Buhari Says He’s On Rescue Mission On Collapsing Economy

February 22, 2015

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that he is on a rescue mission to deliver Nigerians from the effects of the ill management of the nation’s economy by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.
A statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation Malam Garba Shehu, quoted General Buhari of saying that the management of the nation’s economy by President Jonathan and his economic team is both panicky and uncoordinated.
“It is apparent that the Federal Government has suddenly found itself in a bind with plummeting crude oil prices in the international market, but typical of a team that lacks capacity for anticipatory actions, the Federal Government has been running from pillar to post in a vain bid to stabilize the economy.
“Unfortunately, all conceived palliatives applied to save the nation’s declining economic indicators have merely scrapped the surface of the problems leaving the mass of Nigerians desperate, confused and hungrier.”
Gener Buhari said that the nation’s debt profile under the current Federal Government grew exponentially even while the country recorded the highest revenue accrued from impressive crude oil prices over a five-year period before the downward spiral of international oil prices.
“With external debt standing at more than $10 billion and our internal debts at more than $5 0billion, it is without doubt that President Jonathan is driving Nigeria into economic wilderness. This should be a cause for concern for all well-meaning Nigerians, more so when the Federal Government responses to these rising economic challenges have, at best, been casual.
“Emblematic of this casual, non-profound approach to the management of the national economy is the Central Bank of Nigeria’s devaluation of the national currency in November 2014 while retaining the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS). Dramatically, just under three months after that devaluation, the CBN, obviously buffeted by unanticipated dynamics in the foreign exchange market, announced the closure of the RDAS and the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS). This shows clearly an uncoordinated template in the management of the national economy.”
He said that the mismanagement of the economy by the Federal Government is turning Nigerians into economic derelicts, a people incapable of living up to required standards of existence, but help is on the way.
“Though we are conscious of the dire economic strait the Federal Government has pushed Nigerians into, we can assure the mass of Nigerian people that help is on the way. We know that an APC controlled Federal Government will obviously inherit a huge debt profile and an empty treasury from this PDP Federal Government. We are confident of turning the situation around.
“For our presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, it is a walk back through history. Recall that the Nigerian economy at this time shares characteristics with the Nigerian economy of 1983 when he took charge of the reign of government on a rescue mission. The Naira was weak, crude oil prices were plummeting just as the national treasury – coupled with a heavy debt profile. Hopefully, APC will turn the nation’s economy around.
“Our party’s economic policies are consciously conceived to be people-centred. For the first time in over three decades, Nigeria will experience a truly pro-people Federal Government. This is our commitment to the mass of our people, help is on the way, they should not despair.”
The APC Presidential hopeful restated his commitment to end profligacy, mismanagement of the nation’s revenue which is dwindling by the day and block leakages with a view to saving needed funds to drive an APC-led government’s economic and infrastructure development.
“It is crystal clear that our revenues are dwindling by the day and if we must survive, we cannot continue on this path of near absence of accountability, mismanagement, outright waste and jamboree that has characterised the management of public resources under the Jonathan-led PDP government. General Buhari by his antecedents will run a lean government that will free resources to be deployed to his envisaged government’s interventions in critical infrastructure and economic development.” [myad]

Atiku Demands Proper Police Accounts On Murder Of Professor Ahmed Falaki

Greenbarge Reporters

February 22, 2015

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has charged the Nigeria Police to provide reasonable explanations on the circumstances that led to the murder of Professor Ahmed Falaki of the Ahmad Bello University, Zaria.
Atiku said in a press statement by his media office in Abuja today that “the explanation given thus far about how the leading Professor of Agriculture died under police custody falls short of logical assimilation.”
According to the statement, the account given by the police on the circumstances that led to the death of Professor Falaki, a scholar and Africa’s leading authority in Agriculture is an embarrassment to the Nigeria Police.
“It is particularly distasteful and confounding that the police would confuse the identity of a personality such as Professor Falaki as a member of the Boko Haram sect.
“In the manner that Professor Falaki was killed, it is not in doubt that he had believed that the police station was a sanctuary of safety for him from the jungle justice that he was receiving in the hands of locals who had mistaken him for a member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
“That men of the Nigeria Police will stand and become witnesses to murder, and even allow the police station to become the theatre of jungle justice, is a very disturbing narrative about the circumstance that Professor Falaki was killed.
“Such a narrative is a complete embarrassment to the professional integrity of the Nigeria Police and it is wholesomely unacceptable.
“The leadership of the Nigeria Police must commission a very thorough investigation into the circumstances that Professor Falaki was killed.”
The former Vice President, who extolled the virtues of the late Africa’s leading professor of Agriculture, described his death as a huge loss to the intellectual community in Africa and prayed for the family and friends of the late professor to have the fortitude to bear the loss [myad]

