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Tag: Goodluck Jonathan

  • 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.

  • 2015 Elections: How Goodluck Jonathan’s Agents Tried To Eliminate Me, As Told By, EX LASAA MD George Noah

    2015 Elections: How Goodluck Jonathan’s Agents Tried To Eliminate Me, As Told By, EX LASAA MD George Noah

    The immediate past Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr. George Noah, has detailed how agents of Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, tried to eliminate him – in the build-up to Nigeria’s historic 2015 Elections.

    Noah, shed light on his ordeal, in a chapter of his riveting new book, titled: 2015 Elections: The Politics of Outdoor Advertising in Lagos State.  

    His words, taken from Chapter 11, titled: Enemy Combatant: “The more the opposition party in the state parroted platitudes bordering on alleged bias on the part of LASAA, the more I became a target, as the head of the agency supposedly responsible for their invented misfortunes in securing outdoor sites in Lagos. But what at first seemed like harmless banter and standard criticism soon took a more sinister form.  It soon dawned on me that I had become a subject of discussion among some politicians in the then ruling party in Abuja, and they had reportedly decided to solve the problem by any means necessary, including intimidation and threats.

    “The grapevine gave indications of this worrying development. An old acquaintance from when I was domiciled in the UK, called me in confidence on the issue. A member of the PDP, he had attended a crucial caucus meeting at which I was identified as the person constituting an obstacle in the way of the party’s ambitions in  the outdoor political campaign in Lagos State.

    “Be careful. Your name was mentioned in our caucus meeting in connection with the PDP’s inability in securing billboards in Lagos. You have to be careful,” he warned. We had barely kept in touch in seven years and I was surprised he got in touch.  When you are advised by a politician to be careful during electioneering, you are bound to sit up.

    “You were accused of singling out the PDP’s campaign materials in Lagos for destruction, using LASAA’s apparatus, in an orchestrated bid to frustrate the PDP’s campaign,” he said. According to him, they were devising plans to put me in “check”, using every means of containment at their disposal.

    “A few days later, I got a call from the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) at Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos, about the controversy surrounding the outdoor campaign of the PDP in Lagos. He warned me not to invite trouble I may not be able to contain. I got the message.  Exactly two weeks after the Lagos State police boss read the riot act to LASAA.  He warned that no posters or outdoor structures should be removed in Lagos State whether legally or illegally deployed.  This was a wake-up call for me. It was becoming apparent at this point that I had to take security matters more seriously. More puzzling questions raced through my mind, as I wondered if it would be foolhardy to seek protection from a police force with unapologetic leanings to the then ruling party.

    “I thought to myself: ‘I could hold out a little longer. All I have to do is be a bit more circumspect and extra vigilant.’ But for how much longer would I have to put up a defence?  The same question was always playing on my mind as I became increasingly suspicious of my surroundings whenever I was outdoors.  A sense of paranoia kicked in. Suddenly, an innocent gaze from an unfamiliar person didn’t seem so benign anymore. Every motorcycle that rode close to my vehicle on the road became suspect – just as every vehicle that kept showing up in the rear-view mirror seemed to be on a sinister mission. In the same vein, every street hawker that sidled up to my vehicle in the notorious Lagos traffic jams, appeared to have malicious intent.

    “My sense of alarm was further compounded with heightened security alerts about my safety. Credible sources advised that I temporarily relocate from my place of abode and change my vehicle, so as to give any persons on my trail the slip. I complied. I had by this time come under immense pressure from friends, family members and state government colleagues to sign up for round-the-clock police protection.

    “Their fear was not unfounded. The atmosphere had become very tense; I and other LASAA staff had been running the gauntlet for some time. For example, March, 16, 2015, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) had, in an openly confrontational show of strength and support for the PDP, staged an infamous march in Lagos. In an apparent move to intimidate staff, some of the militiamen congregated in front of LASAA’s head office in Ikeja, brandishing guns and other dangerous weapons as well as charms. We shut our gates and remained indoors until the ethnic militia got bored and moved on to the next target. No doubt they regarded LASAA and myself as enemy combatants. It was a dark period at the agency. In one incident, members of our staff were assaulted, some were injured, others arrested. One of our ad hoc staff almost had his leg amputated as a result of injury, and eventually lost a toe. The agency’s vehicle they were in was severely damaged.

    photostudio_1485499290231“I remember telling a colleague, around this time, about my misgivings about seeking personal police protection ‘I would rather you bite the bullet, by putting your inhibitions aside – as opposed to biting the dust,’ he told me unequivocally.  At that moment I remembered a famous quote by the renowned Brazilian novelist, Paulo Coelho that made an impression on me. In his book, ‘The Devil and Miss Prym’, he wrote: ‘There are two kinds of idiots – those who don’t take action because they have received a threat, and those who think they are taking action because they have issued a threat.’

