Senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP) have started singing a new song about not being part of those who elected Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President. This is contrary to the earlier belief in many quarters that PDP senators connived with some renagade APC colleagues to elect Senator Saraki so that they would get Deputy Senate President position in the bargain. The PDP senators, today, swore that they never supported emergence of Dr. Saraki, adding that the the luck Saraki had was that he was returned unopposed as Senate president. The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of the PDP senators, said the PDP caucus staged a walk-out during the confirmation of a former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and 17 others because they did not want to participate in illegality. He added that the PDP senators decided not to participate in what he described as a “charade confirmation” because they have responsibilities to Nigerians. “We never supported Saraki during the election because he was returned unopposed. We staged a walk-out because we felt that there is total breach in the law. “You will notice that our colleagues never wanted to hear our views.” [myad]
At last, former Rivers State governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi has passed the niddle’s eye to land a ministerial job. His appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari was finally confirmed today by the Senate after series of stumbling blocks from his home government, the leadership and senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His confirmation today was also trailed by drama and walkout the PDP senators. Amaechi was the last to be taken for confirmation with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, calling on Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the head of Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to provide the report on the investigation of the petition against Amaechi. Anyanwu’s committee recommended that the Senate could not do anything with the confirmation considering that Amaechi’s case against the Rivers State Government was pending at the Court of Appeal. Amaechi had appealed a judgement of the High Court which upheld that the commission of enquiry set up by the state government to try Amaechi was legal. The Senate Minority Leader and former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, then urged the Senate to allow a proper discussion on the report brought to the Senate by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, however called on the Senate to confirm Amaechi since the case was in court and not confirming him would be against the Senate Rule. However, while Akpabio attempted to kick against the argument, he was shouted down by the APC senators. The PDP senators who had arguments against the confirmation were also shouted down by their counterparts in the APC. Senator George Sekibo from Rivers State, while rejecting Amaechi’s confirmation, argued that the allegation of corruption and other alleged crimes against Amaechi should not be amended by any Senator. “We’re joining President Muhammadu Buhari to fight against corruption, I hope his followers join him to fight against corruption too,” Sekibo said while reminding the Senate of the moral burden before it, concerning Amaechi. He was countered by Senator Babajide Omoworare, who noted that though the Committee on Ethics and Privileges is the most important Committee of the House, but that part of the Standing Rules of the Senate was being contravened. He said since the petition is in court, the Senate cannot decide on the matter. While the arguments went on, Senator Samuel Anyanwu explained that his Committee’s recommendations showed that the Senate had no right to recommend confirmation. He was supported by Senator Biodun Olujimi, who said the petition is a moral burden on the Senate and that the Senate should be conscious of this. She was however shouted down by the APC senators. Senator Barnabas Gemade then urged the Senate President to put the issue to vote saying the minority already had their say and that it was time for the majority to have their way. The senators then voted to reject the committee report with the majority favouring the rejection. As Saraki was putting the issue to a vote, the PDP senators, led by Akpabio, begged to exit the Senate Chamber. The PDP senators then staged a walk-out, but the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, waited behind. The Senate thereafter approved the nomination of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Minister of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Other nominees confirmed by the Senate included Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Khadija Abba Ibrahim, Heineken Lokpobiri, Cladius Omoleye Daramola, Baba Shehuri Mustapha, Ocholi Enojo James, Adewole Folorunso, Hon. Bawa Bwari, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Zainab S. Ahmed, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali, Pastor Usani Uguru, Mr. Okechukwu Eyinna Enelamah, Professor Anwuka Anthony Gozie, Mohammed Musa Bello, Adamu Adamu and Aisha Abubakar. [myad]
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has admitted that there would be challenges in bringing Boko Haram insurgents to an end by December this year, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. “There are challenges, no doubt, but God willing, we will meet the expectations of the people and the deadline given by the Commander-in-Chief as the government is giving us necessary supports and encouragement.” The Chief of Air Staff spoke today when he received in audience, officials of the Centre for Crisis Communication. He said that the Air Force had, between July and October, conducted a total of 1,448 air sorties in support of the the fight against Boko Haram in the North East. He said that the service also deployed over 300 ground troops from its special forces to fight along with the Army in the field. Abubakar said that the Air Force is doing everything possible to see how peace can be restored in the troubled areas as soon as possible, saying that the air component is fully integrated in the counter insurgency operation plans. He said that NAF is using different aircrafts in its arsenal including F-7NI, Alpha Jet, C-130 AC, Augusta 109 