APC Dares NIMASA, Says It Has Witnesses On How It’s Been Turned Into PDP Campaign Outpost

Greenbarge Reporters

February 22, 2015

All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation has dared the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to go to court as it threatened a litigation against the party over allegations that it has been behind the sponsoring of the hate campaigns against the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari on AIT and the NTA. APC described the threat as empty.
In a statement, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Garba Shehu in reaction to the 72-hour ultimatum by NIMASA demanding retraction and apology over the said report, said that the APC will present credible witnesses in court to prove not only this, but the fact that the maritime agency has since transformed into a campaign outpost for the PDP.
“There are several acts of the management that are at variance with the objectives and scope of activities of the agency as spelled out under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act, 2007. NIMASA Act does not envisage the involvement of the agency in political campaign. It certainly has no provision for hate campaigns against Buhari, nor does it allow for the funding of the activities of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN).
“NIMASA is trying to reduce this to a campaign issue, but the truth is that the conversion of a statutory government agency into one actively promoting partisan political actions of the president is of national significance. It assumes a more serious dimension when staff are denied their dues and money shipped out to fund illegal activities.”
Meanwhile, at a news briefing today, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi issued a 72-hour ultimatum to APC to retract what it called the malicious allegations it levelled against the agency and its management.

He said that the agency has instructed its solicitors to give APC the opportunity of retracting their unfounded allegations, failing which the agency will take all necessary steps to seek redress.

Akpobolokemi said that the ultimatum became necessary in light of recent attempts made by the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) and some misguided elements and individuals to impugn the integrity NIMASA and its management.

According to him the vicious campaign is intended to cast aspersions on the activities and integrity of NIMASA as a responsible corporate entity of government. [myad]

Insight Communications Bags Creative Leadership Award

Greenbarge Reporters

February 22, 2015

Nigeria’s leading marketing communications agency, Insight Communications, has set the tone for the year by winning a Press Lions National Diploma from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Cannes Lions festival of creativity is a global event for professionals who are working in the advertising and creative communications industry.
The Cannes Lions certification honours the best work with the highest mark received from a country in the first round of voting.
Insight’s National Diploma was awarded for the agency’s press campaign for Enterprise Bank’s “Sleeping Pound” in the Banking, Investment and Insurance category, entered for the 61st International Festival of Creativity, held in Cannes, France between 15 and 21 June 2014.
Chima Okenimkpe, Executive Creative Director, Insight said: “This is a testament that Nigerian agencies can attain global recognition with creative works that stand out from the clutter and make an impact. A lot more agencies are winning international awards and recognition, and Insight will continue to help champion creativity and innovation in the Nigerian marketing communications industry.”
Insight’s achievement is coming on the heels of its huge win at the 2014 Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF), where the agency bagged an unprecedented 44 awards and the highest number of medals (4 Gold, 15 Silver, 25 Bronze). It would be recalled that in 2013, Insight also clinched the top gun by winning 26 medals overall, and earning the accolade as the Most Awarded Agency in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is the largest gathering of worldwide advertising professionals, designers, digital innovators and marketers. [mmyad]

Fani-Kayode Asks Buhari To Apologise For Women That Were Allegedly Beating Up By APC In Owerri

