World Bank Rates Osun Best In Rural Access Projects

November 12, 2015

The management of World Bank has rated the State of Osun as the best among its peers in the implementation, management and maintenance of Rural Access and Mobility Projects (RAMP) being financed by the institution across the states of the federation.
The global financial institution gave this commendation through its team, led by Engineer Olatunji Hammed during a second phase project presentation to the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Engineer Hammed said that Osun State has put up an exemplary performance in the quality of its unprecedented developmental projects that centred on the lives of the generality of its populace, especially the rural dwellers.
Engineer Hammed said that the state has been able to stand out as the first state that has successfully maintained it roads to enhance productivity and as well as improve the economy of the state through accessible and motor able roads, linking communities, villages, towns as well as cities.
He said that the state has maintained its pacesetting standard for its counterparts in terms of rural based road maintenance which according to him, has prompted other states to come to learn rural access roads maintenance skills from the state.
Hammed said that in spite of the fact that the state is blessed with multitude of villages, towns and cities, it has emerged as the best roads connectivity in the country.

“Rural Access and Mobility Project has helped significantly in harnessing and exploring the agricultural potentiality of the rural dwellers in the area of transportation of farm produce to urban cities as roads rural/urban roads are being aggressively linked and exposed for easier accessibility.
“There is no doubt about the fact that many states in the country are jealous of Osun in terms of its rapid developmental projects which aims at improving the general well being of its populace as the state ever remained the best in implementation, management and maintenance of community based roads across the length and breadth of the state.
“This wouldn’t have been impossible if not for the support of Governor Aregbesola towards the Rural Access and Mobility Project which has impacted meaningfully in the teeming lives of the citizenry.
Governor Aregbesola told the visitor that Osun is keen on the project because the state has been wrongly tagged “Civil Service State” which in reality, is a peasant agrarian state.
Governor Aregbesola said that the entire resources of the state even at the best of time, were N4.6 billion at a period when the state received its highest allocation, adding that the last chunk of this statutory allocation amounts to the sum of N3.6 billion, dedicated to payment of civil servants’ salary arrears, gratuity, pensions and other emoluments.
“We engaged in Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) because we know that it is through this provision that we can support the economy of this state by meeting the core needs of rural dwellers, access and support the evacuation of their farm produce to the markets.
“It is because of our genuine commitment to energize the rural dwellers in their onerous duty of producing agricultural commodity that we are passionate and aggressively committed to RAMP.
“Though financially, we are highly constrained but even in spite of that constraint, we are committed to RAMP and I pledge that we will quickly mobilize our counterpart fund to usher in the commencement of the RAMP2.”[myad]

Realnews Magazine Holds 3rd Anniversary Lecture In Lagos

Greenbarge Reporters

November 12, 2015

The Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited has scheduled its Third Anniversary Lecture for Thursday, November 19.

According to information, Realnews will be focusing attention on the economy which is currently in the doldrums. It noted that all the economic indices in the country now ranging from depleting foreign reserve, depreciating value of the naira, the double digit interest rates, high rate of unemployment, especially amongst youth, to inflation rate which is now on the increase show that there is need for a rethink of the economic direction Nigeria is heading.

The lecture entitled: “It’s the Nigerian Economy, Stupid,” which will be delivered by Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, a renowned Economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will take place at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Expressway, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 10 am prompt.

Members of the panellists who are expected to discuss various socio-economic issues and the way forward are, Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Remi Ogunmefun, Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Abraham Nwankwo, Director General, Debt Management Office. Both the lecturer and all of the panellists have confirmed their attendance at the event.

The Special Guest of Honour is Senator Chris Ngige, former Governor of Anambra State and now minister of Labour and Productivity, while the chairman of the occasion is Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Investments Services Limited. Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank is one of the moving spirits behind the Nigerian Economic Summit. They have also confirmed their attendance.

The event would also witness investiture of prominent Nigerians into the prestigious Realnews Hall of Fame, exclusively reserved for only Guest Speakers, Discussants, Book Reviewers and Chairpersons at our Anniversary Lecture Series.

