80th Birthday Dinner: Soyinka replies Rivers govt over refund of N82million

80th Birthday Dinner: Soyinka replies Rivers govt over refund of N82million

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has described as ‘abominable distractions,’ statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Dr Austin Tam-George, that the state would demand refund from him (Soyinka) if he collected cash from the  N82 million allegedly spent by immediate-past Governor, Rotimi Amaechi on a dinner to honour him.

Soyinka, who reacted in a statement on Wednesday night, said it has never been his business to probe into the “catering and logistical implications” of the hundreds of recognitions he had enjoyed worldwide and wondered why the Ameachi gesture has become an issue under the ‘insecure’ incumbent of the Rivers State government lodge.

Although he said the allegation has made him saddened and ‘truly despair”, he added that he was indifferent  to it.

Soyinka in the statement entitled, “Those who flounder in the sewage of corruption,” said: “This morning, I saw only the headlines in one or two print media regarding the 80th Birthday dinner to which I was hosted by the former governor of Rivers State, the Honorable Rotimi Amaechi, now Minister of Transportation. I ignored them. It was not, and remains not my business to probe into the catering and logistical implications of the hundreds of institutions and governments all over the world to whom I acknowledge an immense debt of unsolicited recognition over the years.

“Since then however, I have learnt of some unsavory statements by the insecure incumbent of the Rivers State government Lodge. These included a loose invitation to anti-crime agencies to investigate the potential crime of being honoured through any occasion. The unprecedented call by this governor is prescient of a warning I recounted in my recent pamphlet publication THE REPUBLIC OF LIARS, and was taken from my address to an anti-corruption global conference that took place in Tunisia two years ago. Those words were: CORRUPTION STRIKES BACK. In this ongoing instance, that expression translates most vividly as “Those who are neck deep in the sewage of corruption ensure that they splatter sewage in all possible and improbable directions.”

“I do however fully support the Wikeleaks call for multi-directional probes. I recommend further that he involve the services of INTERPOL to guarantee its extension to all international organisations and governments to whom I owe uncountable events of recognition – including birthday luncheons, dinners, cultural receptions and events of real, fictitious, or simply opportunistic flavoring – to which I have submitted myself.

“The descent to this present level of abominable distractions makes one truly despair. It is one that even I did not envisage when I warned – CORRUPTION STRIKES BACK! Whether it brings honour or dishonour to the nation is another matter – I am saddened, but indifferent.

“EFCC and company – over to you! You all know where I live,” noted The Nobel laureate.

Police grant amnesty to 12 repentant cultists in Ogun

Police grant amnesty to 12 repentant cultists in Ogun

ABEOKUTA—Ogun State Police, yesterday, publicly granted amnesty to 12 cultists after they had denounced their membership of various cult groups in the state.

The state Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali presided over the amnesty programme organised in Ewekoro local government area of the state.

There was a mild drama during the programme as four more cultists joined eight members who had been taken to the venue in handcuffs by policemen.

All of them who were residents of Ewekoro local government were then granted amnesty and asked to shun any cult activities.

The Police arrested eight cultists few weeks ago and paraded them at the state Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

Vanguard gathered that, some prominent people in the state prevailed upon the Police to give them amnesty which was granted.

The twelve cultists were made to swear by two holy books; Qur’an and Bible and then signed an undertaking against going back to cultism.

In his remarks, the state Police Commissioner said the amnesty programme was going to be held in all the 20 local governments in the state for cultists that renounce their membership.

He said after the exercise, the Command would no longer grant amnesty to anyone caught for cultism.

He said “ I want to warn that, I will not come back to this local government again for this programme. It is the last chance for any cult member to come out an renounce their membership.

“This programme will hold in all the local government areas of the state and after that, there will not be amnesty for anyone again.”

Janet Jackson says she's recovering, denies she got cancer

Janet Jackson says she's recovering, denies she got cancer

Janet Jackson said she doesn't have cancer, but she isn't specifying the illness that interfered with a concert tour that she postponed.

On her Twitter account Wednesday, Jackson posted a two-minute clip from her song "The Great Forever," followed by a personal message in which she said she's recovering but offered no further details. She said her doctors have approved her concerts as scheduled in Europe.

She wrote:

"The rumors are untrue. I do not have cancer. I'm recovering," she posted, an apparent response to online reports that she was suffering from throat cancer.

Her announcement came less than two weeks after Jackson said she was postponing her "Unbreakable" tour to have an unspecified surgical procedure. Jackson had been next scheduled to perform Saturday in Denver. She's scheduled to perform in Europe in March.

How 23-yr-old model born without legs makes N220, 000 daily

How 23-yr-old model born without legs makes N220, 000 daily

Most women regard their legs as part of their sex appeal. But not Kanya Sesser, the stunning 23-year-old lingerie model. Kanya was born without legs, abandoned at 1 week old, and brought up in a foster home, but even all that has not held her back.

Kanya-Sesser

It has not enough to take the edge off her ambition for success because Kanya now makes an average of N220,000 (US$1000) per day as an underwear model.

Kanya is breaking down the barriers of the modelling world by showing that just because she is different, that doesn’t mean she isn’t sexy.

She defies traditional beauty standards by working as a model, and hopes to prove that “different” is sexy.

No medical explanation is given for Kanya’s condition, but she is believed to suffer from an extremely rare disease condition described as “Amelia”  that presents as complete absence of an arm or leg in as a result of the limb formation process being either prevented or interrupted very early during development as a foetus in the womb.

It is believed that the Amelia syndrome appears to have a recessive pattern of inheritance—that is, the parents of the affected person each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

In a few cases, amelia may be attributed to health complications during the early stages of pregnancy, including infection, failed abortion or complications associated with removal of an Intrauterine Device after pregnancy, or use of Thalidomide.

From a young age, the young California girl was determined to overcome her disability and started modelling for sports brands at 15.
After shooting for a number of outlets—as well as being featured by Billabong—the beauty was soon scouted by underwear and bikini brands.

Now she combines her modelling career with motivational speaking and her love of sports—she’s currently training for the 2018 Winter Paralympics.

“I was mainly doing athletics shoots then as I got older I got into lingerie modelling,” said Sesser, who lives in Los Angeles. “It’s something fun and it shows my story—I’m different and that is sexy, I don’t need legs to feel sexy.

“I enjoy making money from it and I love showing people what beauty can look like. These images show my strength.”
Sesser didn’t always dream of modelling.

Kanya-Sesser

“It just happened for me and I got used to it,” she said. “I like expressing myself in a different way than people usually see.

“I’m very honest, I’m real—I’m never going to behave different to anyone. This is just who I am.”

Sesser was adopted from an orphanage in Thailand when she was 5 and moved to Portland, Oregon, with her new family.
Instead of a wheelchair, she uses a skateboard to get around and learned to walk on her hands.

Sesser loves extreme sports and hopes to compete in mono-ski in the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018.

One of her biggest fans is her new boyfriend Brian, whom she has been dating for the past month.

“Brian is awesome—he is very supportive of everything I do,” she said. “He recently saw me modeling for first time and told me he thought it was beautiful and unique.”

Despite her work as a model, Sesser admits she prefers her natural looks. She is also working on a book about her incredible journey through life, set to be published in 2016.

I am thrilled readers.

Why we collected N53m from Anenih – Yakasai

Why we collected N53m from Anenih – Yakasai

By AbdulSalam Muhammad
KANO – Elder Statesman, Tanko Yakasai Wednesday confirmed that Chief Tony Anenih gave him and 8 other prominent northerners N53 million for advocacy visit to northern traditional rulers to mobilise their subjects for 2015 general election.

Yakasai in an exclusive chat with Vanguard said that “yes, myself and 8 others collected N53m from chief Tony Anenih to pay advocacy visit to prominent northern emirs to mobilise their subjects for a hitch free 2015 general elections”.

