A total of 44,617 Nigerians that performed this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia have been airlifted in 117 flights back to their respective homes in Nigeria as at this evening. This is even as it has been confirmed that 145 Nigerians lost their lives at the Jamrat stampede on September 24, which also claimed prominent personalities, including the former editor of the New Nigerian Newspaper, Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf.
It has also been confirmed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in Jeddah that 165 other Nigerians are yet to be accounted for in the search for the survivors of the stampede.
According to the Commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Service (PRSILS) of the NAHCON, Dr. Saleh Okenwa, those that have been declared missing are not regarded as dead, because, he said, their corpses have not been identified even as there are ongoing efforts to locate them or identify their remains among the dead.”
Dr. Okenwa spoke to news men along with top management of the commission, and the Chargé d’Affaires Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh, Ambassador Tijjani Hammanjoda, as well as the Nigerian Consul General to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Ahmed Umar.
Also, Chairman, Medical Committee of the commission, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, said that autopsies were being carried out on some of the corpses to ascertain the cause of their deaths and that some of the families of those that died had received the death certificates of their relations.
Meanwhile, the airlift of the pilgrims back to Nigeria has been going on rapidly. Only yesterday, no fewer than seven trips were made by the various airlines participating in the airlift.
They are Medview, MaxAir, Flynas, Top brass and Kabo airlines. [myad]
The former Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Julius Lloyd has described the George Omereji,J, led judicial Commission of Inquiry which governor Nyeson Wike set up to probe the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, as pedestrian and its alleged findings grotesque, preposterous, absurd and antithetical with the magnanimity synonymous with good governance, fair determination of issues and totally perverse.
In a statement yesterday, the former lawmaker said that former governor Amaechi, apart from seeking and getting approval from the State House of Assembly for the money he is now being accused of misappropriating, also made two requests to the House, in accordance and in strict compliance with extant Laws, for a resolution to access the fund.
“The House, after extensive deliberations, gave approval for the withdrawal of the first tranche of N30,000.000.000 in February, 2014 and another N19,000.000.000 in October, 2014.
“It is worthy of note that the House of Assembly did not stop at approving the said sums, but also ensured the funds were deployed for the purpose for which they were drawn and we were satisfied with deployment of the funds, having complied strictly with extant laws.
“It is crystal clear that Gov. Amaechi is without blemish whatsoever.
“It is imperative to note that, the George Omereji,J, led judicial Commission of Inquiry, lacks the jurisdiction to inquire into Rivers State Government Finances or expenditure pursuant to the decision of Hon, Justice I.N. Buba of the Federal High court, Port Harcourt Division, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/78/2007 DELIVERED ON THE 20th of March, 2007.in ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR RIVERS STATE AND ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION & 3 Ors.
“The so called judicial commission of inquiry, is bereft of the necessary powers to preside or make any determination or decisions or finding concerning the activities of the Rotimi Amaechi led administration.
“It is therefore shocking that any panel would even insinuate any wrong doing on the part of Gov. Amaechi, who rather deserves commendation of God fearing citizens for being frugal.
