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Maina: Senate seeks sack of Malami, Danbazau, others

The Senate Tuesday mandated its joint committee on Public Service, Anti-Corruption, Interior and Judiciary to investigate the circumstances surrounding the controversial return of former Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina to the country.

The committee is also to determine how Maina was reinstated into the civil service and handed enhanced promotion to the position of director.

The upper chamber said that development became even curious especially when Maina is on the wanted list of the country for alleged fraudulent activities.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance raised by Senator Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi South)

Misau said that the circumstances of Misau’s return and reinstatement into the civil service had become huge embarrassment to the country.

Many of the senators who contributed to the debate asked the Senate to resolve to ask President Muhammadu Buhari to sack those linked to the development.

The lawmakers singled out Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and the Interior Minister, Abdulrahmane Danzabau as two public officials that should be hammered by President Buhari for their alleged roles in the return and reinstatement of Maina.

Misau said, “Right from day before, you will see the story of somebody who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We read how the man who was declared wanted and was said to be abroad, came back to Nigeria miraculously.

“Going by the newspaper publications, somebody wanted by the EFCC, left the country for so many years. He was dismissed from the service. He was out for a long time, but smuggled into the service. He left the country as an assistant director. Today, he is a director.

“We even heard that he goes about with police escort. I wonder how a government that claims to be fighting corruption will be involved in a matter like this. This is a big embarrassment for this country. The people around the President are not helping matters. It appears that the President is the only one talking about corruption. Other people around him are protecting corrupt people.

“The AGF was mentioned and other people were mentioned. We investigated this case in the 7th Assembly. I am calling on the Senate to investigate this case again.”

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye in his submission said:

“I remember what happened then. It got to a point when the former President of the Senate, David Mark, told the former President Goodluck Jonathan to choose between Abdulrasheed Maina and loyalty to the country. It got so bad that Maina had over 30 police officers attached to him.

“It got so bad that he was always on the front roll whenever the former President travelled. At some point, we thought that he was being protected. I remember one of us was blackmailed and called names. He was accused of taking billions as bribes. Today, that lawmaker was cleared and he is here.

“Some principalities in power then ferried Maina to neighbouring countries. There is a procedure when it comes to promotion in the civil service. This is an insult on the part of civil servants who have worked so hard.

“As a member of APC, it is a sad moment. We cannot say that we want to fight corruption and have this approach. Jesus Christ said it is difficult for a rich man to pass through the eyes of a needle.

“This saddens me and I am sure it saddens all of us. I am glad that following the outrage from the public, the President acted swiftly. We read in the papers that the rules of the civil service were bypassed.

“It appears there are people in this government who want the President to fail. Every patriot and member of APC in this house must stand out and ensure that the President does not fail.

“Papers have reported that two Ministers were involved. Those Ministers must be brought to justice. The President must ensure that those Ministers are sacked. Corruption is not only about stealing money. Incompetence too is another form of corruption.

“I hope that this Senate will not forget its past resolutions on Maina. On it, we still stand. He must be made to stand and face the law. He is not above the law. Steven Oronsaye was accused. He did not leave the country. He stayed back and cleared his name. Maina must do same.

Senator Kabiru Marafa said:

“I want to appreciate the person who brought this motion by exposing some dubious people in government. No family can boast of having 100 per cent good people. APC is not an exception. We cannot attribute everything to the President. He should be commended for rising to the occasion.

“Reinstating Maina is a crime against Nigerians. We should approve a full blown investigation into what happened. We must not allow this thing to go unnoticed.

Senator Atai Idoko on his part said:

“We are looking at the symptoms; we are not looking at the cause. Maina is too small to go back to office. Somebody brought him back to the office. Maina is too small. He is not the issue. We should look at those who returned Maina.

“As we were told, the person who approved this thing is the AGF. The simplest thing the President could do was to terminate the appointment of Maina. That is not the issue. The AGF brought him back. The AGF has a history of doing things like this. The President should tell us what he will do to the AGF.

