Babangida Turns His Back On PDP, Says He’s Retired From Politics

November 10, 2015

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has turned his back on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on account of the fact that he has retired from active politics.

The former Nigerian strong man, who is a founding leader of the party, said he would attend a meeting he was being invited to or the purpose of rebranding it. The conference is scheduled for November 12.
In a statement today, Babangida said that though as a founding member of the party he would have loved to be a part of the repositioning of the PDP after its dismal outing in the last general election, but that he had since retired from politics.
The statement, which he personally signed, titled: “PDP REBRANDING CONFERENCE: the COUNT ME OUT,” reads in full: “I wish to make some clarifications concerning the invitation extended to me on the scheduled PDP Rebranding Conference slated for Thursday, 12 November, 2015, aimed at repositioning the party after its poor outing at the last elections. While I welcome the invitation to the event as a mark of respect as one of the founding fathers, I want to be excused on the grounds that I have long bid bye to partisan politics.
“Four years ago at an elaborate event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels Abuja, I announced my retirement from partisan politics after my failed attempt to contest for President and having attained the gracious age of 70, in a society where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years. In appreciating what Allah has done for me in life, seeing me through many challenges, stabilizing me during periods of tribulations, and safeguarding me through the thick and thin of political risks, I did state at that event that Journalists would not push me around again.
“Attaining the age of 70 in 2011 was to me a great accomplishment for which I remain eternally grateful to Almighty Allah and my family who have shown tremendous support and encouragement throughout my political trajectory. Since 2011 till date, I have been playing my role as an elder statesman and “consultant-in-chief” to political office seekers and other like-minds who want my input in their aspirations. At 74, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment in my new role as non-partisan elder statesman and a patriot; available to all categories of persons without the burgeoning label of any political party or affiliation. I have many friends and associates in the two dominant political parties; APC and PDP, and numerous other smaller political parties. At this stage of my political journey, I want to be able to interact and socialize with them without being branded “anti-party”.
“It is on the score of this that I have elected to turn down this request to participate in the rebranding conference of the PDP in a partisan manner. My fulfillment in life is further bolstered by the emerging scenario that is evident in our present political reality. First, the idea of a two-party system which has always been my desire; and the stack reality that, incumbents can be defeated at various levels of election as a function of growing awareness and consciousness on the part of the electorate. These to me, present interesting dimensions in our political evolution as a country grappling with so many challenges.
“I have heard whispers from different political arenas that one of the rationales for the rebranding of PDP was to prepare me for future elections in 2019. How ridiculous? God’s willing; by 2019 I will be 78 years old. If I called it quit in 2011, why would PDP contemplate fielding a 78 years old man in a presidential election in a country that parades very vibrant men and women of lesser age? I have no intention whatsoever to run for any office again in Nigeria. I will consistently pray to Almighty Allah to grant me good health and sound mind to watch my dearest beloved country grow from strength to strength during my lifetime and beyond.
“While I wish PDP the best of luck in its desire to rebrand for future electoral challenges, I wish Nigeria and Nigerians the uncommon wisdom to manage our internal contradictions for the sustenance of national unity.” [myad]

Kogi Guber Poll: Police Warns Electorate To Cast Vote And Go Home

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Emmanuel Ojukwu, has warned the electorate to cast their votes and go back home instead remaining at the polling units in the November 21 governorship election.

Ojukwu who spoke at a workshop organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today, said that there is no reason whatsoever for voters to remain at the polling units after casting their votes.

“We are not closing our eyes to the issues of rising insecurity in the state. That is why we want to block every likely avenue for any crisis.

“The police are fully prepared and committed to ensure peaceful conduct of the election and safety of lives and property. We have identified hot spots, areas that are prone to election violence and we are up to the task.

“Our expectations are the expectations of the people of Kogi State, which are free, fair, credible and peaceful election.”

The commissioner said that the duties of the police is to ensure a level playing ground for all political parties and their respective candidates, even as he further warned politicians and their supporters to shun any form of violence that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election.

According to him, any crises precipitated by electoral crises in Kogi State could impact negatively on nine other states with which it shared border.

“No fewer than 20 states pass through Kogi to get to their various destinations. Movement will not be totally restricted because of the motorists that are transiting the state to their destinations.”

