El-Rufai Lied, Jonathan Did Not Spend N64 Billion On Independence, But N332 Million – Ex Minister

October 4, 2015

The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan has acknowledged spending a total sum of N332.6 Million on the nation’s Independence anniversary celebrations from 2012 to 2014 and not N64 Billion. Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-rufai had earlier been quoted as saying that the administration spent N64 Billion.

The immediate past Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, in a statement today described the claim by governor El-Rufai as tissue of lies, even as he challenged the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to publish the amount spent on the Independence anniversary ceremonies from 2012 to 2014.

According to him, the Federal Government under Jonathan spent N107.6m in 2012; N45m in 2013; and N180m in 2014, adding that while the amounts spent on the anniversary celebrations in 2010 and 2011 were not immediately available; they were in the same bracket with the other years.

He explained that there was an increase in the total sum spent on the celebrations in 2010 because of the Golden Jubilee celebration, adding that the sum budgeted was not the outrageous amount quoted by the governor.

Sulaiman wondered where El-Rufai got the billions, which he said was spent on the anniversary celebrations in five years from, saying: “we were taken aback by the recent comment reportedly credited to His Excellency, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, where he claimed that the immediate past President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration spent N64bn to cover the country’s independence anniversary spendings in five years.

“This tissue of lies was contained on his Facebook comment on Thursday. Ordinarily, we would have allowed this to go as just the ranting of a favour-seeker, but for the sake of ordinary Nigerians, who were abreast of happenings under the administration and also those who never did, we will like to set the record straight.

“It is important to correct the misinformation so that the unsuspecting public would not be misled. For the record, a breakdown of our anniversary spending between 2012 to 2014 amounted to N332.6m. We challenge the Office of the (Secretary to the) Government of the Federation to publish these details for the consumption of the public.

“For the record, a breakdown of our spending for this event between 2012 and 2104 goes thus: 2012-N107.6m; 2013-N45m and 2014 had N180m. So, the question here is where did the billions as claimed by El-Rufai emanate from?

“Even though, those of 2010 and 2011 are not handy now, it should be known that they all fall within the same bracket as the one stated, except that the 2010 anniversary was a golden one when the country marked her 50 year of independence. But even then, not such outrageous sum was either budgeted or expended.

“Again, it is germane to explain the increase in the 2013 anniversary spending for the purpose of accountability. The National Honours Award Investiture was incorporated into the celebration, thus making it two events in one, hence the N174,800,000.00 budget.

“We also want to add that the said award investiture could not hold in 2013 and the approved budget rolled over and was utilised to organise the investiture in 2014.” [myad]

God Will Never Fail Nigerians – Pastor Adeboye

Greenbarge Reporters

October 4, 2015

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said that God will never fail Nigeria in its march to greatness in spite of the obstacles, even as he called on the citizens to always praise God amidst the numerous challenges.

Adeboye who made the plea at the dedication of Ogun Province 8 Youth Church at Orimerunmu in Mowe, said that God who performs special miracles will never fail Nigerians.

He advised Nigerian to have trust in God who has the solutions to problems the nation is going through even as he acknowledged that Nigerians could attain higher heights and live above fear and failures if they trust God.

“Genuine peace and true progress come to countries that put their trust in God. When the King of Kings comes in, failures, poverty sorrows, shame will be things of the past.” [myad]

Hajj stampede: Nigeria’s Death Toll Rises To 75, As 241 Pilgrims Are Still Missing

Greenbarge Reporters

October 4, 2015

The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has said that 11 more bodies of Nigerian pilgrims killed in a stampede at Jamrat, Saudi Arabia during this year’s hajj have been identified.

This brought the figure the current total number of those who lost their lives at 75. The previous official figure was 64.

The NAHCON Public Relations Officer, Mallam Uba Mana, who spoke to news men in Jeddah, said that the total number of pilgrims missing is 241 even as he assured that the agency is doing all within its power to locate those still missing.

Uba Mana confirmed that Saudi Arabia had opened an identification office for missing persons, adding: “this is a good development, because it will ease a little tension of a lot of pilgrims across the country.

