The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gbade Ogunwale

  • Atiku to Buhari: Don’t blame the system for your failure

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has told President Muhammadu Buhari to stop blaming the Nigerian system for his “failure”.

    Atiku was reacting to the President’s statements while receiving a delegation of eminent personalities from the Federal Capital Territory who paid him a Christmas homage.

    Buhari had blamed the slow judicial system for the slow pace of the legal side of the anti corruption war.

    But in a statement Tuesday, which he personally signed, Atiku said the President’s statement was an admittance of failure in the anti corruption campaign.

    The statement said, “My immediate response to this is to commend President Buhari for admitting that he has failed in fighting corruption.

    “The President has just corroborated Transparency International, whose latest Corruption Perception Index shows that Nigeria is more corrupt today than it was under the previous administration, having moved 12 places backwards in the CPI, from 136 in 2014 to 148 this year.

    “But my point of departure from the President is in blaming his failure on the system. I disagree. The system has challenges, yes, but where there is political will, the system can make progress.

    “I was Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 and we used that same system to speedily convict no less a personality than an Inspector General of Police, and several others including cabinet ministers and other high officials.

    “Mr. President, the problem with your anti-corruption war is not the system. You are the problem!

    “The system allows you to arrest, try and convict your former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who was fingered in a major corruption case, but you chose to let him go Scot free and you demonstrated your tolerance for his corruption by giving him a prominent role in your re-election campaign and recently welcoming him to the Presidential Villa with open arms.

    “The system allowed you to arrest, try and convict Abdulrasheed Maina, the biggest ever alleged thief in our civil service history, who is suspected of looting the pensions of millions of aged Nigerians. Yet you chose not to go that route, preferring instead to recall him, reinstate and double promote him while giving him armed guards to move about.

    “The system allows you to probe the $25 billion NNPC contracts awarded without due process, but you chose to bury the matter under the carpet, hoping the Nigerian people will forget about that grand scale alleged looting exposed by a leaked memo from a member of your cabinet.

    “Finally, nothing in the system stops you from telling Nigerians who owns the billions found in an Ikoyi apartment.

    “Based on the above statement of facts, I will not allow you to to make Nigeria the scapegoat for your failure. Your failure is personal, and not national.

    “If you could go abroad to insult Nigerian youths as lazy, why did you go to Paris to praise a governor who was caught red-handed receiving bribes on camera?

    “The system did not stop the EFCC from charging the opposition Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as a co-accused in the case involving the NBA Chairman, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN). Contrast this with the treatment meted out to Governor Umar Ganduje of the ruling All Progressive Congress.

    “Besides, your excuse is deceptive, because you have staunchly resisted restructuring. If you really believed that the system is the problem, you would have embraced restructuring.

    “Unfortunate as your admitted failure in the war on corruption is, it is your economic policy that is the greater failure. Your lack of ideas and your politicisation of the corruption war has made your administration fight legitimate businesses and the opposition.

    “I might add that it is actions such as this that have led to an unprecedented capital flight which has caused joblessness and made Nigeria the world headquarters for extreme poverty under your watch”.

  • 2019: PDP begins search for presidential flag bearer

    2019: PDP begins search for presidential flag bearer

    Key stakeholders and power blocs within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have begun the covert search for an acceptable candidate that will fly the party’s flag in the 2019 presidential election.

    The party has also renewed its pressure on the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, former Kano State Governor, Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso and other prominent chieftains that dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014.

    Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin, who dropped the hint in Abuja on Tuesday, also confirmed that the party was already weighing options regarding the suitability of the array of aspirants lining up for the job.

    Jibrin spoke at Legacy House, the party’s campaign headquarters while addressing a PDP youth group, Ward-To-Ward that paid him a courtesy visit. He, however, clarified that the search is restricted to aspirants from the North.

    “We are all doing what we can in the North with all the leaders to identify who is the best candidate to rule this country. The best person that will take away power from the ruling party because 2019 is our own. 2019 is for PDP.

