Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (DGF), Senator Anyim Pious Anyim has filed two separate suits against the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank before an Abuja High Court for alleged libellous statements published against him. Amyim is claiming the sum of N1 Billion from each of the defendants, representing general, aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages over embarrassment, public odium, derision, ridicule, oblique, mental agony, psychological trauma which the publications had caused him. The alleged libellous statements related to the award of contracts for the Centenary City Project. The plaintiff, in two separate writs of summon issued through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), is also asking the court that the separate publications credited to Ojougboh and Frank in some national dailies of July 13 and 15 respectively concerning his person and integrity are false, unfounded and libellous. The plaintiff further submitted that the publication was injurious to his reputation in his personal credit and characters, and official capacities as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the former Senate President. He submitted that the defendants maliciously concocted the story to mislead the public and the anti corruption agencies with a view to clamp down on the Centenary City Project and destroy the public investment and faith in the project. [myad]
Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has asked Kano students abroad to hold his predecessor, immediate past governor, Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso for the delay in paying their school fees which has accumulated to N3 Billion. Ganduje lamented that Kwankwaso who is now a senator, created financial problems for him. Governor Ganduje, who spoke when he received the leadership of the students, under the aegis of General Association of Northern Nigeria Students, based in Egypt, said that the state scholarship programme needed serious attention. “For one year, Kwankwaso did not pay a single kobo as tuition fee for our students studying abroad. Right now, Kano State government owes those students N3 billion, and painfully, our revenue is dwindling and we would be cautious in handling the situation.” Ganduje explained that for whatever reasons, “the Kwankwaso administration distorted the scholarship programme. I have decided to let the cat out of the bag so that, as educated people, you would understand where your problems lies.” The governor had earlier condemned the failure of the Kwankwaso government to fund the programme despite report that huge amounts of money in foreign currency were allocated to it. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered all ministries, agencies and departments of government to immediately put a stop to the current arrangement in which they operate multiple bank accounts for the purpose of keeping revenues and incomes. He directed that henceforth, agencies of government must start paying revenues, incomes and other receipts into what he called a Treasury Single Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The directive was contained in a statement made available to newsmen today by the Senior Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande. Akande explained that the President’s directive was meant to promote transparency and facilitate compliance with Sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution. “Henceforth, all receipts due to the Federal Government or any of its agencies must be paid into TSA or designated accounts maintained and operated in the Central Bank of Nigeria, except otherwise expressly approved.” Akande explained that the presidential directive would end the previous public accounting situation of several fragmented accounts for government revenues, incomes and receipts. He said the existing system has led to loss or leakages of legitimate income meant for the Federation Account. He added that the directive applied to fully funded organs of government like ministries, departments, agencies and foreign missions, as well as the partially-funded ones like teaching hospitals, medical centres and federal tertiary institutions among others. “Agencies like the CBN, SEC, CAC, NPA, NCC, FAAN, NCAA, NIMASA, NDIC, NSC, NNPC, FIRS, NCS, MMSD, DPR are also affected. “For any agency that is fully or partially self-funding, sub-accounts linked to TSA are to be maintained at CBN and the accounting system will be configured to allow them access to funds based on their approved budgetary provisions.” A TSA, according to Akande, is a unified structure of government bank accounts enabling consolidation and optimal utilisation of government cash resources. He described it as a bank account or a set of linked bank accounts through which the government transacts all its receipts and payments and gets a consolidated view of its cash position at any given time. Buhari had, during the inaugural meeting of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led National Economic Council on June 29, promised state governors that all revenues prescribed for lodgement into the Federation Account would be treated as such under his watch. He had also promised to ensure strict compliance with all relevant laws on accounting, allocation and disbursement. [myad]
Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has described Justice Folahanmi Oloyede as a disgrace to the judiciary even as he questioned her integrity over the role she played in attempts made to impeach him. The judge’s petition against Aregbesola and his deputy, Paoye Tomori was dismissed early in the week by the State House of Assembly. Oloyede had accused the Aregbesola administration, in a petition to the House of Assembly, of mismanaging the state’s resources, plunging it into a state of financial chaos. The House dismissed the petition after its panel on the matter reported that Oloyede failed to substantiate her allegations with any evidence. Speaking at the birthday party of the Speaker, Najeem Salaam today in the state capital, governor Aregbesola felt ashamed about what he called unbecoming conduct of the judge. “I want to say that there was no basis for the petition. Its all lies. A judge that doesn’t know herself as judge. Judges can only be seen and not heard. She (Oloyede) doesn’t have any substance in the judiciary. She lied against me. “The journalists should have checked the financial statement of the allocation before writing their stories. “If it had collected N538 billion, Osun would have turned to Dubai. I am happy Buhari went to USA and it was said that one million barrels of crude oil was being stolen everyday.” The governor said that at the time Justice Oloyede accused him of being absent from the state, the weekly executive meeting register proved otherwise. “I have never gone on leave since November 2010 when I came into governance. There is no single truth in the judge’s petition. “I will tell the side of my story bit by bit. I am confident that before the end of the month, the period of hard time will smoke off in the state.” [myad]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) working committee in the nine local government councils from the eastern senatorial district of Kogi State has endorsed Governor Idris Wada to run for a second term in office in the November governorship election..