“Pointedly, the judicial commission of inquiry is pedestrian and its alleged findings grotesque, preposterous , absurd and antithetical with the magnanimity synonymous with good governance, fair determination of issues and totally perverse, especially when the Rivers State Government is clearly aware that no one institution or panel is inbuilt with the powers to inquire into the expenditures of the government except in accordance with the judgment of Hon..Justice I.N. Buba.” [myad]
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has protested against the allegation by the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he has been a member of the party only on paper but in spirit, he is of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), another way of questioning his loyalty to APC. Tinubu had in a statement yesterday, described Saraki as a disloyal member of the ruling party and “a regressive element deploying cunning tricks to divide and pit progressive against progressive.” But in a late night statement to quickly dispel such charge, the Senate President said: “let me state clearly that I remain a committed member of the APC and will do all in my power to ensure the party fulfils its promise to bringing positive changes into the country.” The Senate President reminded Tinubu that he did not capture his current seat in default neither did he travesty party discipline as per Tinubu’s accusation, adding: “since my election as Senate President, my focus and efforts have been devoted to doing the job that I was elected to do by my constituent and my colleagues in the Senate. “Twice, my colleagues have confirmed their support for me as the primus inter pares in the Senate. “I saw the statement said to be issued by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a story published by The Sun newspaper. I have decided not to join issues with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, I know that most Nigerians are aware that there has been no meeting or communication between me and Asiwaju Tinubu since I was elected Senate President. Therefore, I do not see any basis for a newspaper to report that we are both plotting to oppose the President.” Senator Saraki acknowledged that just like other people who contributed to the party’s success, Tinubu also made it possible, for the first time in the history of the party, for an opposition party to win the general elections. He made it clear that the victory was a collective effort, stressing: “as I said in my speech when we resumed from our recess late September and in Ikenne yesterday, the screening of ministerial nominees will be handled by me and my colleagues with all sense of responsibility and in adherence to the provision of the constitution. We will be fair to all and be guided by the interest of Nigeria. “The screening will be devoid of sentiment and it is not an opportunity for anybody to settle scores. We are equally eager for us to make a positive difference in our polity and Nigerians will be able to judge us whether we acted in their best interest or not.” [myad]
The national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched verbal onslaught on both the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and The Sun newspaper, describing Saraki as a betrayal that had refused to change from the old cunning ways of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This is even as he said that in venturing to publish the recent story, The SUN Newspaper has descended to the lowest and darkest rungs of journalism ethics. Tinubu made it clear that Dr. Saraki: “may have joined the APC on paper but has remained true to the malpractices and wrong aims of the reactionary PDP in his soul.” In a statement today from Conakry, signed by his media director, Sunday Dare, Tinubu said that the idea of an alleged conspiracy between him and Saraki against the President (Muhammadu Buhari), is an execrable lie. He added that he is committed to the APC vision and the Nigeria Project. Saying that the way Senator Saraki captured his current seat travestied party discipline, the APC leader said: “it was a crass act of disloyalty showing that Saraki may have joined the APC on paper but has remained true to the malpractices and wrong aims of the reactionary PDP in his soul. “If this nation is to have more than a fleeting chance of escaping the quagmire into which years of PDP misrule have taken us, we cannot allow these regressive elements to deploy their cunning tricks to divide and pit progressive against progressive.” He said that he would not toss aside a lifetime’s labor because of an alleged slight and certainly would not join with Senator Saraki in stymieing this government which may just be the nation’s last best chance to salvage itself. “In our journey to national betterment, plans and policies will be made, then amended. Mistakes will occur and then corrected. Achievements will be had and replicated. Through it all, Asiwaju will remain true to the progressive ideals that fuelled the creation of the APC. He has devoted his political life to achieve what has been achieved. His heart is too much of the people and his mind too fixed on establishing a positive historic legacy to suffer such a cynical policy or engage in the destructive pettiness of which he is accused. “The alleged conspiracy is a figment. It takes at least two people to make a conspiracy. There has been no substantive communication between Asiwaju and Saraki since the latter decided to foul the integrity of the Senate and the party. To be truthful, I don’t think Saraki would care to hear what Asiwaju would have to say to him. “He would admonish the Senator to treat the nomination process with dispatch, justice, fairness, transparency, and most of all with the greatest patriotism. “He would counsel Saraki to shelve his personal situation for the moment to concentrate on the people’s business. It would be a grave mistake and abuse of office for Saraki to directly or indirectly inject his personal matter into the approval process. Saraki should not link the approval of a single Minister to his desire for extrajudicial treatment of his issues. “Other than voice this encouragement, Bola Tinubu will never say a negative word or lift a finger to forestall anyone’s approval before the Senate. “For the record, the Buhari Presidency was brought to life by the votes of millions of Nigerians who