    “We as a party, have agreed that the President of Nigeria in 2019 should come from the North. I enjoin you to support the North to bring and give you a very capable President; never-a-no-do-well President, a good qualitative President.

    Describing the return of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the PDP as a good omen, Jibrin said the party was expecting more of the chieftains that dump the PDP for the APC before the 2015 general elections.

    He listed Saraki and Kwankwaso as key among those expected to rejoin the PDP, adding that others being expected to return to the party include serving National Assembly members and former governors.

    Jibrin said: “We are also expecting a big return of some of our former governors, our National Assembly members and very renowned party followers. And when this is done, which will be done very quickly, then the party will now come to its stable stand.

    “We should encourage everybody who has left us to come back and reunite with us. We will not hate anyone or deprive anybody. It is a good omen for this party that we should receive people.

    “We are therefore calling on the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and all our former legislators who have left this party to come back quickly”.
    ‎
    The BoT chair also disclosed that the party has constituted a special reconciliation committee headed by a former President of the Senate, David Mark.

    According to him, the Mark committee has been mandated to mediate in grievances among BoT members that disagreed over the choice of chairmanship candidate at the December 9 national convention of the party.

    Some of the BoT members had openly taken sides with their preferred candidates, a development that Jibrin said was divisive and tended to erode the neutrality of the BoT as the conscience of the party.

    Jibrin regretted that members of the BoT had remained neutral before that chairmanship campaign, but that along the line, some members decided to give open support to some aspirants. This he said, had left the BoT members divided.

    The BoT chair commended the role played by the party’s governors in the convention in which Prince Uche Secondus emerged as National Chairman.

    He credited the governors with the success of the convention, adding that all the party’s 11 governors gave the necessary support to ensure Secondus’ emergence.

  • PDP cautions FG on fuel price increase

    PDP cautions FG on fuel price increase

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday told the Federal Government to shelve any plan to increase the pump price of fuel of N145 per litre.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said any increase in price now would not only be criminal but inhuman and completely unacceptable to Nigerians.

    The opposition party claimed that the Federal Government has not been telling Nigerians the truth about oil-related issues while using the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to bandy figures to deceive the people.

    It said:”Instead of putting more burden on the people, the APC Government should come out clear on sleazes in the oil sector under its watch, particularly the shady oil subsidy payouts and illegal lifting of N1.1 trillion worth of crude using unregistered companies.

    “Any increase in fuel pump price would be an indirect tax on Nigerians to fund APC interests and considering the pains Nigerians have suffered under this inept and unfeeling Government, this intended hike will be callous.

    “It is now clear to all that this APC- controlled government will never act in the interest of Nigerians. All the actions and policies of APC, in their close to three years in office, have been targeted against Nigerians and there are no signals that they will change.

    “We, therefore, urge Nigerians to reject this plot to raise the prices of petroleum products even as they gear towards using the next election to end the misrule of the APC.”