Senator Albert Bassey Akpan said:

“The Senate must investigate and bring to book any person who wants to bring this country to disrepute. We will stand with the Senate to ensure that the right thing is done.

Senator Tayo Alasoadura on his own cautioned:

“The President has set up a committee to investigate the matter. We should not call names of people who have not been indicted. We should not duplicate. If the executive has set up a committee, we should not do the same thing. We must not set up committees every time.

Senator Dino Melaye said:

“The whole unfolding affair is pathetic. Should we continue in sin and ask grace to abound? The AGF time after time has abused his office. Maina did not get himself back. We should talk about the integrity of the AGF and his office. If the number one law officer is breaking the law, where is the hope?

“The AGF started with the forgery case against Saraki and Ekweremadu. Something happened we have not noticed. Two public officers had issues and the AGF chose to support the Inspector-General of Police against Senator Isah Hamman Misau. Today, it is Senator Isah versus the Federal Government.

“Tomorrow, if I commit any offence against the friend to the AGF, I will be arraigned. We should not encourage the setting up of investigative committees. The President is surrounded by worms who are bent on destroying the country.

“There are so many committees that have been set up by the President and the resolutions of those reports may not be implemented until after rapture. Enough is enough. We cannot have this forever. This is wrong. The Senate needs to do something.

“We must recommend to the President that the AGF has erred in discharging the affairs of his office. If we do not check it, the AGF will plunge us into trouble.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki asked the joint committee to do a thorough job.

Chairmen and deputies of the four committees were appointed to form an adhoc committee to investigate the issue.

Saraki concluded: “We are all very disturbed. I want the committee to work hard and bring this matter back to us. We need to investigate the breech in our security and how the anti-corruption war is going.”

October 24, 2017
Buhari to Jonathan: Fuel now available, even without paying N1.3trn for subsidy

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday hit back at former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying our achievements are there for all to see.

Buhari also reminded the former president that unlike his time when they chunk out between 800 billion and 1.3 trillion Naira as ‘subsidy’ yearly in their time, without making the products available even at regulated prices, this Administration is not paying any subsidy, yet the product is available and queues have disappeared from the filling stations.

Buhari therefore posited that by now Nigerians

Nigerians are brilliant and discerning, and won’t be taking in by the former president’s claims.

Jonathan last week took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of lies and propaganda, saying “My government was severely criticised for increasing the pump price of petroleum from N67 to N97 at a time that global crude price was going for over 100 dollars.

“The pump price was later reduced to N87 when the price of crude oil dropped and they attacked us that it was supposed to be lower.

“Those who criticised my administration are not talking again now that the global crude oil is about 53 dollars per barrel and the pump price of petrol is N143,” Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan’s spokesman, quoted him in a statement.

But the president punctured his claims with facts and figures at the Nigeria Government Forum (NGF), Media Conference For media handlers of state’s chief executive governors with the theme: “Governors Public Perception: Changing the Narrative Agenda”

Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said “Those who accused this Administration of ‘propaganda and lies’ in the fuel supply sector, for example, did not tell Nigerians that whereas they paid between 800 billion and 1.3 trillion Naira as ‘subsidy’ yearly in their time, without making the products available even at regulated prices, this Administration is not paying any subsidy, yet all products are currently available at competitive prices and fuel queues are now history.

“In their time, they paid subsidy of 3.7 billion Naira DAILY in 2011; 2.2 billion Naira DAILY in 2012 and 2013, and 2.5 billion Naira DAILY in 2014, all for products that were never available.”

Describing disinformation and fake news, as ”evil twins” in the public space, the president said that they have become potent weapons in the hands of opposition, expressing worry that they will be the biggest obstacle as the 2019 general elections.

He said, “Let me be straight: This is the most difficult time for anyone to find himself or herself in your position.

Why? Because in addition to working with a tight budget, you face the double tragedy of disinformation and fake news, buoyed to a large extent by the advent of Social Media.