The former President Shehu Shagari Special Adviser stated that the development followed a request by the PDP stalwart to make available to him list of “9 apolitical but respected individuals from the north”.

He declared that the N53m disbursed to his team by the Benin High Chief catered for the group members’ allowances, transportation and hotels accommodation on a tour that took them to 18 states in the north.

Yakasai who vehemently denied links between the fund and campaigns for former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, listed former minister of state, foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Barrister Bitrus Gwada and Alhaji Suleiman Lawal as beneficiaries of the money.

Other beneficiaries includes, Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi.

Yakasai had last week denied ever rrcieving financial patronage from Jonathan administration during a star interview with Vanguard.

The former political aide to second Republic NPN President had in the interview said “I want to make it categorically clear that no officials of the last regime either Mr. Jonathan, his lieutenant, agents, contractors or person having links or relationship with the last administration gave me cash on behalf of that regime for a reason.”

Yakasai, who celebrated his 90th birthday last year disclosed that they visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, the emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and the emir of Gwandu.

The list of other first class chief visited by Yakasai’s team also includes, The emir of Anka, emir of Ilorin, emir of Nassarawa, Minnie, Bauchi, Zuru, Kebbi, Katsina, Dutse, Hadejia and representatives of emir of Daurawa.

Other prominent rulers visited further includes, The Tor Tiv, the Gwom Gbom Jos, Ohimege Igu, Kotonkarfe, Etsu of Abaji, Etsu Nupe and Atta Igala.

Yakasai further revealed that his team were rescued from Gombe while on scheduled visit to the Emir when insurgents attack the city.

The Elder Statesman said “I want to make it abundantly clear that I didn’t received money from Chief Anenih in my private capacity as Tanko Yakasai but to a patriotic individuals who are interested in the peaceful coexistence of the polity”.

Lira Galore confirms split with Rick Ross

Lira Galore confirms split with Rick Ross

In an interview with Global Grind, 22 year old Lira Galore who was engaged to rapper, Rick Ross, confirmed that she's no longer with him. She said they decided to go their separate ways.
She said:
According to Lira, Rozay was the first famous person she'd ever been involved with, and it was also the first time she'd been in love.
She said:

"This was my first time in a public relationship, so I was happy about putting it out there," she said while speaking to Global Grind. "But people on social media don't like to see that type of stuff, so they dug up old stuff that didn't matter."

Later in the interview, Lira confirmed she and Ross actually did split a while back but eventually reunited. The reason for the initial break up? It had to do with a photo people kept posting of Galore and Meek Mill.

"I'm not worried about the picture with Meek," stated Lira.

"It was just a picture that I posted on my Instagram. I was at work. I used to dance, and it was just a picture. I think the initial breakup was a combination of everything from people digging up tweets when I was 17 years old tweeting about different people, to the picture of Meek."

"Everybody just kept posting it and I felt like as a man, he just couldn't handle it when it was just nothing. I feel like during that time apart he realized he was tripping, so we got back together," she added.

Galore also mentioned that she still carries deep feelings for the MMG chief. She added:

"We just decided to go our separate ways," explained the popular model. "I'm 22 and this was my first time in love, and I put it out there. I'm still in love with him, but some things don't go as you would like them to go."

Campaign for Democracy gives Pres. Buhari 7-day ultimatum to release Kanu, Metuh, Dasuki

Campaign for Democracy gives Pres. Buhari 7-day ultimatum to release Kanu, Metuh, Dasuki

Campaign for Democracy, South East Zone, yesterday, called for the immediate release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, the Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh and the former National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

In a statement in Onitsha, Anambra State, CD expressed concern that Pres. Buhari had formed the habit of cracking down on Igbo leaders at any slight provocation.

In the statement by its chairman, Dede A. Uzor, CD said it wasn't fair that the Pres. refused to release Kanu despite being granted bail, just as he also refused to obey the court order which granted Dasuki bail to travel abroad for his medical check-up.

The statement, gave Buhari a seven-day ultimatum within which to release Kanu, Metuh and Dasuki from detention or else CD would mobilize more than 70 million Ndigbo, both home and in the Diaspora, to carry out a mass protest against their continued detention.

The statement noted that CD was not against arresting any corrupt public officers, but reminded Buhari of the need to obey the sanctity of court orders or rulings, which he swore to uphold.

He said:

“Buhari should tell us how many All Progressives Congress, APC, members he has arrested for corrupt practices or does it mean that APC members are all clean, including the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who allegedly spent over $16 billion on power sector reform without anything to show for it?”

Vanguard

Gobe! Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore orders ban on same-sex marriage

Gobe! Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore orders ban on same-sex marriage

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an order Wednesday informing the state’s probate judges of their “ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary” to Alabama’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision overturning such state bans, Moore maintains Alabama’s law is still valid, and that as chief justice he is empowered to “take affirmative and appropriate action to correct or alleviate any condition or situation adversely affecting the administration of justice within the state.”

Wonders will never end, Husband and wife sell son 5 month old son for N400,000

Wonders will never end, Husband and wife sell son 5 month old son for N400,000

The Lagos State Police Command arrested 28-year-old Okwuchukwu Ibekwe, who lived in Iyana Iba area of Lagos, for allegedly selling his five-month-old son to a child trafficker in Anambra State for N400,000. He said he sold his son because he was having difficulties in his trade and allegedly decided with his wife to sell him.

According to PUNCH Metro the Ibekwes sold their son to one Chinelo, who stayed in Ihiala, Anambra State and is still on the run, on December 17, 2015.

 

It was learnt that Chinelo gave the infant's Dad N250,000 while the mother of the baby's mum was supposed to get N150,000.

 

However, when Mr. Ibekwe returned from Anambra state, he refused to give the wife her share, so she reported the matter to the police and fled the house after making the report.

 

Okwuchukwu was subsequently arrested and detained at the Police Gender Unit, Ikeja, while police operatives also arrested Chinelo’s husband in Anambra State. The baby and Chinelo are yet to be found.

 

While being paraded on Wednesday, Okwuchukwu said he collected N400,000 from Chinelo in exchange for his son with his wife's consent.

He said:

“Chinelo was to give me N400,000 for the baby. My wife was the one who suggested that we dispose of the baby to meet our business needs.

“But Chinelo gave me N250,000 for the baby when I went to deliver him to her in Anambra State.

“When I returned, my wife and I quarrelled and she ran away for three days. I did not know that she went to report the matter to the police. She was concerned with her own share of N150,000.

“I sell vehicle spare parts in Ladipo market. “It was a lawyer who called me that my wife had reported me to the police, and that I should come and see her. When I went there, I was arrested.

“I do not know the whereabouts of my son. I did not know Chinelo would run away with my child.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspect, said the case was undergoing intense investigation and efforts to recover the baby and arrest Chinelo.

 

Vanguard

$2.1bn arms cash: I never received N1.7bn from Dasuki- Fani-Kayode

$2.1bn arms cash: I never received N1.7bn from Dasuki- Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has denied media reports alleging that he received N1.7billion of the controversial arms deal fund from the office of the ex-National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (reted).

Fani-Kayode, who was Director of Media and Publicity, Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, during the last Presidential election which Jonathan lost to President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement said he read with amusement the allegation made in the media report.

*Fani-Kayode

He said: “I read with amusement the allegation that was made in the media report that I was given 1.7 billion naira cash by President Goodluck Jonathan. This is false. A few hours later they changed their story and said that I received 1.7 billion naira from the office of the former NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki. This is also false.

“I have never received one kobo from President Jonathan himself, Colonel Dasuki or any other member of President Jonathan’s government. I have not ever been in receipt of any public funds and neither was I the beneficiary of any payments in cash, transfer, cheque or otherwise from any government official during the tenure of President Jonathan.

“As Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign organisation I received money on behalf of the Directorate of Media and Publicity which I headed from private individuals and companies during the election campaigns but these were not public funds but rather private contributions specifically for the Presidential and other campaigns.

