November, December Guber Polls In Kogi, Bayelsa: The Die Is Cast

July 11, 2015

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has just released the electoral time table for the governorship elections in both Kogi and Bayelsa States.
According to the time table released yesterday, campaigns by political parties would commence on July 24 and end on November 19 for Kogi state while the campaigns for Bayelsa commence on September 6 and end on December 3.

The actual elections would be conducted in Kogi and Bayelsa states on Saturday, November 21 and Saturday, December 5 respectively.
While we in Greenbarge Reporters commend INEC for the early release of the time table, in accordance with the electoral law, we will not fail to caution that all necessary measures must be taken to stem confusion that is likely to be caused by the new political blocks in the system.
In other words, the elections in these two states are coming as the first test-case not only for the new acting chairman of the INEC, Amina Zakari who of course is not new in the system, but as a test case also for President Muhammadu Buhari. Since becoming President over a month ago, these elections would be first that his government will conduct.
Indeed, while the election in Bayelsa may be a straight fight along party line, that of Kogi will certainly be a big contest among different contending forces, most of which are antagonistic to one another.
There is already a clear show of superiority complex by one ethnic group that has held on to power since the state was created in 1991, even as some other ethnic groups are trying to find their bearings.
Just a few days ago, the Kogi Central and West Senatorial Districts began what could be termed as a political alliance to wrench power from the Eastern Senatorial District, which had relied on numerical strength to continue to rule the state.
Of course, the ingredient of election in democratic system is based mainly on what has come to be known even in local parlance as “majority carries the vote.” But if you stretch that principle beyond Kogi state, another requirement in the type of the society we are in, would make fairness, balance and justice parts of the bid deal among contending ethnic nationalities.
In other words, there is no other part of the country that would have gotten nearer to Presidency if the three other principles were not taken into consideration: there was no way Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan would have won election and ruled the country for a combine 13 out of over 16 years of this democracy.
It is on record that the incumbent governor of Kogi state, Captain Wada Idris is qualified to seek for a second-term on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, the ticket that he is likely to get at the party’s primaries, but the three principles, aside from “majority,” need to be addressed, especially, by the political stakeholders across the state.
Should Wada insists on second term, and even should former governor Abubakar Audu insists on going ahead to seek for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket and possibly gets it, there is likelihood of the political waters in Kogi state being coloured.
On the political leaning, it is also in Kogi, not Bayelsa state where two contending political parties (APC and PDP) will fight themselves to finish. With the “Buhari-Change Fever” catching on, the APC may suddenly develop some kind of strength, enough to give PDP a bloody nose.
How ever, in all, the body to watch in the scenario that is about to play out, especially in Kogi state, is the electoral umpire.
The immediate past INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega was able to set a standard where votes of the electorate counted. We expect nothing less from Amina Zakari, and even an improvement, so that when the chips are down, whoever looses the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states would have the cause and conviction to concede defeat, the way former President Jonathan did. [myad]

Amaechi, Please Play It Cool With Me O, President Buhari Seems To Be Saying

Greenbarge Reporters

July 11, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari hosted the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chief Rotimi Amaechi at the Presidential Aso Villa on Friday. The President seems to be cracking jokes with the fire-spitting ex governor to take it easy with him as he steers the ship of state. Rotimi gave former President Goodluck Jonathan tough time while the two were in offices. [myad]

Capitalism Irritates Pope Francis, Advocates “Truly Communitarian Economy”

Greenbarge Reporters

July 10, 2015

Pope Francis, wearing a helmet, blesses a woman as Bolivian President Evo Morales (R) looks on, during a World Meeting of Popular Movements in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, July 9, 2015. (Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi) — Pope Francis, wearing a helmet, blesses a woman as Bolivian President Evo Morales (R) looks on, during a World Meeting of Popular Movements in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, July 9, 2015.