Never before have these ”evil twins” of disinformation and fake news permeated the public space as they have now and, make no mistakes about it, they have become potent weapons in the hands of naysayers.

Sadly, they will be the biggest obstacle facing you from now till the 2019 general elections, whether you believe it or not.

“In recent days, you have all seen the dangers posed, not just to you but even the general public, by those who have chosen to deploy disinformation and fake news as a weapon of choice.

First, they created unnecessary panic in the society by claiming that Monkey Pox resulted from the Federal Government’s deliberate injection of people with the virus in certain states.

We had hardly dispelled that when they claimed that the military, which is going beyond the call of duty to support the civilian populace, has been injecting school children with Monkey Pox, forcing many parents across a number of states to withdraw their children from school for days. Imagine the implication of this on the affected children’s education and health.

“Now, the disinformation is that ahead of the forthcoming election in Anambra, the government has been providing IPOB uniform to some people to cause mayhem, so they can in turn blame IPOB, and that many roads leading to Anambra will be closed before and after the elections, hence they advised Anambra residents to stay at home and not come out for the election.

This is all disinformation, pure and simple. There is no such plan.

“Now, going hand in hand with disinformation and fake news is the new strategy of the naysayers to label the achievements of the government of the day as ‘propaganda and lies’ in order to discredit them.

It is for you, at your level, to use concrete facts to showcase the achievements of your principals. Nigerians are brilliant and discerning, and won’t be taken in by such deliberate denigration. But they also need facts and figures.

“For our Administration, our achievements are there for all to see. We are delivering in the broad areas that formed the plank of our policies: Security, fight against corruption and the economy, which includes the massive provision of infrastructure, ease of doing business and agriculture, just to mention a few.”

Earlier, the DG NGF, Mr. Bayo Okauru said the workshop is to help build the capacity of media handlers of the chief executives.

The Director of General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Garuba Abari, describe media handling as the key ingredient in bringing out the messages of what the Chief executives are doing.

He said citizens must know why things are happening and why there are not happening, describing the workshop as an opportunity to interact and exchange ideas.

He also said it is opportunity to get feedback on what government is doing.

Read Also: Attack on APC govt: Presidency hits back at Jonathan

October 23, 2017
Jonathan’s government most corrupt in Nigerian history – Buhari support group

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to come under heavy attack from supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari over his comment that the Buhari government and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power based on lies and propaganda.

Ones of the President’s support groups, the Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) yesterday reminded the former President that he ran the most corrupt government in the history of the country and has nothing concrete except monumental looting of public resources to show for his six years rule.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Hon. Austin Braimoh, and Secretary, Chief Cassidy Madueke and made available to The Nation in Abuja, the group said it was unbecoming for the former President to paint the Buhari in bad light when Nigerians overwhelmingly rejected his government during the 2015 elections for alleged incompetence and running a government without a clear cut direction.

The statement reads in part: “to us, it was uncharitable for the former President to refer to APC as running a government of “lies and propaganda”, while at the same time attempting to impress Nigerians that he ran a faultless government with time tested achievements.

“It is unbecoming of former President Jonathan to speak of President Buhari’s government in bad light, even when majority of Nigerians home and abroad believed he ran the worst and most corrupt government ever.

“We submit that the former President should always remember that Nigerians rejected him overwhelmingly during the 2015 Presidential election on the alleged incompetent and directionless government he ran, all through, a reason he should avoid being brazenly judgemental.

“Indeed, the former President ought to be in the dock by now, answering charges on a welter of proven allegations bothering on phenomenal corruption, ineptitude, utter lack of focus and vision, all which combined to make Nigeria a pariah state under him.

“Former President Jonathan cannot claim to be a saint at this point in time when indeed, huge amounts of stolen funds running into trillions of Naira were recovered from men and women, who served in his government, including the former First Lady.