“Such moneys were transferred into my account by the Director of Finance of the Presidential Campaign Organisation and that account was specifically set up for the purpose of running the publicity and media aspect of the campaign for the whole country and my Directorate.

“These private individuals and companies paid their contributions into a designated account which was provided and controlled by the Director of Finance and from there she transferred it to the accounts of the various Directors and various individuals that were running for public office that the PCO supported.

“The money that was sent to me for my Directorate by the Director of Finance was used in a lawful and responsible manner and by the time the campaigns were over my Directorate had paid all of its bills for services rendered and was not owing any media house or anyone else one kobo.

“The Presidential candidate of our party President Goodluck Jonathan, the D-G of the PCO, the Auditor of the PCO, the Advisor to the PCO and the Director of Finance of the PCO all received reports and saw the results of the efforts of my Directorate. Not only were they satisfied with our efforts but they also commended us.

“Those private individuals and companies that were kind enough to support and fund President Jonathans presidential campaign with their hard earned money were perfectly within their rights to do so and they were more than happy with our efforts as well.

“They also commended us. Even though we ended up losing the election we fought a very virile, strong, visible, historic and aggressive campaign and the Nigerian people can attest to this. The encounter with the APC was an epic one and it was probably the most active and gruelling electoral battle in the history of our country.

“Not one kobo of public funds was spent by or given to my Directorate during the campaign and as far as I am aware not one kobo of public funds was spent by or given to the PCO. Presidential campaigns all over the world cost huge amounts of money and Nigeria is no different.

“This is especially so when it comes to publicity and media. My Directorate was difficult to run and our work was capital intensive. We did not use marshmallows, pebbles, and grass to pay for all the services rendered to us and all the television and newspaper adverts were fully paid for with money.

“Nothing was done or given to us free of charge by anyone. This should not be a surprise to anyone as the APC and President Buhari’s campaign organisation did the same.

“I opened an account specifically for the funds that were used to run my Directorate and fund all our activities in order to ensure accountability and transparency.

“We also audited our accounts regularly and insisted on the highest level of professionalism from all those that worked for or with us.

“Since when such matters have become a crime or subjects of criminal investigations I don’t know. If it was a crime to speak up for Jonathan during the campaign they should just say so.

“If it is a crime to be a member of the PDP and to be in opposition they should just say so. If it is a crime to speak up for and defend President Jonathan and key members of his government after he has left office they should just say so.

“If it is a crime to oppose the Buhari administration and speak up against his gross violations of human rights that they are indulging in and the violation of court orders they should just say so.

“During the 2015 elections the PCO and my Directorate spoke up and campaigned for many PDP members who were running for public office and we funded and worked for them too. That was our job and I am very proud of the PCO and the role we all played despite limited resources.

“I am particularly proud of the efforts of my team at the Directorate and I can assure all those that care to listen and that refuse to be misled by the government propaganda machine that we did nothing wrong. All we did was run an effective campaign and we did so with private funds and not funds from the government.

“I am aware of the attempt by the government and my enemies to discredit me, smear my name and silence me by alleging all manner of wrongdoing but I am not in the least bit perturbed. As always my innocence will fight for me and my God will never forsake me.

“I know that this government is capable of doing anything, of inducing anyone to say anything and that they have no sense of decency, justice or fair play. They are prepared to charge anyone just for breathing the air if needs be and they can attempt to frame up anyone that they believe is a thorn in their flesh.

“I have always known this yet I refuse to run away or to be silenced and I will not be cowered. Though I have been warned and told over and over again by those amongst them who care for my well being that I have been listed down and targeted for persecution I am not in the least bit concerned about their evil plans for me. My life and destiny is in the hands of God and not theirs and He will fight for me and vindicate me.

“As I have always said, the night may be dark but joy comes in the morning. If it was a crime to use moneys that were freely donated by private individuals from lawful and legitimate sources to fund the Presidential and other campaigns let them say so.

“No election campaign anywhere in the world, including that of President Buhari was run with just words, goodwill, grass and pebbles and neither were we given free campaign adverts or air time. All these things were run and paid for with large sums of money.

“This is especially so with publicity and media because that was the lifeblood of the various campaigns. I repeat, there is nothing that we did in the campaign organisation or that my Directorate did that Lai Mohammed, Buhari and the APC did not do in theirs. As a matter of fact they spent far more than we did but I have no idea where they got their money and whether they were private or public funds.

“Most importantly my Directorate and, as far as I am aware, the Jonathan Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation did not receive any public funds from any government official or office to run our campaign. Of this I am absolutely sure and I am very confident because I made a point of asking and insisting that this must be so. These are the facts and I eagerly await my accusers, persecutors and detractors.

“Meanwhile I shall continue to live my life in peace, I shall not be intimidated by the boastful threats of the enemy and I will continue to live my life in the usual law-abiding manner that I have always done.

“It is expedient and necessary for me to speak out now even though the EFCC has not said a word on this matter or even confirmed that there is indeed an investigation going on. This is because the modus operandii of the Commission of late is to leak their intentions to SaharaReporters before they strike and abduct their victims.

“This has happened on a number of occasions and sadly they use such mediums to tell all manner of lies about the case and the accused to the public. By the time they finish they would have convicted their victim in a vicious smear campaign and media trial which is usually plagued and fuelled by lies and falsehood.

“It is for this reason that I have taken this opportunity, whilst I am still at liberty, to tell the Nigerian people the truth and let them have all the facts. I sincerely hope that my statement will help to clarify matters in the eyes of the public regardless of whatever lies that they will soon be inundated with by a desperate, weak and wicked government. I fear them not because my life is in God’s hands. God bless Nigeria,” Fani-Kayode said.

Arms probe: EFCC detains German businessman

Arms probe: EFCC detains German businessman

    

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a German businessman in connection with the ongoing investigation into the $2.1bn arms procured under the Goodluck Jonathan administration and training of security personnel outside the country.

A top operative of the EFCC, who confided in our correspondent on Tuesday, said the German was arrested because investigation linked him to millions of funds meant for security and arms procurement under the immediate-past administration.

The EFCC operative said the German was arrested on Monday last week in Abuja to make clarifications on his role in the arms importation saga and other related issues.

He is still being detained by the commission as of the time of filing this report by 4pm on Tuesday.

It was learnt that he was picked up a week after a serving colonel of the Nigerian Army, who served as the Military Assistant to the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), was invited for questioning in relation to the arms deal.

Operatives investigating the involvement of the German were said to have traced his financial transactions to Belarus, a former Soviet republic, which featured prominently as a theatre of training and related security events during the campaign against Boko Haram under Jonathan.

The source added, “There is this foreigner that is being detained by the EFCC over the arms deal controversy. He has spent over a week in the cell. He was picked up on December 28, 2015 and has been in detention since then.

“He is being detained because he was involved in some of the security deals with the military officer, who is being detained as a result of the same arms issue.

“They paid him a huge sum in dollars but he is believed to have spent a fraction of the money on the training (of troops); so, they are grilling him on how to get the remaining amount from him.”

The EFCC had opened investigation into the training of Nigerian Special Forces in the Eastern European country in November, 2015.

The EFCC task force, constituted to investigate arms procurement under the Jonathan administration is probing how millions of dollars meant for the training of the 750 Special Forces in Belarus and other countries in Eastern Europe were spent.

The operatives are of the opinion that huge amount of funds released for the training contract were not spent on the project.

It was gathered that the former NSA and the top hierarchy of the nation’s security structure came up with a policy to train an elite force, comprising well-trained operatives from the various security forces, to combat the Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

The beneficiaries, drawn from the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Police and the Department of State Services, received training in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, handling of different calibre of firearms and grenades among others.

The beneficiaries, who left the country in September, 2014, and arrived in the country in December, 2014, were immediately deployed in various operational fronts in the North East.