Mike Omeri, the Director-General of the NOA, said the essence of the training was for effective sensitization and mobilization of the electorate toward the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Omeri, who was represented by Ngozi Ekeoba, the Director of Political and Civil Education, urged participants to be proactive in educating and sensitising stakeholders on the need for peaceful election.

“The programme is in line with the agency’s policies to ensure that staff are psychologically sound for election coverage,” he said.

Mintwab Zelelew, the Director of UNDP Democratic Governance for Development, said the primary objective of the training was to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

Zelelew said: “Our partnership with NOA is to ensure that sensitisation programmes are frequently conducted all over the 774 local government areas in the country.

“This election will be keenly contested, hence adequate measures must be put in place to ensure free, fair and credible election.” [myad]

Nigerian Becomes First African To Head World Radio Council

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

A Nigerian, Engineer Festus Daudu, has been appointed to head the World Radio Communications (WRC) Council, an arm of the 150 year old International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Engineer Daudu is the Director of the Spectrum Administration at the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the WRC 2015, at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the new head thanked the Almighty God as well as the Government and people of Nigeria for making it possible for him to be the first African to chair the WRC Council.

He assured that he will do his utmost best to fulfill the mandate given to him and that he would be fair and impartial in his dealings.

He stressed that the conference will be examining a large number of important and sensitive issues ranging from mobile broadband communications, broadband satellite systems to emergency communications, disaster relief including issues relating to maritime and aeronautical communications, monitoring the environment and climate change, universal time and space among others.

The conference will also deal with issues covering a wide frequency range and concerning a wide variety of radio communication services that the public relies on for such essential services as health information, education, security and safety.

Engr. Daudu stressed that decisions which would be taken at the conference on Radio Regulations will be critical to the telecoms industry as well as promote connectivity which will directly affect the lives of citizens with important economic impacts on countries such as Nigeria.

He urged all services to consider each other as complimentary and not as rivals and create conducive atmosphere for consultations and negotiations that will lead to consensus and compromises without leaving anyone party feeling cheated.

The World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) are held every four years. It is the job of WRC to review, and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. Revisions are made on the basis of an agenda determined by the ITU Council, which takes into account recommendations made by previous World Radiocommunication Conferences.

The general scope of the agenda of WRC is established four to six years in advance, with the final agenda set by the ITU Council two years before the conference, with the concurrence of a majority of Member States. [myad]

Pay N100 Million, Enjoy Temporary Freedom, Court Set Bail Condition For Suswan

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has, today, granted former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, bail in the sum of N100 million over an alleged fraud involving the sum of N3. 1 Billion.

Suswam was arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion.

The former governor was arraigned alongside the former Benue state commissioner for Finance, Omadaki Oklobia, in line with Section 15(2, 3) of the Money Laundering Act (2011).

Both Suswam and the former Commissioner pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel, Ahmed Raji, asked the court to grant them bail on self-recognition for which the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs did not oppose.

He however insisted that it should not be on self-recognition since a former Governor has jumped bail in the past.

In his ruling, Justice A. R Mohammed granted bail to the two accused on provision of a N100 million bond with two sureties, who must be senior civil servants of level 12 and above, or any person occupying a national office.

The trial judge further ruled that the two accused persons will remain in the custody of the EFCC until they perfected their bail conditions.

Suswam and Okolobia were alleged to have diverted the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd.

The EFCC had on October 2, 2015 filed a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion at a Federal High Court, Abuja against Suswam and Okolobia. [myad]

U-23 Nations Cup: Siasia Goes For 26 Home-Base Players For Morocco Camp

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

Head coach of the national under-23 male football team, Samson Siasia, has picked 26 home-based players for the pre-Africa U-23 Cup of Nations’ training camp in Morocco.
In the list which was released today in Abuja by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the 26 players were picked from the 35 players earlier invited to camp.
The list is dominated by the 2011 All-Africa Games bronze medal-winning group, including goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, defender Segun Oduduwa and midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo, Kingsley Sokari and Daniel Etor.
The team’s other old players such as Christian Pyagbara, Mustapha Abdullahi and Austine Oladapo, however, failed to make the cut.
Siasia also picked new players such as Anaezemba Nzube, Prince Aggrey, Stanley Dimgba, Kufre Ebong and Bature Yaro.
The selected players and team coaching crew are expected to depart for Morocco, where they will be joined by some overseas-based professionals.
Siasia’s team will play Egypt, Algeria and Mali in Group B of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations taking place in Senegal from November 28 to December 12.
Below is the full list:
1. Emmanuel Daniel
2. Yusuf Mohammed
3. Emmanuel Iwu
4. Segun Oduduwa
5. Sincere Seth
6. Erhun Obanor
7. Daniel Etor
8. Oghenekaro Etebo
9. Godwin Aguda
10. Usman Mohammed
11. Ndifreke Effiong
12. Chukwuebuka Iroha
13. Stanley Dimgba
14. Kingsley Sokari
15. Godspower Effiong
16. Prince Aggrey
17. Bature Yaro‎
18. Zaharadeen Bello
19. Amaefule Chizoba
20. Seun Olulayo
21. Tiongoli Tonbara
22. Kufre Ebong
23. Abubakar Aliyu
24. Anaezemba Nzube ‎
25. Daniel Emmanson
26. Adebayo Ajadi [myad]

