Malam Mohammed Haruna, a syndicated columnist and former chief press secretary to former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, is expected to deliver a keynote speech with a theme: ‘Has online publishing come of age?’ at the formal launching of Sundiata Post online newspaper in Abuja on July 7. Those that would discuss the topic include the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Ima Niboro; Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu; Director of the Centre of International Advanced Studies, Lagos, Professor Anthony Kila; Executive Director of the Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Abuja, Dr. Otive Igbuzor; Director of public affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo and former special adviser on media in Ekiti State, Mrs. Omobolanle Omotunde-Bruce. The panel of discussants will be led by the former Managing Director of Leadership Newspaper Group, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene, In a statement, the publisher/CEO of Sundiata Post Media Ltd, Mr. Max Amuchie said that the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba will chair the event which is scheduled to hold at the Bayelsa State Guest House, Maitama, Abuja by 10 in the morning. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that Senate President, Bukola Saraki killed All Progressives Congress (APC) by inviting people in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to partake in the leadership of the Senate.
Senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu quoted Buhari in a statement today to have said that he was thoroughly disappointed about what happened in the Senate and is still agonising over it, but equally blamed the APC majority for failing to assert their numerical superiority.
Garba Shehu said that President Buhari spoke when he met the representatives of APC the caucus on Tuesday night and that he said: “we (APC) won the battle and lost the war. Those who went with the PDP know that they are killing the APC.”
President Buhari said that he expected Senator Saraki and Dogara to bend in deference to the Party leadership, because,as he said, “we have to make the choice of either having a party or none at all. I believe in the superiority of the party over all members so this issue and all others, I will continue to stand with the Party,”
Garba Shehu then said that it was a mistake on their part to have assumed that Speaker Dogara was expected at the meeting with the President yesterday, adding that he was not invited because he had had his own meeting with the President earlier on.
“The President having heard from the Speaker needed to hear out Gbajabiamila and the 174 APC loyalist members behind him.” [myad]
Coalition of Progressive Political Parties, COP3, the umbrella organisation for thirteen registered political parties in Nigeria, has condemned what it calls “the dangerous, irresponsible and inciting statement issued by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the appointment of Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).” The appointment early this week of one of INEC’s National Commissioners, Mrs. Amina Zakari, by President Muhammadu Buhari as Acting Chairman of the Commission has drawn opprobrium from Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP. In a statement issued in Abuja today and signed by the Chairman of the Coalition and National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Mallam Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, the COP3 decried what it described as “the dangerous precedent being set by a political party which tried to decide for the country who becomes the INEC Chairman” a function which, it said, is constitutionally reserved for the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly. In a reference to the statement made in Abuja on Wednesday by Chief Olisa Metuh, rejecting the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari, the Coalition warned that any interference by political parties in the appointment of INEC officials would be tantamount to politicising the process and the Commission itself, adding that this is capable of creating dangerous schism in the Commission and generating unnecessary tension in the country. “INEC is an independent election management body which must be insulated from politics and irresponsible politicking. The power of and procedure for the appointment of the Chairman of INEC is a constitutional matter and not subject of bargaining by political parties, especially those who are yet to come to terms with the fact that Nigeria is on a very strong change trajectory. INEC is also a regulator of political parties. It is an anomaly for the parties which the Commission is supposed to regulate to dictate who becomes the Commission’s chairman. Obviously, for some parties, it is still midnight. “Mrs. Zakari was not appointed to the Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. She was appointed as INEC National Commissioner by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and by the time she was appointed Acting INEC Chairman, she had the distinction of being the most senior INEC National Commissioner in terms of time served. She is well educated and had served the Commission as Chairman of a number of its committees, including the sensitive Election and Political Party Monitoring Committee during President Jonathan’s administration. If she is good to be a National Commissioner of INEC and chairman of its Committees under President Jonathan, then she is good to be the Commission’s Acting Chairman at any other time. “PDP is fully aware that this is not the first time a transition is taking place in INEC. As recent as 2010 when the tenure of former INEC Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu expired, he handed over the Commission to INEC National Commissioner Philip Umeadi before late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua decided to appoint Commissioner Solomon Soyebi as Acting Chairman. The Coalition warned PDP and what it calls its “overzealous spokesman” to stay clear of INEC and desist from any design to create schism in the Commission in the name of opposition politics. “Opposition politics must be responsible politics. After suffering for sixteen interrupted years under its institutional mismanagement, Nigerians deserve a respite from PDP’s meddlesomeness and brinkmanship” the statement said. “PDP’s acidic and divisive politics has been rejected by Nigerians in the last general election” the statement continued. “We advise that they try some modesty and learn from their past mistakes instead of trying to give Nigerians more of the same.” [myad]
