The Nigeria’s Supreme Court has sacked two Senators from Anambra State, Stella Oduah and Andy Uba, nearly two months after a third Senator from the state, Uche Ekwunife, was sacked.
In a ruling today, the Court nullified the elections of both Senators representing their constituencies in the State.
Oduah was a former Aviation Minister, who resigned her position to pursue her political ambition while Uba was a former Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Domestic Affairs.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared them winners after the Senatorial election held last year.
All the Senators from Anambra State, including Mrs. Ekwunife, emerged on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
On December 7, the Court of Appeal in Enugu in nullified the election of Uche Ekwunife, as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District.
The court consequently ordered a fresh election within 90 days.
After the Appeal Court’s order, Mrs. Ekwunife defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with hopes of securing the ticket, after Senator Chris Ngige of the APC who was also vied for the position had been appointed Minister.
Anambra Central Senatorial district is regarded as one of the most keenly contested in the country, having a former Governor Chris Ngige, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh and of course Mrs Ekwunife. Channels. [myad]
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has commissioned the Abuja Inner Southern Expressway in the city’s Central Business District.
The Inner Southern Expressway commences where the Abuja-Keffi road terminates by Mogadishu Barracks in Asokoro District. The road traverses the City from Phases I to IV to connect the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) within the precincts of Kuje township.
Commissioning the road today, Muhammad Bello appealed to the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to consider the full expansion of the Abuja-Keffi road to 10 lanes capacity to tackle the traffic bottlenecks often experienced on that axis.
The minister who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, said that the expansion of the Abuja-Keffi road to 10 lanes with interchange bridges at critical junctions will guarantee hitch-free traffic flow in and out of Abuja city from the North-East axis of the country.
Muhammad Bello recalled that the FCT Administration has already expanded the Kubwa and Airport roads to serve those entering into the Federal Capital City from the northern and southern parts of the country respectively.
He reiterated that the FCT Administration decided to partially open the ISEX also known as the Goodluck Jonathan Expressway to reduce the traffic gridlocks around the city centre particularly at peak periods.
The Minister disclosed that 90 percent of the ISEX project has been completed, adding that it was in a bid to alleviate the traffic congestion being experienced within the city Centre at least by providing an alternative route to ease movement in the East-West Axis in the southern flank of the city.
Muhammad Bello said that hitherto to commencement of the ISEX project, commuters from Abuja-Keffi axis usually experienced chaotic traffic congestion and suffered untold hardship when plying that route, with the resultant effect of extensive man-hour losses.
He emphasized that the FCT Administration funded the substantial completion of the ISEX in line with policy of the present Administration to continue with all on-going projects that will impact positively on the lives of Abuja residents and Nigerians at large.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Adamu Ismaila who was represented at the occasion by the Director of Mass Housing, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin said road is designed as a 2×2-lane service carriageways and 2×3-lane main carriageways making a total of 10 lanes with four interchanges and four box culverts at various locations.
Engr. Ismaila said that the scope of the project includes underground and surface storm water drainage, power supply, a pedestrian bridge, street lighting and telecommunication ducts, among others. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has called for an intensification of intra-African trade and acceleration of the pace of economic integration across the continent.
Speaking at a banquet in Nairobi in his honour at the conclusion of his state visit to Kenya, President Buhari said that the expansion of trade relations between Nigeria and Kenya in recent years should be replicated by all other African countries to speed up the pace of economic development on the continent.
“We now have Nigerian industrialists establishing cement plants in Kenya while Nigerian telecommunications operators are learning and adopting the Kenyan mobile banking model as a tool for financial inclusion in rural Nigeria.
“We have Nigerian farmers coming to learn from successful Kenyan farms while at the same time, we have many up and coming Kenyan oil and gas businesses partnering with Nigerian oil companies.
“We have Nigerians drinking Kenyan coffee in their homes and offices, while we have many Kenyans listening to Nigerian music and watching Nollywood movies
“These developments point to a real integration on the continent beyond formal diplomatic relationships. Greater intra-Africa trade will ultimately result in the creation of millions of jobs within Africa for Africans.”
The President expressed the hope that Nigeria and Kenya will continue to build on the mutually-beneficial trade and economic relations between them.
He called for the rapid implementation of all bilateral agreements already signed by the two countries and the convening of their Joint Commission for Cooperation.
“As our two governments move ever closer, our business communities will also take full advantage of this momentum to increase trade and economic activities.
“I feel confident that by the end of this visit, new and solid bridges for movement of persons, goods and services would have been constructed,” President Buhari said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that both leaders agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation on trade, investment and the fight against corruption and terrorism. [myad]
A teenage boy today detonated a suicide vest at a crowded market in Gombi town in Adamawa State, killing as many as eight and injuring about 17 others.