“The Saudi authorities have since taken responsibility for the medical bills of the victims.” [myad]

Buhari Settles N268,790 Medical Bill Of Armed Robbery Victim, Visits Victims Of Abuja Boko Haram Attacks

Greenbarge Reporters

October 4, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari to settle the N268,790.00 medical bill of a young girl in the Paediatric Ward of the National hospital, Abuja who was attacked by armed robbers.
The President, who visited the Trauma Centre of the hospital today to sympathize with the survivors of the last Friday bomb attacks in Kuje and Nyanya, the two satellite towns of the federal capital territory, Abuja, stumbled on the young girl whose mother busted into cry complaining that she had no money to settle the medical bill.
A statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that the girl’s mother, Deborah Stephen, had broken into tears on seeing President Buhari.
“She told the President that her daughter had been shot by armed robbers who raided their home and that the family could not afford the medical bills.”
The President also sympathized with the survivors of the Friday bomb attacks in two locations of the federal capital territory and who are receiving treatment at the Centre. He wished them full and speedy recovery.
The President reassured the survivors that the Federal Government will take full responsibility for settling their medical bills.
The President who was accompanied by his personal aides and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State visited the intensive care unit, the paediatric unit and general wards of the National Hospital.
The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Dr. Jafaru Momoh told the President that the patients need a greater psychological sense of being valued and loved by their country to help them recover. [myad]

President Obama Orders Investigation Into Afghan Hospital Air Strike

Greenbarge Reporters

October 4, 2015

President of the United States of America, Barack Obama has ordered full investigation into an apparent US air strike on an Afghan hospital that killed 19 people, in a bombing the UN said could amount to a war crime.

‘Doctors Without Borders’ said that patients burned to death in their beds during a bombing raid that continued for half an hour after US and Afghan authorities were informed that the hospital had been hit.

“Twelve staff members and at least seven patients, including three children, were killed; 37 people were injured,” the charity said. “This attack constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”

The air raid came days after Taliban fighters seized control of the strategic northern city of Kunduz, in their most spectacular victory since being booted from power by a US-led coalition in 2001.

Afghan forces, backed up by their NATO allies, claimed to have wrestled back control of the city.

But the defence ministry in Kabul said “a group of armed terrorists… were using the hospital building as a position to target Afghan forces and civilians”.

MSF has denied that any fighters were present in the hospital. [myad]

197 Nigerians Trapped In Central African Republic War, Escape To Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

October 4, 2015

197 Nigerians, who were trapped in the war raging on in the Central African Republic (CAR) have escaped and found their way to Nigeria, through Yola, capital of Adamawa state.

The Director Search and Rescue of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) made this known in Yola, Air Commodore, Charles Otegbade, who received the returnees said that the Nigerians escaped from CAR unrest early last year.

Otegbade said that the International Organization for Migrants with the support of Cameroonian authority escorted them to Sahuda, a border town along Nigeria-Cameroon border in Mubi South Local Government Area.

“NEMA has received a total of 197 Nigerians from International Organisation for Migrants with the support of Cameroon authority.

“The development follows the closure of the international camps by the organisation at Kenzo and Garua Bulai, all in Eastern Cameroon.”

Otegbade confirmed that the 197 Nigerians were the last batch evacuated since the CAR conflict erupted in late 2013 and early 2014, adding that at the peak of the conflict in 2014, NEMA with the collaboration of Nigerian Air Force, rescued and evacuated over 2000 Nigerians from Bangui International Airport to Abuja.

“Those that were trapped in various locations in Central Africa and could not reach Bangui but escaped into Cameroon Republic for their safety. And so far, NEMA had evacuated and settled over 3,000 Nigerians returnees from CAR between 2014 to date.”

Otegbade said that Adamawa, Borno and Yobe had the highest number of 52, 41 and 29 returnees respectively. Others are Gombe 16, Kano 12, Bauchi 9, Onitsha (Anambra) and Kaduna with one returnee each.

He said that the remaining returnees were from Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto Taraba and Federal Capital Territory.

He said that the agency had concluded arrangements to link up all the returnees with their relations. [myad]

How Kuje Bomber Escaped Unhurt – Eye Witness

October 4, 2015

It has been confirmed that the young man who bombed Kuje market, in the Nigeria Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Friday, leading to the death of at least 15 people, escaped from the scene unhurt.
Eye witness account said that the young man, in his early twenty, approached a trader on the entrance to the market and begged him (the trader) to kindly watch over a polythene bag which he dropped by his aside.
The trader and another man who was carrying out the business of registering GSM lines nearby, gladly allowed the bomber to drop the polythene bag after which he (the bomber) left the place.
The source said that it was not up to ten minutes after the strange man left the scene than the bomb exploded from the polythene bag, killing the trader, the man registering GSM lines and other people nearby.
The source said that the impact of the bomb threw two men into a nearby gutter, mangled a motorcycle and killed 12 others instantly.
This was even as the explosion at the Kuje police station, which occurred about 30 minutes before the one that occurred in the market, was said to have been carried out by a young woman who wanted to gain entrance into the compound of the station by climbing the perimetre fence at the western side.
The source hinted that the female bomber had taken advantage of the darkness around a church inside the police station at about 9.18pm, and that the bomb exploded and blew her up before she could jump down from the fence.
It was learnt that the intention of the female bomber would probably have been to walk to the counter where police officers were attending to cases from civilians to blow them up, but could not make it.
It was learnt that the flesh of the female bomber scattered all over the place and had to be picked up to clean up the environment.
The source said that the two incidences were carried out to instill fear in the minds of the people and to embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.
Meanwhile, security operatives are still cordoning off the market even as normal movement of people and vehicle is gradually returning to the scenes of the explosions. [myad]