“Nigerians still remember vividly that looting of treasury was an art under the past government of Jonathan, while terrorism gained momentum uncontrollably as government officials under his watch pilfered from monies earmarked to fight terrorism without remorse

“No one is in doubt that Nigeria fell into the abyss under the Jonathan administration with a completely wreaked economy, which eventually gave way to a gripping recession that took ingenuity and wisdom from Present Buhari’s government to resolve.

“The Jonathan’s administration almost nailed the future of Nigeria, dealing a fatal blow on the system with a fraudulently contrived privatization agenda, in which only his cronies and henchmen were, mostly beneficiaries.

“In clearing the rot in the power sector, President Buhari did a rescue operation, which lifted power generation from an all time low of 2, 633MW by 2015 to 7,001MW now.

“To us, Nigerians are grateful that the achievements of the President Buhari administration, in a period of just two years, has surpassed those of the entire 6 years of the Goodluck Jonathan era.”

“We, therefore, allude to the ability of President Buhari to infuse a sense of transparency probity and accountability in the management of the national economy which has helped to curb looting, return stability to the Foreign Exchange Market while external reserve has continue to be on the sharp rise.

“It is also gratifying for Nigerians that the policy of diversification of economy has revived the agricultural sector, leaving farmers to smile to the banks amid the prospects of growth of agro-allied industries in Nigeria

“In all, we, as a group, give kudos to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the recoveries of monies and properties from Jonathan’s alleged group of mother looters, appealing to the anti-graft agency not to relent efforts in ensuring the prosecution of those found culpable”.

October 22, 2017
Jonathan, IBB hold closed door meeting in Minna

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida Wednesday held discussions regarding the forthcoming People’s Democratic Party (PDP) convention in Minna, Niger state.

The meeting which was held behind closed door meeting at the Uphill Residence of Babangida went on for hours.

Former president Jonathan who was accompanied by Senator Nimi Barigha Amange arrived the Niger state capital at about 10.00am in a black GMC bullet proof SUV jeep with registration number ABJ 961ER with eight other vehicles on his convoy.

However, none of the people who accompanied him were allowed into the meeting, as they were all relegated and entertained in a room within the Uphill mansion.

The meeting between the two former leaders which began a few minutes after 10.00am did not end until about 12.14pm.

After the meeting, former president Jonathan declined to speak to journalists saying that there was nothing to talk about as the visit was a private visit, “gentlemen please I am on a private visit, thank you.” I have not seen General Babangida since he returned from medical vacation and felt it was the right time to do so”.

He further said that they were retired politicians and nobody should be bothered about what they do, “we are retired politicians”, he said before he drove off in his convoy.

The Uphill Residence of former President Babangida have been a beehive of activities in the past few weeks as party bigwigs and Chairmanship Aspirants have been consulting the elder statesman regarding the forthcoming National convention of the PDP slated for December.

Former Ogun state Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of African Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, former minister for education during the Babangida regime, Professor Tunde Adeniran were among the visitors.

October 18, 2017
Jonathan canvasses delegate option for PDP

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to adopt the statutory delegates in the party’s next constitution amendment.

He stressed that the review was necessary for the internal selection process in states and local governments.

Jonathan gave the advice while receiving in his Abuja office a delegation of former State House of Assembly Speakers who got elected on the platform of the PDP.

The former President observed that one of the major challenges facing the PDP was the election of candidates into national and party office at the highest level.

According to him, selection process can hardly been crisis free, but that crisis would be better managed if the number of statutory delegates could be reviewed up to 70 percent.

The ex-President cautioned against one or two persons sometimes influence the decision of delegates through inducement.

He called for the inclusion of persons who have served at certain levels, including ex governors, ministers, lawmakers and others in the list of statutory delegates.

“That is the area we have not been able to manage properly that is still creating problem for us.

“I believe the next constitution amendment should advocate for that area to be properly examined.