Those to be inducted into the Realnews Hall of Fame are Professor Maurice Iwu, former chairman of INEC, Mr. Roberts Orya, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbunam, President, Media World, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises and Professor Joe. I. Ezigbo, Managing Director, Falcon Corporation Limited.

“They (inductees) all played key roles during our second anniversary Lecture and the induction into the Realnews Hall of Fame is just a token of our appreciation for the honour they did to Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited last year,” said Maureen Chigbo, publisher/editor of Realnews.

Chigbo also said that the Second Volume of the Paragon of Journalism, co-edited by her and the late Mike Akpan, publisher/editor and editor-in-chief of Realnews magazine, respectively, will be presented at the event.

Realnews, a general interest magazine, is an online publication which thrives on investigative journalism debuted November 19, 2012. It focuses on oil and gas sector with its attendant environmental challenges as well as issues relating to business and economy, politics, power, health, women and youth. Its aim is to unearth exclusive stories about real people and the challenges they are facing in their day-to-day activities. It does this bearing in mind that government can only act to influence the lives of people positively if they are aware of their true situation. Hence, its objective is to use its investigative skills to ferret out information in the sectors it focuses on and produce an unbiased report which will actually influence the government and decision makers to take actions that will make the society better. [myad]

Group Asks Police Boss To Arrest Tukur Mamu For Alleged Certificate Forgery

Greenbarge Reporters

November 12, 2015

A group, going by the name Advocate Against Corruption has sent a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), asking him to arrest the publisher of a Zaria, Kaduna base Desert Herald magazine, Mr. Tukur Mamu for alleged certificate forgery.

The group, shich is said to be an umbrella body of teeming Nigerian young professionals both at home and in the Diaspora, united in the cause of fighting corruption and impunity in Nigeria, said that unless something is done urgently to save the situation by the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the entire academic process of the first generation university may soon be ridiculed and brought into avoidable disrepute following a certificate scandal involving the university and Mr. Mamu.

In an open letter dated 10^th November, 2015 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, they called on him to immediately arrest and prosecute Mr. Tukur Mamu over forgery of academic certificate and cheating.

The group’s three-page letter to the IGP was signed by Barr. Peter U. Ejike, National Coordinator and Barrister Vera G. Onoja, National Secretary. It was copied to the ICPC, EFCC, VC, ABU, Zaria, NUJ, Nigerian Press Council, SGF, Attorney-General & Minister for Justice, National Universities Commission and others.

It called on the IGP to arrest and arraign Mamu on a case of forgery and cheating, contrary to Sections 277 and 321 of the Penal Code.

The group’s petition read in part as follows:

“It has been brought to our knowledge that Mr. Tukur Mamu claimed to have obtained a degree in Mass Communication from the Institut Superieur de Technologie et de Management (ISTM) in Niamey, Niger Republic. With the said forged Certificate, Tukur Mamu has been holding himself out to the unsuspecting public as a journalist and has been publishing the Desert Herald News Magazine. He equally sought and obtained admission into Post Graduate School of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.

“Without any verification and/or possibly, in conspiracy with Tukur Mamu, the authorities of A.B.U Zaria did not only admit but also graduated the said Tukur Mamu based on presentation of the forged degree certificate.

“Investigations have now revealed that Tukur Mamu never attended the said Institut Superieur de Technologie et de Management (ISTM) in Niamey, Niger Republic. Rather, he forged a degree certificate and in cahoots with some officials of the A.B.U Zaria illegally and corruptly obtained a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy in 2012. You are no doubt aware of the serious threat which this kind of forgery act poses to the educational sector of our country.

“For your ease of reference, the following documents backing the case against Tukur Mamu are attached as proof, marked A- D: (A- Tukur Mamu’s forged Degree Certificate; (B- Letter from A.B.U Zaria clearing Tukur Mamu; (C- Letter from Embassy of Niger Republic confirming the forgery; (D- Letter from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja to the IGP.