The casualty figures are still unclear, but Adamawa state police spokesman Othman Abubakar said three people including the bomber were confirmed dead, while 17 others were injured.
An eye witness said that he saw at least eight dead bodies, after the blast which happened at about 1pm today.
Residents say they saw mutilated bodies as they ran in panic, with traders abandoning their stalls.
Gombi was recaptured from Boko Haram in 2014 and since then, the insurgents have made several failed attempts to retake the town from the Nigerian
Meanwhile facts have emerged that the bombers that attacked Chibok, north-east Nigeria on Wednesday were men wearing woman veils (hijabs), according to Nigerian military. The men were said to have strapped the explosives to their backs to look like babies.
At least 13 people were killed in the multiple explosions.
Chibok is the town where Boko Haram abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in 2014. [myad]
My criticisms of the excesses of the online phenomenon in terms of its brazen abuse in an unregulated environment has often made me the target of attacks, with many insisting on quoting the opening paragraph of a piece I once wrote along these lines as if it is a memorial verse, but further developments have shown that indeed, liberal, accommodative, useful and open as the growth of the new media may seem in Nigeria, we may well, if care is not taken, be dealing with a dangerous tool in the hands of the unscrupulous which could drive society towards the lunatic fringe.
The beauty of the new media is its democratic temper. With any electronic device, anyone at all, can set up a communications unit, using a phone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop, and simply occupy the social space and broadcast information which in a matter of minutes may go viral and condition public opinion. It grants the person involved absolute freedom, even anonymity, dangerous anonymity of self, space and location, but the worst part of it is the freedom from decency, responsibility and conscience. And so while so much good can be done by persons exchanging information, and as has turned out, creative jokes and skits which entertain and amuse, a lot of evil can be committed through resort to blackmail, abuse, and mischief.
This dangerous dimension is beginning to grow in different directions and the latest that I have seen is what seems to be the emergence of cartels, or perhaps cabals in the online industry, with various persons organizing themselves into groups, and if this were to be a sign of freedom of association exercised by like minds, it would be commendable. But rather what is emerging is bitter rivalry among the various groups, a fierce struggle for territory, unhealthy, cut-throat competition, and a desperation to out-do each other. The group warriors are not necessarily fighting for any great ideal, but ego, power, privilege and access to the corridors of power.
I happen to have suddenly become a victim in the midst of this turf-fighting, as my name this week was drawn into a cat fight between two groups: the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN). These are two of the emerging groups but there are others: Association of Online Bloggers, Association of Nigerian Online Publishers (ANOP), the Online Magazines Publishers Association (OMPA). And who knows, there may well be the Association of What’s App Users, the Nigerian Association of Twitter Voltrons, Association of Nigerian BBM Users, National Association of Chat Group Administrators, all of them fighting over influence, space, and patronage. This politicization of the online business can only in the long run diminish its influence and promote opportunism.
The case that I refer to was triggered by a meeting in Lagos, between the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and a group of online publishers under the umbrella of GOCOP. This prompted a rival group, the OPAN to issue a statement accusing Alhaji Mohammed of meeting with the wrong group and ignoring the main stakeholders. There has been serious “blood-sharing” since then. GOCOP issued a rejoinder in which it attacked OPAN. And my name was brought in. I was accused of being the spirit behind OPAN, and an attempt was made to set me up against Femi Adesina, my successor as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of Nigeria. Femi was given special praise, he being a Trustee of GOCOP, so the whole thing is projected as OPAN being pro-Jonathan and GOCOP being pro-Buhari.
I was also accused of having influenced the Corporate Affairs Commission to block the registration of NOPA, the first name that the other group had chosen when it sought formal registration. I was alleged to have used the powers of the Presidency to victimize members of then NOPA, who eventually adopted a new name and got registered. But obviously, the aggrieved were looking for an opportunity to go after me. And they believe the time is now right and that their facts are right, hence they threatened to release “documents”.
They are wrong. Here are the facts: I was invited to be a Trustee of OPAN in 2010 when I was still Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian. I was at the time involved either as a Trustee or contributor to many social causes – motherless children’s homes, special children, book reading clubs, girl child education projects, and hence, adding to that list a group that defined its objective as developing standards in the emerging online space was not a problem for me. I agreed to be a Trustee of OPAN and I made inputs into the drafting of the philosophy of the group. It had become clear by then that the online space was bound to grow and that there was a need for an articulation of ethical and professional standards, which may not be officially imposed but which could provide a basis for the insistence on a responsible use of the internet to promote serious issues. OPAN secured registration with the CAC, but it remained in a formative stage throughout the period I was in office, and was only formally launched late 2015. I did not even attend the launching ceremony. Having seen that the group had finally found its rhythm and its objectives properly defined, I offered to step down from the Board of Trustees. I got to know of the bitter fight over CAC registration between GOCOP and OPAN in the press release issued by the former.