Attempts to get the EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, did not succeed as calls to his mobile telephone did not connect as of the time of sending this report

The punch

Governor Ikpeazu says "Abia State not for sale"

‘Governor Ikpeazu says "Abia State not for sale"
    

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State

The Abia State Government has reacted to the recent judgment by the Court of Appeal, which ordered the removal of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The government, in an official statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu, on Wednesday described the judgment as a travesty of justice.

It said that with the judgment, the five-man panel of judges of the court, led by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, had not only trifled with the lives and collective destiny of the six million people of Abia State, but put the entire state at the risk of anarchy.

Warning all those involved in what it described as a grand conspiracy to drag Abia State into anarchy and bloodshed to steer clear of the state, the government said, “Abia State is not for sale and nobody should trifle with the destiny of the people.”

The statement noted that it took the timely intervention of Ikpeazu to restore peace and calm to the state, following massive protests, led by a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, and Chief Gershion Amuta against the decision of the appellate court.

It raised some fundamental questions about the ruling and argued that if allowed to stand, it would deny a large number of voters the right to choose their own representatives.

“How could they (the judges) have ordered INEC to swear in Mr. Alex Otti immediately after their pronouncement when they knew that there is still a window of 14 days within which the governor has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court?” The statement queried.

The government expressed confidence in the ability of the Supreme Court to correct the error made by the Court of Appeal and to uphold Ikpeazu’s victory at the poll, adding that the latter’s mandate was sacred and could not be replaced with money.

It criticised the composition of the panel of judges that gave the judgment, while noting that the state chapter of the PDP had earlier warned that all the five members came from the same Lagos division, contrary to the established tradition of having a mixture of judges from different divisions of the Court of Appeal

BREAKING News: Lagarde meets CBN Governor, bank MDs

BREAKING News: Lagarde meets CBN Governor, bank MDs
    

Christine Lagarde

The Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde on Wednesday met with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Mr Godwin Emefiele to discuss issues that have to do with the development of the nation’s financial sector.

The meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the apex bank in Abuja, lasted almost two hours and was also attended by Managing Directors of Deposit Money Banks as well as other top officials of the CBN.

Lagarde who addressed journalists shortly after the meeting in company of the CBN boss said there was need for the financial sector to channel more funds to the real sector of the economy.

As the driver of growth in any economy, the IMF chief said lending by banks to the real sector should be done at concessionary terms.

The punch

2,000 Visafone workers fired as MTN completes acquisition

2,000 Visafone workers fired as MTN completes acquisition    

Feelers emerged on Wednesday that Visafone was winding down operations and had sacked more than 83 per cent of its workers as part of its acquisition by the MTN Nigeria.

Our correspondent gathered that over 2,000 employees were disengaged with effect from January 5, 2016, and were paid three months’ salaries as severance package.

The only categories of employees said to be left were those in the personnel and transmission departments.

One of the affected workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the sacking came as a surprise to many of them.

“We learnt that the management would downsize, but we were told that that would be later in 2016. It is, however, surprising that they are sending majority of us away so early in the year. Though they paid three months’ severance benefits, but should it be this way?

“Some of us have put in five to 10 years of our lives in keeping the business going, but see what we are getting now. It is well.”

A senior management employee at Visafone confirmed the sacking, but was quick to refer media enquiries to MTN because he was not authorised to speak on the deal.

When contacted, MTN Nigeria neither denied nor confirmed the deal, but said the management was already working on a statement that would be made available to journalists later in the day or today (Thursday).

As of the time of filing this report, our correspondent had yet to obtain the statement.

Reliable sources stated that the MTN would have completed the acquisition of Visafone, the only surviving Code Division Multiple Access operator in the country, before the end of 2015, but for the N1.04tn fine slammed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Our correspondent gathered that the challenges in the nation’s economy had also frustrated plans by the MTN to absorb at least 50 per cent of the sacked Visafone workers and because “it wants to reduce its exposure in Nigeria.”

The Punch

ON THE TRAIL OF MADAME DIEZANI (PART 2)

ON THE TRAIL OF MADAME DIEZANI (PART 2)

PENDULUM BY DELE MOMODU

Fellow Nigerians, what you are about to read is an abridged version of what is probably the most anticipated story of the year. It has now given birth to a big bouncing baby christened The Boss newspaper, an online publication. The Diezani Alison-Madueke story has graced the cover of the first edition of what I believe will be a catalyst for unbiased investigative reporting in Nigeria. The Boss had long been conceptualised as a Leadership newspaper to occupy the void created by lack of true and credible investigative journalism in some traditional and online media. The original plan was to launch in December or early January.

But the Diezani Alison Madueke story changed all that. It was too compelling to restrict to the Pendulum column alone.  And here we are with what promises to be an exciting addition to the media landscape in Nigeria and beyond featuring an enthralling cover story that will educate and entertain the readers.

After that effervescent introduction in Thisday, in which Nigeria’s most influential newspaper published the meeting between this reporter and the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, everyone requested for details of the encounter. Some unbelieving Thomases even suggested the story was pure fiction, or at the very best “faction” to borrow Kole Omotoso’s coinage.

They wondered why a more comprehensive interview could not be published, garnished with clear crispy pictures of Madame Diezani. It was obvious many had read the story in a hurry and did not assimilate the carefully worded tale of a woman in deep pain and anguish for variety of reasons. Of course there were insinuations that it was a public relations stunt but mercifully most readers thought it was a well-balanced story. It even went viral.

That meeting obviously impacted on her decision to open up eventually, two days after episode one. A call came through on Friday November 6, 2015, from a female aide of Mrs Alison-Madueke to request for a meeting the following day at 2.30pm at a location yet to be determined. The appointment was immediately approved. Later in the evening, this ubiquitous aide made yet another call shifting the appointment forward by a few hours to 11am the same Saturday. My response again was yes.

A text message flew into my phone very early Saturday morning. It contained the address and full postcode of a new venue different from the one of two days earlier. The venue turned out to be a popular restaurant near Regent’s Park, famous for its breakfast.

I was a bit surprised and disappointed at the choice of location. I was hoping she was going to give me access to her now famous apartment which was said to have been bought at a most staggering amount, or the new multi-billion dollar home that was rumoured to have triggered the alarm leading to her arrest, claims she would dismiss as tales by moonlight. After waiting for about 20 minutes or so, I heard some footsteps and the once most powerful woman in Nigeria surfaced. She looked slightly better than at our last meeting and I sprang to my feet as we exchanged pleasantries. I mentioned to her that she looks better and she said she’s been resting and gaining strength in preparation for her radiotherapy. She ordered full English breakfast while I settled only for cappuccino. But when the meal arrived she didn’t eat it because she has lost appetite for food generally and was more on fluids. She then asked for American coffee, water and fresh lime instead. She also ordered for tea at some point. Most of the time we spent talking, she coughed intermittently into a napkin and dabbed her mouth with it but she was clearly determined to pour out her obviously heavy mind despite the discomfort I could notice she was struggling to endure. 

There were several off-the-record interludes. More than anything we were both careful not to discuss in detail matters which might impact on the cases and legal problems now bedevilling her. Getting and persuading her to talk in detail about a lot of issues was therefore very difficult. There were other reasons. First, was her obvious paranoia of the Nigerian press. She’s been bruised, battered and blistered, especially in print and on social media. She’s been scandalised, summarily tried and precipitously convicted by the media, according to her. On top of her problems, she’s having a running battle with the most dreaded form of cancer of the breast and she’s had to undergo surgeries to remove the lumps and later some chunky tissue. The treatments have not been that successful and it’s been a ding-dong affair for this once ebullient and elegant lady. 

We had to give assurances of not sensationalising her story if granted access. Of course it has never been our practice to do so and thus this was not a problem.  We promised not to embellish her stories in any way or reveal off-the-record discussions which were truly personal and confidential and had nothing to do with her travails. There was a strict proviso that no form of recording would be allowed and we had to adopt the novelistic style. The result of that covenant is what you’re reading today.