desire change. Such a collective and historic achievement is not one that anyone who worked to bring it to life would easily seek to deconstruct. “If adhering to the decisions of the party, supporting the government’s progressive plank and working for the good of the people qualifies Tinubu for surveillance, then he will accept that. “However, we know that any such surveillance is not from state security organs. Such activity would come from the insecurity agencies of the PDP and its mercenary allies elsewhere who would seek to fragment the true core of the APC so that they may scuttle the Buhari reform program and return the nation to the misgovernance of the past. They hope to delude the APC into attacking itself. By so doing, they believe they can regain through stealth, the reins of government the people seized from them through elections. They seek to break the hearts and hopes of the people. Asiwaju Tinubu would never team with anyone to gain such an inhumane objective.” The statement also came down hard on The Sun Newspaper for a report on the APC leader, saying: “The SUN Newspaper has taken a sad excursion from journalism into the realm of gothic tales and political slander. That sheet has turned itself into a harbor of perjury and malice in telling tales by moonlight. In venturing to publish the recent story that Asiwaju Tinubu has conspired with Senator Saraki to thwart the Buhari administration, The SUN Newspaper has descended to the lowest and darkest rungs of journalism ethics. The stench of the piece and motives behind it are too noxious to ignore. “Too mischievous, yet cowardly for their own good, the yarn-spinners at The SUN neglect to precisely state what terrible thing they believe Tinubu had done. This ambiguity is in part purposeful; their villainy seeks to place the innocent on edge and to cause those who must work together if the nation is to progress to begin to doubt the bona fides of each other. With such a story, they hope to break the walls of confidence so that they may kindle mutual animus between the President and Tinubu. By getting the two to fight and weaken each other, they may then swoop down to destroy both. “Without any proof except the veil of innuendo and some hatemongers masquerading as presidency sources, the story proclaims that the government is surveilling Asiwaju Tinubu because of his purported unhappiness about the ministerial list.” “This government is for the betterment of the people and the national purpose is bigger and more important that any individual’s desires. “Those who midwifed this garish tale give birth not to truth but to lies intended to kill APC unity and to retard the Buhari administration’s strategic reform initiatives, as earlier outlined by our party manifesto. Given the potential for change that stands before us, we are now beginning to see the true nature of many people. There are those who truly want positive change so that we can break from the ways of a stolid past. Then there are those who speak of change with their mouths but never believe in it in their hearts. They came along with us for the ride or because no other political option availed itself at the operative time. “Now given the chance to redeem themselves from their past political actions, they would rather return to the political morass from whence they came. “Here, I will do those who inhabit the shadows of untruth a favor. I will state explicitly what they hoped to get the reader to infer. Their claim is that Tinubu has joined with Saraki to scuttle the President’s ministerial nominations. They have misfired. “Their wrong is a great wrong. Like the rest of us, Asiwaju Tinubu waited for the President to select his cabinet. The majority of the selections have been made. There is nothing to do but congratulate the appointees and pray for them. Their responsibilities are vast, the future of the nation now rests on their shoulders. The challenges before them are manifold and daunting. Those who want the best for Nigeria can only hope that these people succeed. The only intervention that Asiwaju Tinubu would make is one of encouragement. He would charge them to remain true to the progressive vision of the party and our President. “None should allow themselves to be enticed to join league with those who would cast us back into the old mould of PDP governance: to Pilfer, Destroy and Pillage. Instead they should cohere faithfully to the enlightened programs and promises made by our party and this government.” [myad]
In compliance with the dateline given to the Nigerian Army to end Boko Haram insurgency by December, the National Emergency Management Agency will close down all Internally Displaced Persons camps in the state by the end of December 2015.
The agency said that it would act in conjunction with the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) which had recently evacuated most Borno people in the IDP back to their homes.
Executive Secretary of ADSEMA, Alhaji Haruna Furo who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria today in Yola said: ”following the massive evacuation of the IDPs back home from designated camps by Borno State Government, ADSEMA and NEMA, which are managing the camps, decided to close the IDPs camps by the end of December 2015.”
Furo who is also the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, explained that the three major camps situated at NYSC Orientation camp, Malkohi and Fufore now have less than 2,000 IDPs each.
He said that records available showed that there were between four to five thousand Internally Displaced Persons in all the camps across the state, saying that Borno government has given the assurance that the remaining IDPs would be evacuated in a few weeks.
He confirmed that the agencies had already began dismantling empty tents and other structures at Fufore,Malkohi and NYSC camps. [myad]
Osu State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) exchanging greetings with Chairman of the Committee on state’s revenue utilization, Comrade Hassan Summonu (right), while the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and others watch, during the official Inauguration of the Committee by the Governor, at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend. [myad]
The Nigerian Army has sounded what appeared to be final warning to members of the Boko Haram terrorists to surrender now or have themselves to blame.