“From my own experience, if that area is strengthened the party will be okay and nobody will complain at the end of primaries. If you loss, you loss gallantly and you support the person that wins”, Jonathan said.

The ex-President advised PDP members not to be intimidated by the anti-corruption war being waged by the present administration.

He said, “There are stories of corruption. I say this will always be there because if you read the statement of the organisers of the first military coup, their statement was attributed to corruption.

“After that all the coup plotters it is always corruption. It will continue to be but one day we will get out of it. Most nations passed through this stage of life.

“The only thing I plead of you is not to politicise certain basic things. Issues of corruption, yes, it is worrisome. Nobody will encourage it.

“The society must come up with reform to reduce it, if you cannot eliminate it totally. No Society is 100 per cent free of some of these vices but the approach you go about it is key.

“You may approach it in a way that it will become detrimental to the society. It should be done in a way that will enhance the development of the nation. So we encourage people to do well”.

He described the PDP as the strongest party in the land, saying the party lost the 2015 elections due to certain reasons.

“People maybe writing left and right, at the appropriate time, some of these things would be properly addressed because of history.

“There are certain things you don’t write now because it would be misunderstood as if you are playing politics..

“After some years, five, six or eight years, when the beneficiaries have left, you can state it in writing and people will not fight with you”.

He encouraged members to continue to be loyal to the party, unlike those playing “politics of the stomach” by defecting to other parties.

Jonathan insisted that t PDP did well during its 16-year- rule, going by the number of reforms the party introduced and implemented.

September 28, 2017
‘Buhari has done what Jonathan failed to do for N’Delta’

Former Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr. Clever Ikisipo, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his passion to develop the Niger Delta region particularly Bayelsa State.

Ikisikpo, a kinsman to former President Goodluck Jonathan, said Buhari had done what Jonathan’s administration failed to do for his people.

He spoke at the weekend when students’ representatives from Bayelsa East District, consisting of Ogbia, Nembe and Brass local government areas, conferred on him an award for his oustanding leadership qualities in Kolo area of the state.

He said Buhari ensured that some persons from Bayelsa were given a licence to build refinery and were awarded oil blocks adding that other developmental projects were being undertaken in the state and other parts of the region.

Ikisipo, an erstwhile two-time member of the House of Representatives said: ”If I say we should appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari, people will ask, why should we appreciate him. You may not know why we should thank God for making Buhari the President of Nigeria.

”Today, what our own could not give to us, Buhari has given to us. An Ogbia man, Dr. Eruani Azibapu, has been given a licence to build a private refinery. We had an opportunity given to the people of Ogbia, Nembe and Brass to own oil blocks in the past, did we get any? No.

”But Buhari has given one of us, a woman, an oil block. That is why I am saying we should appreciate Buhari. He is doing well for the Niger Delta people. Because if the refinery is built today, it will take not less than 10,000 workers. Will Brass, Ogbia and Nembe, not get up to 3,000 workers there? Then, would you not be empowered?

”So, are we not supposed to appreciate Buhari? The oil block we could not get is to be given to one us. If oil block is given to an Ogbia, Nembe or Brass person, are we not going to get one of the Alakijas, are we not going to get one of the Danjumas. Oil block is one the things that make those people billionaires. Today, Danjuma can give somebody N2bn without batting an eyelid.

”Finally, I want to also say we need to appreciate Buhari for fighting corruption and bringing positive change in the country. My friend, one of the serving senators from Bayelsa State, asked me, so, if Buhari had not taken over government, so we would not know the quantum of amount coming into Bayelsa State.”

Ikisikpo regretted that when the Ijaw had the opportunity to develop the region, they misused it.

For instance, he said that some of the presidential aides from Bayelsa squandered the commonwealth of the people through excessive greed and reckless spendings and made it impossible for the region to feel the impact of governance.

He said: ”I want to tell you some bitter truth. There is an adage that says, ‘before you remove the speck in someone’s eyes, first remove the log in your own eyes.’