We knew it was going to be very difficult getting pictures in her present not too genial or glamorous condition. That was practically tough on our first meeting as she was just returning from her hospital rounds and looked totally exhausted. We however succeeded in getting a few pictures this time some of which we are revealing for the first time today in The Boss newspaper.

This is a story like no other and it cannot be told like any other. It is a tale from the super highway of power and the fast lane of confusion. Mrs Alison-Madueke had the world not just at her feet but firmly in her palm. She could apparently turn a certified pauper into a certificated billionaire within the twinkle of an eye. In short, she could make and unmake. Diezani was the subject of many fables. And this is the crux of the matter. Her closeness to President Jonathan was a subject of many speculations and I fired my first shot from that direction:

“Is it true that a sister of yours has a kid or kids for President Jonathan?” I asked. “That is totally untrue as I don’t have any such sister or relative!” she said.  She wondered how people could fabricate such blatant lies.

I soon followed with what I regarded as an upper-cut: “It was said that you and the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan were in permanent conflict; why was it so?” She responded that their relationship was cordial enough and she gave the former First Lady the respect she should give the wife of her boss. She went further to say that “What people don’t know is that we’ve been family friends for long. My mum, Mrs Beatrice Agama, has always played the role of a godmother in the Niger Delta and all the militants love and respect her. I come from a royal and privileged background and lacked nothing.”

Now wait for the next shot!  “You’ve been linked to so many young guys who made so much money from you and later absconded or turned against you… What was between you and Chris Aire, Kola Aluko, Jide Omokore, Tonye Cole, Dapo Abiodun, Wale Tinubu, Igho Sanomi and others?” I queried her.

Madame Diezani’s response was calm and unruffled: “I vehemently deny any intimacy or liaison with any of these gentlemen.” She noted that she is happily married like most of them are happily married and asserted that she is not the Scarlet Lady that people paint her to be. She sees those rumours as insults on accomplished women who cannot be seen in sensitive positions without running riotous with some men. She said it was important to put in context how she met most of them:

“I was the Chairman of the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board and I did my job to the best of ability and intentions. My boss and I were determined to empower Nigerians, especially the young ones, who had the brains and guts to dare.” She noted that in every government, some people must land the big jobs which every human being would love to have. She said “I chose to empower mostly Nigerians and took the power away from foreigners who used to dominate the sector. That was why we pushed for the Nigerian Content Bill, which mercifully we got through. So you cannot expect some forces not to hate me but I was shocked that Nigerians themselves were ready to crucify me mostly on rumours and not verifiable facts. Most leaders before me have suffered a similar fate so I take some comfort from that experience.”

We soon moved the discussion to the many allegations of financial impropriety under her tenure, especially the alleged disappearance of $20billion and other wasteful spending authorised by her.  She observed that she could not go into any real details because of the criminal investigations in Nigeria and England as well as the civil case here.  However she told me she would try and provide general details about these matters because it was important to shed some light on her own involvement from the vantage point of someone actually in Government who believes these things simply cannot happen.

She was visibly angry at the mention of the $20billion: “If there is one issue I must pursue in this world it is the biggest lie of this money. How can $20billion disappear just like that? Where did it disappear to? Is it possible that such an amount would not be traceable? This is more painful coming from someone I considered a good friend who should appreciate the gravity of such allegation. I challenge anyone to come forward with facts showing that I stole government or public money. I’ve never stolen Nigeria’s money…”

“Rather I worked hard to halt the rampant business of round-tripping. When I brought in Reginald Stanley to clean up the place, I requested for a list of the defaulters. There were about 92 of them and I made sure we sanctioned them. You can imagine the threat to my life but I was ready to defend the economic interests of my country. In fact, we were able to reduce the oil subsidy by about half. No one has applauded our effort.

“There were those who said the then Governor of Central Bank must have been angry at me because of the way the Presidency treated him. In all honesty, he was being blocked from seeing the President by some of Oga’s people (presidential aides) but it had nothing to do with me. I was the one who even told Oga about the development and Oga said he would meet him in London on one of his trips. Unfortunately my boss fell ill and was rushed to King Edward Hospital and the meeting was aborted.”

“Sanusi and I had been friends. There was no way I would have done anything bad to him. He even came to my house to inform me about his interest in heading the African Development Bank and we discussed for about two hours. I promised to support him and I spoke to Oga about it. We were together on the Reconciliation Committee that looked into the accounts of NNPC. Yes there were gaps but not on the alarming scale being circulated. Markafi (former Governor of Kaduna State) did a thorough job. You know he is a very sound accountant.”

What about the allegations that she owns choice properties everywhere?  “It is so sad that anyone could say such about me. Let me say something to you, I live with my husband in the same house we’ve lived since we married in 1999. Ask anyone who knows us. Our house in Abuja was bought in 2007 by my husband and as an architect and lover of interior décor I did it up to our own taste. It is not over the top because I have good taste and appreciate bargains. I shop in regular shops like B & Q to do up all the places where I live. Anyone who tells you I have houses anywhere should feel free to publish them. That was how they said I bought an expensive property in Vienna. I went to court and I won the case. I never saw the house before except in picture. The house I stay in London is rented. As a woman I love to look good. Some of my dresses and jewelleries are often dumped on me by those I buy from and I pay them when I can…” Read the full story at www.thebossnewspapers.com

THE CHESS PLAYER CALLED PRESIDENT BUHARI

If you think you can predict and pre-empt President Muhammadu Buhari, please forget it. With his recent moves, it is obvious he is the master of the game. I wish to commend him on his Ministerial appointments and encourage him to ignore the harsh criticisms that greeted the portfolios assigned to some of the Ministers.

The most controversial is that of Mrs Kemi Adeosun and I totally disagree with those saying she lacks the experience or exposure to run the Finance Ministry. Leadership is about the ability to manage people and resources. It would have been impossible for Ronald Reagan and even Barack Obama to thrive in our clime with our type of attitude. Just imagine if David Cameron and Ed Milibands were Nigerians. Mrs Adeosun should not be distracted. Some of those clamouring for youth participation in governance should be proud of her towering achievements and meteoric rise.

What can I say about Mr Efficiency, Babatunde Raji Fashola? President Buhari has acknowledged brilliance and rewarded hard work by making this great man our de facto Prime Minister.

Congratulations to all Nigerians.

On The Trail of Madame Diezani ( part 1)

On The Trail of Madame Diezani ( part 1)

Pendulum By Dele Momodu                dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Fellow Nigerians, let me tell you about my James Bond stunts in this season of the sensational SPECTRE movie. Yes. The news of the arrest of former strong woman of Nigeria’s Petroleum Ministry, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke in London had hit the airwaves like thunderbolt. No member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government held the nation spellbound like Madame Diezani. Controversy dogged her every step just as she spawned loads of salacious gossip. She is a newsmaker per excellence.

For starters, Madame Diezani is a paragon of beauty. She’s also very simple but chic and elegant in dressing and appearance. At 54, she would give our much younger ladies a run for their money in the prettiness stakes. She is intelligent to boot and boasts a decent academic pedigree. She is that hot and even her most vociferous critics agree that she combines brains with beauty. Add to that is her marriage to retired Rear Admiral Allison Amaechina Madueke, a former Chief of Naval Staff which boosted her national and political profile.

The only problem was the almost unanimous belief that she had abused her privileged position and appurtenances of office in the discharge of her ministerial duties. It was reported that billions of dollars literally disappeared under her watch. She was under intense heat and scrutiny throughout her reign but seemed unrattled and unfazed by the deluge of dirt splashed at her from every direction. She stayed invincible and definitely unshakeable to the end.

