The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to still be bogged down with feat of anger over its resounding loss in the just concluded general election as its Lagos state chapter, today sacked its chairman, Captain Tunji Shelle. The chairman was sacked by 34 members of the State Working Committee and was immediately replaced by the current Secretary, Wahab Owokoniran. The committee accused Shelle of mismanaging election campaign funds and manipulating the party’s primaries last year which ultimately led to the defeat of the PDP at the polls.
The All Progressives Congress, (APC), has said the incoming Buhari Administration would not persecute anyone, in response to statements credited to President Goodluck Jonathan but that it will ask questions as to how the goverbnent was run. The party asked Jonathan government and its officials to be ready to answer questions regarding their stewardship. President Jonathan had said that he expected his Ministers and aides to be “persecuted.” Speaking at a thanksgiving service organized in his honour at the Anglican Church, Life Camp, Abuja, Mr. Jonathan said he believed he lost some allies as well as the March presidential election because of “certain decisions” he took. “It might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect some people differently,” the president said. “So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathize with them, they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution.” But, APC, in a statement in Abuja today by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said those “who played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God. ”That the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes. ”However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians.” APC said that under the climate of change that Nigerians have ushered in with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid, and those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves. ”The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution.” The party wondered why the President chose a public forum to express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the President-elect. ”Since the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the President-elect have met privately a number of times. Why didn’t President Jonathan express his apprehensions during these meetings? ”Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being pre-emptive and seeking to curry public sympathy.” The APC insisted that the priority of the incoming government would be the welfare and security of the long-suffering people of Nigeria, and enjoined all citizens to support the administration in charting a new path for the country – away from the rapaciousness and impunity of the past years.
Corporate Services Executive Of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck
With its pioneering status as the first Foundation to be established by a Nigerian telecommunication company, MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility vehicle of leading ICT Company, MTN Nigeria, is celebrating a decade of touching lives through its hugely impactful social investments in education, health, and economic empowerment. Founded on the 11th of May, 2005, the Foundation is funded by up to one percent profit after tax (PAT) from MTN Nigeria and has become the leading driver of social investments through the expenditure of over 11 billion naira in 341 project sites across the six geopolitical zones of the country. Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, Chairman, MTN Foundation noted that the successes which have been recorded in the last 10 years are based on the Foundation’s ability to leverage on the power of local and international partners who are able to bring relevant knowledge and experience to the table, to create and execute sustainable projects across the country. “The giant strides made by the Foundation and the remarkable transformation of lives seen through the gains of our various initiatives in the area of health, education and economic empowerment are an eloquent testimony of how well we have been able to demonstrate ourcommitment to enriching lives and adding value to the lives of the citizenry,” Ambassador Ahmadu said. On his own part, Mr. Wale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive of MTN and Director of the Foundation, expressed delight at the giant strides made in the past decade adding that corporate social responsibility is at the core of MTN’s organizational philosophy. “We are excited that our mission to improve the quality of life in communities all over the country has yielded great dividends as evidenced by the positive impact our initiatives have had in helping to reduce poverty as well as foster sustainable development in Nigeria,” Goodluck added. He pledged that the Foundation will not relent in its efforts. The Foundation, said Goodluck, will continue to seek creative ways to support and add value to lives in many more communities. MTNF educational initiatives have seen it provide digital libraries and ICT laboratories to universities and secondary schools, respectively, across the country while empowering others with scholarships in music and science and technology. Under its healthcare portfolio, it has provided mammography and dialysis machines to public hospitals across the country as well as its trailblazing eyesight restoration intervention where a lot of persons have benefited from free cataract surgeries, eye glasses and drug packs. Under its economic empowerment portfolio, MTNF has carried out and supported a wide range of activities designed to enable job provision, skills acquisition among other various stakeholder groups such as the disabled, widows and visually impaired students. In recognition of its positive contributions, MTNF has received numerous awards, including the 3rd CSR Nigeria Industry Award: Innovative Partnership Award for Outstanding Work in Corporate Social Responsibility and Creating “Shared Value”; Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) Awards: Best Corporate Social Responsibility Company and Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria: Special Appreciation Award in recognition of MTNF work and Support for Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria among many others.