Pope Francis has shown his open discomfort for capitalist economic concept that has dominated the world, and would rather prefer what he called “truly communitarian economy” based on distribution of goods among all.
He even dared the people of Latin America to stand up to the world’s capitalist system and change the world economic order.
The Pope, who is currently on Bolivia tour, called on the faithful to fight to protect human dignity in a “system” where farm workers end up without land or home and laborers without rights.
“Do we realize that that system has imposed the mentality of profit at any price, with no concern for social exclusion or the destruction of nature?” he asked at a powerful speech before a gathering of social movements in Bolivia.
According to the Pope, once capital becomes an idol and guides individuals, and once “greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system, it ruins society.”
Capitalism, Pope went on, “enslaves individuals and destroys fraternity,” adding that it is a system which “excludes, debases and kills.
“This system is by now intolerable. So let’s not be afraid to say it: we need change; we want change.”
The Pope called on his followers to create a “truly communitarian economy,” a system that would guarantee the three “L’s”: Land, Lodging and Labor.
“It is no utopia or chimera. It is an extremely realistic prospect. We can achieve it. Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation,” the Pope said in the city of Santa Cruz to participants of the second world meeting of popular movements, an international body that brings together organizations of people on the margins of society.
The Argentinian-native Pope urged the crowd to tackle “three great tasks.”
The first task is to create an economy at the ”service of peoples” not at the “service of money” Such an approach, the Pope believes, will focus on service rather than profits which in return will protect “Mother Earth.”
The second task is to unite our peoples on the “path of peace and justice” to defend their sovereignty against “colonialism.
“The new colonialism takes on different faces. At times it appears as the anonymous influence of mammon: corporations, loan agencies, certain free trade treaties, and the imposition of measures of austerity which always tighten the belt of workers and the poor.
“Monopolizing communications” is yet another example of consumerism and “new colonialism” for the Pope that ultimately denies countries the right to development.
Pope Francis called on social movements to protect their culture, their language, their social processes and their religious traditions.
The third task is environmental: to “defend Mother Earth,” by breaking down the current “system” which ravishes the planet’s ecology.
The pontiff issued a fierce condemnation of the world’s governments for what he calls “cowardice” in defending the Earth, calling it “a grave sin.
“We cannot allow certain interests – interests which are global but not universal – to take over, to dominate states and international organizations, and to continue destroying creation.” [myad]

Dangiwa Accuses Judge Who Sends Sule Lamido To Prison For 2 Months Of High Handedness

Greenbarge Reporters

July 10, 2015

Former military governor of Kaduna state and currently the National chairman of the Movement For Unity and Progress (MUP), Colonel Abubakar Umar Dangiwa (rtd) has accused the high court judge who placed former Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido and his two sons on over two months detention in prison for an offence that is bailable, of high handedness.
Dangiwa, who in a statement today described the judgement as strange, called on people of good conscience to rally round and prevail on the trial Judge to “reconsider  this high -handed  decision.”
He argued that the strange part of the judgment is that the accuse and his sons were denied bail which the case requires, and sent them into remand in prison custody  for about three months.
“This means that both Sule and his sons have started serving  a prison sentence even before the commencement of their trial.
“The principle of the accused being adjudged innocent  until proven guilty must apply in this case.
“We are also aware that persons with similar cases had been granted and are being granted bail.We appeal to the trial judge to temper justice with mercy by granting Governor Sule Lamido and his sons bail.”

[ul class=”list list-point”] [li]Former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, Sons, To Spend Sallah In Prison[/li][/ul] [myad]

