Jonathan Admits At UN: 13,000 Nigerians So Far Killed By Boko Haram, Communities Razed

September 24, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted before the United Nations Security Council High-Level Meeting on the Threat of Terrorism to Global Peace and Security, that over 13,000 people have been killed by members of the outlawed Boko Haram in Nigeria, even as communities have also been razed, and hundreds of persons kidnapped, the most prominent being the innocent girls from Chibok Secondary School, in North East Nigeria.

The President who addressed the world body today in New York, the United States of America said that these are parts of the cost of fighting terrorism, which he said, are high.

He emphasised the urgent need for the world to act fast and stop the troubling new phenomenon of terrorists and foreign fighters attacking and trying to hold parts of sovereign nations.

President Jonathan said that the international community must also do more to support countries like Nigeria which are in the frontline of the war against terrorism.

“There is no doubt that foreign fighters have added a troubling dimension to this emerging phase of terrorism. From targeted attacks by Al Qaeda a few years ago, we now have mobile bands of thousands of terrorists sweeping across vast areas, destroying lives, and even attempting to hold territory. This is unacceptable; we must act now.

“We must capitalize on the commitment and evident determination of the Security Council to seek more innovative responses to the threat of terrorism and in particular to the growing menace of foreign fighters.

“The Council should be concerned about the existence of sources of arming and funding terrorists. Evidence has shown that Boko Haram, for instance, is resourced largely from outside our country.

“We must also commit to ensuring that countries which are in the frontline of this challenge, receive adequate support from the international community.

“Only by united action and firm resolve can we check this raging threat to humanity, and also build the enduring structures that will resist their re-emergence,” President Jonathan said.

The President told the Security Council that his Administration has continued to confront the menace of terrorism with unrelenting determination and that the Federal Government has also evolved initiatives to alleviate the plight of people in affected communities.

“Nigeria knows too well the destructive effects of terrorist activities. Over the past five years, we have been, and are still confronting threats posed by Boko Haram to peace and stability predominantly in the North Eastern part of our country.

“As daunting as the challenge may be, we have faced it with unrelenting determination, mobilising all the resources at our disposal to ensure that the scourge of terrorism is rooted out of our nation. In addition to our counterterrorism efforts, we have evolved initiatives to alleviate the plight of the population in the affected communities.

“These include a holistic effort through the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) which is aimed at providing immediate relief and fast tracking the infrastructural re-development of the region. It also has as a core goal, an integrated effort at achieving the de-radicalisation of potential terrorist recruits.

“We have also launched a Victims Support Fund which has already raised about 500 million dollars of the expected minimum of one billion dollars in direct support of the victims of acts of terrorism. This is in addition to the Safe Schools Initiative championed by Mr. Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister and currently the UN Special Envoy for Global Education which is being rigorously supported by Nigeria’s Federal Government,” he said. [myad]

How Obasanjo And I Ran Nigeria From 1999 To 2007, By Atiku Abubakar

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2014

Former Nigerian Vice President, Abubakar Atiku has given a run-down of how the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo ran the government of Nigeria with him from 1999 to 2007.
Speaking Wednesday when he declared his Presidential ambition on the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar regretted that all the gains they made for Nigeria have been reduced to emptiness by the present crop of leadership.
“As Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, I worked closely with my boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also a passionate defender of Nigerian unity. We re-integrated our country into the international community following years of isolation; we professionalized our armed forces; we embarked on fundamental economic reforms articulated by an Economic Team, which I had the honour to chair. We focused on macro-economic stability and transforming critical areas such as banking, insurance, oil and gas, telecommunication, pension and the Civil Service. We created novel institutions that should lay the foundation for good governance and accountability such as the Bureau of Procurement (Due Process), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), SERVICOM, whose Golden rule is “Serve others as you would like to be served.”
Atiku emphasized most of such achievements have now been turned into mere shadows of themselves.
“We also paid off nearly all of our foreign debt which was crippling the country; we stabilized the exchange rate of the naira as well as interest rates, and reduced inflation. What needed to follow was for these macro-economic gains to be further translated into improved welfare for our people.
With the reforms in the telecommunications sector we increased the number of functioning telephone lines from 200,000 at the inception of our administration to over 70 million by the time we left. Our reforms also led to an increase in the market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange from N400 billion to over N8 trillion by 2007 and to nearly N13 trillion by 2008.
“We also handed over well-articulated master Plans for the development of multi-modal transportation system, including a contract for the modernization of the railways. We also commenced the implementation of the Gas to Power Master Plan, with a target of 26,000 megawatts of electricity expected to be delivered by 2015.
“This is the story of the service of an administration, which I am proud to have been a part of. These achievements were made possible because of the vision, commitment and dedication of leadership.”
Atiku made it clear that good leadership is what it takes to make good things happen. [myad]