    ‘This marked that defining moment. I was assigned two mobile policemen – or gentlemen, as I often referred to them. And they truly were gentlemen in all respects, officers who discharged their duties with the utmost sense of professionalism and dedication. If only we had more of these exemplary characters in the force – perhaps the general perception of the police would be more patriotic and less negative. For sure, I found it somewhat difficult to reconcile these gentlemen’s dedication to duty with the unashamed partisan leanings exhibited by the then police boss of the state.

    ‘Moving about with the two fully armed men was a bit unsettling at first. But I got used to it soon enough. It may also have been the case that their obvious dedication to duty had a soothing effect on me. They had become my good friends.  Suddenly, my journeys to and fro had become less boring and predictable. The two officers had become towers of support and offered a haven from the tensions of the time – tension that were par for the course at the office and at various engagements. The gentlemen and I had light-hearted discussions on various national and mundane issues – subjects ranged from politics to sports, Nollywood and the latest Nigerian music hits – you name it. Being in company of the gentlemen did ease my concern about personal safety. Much to my surprise, I felt less vulnerable. Perhaps it was a placebo effect. However, in all honesty, I entrusted my care and that of the gentlemen to God. No one could have offered better protection than God.”

    Comprising 22 chapters, 2015 Elections: The Politics of Outdoor Advertising in Lagos State, chronicles the sordid intrigues and high stakes politicking that characterized events that played out in Lagos State’s outdoor advertising sector, in the build-up to Nigeria’s historic 2015 General Elections. It also looks into challenges faced by outdoor regulatory agencies during the period of electioneering, as well as the potential personal risks faced by personnel of these agencies. The book also seeks to prevent a repeat of the controversial events that engulfed the outdoor industry in the course of election campaigning – while highlighting the positive and defining narratives that unfolded.

    A technocrat, and political activist, Noah was a founding member of Radio Kudirat and has over 35 years experience in virtually all aspects of the media. A pioneer member of Made In Nigeria (MAIN) Festival Group, Noah is also Publisher of Island News and Chief Executive Officer that midwifed TV Continental (TVC) and Radio Continental in Lagos.

    Noah previously worked for Insight Communications Limited in Nigeria, the Greater London Council (GLC) and British Telecom International (BTI) in the UK and Media Empowerment for Africa (MEFA) in Norway.  Whilst domiciled in London, Noah was appointed Chairman of the London Borough of Southwark Co-operative Development Agency (SCDA) in 1992. In June 2014, whilst at LASAA, Noah was awarded the honorary title Lagos State Man Of The Year.