  • ICYMI: FG may increase petrol price to N180 per litre

    ICYMI: FG may increase petrol price to N180 per litre

     The Federal Government may increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol to a minimum price of N180 and above anytime soon.
    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu who dropped the hint in Abuja on Thursday, said the current price of N145 per litre can no longer be sustained.
    In a presentation he made to a joint committee on Petroleum (Downstream) of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Minister said the landing cost for petrol stood at N171 per litre.
    According to him, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been bearing the cost of N26 per litre, representing the difference between N171 and the current official price of N145 per litre.
    Insisting that independent marketers would not be able to import the product at the current foreign exchange rate, saying the marketers were able to sell for N145 per litre when the exchange rate was N285 per Dollar. The Naira presently exchanges for N365 per Dollar.
    “We now have to go back and find the solution to this problem in order to ease supply gaps and ensure availability of the product at all times,” the Minister said.
    Kachikwu, however, proffered three alternative solutions to pump price increase: getting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce a modulated foreign exchange rate specifically for importers of the product; giving the marketers significant tax adjustments to enable them to absorb the high cost; and a plural pricing system whereby the NNPC would continue to sell at N145 through its numerous outlets while the marketers are allowed to fix their own price.
    The Minister identified causes of the last fuel scarcity to include diversion of products, logistic constraints, bottleneck associated with clearance, bad road network, insufficient product reserves, smuggling through land borders, supply gaps and enforcement challenges.
    He stated that the marketers stopped importing fuel since October 2017, as a result of their inability to access foreign exchange from the CBN, leaving only the NNPC to import the product, which has left a wide gap between demand and supply.
    Dr. Kachikwu lamented that the price of petrol rises with the rise in the price of crude oil in the international, stressing that in such instances, Nigeria spends more to import refined products. In effect, any rise in crude oil price increases the amount the country spends on the importation of fuel.
    To address the situation, the Minister canvassed the opening up of production lines, specifically the refineries, which he said, would address supply gaps that usually leads to incessant scarcity.
    “Rising prices in international market affecting domestic prices. What the country needs is to have the refineries working. It’s a shame that after 40 years, Nigeria cannot produce its domestic consumption.
    “It would take 18 months to address problems of scarcity, price stability and other issues relating to the supply of petroleum products. The pipelines should be concessioned to allow private participation.
    “There is huge infrastructure deficit in the system because the NNPC ought to be distributing products through their pipes but most of the pipes are damaged. The has necessitated the use of trucks to distribute the product across the country.
    “Most importantly, fixing the refineries should be the lasting solution. To discuss and address the issues, we have to seek approval from the President,” the Minister said.
    In his own submission at the hearing, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru said the last scarcity was caused by rumours of price increase in the media that led marketers into hoarding the product in anticipation of higher prices.
    Said he: “So there was a frenzy in the movement of products to the hinterland and diversion of products going to the hinterland in anticipation of the increase in price.
    “The NNPC, or the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) had no mandate to increase pump price.”
    The GMD said that the strike action embarked upon by PENGASAN in December was partly responsible for the scarcity, saying issues raised by the association for going on strike had nothing to do with the NNPC.
    According to him, the strike triggered panic buying by members of the public leading to scarcity of the product. He added that although PENGASAN called off the strike on December 18, the damage had already been done.
    Baru identified other factors responsible for the last scarcity to be the higher price at which petrol is sold in neighbouring African countries, citing Cameroun where he said petrol sells for N300-N400 per litre.
    Stating that the NNPC has enough product to bridge supply gaps, Baru insisted the corporation has sufficient stock to go round even without importation.
    The GMD alleged that about 4500 distribution trucks failed to return to depots to complete their distribution formalities during the scarcity period, meaning that the trucks were diverted.
    “There was no supply gap because we have Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) agreement with 10 consortia involved. Three of them rejected their cargoes, which were reallocated to others.”
    The GMD also hinted that the refineries in Kaduna and Port Harcourt were being reactivated and restreamed and that they have been producing three million litres daily.
    Baru also cited disagreements among the various private operators in the sector as part of the problems that threw up the scarcity, adding that the marketers were busy trading allegations of sharp practices.
    He said: “For instance, IPMAN said MOMAN and DAPPMA were charging over N133.28/litre but when we asked them to provide evidence of overcharging, they could not provide any. If proven, NNPC would have withdrawn the licenses of the errant bodies.”
    The Executive Secretary of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mordecai Baba Ladan told the committee that at the outset of scarcity, the DPR rolled out its machinery across the country, with the directive from the Minister that defaulters be dealt with.
    “Almost every marketer/filling station across the country are defaulters. And if all defaulting filing stations were to be shut down, there may not be anyone left.
    “They horde, sell above official price and also divert products. But we have stepped up our monitoring process now that the NNPC is the sole importer but the corporation cannot do it alone.
    Virtually all the independent marketers that attended the hearing alleged multiple charges by the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), NIMASA and some state governments charging 3 kobo per litre wharf landing fee.
    The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore said the N800 billion owed marketers by the Federal Government has made it difficult for them to obtain credit from the banks to import the product.
    He appealed to the government to give key players major roles in the importation business, saying that shutting down errant filling stations won’t solve the scarcity problem but rather aggravate it.
    Olawore called for total deregulation of the sector to allow more participants from the private sector.
    Curiously, however, the chairman of the joint committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa who had vowed to grill the Minister and the GMD over secret subsidy payment by the government.
    Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly on Friday, Marafa had raised questions on who pays the difference of the N26 in the landing cost of N171 against the pump price of N145.
    The lawmaker said there were indications that a subsidy of N26 was being paid on every litre of petrol sold in the country and wondered who has been paying the subsidy.
    Marafa had said, “If there is subsidy payment, then who approved it and how much has been paid out as the subsidy so far. If you want to provide the subsidy, it should come through the National Assembly but we have not received any request for subsidy payment from the Executive arm.”
    Stating that about N10 trillion has been paid out as the subsidy, Marafa had lamented that stakeholders in the Petroleum industry, particularly the NNPC, have not been transparent in the running of the sector.
    He said these were some of the issues the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Baru and others would be made to explain to Nigerians at the January 4 hearing.
    “We are going back to the same circle where only a few persons benefit from subsidy payment at the expense of the Nigerian people,” Senator Marafa had said.
    Other members of the joint committee are Senators Tayo Alasoadura, Mao Ohuanbunwa, Sabi Abdullahi, Foster Ogola, Yahaya Abdullahi, Rose Oko, Philip Aduda among others.
  • ‘Fayose, forget your presidential ambition’