”God gave us an elephant but we allowed the elephant to get rotten. Some may not get the adage perhaps. If we had judiciously used that elephant properly, I think by now, Bayelsa East would have become a ‘small Dubai’.

”But we misused the opportunity. Through that opportunity, we could not get oil blocks, through that opportunity; we could not get even modular refineries in Bayelsa East.

“Bayelsa East is the first place to produce crude oil in Nigeria, but go to Oloibiri where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity, the place is a thick forest, where you can kill the biggest animal on earth. Is it supposed to be so?

”When I entered the House of Representatives in 2003, my first motion was how to make Oloibiri a place that would be conducive to every Ogbia person, every Nembe person and every Brass person. I moved a motion that the Federal Government should build an oil museum there. A beautiful resolution was given, but nothing happened.

”At the House of Reps, the first position given to me was deputy chairman, House Committee on Appropriation. The former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, was the chairman.

“I told him in our first budget meetings that what I wanted was the Yenegwe-Okaki-Kolo-Nembe-Brass Road. When we met with the Budget Office, they asked if the road was a federal government road. I said yes. And they said, go and bring documents. We got the documents at Federal Ministry of Works and presented them.

”That was a project that was started during Melford Okilo’s administration, but was abandoned and went into oblivion. Today, the project has been forsaken. Like I said, we were given an elephant, if the elephant that we were given, had used the opportunity very well, that road would have moved up to Brass today.”

September 16, 2017
Makarfi: No rift between Jonathan, Dickson

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi has dismissed the alleged rift between former President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.

Makarfi made the clarification on Tuesday while receiving the party’s Executive Committee members of the Bayelsa chapter of the PDP at the party’s Abuja secretariat.

Recent media reports indicated that the alleged rift between Jonathan and Dickson was threatening the stability of the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP.

Makarfi told the Bayelsa delegation that he had discussed the alleged rift with Jonathan and that the former President had assured him that the reports were the handiwork of mischief makers for the purpose of creating crisis in the chapter.

The party chair warned the leadership of the party in the state against yielding to the antics mischief makers who he said, were out to distabilise the party in the state.

Makarfi said, “Don’t allow yourselves to be fragmented by rumours. Your executive has been ratified by the convention and that is final. There is no need to pander to rumour of an impending sack of your executive”.

The party chairman however admitted that a certain group of people filed a petition against the Bayelsa Governor and the executive committee of the state chapter but that he had dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.

“Immediately the rumour broke out, the former President called me to dismiss that rumour and he said there was no iota of truth in the said petition against the Bayesla executive”, Makarfi said.

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the Bayelsa chapter, Mr. Moses Cleopas, described Jonathan as a respected national leader who is held in high esteem by the people of the state.

“The governor is our leader in the state and the two of them have been relating well. There is no feud between Jonathan and Dickson. I can confirm that. Some people are just envious of the peace in Bayelsa PDP”, Cleopas said.

September 12, 2017
Jonathan left crumbled economy – Presidency

The Presidency on Monday replied former President Goodluck Jonathan over the state of the Nigerian economy at the end of his administration in May 2015.

Jonathan had claimed at the weekend that he handed over a healthy economy to President Muhammadu Buhari.

But the Presidency said that the economy President Buhari inherited was already crumbled.

In a statement titled ‘Your Excellency Dr Jonathan, this is the economy you left behind, in case you have forgotten’, the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “With due respects to the former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, these are the facts about the economy you left behind, in case you have forgotten.

“I hope this will help to erase the wrong statement credited to you at your party, the PDP Convention at the Eagle Square last weekend that you handed to President Buhari a robustly healthy economy.

“To the same extent, this should also help to erase yet another false statement by Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, the Caretaker Chairman of the party, to the effect that under the previous administration there was money but now things are very hard.

“Let me start by reasserting an obvious statement, which is that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was handed an economy ravaged by years of mismanagement and corruption.