“It is very clear from investigation that Tukur Mamu never attended I.S.T.M in Niamey but forged the institution’s degree certificate, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 277 OF THE PENAL CODE AND UPON CONVICTION, PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 364 OF THE CODE WITH IMPRISONMENT FOR 14 YEARS.

“This same Tukur Mamu, parading himself as a media publisher and making defamatory publications, has since been blacklisted by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) following his indictment by a panel set up by the union to probe his activities.

“It has now come to our knowledge that investigations have been completed on the case and Tukur Mamu has been manoeuvring frantically using false claims to convince some influential persons to prevail on you to drop the case against him and abort his impending arraignment in court over certificate forgery. We have confidence in your leadership and believe that you will not waiver. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE ERA OF IMPUNITY IN OUR COUNTRY IS OVER!!!

“From the foregoing, WE HEREBY STATE AND DEMAND AS FOLLOWS:

(a) That you use your good office as a matter of urgency to order the immediate arrest and arraignment of Tukur Mamu for forgery and cheating.

(b) That your Office should set up an investigative team comprising highly professional Police officers to immediately invite and question the Authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in order to ascertain those who conspired with Tukur Mamu to commit the offence and arraign them accordingly.

“We also use this medium to demand that the authorities of A.B.U. Zaria publicly withdraw the Masters Degree which the University wrongly awarded to Tukur Mamu with immediate effect.

“Please note that in furtherance of our commitment to the anti-corruption agenda of the present Administration, we may be left with no option than to resort to mass protests and occupation of strategic offices in Abuja if this petition is not accorded the deserved expeditious attention. This is because condoning any act of corruption, including certificate forgery, constitutes an attempt to ridicule and undermine the anti-corruption programme of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, which enjoys the overwhelming support of our members as well as those of the vast majority of Nigerians.”

It was learnt that investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had earlier found Mamu guilty of using a forged degree certificate to obtain admission for a Masters Degree programme at the university in 2011 and his subsequent graduation with MA in International Affairs and Diplomacy in 2012.

Efforts to each Mamu for his reaction to the allegation were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone were not going through. [myad]

Saraki Can Now Celebrate: Court, Government Stop His Trial

Greenbarge Reporters

November 12, 2015

The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki may have had the last laugh as the Supreme Court has ordered the stoppage of his by the Code of Conduct Tribunal even as the federal government promised that the trial is as good as being over.
The order of the Court came today following the Federal Government’s position not to proceed with the criminal case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The undertaking was given by the counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), at the hearing of the case which was instituted by Saraki at the Supreme Court against his trial by the CCT.
This was as the Supreme Court also promised to expedite the hearing of the case. [myad]

Alleged Imposition Of Jonathan In 2015 Poll: Dokpesi On His Own -, Metuh

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2015

National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh has said that the statement credited to the party’s National Conference Committee Chairman, Chief Raymond Dokpesi that former President Goodluck Jonathan was imposed on PDP in the 2015 Presidential election was purely his opinion and not that of the party.

Metuh who spoke with newsmen in Abuja today said that Dokpesi’s statement did not in any way represent official position of the PDP, as he was not a member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

According to Metuh, Dokpesi could only speak in his personal capacity even as he insisted that the decision to field Jonathan was approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

He added that the decision was also approved by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), and the party’s National Caucus.

“In addition, the Constitution of the party allows a sitting president the chance to exercise his personal right to run for a second term if he so desires.’’

He wondered how the same party that endorsed the candidacy of Jonathan would regret the decision that was taken by the NWC, NEC and the national caucus.

“What are we talking about? Everybody was conscious of the decision; nobody was coerced into supporting the position.”

He said that it is the time for buck-passing or blame-game but time to collectively reposition the party.

“We are repositioning our party. What we should do is to join hands to reposition PDP based on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s report to reclaim the party’s lost glory. This is what is expected of us all at this time’’, Metuh said [myad]

Ekiti Economy Is Collapsing, Fayose Cries Out

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2015

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has raised an alarm that the state’s economy might be grounded in five months time unless something urgent is done to salvage it.