Let me make this clear: I could not have been involved in that fight. The CAC is a statutory body and I believe it is in a position to defend its integrity. Anyone knows that the CAC conducts name-search before registering any organization and where any conflict in identity is subsequently reported, it has its own mechanism for resolving such. If NOPA and OPAN were fighting over nomenclature, it was the job of the CAC to resolve that, not the Presidency. In any case, my office could not have supported one group of online publishers against another, because that would have been counter-productive. My assignment required me to relate regularly with website owners, bloggers, and all categories of journalists and they all published our materials. I have made it clear privately that I probably received more support from members of GOCOP, many of whom I had always known and with whom I had shared happier moments, particularly at the St Bottles’ Cathedral in Lagos: our hang-out in those days.
But I see that twice in the past eight months, there have been curious attempts to pitch me against my successor, Femi Adesina. In the imagination of a dubious minority, I am supposed to be fighting him and make his work difficult. I can imagine the kind of stories that may have been going back and forth, invented by persons looking for what to eat. I have been there and I know how it is. But Femi and I have never fought over anything and we have absolutely no reason to fight. I am out. He is in. Life goes on. I have nothing against him or the PMB government. In 2015, the Nigerian people made a choice and spoke. It is a choice that we respect.
But as if all that is not plain enough, the latest that I have seen is a 2012 private e-mail “document” purportedly leaked to Sahara Reporters giving the impression that I worked with an online group to undermine Sahara Reporters in defence of the Jonathan Government, and of course the sub-text is to link me with the current war of the online publishers. This has to do with an e-mail, which the Association of Nigerian Online Publishers (ANOP) sent to a third party which was forwarded to me. I was then hearing about ANOP for the first time.
I forwarded the mail to the main promoter of OPAN, the only one of such groups that was known to me then and I only wanted to know if this was the same group, given the striking similarity. The leaked mail is one of many such unsolicited proposals and suggestions that came to my desk. Nothing came out of it thereafter, and I had no reason to worry about that innocuous incident until now. I took an oath of office to defend the interests of the people, President and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I did my bit, but it was not the style of that administration or my office to intimidate, gag, frustrate or undermine the free media. I had direct access to Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.
Throughout my four years on the job, he used every single press release that we issued and always listened to my many protestations. He always insisted however, that he had his facts, and that he knew more insiders than I could ever imagine. I was always shocked how State House documents and inside stories regularly found their way to his desk, and how on the day the President’s brother died, he had published the story even before anyone in Aso Rock knew. If the leaked e-mail proves anything, it is that he and his own colleagues are involved in a bitter rivalry, and that there is indeed a war of online operators and this can only get worse with everyone these days, becoming a blogger or online publisher. This poses a serious challenge for media, reputation, and perception managers who must continuously swim in an ocean of sharks, alligators and piranhas. If you relate with A, you could offend B. And if you receive a mail from C, you could get into trouble, not knowing which cartel or cabal you are dealing with.
The truth, if we must say so, is that the social media in Nigeria has become a battle-ground for survival. It is no longer about young people playing with a phone or a laptop, it is big business, and where the stomach or sheer rivalry, is involved, we can see that persons are ready to shed blood, shred reputations and break jaws. It is most unfortunate that this positive force that could be used for the good of society is finally going the way of all things. The other truth is that the big war of communications is no longer fought on the pages of newspapers, but online and all the bad habits of old have been transported, without any ethical restraint. This is where the real danger lies.
The challenge is to insist that online journalists, publishers, bloggers and tweeters must be held down to certain prudential standards of practice. The in-fighting is unnecessary. The various associations can be useful as vehicles of self-regulation, and for promoting values and best options. They should not become special purpose mechanisms for patronizing politicians and political office holders. [myad]
Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo of unleashing a misplaced anger on the present National Assembly.