INEC Fixes Kogi Governorship Election For November 21, Bayelsa’s December 5th

Greenbarge Reporters

July 10, 2015

Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the governorship election for Kogi State for Saturday, November 21 this year. The Commission also fixed the Bayelsa state governorship poll for Saturday, December 5.
A statement signed by the INEC’s information and voters’ education committee chairman, Dr. Chris O, Iyimoga said that the dates for elections in the two states were reached at a meeting stakeholders of the Commission held on July 5th.
The statement said that campaigns by political parties would commence on July 24 and end on November 19 for Kogi state while the campaigns for Bayelsa commence on September 6 and end on December 3, even as it indicated that formal notices of the election would be issued on or before August 23 and September 25 respectively, “in accordance with the provisions of the electoral Act, 2010 (as amended)”
It said that the conduct of party primaries to nominate candidates for the elections would be done between August 25 and September 25 for Kogi and between September 7 and 30 for Bayelsa.
The statement added that the last day for submission of the list of candidates (CF002) and personal particulars of such candidates (CF001) for governorship and Deputy governorship candidates would be November 14 for Kogi and October 7 for Bayelsa.
INEC assured that other details pertaining to the conduct of both elections would be announced in due course, even as it directed those who are interested in more informtion about the elections to visit its website: www.inecnigeria.org.

[ul class=”list list-point”] [li] Kogi Central, West Forum Strategize For 2016 Governorship Polls[/li][/ul][myad]

President Buhari Yet To Receive Salary, Slashes His Salary By 50 Percent

Greenbarge Reporters

July 10, 2015

Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to receive his June salary, even as he has slashed the salary by 50 percent.
Inside sources said that the President was heard responding to his close aides who openly complained of having not yet received their salaries that he too had not received his.
It was gathered that the President had deliberately waited to make the 50 percent cut in his salary and that of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a way of streamlining the new salary structure of the Presidential political appointees before the voucher for the payment of the salaries is prepared.
A statement today by senior special assistant to President Buhari on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said that the President had already directed the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to effect the salary cut.
The message was contained in a letter to the SGF office from the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi.
The letter begins with: “I write to forward the completed IPPIS registration form of Mr. President and to draw your kind attention to Mr. President’s directive that only 50% of his salary be paid to him.”
The current annual remuneration of the President of Nigeria, as published by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, is 14,058,820.00 Naira (about $70,000).
President Buhari had earlier turned down a proposal to buy new cars for his use, saying that he would stick to the vehicles which former President Goodluck Jonathan left behind.
The proposal from the Aso Rock bureaucracy is for Buhari to approve the purchase of five customised armoured Mercedes Benz S-600 (V222) cars of about 400 million Naira.
It was learnt that President Buhari rejected the proposal on Wednesday when he received briefings from the Permanent Secretary (State House), Nebolisa Emodi.
He had, during his campaign, promised to cut down cost of governance in the face of low crude oil price since the nation depends more on crude exportation for revenue.

[ul class=”list list-point”] [li]Bishop Ademowo To Nigerians: Cheer Up, Buhari Will Take Us To Promise Land[/li][/ul] [myad]

Bishop Ademowo To Nigerians: Cheer Up, Buhari Will Take Us To Promise Land

Greenbarge Reporters

July 10, 2015

“President Buhari is a very thorough person, he is as straight as a ruler, and he has started work, so, the man is going to take us out of the woods.
This is the message of Bishop Emeritus of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Rev. Adebola Ademowo, to Nigerians when he granted News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) interview in Lagos today.
The Bishop is sure that
has said that he knows President Buhari will do well in spite of the impatience among Nigerians, adding that the President is only being thorough in view of the fact that change is a gradual process.
“They (Nigerians) shouldn’t be impatient at all because the man is just going from one step to another and I know that he is going to do well.
“I have very strong faith in what he is doing, he is impeccable, the man cannot be corrupted, everything is on course the way they are going they mean business and they are doing well.
“So, they should just forge ahead and know that beyond the tunnel, there is, there is hope. Nigeria is great and it will continue to be great.“ [myad]

Former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, Sons, To Spend Sallah In Prison