Her firm grip on the President was palpable. It was a subject of discussions everywhere. There were rumours of constant clashes with the former First Lady, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan. No one really knew the true story. Mrs Alison Madueke did not help matters by studiously ignoring the lurid pictures painted of her. She rarely granted interviews and when she did, hardly responded to the monumental gist from unrelenting talebearers.

I always wished to have a one-on-one interview with our own Alice in Wonderland or Cleopatra, if you like. Such is the nature of gargantuan fables around this mythical lady. She is the dream of every celebrity reporter. A nice interview and some photo-shoot as icing would be no mean achievement. There are few women in her mould anywhere at any time.

I had studied her trajectory to determine what makes her tick. She was born with silver spoon to the family of Chief Frederick Abiye and Mrs Beatrice Oyete Agama in the garden city of Port Harcourt and grew up in the Shell Camp where she schooled and learnt to speak both English and Dutch. She wasn’t a regular kid like most of us. The way her life was suddenly disrupted at Shell Camp she says would later inform her philosophy during her time as Petroleum Minister. Her family was unceremoniously evicted from the Shell Camp because her father dared to question the promotion process of Nigerians by Shell. She believes that Nigerians must occupy and enjoy the resources God has blessed us with and accordingly she sought to empower Nigerians as a principle, she claims.

The young Miss Agama studied Architecture in England and then at the renowned Howard University in the United States where she graduated. She later obtained an MBA from Cambridge University. She worked at Shell, following in her father’s footsteps, and rose to become its first female Director. The first part of her life story ends there.

The second part begins with her stint in the government of Nigeria where she managed several important ministries including Mines, Works and Transport and finally Petroleum, the chicken that lays the golden eggs. Once she got the juiciest portfolio in the land she was transformed from an Angel to being labelled a femme fatale, a nomenclature that has stuck to her like flies to palmwine. Political opponents of President Jonathan blamed her for all the sins of omission and commission of that Government and she really never was able to keep her head under the parapet. This is why she is in hot demand by reporters, local and international, alike.

Anything about Madame Diezani makes news and goes viral. We met only once at a public function hosted by Alhaji Aliko Dangote in Abuja. We spoke very briefly and she was going to give me her telephone contact but a personal aide intervened and promised to send it to me but never did. So I missed interviewing her. I had loads of satanic questions to ask her and was unsure of how she would have reacted, with calm or fury, but I would have thoroughly enjoyed that auspicious moment as I am sure would have been my readers.

Anyway, the dream never materialised. I simply shrugged my shoulders and moved on. After the demise of the Jonathan government, I assumed it was goodbye to a good story but man proposes and God disposes. I was sitting quietly at home when the news of Mrs Alison-Madueke’s arrest exploded like a bomb. Social media instantly caught fire. We were regaled with tales of how she was captured at home by the London Metropolitan Police for money laundering running into atrocious and unimaginable sums of cash. Some reports said she was planning to buy a property worth billions of pounds in London and even gave a famous address. Those who know London fairly well immediately doubted the veracity of such claims but anything is believable in this season of anomie.

We were later informed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) that arrested her, that only £27,000 pounds was recovered and that she had been released on bail. Then came reports that the energetic EFCC in Nigeria had also invaded her home in Abuja and we imagined this invasion must have been well choreographed and perfectly co-ordinated by the governments of Nigeria and Britain only for NCA to tell us this wasn’t so.

My interest in speaking to Madame Diezani by all means was re-ignited. I was greatly saddened by the dearth of investigative journalism in our clime. I remembered with nostalgia our days at Concord Press of Nigeria, owned by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. I had a flashback to the Weekend Concord days when that paper broke all records by publishing endless scoops and I earned repeated accolades from my Editor, and boss for life, Mr Mike Awoyinfa, for the manner I gained incredible access to very important personalities and topical news.

My dream is for Nigerian media to return to those halcyon days and it is not too difficult to achieve. What it takes is for us to have credible journalists who can manage stories responsibly without using media power to terrorise or witch-hunt anyone no matter their personal views or political ideology. A seasoned journalist knows that facts are sacred! Proper investigative reporters have access to even terrorists and rabid insurgents for this reason. However in Nigeria, we tend to reflect our prejudices in the stories we write. Such bias should be reserved for opinions and editorial pages.

Back to Mrs  Alison-Madueke, the more I read the conflicting and contradictory reports the more I wished someone could penetrate the seemingly impregnable wall erected by our leaders to get the news behind the news. There were reports that Madame Diezani was battling with the much dreaded breast cancer. Not a few said she was merely pretending in order to escape justice. I wondered aloud how nice it would be to find a journalist who could be trusted with this massive story and bring us face to face with one of Africa’s biggest newsmakers.

About the same period, I was spending sometime seeking treatment for cataracts in London and this gave me the opportunity to investigate the Diezani conundrum myself. I made calls to several credible sources including a close lawyer friend who has a solid reputation in such matters. First, I confirmed that, contrary to the belief that she was feigning her illness, she was actually receiving treatment for a most chronic and aggressive form of breast cancer. She had undergone surgery and chemotherapy on several occasions and was being prepared for radiotherapy. Indeed, she had slipped into both natural and induced coma which lasted five days on July 28, as steroids she was receiving had inadvertently raised her sugar level abysmally. Her doctors declared her condition a near-miss. All my sources said it would be unfair and unthinkable for a reporter to invade her privacy in that state.

I believed the world deserves to hear from her, for good or for bad, and so never gave up my dream of getting exclusive access to Nigeria’s most talked about woman. My tenacity paid off two nights ago as I came face to face with Mrs Alison-Madueke at a secret location in London. My bosom friend had called to say someone had mentioned to her that I was critically on her case. Madame Diezani had wondered why a known and certified critic of the Jonathan Administration would want to interview her but was told that despite my opposition to their regime I remained one of the most objective writers in Nigeria. She told my female contact that she reads Pendulum and was impressed at the level of maturity often displayed even when she disagreed with my views. However, Madame Diezani was particularly worried that even in the throes of a most debilitating ailment, she was still being virulently attacked by her fellow citizens.

I told my source that without being judgmental, I think she should understand that many Nigerians believe she and the government she served had brought untold hardship upon the generality of Nigerians especially through the mismanagement of the main source of revenue in our country. She may know better than the rest of us but it is up to her to tell her story. Those who will believe are waiting to hear while those who won’t may never subscribe to her defence. What is important is for her to purge her soul and where necessary offer sincere apologies and penitence.

I was stunned when I got a call from my contact: “are you available to meet Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke on Thursday evening at a private location in London?” I don’t know how many reporters would miss such humongous opportunity. My response was an instant, yes. I was told the location would be communicated to me one hour to the appointed time. That was fine by me.
The only one I could trust to drive me on such a mission was my wife accompanied by her younger sister. We got to the venue almost dead on time and scanned the vicinity. Having read too many James Hadley Chase novels in my school days, I expected to see some unobtrusive bodyguards around if I looked well. I imagined I was right when I saw a dark stocky man in suit prancing about furtively and restlessly. I pressed a buzzer as instructed and the main door swung open. I approached one of the elevators as directed and headed to a particular apartment where my contact opened the door even before I knocked, and ushered me in.
I didn’t see my interviewee but only a fair lady, who looked vaguely familiar. I took a comfortable position and waited with bated breath. I was undergoing a stream of consciousness at supersonic speed. Where is Madame Diezani? Will she meet me or chicken out? Would she open up or just whet my appetite for nothing? How will I ask my satanic questions and in what order? What can I do to make her relax and pour out her heart? Can she trust anyone with her story in her present condition and state of mind?

I was in this interior monologue when Madame Diezani herself sauntered in. I stood up to greet her as she stretched out her hand. “My name is Diezani, the most misunderstood and abused Nigerian…” I didn’t know whether to say yes or no. I was perturbed and disturbed. The Diezani before me was not the ebullient woman I used to see on television and in newspapers. Her head had become a Sahara desert of sorts almost totally bald with a sprinkle of freshly growing hair all grey. She requested to sit on a classroom chair as her back was hurting badly and she could not sit so low. Wow, what a terrible time she must be having, I almost screamed out but cautioned myself. Sitting across from me was a woman who was a shadow of herself, almost like an apparition or ghost. I’m sure she saw the horror in my face.