I Grew Up As Shepherd And Farm Boy, Atiku Abubakar Narrates

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2014

Former Nigerian Vice President has narrated the story of his birth and early life which he said is similar to the story of many people of his generation.
Atiku, while formally declaring his intention to contest the 2015 Presidential election on the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Shehu Musa Yar’aduda Centre in Abuja on Wednesday said that he was born in a southern Adamawa village to a nomadic trader and his wife who was a farmer.
“I grew up as a shepherd and a farm boy. I was the only child of my parents. My father had to be imprisoned by Local Council authorities before he could allow me to go to school.
“At 11, I lost my father and my whole world fell apart. With the help of my mother, other relatives and friends of my father, I pulled myself up from this doldrums and despair. I faced the future with uncommon confidence, hope and faith in God.
“I am where I am today because I did not give up. I struggled to acquire a good education because the opportunity was made available. Most people never had a chance and their potentials were never discovered and their contributions to national development thus curtailed.”
Atiku said that he is worried today that too many of the young people who could have improved their lives and that of this nation have not been getting the opportunities to do so.
He said that the 20 years that he spent in the Nigerian public service, he was able to build a solid reputation for himself as a diligent, honest, hardworking and innovative staff, adding that he retired as an accomplished and fulfilled public servant. “That is what every Nigerian who had diligently served this country deserves and not dehumanization, humiliation and neglect.”
The former Vice President said that he became politically active in 1987 because his imagination was captured by a leader, Late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who started with persistent determination and diligence to construct bridges of understanding and love across the ethno-religious divides inherent in our society. “He convinced all of us who were bold to defy the status quo to participate in his noble passion. We were convinced that it was the only way to preserve our national unity and establish a structure of peace necessary for national development. Even after his death, we have continued with renewed vigour to pursue this dream.
“My politics have always been guided by the enduring values of fairness and justice, honesty of purpose, the pursuit of excellence, selflessness and the love for my country.”These values also characterize my conduct in business.” [myad]

I’m Out To Correct Distortions About Goodluck Jonathan, Says Author Of His Biography In America

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2014

Author of a biography of President Goodluck Jonathan in the person of Professor Matthew Uzukwu has said that he was moved to write the book to correct some distortions about the President.
“For one, the opposition is fund of making derogatory remarks about him; ‎that he is weak. That he is not governing the country well and in the cause of my research, I discovered most of that descriptions are not true. To me, even though I am not his spokesperson, in my view and many may think I’m biased, but I am coming from a point of objectivity, because I would have added the negative aspects as well if it were true. But he has performed creditably well in the economy and there are facts to back up his performance.”
The book, titled: Moving Forward, was launched on Tuesday night at The Pierre Hotel, in New York City, United States of America. It was spearheaded by House 2 House organization, mainly to correct the distortions of his achievements and to deliberately reintroduce him to a larger global audience.
Professor Uzukwu said that the book judiciously integrates the President’s personal narrative from his humble beginnings in 1957, in Otuoke in Ogbia local government area to 1998, just before the onset of his political career, with his professional narrative from his election in 1999 as Deputy Governor to his current full term as the President of Nigeria.
According to Uzukwu, who is an adjunct Professor of Operations Management at Bowie University, Maryland, USA: “I found out that there are lot of misinformation about Mr. President and so I decided to research about the man and his life; to know his achievements and try to correct some of the distortions about him and I thought to add his personal story to it as well so that it will be a complete book.”
In his remarks, the Chairman Board of Trustees of House 2 House Initiative, Dr. Reuben Jaja said it decided to take the message of the President’s performance to all communities in the country with regards to the transformation agenda and why he should be given a second term to continue.