Prince Audu To Supporters: Kill Any PDP Thug That Attack You On Election Day

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

Former Kogi state governor and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Prince Abubakar Audu has asked his supporters to kill any thug from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who dares them in the November gubernatorial election in the state.

He made it clear that the objectives of the PDP thugs will be to intimidate and steal their votes, emphasizing that they should not spare the thugs. “Kill them if you see them at your villages and polling units.”

Addressing the zonal in Kabba , Prince Audu alleged that the ruling PDP in the state has recruited 10 thugs from each of the 21 local government areas of the state and is already training the thugs ahead of the November election in the State.

The APC candidate warned PDP and its government in Kogi state to refrain from their evil plans and give peace a chance and allow democracy to flourish as being enjoyed in other states.

According to Audu, the state has receded in terms of development since he left office 2003 due to lack of commitment to the peoples desire for prosperity and progress.

In his remark, Deputy Majority Leader of House of Representatives, Honourable Umar Buba Jibrin urged the people of Kogi West Senatorial district to vote massively for APC as the state cannot afford to be in the opposition.

The law maker advised APC supporters not to allow themselves to be intimidated or succumb to PDP doctrine of do or die. [myad]

US Airstrike Kills 9 Doctors Without Borders As It Hits Charity-Run Hospital In Afghanistan

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

A hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders was hit today in air strike by the United States of America, on the Taliban in Afghanistan, killing nine MSF staff members, among other not-yet-totaled casualties including patients and patients’ family members.

The US has been conducting airstrikes in Kunduz, Afghanistan, since the Taliban wrested control of the city from Afghan forces last week.

A US military spokesman confirmed that the US launched an airstrike at 2:15 am local time (5:45 pm ET) today, and that “the strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility.”

MSF volunteers described the statement as an understatement, saying: “MSF condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific bombing of its hospital in Kunduz full of staff and patients.” All parties to the conflict, including in Kabul and Washington, were clearly informed of the precise location (GPS Coordinates) of the MSF facilities—hospital, guest-house, office and an outreach stabilization unit in Chardara (to the north-west of Kunduz). As MSF does in all conflict contexts, these precise locations were communicated to all parties on multiple occasions over the past months, including most recently on 29 September.

Two hospital employees, an aide who was wounded in the bombing and a nurse who emerged unscathed, said that there had been no active fighting nearby and no Taliban fighters in the hospital.

But a Kunduz police spokesman, Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, insisted that Taliban fighters had entered the hospital and were using it as a firing position.

The hospital treated the wounded from all sides of the conflict, a policy that has long irked the Afghan security forces.

Nearly 105 patients and 80 staff members—were inside the hospital at the time of the bombing. MSF said that it contacted military officials as soon as the bombing began, but that the bombing continued for at least 30 minutes after the calls were made. The military spokesman, Colonel. Brian Tribus, said the incident is “under investigation.” [myad]

Why Boko Haram Attacked Abuja Yesterday – Atiku Abubakar

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has given reasons why members of Boko Haram attacked Kuje and Nyanya, the two satellite towns of the federal capital territory, Abuja yesterday, killing a number of people and wounding others.

In a statement today, Atiku said that the terrorists are now bitter and frustrated that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is now taking the war to the enemy camp, which has forced them into disarray

According to Atiku, the massive territorial losses suffered by the terrorists and the blockade of their weapons supply lines, have significantly reduced their operational capabilities in terms of direct confrontation with the counter-terrorism forces.

The former Vice President insisted that Boko Haram terrorists have been militarily degraded by the new offensive strategy adopted by the Buhari administration, which have sent the militants packing from towns and villages they previously captured and occupied.

He advisedNigerians not to despair and give in to terrorists’ blackmail, which he said is the Boko Haram’s psychological tool for intimidating and forcing citizens into surrender and inaction.

The former Vice President said that it was clear that by targeting suburban Abuja, the Boko Haram terrorists wanted to persuade Nigerians to believe that they are invincible and thereby paralyzing the country with fear and force it into submission.

Atiku called ond Nigerians not to be deceived by such desperate tactics by the Boko Haram militants that primarily target non-combatants or innocent and defenceless civilians. [myad]

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