I knew I had to tread gingerly so as not to ignite trouble. I expressed sympathy about her battle with cancer. I told her I was one of the doubting Thomases and wished her God’s mercy and miracle having seen her shocking state. She summarised how her ordeal started and that moment when her worst nightmare was diagnosed. As she spoke she belched and gasped intermittently, a by-product of the aggressive treatment she’s been receiving. I was visibly worried at a point thinking she may end up in an ambulance if care was not taken. The other lady I met earlier soon came out from wherever and insisted we must stop but Madame Diezani was just getting into the flow of our chit-chat. We were told to round up in five minutes by this chaperone.

I fired shots at her in staccato fashion and raced through my questions. I wanted to cover enough grounds before she returns to hospital after this weekend. I asked about Jonathan, Chris Aire, Kola Aluko and others linked to her in business transactions and otherwise. She said as much as she possibly could in the little time available and promised to say more later. The fair lady soon returned to stop our session. I would have been atrociously wicked to ask for more time though I felt she was in the mood to talk. She stood up delicately and she and the two ladies with her disappeared into the cold night

Nigeria Will Be Better Off with Buhari as EFCC Chairman

Nigeria Will Be Better Off with Buhari as EFCC Chairman

              

There is nothing wrong with fighting corruption. All those indicted must be severely punished according to the laws of our land. This has always been my position. However, running after treasury looters is a different thing from running the economy of a country. These are obviously two different things.

A government should not spend all its time and resources fighting corruption at the expense of its core mandate of running the economy of the country and providing succor to the people. Institutions set up to fight corruption should be allowed to do their jobs while the government concentrates on its core mandate.

The security and welfare of the people shall be the priority of the state, so says our constitution.  A good government should be running the economy in such a way to actulise this constitutional mandate. This is what I was expecting from the Muhammadu Buhari administration and not taking up the jobs of the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.

Running the economy of this country should be about getting our manufacturing plants working at optimum capacity and providing jobs for our people. It should be about ensuring uninterrupted fuel and electricity supply, good roads, good schools and good health institutions. It should be about providing cheap food and affordable housing to our people and creating an enabling environment for businessmen to do legitimate business with functional infrastructure. It should be about government coming out with policies and programmes to reflate our depressed economy and rolling out pragmatic fiscal and monetary policies to revive our sliding economy.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case in the last seven months in this country. All we hear is the war against corruption while millions of Nigerians wallow in poverty.

Our jobless youth roam the streets with an uncertain future while they are told that billions of Naira is being recovered from looters. Many go to bed without food, yet they are told of billions of Naira being returned. Our schools, roads and hospitals remain in frightening state, unchanged by the anti-corruption songs. Because Buhari has neglected his core mandate of managing the economy, our manufacturers are shutting down and sacking workers. Over 100,000 have lost their jobs in the construction industry alone in the last six months. Over 120,000 have been sacked in the oil and gas sector. The number of people sacked at Airtel has jumped to over 300. Retrenchment of Nigerians at Virgin Atlantic has also hit about 150. So many companies are downsizing. The online stores are also badly affected.

Inclement economic environment has reduced industrial production across the country. Access to forex and frustrating economic policies are big issues. I have been making so much noise about the gale of retrenchment across the country for a number of weeks without a proactive response from this administration government. The embarrassment of fuel scarcity in an oil-exporting country has also continued for the 8thweek running across the country, with petrol selling for as high as N400 per litre in some states. A country that claims to be broke has just paid out N407 billion to fuel marketers as subsidy claims; a subsidy that never gets to the consumers.
This economy is in a mess.

We have never had it so bad. Virtually all economic indices are on the negative side. Inflation is at a level we have never experienced before. Our GDP is sliding. Industrial capacity utilization is dwindling. Small and medium scale firms are folding up. The capital market is crumbling. Unemployment is at a frightening level. A large number of unemployed youth is no doubt a time bomb that can explode at any time and consume this country. Nigeria’s crude oil production is falling. Last month alone, crude oil production fell by 250,000 barrels per day (bpd), making the country lose its status as Africa’s top oil producer to Angola. Nigeria recorded the biggest drop in output in November among its peers in OPEC. In the midst of all these calamities, all we hear is “war against corruption.”

The former President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Remi Bello recently spoke for many, when he said, “significant disruptions, distortions and dislocations have been created in the business environment as a consequence of the restrictions on the use of export proceeds, denial of access to foreign exchange market for many products, including critical inputs needed in manufacturing and service sectors, prohibition of cash lodgments into domiciliary accounts, tight exchange controls and administrative allocation of foreign exchange “which are typically characterised by lack of transparency, corruption and considerable abuse.”

The former LCCI boss added: “The economy is now faced with a scenario where there is much pressure to move funds out of the economy than moving funds into the economy. This can be likened to a run on a system. This is a typical scenario which a confidence crisis would create. Future international trade transactions, financial and investment relations are now at risk. Round tripping of forex has continued to flourish because of the disparity in the exchange rate between the official and parallel market. Inflow of forex into the two autonomous sources has been adversely affected. It is worthy of note that Diaspora funds into the country was about $23 billion in 2013.

The current policy will discourage the inflow of such funds which normally help to strengthen the supply side of the foreign exchange.”
No doubt, the sovereign risk perception of Nigeria has worsened over the last three months. Several credit lines for Nigerian investors have been cut off following the numerous cases of payment default to foreign suppliers. This forex policy is stifling. “Even reputable blue chip companies have defaulted for the first time in the several years of business relationship with their foreign suppliers. Considerable damage has been done to the image of many companies and the country in the international trade and investment arena. A major confidence crisis has been created for investors,” noted the LCCI.

The position of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory chapter on Buhari’s “war against corruption” and our decaying health infrastructure is also instructive here. Dr. Isaac Akerele, President, of the association who spoke recently on behalf of the association said: “While we are not against the anti-corruption war, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to invest greatly in health sector. Investment in health is the only way his government can be seen as working. It is not enough to fight corruption alone. There is urgent need to upgrade our facilities.”

Buhari has mopped up and locked up huge amount of money from the system through the Treasury Single Account. To just lock up the money is an archaic economic policy. The money is idle in the treasury of the CBN. This is quality money that should be expeditiously used to reflate the economy by investing in infrastructure and getting contractors back on site. Rather than do these, all we hear is the war against corruption while the economy degenerates. Can Buhari, in all honesty, point to a single sector of the economy that he has positively impacted on in the last six months? I don’t think so.

His legion of sycophants who go about saying ‘there is no money’ should please shut up. Almost N1.5 trillion has accrued to this administration in the last seven months from the monthly revenue shared by all the tiers of government. So, what did Buhari do with all the money? How has he impacted on our health, education, roads, housing and general welfare in the last six months? All we hear is “war against corruption” while the country slides. He has shown great ineptitude in the war against Boko Haram. Over 1500 people have been killed under his watch in the last six months.

It seems the offices of anti-graft agencies are now domiciled in the Presidency. Buhari has taken direct control of these agencies at the expense of running our economy. The other day, he was directly giving instruction to the DSS to arrest those indicted by a probe panel. Buhari should resign as the President of this country and take up the position of EFCC chairman, so as to fully concentrate on running the anti-graft agency. I strongly believe that he would perform very well as the Chairman of EFCC than as the President of Nigeria.