Senator was reacting to Obasanjo’s letter which he addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly, drawing their attention to corruption that had ruled the law making body since the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. In a statement today, Melaye said that it was the former president who exposed the legislature to corruption, describing Obasajo’s action through the letter as misplacement of anger. He said that though he has tremendous respect for the former President, but that if the truth must be told, Obadanjo’s letter to the 8th National Assembly on issue of corruption, introduced by himself to the fourth Assembly, was uncalled for, more so when the 8th Assembly and in particular the 8th Senate, has nothing to do with corruption. He said that though he is against corruption anywhere in Nigeria, but that he will not support accusations based on anger and vindictiveness. Part of the text of Senator Melaye reads: “I have tremendous respect for President Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo. Elder statesman, respected pan Africanist and committed patriot. I went through the letter written to all Senators and members of the House of Representatives. “The letter I can see, is a misplacement of anger. Our leader is mistaken the 8th National Assembly as the same Senate Assembly that defrauded him in 2007. Those who collected his money and refused to implement the 3rd term agenda. I appeal to baba that we are not the ones please. “After nine years of that bribery saga, the first of its kind, I expect forgiveness to have taken place. There was the case of bribery introduced by the Obasanjo regime in the desperate attempt to remove Speaker Ghali Umar Na’abba from office then. In fact there was open display of that bribery money on the floor of the house. “That government exposed the National Assembly to corruption and easy money. I hope this is not in an attempt to cover up and distract attention from the Halliburton and Siemens corruption allegations. “While I am against corruption anywhere in Nigeria, I will not support accusations based on anger and vindictiveness. The 8th Senate should also look inwardly and purge herself of all the deliberate misgivings of the past. Nigeria must work and we must support the anti corruption stand of the Buhari Administration. God bless Nigeria.” [myad]
The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked its supporters to take heart over the Supreme Court judgment of yesterday, which upheld the election of Nyeson Wike as governor of the state. in a statement today, the party’s state chairman, Chief Davies Ibiam Ikanya called on the members, especially survivors of those who lost their loved ones before, during and after the 2015 electoral violence “that the justice we sought to put a closure to their pains and losses, though denied us by man, will still be granted by the ultimate judge, God Himself.”
Ikanya stressed that God would prove that those who paid the ultimate price did not do so in vain “because He is the God of justice.” He recalled that the struggle to retrieve the mandates of the party’s candidates, including that of the governorship candidate, hijacked in the 2015 sham elections, led to various rulings by the election petition tribunals and Appeal Courts which annulled and ordered for the rerun elections for 22 State Assembly positions out of 32, all 3 Senatorial seats and 12 out of 13 House of Representatives seats. “Ordinarily, such large-scale annulment should have logically led to upholding the annulment of the governorship election as pronounced by the Tribunal and the Appeal Court. Unfortunately, the earlier decisions of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and that of the Appeal Court annulling the election of the Rivers State Governor, Barr Nyesom Wike was upturned by the Supreme Court of Nigeria yesterday. While we are neither applauding nor condemning the decision of the apex court, we can only give thanks and adoration to God Almighty whose wisdom surpasses that of man.” The chairman promised that APC would continue to play the role of a responsible opposition by protecting the peoples’ common interests and provide the bridge between the people and the APC Federal Government. “We call on all our brothers and sisters who recently saw the light and joined us to serve our people to know that they made the right decision as we all will create and enhance a working synergy that will transcend the present times in service to our people. “Finally, I urge all members of the APC in Rivers State to remain calm, focused and ready for the task ahead of us as party leaders and supporters at our various units, LGAs and the State. In all things, they should continue to give God all glory and adorations as that which is ahead is greater than that behind us.” [myad]
After spending 23 days behind bars, the national publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh, has finally left Kuje prison, Abuja today. This was after meeting the conditions of bail handed down by two separate high courts.
The party’s director of new media, Deji Adeyanju announced today: “we are on our way to the house now. We met the bail conditions about 20 minutes ago, and we are just leaving the federal high court,” Adeyanju said.
Metuh, until Thursday, had been in custody since January 5.
A federal high court judge in Abuja, Justice Okon Abang, Maitama, Abuja, had granted him bail in the sum of N400 million, with two sureties and landed property at Maitama.
However, the PDP spokesman asked for a variation of the conditions of the bail whereas, Abang ruled that he must perfect the conditions of bail for him to be released from prison.
Citing a ruling of the court granting him bail, Abang held: “The court cannot be expected to seat on appeal over its decision.” He directed the accused person to go on appeal against the ruling of the court if he was dissatisfied with it. However, the judge, while stating that the decision of the court to grant Metuh bail was not to keep him in custody, varied the condition requiring the accused person to have two sureties who must have landed property at Maitama, Abuja. He held that the scope of ownership of property for the sureties was now expanded to include all parts of the federal capital territory. In other words, the sureties must have landed property within Abuja, and not just at Maitama. That was the only prayer in the application for variation of bail sought by Metuh that was granted.
Another high court judge in Abuja, Justice Ishaq Bello, last week granted Metuh bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in the like sum.