    ‘Fayose, forget your presidential ambition’

    One of the aspirants for the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Tunde Adeniran has called on the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose to let go his presidential ambition.

    Adeniran who made the call in Abuja on shortly after he returned his nomination documents, said the governor’s ambition was responsible for his (Fayose’s) opposition to his chairmanship ambition.

    Saying that opposition from Fayose cannot stop him from winning the race, Adeniran enjoined the governor to respect the party’s decision zoning the 2019 presidential ticket to the North.

    Adeniran said: “my governor is interested in contesting the presidency of this country and I believe that he thought it will be impossible for us to have the President and national chairman from the same place.

    “Now, the more he realizes that the party has taken a decision that our president by the grace of God as for 2019 will come from the North, the more he realizes the reason to stand by the method decided by the party.

    “The more he will realize that the position taken by the party at the convention is a reality and that he will support his brother Adeniran for the chairman. In fact, I expect that he will lead the Ekiti state delegation to support me at the convention.”

    Speaking earlier, the caretaker committee chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi restated the commitment of the leadership to conduct a free, fair and credible convention.

    Makarfi reminded Adeniran and other aspirants of the consequences of breaching the peace pact signed by all the aspirants on Tuesday, stressing that the aspirants must be ready to call their errant supporters to order.

    Makarfi said: “I will assure you that as a caretaker committee, we will do our best no matter what a few might say. We are determined to be transparent and to conduct a free and very fair convention where the views of PDP members will prevail.

    “One of the key elements of the peace accord we discussed on Tuesday was the acknowledgement that the only thing the party has zoned in respect of national issues is the Presidency to the North and chairmanship to the South.

    “And in the peace accord which we have signed, you categorically stated that by the South, you meant all the states in the South and by the North, all the states in the North.”

    Insisting that the party would not impose micro-zoning on the chairmanship position, Makarfi, however, said the party would go along if the aspirants themselves reached an agreement to microzone the position to any part of the South.

    He flayed the actions and utterances of one of the party chieftains from Ogun State who has been attacking the national leadership of the party and urged Adeniran to call the party chief to order.

    “Such individual has done everything possible to make us compromise by going to the media to say that we have compromised with somebody else. Left for such individuals the caretaker committee should not be in place”, Makarfi said.