“It is understandable that Dr Jonathon kept his comments short, because a cursory look at any sector clearly indicated that he and his government presided over the most monumental and tragic economic mismanagement recorded in our national history.

“The oil sector boomed under his tenure, with oil prices as high as US$ 120 and peace in the Nigeria Delta. Nigeria earned unprecedented dollar revenues. Sadly, that is where the story turns sour. There is nothing to show for the revenues earned, no major capital project was completed, neither power generation, road development, rail or agriculture benefited from the windfall earnings. Rather the administration presided over the diversion of oil revenues on a such a massive scale, that even without the protection now accorded to Whistle blowers, the   then Central Bank Governor blew not only a whistle but a trumpet.

“He was hurriedly shown the door. Meanwhile, the acquisition by public officers and their cohorts of private jets, luxury yachts and the accumulation of expensive property portfolios world-wide continued unabated. Indeed the President once celebrated having the largest number of private jets, whilst our youth languished without jobs, our fields stood idle and our factories began the lay-off of workers.

“Government simply reticulated oil revenue through personal spending by corrupt leaders,   wasteful expenses and salaries. This was done rather than investing in what would grow the economy. Economies grow due to capital investment in assets like seaports, airports, power plants, railways, roads and housing. Nigeria cannot record a single major infrastructural project in the last 10 years. In short the money was mismanaged.

“Such was the looting that even the goose that was laying the golden egg was being systematically starved. The direct contractual costs of oil produced, in the form of cash calls, remained unpaid. The incoming, President Buhari’s welcome from the oil majors included demand for US$6Bn owed by Nigeria for oil that had already been sold or stolen.” he said

He pointed out that at the inception of the current administration, 21 States were unable to meet their salary bills and the spectre of workers arrears had commenced.

“The PDP solution was the raid of the Ecological Fund and selectively grants N2bn each to the PDP States. It was only aggressive borrowing by the Ministry of Finance under Dr Okonjo- Iweala that prevented Federal Government from also owing salaries. The economic wisdom of borrowing to pay recurrent bills is a questionable one, particularly as those paid would have included over 45,000 that have subsequently been removed by the Buhari led administration as ghost workers.

“It also included the lavish costs of chartering private jets, first class travel   and other wasteful acts that have been eliminated under this administration.

“To compound the problem the government was borrowing heavily and owed contractors, and international oil companies. When this government took over we had accumulated debt back to the level it was before the Paris Club Debt Forgiveness.

“All these factors were building up to Nigeria heading for a major crisis if the price of oil fell. Nigeria did not have fiscal buffers to withstand an oil shock.

“The oil shock should and could have been foreseen. When Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS crisis started, it was clear that the United States of America wanted to cut off funds to terror groups by crashing the price of oil. When America granted permission for exploration of oil on land ( Shale) the warning signs were evident, but these were ignored by Nigeria’s economic managers.” he said

The spokesman added “In summary Nigeria earned a lot of money when oil prices were high but there is nothing to show for it. Now oil prices have fallen we are suffering.

“What could they have done differently? They could have begun doing the very things that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is doing so painfully now:

“Fight corruption, Sanitise the huge salary bill by eliminating payroll fraud, Reduce wasteful expenses like First Class Travel and Private jets, Encourage State Governments to reform their spending and build savings or investments, Increase spending on capital projects especially on infrastructure needed to make Nigerian businesses competitive and create jobs, Block the leakages that allowed government revenues to be siphoned into private hands, Focus on key sectors ( apart from oil) that can create jobs and or generate revenue such as Agriculture, Solid Minerals and Manufacturing.”

“If these things had been done when the oil price was as high as US$120 per barrel, Nigeria would not be in the current predicament.

“We would not be suffering now if we had no cash reserves but we had power, or a rail system, or good roads, or good housing. But we don’t have money and we don’t have the projects either.

“Now that the oil has fallen below those levels, it is very difficult to do what is needed but they must be done to save Nigeria. There is no other way if we want to be honest.