“It is to ensure our ‎electorates are well informed that they should vote for performance should he decide to run. There are about 8,000 organisations that are asking him to run and they span from the south to the north, saying that Nigeria is better off today under his leadership and should be allowed to continue.

“We decided to take ours to another level because we believe that the diasporans have contributed enormously in supporting the nation’s economy. We are the only campaign

organisation that decided to write a book of our president so that people will know him better from his birth up to date.

“Our diasporans are intellectuals and they understand what the President has done and will help us share with the international community”.

At another event at the sideline of the ongoing 69th United Nation’s General Assembly, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Madukwe, has said that Nigeria’s economy will go beyond being among the top 20 economies in the world with President Jonathan’s continuation in 2015.

At a dinner organised by the Leadership centre in New York Tuesday night, Madukwe , who noted that good leadership should be celebrated said since 1999 Nigeria had moved progressively into the promised land.

He said, “But in every journey to the promised land, when a Moses commences, a Joshua completes. So, I believe that the progress we have made since 1999 shows that the leadership that a Moses provided to move us away from Egypt, take us through the land of the wilderness including tough decision that has to be taken because the journey through the wilderness is not a polite journey because of the tough decisions that has to be taken.
“A Joshua has now come to finally take us to the promised land, and that Joshua is President Goodluck Jonathan. We are not just sighting the promised land we are about entering into it. Extraordinary things are happening in the power sector. If with 4,000 megawatt we are already a leading economy in Africa and the demand profile is 40,000 megawatts you can imagine what will happen if we can have 40,000. It means under President Jonathan the economy will be among the best in the world in the life time of even the older ones here.
“We shall see Nigeria move beyond being among the 20 economies in the world to one of the top in the world. So, I want to salute the courage and the wisdom for the organisation and the mobilisation of those in the US. This is not just another gathering to sell a man and say nice things about a man in the office and then when the person goes, it goes with him. The transformation agenda, the dynamics of Goodluck Jonathan is a subject matter for continuous reflection long after he has served the constitutional two terms of which he has a right to and we the party has unanimously endorsed”.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda, who represented President Jonathan at the event, described as a general practise worldwide the endorsement of the President as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sole candidate, saying there is nowhere in the world that a sitting president is denied his party’s ticket.

Aduda said what PDP did by endorsing the president as its sole candidate was to give him the first right of refusal, which, according to him, Jonathan deserves having done very well for the country, especially in the area of infrastructure.
Aduda said, “I want to also thank the PDP leadership, from the national working committee to the NEC as well as the BoT for deeming it fit to endorse Mr. President. It is a general practise the world over that no sitting president as in the case of President Jonathan that would be refused the ticket of the party. He is supposed to be given the first right of refusal, afterwards he can carry on and the party did the right thing in giving him this right of refusal by endorsing him.
“He has done very well for the country, especially in the area of infrastructure. Never has a president injected funds in the development of infrastructure like President Jonathan has done in the past few years. First, it was the privatisation of the power sector. What other past administration could not dare, the Jonathan administration dared it. The president ensured the unbundling of the PHCN and ensured that it was privatised, while the Transmission Company of Nigeria was also given on contract to be managed by Manitoba and a Canadian company to make sure that our transmission grid is taken care of”.
Aduda also appealed to the media to send out only balance reports about the government in order not to create room for the opposition to mischievously project government in bad light.
“As much as possible, whatever the media writes is either against the system or it makes the system better. So, there must be a balancing act to ensure that nothing but the truth is reported in order that the image of our country is properly placed in the committee of nations.” [myad]

Members Of APC, PDP Challenge Eligibility Of Jonathan For 2015 Presidential Election

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2014

Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have dragged President Goodluck Jonathan to a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital, asking it to declare that the President is not eligible to seek for a re-election.

In the suit which was entered before the court by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, the plaintiffs, Adejumo Mansouru Ajagbe (a member of the PDP from Lagos State) and Olatoye Wahab (a member of the APC from Osun State), also joined the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, as defendants.

The plaintiffs maintained that going by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), President Jonathan, having contested the presidential election twice, won and taken the oath of office and allegiance twice in respect that office, they argued that he could no longer present himself for election to that office the third time.