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has gone into the red zone of the Boko Haram’s dangerous activities, consoling wounded soldiers, civilian victims in hospitals and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. The Vice President, who was in Maiduguri yesterday, entered Yola, Capital of Adamawa state today, delivering a message of hope from President Muhammadu Buhari to the people in the zone. Professor Osinbajo was accompanied to Yola by the Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Bindow Jubrilla and other dignitaries. The Vice President also took time off to pay a courtesy call on the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, who expressed delight in the readiness of the Buhari presidency to confront the insurgency crisis in the state and other parts of the North East. Vice President Osinbajo told the IDPs in the NYSC camp and terrorism patients at the Federal Medical Center, both in Yola that President Buhari’s resolve to end terrorist insurgency in the North East, and restore the livelihood of Nigerians who have been badly affected by it is none negotiable. He told the victims: “everyday, everyday the President is thinking about you. That is why he sent me. To come and see, take notes, to understand what is going on, to hear from you, so that I can report to him for positive action. That is why I am here. “He asks me to say to you that there is hope, great hope. That the federal government under his leadership will ensure everything is done to provide for you and resettle you back to you homes, your work, your businesses and your places of worship.” Professor Osinbajo asked the people to be patient. “But you have to be patient, you have to be patient. As you know, the government has very little money. We are running after all the money everywhere, so that we use it to serve you.” Vice President Osinbajo said that the Federal Government will take seriously the need to sweep off land mines and other forms of explosives from farmlands in territories recently recovered from insurgents. At the Bajabure NYSC Orientation camp in Damare area of Girei Local Government Council of Adamawa State, the Vice President observed that the task of de-mining affected farmlands in the recovered areas ravaged by insurgency would receive utmost priority of government, as it is a very important step in achieving the primary objective of rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons back to their homes. Professor Osinbajo explained the seriousness of the situation, adding that terrorists had planted land mines and other forms of explosives , making it difficult for people to resettle “and that is the reason why it is absolutely important for us that the farmlands are swept clean of mines and explosives. That is a matter we shall take seriously, that is de-mining of farm lands” On the issue of unemployment, and poverty in Adamawa State, the Vice President said that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is specifically concerned with these major problems, saying that the Federal Government’s cardinal campaign promises is that the poor in this country must not be left behind and must not be forgotten. He reiterated the commitment of President Buhari towards the alleviation of poverty among the masses, promising that Government has made it a high priority. Meanwhile, during his interaction with about 2,100 internally displaced persons being accommodated in the camp, the Vice President informed them that because President Buhari was concerned about their welfare and the general condition in the camp, he had instructed him to visit them and to find out how they were coping. He assured them of government’s readiness to rebuild their homes, places of worship, markets, schools and provide other necessary infrastructures which would enable them settle down to normal life in their communities when they return home. Professor Osinbajo assured the government of Adamawa State that the administration of President Buhari was committed to assisting them rebuild and reconstruct affected parts of the State. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his determination to significantly improve the operating environment for domestic and international companies in Nigeria as part of its efforts to boost employment in the country. At an audience with the new Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke at the Aso Viilla Presidential Villa, Abuja today, President Buhari said that the Federal Government, under his leadership, will welcome greater investment inflows from Japan and other developed nations in support of its plans to revitalize the Nigerian economy and create more jobs. The President told Mr. Kusaoke that his administration will particularly welcome more trade and economic cooperation with Japan in the manufacturing, technology and agricultural sectors. “I was very impressed with the role your Prime Minister played at our talks with G-7 leaders in Germany. He had a deep understanding of the challenge in the North-East of Nigeria and how it is affecting our economy. “We look forward to a stronger partnership with your country in many areas, especially in technology, which is now the major driver of job creation across the world today,’’ President Buhari told the new Japanese ambassador who was at the Presidential Villa to present his letters of credence. The President also received the letters of credence of the new Ambassador of Ukraine, Dr. Valerii Aleksandruk and the new High Commissioner of Pakistan, Lt.- Gen. Agha Muhammed Umer Farooq. All the new envoys assured President Buhari that they will work very hard to maintain and strengthen existing relations between Nigeria and their respective countries during their tenure in Abuja. [myad]
Ahead of the meeting ot the National Executive Council (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) former Vice President and chieftain of the party, Atiku Abubakar has warned leaders against extremism. He made it clear that in the interest of the growth of democracy and the party, the new administration and the country at large, APC needs to shift from extreme positions to a centrist one. A statement from his media office in Abuja today, quoted the former Vice President as calling for the concentration of positive energies on building unity, cohesion and harmony among party leaders and other stakeholders. “We can resolve our differences when our leaders individually and collectively shift ground from extreme positions and move to the centre in the interest of our party and our country.” Atiku, who is unavoidably outside the country to perform Lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia, said that he is deeply concerned that, soon after capturing power, the APC was torn apart at a time more energy were needed to attend to the objectives of the change agenda for which it was voted into power. The former Vice President said it was high time the party overcame its current crisis of confidence arising from the National Assembly election of principal officers. He explained that the current blame games targeted at individuals is an unnecessary diversion of energies at the expense of the urgency of the mission of the party to make life better for Nigerians. According to the former Vice President, the vilification of individual party leaders and members in the face of challenges facing the country is painful to him, adding that the party should learn the lessons and move ahead. Atiku restated his commitment to the party and its change agenda, even as he advised the party leaders not to allow people of bad faith to fuel division and acrimony among them. He said that all positive energies should be directed towards sustaining the morale of the voters who look forward to the APC to make their lives better. He reminded party leaders that any division could be exploited at the expense of the party. He extended his goodwill to the party for successful deliberations and assured the party of continued support and loyalty at all times. [myad]