70,000 Nigerians Have Lost Jobs In Construction Firms, Union Leader Laments

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

President of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, Amechi Asugwuni has lamented that no fewer than 70,000 workers in the construction industry are out of jobs due to the economic decline and inadequate development of infrastructure in the country.

Asugwuni said that such huge number of workforce are out of jobs because there are no major ongoing capital projects in the country.
The union president said that except there is an immediate reactivation of abandoned projects, it would be difficult for the companies to keep their workers.
“There is no way the government can create jobs without focusing on infrastructure development.
“It is sad that job creation is not feasible because there are no ongoing projects.
“The few existing jobs are casualised. This is not good for the growth of the economy.
“Casual workers do not pay tax and tax is part of what is used for the development of infrastructure.
“Lack of infrastructure development is a minus for the country’s quest to create jobs and grow the economy.”
Asugwuni criticized the infrastructural deficit in the country and advised President Muhammadu Buhari to address the problem in order to curb crime and reduce poverty in the country. [myad]

Ministerial Appointment: UN’s Ban Ki Moon Felicitates With Amina Mohammed

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, has congratulated Amina Mohammed on her appointment as a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ban, in a statement by UN Information Centre, also lauded Mohammed’s contributions while she was the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning.
The statement said: “The Secretary-General congratulates Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, on her appointment as minister in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.
“The Secretary-General is deeply grateful for Ms. Mohammed’s outstanding service and contributions to the shaping of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“The Secretary-General wishes Mohammed every success in her new role as minister and looks forward to her continued engagement with the United Nations.”
The statement said her vision and voice had helped in bringing people together, enlist new partners and in reaching global consensus on the Sustainable Development Goals. [myad]

I Will Resolve MTN Crisis In 2 Weeks, New Chairman Assures

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

The newly appointed chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the MTN, Africa’s largest wireless operator Africa’s largest wireless operator, Phuthuma Nhleko has promised to resolve the company’s $5.2bn fine by the NCC within two weeks and reverse share price losses that followed reports of the penalty late last month.

He vowed to personally lead negotiations with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which imposed the record fine for failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered customers before a deadline.

“We are doing our best to try to arrive at an acceptable outcome,” Nhleko said in an interview on South Africa’s Radio 702.

The company’s shares have declined about 16 percent since the fine was reported on October 26.

Analysts say that more senior executives at the mobile network MTN may have to face the music after the resignation of its group chief executive officer, Sifiso Dabengwa on Monday.

“It was inevitable that heads would roll,” World Wide Worx managing director, Arthur Goldstuck said in his reaction to Dabengwa’s resignation.

This could be a sign that the CEO was ineffective at moving ahead with negotiations with the Nigerian regulator or that he was pushed by the board, said Goldstuck.

“One of the big criticisms is that MTN hasn’t kept investors informed. It’s strategic decision-making is slow,” Goldstuck said

Dobek Pater – a director and analyst at telecoms, IT and media research firm Africa Analysis – said he had expected senior executives at MTN’s Nigerian operations to step down first, rather than South African-based Dabengwa.

“I didn’t expect the CEO at group level to step down.”

Meanwhile, Per Second News gathered that the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is also investigating MTN for the way it made its announcement on Monday October 26 regarding the $5.2bn fine. Media reports about the fine surfaced hours before MTN made the SENS announcement on that day. The JSE said it is also looking into possible insider trading at MTN by studying the trades that happened before the announcement. [myad]

Bailout Fund: APC Accuses PDP, Wada, Of Cheap Blackmail

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Kogi State government and the PDP Governors’ Forum of engaging in cheap blackmail by the blaming the delay in the release bailout funds for the state on political interference.