  • INEC to recruit 1m ad-hoc staff for 2019

    INEC to recruit 1m ad-hoc staff for 2019

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be hiring about one million ad hoc staff for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.
    The chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmud Yakubu stated this on Wednesday while briefing members of the Senate committee on INEC.
    Yakubu assured Nigerians that the major the electronic smart card readers will be fully deployed for the elections, stressing that enough hands would be trained on the effective use of the device.
    According to him, about 700 ad hoc staff were engaged for the 2015 general elections.
    He said: “The projected increase in the number of ad- hoc staff to be engaged in the elections by the commission arose from the need to make provisions for adequate manpower for the exercise on a general template and specifically to take care of peculiar needs for that purpose in some polling units across the federation”.

    Assuring the lawmakers of better and effective use of the card readers, Prof Yabuku said: “Controversies and challenges raised by the Smart Card Readers in the 2015 elections were over magnified because the problem was not technological on the part of the device but attitudinal on the part of  the users due to lack of adequate training.

    “Thus, because the problem is more of attitudinal than technological defects, solid steps are being taken by the commission to bring about a robust interface between the machine and those to use them in terms of practical training before the elections”.

    In his remarks, the Senate Committee Chairman on INEC, Senator Suleiman Nazif said the interactive session with INEC would be a continuous exercise before the 2019 general elections
  • Makarfi replies Sheriff, says PDP governors are not thieves

    Makarfi replies Sheriff, says PDP governors are not thieves

    • Urges party members to shun party chairs functions

    The Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that governors elected on the platform of the party are not thieves.

    Makarfi was responding to a statement by the camp of the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff saying that the party would not accept “stolen money” from the governors to run the party.

    The statement, which was made by Sheriff’s deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh was targeted at Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

    In a statement on Monday by the spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the faction accused Ojougboh of being an impostor, saying he was illegally parading himself as Deputy National Chairman.

    The statement said, “For the umpteenth time, we want to reiterate that Mr. Ojugboh, the former National Vice Chairman of PDP has no locus to speak in the capacity of Deputy National Chairman of the PDP.

    “He is an interloper and an impostor; and as such, any action or statement made by Cairo Ojugboh and other self-appointed members of the Sheriff renegade group is illegal, null and void and should be disregarded by all loyal supporters and members of the PDP.

    “Let these irritants take note that Governors Fayose and Wike, and indeed all governors elected on the platform of our great party, the PDP are men of integrity.

    “Our governors are responsible and trusted party men that are working tirelessly in their various states to deliver the needed dividends of democracy.

    “The people of Rivers State and Ekiti State can testify to the wonderful achievements of our governors in their states and other states governed by the PDP”.

    The faction urged party members nationwide to shun the campaign or mobilisation programme being planned by the Sheriff group in some states in the Southeast.

    “We wish to further state without any ambiguity that these actions are illegal, null and void. Faithful party men and women in the South East and any other zones in Nigeria should disregard such meetings or gathering”, the faction added.

    Stating that Sheriff’s position as chairman is being challenged at the Supreme Court, Adeyeye said the Caretaker Committee remained in charge of the party’s affairs.

    “The National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi has appealed the judgment of the February 17, 2017, at the Supreme Court and in the eyes of the law, until the appeal is set aside by the Supreme Court, the National Caretaker Committee remains in charge of the affairs of the PDP.

    “So, Senator Sheriff and his co-travellers have no power to call for any meeting of party members or supervise the affairs of the PDP forthwith.

    “We therefore want to further call on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “We further call on all security agencies and other agencies of government to stop according him or members of his illegal team any support or assistance.

    “Finally, we urge all our members and teeming supporters nationwide to stop attending any meeting organised by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff or any member of his team.

    “They are illegal and have no place to function as such. Senator Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee remains the only authentic National Exco of the PDP in line with the decision of the May 21st and August 17, 2016 National Conventions of our great party”, the statement added.