LUH, Mi-35, Mi-24, Mi-17, Supa Puma Helicopters, among others to carry out logistics support, reconnaissance and combat operations. “Where ever the army is going in the battle field, we give them the air support, provide intelligence and clear the ground for them to operate optimally.” Air Marshal Abubakar expressed his appreciation to the Centre for Crisis Communication for the important job they are doing in trying to streamline and harmonize crisis information in the country for effectiveness, noting that information management is critical to success or otherwise of military operations, especially the counter insurgency operation embarked upon by the Nigerian Armed Forces. “If you manage information well, you kill the morale of the enemies,” he said, adding that NAF has embarked on a number of quick impact projects in the North East aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people. Such, he said, including providing medical facilities, clinics, medical laboratories, medical wards and drugs. He said that NAF has sunk boreholes, provided 50,000 litres overhead tanks, constructed toilet facilities and shelters for internally displaced persons in the north east. The CCC team was led by its Executive Director, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd). The team paid Abubakar a courtesy visit in his office. [myad]
Professor Yemi Osinbajo has said that as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his role is to supervise the economy, even as he said that there would be no such thing as coordinating minister of finance as was obtained in the immediate past government. In a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande today said that Professor Osinbajo made the declaration while receiving the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan Richardson, in his office at the Presidential Viall, Abuja. “It would be recalled that during the National Economic Summit in Abuja few weeks ago, the Vice President was asked during a Presidential Dialogue why the President was absent at the Summit. In his response, the Vice President explained that the President wished to be present, but due to pressing national engagements he couldn’t attend. He apologised and then noted that as Vice President his role is to supervise the economy. “We are not going to have a system like where there was a coordinating minister. No, there would not be anything like that.” He said as Vice President his role is “to ensure that everyone is involved in economic activities, that there is a way by which the President is fully appraised of what everyone is doing such that we are all on same page and to make it easier for the President to make decisions.” Professor Osinbajo also expressed the willingness of the Federal Government to deepen the existing bilateral relations, especially in the area of economic cooperation with the Government of Australia, in mining, agriculture, shipping and transport sectors as well as in the area of infrastructure development. Explaining the reason for Nigeria’s interest in the deepening of economic cooperation between the two countries, Professor Osinbajo said: “the Federal Government would be interested in exploring deeper relationship on economic cooperation as it is a major area in diversifying our economy.” He lauded Nigeria’s excellent bilateral relations with Australia and commended the Australian government for the various capacity building initiatives in Nigeria and its investments in some key sectors of the economy. The High Commissioner of Australia to Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan Richardson said that his country’s bilateral relations with Nigeria had grown over the years. He disclosed that his country is seeking to enhance relations with Nigeria in areas of commercial development and is ready to offer technical assistance in some sectors which the country has given priority to. [myad]
The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jalingo has set aside the election of the Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Abel Peter Diah. He is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a judgment delivered today in the petition filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC ) candidate for Mbamga state constituency, Mr Emmanuel Bongo, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to the Speaker pending the conclusion of elections in eight polling units in the constituency.
The APC candidate had filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the victory of Hon Diah on the grounds that elections in 9 polling units of the constituency did not conform substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
In the ruling, which was read by Justice A.M Ali on behalf of the three man panel of justices, the tribunal held that elections in 8 polling units out of the total 48 polling units did not conform substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and therefore ordered INEC to conduct fresh election in the 8 polling units within 90 days.
The tribunal further held that the petitioner failed to proof his case in regard to the 9th polling unit in contention due to his failure to call oral witnesses as he did in regards to the other 8 polling units that were cancelled. [myad]
The new Ooni of Ife, Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, today entered Ile Ife with pump and pageantry as the residents trooped onto the streets to welcome him. He arrived in Ile Ife at exactly 2.15pm today
Shortly after his arrival, former President Olusegun Obasanjo paid him a visit quietly.
The new Ooni was received at the Ile Ife end of Ibaden-Ife Expressway by Ife chiefs, led by the Lowa Adimula, Oba Joseph Ijaodola.
The new monarch was conveyed to the end of the toll gate in a black car together with the Chairman of the Screening Committee of the Giesi Ruling House, Prof. Adekanye Aderibigbe.
Ogunwusi was first received by his father, who introduced him to the chiefs, led by Ijaodola.
He consulted with the chiefs for about three minutes before he boarded the car that conveyed him to the old toll gate.
He acknowledged cheers from thousands of Ife residents and well wishers who trooped out to witness his arrival.
Ogunwusi’s arrival caused heavy traffic jam on the roads in Ile Ife as youths and elders lined both sides of the road, singing songs of welcome as the new monarch entered into the heart of the town.
