A member of the Kaduna State Transition Committee, Malam Uba Sani, has described as worrisome the debt profile of the state which he said is unjustifiable.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, Malam Uba said the committee was shocked to discover that the state is indebted to the tune of over N100 billion. He said the mess on ground “is simply unprintable”.

He lamented that part of their findings showed reckless expenditure and mismanagement of resources by the outgoing government of Kaduna state.  While comparing the indebtedness of Lagos state with that of Kaduna State, he said Lagos has used its debt to execute meaningful projects.

He explained that unlike Kaduna, Lagos seems more determined to generate revenue and could pay back its debt.

He said with a revenue base of N28 billion monthly, Lagos has what it takes to settle all its debts. He noted that in the case of Kaduna, it is hard to say even N1 billion could be generated monthly.

Malam Uba, who is also the Head of sub-committee on projects, assured the people of the state that governor-elect, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai is equal to the task of fulfilling his electoral promises. He explained that the governor-elect has track record of transforming even the most complicated government agencies, while stressing that “Malam would not disappoint the masses, who donated N1,000 each to support his campaign and followed up with their votes”.

Malam Uba Sani noted that el-Rufa’i’s pedigree was also attested to by president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari, who said during campaigns that his support for El-Rufai’s candidature was because he is capable, committed and honest in the discharge of his responsibilities.

Malam Uba said by the time the El-Rufai administration gets down to business, the challenge of unemployment, collapsed industries and official corruption would be a thing of the past. He said based on the manifesto of the incoming administration, there will be economic diversification into the neglected area of agriculture, which has great potential for employment opportunities.

The project sub-committee chairman declined giving details of the committee’s findings to the newsmen, saying the main committee would do what is right and at the appropriate time.  He then commended the people of Kaduna for reposing their confidence in the governor-elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, saying “We are on track to turn around the fortunes of Kaduna.” [myad]

Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has announced the withdrawal of police escorts from unauthorized Nigerians that have been enjoying the facility.

He also announced that 16 teams have been deployed across all geo-political zones of the country to enforce the ban on road blocks which he described as a major source of corruption.

The IGP, who was addressing senior police officers and men during his maiden visit to the Lagos State Police Command today said: “I have also directed that every person unauthorised to carry police officers as escort should be withdrawn.”

Arase, who was received by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Mbu Joseph Mbu, heading the Zone 2 Command comprising Lagos and Ogun States, said the  ban on road blocks would be enforced to the letter.

“Sixteen teams have been deployed to all the geo-political zones to make sure the ban on road blocks is enforced. The ban on road blocks does not mean there won’t be civility policing in terms of police motor patrols. The road blocks have become a nuisance.

“I am allergic to corruption and I have zero tolerance for it. Therefore, I don’t want to ambush any officer and anybody.”

He assured his officers and men of improved welfare, even as he commended them for their loyalty and, dedication to duty, asking them to continue to do more. [myad]

The Senate has asked the Supreme Court to stop meddling in its affairs because it lacked the powers to stop the National Assembly from performing its legislative duties as far as the process of amending the 1999 Constitution is concerned.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Public Affairs, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe who was reacting today to an order of the apex Court issued last week, directing the National Assembly to maintain the status quo in its bid to amend the Constitution, said that the Supreme Court was wrong to stop the lawmakers in the performance of their legislative duties.

The Federal Government had instituted a suit challenging the powers of the lawmakers to perform its duties under the Constitution. The decision of President Jonathan to veto the Fourth Alteration bill to the 1999 Constitution, presented to him brought about the suit.

The President had raised a number of issues including the failure of the lawmakers to produce evidence that it secured the mandatory four fifth majority in amending Section 9 of the Constitution.

The lawmakers had planned to override the President’s veto after a review by the Constitution amendment Committees of the two chambers..

Senator Abaribe, in a chat with newsmen said, “The Supreme Court is wrong. The law does not allow one arm of the government to stop another arm of government from performing its duties.