The Chairman of the forum, Mr Idris Waja, disclosed the endorsement yesterday at a news breifing in Lokoja, the capital of the state.
Waja said that the decision to adopt Wada was to avoid rancour and unnecessary bickering which he said were the greatest undoing of the party during the last general elections.
The Chairman of the forum in his speech, listed some of the Governor’s achievements in the past three and half years, saying that that the only way the party can retain the state leadership in the fourth coming election is by supporting Wada for a second term in office.
Waja called for a consensus arrangement which he said would save the party a lot of money and make the party more formidable to contest the election.
Waja, who was flanked by other members of the forum, urged his colleagues in Kogi West and Central Senatorial Districts to similarly adopt the Governor in the interest of the party, growth and development of the state.
Governor Wada thanked them for their love and support and appealed to them to avoid unfounded rumours which he said was capable of derailing the party.
The Governor promised never to let the party down. [myad]
There is a popular saying in Yoruba land that the eyes that have seen the ocean in Lagos cannot now see rivers in other towns and become jittery. It is a taboo; they will say. I am using this expression to cap a beautiful editorial by the Leadership Newspaper in its Monday, August 3, 2015 edition, titled: “As National Assembly Rides the Storm”. It was a succinct overview of the leadership tussle in the National Assembly that logically settled every attempt by fifth columnists to smear the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa. The only addition to that editorial is a question, to wit: of what benefit is even the Senate Presidency of Bukola Saraki to Maikasuwa?
It is, therefore, instructive that the eyes that have seen bigger rivers and even River NASS as a whole for years, cannot now betray years of meritorious service to the Legislative arm and Nigeria, just for seeing River Saraki in a few hours. It doesn’t add up. What can this river even offer? If it was about price to do the bidding of Saraki, those sponsoring blackmails against Maikasuwa, should have some senses that the PDP could have offered the Clerk a bigger price to sabotage Aminu Tambuwal in 2011, since they believe he has the power to make and unmake during the inauguration of the National Assembly.
Going forward, it is not impossible that the people who have chosen to excoriate the clerk in a “syndicated payback scheme for conducting the election of the presiding officers of the Federal Legislature,” as captured by Leadership, have also tried every other treacherous means to link Maikasuwa to any of the actors, but to no avail. The political scrabbles are simply not adding up for any score. If I am in a position to advise the Clerk, I will continually urge him to put on what the Yorubas will call “the head-gear of not-looking-at-their-side”.
No matter how further provoked, he should never dignify them with a single official reply – directly or indirectly. They are getting more frustrated because he has chosen to face his task, working assiduously with President Muhammadu Buhari to effectively network his agenda with the National Assembly. Of course, no serious government can toy with such a rare asset like Maikasuwa. He has the experience, the expertise, the wherewithal, the respect, the charisma and all that the Executive needs to have its way with the legislature.
For God sake, the sleeping dog also deserves to snore – let those behind this fruitless agitation against the Clerk back-off. Let me reproduce a paragraph in the Leadership editorial for emphasis: “Our checks reveal that the linkage of the CNA to the forgery remains most uninformed as such is far removed from reality. For the purpose of clarification, the CNA’s conduct of the Inauguration of the 8th National Assembly was in strict compliance with the letters of a Presidential proclamation (and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) which specified time, location and procedures, which he had no capacity to breach”. This is a point of law that transcends any other interest.
If anybody has been wallowing in political conjectures, the editorial went further to clear the air: “Besides, not being a legislator himself, the rules of any of the chambers were not relevant for him in the straightforward process of electing presiding officers.” What the CNA did which all Nigerians watched on television and should applaud, was that he used the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to perform his own function in line with the proclamation of Mr. President. Nothing more!