The PDP spokesman is facing a seven-count charge of money laundering at the federal high court, and two-counts of destruction of accused person statement at the FCT high court. [myad]
As we step into Office today, we are at once excited and tremulous. Excited at the great opportunities but tremulous at the massive challenges. One thing is clear, positive and decisive action must be taken quickly to rescue Kogi State. We are ready for action. Being Text Of The Inaugural Speech By His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello On The Occasion Of His Swearing-In As 4Th Executive Governor, Kogi State Of Nigeria On Wednesday, 27Th January, 2016 At Lokoja. Protocols! His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. His Excellency, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, The President, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His Excellency, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, The Speaker, House of Representatives. His Lordship, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON, The Chief Justice of Nigeria. His Excellency, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress. His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress. Your Excellencies, My Brother Governors here present or represented His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Momoh Jimoh Lawal, The Honourable Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly. My Lord, Honourable Justice Nasiru Ajanah, The Chief Judge of Kogi State. Royal Fathers and Revered Custodians of Our Traditional Institutions. Members of the Diplomatic Corps. Our Distinguished Guests from Far and Near. My Dearly Beloved People of Kogi State. All other Protocols deemed as duly observed.
Welcome! It is with great Joy that I receive you all to the warm hospitality of Kogi State of Nigeria today. Kogi is the Confluence State, the Geographical Bridge between every Nigerian and his Compatriot. You are indeed welcome. Life is a precious thing and we cannot earn or own it. It is given to us freely. We often take it for granted, failing to recognize its importance or significance. Should it not instead instill an immense sense of gratitude in our hearts to the One Who created life and gave it to us? “It is God Who brought you out of your mothers’ wombs knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and minds so that you may be grateful” The Quran 16:78. Say “O Allah, owner of Kingdoms.You give your Kingdom to whom you desire.And you take your Kingdom from whom you desire.You honour whom you desire.And you humble whom you desire. In your hand all is GOOD. Indeed you are over all things COMPETENT.” Quoran 3 vs 26. I stand here today a grateful man. I am grateful to: Almighty God, the Eternal One who led a young boy, fatherless while still a baby to this momentous day of my Swearing-In as the Governor of this Great State, and her humble Servitor. Alhaji Bello Ipemida Ochi, my father, whose evergreen memories and legacies remain till today despite his death early in my life. Hajiya Hauwau Oziohu Bello, my model mother. Oziandu Obanyi, your hand rocked my cradle, and you still rock my world. Despite the anguish of young widowhood, your values steadied me through the turbulence of youth and years of self-discovery. All my siblings, especially Prof. Iliyasu Bello Ohiani, my elder brother, who became the father that I know. My family. My dear wives and children were Wonderful. In particular, Hajiya Rashida Bello followed me on this chequered journey with a devotion and sacrifice that is astounding. President Muhammadu Buhari, the one man who epitomizes the Personal Discipline, Rugged Determination and Honest Discretion I intend to model as Governor of Kogi State. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The APC National Leader is arguably the most singularly successful Nigerian Politician of this Democratic Dispensation. His Vision has given wings to those of many of his followers, including ourselves. Prince Abubakar Audu, the Late Icon whose foresight and doggedness paved the way for the Victory we are celebrating today. Continue to rest in peace my Leader. My Core Team, especially the Progressive Youth of Kogi State led by my right-hand man, Edward Onoja. Their doggedness and forthrightness brought home to me in a very personal way that popular line ‘Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand…’ They are the apostles of this broad-minded Change. The APC Family. The APC in Kogi State wanted Change for their dear State and worked hard to bring it. The APC at the National Level provided the Platform. The entire People of Kogi State. Irrespective of who you are or where you stood during the elections, Na God Win. We are all united today, celebrating the outcome. My People, you are my one big Constituency, and I am responsible for, and to each and every one of you. Nigeria has a rich diversity of traditions, cultures and history but it is instructive that in searching for a philosophy for this New Direction my Team and I did not have to go very far to locate the perfect response for our times: Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to reiterate what President Muhammadu Buhari said in his celebrated Swearing-In Speech on May 29, 2015: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody!” This quote is a complete worldview which defines the PURPOSE and METHODOLOGY of my Administration, and sets an AGENDA OF INCLUSIVENESS, which I am determined will characterize my tenure. In this single sentence, Mr. President summarized the restorative force of the CHANGE ideology with which our great party, the APC, has swept Nigeria. I now declare it our guiding principle for fair action and equitable governance in Kogi State. My Administration shall exist for the sole purpose of serving the superseding interests of the people of Kogi State to the very best of its capabilities. We also undertake to never lend our capacities to servicing the avarice of anyone or group–whether from Kogi State or elsewhere. There is no greater evil than Corruption and nothing champions that evil more than Impunity…Corruption and Impunity made sure our people repeatedly arrived at a promised future and found it bereft of substance, or