Greenbarge Reporters

July 9, 2015

Sule Lamido and his Sons at the court premises

The immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, his two sons Aminu and Mustapha and one Aminu Wada Abubakar are to observe the Eid-el-Fitri, the Small Sallah in Prison as they have been confined there till September 28.
The quartet were remanded in prison custody today by Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano after they were docked on a 28-count charge of corruption and money laundering brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
They were arraigned alongside four companies where the Lamidos are believed to have interest.
The companies are Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamiana Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminum Limited and Speeds International Limited.
Lamido is said to have abused his position as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015, by awarding contracts to companies where he has interest, using his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha as front.
One of the counts in the charge reads, “That you Alhaji Sule Lamido (while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria), Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido, Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited and Speeds International Limited between 15th October and 18th December, 2008 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did convert an aggregate sum of N124, 649, 915 (One Hundred and Twenty Four Million, Six Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifteen Naira) paid by Dantata & Sawoe Limited into the account of Speeds International Limited domiciled with an old generation Bank at Kano which fund you reasonably ought to have known to be proceeds of an unlawful act of Alhaji Sule Lamido who was a Public Officer within the meaning of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as prescribed under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended ) to wit; engaging in private business by a public officer, using the said company in which he is a director and a shareholder, and to whose account he is a signatory; with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said sum and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 (A) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004.”
However when the charges were read to the accused persons they pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel, Offiong Offiong, SAN told the court that he had filed application for bail and urged the court to consider granting the accused persons bail.
But prosecuting counsel, Chile Okoroma, requested for time to respond to the application.
He prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody as the EFCC holding facilities in Abuja and Kano were already overstretched.
Justice Anyadike consequently remanded the accused persons in prison custody pending consideration of their bail application and adjourned toSeptember 28, 2015.
After the judge’s pronouncement, a mild drama ensued between Lamido and the Deputy Chief Registrar of Federal High court, Barrister Solomon Akpedah.
Lamido was asked to proceed to board the waiting van taking him to Kano central prison when he exclaimed, “you mean I’m now a prisoner?!”
Akpedah, however, replied that “no sir, you are not a prisoner”
The arraignment of Lamido and his children was not without incident as an unruly crowd of supporters loyal to the former governor threatened to disrupt the court session.
It took reinforcement of the detachment of policemen at the court to maintain order.
The travails of the Lamidos began in 2012 when one of his sons, Aminu was arrested by Operatives of the EFCC at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano for failing to declare a sum of forty thousand United States Dollars ($40,000).
He was prosecuted and convicted with 50 percent of the undeclared sum forfeited to the Federal Government.
But the enquiries into the source of the funds led investigators into the closely guarded web of corruption and money laundering involving members of the former first family of Jigawa State and their cronies. [myad]