”This accusation is in line with the new-found propensity of the PDP to blame everyone but itself for the woes that have befallen the party in recent times. If the opposition party is not accusing the APC of colluding with the judiciary over the election petition cases, it is accusing the ruling party of colluding with the CBN over bailout funds. This is sickening,” it said.

In a statement issued in Abuja today by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it has no business with the release or otherwise of the bailout funds to Kogi state.

”Our investigations have revealed that the Kogi State Government has not been able to justify the over 50 billion Naira it is asking for as bailout funds. It is curious that the chunk of the funds which the state is asking for, over 40 billion Naira, is for the payment of the salaries of Local Government workers.

”The state is saying the backlog of salaries owed to these categories of workers dates back to 2011.

“How can that be, when Nigeria was not even broke in 2011? How can the state be owing Local Government workers when it has been collecting 2.2 billion Naira monthly in allocation for Local Governments, amounting to over 100 billion Naira in four years? What happened to the Local Government allocations collected by the state if it is owing LG workers since 2011?

‘The figures and explanations tendered by the Kogi State Government to justify the request for 50.8 billion Naira in bailout funds are not tenable, especially because only 4.9 billion Naira of the amount is for the payment of workers in the state civil service.

”Nigerians should bear in mind that the bailout funds are not for anything beyond the payment of workers’ salaries. The onus is therefore on the Kogi State Government to justify its request for 50.8 billion Naira, and to assure the CBN that the state is not seeing the funds as slush money. It is the failure to do just that, rather than any so-called political interference, that has denied the state government of accessing the funds so far.”

APC reminded the PDP Governors’ Forum, which has been quick to jump into the fray without doing its own due diligence, that the initiative to bail the states out of their inability to pay workers’ salaries was at the instance of the Buhari Administration, and meant to provide much-needed relief to the workers.

”Therefore, it does not make sense for anyone to accuse the ruling party or an agency of the same government of frustrating the release of the funds. Kogi State has no one but itself to blame for the quagmire in which it has found itself over the bailout funds.”

APC said the Kogi State Government should go and sort itself out with the CBN, if indeed it wants to get the bailout funds.

“What kind of desperation will make a man to callously and viciously wage war against the release of resources meant for the people of his state? The Kogi State Government is of the firm view that the bailout fund is only a loan and not a presidential benevolence, a spokesperson for the PDP said Tuesday.

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State recently called on President Muhammed Buhari not to play politics with the issue of bailout fund earmarked for states, saying that Kogi is yet to get its portion months after fulfilling the necessary documentation.

The claim was upon statements credited to the APC gubernatorial candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu and his running mate, Abiodun Falake, at a campaign rally where they said they had prevailed on President Buhari to order the stoppage of the release of the bailout funds to Kogi State until after the November 21 governorship election. [myad]

Army Probes Its Officer In Ekiti, Osun, Rivers, A-Ibom 2015 Elections

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2015

The Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, has constituted a five-man board of generals to investigate alleged partisanship of members of the Nigeria Army during the 2015 general election.

General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, said he was made the Chairman of the board by General Buratai. Other members of the board are Brigadier General Sunday Araoye, Brigadier General Emmanuel Kabuk, Brigadier General Baba Ibrahim and Colonel Danladi Salihu who will serve as its secretary.

General Oyebade told newsmen that there are allegations made by the general public on the gubernatorial elections conducted in some states such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa Ibom among others.

“These allegations are weighty and Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Buratai is determined to get to the root of the matter. The COAS insists on maintaining a professionally responsive Nigerian Army determined on discharging its constitutional roles, and as such instituted this Board of Inquiry.

“The panel is to investigate these allegations and recommend appropriate measures to prevent a re-occurrence in the future. The military as a noble profession must remain apolitical in our democratic dispensation.

“Politics, we strongly believe should be left entirely to politicians. The role of the military must strictly be in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“I must hasten to add, however, that despite these worrisome allegations, the military has to a large extent performed creditably as the foremost guardian of the nation’s democracy.”

“All petitions/memorandum are to be forwarded not later than Fri day, November 20. The panel shall commence its sitting from 9am – 5pm daily except Sundays starting from yesterday. [myad]

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