the promised better life. Let it be recorded today that future generations will not be given reason to count the incoming Administration among those who reveled in Corruption or Impunity. We will be different by the Grace of God. We must and will be that generation of Leaders who made the entirety of Kogi’s Resources work for the entirety of Kogi’s People. Accordingly, I hereby declare and affirm that the Yahaya Bello Administration will have ZERO TOLERANCE for Corruption and Impunity. I will lead Kogi State by honest and humble example. So help me God. To reinforce our commitment to accountability, the incoming Administration will employ technology and a multilayered system of checks and balances to block all leakages in our financial processes and improve our wealth creation and retention capacities. The rule of law is key to effective governance. We intend to work hand in hand with the Judicial Arm of Government and the Legislature to deliver the best governance possible to Kogi State. In this regard, we shall be guided by both legislations and binding judicial decisions. Peace is key for prosperity. The sudden events that culminated in my emergence as Governor are beyond any mortal man. The sudden death of our leader, Prince Abubakar Audu remains a great mystery. This Administration shall liaise with the Kogi State House of Assembly for legislation to immortalise him in some meaningful way. I therefore extend my hand of brotherhood to all and sundry. In the course of this journey we met and interacted with families, kindreds, clans, hamlets, villages, towns and cities, traversing the length and breadth of Kogi State and the picture we came away with is a depressing one. Everywhere, our People live in deprivation despite our abundant natural endowments. The statistics as they apply to Kogi State are not rosy. As we step into Office today, we are at once excited and tremulous. Excited at the great opportunities but tremulous at the massive challenges. One thing is clear, positive and decisive action must be taken quickly to rescue Kogi State. We are ready for action. We are conscious that to fail in this task is to fail in everything else. But take it from me, we will not fail because, apart from our preparations and resolve, God and good is on our side. We have conceived a socio-economic Blueprint that we trust God will rapidly develop our State and radically empower our People. The said Blueprint will rank as a sort of Marshall Plan for rebuilding Kogi State on every index of Development. Under this Plan, Education and Health Infrastructure, State of the Art Security Coverage, Roads, Rural Water Schemes, Farm and Agricultural Communes, heavy Investments in Solid Minerals, Artisanal Mining Collectives, repositioning of Kogi State as a preferred tourist destination, etc. are projected to play lead, often overlapping, roles. We will run this Blueprint along with Civil Service reforms to change the orientation of our workers and improve their productivity. To show that we are ready to work and not just talking, the Blueprint contains ‘Action Plans’ for developing each sector. We expect that we will see begin to see increase in our Internally Generated Revenue. For ease of monitoring by Kogi People my Team and I have distributed our Projects into the 100-Day Accomplishments, the First Year Results, the Halfway Marks and the Final Milestones. When our full Blueprint is published, anyone can predict where we will be, developmentally, in 100 days, and after each year of our Administration. Security is a huge concern across Kogi State as we step into Office – in particular the dastardly and twin scourges of armed robbery and kidnapping. I therefore acknowledge with pleasure the Commissioner of Police and Heads of every Security Agency in Kogi State. Gentlemen, I shall be meeting with you soon to fashion out modalities to rid Kogi State of Insecurity. Please have forceful and actionable proposals for me when we meet. I promise you every support that this Administration can give. Nothing engenders skepticism, even cynicism, in the citizen than lackluster leadership of the sort that we have experienced in the Confluence State. I am aware that with some notable exceptions successive Administrations have posted largely unimpressive performances. The cumulative effect is that the average Kogi Person has developed an acute distrust of Government. We cannot succeed, in our Blueprint or anything else, without the co-operation of our People and our friends. Co-operation is difficult if trust is withheld. My people, we shall build rapport, and by delivering on our proposed array of people-centered projects, we shall earn your trust. I would appreciate, and I ask for nothing, other than that you give me the benefit of the doubt as we set off. Let the taste of this pudding be in the eating. We know salaries have not been paid to some of our Civil Servants for some months now. We propose to commence paying as promptly as possible while implementing strategies to gradually defray the arrears. While doing this we shall count on the understanding of all the good people of Kogi State. We shall immediately commence consultations with all stakeholders to get the buy-in of every progress-minded individual into every agenda that we have designed to move Kogi State in the New Direction. I see this as a Challenge and I am resolved to win your trust. Today is indeed an auspicious day. We will not fail to appreciate those who made it possible. My predecessor, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, has been most gracious. We appreciate your service sir. The Transition Committees on both sides have acted with dignity and cooperation. We thank you. The Inauguration Committee has really worked hard to make this day a success. Thank you very much indeed. Change has come to Kogi State. I may be the Torchbearer, and Custodian of it, but you, the great united people of Kogi State, are its Owners and Proprietors. Let us arise together, take our Collective Destiny in our hands and go forth excitedly to chart our New Direction. Kogi, THIS CHANGE IS YOURS. Distinguished Listeners, this speech is an overview, it is not intended to say everything that we have to say, or plan to do, in Government. That being the case, I hasten to conclude. God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless Kogi State of Nigeria. God bless you. Thank you for listening. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Bureau de Change (BDC) business in Nigeria as a scam that had been draining the nation’s economy. He made clear that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would not resume the sale of foreign exchange to such Bureaux de Change. The President who spoke at an interactive meeting with Nigerians living in Kenya today, alleged that some bank and government officials used surrogates to run the BDCs and prosper at public expense by obtaining foreign exchange from government at official rates and selling it at much higher rates. According to President Buhari, because of the lucrativeness of the BDCs, it had increased from 74 in in 2005 to about 2,800 now, saying: “we don’t have the Dollars to give to the BDCs. Let them go and get it from wherever they can, other than the Central Bank. “We will use our foreign exchange for industry, spare parts and the development of needed infrastructure.” The President reaffirmed his conviction that about a third of petroleum subsidy payments under the previous administration was bogus, adding: “they just stamped papers and collected our foreign exchange.” He also made it clear that he was not convinced that Nigeria and its people will derive any tangible benefit from an official devaluation of the Naira. The President insisted that while export-driven economies could benefit from devaluation of their currencies, devaluation will only result in further inflation and hardship for the poor and middle classes in Nigeria’s import-dependent economy. He stressed that he had no intention of bringing further hardship on the country’s poor who, he said, have suffered enough already. Likening devaluing the Naira to having it “killed,” President Buhari said that proponents of devaluation will have to work much harder to convince him that ordinary Nigerians will gain anything from it. Buhari then appealed to Nigerians studying abroad to bear with his administration as it strives to address the challenges they are facing as a result of new foreign exchange measures. He said that he was optimistic that the Nigerian economy will stabilize soon with the efficient implementation of measures and policies that have been introduced by his administration. [myad]
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The Nigeria’s Supreme Court has sacked two Senators from Anambra State, Stella Oduah and Andy Uba, nearly two months after a third Senator from the state, Uche Ekwunife, was sacked.
The Online Warriors, By Reuben Abati
The beauty of the new media is its democratic temper. With any electronic device, anyone at all, can set up a communications unit, using a phone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop, and simply occupy the social space and broadcast information which in a matter of minutes may go viral and condition public opinion. It grants the person involved absolute freedom, even anonymity, dangerous anonymity of self, space and location, but the worst part of it is the freedom from decency, responsibility and conscience. And so while so much good can be done by persons exchanging information, and as has turned out, creative jokes and skits which entertain and amuse, a lot of evil can be committed through resort to blackmail, abuse, and mischief.
This dangerous dimension is beginning to grow in different directions and the latest that I have seen is what seems to be the emergence of cartels, or perhaps cabals in the online industry, with various persons organizing themselves into groups, and if this were to be a sign of freedom of association exercised by like minds, it would be commendable. But rather what is emerging is bitter rivalry among the various groups, a fierce struggle for territory, unhealthy, cut-throat competition, and a desperation to out-do each other. The group warriors are not necessarily fighting for any great ideal, but ego, power, privilege and access to the corridors of power.
I happen to have suddenly become a victim in the midst of this turf-fighting, as my name this week was drawn into a cat fight between two groups: the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN). These are two of the emerging groups but there are others: Association of Online Bloggers, Association of Nigerian Online Publishers (ANOP), the Online Magazines Publishers Association (OMPA). And who knows, there may well be the Association of What’s App Users, the Nigerian Association of Twitter Voltrons, Association of Nigerian BBM Users, National Association of Chat Group Administrators, all of them fighting over influence, space, and patronage. This politicization of the online business can only in the long run diminish its influence and promote opportunism.
The case that I refer to was triggered by a meeting in Lagos, between the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and a group of online publishers under the umbrella of GOCOP. This prompted a rival group, the OPAN to issue a statement accusing Alhaji Mohammed of meeting with the wrong group and ignoring the main stakeholders. There has been serious “blood-sharing” since then. GOCOP issued a rejoinder in which it attacked OPAN. And my name was brought in. I was accused of being the spirit behind OPAN, and an attempt was made to set me up against Femi Adesina, my successor as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of Nigeria. Femi was given special praise, he being a Trustee of GOCOP, so the whole thing is projected as OPAN being pro-Jonathan and GOCOP being pro-Buhari.
I was also accused of having influenced the Corporate Affairs Commission to block the registration of NOPA, the first name that the other group had chosen when it sought formal registration. I was alleged to have used the powers of the Presidency to victimize members of then NOPA, who eventually adopted a new name and got registered. But obviously, the aggrieved were looking for an opportunity to go after me. And they believe the time is now right and that their facts are right, hence they threatened to release “documents”.