They specifically relied on the provisions of sections 132(1), 135(2)(a) and (b), 137(1)(b), 142(1) and (2) and the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Marwa and Nyako (2012) 6 NWLR (Part 1296) 199 at 306. [myad]

Why I Can never Give Up On Nigeria, Atiku Says As He Declares For Presidency

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2014

“As I move around this country interacting with regular Nigerians, I listen to their concerns about unfulfilled expectations, frustrations and sometimes disillusionment. Yet I still see the excitement, determination and hope on their faces.
“In spite of the many challenges we face, it is quite remarkable that our people have refused to give up on Nigeria. It is inspiring that amidst difficulties and growing anxiety over the future of our country, our people have refused to succumb to despair and hopelessness. This never-say-die attitude gives me immense hope and it is one of the reasons why I can never give up on Nigeria.”
These were the words of the former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar when he formally declared today, at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, his intention to contest the 2015 Presidential election on the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
Before a packed-full hall, with outside even over-flowing with supporters, Atiku stressed: “Nigeria is more divided today more than any other time even during the war. Nigeria is now on an auto pilot with no one in charge. We can’t continue down the line of decline.”
Atiku said that regardless of the loud and lavish political propaganda, deceit, official impunity and unjust applications of powers of patronage and sanctions by the PDP administrations, APC presents a stronger will and capable of fulfilling the nation’s thirst for change and that it would bring true unity across regions, religions and generations.
According to him, there has been glaring mismatch between the nation’s potentials and the achievements which he said has become a frustrating puzzle, a topic for national debate and doomsday lament rolled into one.
“But as a progressive and open-minded Nigerian, I consider it a golden opportunity and a bittersweet chance to display our courage, rekindle our innovative instinct, showcase our character and turn the Nigerian dream into reality.
Saying that good leadership is what it takes to make good things happen, Atiku asked whether the regime he and former President Olusegun Obasanjo resolved all of Nigeria’s challenges to which answered no.
He said that no one would say that there was leadership vacuum or a lack of commitment, plan and execution, adding that the story today is a story of continued decline.
“Rather than continuing to pay down our debts, our borrowing has actually been increasing even though the price of oil has consistently been above $100 per barrel since the inception of the current administration. The percentage of our budget that is implemented has diminished significantly since capital projects are poorly cash-backed.
“A number of major manufacturers have divested from Nigeria and relocated to neighbouring countries while those that remain operate at far below their installed capacity due mainly to poor infrastructure. The environment for doing business, and our ranking in world competitiveness index have worsened. “Therefore, job opportunities for our teeming youth have become harder to come by. We recall with sadness the avoidable deaths of job seekers during the poorly organized so-called Immigration Service recruitment exam just last year. Up to this moment no one has been held accountable for those needless deaths.
“On human development, our infant and maternal mortality, and poverty and illiteracy levels continue to be embarrassingly high. “Thus, while countries such as Ghana, Gabon and Botswana are classified by the UNDP as being at the Medium Human Development Level, Nigeria is grouped with those at the Low Human Development Level.”
The APC Presidential aspirant insisted that the prevailing uncertain situation in the country reinforces the urgent need for change, saying: “we cannot continue down this path of national decline.
“Resentment, disillusionment and hopelessness are the emotions on which insecurity and disharmony thrive. Our country is more divided today than at any other time since the civil war. There is a disturbing rise in ethnic nationalism and religious bigotry. This is promoting social tension and mutual distrust amongst the people of Nigeria. All over the country, there are daily breaches of security resulting in loss of lives and properties. “Armed robbery, kidnappings and human trafficking continue to ravage many parts of the country. A bunch of extremist insurgents are hoisting strange flags on large areas of our territory that they claim to have conquered. “Unspeakable horrors are now being committed daily against our people by anti-social elements in the name of religion and other causes.”
The former Vice President insisted that government has a responsibility to do everything possible to halt the on-going dehumanization of Nigerians, adding that it is unfortunate that what Nigeria is now being assailed with what he called ‘a serious governance
deficit.’
“To put it bluntly, our country seems to be on auto pilot with no one in charge. We need a strong, dynamic, decisive, competent and visionary leadership that can halt the current drift of the ship of state, fight corruption, create jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, provide social services and tackle insecurity in a decisive, robust multi-pronged way. This is the change we want and deserve and this is the change the APC is primed to offer. And that is why I am a proud member of this platform for change.”
He said that to fix Nigeria, an APC government will promote a new socio-political order which will compel the leadership to always balance power and authority with service and accountability.
Atiku said that he has been asked severally why he is always seeking to become the President of this country and that his answer is that his passion for governance is that of a man who wants to do more because there is so much more to be done in fixing Nigeria.
“This passion continues to grow as long as this government is not really doing the fixing. “I have what it takes to bring people together and turn things around for the better. Therefore, I want to play a leading role in the trans-generational efforts to save this country and improve the lives of our people.
“With the support of the millions of Nigerians desirous of change and the hard work by all of us, the APC shall form the next government of this great nation.
“I have, therefore, decided that I will, along with other respected leaders of our party, seek nomination as a candidate of the APC to contest the Presidential election of 2015.
“I want to lead a government that will invest in its people because people constitute the wealth of any nation. I want to lead a government that will create ‘A Nigeria for All.
“A Nigeria that is not about North or South, Christian or Muslim, but about a better tomorrow where every citizen will feel secure, act with patriotism, having assurance of the fulfillment of his or her aspirations.
“I want to lead a government that will rebuild the institutions of governance with zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism, where hard work and dedication are adequately rewarded.
“I want to assemble the best brains in the land and provide the political will and commitment so that jointly, and with the cooperation of all of you, build a Nigeria of our dreams.
“Nigeria must rise to retake its leadership place in Africa and earn the respect of other nations. This places on us the responsibility of stewardship. It is the consciousness of this national responsibility that has guided my political adventures; and it is this call to serve that I have come to answer once again.”