Pupils of various schools in Ile Ife were also part of the welcome party for the new Ooni. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear to Indian business people wanting to do business in Nigeria that it is no longer going to be business as usual. He specifically asked the Indian Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), to accept the changes in policy being introduced by his administration and observe all extant Nigerian laws in running their business in Nigeria. The President, who spoke today in New Delhi at an interactive session with Chief Executives of Indian companies with interests in Nigeria, warned, particularly, that his administration will not tolerate the importation of sub-standard goods, especially foods and medicines, into Nigeria. Buhari said that despite the fall in oil prices, his Administration remains fully committed to maintaining macro-economic stability and improving investor confidence in Nigeria even as he expressed the belief that with its abundance of human and material resources, the Nigerian economy does not have to suffer unduly from low oil prices, despite its severe impact on government revenues. “What is required of us, to which we are strongly committed, is the implementation of tight expenditure controls, effective fiscal and monetary policies, including the husbandry of scarce resources which our introduction of the Single Treasury Account has began to address. “We are aware some of these measures may hurt operations of some businesses in the short term, but we believe they are right for a sustainable economy.” The President noted that India has been a dependable ally and friend of Nigeria and called on the Chief Executives to expand their companies’ investments in Nigeria “so that we can, together, turn our engagements into a win-win situation for our two countries. “We can increase and diversify the current volume of our bilateral trade beyond US$16.36 billion, and diversify to other critical sectors such as agriculture; green technologies in power generation; infrastructure; information and communications technologies; the services sector; education; industry, especially textiles and solid minerals among others.” [myad]
“In the meantime, we will continue to prosecute those who have been indicted for corrupt practices and ensure that stolen funds are recovered, to serve as deterrence to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gain.” President Muhammadu Buhari made this vow today in New Delhi when he addressed members of the Nigerian community in India. He reaffirmed his Administration’s resolute commitment to curbing corruption, plugging all loopholes in public sector accounting and deploying available resources for the good of all Nigerians. President Buhari stressed that the recovery of stolen funds and prosecution of persons who have been indicted for corrupt practices will also continue to be vigorously pursued. The President said that he expected the ongoing recoveries and prosecutions to serve as a deterrent to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gain. President Buhari assured Nigerians that his administration fully recognized the devastating consequences of the illegal diversion of public resources meant for national development into private bank accounts, and is doing all within its powers to stop such diversions. “The anti-corruption campaign will be on-going for many years. We are committed to the enthronement of good governance that plugs the loopholes in public sector accounting, and the use of scarce resources for public good. “We are determined to demonstrate exemplary leadership that will make our citizens to change their ways in a manner that lays a solid foundation for reconstruction and development. “I am confident that our approach to fighting corruption through value re-orientation, improved internal processes and systems and the rule of law, as well as enhancing the capacity of the various anti-corruption agencies and institutions will prove more enduring in addressing this evil.” The President told the Nigerian community that he is fully aware of the expectations of Nigerians who elected him on the platform of change, integrity, probity and accountability, and is therefore doing his utmost best to meet those expectations. “I wish to assure you that we shall do our best to fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming population of our youths and make the home environment safe, secure and more attractive to Nigerians outside the country like your good selves. “On the economy, our aim is to address the challenge of infrastructure in all its ramifications, especially power and transportation. We are seeking to create jobs through agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition and the promotion of small scale enterprises. “We are also taking steps to address criminality across the country. We are tackling the menace of terrorism posed by Boko Haram head on and I am pleased to note that though sporadic attacks on soft targets have not stopped, the over-all capacity of Boko Haram to hold territory and determine the course of the conflict has been severely degraded. “If the current positive trends are maintained, we are confident that by the end of this year, we would have succeeded in permanently turning the tide against the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.” [myad]
The Itsekiri ethnic nationality of Warri, Delta State, has expressed surprised that some Igbo interest groups in the South-East that have been agitating for the Biafra Republic out of Nigeria have gone ahead to include the whole of the Niger Delta in the said Republic,dissociating itself completely from such move.
The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILT), in a statement by its Chairman, Pa Johnson Ayomike and Secretary, Edward Ekpoko said that never again will the Itsekiri tolerate invasion of their territory by Igbos as they did in 1967, adding that the Itsekiri nation is committed to the unity of Nigeria and will do all it can to promote and protect it as one indivisible country.
“As Major General Philip Effiong said on January 14, 1970, the Republic of Biafra ceased to exist. We, the Itsekiri, wish it to be eternally so for the peace and development of our great nation.” [myad]
Governor Nyesom Wike has raised an alarm over what he called judicial gang up to wrestle power from him at all costs.
Reacting to the nullification of his election by the Election Petition Tribunal and confirmation of same by the Supreme Court yesterday, Wike said this is a gang up against him and the people of the state.
According to him, the judiciary is setting a dangerous precedent in the country with the way it had gone about elections in Rivers state.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, his special adviser on media and publicity, Opunabo Nko-Tariah alleged that there had been effort to wrestle power from Wike through the back door and that legal steps will be taken to defend the mandate of the people displayed in the April 11 general election.
“What is going on right now can best be described as judicial gang-up against Governor Wike, nay, the people of Rivers State. It is an affront on democracy and a blight disregard for the will of the people as evinced in the April 11 general elections.
“The courts are setting pernicious precedents by hinging their verdicts on inane points. Rivers people overwhelmingly gave their mandate to Governor Wike but a microscopic few want to wrest that mandate from him through the back door.” [myad]
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Senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP) have started singing a new song about not being part of those who elected Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President.