“If PDP were still in power they would have continued deceiving people, by borrowing to fund stealing and wastage and the problem would have simply been postponed for future generations to face.

“One of former President Jonathon’s specific boasts is that dollar under him was N180 compared to today. With such a line of argument it is clear why we are where we are. With oil prices as high as $120 the average inflow of dollars each month was high, making it easy to support cheap dollars. However with oil price plummeting as low as $28, the fundamental laws of supply and demand dictated that the currency would need to adjust, since oil was the sole export. It is instructive to note that virtually every major oil exporter has witnessed currency adjustments with the fall in oil price.

“The Buhari administration has taken a long term strategic view of supporting a stable naira on both the supply and demand sides. President Buhari has driven Import substitution to reduce demand for dollars to buy things we can produce thereby creating thousands of rural jobs in rice and other staples. In addition, there is a credible plan to diversity our revenue sources away from oil, with focus on export crops as well as solid minerals, with the release of US$100M fund to develop solid mineral extraction.

“President Muhammdu Buhari has a positive and prosperous vision for Nigeria. A nation in which the natural talent and hard work of the people is being supported by an enabling environment of infrastructural development and policy reforms that will develop a firm future for our nation. Nigerians are looking forward and the PDP’s lurking in the economic rear view mirror only underscores the resolve of Nigerians, that as far as the economy is concerned it is ‘’never again,” he said.

August 14, 2017
Jonathan’s home: Police dismisses four for theft

The FCT Police Command has dismissed four policemen for their involvement in the theft of property belonging to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The policemen who were on guard duty at the Gwarinpa residence of Jonathan stole movable items including furniture sets, beds, electronics, toilet electrical fittings and internal doors and frames.

The affected men were dismissed after an Orderly Room trial.

The dismissed policemen are; F/No. 436691 Sgt Musa Musa, F/No. 235422 Sgt John Nanpak, F/No. 261898 Sgt Ogah Audu and F/No. 425210 Sgt Gabriel Ugah.

The police also said the case of two other policemen, AP/No.141199 Inspr Lengs Satlakau and AP/No. 150566 Inspr Usman Wuduki involved in theft has been forwarded to AIG Zone 7 for further action.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja Thursday by the Command Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah.

The Command explained that their dismissal was in compliance with the vision of IGP Ibrahim Idris to rid the Nigeria Police Force of criminal elements.

The statement reads: “In fulfilment of the promise by the FCT Police Command to make public its findings on the investigation of the case of theft at the Gwarimpa residence of Former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the Command wishes to state that in line with first schedule of police Act and regulation 370 Cap 19, the Policemen guarding the house have been tried in an orderly room proceeding and found culpable of the offence.

“Sequel to the out-come of the orderly room proceeding, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Musa Kimo has approved the immediate dismissal of the Policemen.”

The Command while stating that the main culprit, Sgt. Musa would be charged to court upon completion of investigation added that efforts are being intensified to arrest his accomplice, Mallam Shuaibu who is currently at large.

August 3, 2017
Jonathan lists items stolen from his house

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has listed items stolen from one of his house located at Gwarimpa, Abuja to include six television sets, three refrigerators and one gas cooker.

A statement Tuesday by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze debunked media report that 36 units of plasma television sets and 25 refrigerators were stolen in the house.

Eze added that the house was totally stripped bare by the thieves who stole every movable item, including furniture sets, beds, electronics, toilet and electrical fittings, as well as all internal doors and frames.

The statement said, “The theft was discovered last month upon which a report was duly lodged with the relevant police authorities.

“The police immediately commenced investigations which led to the arrest and detention of some suspects, six of whom were policemen, even as investigations continue”.

“We thank all Nigerians for their show of concern and wish to convey the former President’s goodwill to all Nigerians”.

According to the media aide, Jonathan bought the house, “a modest 4-bedroom duplex”, from CITEC Estate Developers in 2004.

August 1, 2017