The governor, in a parley with Ekiti Professionals and leaders of thoughts on the state of Ekiti finances, said that with the monthly deductions of about N900 million, the state might find it extremely difficult to meet its obligations.

Fayose, had also parleyed with professionals of Ekiti origin under the auspices of Igbimo Ure Ekiti and the Clerics, urging to embrace the new tax regime and to help in sensitizing their congregation.

The governor said that available records show that schools being held by missionaries, had consistently be leading in every public examinations in recent past.

He said his administration is committed to the construction of an ultra modern Oja Oba Market, Airport and fly over in Ado Ekiti capital city, in spite of the paucity of funds confronting the State.

On the new tax regime that has generated so much furore among the populace, Fayose called on the professionals to continue to spread the gospel to the people on the need to increase the revenue in the State, so that infrastructural facilities can be put in place.

The president of the group and former Minister of Health, Mr. Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, assured that the body would continue to play apolitical role and support the government to attract development to the State. [myad]

Group Faults Vice President’s Open Support For Prince Audu

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2015

A Kogi-based group, known as Team Kogi 2016, has condemned Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for supporting the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21 election, Prince Abubakar Audu, by raising his hand to the electorate.

This, the group said, in spite of the corruption cases hanging on the neck of the governorship candidate.

In a communiqué in Lokoja, the state capital, signed by the Director of Public Communications of the group, the group said the action of the Vice President was aimed at intimidating the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in the ongoing trial of Audu on graft related allegations.

“Professor Yemi Osinbajo was the one that shouted the anti-corruption mantra loudest. But today, he raised the hand of a man charged to court by a government agency, the EFCC for allegedly stealing 10 billion naira from the coffers of Kogi State while he was governor.” [myad]

Case Against Code Of Conduct Tribunal Boss Is Rumour – EFCC

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2015

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made it clear that the allegation of N10m bribery case against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Mr. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar is based on rumour. The EFCC said that the evidence against him is not weighty and not sufficient to sustain a possible prosecution.

The anti-graft body claimed that the facts against the CCT Chairman raised just mere suspicion which in law, cannot take the place of proof, adding: “the facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence.”

In a memorandum forwarded to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on March 5, 2015, the EFCC, however, confirmed that one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, a Personal Assistant to the CCT boss admitted receiving N1.8m in 2012 from one Rasheed Taiwo standing trial at the tribunal.

The said Abdullahi was alleged to have used his salary account at Zenith Bank to collect the graft.

In the letter with a Reference No EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56 (dated March 5, 2015) and personally signed by the immediate past Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, the complainant in the bribery saga, Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, a retired Deputy Comptroller General of Customs was said to have failed to produce the alleged telephone conversations and text messages exchanged by him and Justice Umar.

The Former Customs Chief was said to have persistently claimed that he had lost his phone since 2012 and could not trace or recover it.

EFCC said that the telephone of the complainant would have been subjected to independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the bribery allegation against the CCT boss.

Justice Umar was, however, said by EFCC to have admitted meeting the complainant in his chamber at the tribunal and that meeting was most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on the part of the chairman.

The EFCC letter was entitled “Investigation Report on N10m bribery allegation against the chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja” [myad]

Fashola With Buhari’s Load, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Yusuf Ozi-Usman