Former Director General of the State Security Service, Ita Ekpenyong
President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Director General of the State Security Service, Ita Ekpenyong. A statement by the Director of Communications, Haruna Imrana on behalf of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, did not give reasons for the sack, but observers said that the sack had long been expected. It would be recalled that under the sacked Director General, the SSS became openly partisan, especially in the run-up to the 2015 general elections. Rather than gathering intelligence necessary to make the country safe, the agency busied itself more with harassing and arresting opposition figures, ransacking firms and offices with ties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and appearing on television to disparage opposition politicians and their party. On July 25, 2014, operatives of the SSS descended on the corporate headquarters of TNS-RMS, a Lagos-based research agency, holding its staff hostage, ransacking its offices and premises and whisking away three of its personnel. The company’s offence was that it was, at the time, conducting an opinion poll on the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun state. The SSS struck because it got intelligence report that the poll would indicate that Rauf Aregbesola of the APC would win the election. Mr. Aregbesola later won that election. On November 21, 2014, the agency raided the APC data centre in Lagos, arresting its staffs and accusing the party of “cloning INEC Permanent Voters Card with the intention of hacking into INEC data base, corrupting it and replacing them with their own data.” The SSS is yet to prove that allegation till date. The SSS also consistently disparaged the APC in the media, accusing the party and its leaders of being behind the deadly Boko Haram insurgency. And after the Osun election, the agency’s spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, rushed to the media, claiming that some opposition APC politicians offered the Service’s personnel 14 million naira bribe. The SSS is yet to substantiate that allegation and no one has been charged to court for bribery. However, after his sack, President Buhari quickly appointed Lawal Daura as new head of the agency, which serves as Nigeria’s secret police.
New Director General of DSS, Lawal Daura
Daura was born in Daura on the August, 5, 1953 and attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1977 – 1980. He started his carrier in the State Security Service in 1982 and rose to the rank of Director. He was at one time the Deputy Director, Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre, at the Presidential Villa Abuja between 2003 and 2007. He also served as State Director of Security Service at various times in Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Imo States. He attended various professional courses both at home and abroad, including the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau state. The appointment is with immediate effect. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to work with other member-nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS, as well as international community to ensure that Burkina Faso conducts free, credible and peaceful elections scheduled for October 15 this year. Speaking at an audience with Burkina Faso’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Rene Bagoro today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari said that Nigeria will do all that it can to help in the achievement of successful elections. “I am aware that ECOWAS is providing logistics support and some form of electoral assistance to Burkina Faso. Nigeria will provide its own support as soon as possible,’’ President Buhari assured Mr. Bagoro, who was in Abuja as a Special Envoy of the transitional President of Burkina Faso, Mr. Michel Kafando. President Buhari also received Niger Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Aichatou Kane who delivered a special message from President Mahamadou Issoufou. The message from the Nigerien leader and President Buhari’s discussion with the Foreign Minister focused on ongoing efforts at strengthening the Multinational Joint Task Force established to combat Boko Haram. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile. [myad]
The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused governor Nyesom Wike of squandering over N60 Billion in his first 30 days in office. Chairman of the state APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, in a statement today in Port Harcourt said: “In what is clearly a tale of the absurd, Wike’s rubber stamp State House of Assembly has approved a whopping sum of N30 Billion within 30 days for expenditure without any project attached. Apart from this N30 Billion, the administration of Governor Chbuike Amaechi left the sum of N7.5 Billion, plus the N23 Billion released to the State from the Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), making the total funds available for Wike to squander at over N60 Billion within 30 days,” Ikanya said. He lamented that within the 30 days, which rank among the worst in the history of Rivers State, Wike has neither initiated nor embarked on any project apart from ordering a trailer load of his favourite Lexus XIII drink, a bottle of which costs N1.5 million, and sharing the remaining billions of naira with Madam Patience Jonathan, INEC officials and others that supervised the killing of Rivers State people so that Wike would become Governor. “While Governors of States like Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto Abia, Lagos, Delta and Adamawa that were sworn-in the same date with Wike are initiating and executing projects aimed at improving the standard of living of their people, the Rivers State Care-Taker Governor is busy supervising the liquidation of the economy of Rivers State through acts of squandermania unknown to modern governance in the entire world. Wike has succeeded within 30 days to turn Rivers State to one of the dirtiest States in Nigeria without security and in ensuring that our people now sleep with one eye opened!” [myad]
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, commiserates with Mrs. Aisha Ibrahim who is nursing her daughter, affected by the Boko Haram insurgence at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, today, July 1st. [myad]
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