[myad]

Salkida Laments: Nigeria Security Forces Are Fighting Boko Haram More On Pages Of Newspapers

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2014

A friend of Boko Haram leader and human rights activist, Ahmad Salkida has expressed dissatisfaction with Nigerian security forces whom he said taking the war against Boko Haram terrorist group to the pages of the newspapers instead of committing energy and resources in reclaiming some villages which the insurgents have so far occupied.
Salkida, who is currently on self-exile in the United Arab Emirates over alleged threats to his life, said that the Nigerian Army has only been able to repel the taking over of Konduga and Maiduguri but has failed to reclaim the communities overrun during the Boko Haram’s recent expansionist drive.
He asked Nigerians to pray and support the military forces, to ensure that the country records victory in its attempt to root out the insurgents from the north east.
“Konduga was a turning point for the Nigeria Army but the journey to an assured future is still long and tough. Nigeria must take this fight away from pages of newspapers and confront it overly. We are yet to get it right but Iet us pray for victory for Nigeria.
“So far, no town taken by Boko Haram has been reclaimed by the Nigeria Army. We were only able to prevent Konduga and Maiduguri from falling. Success in the war against terrorism should be felt by those that are affected the most, and not just in the media.
“If history is a mirror then what have we learnt? To reclaim lost territories in the north east means to restore peace and order by civil authorities. Is this the case in the north east? I will leave the answer to you. To reclaim lost territories in the north east means to restore peace and order by civil authorities in affected areas.”
Writing on Twitter, Salkida dismissed the reported killing of Abubakar Shekau, the top leader of the outlawed Islamist sect, saying that Shekau is hale and hearty.
The Journalist, who is widely reported to have had an unfettered access to the late Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, said that residents of the various communities in the north east have yet to feel the positive impact of the recent gains in the counter-insurgency operations.
Salkida claimed that Shekau, who he had discussions with recently during a failed attempt to negotiate an end to the continued incarceration of the Chibok girls was not the one being portrayed in a picture circulating online.
“Mark my words: I have it on authority that Shekau is well and alive. The picture going round is not the person who torments us with his group,” the journalist who now works as an import and export agent of agricultural products and textile materials in Dubai, wrote on Twitter.
This is even as another northern-based human rights activist, Shehu Sani said that he was shocked to see the news of the killing of Shekau making headlines, again.
The rights campaigner, who also doubles as the President of the Civil Rights Congress, said on Facebook that the development was worrisome as it was the “third time he (Shekau) was killed.”
He stated that he was expecting the insurgent group to release a statement denouncing or confirming the reported killing of its leader.
“The news of the killing of the Boko Haram leader is in the headlines again. This is the third time he was killed. It gives the nation a lot of relief but only if it’s true. In a war situation, it’s difficult to extract the truth from a misleading ‘morale, boosting statements.’
“However, if the report is true, the group will certainly make a statement and announce a new head and if it’s not true, they will also respond. This is what they did when their founder was exterminated in 2009,” Sani argued.