November 11, 2015

One doesn’t know whether to rejoice with or pity the former governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Raji Fashola when President Muhammadu Buhari, today, announced the portfolios attached to him as a minister.
As a matter of fact, the reality of the challenging tasks ahead of Fashola when three powerful and demanding ministries – Power, Works and Housing- were placed on him, did not begin to dawn on some analysts until a few hours after the Presidential pronouncement.
Of course, those who wanted to be pleasantly mischievous referred to him as the Prime Minister of the Buhari’s government, by virtue of the vital and tough ministries he is to supervise. This was even as many of his fans believed that he has all the pedigrees to accomplish the multiple tasks ahead of him.
Whatever clout Fashola possesses, there are concerns in many quarters that for one man to handle any one of the three ministries could be energy-sapping, much more the three combined.
On Power, past governments have tried all they could to correct the anomalies in the system that continue to put the country in darkness but achieved little. Recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo promised, with all seriousness, to end power challenges within a year as President, but ended up admitting that the rot in the system was beyond redemption.
Billions of naira sank into the system, different methods used and the high level of determination of the past governments had yielded very little.
The same thing can also be said of the ministry of works, where the more the billions of naira was sank into it, the more problematic it became. As a matter of fact, the road construction segment of the ministry was for long turned into a drain-pipe to siphon the national financial resources with very little to show for it. The last administration made sure that the meeting of Federal Executive Council (FEC) every Wednesday was turned into mere award of billions of naria for road projects that never saw the light of the day. It was sickening.
The ministry of Housing too had been budged down by corruption, lack of a defined focus and total misunderstanding of what needed to be done to uplift the standard of living of ordinary Nigerians.
Fashola himself confessed, when he assumed duty today, shortly after his swearing-in, that the challenge he faces is how to bring together processes and activities of all the Ministries now put under his supervision for effective service delivery.
However, those who know Fashola and the wonders he performed in Lagos when he governed the state for eight years, would swear that he would deliver on the gargantuan tasks President Buhari has placed on his shoulder.
And, that is to say, that when the chips are down and President Buhari is to give account of his achievements as President, the person who would be the yardstick for Nigerians to determine such achievements would be Fashola. If he can wade through the thorns, the tumbles and man-made tribulations and fix power; if he can ignore the antics of powerful cabals and put the Nation’s roads in good shape, befitting of the country; and if he can refocus the housing sector with a view to making houses available for majority of poor Nigerians, then, he would have written his name in gold in the nation’s march to greatness.
And, of course, it is as if President Buhari, determined to re-engineer Nigeria as a nation, just told Fashola, ‘go ye and do the sensitive part of my job for me. [myad]

President Buhari Springs Surprise, Gives Portfolios To 36 Ministers

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2015

Against the general expectations, President Muhammadu Buhari, today, gives all his 36 ministers portfolios and asked them to proceed to deliver the campaign promises of All Progresives Congress (APC) for the positive change he envisaged for Nigeria.

The President, who swore-in the ministers at the Presidental Villa, Abuja today, allocated the ministries to the following ministers:

Abubakar Malami – Justice

Geoffrey Onyeama – Foreign Affairs

Khadija Abubakar Abba Ibrahim – State Minister of Foreign Affairs

Muhammad Dan Ali – Defence

Adamu Adamu – Education

Prof Anthony Onwuka – State Minister of Education

Kemi Adeosun – Finance

Okechukwu Enelama – Industry, Trade and Investment

Aisha Abubakar – State Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

Senator Chris Ngige – Labour and Employment

James Ocholi – State Minister of Labour and Employment

Mohammodu Musa Bello – Federal Capital Territory

Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau – Interior

Senator Udo Udoma – Budget and National Planning

Zainab Ahmed – State Minister of Budget and National Planning

Ibe Kachikwu – State Minister of Petroleum Resources

Babatunde Fashola – Power, Works and Housing

Mustapha Baba Shehuri – State Minister of Power, Works and Housing

Audu Ogbeh – Agricultural and Rural Development

Heineken Lokpobiri – State Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development

Rotimi Amaechi – Transportation

Hadi Sirika – State Minister of Aviation

Isaac Adewole – Health

Osagie Ehanire – State Minister of Health

Aisha Al-Hassan – Woman Affairs

Usani Uguru – Niger Delta

Claudius Daramola – State Minister of Niger Delta

Adebayo Shittu – Communication

Lai Mohammed – Information

Amina Mohammed – Environment

Usman Jubril – State Minister of Environment

Suleiman Adamu – Water Resources

Solomon Dalong – Youth and Sports

Kayode Fayemi – Solid Minerals

Abubakar Bwari – Minister Of States of Solid Minerals

Ogbonaya Onu – Science and Technology. [myad]

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