Greenbarge Reporters

February 22, 2015

Director of media and publicity for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode has demanded an apology from the Presidential candidate of opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari who is now the United Kingdom (UK), for the alleged beating of widows in Owerri, capital of Imo state by members of APC.
Fani-Kayode, at a news conference in Abuja today, asked General Buhari and the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to show remorse and condemn the barbaric act by the officials and agents of the Imo State Government who superintended over the brutalisation of our harmless widows.
“Buhari and his friends in the APC must purge themselves of their obviously strong anti-women sentiments. We know that the opposition party has a violent nature, but they should be able to draw the line by sparing women of their irresponsible and desperate fury.
“If Buhari and the APC refuse to tender an unreserved apology to the widows of Imo state within a matter of days, then we reserve the right to refer to them as a party of women beaters and haters who have no respect for the female gender and whose desire and intention is to enslave, brutalise and torment our women.
“The truth is that only cowards, bullies and scallywags would unleash a group of violent and dangerous armed thugs against a group of defenceless, harmless and innocent widows.”
Fani-Kayode narrated how the PDP women were, on February 10, brutalised in Owerri by agents of the Imo State Government in the course of their peaceful assembly to protest and pray for the women folks in the state against sudden widowhood.
According to him, the peaceful solidarity protest embarked upon by the Imo Widows Association, Jesus Triumphant Widows Association and Amuzi widows Association, etc., was in support of one of their own and current Minister of State for Education, Professor (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri, who is our committed party leader in Imo State.
He said that the women, in their thousands, all dressed in black had converged on the Roundabout, about three kilometers away from Government House, Owerri, as early as 8 am singing solidarity songs in support of President Jonathan and Professor Viola Onwuliri.
“Sadly, news of the march that was organised by the widows in support of President Jonathan was not received very well by the governor and the authorities in Imo state. Instead of protecting the widows and affording them their full constitutional rights, including the right to assemble, march and protest, well-armed hired thugs, who emerged from inside Government House, unleashed extreme violence on the harmless women in a despicable and frightful manner.
“Consequently they inflicted life-threatening and severe injuries on a large number of the widows.
They were brutal, callous and unrelenting and they refused to exercise any restraint as they unleashed the most barbaric form of violence and fury on the helpless widows. Many of the women were badly wounded and still remain in the hospital. Others were traumatised and brutalised. Despite their screams, pleas and tears, the perpetrators refused to stop inflicting violence on them and instead they increased the brutality and fury of the attack.
“Some of the women were abducted and taken to Government House where they were further manhandled and abused.
An NTA cameraman, Mr Etuk Henric, whilst he was filming the horrendous encounter, was viciously and brutally stabbed in the attack by the agents of the Imo State Government and he was left for dead. He was filming the whole incident but his camera was seized from him and the tape was destroyed. He is now recuperating at the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri.
“The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation is concerned that the APC government in Imo State would deploy its officials (including the Commissioner of Information, Chief Chidi Ibeh and the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Kenneth Emelu), the Nneoma Women leader, Mrs Getrude Oduka, Youth Leader, Mr Jeff Nwaoha and SSA Youth, Mr Samuel Godstime, as well as hired thugs to brutalise our women. This is all the more so given the fact that these women are widows. Does the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, have no respect for women? Does he not fear God?” [myad]

Governor Fayose Takes Off To London, Allegedly Trailing Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

February 21, 2015

Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose is believed to have taken off from Murtala Muhammed airport in Lagos heading to London, with the sole aim of trailing the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari.

Governor Fayose, who has been fixated about the fact that General Buhari is sick and would soon die, yesterday, came up with a story that General Buhari, who left for the UK in the middle of the week, was flown out for medical treatment.

Information just reaching us said that Governor Fayose arrived at Murtala Muhammed airport this evening with sudden determination to travel to London for the purpose that was not very clear.

This was even when he still insisted that Buhari was not well after the office of the APC Presidential Campaign Organsation released pictures of Buhari as he attended to some officials assignments, including his meeting with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and his interview with a British Television.

The APC’s Presidential Campaign Organisation Director, Garba Shehu had earlier today, in a statement, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to call Governor Fayose to order over his sickening death wish for General Buhari.

Garba Shehu complained bitterly about governor Fayose’s continued pestering of Buhari with falsehood and death wishes, adding that the APC had learnt on good authority that Governor Fayose has hired people in London who have been trailing the movements of the APC presidential candidate while on his working visit in London.