  • PDP crisis: Sheriff welcomes political solution

    PDP crisis: Sheriff welcomes political solution

    • As BoT chair warns against divisive tendencies

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has welcomed the decision of key party stakeholders to find a political solution to the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and governors elected on the platform of the party had, after a meeting Tuesday night, resolved to adopt a political solution to the crisis.

    Sheriff is locked in supremacy battle with the Ahmed Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee, which commands more followership than the Sheriff camp.

    A statement on Wednesday by the Sheriff-backed National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, commended Jonathan and the governors for resolving to settle for a political solution.

    Oladipo’s statement said, “The NWC notes with satisfaction the stand of the body of PDP Governors on the need to adopt a political solution in bringing lasting peace to the party.

    “The NWC restates its readiness to fully participate in the peace process”.

    The statement called on workers at the party secretariat who have stayed away from their duty posts in solidarity with the Makarfi camp, to resume duties immediately.

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin has called on members and supporters of the party to shun divisive tendencies.

    In an SMS message to newsmen on Wednesday, Jibrin urged members to stay away from party meetings with tribal, religious and sectional undertones.

    “Such meetings are suspicious and full of sinister motives aimed at dividing or killing the party. Right from its formation, the PDP has never been portrayed as a northern or southern party.

    “Therefore, nobody should unnecessarily bring in any disagreeable methodology in the handling of the party’s affairs.

    “The PDP is a national party that embraces every Nigerian regardless of tribe or religion. Any attempt to drag members into such divisive meetings will be resisted, considering especially that party leaders are busy trying to find a way forward. Everyone should remain calm refrain from taking any rash decision”, the BoT chair stated.

  • FERMA boss to answer for unused N10billion in coffers

    FERMA boss to answer for unused N10billion in coffers

    A joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has threatened sanctions against the Acting Managing Director of the agency, Mr Peter Ibu.

    The committee handed down the threat on Wednesday as a result of non-utilisation of N10 billion allocation in the agency’s coffers, which was meant for projects in the 2016 budget.

    The dormant N10 billion allocation was uncovered during the agency’s budget defence session before the joint committee.

    A member of the joint committee, Mr Magaji Aliyu (Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency, has drawn the attention of members to the released to FERMA for road rehabilitation projects in different parts of the country but which was left untouched.

    The committee frowned at the action, against the background of the deplorable state of major federal roads in different parts of the country. 

    It accused the agency of insensitivity to the plight of road users who have been falling victim to fatal road accidents occasioned by the deplorable condition of the roads. 

    Peter IbuAliyu said, “The leadership of FERMA does not seem to be responsible. People are dying every day, six persons died along Kano/Kaduna road just yesterday (Tuesday) and the Agency had N10 billion released to it out of the N40billion appropriated in 2016 budget which was not utilised. 

    “Decisive action should be taken against FERMA. The Managing Director should be removed; those in charge of the agency should be changed because it is absolutely unacceptable for people to be dying on a daily basis as a result of the deplorable condition of the highways and FERMA failing to carry out the needed intervention with the  N10billion allocated to it.” 

    The Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Magnus Abe also spoke in similar vein, declaring that FERMA had failed totally in its 2016 budget performance and charged the management to rise to its responsibilities.

    The committee, however, pledged to ensure adequate funding for the agency, insisting that FERMA must submit a clear cut budgetary expectation document for the 2017 fiscal year.

    Abe said, “Let’s say that we like to hear and understand the expectations of FERMA for 2017, believing that if we work together, we will be able to change narratives of the agency.” 

    The FERMA boss however responded by saying that the agency was hampered by a number of financial challenges, leading to its inability to meet up with its mandates in 2016.

    According to him, FERMA lacked trained accounting staff to handle the TSA regime, stressing the urgent need to satisfy certain requirements to secure sub-TSA accounts for field offices.