In a statement today, the Acting Army Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said: “this is to once again warn all Boko Haram terrorists wherever they are, to desist from all acts of terrorism, surrender themselves and face the law now. We wish to inform them that we are aware of all their hideouts, camps and enclaves.
“They should follow their colleagues who have so far surrendered. Failure to surrender will result in serious consequences as our troops are fast closing up with them.
“We equally appeal to all Nigerians to kindly persuade them to desist and renounce their membership of the terrorist organization forthwith.” [myad]
Pan-Ijaw groups have blamed All Progressives Congress (APC) of scaring former Governor of Bayelsa State, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha to his early grave yesterday, with the report of his expected extradition to the U.K to face money laundering charges.
In their separate statements made available to the media today, the groups said that the recent extradition notice purportedly issued by Britain on the former governor aggravated his health condition and his eventual death.
The Ijaw Heritage and Cultural Club based in the United States, in its statement said that it was shocked beyond words by the news of the sudden death of Alamieyeseigha and regretted the circumstances surrounding it.
It noted in the statement signed by Professor Julius Eteli that Alamieyeseigha’s death was curious given the fact that he regularly received medical treatment abroad, adding he had actually just returned from such medical trip in Dubai believed to have been facilitated by the Bayelsa State Government.
“From available reports, the Bayelsa State Government has always been of assistance to him, taking care of his medical bills and upkeep. The question is: how can a man who had just returned from Dubai having been attended to by experts die so suddenly? Clearly, it must have been the report of his extradition to the U.K that must have triggered his health condition for the worse and the sudden death.”
It said that APC government should be held responsible for the death of Alamieyeseigha even as it claimed that the alleged extradition notice was targeted at witch-hunting the late former governor.
The group asked: “Why wait all these years until now to issue such a notice?”
Another pan-Ijaw group based in Ireland, Izon Diaspora Association, in its statement also condemned the demise of Alamieyeseigha, which it said was caused by the APC government for political reasons.
The group said the sad development was a calculated move by the ruling APC government to silence the Ijaw movement, knowing fully well that Alamieyeseigha represented the soul and moving spirit of the Ijaw movement.
“Now that he has been taken out, we Ijaws must fight against this injustice. Now is the time to unite, come together and fight against this calculated and very deadly plot by the APC government to deplete our ranks,” the Convener and leader of the group, Comrade George Magbisa, stated.
Magbisa was full of praises for the Bayelsa State Government for standing by the late Ijaw leader all through, saying that only a committed Ijaw governor like Seriake Dickson, himself a leading figure in the Ijaw struggle, could have been so supportive as he did to the former governor.
The group extended its condolences to the governor, the government and people of Bayelsa State over the death of the respected governor-general of the Ijaw nation. [myad]
Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere has expressed anger with Nigerian Agip Oil Company over what it describes intentional neglect to its host communities in the State.
The deputy governor who spoke today during the 19th Farmers Day celebration, which held at Green River Project Plant Propagation Centre, in Ogba-Egbema, Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, reminded the Oil Multinational Company of its poor management of the pollution crises, occasioned by the explosion of two crude oil storage facilities of the firm, which he said polluted the water of about 13 communities in Egbema.
The deputy governor said that Imo State cannot vouch for Agip’s Corporate Socially Responsible Company in its dealings with her host communities, even as he expressed surprise that Agip has covered over 120 rural communities and empowered over 35, 000 farmers in its effort to increase food sufficiency and security, teaching latest farming techniques, offering extension services and micro credit with human capacity building.
He however queried: “where is the place of Imo State and her people in the whole statistics.”
He reminded the organization that it was the intervention of the State government that gave peace a chance, even as he frowned at the refusal of NAOC to agree with their host communities on terms for working relationship.
The deputy governor regretted that the company has been alleged to have always kept agreements reached, in the breach and called on the company to review its modes of operation and relationship with Imo people.