[myad]

Senator Ngige To Governor Obiano: Congratulation But…

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2014

Senator Chris Ngige who contested the governorship election in Anambra state on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), on November 16 last year and challenged the winner, Willie Obiano of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) up the supreme court, has finally congratulated the winner, Obiano, but said he is awaiting the judgment of God Almighty on the same matter.
Ngige, who represents Anambra Central in the Senate, congratulated Obiano for his victory at the Supreme Court on Monday, but described it as a ‘verdict of humans.’
Ngige in a statement on Tuesday in Awka, requested all the people of Anambra state to support Obiano to succeed in the state even as he said: “we wait for the Most Supreme and eternal judgment of the Almighty God on this same matter at His appointed time. God is great and wonderful.”
The Senator commended his supporters for their resilience, massive unrelenting support, which had always been there for him in all his electoral engagements and duels in the state.
Obiano floored Ngige and Comrade Tony Nwoye on Monday at the Supreme Court following the 2013 governorship election in the state.
According to the statement, signed by Ngige yesterday: “this Supreme Court judgment and other judgments of the various lower courts that upheld an election which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had admitted fell below expectations, for me, is a verdict of humans.
“The judgment of the good people of Anambra has been long delivered to me since the day voters from Idemili North, Idemili South, Awka South, Ogbaru local governments (Okpoko) and my other strong holds were disenfranchised on that fateful November 16, 2013.
“We all as mortals will now wait for the Most Supreme and eternal judgment of the Almighty God on this same matter at His appointed time. God is great and wonderful”
“However, having been declared the “legal winner” of that election, I hereby congratulate Mr. Willie Obiano and wish him well in his new assignment. I also use this medium to request all Anambra people irrespective of political party or religious affiliations, to cooperate with him in the discharge of the onerous functions of his office”
“As for my numerous supporters across the state, we have all fought a good fight and the future holds out a better tomorrow than yesterday”.
“I therefore wish to thank them for their resilience, massive and unrelenting support, which has always been there for me in all my electoral engagements and duels in our state” the Senator stated.

[myad]

Senate Begins Investigation Into 9.3 Million Dollars Cash

Greenbarge Reporters

September 23, 2014

The Senate on Tuesday began investigation into circumstances surrounding the seizure of Nigeria’s 9.3 million dollars in South Africa.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator George Sekibo, said this in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with the service chiefs.
The chiefs were led to the high profile meeting, which lasted for over three hours, by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
Sekibo, who said the committee would get details of the situation, promised to brief the media at the end of its investigation.
“We are still investigating. We have started the investigation; when we get through the investigation, we will brief you.
“There were several questions here and there and we are digging to find out details and facts about what happened. The committee is satisfied that we are on top of the matter,” he said.
South African Revenue Service on Sept. 5, seized the amount from two Nigerians and an Israeli at Lanseria Airport, North-West of Johannesburg.
The money, which is being held at the Central Bank in South Africa, is being investigated by the South African Police.
On the 12 soldiers sentenced to death by a military panel for mutiny, Sekibo said that the senate was not under pressure to intervene to save the lives of the soldiers.
“No we are not (under pressure) because the Armed Forces is established by an Act of the National Assembly.
“ The Act spelt out categorically the conduct of soldiers and the way they are to behave wherever they are.
“If you join the military that Act is to guide you and your conduct.
“If you go contrary to any of the prescribed sections of the Act the punishment prescribed for the Act you violated will come on you.
“So the military did not just wake up one day and say that they are going to kill Mr A or Mr B.
“They (military) went through the necessary processes and they found them guilty,“ he said.
The committee chairman, however said that those found guilty could go on appeal and the rulings from the appeal would be binding on them.
“But I think that those found guilty also have a way out. They can go on appeal and if the appeal finds them not guilty that will be it.
“But for what the military has done, they have done the best thing because you must instil discipline in the Armed Forces.
“If you don’t do so one day all of us here will be sacked and you will not hear of this place again,“ he said.
Sekibo called on Nigerians to encourage the military to ensure that it discharged its duties effectively.
It could be recalled that 12 Nigerian soldiers were on Sept 16, sentenced to death for mutiny after firing shots at their commanding officer in Maiduguri on May 14.
A nine-member military tribunal, sitting in Abuja, convicted the soldiers following shots fired at the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 7th Division, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Mohammed.
Court president Brig.-Gen. Chukwuemeka Okonkwo said the sentences were subject to confirmation by Nigeria’s military authorities but added there was no doubt about the gravity of the offence.

