as it is usual of anyone contesting election and it is not for to begin to advertise in the media the level of support the governor received from individuals, corporate organizations or groups. “However, if money belonging to the APC is missing and they suspect that the money was stolen by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to fund Ekiti State governorship election, they can approach the EFCC.”
Dr. Aluko had alleged that a former minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, brought $35 million out of the money in cash to Fayose in Ado-Ekiti, even as he claimed the remaining $2 million was collected from the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Abuja. [myad]
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has said that steps have been taken to make sure that the 2016 budget work positively for the development of the country in spite of falling oil price in global market. In a statement today by the Director of Information in the ministry, Charles Dafe, in Abujan the minister said that the ongoing reform targeted at diversifying the revenue base of the country would guarantee the achievement of the budget. The minister who spoke when a delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) visited him said: “Our budget is achievable. We have ongoing reforms targeted at diversifying our revenue base away from single oil commodity economy. Our Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, is assiduously applying innovative financing in the oil sector to address any likely revenue gap from our projected oil revenue. “Plugging leakages through zero tolerance to corruption, application of sound public financial management and improved revenue collection system are reforms targeted to achieve the budget.” Udoma said that the ministry would proactively plan, advice and monitor all matters relating to national development, adding that it would also ensure that vital development policies were properly implemented by all stakeholders. It explained that 30 per cent of the budget allocated to capital projects was critical for the stimulation of economic development. That is even as the minister of state for Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, said that naira depreciation, falling oil prices and infrastructure decay were challenges facing the country. “Substantial monies from recoveries of looted funds were not factored in as sources of revenue and as such would also be utilized for our development projects. “We are counting on assistance from other developmental partners like the African Development Bank to access N1.8 trillion loans needed for Nigeria infrastructural development. “Assistance is also required in our 2016-2020 medium Term Expenditure Frameworks and the Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal.” The statement said that the AfDB delegation commended the 2016 budget, describing it as “good and ambitious.” According to the statement, the Country Director of AfDB, Ousmane Dore, said the bank would assist Nigeria to achieve its efforts in poverty reduction. “Nigeria is having an impressive and a better economic direction that would attract foreign investors,” Dore was quoted as saying. [myad]
Secretary of the Ekiti state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Temitope Aluko has revealed how former President Goodluck Jonathan financed the campaign of Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose and perfected the act of rigging him into office. At a news briefing today in Abuja, the Ekiti PDP scribe gave an insider account of how the military was used to rig the 2014 Ekiti State governor election that Ayo Fayose won under PDP. Aluko, who was the Chief Returning Officer that signed the results for the election, also disclosed how former President Jonathan gave Fayose $37 million cash to prosecute the governorship election. The embattled Secretary of the state PDP stressed that he was forced to come forward with the revelations because Fayose betrayed him and derailed from the original plan they had for the development of the state. Aluko had also testified in camera before the military panel that investigated the role of the military in the Ekiti election. According to Aluko, who said he was part of Fayose’s inner cycle during the election, alleged that Jonathan initially gave the incumbent Ekiti governor a first tranche of $2 million in March 2014 for the primary election. He noted that this cash was collected at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja and was taken to Fayose’s private house, in Abuja before it was moved to Ekiti. “Immediately after the primary election, we collected. another $35 million from Jonathan on June 17, 2014. The money was brought to us by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. “We all assembled at the front office of Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, owned by Fayose. Thereafter, the cash was taken to a Bureau De Change in Onitsha where it was converted to N4.7 billion,” Aluko added. Aluko further alleged that Fayose received about N3 billion cash from Sen. Buruji Kashamu in 2013 for revive the PDP in Ekiti State. The Ekiti PDP scribe also gave account on how the military was used to win the election. Aluko said “the former President agreed with Fayose and summoned a security meeting at the Presidential Villa for the purpose of the election. “Those at the meeting were the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; then Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimmah; and former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu. “Others included Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, then Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan and Obanikoro. “At that meeting, the former President made it clear to the ex Chief of Defence Staff that Fayose would stand for him (as Commander-In-Chief) in terms of providing security for the election.” Aluko alleged that Fayose, relying on Jonathan’s directive, approached the former Commander of the Army Brigade in Akure, Brig. Gen. Dikko to take charge of the election for the PDP, who refused to cooperate and was replaced after a petition was filed against him. “But General Dikko did not give us audience. He stated bluntly that he would not be available for such operation. So Fayose sponsored a petition against him which led to his replacement with Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh who was amenable to our plans.” Aluko alleged that a total of 64 PDP stalwarts who had knowledge of their local governors were picked to help with information on opposition members. “They gave detailed information regarding names and locations of opposition members in all the local governments, the various routes, areas of strength and weaknesses of the PDP in the 16 local governments. “Today, most of these 64 hatchet men are members of the Senate, House of Representatives, state House of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, special advisers and the rest. “We went into the election with 1,040 recognised soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognised soldiers brought from Enugu by Sen. Andy Uba. “In addition, we raised 44 special strike teams brought in Toyota Hilux buses from Abuja and Onistah. We made special stickers for the vehicles that conveyed members of the strike team and black hand bands