To settle this matter once and for all, we must equally remember that Maikasuwa did not defer to the Senate Standing Order after no further nomination followed that of Bukola Saraki for the post of the Senate President. He also never envisaged the absence of any lawmaker in the Senate chamber on the day of inauguration to warrant any assumption, ab initio, of conspiracy in the alleged doctoring of the Senate rules. It is even wicked to attempt to confer on Maikasuwa the power to see ahead. It was the Senate President that even made use of the rule book to perform other tasks. The matter is already in the court.
For me, this is not a storm the CNA should worry about. I am sure, whenever his biography is published, there are possibilities he has faced real storms of life which he has, through the grace of God, surmounted to attain this height. If I get it right, from what I have read about him in the past, he should by now be serving out the last lap of his career and looking forward to the crown of glory. At such an enviable level, you don’t expect such a man of wisdom to disobey or circumvent a constitutionally-issued proclamation from the President because of politics. Those who reached out to him to compromise the proclamation cannot fully understand the weight of the years of service he has put in for the nation. They are used to impunity. But Maikasuwa, judging by his public disposition and how he applied himself to his function of inaugurating the National Assembly without pandering to any political interest, does not suffer fools gladly and he did not suffer them.
Mr Ayelabowo contributed this piece from Ibadan, Oyo State and can be reached via Femilabowo@gmail.com. [myad]
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, last night, sneaked into the Presidential Aso Villa, Abuja, ‘like a thief in the night’ to engage in a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. The meeting which lasted for a few minutes took place inside the official residence of the President. Obasanjo, who wore a blue Agbada with a cap to match, arrived at the premises after the day’s work when the President had returned from his office. Newsmen are not usually allowed into the President’s residence except on special occasions. Special Adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed Obasanjo’s visit when contacted but said there were no details. “Obasanjo came like a thief in the night but there are no details,” he said. Obasanjo must have taken advantage of his knowledge of workings in the Presidential Villa to visit the President at that time, to escape inquisitive reporters. That was the first time Obasanjo would be visiting Buhari inside the Presidential Villa since the latter was sworn in on May 29. [myad]
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has announced the formation of the office of Overseas Affairs and Investment for the purpose of attracting foreign investments into the state. This, even as he assured the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Ajjanpor Ghanashyan that his administration is committed to strengthening trade relationship with investors from that country. The Governor, who received Ghanashyan in his office at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja today, explained the creating of the Office of the Overseas Affairs and Investment, which under his supervision, is aimed at making the state more investor-friendly and safer. “We have established Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, so that we can strengthen bi-lateral relationship. We need more investors to come into Lagos so that we can create employment and grow our GDP. Whatever it is you think we can do to increase investors from India, we are ready to talk,” he said. The Governor made it clear that Lagos would draw inspiration from India as a modern democracy and from the way the economy is being conducted despite its huge population. He assured the High Commissioner that the state is ready to expand its frontiers to accommodate investors who are willing to set up their businesses in the state. “We are in dire need of a platform that allows for food security since this would further towards making robust achievement at transforming the lives of residents of the state, improve the economy of the State, increase the internally generated revenue, IGR, and translate to further employment opportunities for our unemployed youths.” Governor Ambode listed software technology, manufacturing as well as Agro and Agro-allied sectors as possible areas where such bi-lateral relations could be strengthened, even as he assured them that the state is safe, conducive and investor-friendly to accommodate new businesses and investors willing to partner with Lagos. Earlier, the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Ajjanpor Ghanashyan expressed the willingness of his country to partner with Lagos as it is the economic hub and capital of Nigeria as well as home to many India investments. He said that he was in Lagos to invite the Governor to address a delegation of 150 businessmen that would visit Lagos in the coming weeks on a mission to seek ways to strengthen bi-lateral trade between India and Lagos State. [myad]
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets would face host Chile, Croatia and USA in Group A of the preliminary round of the FIFA World Under-17 Championship which begins on October 8, 2015 in Chile.
This position came out yesterday after the draws that were conducted at Centro de las Artes 660 in Santiago de Chile, Chile.
The Golden Eaglets squad finished fourth at this year’s African U17 Championship in Niger Republic to qualify for the tournament where they will be hoping to defend the crown they won two years back in the United Arab Emirates.