“Let it be on record that knowing Governor Fayose’s antecedents, we are not leaving anything to chances. The Governor who has published death-wish advertorials on Buhari will stop at nothing. If anything should happen to General Muhammadu Buhari while in London or anywhere, the authorities over there in the UK and at home should know who to hold responsible.” [myad]

Jonathan Says Obasanjo Is Still His Father But That He Needs To Guide His Utterances

Greenbarge Reporters

February 21, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has made it clear that former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who has been attacking him in words, is still his political father even as he cautioned him against statements that tend to place Nigeria in bad light in the sight of international community.

President Jonathan, who spoke to THISDAY in an interview in Lagos, said that he has no issues with Obasanjo but asked him to manage his “utterances in a way that it does not affect the economy and security of this country.”

The President stressed: “First and foremost, Obasanjo is a father to me. By divine providence and the grace of God, I am the President of Nigeria today. It is not by my strength. But God uses human beings to actualise His own blessings on human beings. And He used so many Nigerians, including former President Obasanjo, to play one role or the other for me.

“I became the deputy governor of a state, became the governor, the vice president and president. I have no issues with him, and I really don’t want to join issues with President Obasanjo.

“I think it is not necessary. But I will use this opportunity, because you asked, to just plead with my father that he is a leader, a former president of the country. He has led the country more than anybody, eight years of democratic governance and almost four years of military governance.

“No other person has that kind of record. The stability of this country is critical in terms of the economy of this country. Rating agencies downgrade countries that are going into elections because the feeling is that there would be crisis.

“When you paint the colour of instability for your own nation, you are doing so much injustice to the country because it affects the economy of the country, not just affecting the country in terms of security and social issues alone. It affects the economy directly.

“So, I plead with very senior citizens that Nigeria is dear to us; we don’t have any other country than Nigeria. So, actions and inactions, or utterances, should be guarded so that we don’t expose our country to the international community as if it is a country in danger, a country that is about to collapse.

“You are frightening investors, especially those who invest hot cash, to pull out their money from the country and that would affect the stock market and it would affect the economy. For one reason or the other, Obasanjo may disagree with me as his first political son.

“You can even disagree with your own biological children, as a human being, not to talk of disagreeing with your political children. So, he can agree or disagree with me.” [myad]

Man City Thrashes Newcastle 5-0

Greenbarge Reporters

February 21, 2015

Manchester City took full advantage of a surprise slip-up from Premier League leaders Chelsea with a 5-0 thrashing of a woeful Newcastle United on Saturday.

The reigning champions received a welcome boost prior to kick-off at the Etihad Stadium as Chelsea gave up a lead to draw 1-1 at home to lowly Burnley.

Vurnon Anita soon provided a further lift to City, clumsily conceding a penalty inside 30 seconds to hand Sergio Aguero the chance to open the scoring from the spot, and Newcastle’s defensive shortcomings were ruthlessly exposed thereafter, as Manuel Pellegrini’s men – with the influential Yaya Toure back in their ranks – ran riot.

Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko added further goals in the opening quarter of the game, while David Silva scored twice in quick succession to make it 5-0 after just 53 minutes.

That gave Pellegrini the luxury of handing Aguero and Silva an early rest ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Barcelona, with Wilfried Bony introduced off the bench for his debut.

The hosts coasted through the remainder of the contest, against a side beaten 4-0 on their previous two league visits to the Etihad, and they now sit five points behind Chelsea with 12 rounds of matches remaining.

Toure and Bony – a January arrival from Swansea City – were both available following their Africa Cup of Nations success with the Ivory Coast, but James Milner missed out through injury.

The only change to Newcastle’s team saw Remy Cabella replaced by Anita and the Dutch midfielder was quick to mark his recall with a costly error, as he mis-controlled a pass from Mike Williamson before upending Dzeko in the box.

Aguero calmly converted the resulting penalty, passing the ball to Tim Krul’s left with the goalkeeper completely wrong-footed, and City were soon in complete control.

Although Daryl Janmaat went close with a fine effort from distance for Newcastle, the visitors fell further behind on 12 minutes when a pass from Dzeko deflected into the path of Nasri, who took a touch around a defender and fired a shot high into the net.

City pulled further clear nine minutes later with a third goal that oozed class. A sublime ball over the top from Silva picked out Dzeko and the striker controlled expertly with his chest before beating Krul with a half-volley.

Newcastle, who replaced Anita with Mehdi Abeid at the start of the second half, almost pulled a goal back but Joe Hart made a fine one-handed stop to keep out a powerful volley from Papiss Cisse that took a deflection off Vincent Kompany.