The Nigeria Institute for Management (NIM) has conferred its Fellowship on Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. The President of NIM and chairman of Council, Dr. Nelson Uwaga who conferred the award in Asaba, Delta state capital, during the inauguration of five chapters of the NIM today said that the Governor was conferred with the fellowship of the Institute because of the professionalism he has brought to the governance of Delta State. He gave assurance that other Nigerians who are prudent in the management of resources like governor Uduaghan would continued to be recognised by the Council of NIM. Besides conferring the Governor with the Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered) at the ceremony, he also inaugurated five chapters of the NIM. The chapters are: Abraka, Edjeba, Okpe, Udu and Uvwie. Governor Uduaghan thanked the NIM for conferring on him the Fellowship of the Institute even as he stressed the need for NIM to organise training programmes for members and non-members to build human capacity for good governance in our country. The governor also called for the intervention of professional managers in Nigeria’s economy to check the downward slide in the nation’s economy. According to him, given the current economic down turn of the country, Nigeria deserves good managers of the economy to make progress. He therefore challenged NIM to be actively involved in the training and discovering of good managers to manage the nation’s economy because of the dwindling capacity available to manage the resources of the country. “This is the time we need the NIM most in Nigeria: we have a lot of challenges with our economy, the funds are not just there, we need managers to run the economy of the states and federal government, we need NIM to impart prudent management skills to those running our economy.” Uduaghan made it clear that good governance entails a lot of things, including the efficient management of human and financial resources of the state, stressing that the human capacity required to manage a budget of N300 billion or more in the present day Nigeria would definitely be higher than that used to manage a budget of N10 billion in 1999. “The challenges of management goes beyond the public sector to the private sector, the capacity used to manage the 1999 budget of N10 billion is not the same as that required to manage our present day budget of over N300 billion. The budget has risen, but has our capacity risen in the same way?” He also, called for good communication between the managers of resources and the masses on issues and challenges affecting governance noting that such would reduce suspicion, rumour mongering and mischief.
This is the year a political tsunami hit Iluola, the lush evergreen forest at the tip of the Savannah. The year when a device called PVC Verification readers changed the dynamics of elections in Iluola, disrupting the status quo forever. The foxes ran out of ideas, the bulls ran amok as the bears were restrained. Inevitably, the chicken came home to roost, all under the watch of a stern and uncompromising umpire. A new drug called Jegamycin was invented in and administered on Iluola and the whole world cheered a forest waking from a deep slumber and coming alive. What an “anus horribilis” for the biggest gorilla in the forest…
Orisun is the pride of Iluola, the city that competes with New York in never sleeping, there is drama all over the place. All sorts of business are transacted, fortunes are made, dreams comes true, and opportunities are everywhere. Amidst all the roots and branches straddling the place, people pick their way through to make living. Despite the scorching sun, the torrential rain, the potholes and foul sewage, people labour on with eagerness and hope. New roads, schools, hospitals are being built, transport services are being enhanced, etc. A city being transformed and where citizens are unusually commending the government as the dividends of good governance trickles down…
It is not yet Uhuru but the people are hopeful and the signs are promising. A lion is leaving town and another lion is taking the reins….there is jubilation and pats on the back that the voice of reason has triumphed….proven and tested people are taking charge….there is a feeling that the task at hand will continue to be engaged by competent and serious hands ….a fresh pair of hands are about to take charge and steer Orisun along the journey to become the world class city it deserves to be.
Ireti is the federal capital of Iluola. Spanned by massive expansive houses, wide boulevards, shopping plazas, hotels of different grade, brisk businesses goes on all over the place. Politicians, Civil Servants, Contractors – the poachers, bestrides the city like a colossus…..they don’t talk about religion, tribe or gender…..they talk about money…they come from every nook and corner of Iluola, seeking fortunes, deals and dubious agreements….you can’t miss them in the big posh hotels, in the joints, holding nocturnal meetings, hurrying back and forth as if on a noble mission, planning how and where to hide their loots. Ordinary Iluolans look and shudder, mulling the perennial question….is this the destiny of this evergreen forest???
Alas, change is here….. A General and a Professor have arrived in Ireti with a broom, ready to sweep away all the leeches sucking the blood of Iluola, this sick nation is about to be healed….The look on the poacher’s faces has changed dramatically, their mood is sullen, their countenance is of despair….there is anxiety and trepidation in the air….will he or will he not…..guess the question??? Toibudeen Oduniyi FBCS CITP
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]
The Senate Committee on Privatisation has said that most technical partners that bought the country’s power assets did not bring one kobo thereby leading the sector into dismal performance.
The committee also said that the National Council of Privatisation (NCP) under the chairmanship of Vice President Namadi Sambo committed grave errors, including the council’s refusal to sell the power assets in phases.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Gbenga Obadara disclosed diverse challenges that made stable power supply a mirage after the private investors had bought 60 percent equity shares in the country’s power assets.
But Obadara explained that most technical partners the federal government brought to purchase the power companies “did not bring one kobo. The partners did not bring monies. The partners only brought in their technical knowledge.
“The power investors did not bring one kobo. So, that is the problem we have. Now, they have done the mess. The outgoing government failed to look at the financial capability of the investors that bought the power companies.
“Before the sale of the power investments, I raised objection in the presence of the vice president that the investors did not have financial wherewithal to transform the sector. Even when they open another opportunity of borrowing for them, I objected to it. But the federal government went ahead with it. Has it solved the problem?”
He admitted that fixing power sector is not a thing that will take miracle to happen, but that the country’s power sector would have improved substantially if the vice president had agreed to sell the power assets gradually.
He said he advised the NCP against selling all the power assets at the same time, noting that if the federal government “must privatise the power assets, let it be gradual. The mistakes committed would have been known and corrected if we (had) privatized in phases. That will have been a guide had it been the assets were sold in phases.” [myad]
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