The full draws are as follows:
Group A (Santiago, Vina del Mar, Coquimbo): Chile, Croatia, Nigeria, USA
Group B (La Serena, Coquimbo, Vina del Mar): England, Guinea, Brazil, Korea Republic
Group C (Chillan, Talca): Australia, Germany, Mexico, Argentina
Group D (Talca, Chillan): Belgium, Mali, Honduras, Ecuador
Group E (Concepcion, Puerto Montt): South Africa, Costa Rica, Korea DPR, Russia
Group F (Puerto Montt, Concepcion): New Zealand, France, Syria, Paraguay. [myad]
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Maikasuwa: Between National Service And Political Interest, By Femi Ayelabowo
There is a popular saying in Yoruba land that the eyes that have seen the ocean in Lagos cannot now see rivers in other towns and become jittery. It is a taboo; they will say. I am using this expression to cap a beautiful editorial by the Leadership Newspaper in its Monday, August 3, 2015 edition, titled: “As National Assembly Rides the Storm”. It was a succinct overview of the leadership tussle in the National Assembly that logically settled every attempt by fifth columnists to smear the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa. The only addition to that editorial is a question, to wit: of what benefit is even the Senate Presidency of Bukola Saraki to Maikasuwa?
It is, therefore, instructive that the eyes that have seen bigger rivers and even River NASS as a whole for years, cannot now betray years of meritorious service to the Legislative arm and Nigeria, just for seeing River Saraki in a few hours. It doesn’t add up. What can this river even offer? If it was about price to do the bidding of Saraki, those sponsoring blackmails against Maikasuwa, should have some senses that the PDP could have offered the Clerk a bigger price to sabotage Aminu Tambuwal in 2011, since they believe he has the power to make and unmake during the inauguration of the National Assembly.
Going forward, it is not impossible that the people who have chosen to excoriate the clerk in a “syndicated payback scheme for conducting the election of the presiding officers of the Federal Legislature,” as captured by Leadership, have also tried every other treacherous means to link Maikasuwa to any of the actors, but to no avail. The political scrabbles are simply not adding up for any score. If I am in a position to advise the Clerk, I will continually urge him to put on what the Yorubas will call “the head-gear of not-looking-at-their-side”.
No matter how further provoked, he should never dignify them with a single official reply – directly or indirectly. They are getting more frustrated because he has chosen to face his task, working assiduously with President Muhammadu Buhari to effectively network his agenda with the National Assembly. Of course, no serious government can toy with such a rare asset like Maikasuwa. He has the experience, the expertise, the wherewithal, the respect, the charisma and all that the Executive needs to have its way with the legislature.
For God sake, the sleeping dog also deserves to snore – let those behind this fruitless agitation against the Clerk back-off. Let me reproduce a paragraph in the Leadership editorial for emphasis: “Our checks reveal that the linkage of the CNA to the forgery remains most uninformed as such is far removed from reality. For the purpose of clarification, the CNA’s conduct of the Inauguration of the 8th National Assembly was in strict compliance with the letters of a Presidential proclamation (and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) which specified time, location and procedures, which he had no capacity to breach”. This is a point of law that transcends any other interest.
If anybody has been wallowing in political conjectures, the editorial went further to clear the air: “Besides, not being a legislator himself, the rules of any of the chambers were not relevant for him in the straightforward process of electing presiding officers.” What the CNA did which all Nigerians watched on television and should applaud, was that he used the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to perform his own function in line with the proclamation of Mr. President. Nothing more!
To settle this matter once and for all, we must equally remember that Maikasuwa did not defer to the Senate Standing Order after no further nomination followed that of Bukola Saraki for the post of the Senate President. He also never envisaged the absence of any lawmaker in the Senate chamber on the day of inauguration to warrant any assumption, ab initio, of conspiracy in the alleged doctoring of the Senate rules. It is even wicked to attempt to confer on Maikasuwa the power to see ahead. It was the Senate President that even made use of the rule book to perform other tasks. The matter is already in the court.
For me, this is not a storm the CNA should worry about. I am sure, whenever his biography is published, there are possibilities he has faced real storms of life which he has, through the grace of God, surmounted to attain this height. If I get it right, from what I have read about him in the past, he should by now be serving out the last lap of his career and looking forward to the crown of glory. At such an enviable level, you don’t expect such a man of wisdom to disobey or circumvent a constitutionally-issued proclamation from the President because of politics. Those who reached out to him to compromise the proclamation cannot fully understand the weight of the years of service he has put in for the nation. They are used to impunity. But Maikasuwa, judging by his public disposition and how he applied himself to his function of inaugurating the National Assembly without pandering to any political interest, does not suffer fools gladly and he did not suffer them.