“The Supreme Court cannot stop us from legislating and if they say that the Supreme Court is stopping us from making laws, it is misleading and it amounts to misreading the powers of the Supreme Court.” [myad]

The countries that make up the Scandinavian have approved the teaching of Yoruba language in their schools.
The Scandinavia, made up of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, gave the approval late in 2014.
This revelation was made yesterday by the Sweden Coordinator of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), Victor Mobolaji Adewale, during the Europe meeting of the Union.
The meeting was held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Adewale, who also emerged as the Deputy Coordinator of the body in Europe, said the approval followed the well attended launch of the Union in Sweden on November 29, 2014.
He said that it was attended by government officials from the Scandinavian countries who thereafter okayed the teaching of Yoruba language in their schools.
He said the Union also has the OPU radio functioning in the Scandinavian countries, using it as a medium of popularising the Yoruba language and reaching out to people of like minds.
“We are happy to report that the Yoruba language has got the approval of the authorities for it to be taught in schools in the Scandinavian countries.
“It is a major breakthrough for us in popularising our mother tongue.
“We look forward to doing more.”
The Convener of the OPU and National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Otunba Gani Adams, who expressed happiness at the development, said one of the reasons for the summit was capacity building.
Adams advised the Europe chapters of the OPU to be aggressive in expanding their coasts by building more chapters.
He said the duty and responsibility of the European chapter should be to cover 25 countries out of the 28 in Europe.
He said the OPU can use Europe as a base to mobilise others.
Adams told the meeting that OPU was now present in 56 countries, adding: “Protecting the image of Nigeria important.
“Liaise with the embassies, the Missions of Nigeria in all the countries where you are based.
“They are the representatives of Nigeria out here.”
Adams also implored the members of the OPU to operate with singleness of purpose, adding: “If there is no unity, nothing can be achieved.
“We are building the OPU for the benefit of the Yorubas.
“We will soon expand strongly in America.”
The Publisher of Freedom Online, Gabriel Akinadewo, delivered a lecture on: “Leadership and the Nigerian challenge.”
Akinadewo advised members of the OPU to develop leadership capacity in order to run a truly strong organisation.
Among those who attended the meeting was the paramount ruler of Arigidi Akoko in Ekiti State, Oba Yisa Olanipekun.
One of the major highlights of the meeting was the emergence of the executive members of the Europe chapter.
The Coordinator of the chapter is Akogun Banjo Ojo, while Adewale became the Deputy Coordinator.
Members of the Europe chapter of the OPU also agreed to commence the construction of an estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The land for the project was provided by Adams at a subsidized rate. [myad]

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described Nigeria First Lady, Patience Jonathan as “crude” in her actions, adding that she is “an embarrassment to Nigerians and Nigeria.”

Dabiri-Erewa added that the utterances during the recent campaign in the country by Dame Patience Jonathan took away the “poise” associated with the office of the First Lady, stressing that the First Lady remained the “worst.”

Abike was also reacting to a recent statement by the president’s wife where he described General Buhari as a dead-brain, adding: “Mrs. Jonathan is an embarrassment to the whole country. The only people shouting her praise or listening to her are the sycophants; outside them, nobody else does.

“She is crude and unrefined. When you travel out of the country, Nigerians keep asking you how we came this bad.”

Earlier, APC in a statement signed by the APC’s campaign’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday, the party said the President’s wife was insultive. [myad]

Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has said that his boss is meek but does not mean that he is weak even as he said Nigerians misunderstood him
(President Jonathan).
Okupe, who expressed his feeling about the President on his facebook wall, said: “Nigerians misunderstood meekness for weakness, Restraint for lack of strength, reticence for inaction and calmness for indecisiveness.

“President Jonathan has done well and served his country well. He exits office as a great President, perhaps Nigeria’s greatest President for all times. Greater than the best before him. He excelled in achievement, in humility, tranquility and simplicity.

Okupe said that history would judge President Jonathan differently, adding: “he would be remembered as a great man, a good man, humble and humane, purposeful and focused. A great African Hero who fought against all manners of evil and conspiracies, religious, ethnic, national and international, and lost the war, but ultimately, triumphed because of the inherent goodness that God Almighty deposited in hm.”

He recalled that Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the life of any Nigerian, saying that he meant what he said and stood by what he said even to his detriment and millions who believed in him.

The presidential aide urged Nigerians not to weep for Jonathan, adding: “rather weep and pray that our Nation will remain, united and stable; that its people will prosper and that God will guide our incoming leaders.” [myad]