Kogi Central, West Forum Strategize For 2016 Governorship Polls

Greenbarge Reporters

July 9, 2015

File photo: Dr Tom Adaba @ Africast 2014

The Kogi Central and West Senatorial Districts have formed a formidable alliance with a view to clinching the governorship position of the state in the next year’s governorship election.
The two Senatorial Districts met yesterday in Abuja, under the umbrella of Kogi Central And West Peace Forum, for Equity and Justice.
A communiqué issued and signed by the chairman of the media and publicity for the group, Dr. Tom Adaba, after the meeting, said that it was attended by over 100 people from the two senatorial districts, including representatives of groups with similar objectives. The meeting, the communiqué said, was in furtherance of the Forum’s pursuit of good governance, equity and justice in the state.
The meeting reiterated its commitment to fielding a single candidate as well as a deputy in the forthcoming governorship election in the state even as it advised all major political parties to respect the feelings and reflect the interest of the two senatorial zones in the choice of their gubernatorial candidates if they are serious about winning this year’s election.
The meeting, which was jointly chaired by General J. O. S. Oshanupin (Rtd), Professor Yusuf Aliyu and Alhaji Idris Yusuf Tawari, did not foreclose the possibility of using a third platform to realize its objective if the two major political parties make the mistake of not fielding its consensus candidate in the election.
The meeting was also attended by General Chris Ali, former Chief Army Staff, Chief Clarence Olafemi, former acting governor of the state, Chief Bayo Ojo, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Abdulrahaman Adeiza, Professor Olu Akerejola, Ambassador S. A. Lawal, Ambassador P. B. Fadumiyo,Professor Angela Okatahi, Chief J. O. Omuya, Professor I. Abdulsalam.
Others are Dr..Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, Chief Femi Ajisafe, Tunde Ipinmisho, Prince Emmanuel Omadivi, Sufyanu Abdulmalik, Dr. David Atte, Chief J.O. Yusuf, Alhaji Sheidu Ozigis, Retired DIG of Police Abdul raheem Yusuf, Prof. Adams Abere El-Okene, Dr. Tunde Arosanyin, Femi Ojo Melefa, Chief Dan Kunle, Suleiman Baba Ali, Tanko Musa, Ibrahim Usman, Idris Miyali, Hon. Matthew Keyi, Engr Sam Uhuotu, Engr. Funso Ako, Ahmed Garba, Barrister (Mrs) J. Y.Ajanah, Mohammed Aliyu, Brig-Gen. Yusuf Abubakar (Rtd), Hussain Obadaki, Prince Rotimi Obadofin, Yahaya Ade Ismail, Lamidi Itopa, M. J. Alabi, Isa Sani Omolori, Ahmed Kokori Abdul, Dahiru Musa Andullahi, Chief S. K. Adedoyin, Toyin Akanle, Henry Ojuola, A. G. Usman, Shaban Shaibu, Abdulmumuni Isa, and Ezekiel Kaura.
There were also Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, Former Deputy Governor Phillips Salawu, Alhaji Ishaq Ajibola, Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar, Dr Martin Makoju, Senator Salihu Ohize, Dr Abdulrahman Adeiza, Mr Jimmy Olumudi, Prof M. Ajibero and Col Olu Oloruntoba (Rtd) all of who sent apologies.

Other parts of the communiqués goes thus:

The Forum promised to search widely and transparently for a governorship candidate as well as a deputy that will win the next election and change the fortunes of the much abused and traumatized state.
The Forum vowed to halt the marginalization of the two senatorial districts, end the rot in the state and enthrone good governance and equity which have so far eluded the resources-rich state. Rather than constantly bemoaning their plight, participants resolved to come together, strategize and take their destinies in their hands. Members pledged to pool their resources together to save the state from chronic under-development and shameful stagnation.
The Forum resolved to remain focused, determined, honest and transparent in its dealings. It plans to mobilize all the people and associations in the two senatorial districts towards achieving the Forum’s aspirations.
The meeting agreed to put in the public domain statistics showing the incalculable inequity and mindless marginalization in Kogi State so that the whole world will know that the struggle for equity and good governance is truly justified and long overdue.
The Forum agreed to hold its next meetings in Lokoja, Kabba and Okene and to mobilize the people of the two senatorial districts to end the present internal colonialism in the state.
Four Standing Committees – Finance, Strategy, Media and Publicity, Contact and Mobilization and Search/Screening – were constituted with terms of reference. The committees are to start work immediately.

World Longest Serving Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal Is Dead

Greenbarge Reporters

July 9, 2015

Former Saudi Foreign Minister, considered as the world’s longest serving foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, has died. He served for 40 years on the job.
The senior level Saudi information ministry official said today that Prince Saud had passed away and that an official statement would be published soon.
Prince Saud, who was appointed in 1975, was the world’s longest serving foreign minister when he was replaced on April 29 by Adel al-Jubeir, the then ambassador to Washington.
Prince Saud served under four Saudi kings, advancing the Kingdom’s foreign policy, especially after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
He was also part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to lessen Iran’s influence in the region, including the continuing conflict in Syria, where Saudi Arabia has been supporting several rebel groups.
As the foreign minister of an important political and economic US ally in the region, Saud was reported to have been well liked and respected in diplomatic circles.
The US embassy in Saudi Arabia tweeted the US secretary of state, John Kerry as saying that “Saud was not only the longest serving foreign minister, but was also one of the wisest.” [myad]

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