They are wrong. Here are the facts: I was invited to be a Trustee of OPAN in 2010 when I was still Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian. I was at the time involved either as a Trustee or contributor to many social causes – motherless children’s homes, special children, book reading clubs, girl child education projects, and hence, adding to that list a group that defined its objective as developing standards in the emerging online space was not a problem for me. I agreed to be a Trustee of OPAN and I made inputs into the drafting of the philosophy of the group. It had become clear by then that the online space was bound to grow and that there was a need for an articulation of ethical and professional standards, which may not be officially imposed but which could provide a basis for the insistence on a responsible use of the internet to promote serious issues. OPAN secured registration with the CAC, but it remained in a formative stage throughout the period I was in office, and was only formally launched late 2015. I did not even attend the launching ceremony. Having seen that the group had finally found its rhythm and its objectives properly defined, I offered to step down from the Board of Trustees. I got to know of the bitter fight over CAC registration between GOCOP and OPAN in the press release issued by the former.
Let me make this clear: I could not have been involved in that fight. The CAC is a statutory body and I believe it is in a position to defend its integrity. Anyone knows that the CAC conducts name-search before registering any organization and where any conflict in identity is subsequently reported, it has its own mechanism for resolving such. If NOPA and OPAN were fighting over nomenclature, it was the job of the CAC to resolve that, not the Presidency. In any case, my office could not have supported one group of online publishers against another, because that would have been counter-productive. My assignment required me to relate regularly with website owners, bloggers, and all categories of journalists and they all published our materials. I have made it clear privately that I probably received more support from members of GOCOP, many of whom I had always known and with whom I had shared happier moments, particularly at the St Bottles’ Cathedral in Lagos: our hang-out in those days.
But I see that twice in the past eight months, there have been curious attempts to pitch me against my successor, Femi Adesina. In the imagination of a dubious minority, I am supposed to be fighting him and make his work difficult. I can imagine the kind of stories that may have been going back and forth, invented by persons looking for what to eat. I have been there and I know how it is. But Femi and I have never fought over anything and we have absolutely no reason to fight. I am out. He is in. Life goes on. I have nothing against him or the PMB government. In 2015, the Nigerian people made a choice and spoke. It is a choice that we respect.
But as if all that is not plain enough, the latest that I have seen is a 2012 private e-mail “document” purportedly leaked to Sahara Reporters giving the impression that I worked with an online group to undermine Sahara Reporters in defence of the Jonathan Government, and of course the sub-text is to link me with the current war of the online publishers. This has to do with an e-mail, which the Association of Nigerian Online Publishers (ANOP) sent to a third party which was forwarded to me. I was then hearing about ANOP for the first time.
I forwarded the mail to the main promoter of OPAN, the only one of such groups that was known to me then and I only wanted to know if this was the same group, given the striking similarity. The leaked mail is one of many such unsolicited proposals and suggestions that came to my desk. Nothing came out of it thereafter, and I had no reason to worry about that innocuous incident until now. I took an oath of office to defend the interests of the people, President and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I did my bit, but it was not the style of that administration or my office to intimidate, gag, frustrate or undermine the free media. I had direct access to Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.
Throughout my four years on the job, he used every single press release that we issued and always listened to my many protestations. He always insisted however, that he had his facts, and that he knew more insiders than I could ever imagine. I was always shocked how State House documents and inside stories regularly found their way to his desk, and how on the day the President’s brother died, he had published the story even before anyone in Aso Rock knew. If the leaked e-mail proves anything, it is that he and his own colleagues are involved in a bitter rivalry, and that there is indeed a war of online operators and this can only get worse with everyone these days, becoming a blogger or online publisher. This poses a serious challenge for media, reputation, and perception managers who must continuously swim in an ocean of sharks, alligators and piranhas. If you relate with A, you could offend B. And if you receive a mail from C, you could get into trouble, not knowing which cartel or cabal you are dealing with.
The truth, if we must say so, is that the social media in Nigeria has become a battle-ground for survival. It is no longer about young people playing with a phone or a laptop, it is big business, and where the stomach or sheer rivalry, is involved, we can see that persons are ready to shed blood, shred reputations and break jaws. It is most unfortunate that this positive force that could be used for the good of society is finally going the way of all things. The other truth is that the big war of communications is no longer fought on the pages of newspapers, but online and all the bad habits of old have been transported, without any ethical restraint. This is where the real danger lies.
The challenge is to insist that online journalists, publishers, bloggers and tweeters must be held down to certain prudential standards of practice. The in-fighting is unnecessary. The various associations can be useful as vehicles of self-regulation, and for promoting values and best options. They should not become special purpose mechanisms for patronizing politicians and political office holders. [myad]