    He told the committee that the agency was almost grounded in 2016, owing to the difficulty in accessing funds appropriated to it, as well as a delay in budgetary approval which got started in May 2016. 

    Said he, “The challenges posed by the newly introduced zero-base budget process and the TSA policy, difficulties in accessing funds directly appropriated for direct labour, and delay in budget approval which took off in May last year were factors that hampered our activities.”

  • PDP not diminished by loss of power – Jonathan 

    PDP not diminished by loss of power – Jonathan 

    • Anenih: Party plagued by selfish interests 

    The loss of power at the centre in the 2015 general election has not diminished the electoral value of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

    Jonathan, who stated this in Abuja while receiving a delegation of PDP chieftains at his private evidence, said the party would work hard to get back to power in 2019.

    The former President harped on the need for the present administration to strengthen national institutions, stressing that the nation can only grow when the institutions are strengthened.

    “No nation can grow with weakened institutions,” Jonathan said, adding that existing political parties also required reforms to strengthen their structures.

    The former President buttressed his call for strong institutions with the case of the United States, where President Donald Trump’s travel ban on Muslims was upturned by the courts.

    He assured the party chieftains of his willingness to make himself available for contributions towards rebuilding and repositioning the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Jonathan welcomed the idea of direct primaries to elect the party’s candidates for general elections, as enunciated by the party chieftains.

    He, however, pointed out that direct primaries do present serious challenges, particularly with the number of voters involved. Rather, he canvassed enlarged and broad-based delegate system from the ward level.

    Speaking at a separate venue, a former chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, blamed the sorry state of the PDP on the pursuit of selfish interests by chieftains of the party.

    Anenih, who also received the party’s delegation at his private residence in Abuja regretted that the PDP had missed many opportunities to organise the party.

    “Everybody wants to be national chairman, everybody wants to be the presidential candidate in the pursuit of personal interests and ambitions”, Anenih stated.

    Chief Anenih faulted the decision of the party leaders to wait for the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the leadership tussle between the PDP Caretaker Committee and the Ali Modu Sheriff camp.

    “Why must you wait for the Appeal Court to deliver judgment before you can organise yourselves as a party,” he queried, adding that the party should start its rebranding process right now.

    According to him, many of the politicians that destroyed the PDP have now found themselves in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the APC only exists in the pages of newspapers.

    “When things go a little bit wrong, the next thing they do is to move to another political party. I never believed leaving my political party to join another”, he said.

    He advised the leadership of the PDP to strive hard to rebuild the party and make it strong enough to challenge the APC in the 2019 elections. 

    Anenih continued, “You need to build a strong PDP because the APC is nowhere today. It only exists in the pages of newspapers. We need a strong opposition and constructive criticism to move forward.

    “The PDP has a chance to choose a leader that will lead the country when President Muhammadu Buhari finishes his tenure. God will help us to choose the leader that will lead Nigeria”.

    The Edo-born politician who called it quit with active partisan politics late 2016, observed that the governors elected on the platform of the PDP were not doing enough to help the party.

    He stressed the need for them to be making monthly financial contributions towards the running of the party, saying, “you can’t do anything without money”.

    Chief Anenih enjoined the party leaders to strive ensure a credible convention to elect committed leaders to run the affairs of the party.

    A former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who also received the delegation expressed delight that the PDP had kept faith with democracy.

    He, however, observed that certain negative tendencies had continued to hinder the growth and progress of the PDP.

    Tukur enjoined the party leaders to shun ethnicity and religious bigotry to able the PDP face the challenge of providing strong and credible front to win the 2019 general elections.

    The leader of the delegation, Prof Jerry Gana, had earlier presented the report of the party’s Strategy Review and Inter-Party Relations Committee to the hosts during the visit.

    He had expressed reservations about the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as it is presently constituted.

    According to him, INEC aid being controlled by the APC led Federal Government, saying however that a summit of opposition parties was in the offing and that the issue of partisanship on the part of the INEC would be tacked at the summit.