Prince Madumere however described the invitation as rapprochement believing that it will create a window for a more mutually rewarding future relationship between Imo State and Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sunny Echono had called on the States and Farmers to take the advantage of the opportunities at their disposal with a view to achieving food security in the country.
The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fulvio Rustico said that the Green River Initiative of NAOC as a means to re-enforcing a healthy relationship and cooperation between his country and Nigeria. [myad]
The Senate has risen to save the necks of the like of the former Rivers state governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and other ministerial nominees from Senators in their constituencies, as it has indicated that the earlier condition that at least two senators from the state of each nominee must endorse him or her would no longer be strictly considered for senate approval.
This is coming against the background of the determination by the three Senators from Rivers state, all of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop former governor Amaechi from becoming a minister following alleged petitions they presented before the senate.
In its Twitter handle @NGRSenate today, the Senate said that the traditional rule where two Senators must endorse a ministerial nominee may be waived if a nominee passes other criteria of the screening hurdles.
“The tradition of two Senators having to endorse a ministerial nominee is not sacrosanct and can be waived if a nominee passes other criteria.”
The Senate called on Nigerians who have questions they would like Senators to ask during the screening on Tuesday, to send them on Twitter to the Senate handle, @NGRSenate using the hashtag #MinisterialScreening.
Amaechi and Amina Mohammed, a former special assistant on Millennium Development Goals, whose membership in Buhari’s ministerial list has been fraught with petitions from their respective states, including their Senators, may now heave sighs of relief.
For Amaechi, his membership on the Buhari list renewed his legendary cat and mouse relationship with his former Chief of Staff, who is now Rivers state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
A PDP Senator from Rivers State, Senator George Sekibo (Rivers East) had last week said that the Senate Rules reduces Amaechi’s chances and that the petition by a group called Integrity Group, was weighty on allegations of misappropriation of funds to the tune of N70 billion against the former governor.
In an interaction with journalists in Abuja, Sekibo disclosed that “now that the Senate has received the petition, I have laid it on the floor; it has been referred to public petition and I know the Committee will come out with appropriate recommendations.”
For Amina Mohammed, her petitioners, a Kaduna-based non-governmental organization, Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Initiative, including Senator Danuma La’ah, hinged their opposition on the fact that her state of birth is Gombe and not Kaduna where she was said to have been nominated from.
Senator La’ah contended that since Amina hails from Gombe State, but married to a Kaduna husband, her appointment infringes on section 147 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a ministerial nominee must be an indigene of the state presenting him/her.
As the Senate Committee investigating the petitions against the nominees is expected to submit its report before the screening starts on Tuesday, political observers have kept their fingers crossed, on how this one would pass.
This is happening even as Senators from Rivers State have insisted that they would oppose the nomination of Rotimi Amaechi. Senator George Sekibo, representing Rivers-East Senatorial District, Senator said that the petition against the ex-governor was “supported by the three senators from the state.”
He said that they would insist on the report of the Senate committee on public petitions currently investigating allegations against Amaechi before he could be cleared by the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
This was as Amaechi, has challenged governor Nyesom Wike, to go to court over the recommendations of the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the sales of valued assets belonging to the state by the last administration.
Amaechi said in a statement issued from his Media Office yesterday that rather than engage in theatrics and ‘childish’ tantrums, Wike should prosecute him if there was any case of corruption against him.
The state government had on Friday, while briefing journalists, declared that the commission of inquiry had indicted Amaechi and asked the ex-governor and others to return the sum of N97bn belonging to the state.
The government also directed its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Chinwe Aguma (SAN) to begin a process of prosecuting Amaechi and others indicted by the panel should they fail to return the said sum.
But Amaechi specifically stated that from the way the panel conducted its probe, it was obvious that Wike established it (panel) with a mission to indict him, maintaining that the outcome of the Omereji commission was not surprising to him.
“Indeed, the Wike panel was an inquisition against Amaechi. Wike should go to court if he has any case of alleged corrupt activities against Amaechi. His panel is not and can never be a law court.
“Wike’s regular childish tantrums, theatrics, comedy and drama of screaming huge bogus and phantom figures of missing or stolen or misappropriated billions of naira by the Amaechi-led administration have become a silly and sickening distraction.” [myad]
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