for each of them. “Each strike team was made up of 10 members headed by a soldier and comprising soldiers, policemen, DSS operatives and Civil Defence corps. They were detailed to attack and arrest prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments. “We set up anchorage, mainly residential houses, in every local government where the strike team members collected their welfare and other allowances. “To encourage the strike team members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay their hands on in the houses of APC chieftains they raided. “Then we set up detention camps, mainly in primary schools where most of the APC chieftains were detained. Others were detained in police stations where the DPOs were friendly with us. We let them off after the election was over. “A day to the election, we used the military to block all routes in the local governments and prevented APC chieftains, including former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi from coming into Ekiti. “So we ensured that no APC chieftain was insight on election. We provided polling agents for the APC in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election results in the units. “All these local and foreign observers that described the election free and fair only witnessed the voting exercise on election day without knowing what transpired before the voting”. Aluko said that before the election, Fayose, Femi Bamishile and him jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula after they must have won the election. “We agreed that Fayose would be governor, Bamishile his deputy and I Chief of Staff. “But the moment he got into office, Fayose reneged on the agreement and left me in the lurch. More worrisome is the fact that Fayose has derailed from the original Ekiti project we envisaged.” [myad]
The Osun state government has identified about 60 million active cocoa trees to produce ‘Cocoa-Omoluabi.’ The state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola announced this when he had a meeting with Cocoa Produce Merchants in the state at the Government House Banquet Hall in Osogbo today. He explained that for the state to start on a good footing at producing ‘Cocoa Omoluabi,’ the state has enumerated and identified 60 million active cocoa trees in the state. He said that with new cocoa development initiatives in the state, there will be a new cash inflow to make the economy of the state prosperous. According to the governor, the state has also signed a Memorandum of under standing with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the development of agriculture and production of massive food production as alternative to oil. The agreement, according to Aregbesola, involved releasing of 204.39 hectares of land in Ago Owu Farm Settlement to IITA for the purposes of conducting research and setting up demonstration farms for best farming practices. IITA will also carry out cassava, plantain and other crops multiplication, including Cocoa and to train the youths in the state in modern, commercial and profitable farming. Governor Aregbesola said that a commodity board will be established and will be supervised directly by the office of the governor to ensure that Osun ranks among the best cocoa producers in Nigeria within the next two years. He told the produce merchants that the economic situation of the state has been badly affected with the pillaging of the national treasury by the previous administration. Aregbesola said that the situation with the drop in oil prices and the sharp reduction in the Federation Accounts from N1.2 trillion in 2012 to N369 billion in November allocations shared in December 2015 has reduced the running of government to little or nothing, hence the need to look inward for increased Internally Generated Revenue. The governor said that the state government will henceforth criminalise any action of farmers and merchants that runs foul of government laws on cocoa. He pointed out that government will soon be registering all farmers in the state for easy implementation of government policies on agriculture to give adequate room for monitoring and giving the necessary support for farmers. “To show the people of the state that we are ready to face agricultural business squarely in Osun, I am establishing a commodity board that will be supervised directly from the office of the governor. “Our bags of cocoa in Osun will be branded with this; government will be able to ensure that the quality of cocoa coming out of the state meets international quality. When there was free money coming from oil, no government was looking at what cocoa could bring to the economy. We are back to the days where cocoa will be the main stay of our economy in Osun.” The governor hinted about Produce tribunals that will be set up across the state and that special colour will be given to vehicles that will be transporting cocoa within the state. Aregbesola said that the State Executive Council meetings will be held in rural areas where cocoa farming is thriving in the state for about six months to one year after the formation of his cabinet. Earlier, the Chairman of All farmers Association of Osun state, Chief Raheem Adeniji said that the association is ready to partner and cooperate with government to revamp the cocoa farming in the state. He lamented the poor economic state the country has found it in, with the neglect of cocoa. Adeniji commended the government for introducing E-payment. [myad]
The Queen mother in the Idumuje-Ugboko Community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, Okwukwe Nwoko has accused the crown prince and his loyalists of sending her out of the palace over alleged adultery just so that he would achieve his desire of succeeding the 90-year old monarch. This is even as she is already to take legal action to reclaim her position in the palace. The monarch, Obi Agbogidi Nwoko III, reportedly married four wives but divorced two while one is dead, leaving Okwukwe as the only recognized wife staying with him before the development. Okwukwe, 37, in an interview with newsmen said that she was unjustly accused of infidelity and sent out of the palace with seven-month-old pregnancy belonging to the monarch. She said that trouble started after a failed plan to reconcile one of the Obi’s former wives with the palace and some persons vowed that no wife of the Obi would remain in the palace since the move failed. The queen mother claimed that when she was accused of infidelity, she agreed to a DNA test or be allowed to take the traditional oath to prove her innocence. She said that her accusers, working on speculations, refused and drove her out despite the unproven case of infidelity. Okwukwe claimed that while the matter was being addressed, she was stopped from entering the palace. According to her, she lived peacefully with the monarch before the incident, saying that the pregnancy she was accused of getting through infidelity produced a baby who is now about three years old. She also said the baby had neither been seen nor touched by her father since her birth. Okwukwe appealed to the Obi-in-Council, opinion leaders and the royal family to intervene in the matter, adding that she “wants to go back to the palace and take care” of her husband. When contacted, the Iyase of Idumuje-Ugboko, Chief Chris Ogwu, said the Obi-in-Council had yet to address the issue.
