The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Bukola Saraki, has made it clear that contrary to reports in some media that the committee exonerated the  Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), it actually indicted them..

Senator Saraki, who is representing Kwara Central at the red chamber, in a statement today by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Bankole Omishore, maintained that as an active member of the committee, the report actually indicted the minister and the NNPC.

“Though I could not attend the last meeting of the committee, I have been very active in the investigation. Nothing significant has changed to suggest clearing anybody.

“I can say on behalf of the Committee that these media reports bear no correlation to the content of the Senate Committee report and I would urge the public to disregard it in its entirety.

“The Committee is yet to receive the report on the forensic audit and independent analysis on the subject clearly indicate we have a lot of grounds to cover in order to determine the level of culpability or otherwise of agency on the alleged non-committal.

“Therefore, to suggest any clearance for anybody at this stage is out of the question. I will further advise that the media should wait for the senate to release the details of the Committee report to the public before they jump into spurious conclusions.”

The committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, a former Governor of Kaduna state, had in the report submitted on yesterday, described as untrue, allegations by the Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, that $49.8bn was missing from the federation account.

The committee also said total crude oil liftings from January 2012 to July 2013 was $67bn and not $65bn as Sanusi had alleged.

Sanusi, had written President Goodluck Jonathan, alleging that the NNPC had failed to remit $49.8bn being part of the income it generated from sales of oil.

But the committee stated that all the agencies which made presentations had agreed after reconciliation that $47bn out of the $67bn had been credited to the Federation Account, leaving $20bn to be accounted for.

The report had added that, “The committee could not see how the figure of $49.8bn was arrived at by the CBN Governor in the first instance.

“That the CBN Governor at the first hearing had forwarded the figure of $12bn as monies to be reconciled and changed his position to $20bn at subsequent hearing.

“At the conclusion of his written submission, Sanusi posited that it could be $20bn, $12bn, $10.8bn or anything in between.” [myad]

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that after 15years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigerian citizens now live better and more fulfilled lives than in the military era.

In his Democracy Day speech today, the President said: I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it (democracy). The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure.
He noted that Nigeria has come a long way and made notable progress since the first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
“Although, I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people.
“As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression.”
President Jonathan is confident that democratic governance has now been entrenched in the nation and institutions.
He rolled out the attainments of Nigeria in various spheres of socio-economic life over the past 15 years, and under his government in particular, adding: “we have witnessed high national economic growth rates, steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure including airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the efficient implementation of a roadmap for improved power supply, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production, as well as advances in education, sports, youth development, healthcare delivery, housing, water supply and other social services.” [myad]

“I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability, by waging a total war against terrorism. The unity and stability of our country and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable.”

These were the Presidential vows by President Goodluck Jonathan in his Democratic Day speech today, even as he also said that his government is ready to negotiate with members of Boko Haram if they are ready to renounce insurgency.

“My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society. Our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace.”

President Jonathan said that in the fight against Boko Haram, he had instructed the security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on Nigeria’s soil.
“I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal.
He called on Nigerians who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems to renounce such behavour.

The President expressed regrets that all the gains of the past 15 years of democratic governance are being threatened by the presence of international terrorism on the nation’s shores, adding: “Our dear country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed on us. Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedomwe cherish and celebrate today.

“There can be no doubt that what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a manifestation of the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the Southern Russian city of Volgograd. Terrorist activities have brought war and pains to Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These agents of evil continue to brainwash and incite ignorant young men and women to attack the innocent. We cannot allow this to continue.”

Jonathan is happy with the solidarity move by those he called “patriotic citizens” and the global community to support of his government’s efforts to stamp out terrorism saying: “I applaud the understanding that in a democracy, such as we are building, people can have differences while sharing worthy values and standing together in opposition to the scourge of terrorism. Nigeria is the only country we have and we must all work to preserve it for present and future generations.”
He urged Nigerians to commend the nation’s security forces in the face of the challenges we face, adding that we must not forget their gallantry and successes in liberating nations and in peacekeeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone,  Congo, Sudan, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and many places in Africa and beyond.

“Our forces have paid the supreme price in several places at several times. Today, they face a different challenge, an unconventional war by terrorists. They are adjusting and are being equipped to tackle the new menace of terrorism. We must show confidence in their ability. I have no doubt that, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists.”
On the abducted female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state by Boko Haram on April 14, Jonathan described it as horrifying as he reassured Nigerians that his government will continue to do everything possible to bring them back home.

He called on Nigerians to remain united to win the war against terrorism, saying: “Christians, Moslems, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy or clerics, the rich, the poor and Nigerians from all sections of the country must work together with our security agencies and armed forces to overcome the terrorists who now threaten all that we hold dear.

“The war against terror may be difficult, but the days of peace will come again. Terror is evil; nowhere in history has evil endured forever. The menace of Boko Haram will surely come to an end. I believe that because of your prayers, your courage, hardwork, faith and sacrifice, we will ultimately prevail over the terrorists and all other evil forces.

“We are a strong, resilient and courageous people.  We will continue to partner with the civilized world, to confront international terrorism and every other challenge that comes our way with patriotic zeal and determination.”  [myad]

Nigerian information minister, Labaran Maku has said that Nigeria would have by now, reached an eldorado if it were not the destructive activities of Boko Haram.
The minister, who gave a run-down of the lofty achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan when he addressed newsmen today shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, said if Nigera were to be enjoying peace, it would have attained developmental milestone that is unequaled in the anals of history.
According to Maku, under President Jonathan, railway is back, many good network of roads have sprang up, effective power supply is back and millions of jobs have been created for the youths, among other things.
“If Nigeria were to be enjoying peace like Ghana and other African countries, it would have reached the higheight of development by now.”
The minister emphasized that the President has been able to move on with the main points of his government Transformation Agenda inspite of the dangerous security environment in which he is operating.
“Imagine the level of development that would have been achieved if a lot of money is not been sank into the security challenges.
“The entire money we are spending is to maintain security in states controlled by that party ( opposition All Progressives Congress).
He accused the opposition of playing politics wity the security situation.
“(While) We are busy spending money to maintain security in those states, what have they done about it? Because 90 percent of all insurgency is in states controlled by that party. 90 percent of those campaigning to bring back Chibok girls are members of that party.
“Because the media will look the other way. No, I think that honestly, if we want this country to grow, we must ask the relevant questions. The Chibok girls remain our number one priority, we will never sleep, we will not rest until God brings them out. But for you to now begin to look at it as if, when people do wrong, we are the fire fighters, the federal government is a fire fighter. We did not creat this insurgence or the structure that led to them. You know where they came from but you are now blaming the fire fighter for the fire.”