[myad]

Governor Oshiomhole Presents 2015 Budget To Lawmakers

Greenbarge Reporters

September 23, 2014

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has presented the State’s 2015 Budget estimates of N156.551 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval.
According to the governor, the “budget of Developmental Consolidation” is made up of N87.5 billion as Capital expenditure, representing 55.77% and N68.99 billion, representing 44.23%, the budget is N4 billion lower than the 2014 budget which stood at N160.1 billion.
He said that the budget is designed towards the completion of all ongoing projects, injection of new investments in key priority sectors of the administration which are Roads Construction and Rehabilitation, Education, Health, Water, Rural Electrification and Environmental Protection including Drainage towards Erosion Control and Beautification.
The Governor said the budget will also address projects for job creation particularly through economic empowerment with emphasis on micro-credit to small and medium scale enterprises; Project for mass housing, expanding the revenue base, creation of the enabling environment for domestic and direct foreign investment and deepening of governance reforms
“The Budget is designed to achieve the consolidation of this administration’s developmental agenda and focus on key priority sector of government namely; infrastructure, Education and Health.
“We are aware that Edo State derives the bulk of its revenue from statutory allocation from the Federation account for the funding of Capital and recurrent expenditures. We will continue to sustain and redouble our efforts to substantially reduce our dependence on the federation account allocation by intensifying our Internal Revenue Generation drive in the coming years.
“Accordingly, we envisage a significant boost to our IGR in 2015 while we will continue to leverage other domestic and external sources to fund projects that meet the state’s social and economic benefit cost and with positive cash flow to pay back.”
In line with the global best practices, the Budget is classified into four sectors: Administration which takes N17.873 billion recurrent and N4.031 billion Capital; Economic with N5.342 billion recurrent and N26.029 billion Capital; Law and Justice with N2.955 billion recurrent and N0.837 billion capital and Social with N20.173 billion recurrent and N46.665 billion Capital.
Flood, Erosion Control and Environmental protection takes the lion share of the budget with N18.5 billion, followed by the Education sector with N18.1 billion; Roads takes N16.95 bilion while the sum of N9.298 billion was allocated to the Health sector.
Expatiating on the Health Sector, Oshiomhole said, “among the Capital projects we have earmarked for 2015 are the completion of the construction and equipping of the new Accident and Emergency 200 beds complex of the Central Hospital, Benin City. Completion and furnishing of the second and third floor of the Block D of the New Secretarial Complex and ongoing renovation of Hospital buildings at the General Hospital, Agenebode”.
Speaking ion roads infrastructure, Oshiomhole said. “A key priority of this administration is the completion and provision of good quality, well-drained and all-year motorable standard road infrastructure. Our target is to connect as many communities, villages and towns as possible to accelerate social and economic activities in the state”.
While reviewing the state’s 2014 budget, Oshiomhole said, “The total expected revenue was N117.48 billion. However, as at June 2014, the actual revenue realized was N43.256 billion naira. In 2014, the revenue performance was affected by the drop in the allocation from the Federation account which adversely affected the revenue profile of the state”.
He however noted that despite these challenges, “We have effectively arrested a palpable decay and dilapidation we have inherited in the environmental, social, education and transportation sector. This has enabled us to lay a solid foundation for sustainable development of the state as well as raise the bar in terms of standards both for project execution and service delivery across sectors of our economy”.
Oshiomhole expressed joy that the government has remained faithful to payments of wage obligation despite the dwindling allocation and inflow from the federal sources.
“We have equally honored our pensions and gratuity commitments. On the whole, we have sustained our policy of financial prudence and budget discipline which has kept the cost of governance within reasonable limits and ensured that more resources are channeled to Capital expenditures and welfare enhancing projects”.
Responding, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe said the House will expedite action on the project proposal. He noted that the governor’s reading of the project makes the first reading according to the Assembly rule.

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