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]
President Muhammadu Buhari is sadi to have ordered the Presidential Amnesty Office to commence the payment of outstanding stipends to former agitators in the Niger Delta and beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
President Buhari had earlier approved the commencement of payment of the stipends and allowances to the beneficiaries, the development which was confirmed in a statement by the head of media and communication, Amnesty Office, Daniel Alabrah.
Daniel said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) today commenced the payment with the outstanding May stipend of N65,000 per beneficiary.
“The outstanding stipends will be paid in batches. We have commenced payment with the outstanding May 2015 stipends. That of June and July will be paid afterwards.
“The outstanding allowances and school/training fees of beneficiaries will be cleared at the end of the ongoing verification exercise of genuine claims. Hopefully, the other payments will commence soon once the verification team concludes its exercise,” Alabrah said..
On July 28, 2015, the President appointed Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd.) as the PAP coordinator and special adviser on Niger Delta.
“Mr. President has by his approval demonstrated his commitment to strengthening of the Amnesty Programme. It is heartwarming that he graciously approved funds so as to quickly resolve the issues that have affected the smooth running of the programme.
“Now beneficiaries whose training or studies have been affected can look forward to resuming their studies sooner than later. We are committed to a quick resolution of all outstanding issues, including the training fees,” Boroh said. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked Nigerians to go back to farm, warning that the oil the country had so depended on would no longer be able to sustain the economy. He made it clear that the time has come for Nigerians to do more than pay mere lip service to agriculture, as crude oil and gas exports will no longer be sufficient as the country’s major revenue earner. President Buhari who spoke when he received in audience the Nigerian born President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, at the Presidential Villa Abuja. remarked: “It’s time to go back to the land. We must face the reality that the petroleum we had depended on for so long will no longer suffice. We campaigned heavily on agriculture, and we are ready to assist as many as want to go into agricultural ventures.” A statement by senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying that his government would work towards cutting short the long bureaucratic processes that Nigerian farmers had to go through to get any form of assistance from government. He said that improvement in the productivity of farmers, dry season farming, and creative ways to combat the shrinking of the Lake Chad would receive the attention of his administration. “There is so much to be done. We will try and articulate a programme and consult organizations like IFAD for advise,” the President said, adding that foreign exchange will be conserved for machinery and other items needed for production, instead of using it to import things like toothpicks. Dr. Nwanze had assured President Buhari that IFAD is ready to give all possible assistance to the Federal Government and Nigerian farmers to boost agricultural production. IFAD is an international organization dedicated to addressing issues of agriculture and poverty alleviation. It was established in 1978, and has been collaborating with Nigeria for over 30 years.
The Rivers State branch of All Progressives Congress (APC) has described President Muhammadu Buhari as the true son of the Niger Delta even though he is not from there, by his recent move to fast-track the clean-up of Ogoniland in accordance with the Report and recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). In a statement today, the party’s Chairman, Dr. Ibiamu Ikanya, said that President Buhari, has proved to be a better son of Rivers State and the Niger Delta than immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and Rivers State Caretaker Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike. “The news of President Buhari not only directing the cleaning up of Ogoni land but also the fast-tracking of the process came to us as a great relief, particularly considering the fact that former President Jonathan in demonstration of his hatred and disdain for Rivers State and its people ensured that this exercise did not see the light of the day throughout his ill-fated regime which was more of a curse to Rivers State people and the Niger Delta region. “President Buhari has demonstrated by this act that he is a better son of Rivers State and the long-suffering Niger Delta than Dr. Jonathan and Chief Wike who, though from the region, instead teamed up to ensure that the region was under-developed and even ceded our oil wells to other states while also ensuring that no Federal Government presence was felt in Rivers State throughout their evil regime.” The Rivers State chairman commended President Buhari for what he called “this brave and patriotic step in cleaning up Ogoni land. “President Buhari has proved that he is truly a God-Gift to Nigeria at this particular time to right the wrongs, injustice and wickedness Rivers State and Niger Delta suffered under the regime of Dr. Jonathan Goodluck.” [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.