Thereafter, we can look for a President to run our economy and wage proactive war against unemployment, underdevelopment, poverty, disease, hunger, malnutrition, insecurity and other challenges ravaging our country. There is nothing wrong with fighting corruption but managing the Nigerian economy and providing security for the people require much more than running after treasury looters. Turning around Nigeria requires much more that fighting corruption. A man cannot give what he does not have. The truth be told; Nigeria has not experienced any change in the last seven months. Pain, blood and tears are still very much with us. There is too much suffering in our land. Nothing has changed.

Still on Compensation for THISDAY after Terror Attack
I got so many text messages last week following the revelation that THISDAY Newspaper Group was compensated by the federal government following the bombing of its Abuja office by Boko Haram terrorists. Some queried why public fund was used to compensate THISDAY while others said the compensation should not have been drawn from the money voted for the war against Boko Haram. Some others said THISDAY ought to have provided insurance cover for its buildings and equipment. The standard in sane societies is for government to properly compensate victims of terror attacks, whether individuals or corporate bodies.

There is nothing unusual for public funds to be used for this. The cost centre from which the fund is drawn is immaterial here. Let’s look at the United States after the 9/11 terrorists attacks. The “September 11th Victim Compensation Fund” was swiftly created by an Act of Congress, (the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act) to compensate the victims of the attack (or their families) in exchange for their agreement not to sue the airline corporations involved. About $7 billion was awarded to 97% of the families; the average payout was $1.8 million. Destroyed private businesses also benefited from the compensation.

Also, “The September 11th Fund” was created by the New York Community Trust and the United Way of New York City in response to the destruction of the World Trade Center. This was a private sector-led initiative. The Fund collected $534 million from more than two million donors and distributed a total of 559 grants totaling $528 million. Grants from the Fund provided cash assistance, counseling and other services to the families of those killed in the 9/11 attacks, the injured and those displaced from their homes or jobs. The Fund also provided grants to affected businesses and community organizations. So, those querying why THISDAY newspaper Group was compensated should learn from the succour provided by the United States Government after 9/11.

Just this year, the United States promised to make “condolence payments” to families of the victims killed in a deadly American airstrike on a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. The US will also pay for the repair of the hospital. The US mistakenly hit the hospital while attacking Taliban terrorists.

This country also has a lot to learn from the United Kingdom in terms of compensation for victims of terror attacks. Britain has a standby body for compensating victims of terror attacks called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). After the 7 July 2005 London bombings which resulted in the death of 52 people, the CICA (formerly called the British Criminal Injuries Compensation Board) swiftly paid out billions of Pounds as compensation to victims. So, in the light of persistent Boko Haram attacks, what stops this country from having a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority? This is food for thought.

The CBN Should Stop Squandering Our Forex
Somebody should stop the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further squandering our limited foreign exchange. Our apex bank has been doing this for some years now, by selling USD to banks and bureau de change at “official rate”. At the last intervention in the forex market, the CBN sold one USD at around N197 while the market price then was almost N240 to one USD. Yesterday, our Naira exchanged at N270 to a USD, thus increasing the gap in the exchange rate between the official and parallel market to about N67. Round tripping of forex has continued to flourish because of this huge disparity in the two exchange rates. This “official rate” is simply a paddy paddy arrangement involving government, banks, bureau de change and the CBN. If Buhari is genuinely interested in turning around this country, USD from the CBN should be sold at market price. By this, I mean if for example, the parallel market rate is N275 to one USD, the CBN should intervene at around N273 to one USD. With this, forex round-trippers will die a natural death. This is the only way our battered Naira can appreciate.

Boko Haram kills seven in suicide attack

Boko Haram kills seven in suicide attack
    

The Nigeria Army (file photo)

Boko Haram gunmen have mounted their first attacks since Nigeria’s government declared them “technically” defeated, killing seven people in a raid and suicide bombing, residents told AFP Wednesday.

The attacks happened on Tuesday in a village in Gwoza, Borno State, near Sambisa Forest, where the army is looking to flush out remnants of the sect.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who has made crushing the rebellion a priority, in December said a sustained counter-offensive had reduced the group’s ability to strike effectively.

The first attack happened in Izgeki village, said one resident, who gave his name as Isyaku, from the town of Mubi in neighbouring Adamawa state.

“I received information from my relatives who fled the attack… that some Boko Haram gunmen on bicycles attacked Izgeki across the river from Izghe on Tuesday morning where they killed two people.

“The attack forced villagers to cross the river into Izghe. The gunmen pursued them. One of them who had a suicide belt on him blew himself up near the market, killing five people.”

Izghe was previously attacked in February 2014 where more than 100 people were killed as the rebels torched homes, opened fire and set off explosives.

Thousands of residents fled the attack into Adamawa towards the town of Madagali and elsewhere but following the army’s recapture of territory, some managed to return and begin reconstruction.

Izghe is in the district of Gwoza, which Boko Haram captured in August 2014 and which the group’s shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau declared the centre of its self-styled caliphate.

Ayuba Chibok, an elder in the town of the same name, said there was also an attack in the nearby village of Nchiha at about 10pm on Tuesday.

“Luckily no-one was hurt but they (Boko Haram gunmen) looted food and burnt a large part of the village,” he added. Residents managed to flee.

Boko Haram kidnapped some 276 girls from their school in Chibok in April 2014 in a daring raid that captured world attention. Fifty seven escaped soon afterwards but 219 are still being held.

FG to expand NYSC scheme – Minister

FG to expand NYSC scheme – Minister    

The Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, has said the Federal Government plans to expand the National Youth Service Corps scheme to include skill acquisition and entrepreneurial training.

Dalong said this on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the Lagos State NYSC orientation camp in the Iyana Ipaya area of the state.

He said, “Apart from the basic orientation programme, the NYSC scheme should also move into including professional and enterprising programmes to support and motivate those who would not want to embrace public services in the country.

“After the mandatory one-year service, the Federal Government is planning an extension, to professionally train interested corps members in skill acquisition, enterprising and professional programmes.

“Corps members with keen interest would be retained and some financial token given to them as start-up capital in furtherance of their skill.

“This is because due to our research, we found out that people abandon school due to uncertainty of the future. Hence, we believe this would help reduce the unemployed graduate ratio and curtail pressure on white-collar job as a means to win the war against poverty.”

The minister explained that graduates who received addition training after the mandatory one-year service would be provided with a start-up capital at the end of the training.

He also said that the Federal Government would not succumb to agitations from some quarters to scrap the NYSC scheme as its merits outweighed the disadvantages.

According to him, the scheme has not only enhanced the socio-cultural and ethnic integration in the country, it has also promoted national unity.

“We cannot dismiss the gains of the NYSC scheme in integrating Nigeria; I will stand firmly for the sustenance of the system, to continue in its capacity-building of Nigeria citizens because, it is an indispensable aspect of diversifying our culture,” he said.

Dalong expressed satisfaction with the state of the Lagos NYSC orientation camp, and thanked the Lagos State government for its support for the scheme.

He, however, stressed that the inadequate facilities at the NYSC orientation camp was one of the challenges of the scheme.

He said, “Nigeria did not plan to have the number of graduates in this present dispensation. If we had planned effectively, the concept of NYSC camping would have started with a permanent and effective structure.

“The visionaries of the scheme did not anticipate the lifespan of the scheme after the Civil War; the implementation of the scheme was a strategy to mobilise and integrate Nigerians together, hence, the huge number of graduates each year has put much pressure on the facilities, calling for constant renovation and upgrading.”

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, expressed gratitude to the minister for his visit and promised that his administration would do its best to uplift the NYSC scheme towards the economic growth and development of the country.

BREAKING: NFF’s Head of Protocol, Abubakar shot dead

BREAKING: NFF’s Head of Protocol, Abubakar shot dead

    

Ibrahim Abubakar

Head of Protocol, Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Abubakar, was shot dead by armed robbers in his Abuja house in the early hours of Wednesday, reports reaching the PUNCH say.

In a tweet on the twitter handle of the NFF, @thenff, it was stated that the body had been taken to Kaduna, his home town for burial according to Islamic rites.