Any hope of an unlikely fightback was snuffed out in the 51st minute, however, as Aguero charged infield from the left and found Nasri, who squared a pass for the unmarked Silva to finish with typical style.

The home fans had barely finished celebrating by the time Silva struck again with a sweeping first-time shot after Aguero had chested down a lofted pass from Toure.

Silva and Aguero were duly withdrawn and Bony was only denied a debut goal by Krul’s outstretched left leg as City eased through the closing stages, completing the ideal preparation for Barca’s visit on Tuesday when a sterner test will surely await. [myad]

Nigeria’s Eaglets Trounce Zambia’s Chipolopolo; Zoom To World Cup Semi

Greenbarge Reporters

February 21, 2015

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets today in Niamey, send the Young Chipolopolo of Zambia to the cleaner with 3-1 victory to zoom to the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in Chile in September this year. The match was played at the Stade Municipal in Niamey.

Leading the group going into match day three, the Eaglets came off the block quite early troubling the Zambia defence in the opening exchanges with Kelechi Nwakali’s effort in the seventh minute narrowly going wide.

Zambia responded immediately as Mwepu’s effort was smothered by Akpan Udoh in the Nigerian goal after the Zambian found space in the Nigerian box.

Suleiman Abdullahi missed a clear cut chance in the 14th minute to score when he couldn’t supply the finish after rounding up Zambian goalkeeper Daniel Sinkayinka.

Victor Osimhen was proving a difficult customer for the Zambian side and he got Nigeria’s go-ahead goal after a beautiful set up by Nwakali and the impressive Suleiman Abdullahi.

Nwakali dispossessed a Zambian midfielder in the middle and fed Suleiman down the right flank and the midfielder squared the ball back for Osimhen who had arrived in the Zambian box to tap home.

Osimhen had the chance to make it 2-0 for Nigeria when he was put through by Nwakali but couldn’t beat Sinkayinka when he had only the keeper to beat.

The Eaglets got their second goal through Kelechi Nwakali who made it 2-0 for Nigeria in added time of the first half with a well struck shot from 25 yards that dipped into the net off the cross bar.

Victor Osimhen was the man again as he put Nigeria 3-0 up in the 48th minute with fantastic shot from the edge of the box with left Zambian goalkeeper Daniel Sikanyika for dead.

The Eaglets kept pounding the Zambian goal but poor decision-making from Suleiman Abdullahi and Victor Osimhen denied the Eaglets more goals.

It looked as if Zambia will claw their way back into the game when a defensive mistake allowed Zambia skipper Patson Daka to score for Zambia in the 61st minute.

Profligacy didn’t allow the Eaglets add to their tally as Nwakali, Suleiman and Osimhen all contrived to miss easy chances as the game ended with the Eaglets picking the win and a place in the semifinals.

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets topped Group A with 7 points from three matches as Guinea who finished second will join Nigeria in the semifinals with a ticket to Chile 2015 in the bag. [myad]

Buhari Speaks At Chatam House, London On Thursday: APC Warns Fayose To Stop Pestering Buhari With Death Wish

Greenbarge Reporters

February 21, 2015

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed that he will honour his speaking engagement at the Royal Institute Of International Affairs, Chatham House in London scheduled for Thursday, February 26. This even as APC Presidential Campaign Organisation has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to ask one his party’s governor, Ayo Fayose to stop pestering General Buhari with sickness and dearh wish.

In a statement today, the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Garba Shehu said that Chatam House will post the event and send out invites on Monday, February 23.

Garba Shehu said that as part of his ongoing engagement in the United Kingdom, General Buhari had an interview yesterday with a local medium, the “All Eyes on Africa TV Show” with Kemi Fajodutimi and met with Tony Blair on Saturday, February 21 morning.

Shehu disclosed that Buhari left the London residence of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona at about 1.30 pm UK time and returned to his rented flat in the city.

The party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation Director complained bitterly about governor Fayose’s continued pestering of General Buhari with falsehood and death wishes, adding that the APC had learnt on good authority that Governor Fayose has hired people in London who have been trailing the movements of the APC presidential candidate while on his working visit in London.

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