He said that the traditional ruler was not happy with the expulsion of his wife from the palace. A member of the royal family, who identified himself as Prince Obi Nwoko, alleged that Okwukwe committed infidelity and sent out of the palace by the royal family according to tradition. The Punch. [myad]
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At least 13 college students on a beach picnic have been reportedly drowned in the Arabian Sea off the coast of western India, police said today.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu Showcasing Crack In APC, By Moses Okpogode
A voice so at odds with the ‘change’ mantra that we have come to associate with President Muhhamadu Buhari and the APC has been described in some political circles as rebellious.
But the message was loud, clear and simple. Things are not going according to script in the inner caucus and someone has finally decided to tell Nigerians what we, in fact, know and suspect, given how a certain Lion of Bourdillion has been relegated to the backwaters of the affairs of state by his political benefactor. And Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the Jagaban, the APC’s national leader, has given us a sneaker preview.
What were her observations? She went vocal on no other subjects than those tied to the 2016 budget. That was the budget that never went missing but got its details revised in the dark of night and switched with an earlier document filled with some of the most outrageous proposals. Ones that proffer anything but change from a government that has made change its cardinal message. The same appropriation bill that was leisurely prepared, never recalled after its submission to the National Assembly but being tidied by the administration as revealed by the Minister of Budget Udo Udoma to the National Economic Council last Thursday.
Senator Tinubu veered into that controversial issue that no one else would want to be caught in between. And my God, she did deliver the message very well.
Unfortunately for the senator too, Information Minister Lai Mohammed, who served under her husband and has been under his political tutelage, on the same day, was invoking curses on anyone, and everyone, that criticizes the social, political and economic stance of President Buhari’s administration.
At the communion of Lai Mohammed with heads of media houses in Abuja, he told them that pseudo analysts like Senator Tinubu and some hack writers were on the prowl, informing them that the ilk of the senator who disagree, criticize or condemn some of the current administration’s policies have been paid to disfigure the perfectly captured appropriation bill, a first of its kind for the Nigerian masses and to undermine the ongoing farce that its calls anti-corruption war against those accused of pilfering our commonwealth.
But I can relate with Senator Tinubu. She was venting out the frustrations that comes with being dumped, especially having helped Buhari to win the presidency that has eluded him for so long. She may not be acting or playing the script of anybody but those of the real change agents and of how transitions should look like. How the socio-politico economic metamorphosis should really be, real change.
As President Buhari’s administration progresses, there is need to accommodate and endear the spirit of listening, especially to all discerning voices for or against various steps of government programs to form balances. The dissenting, the critical and those in the king’s pantaloon of old and today’s noise makers.
The same treatment should also play out in the case of the individuals who are non partisan or partisan. They don’t need to be knocked off the bridges of life because of their position for or against the government of the day at any given time. It is unpopular to accuse, intimidate and threaten those who hold opposing views against a government by a supposedly information manager. The pronouncement and actions of such people hired by the government are held as laws by law enforcement agents to detain all opposition voices with impunity and unlawfully because they dare to speak their minds as a result of their observations.
Day in day out political aides paint terrible pictures about leaders, rewriting their interests and concerns towards the growth of the nation as against their personal interests that is geared towards self aggrandizement through self services. President Goodluck Jonathan was often mocked as clueless and was described recently as an “ineffectual buffoon” by the Economist magazine. And that’s due to 99 percent of the time to the actions and inactions of his aides while in office.
Months after the presidential election was won and lost and a new government installed, the name calling has continued with people still turned against themselves on the created divides. Those who seem to study and understand the body language of the president like members of the now ‘directorate of shoe shiners’ make life unbearable for perceived enemies of the government. This is not supposed to be.
Democracy allows the practice of human rights, upholding the principles of rule of law and not holding people captive or denying them certain privileges because they speak their minds or informally advice the government against any of its policies that may be unpopular to the people.
If the president had held staff of the department of states services in contempt over their role during the build up to last year’s presidential elections, such attitude on which he held them in disrepute should not be accommodated while he is in the saddle of leadership. That is what governance is all about. It’s about assessments, stocktaking, accommodation, equity and not intimidation, partiality, eye service, shoe shining and other diminutive role of name calling being carried out by those with bigger assignments of strategizing and drawing up policies with about 40 billion naira in their control and their collaborators who cannot stop harassing writers and analysts on the pretense that the regime has relapsed into a draconian rule.
Twitter: @MOkpogode. [myad]