  • Obasanjo to Jonathan: We have a lot of experience to share

    Obasanjo to Jonathan: We have a lot of experience to share

    …As GEJ pays him secret visit in Ibogun

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan was on Friday in Ibogun village, Ogun State, home of ex – President Olusegun Obasanjo for  a surprise visit to him.
    Jonathan who arrived Obasanjo’s home around 12 noon, was accompanied by his former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki and three other close aides and entered a closed door meeting with his host.
    The visit lasted about an hour, The Nation learnt and Jonathan declined to disclose to journalists why he was in Ibogun, but merely said the visit was a “private one.”
    Jonathan who stole into Ibogun village in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, later told Obasanjo that he and General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) had initially planned to pay him a visit during the yuletide but they could not make it because of some unforeseen events that prevented them.
    The former president who explained his mission to Obasanjo’s home through Kabiru Turaki, added that he had decided to come in fulfilment of the earlier planned Christmas visit but rued that it was now without IBB.
    He lauded Obasanjo who has since quit partisan politics to become an elder statesman for the warm reception accorded him and entourage.
    Obasanjo who commended Jonathan for having the time to visit him since leaving office, said that both of them now have residual responsibilities in the country as past leaders that bowed out of power gracefully.
    The former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also tactically told his chief guest he went into the office of the President with “have little or no experience” but has now amassed more wisdom and experience about leadership after leaving office.
    Obasanjo said:”the first point I want to make is to thank you very sincerely and most sincerely for taking it upon yourself to pay us a visit at this point in time and at this location.  Secondly, since you left office, you hardly have time to sit down and relax like you have been able to do today and I hope, I sincerely hope and pray for more such relaxed situation where we can reminiscence situations of the past that we have been through in this country and we can also look at what the future portends.
    “When leaders come, they have little or no experience. When they have to go is when they have really amassed a lot of experience, where they have wisdom, their  experience will be in high demand.  Those like you and me who have the grace of God to bow out gracefully if there is now what I call constitutional office we have residual responsibilities for Nigeria.
    “I believe that not only Nigeria, West Africa and Africa and indeed the world will continue to tap into our experiences,   our wisdom and I hope and pray that when the call is made to you will be more than ready to put your experience, the lessons you have learnt into the service of this country, for African and indeed for humanity in general.
    ” I have said to you before and I will say again that there are plenty of opportunities out there, within the country, within West Africa, within African and indeed in the larger world where people will want you to make contributions.
    ” I believe that you are resting now and when you have fully rested and you will be hearing from me because I have this opportunity to be around the world and if I mention your name in dispatch…. I thank you sincerely that you have received us as we are in this village to prove to you that we are in a typical village, I was telling you that your village is better than mine.
    “I want to say that we have it, Nigeria is a good country and we must never be tired of lifting the country up to the height that God has created it to be and God did not make a mistake when he put all of us together and if He doesn’t want us to be together no power in the world will have made us come together.
    “My regards to everybody at home, especially your wife, please tell her that my wife sends her regards and I hope sooner or later we will be on your part of the world to enjoy the atmosphere together.  I want to thank you on behalf of everyone here on this village.”

  • Jonathan sneaks into Ibogun village to visit Obasanjo

    Jonathan sneaks into Ibogun village to visit Obasanjo

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday sneaked into Ibogun village, Ogun State, home  of ex – President Olusegun Obasanjo for a surprise visit.

    The visit lasted about an hour, The Nation learnt.

    Jonathan who was accompanied by few former aides, was said to have told Obasanjo that he and General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida(IBB) had initially planned to pay him a visit during the yuletide, but they could not make it because of some unforeseen events that prevented them.

    According to him, he had decided to come today (Friday)  as part of that planned Christmas visit but without IBB.

  • Jonathan mourns Kure

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the family of former Governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Kure, who died on Sunday.

    He described the late former Governor as a committed and principled democrat.

    Jonathan made this known in a message of condolence to the deceased’s immediate family and the Government of Niger State.

    In a statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, the former President’s media adviser, Jonathan also described Kure as a dedicated Muslim.

    The message reads: “I am deeply saddened by the passage to eternal glory, of the former Governor of Niger State, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, who died yesterday (Sunday) at the age of 60.

    “Kure distinguished himself in public service before joining politics where his candor and selflessness set him apart.

    “He was indeed a committed and highly principled democrat and an exemplary devotee who was true to his belief, both in worship and appeal.

    “He will be missed by the Government and good people of Niger State, his political associates and the rest of the country. May the Almighty grant him al Jannah Firdaus.”

     

     

     

  • Nobody asked me to concede defeat, says Jonathan

    Nobody asked me to concede defeat, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said nobody outside or within the country asked him to concede defeat in the 2015 general elections to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He spoke at the second combined convocation ceremony of Bingham University, Nasarawa State.

    The former president and an ex- military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon were honoured with a Doctor of Letters (Honaris Causa) by the university.

    Gowon was awarded the degree by the university, in “recognition of his commitment and selflessness to Nigeria, Africa and humanity, while Jonathan was honoured by the Senate of the university in recognition of “his self-abasement and prized patriotic humility and love for peace.”

    Jonathan said his calling of Buhari to concede defeat was done out of his personal principle that no blood of any Nigerian was worth his political ambition.

    This act, he said, had already started having effects on global politics as world leaders now willingly concede defeats to their opponents when they lose elections.

    The former president said: “It is my believe that no one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian and I am fulfilled knowing that my conceding while the votes were still being compiled was borne out of my personal principle and conviction generating positive impact on other nations.

    “Let me make it very, very clear, nobody within or outside the country persuaded me to do that. I know it is the right thing to do. My ambition is not worth the blood of Nigerians. It was not just a political slogan.”

    Jonathan also said he convened the 2014 national conference to help unite the country and avoid the creation of tension and crisis in the polity, adding that his intention was to usher in “a polity that will bring unity to this country; a polity that will not divide us along tribal, ethnic, and religious line.

    “I have seen politicians whose children school and live abroad mobilize children of others as thugs during elections. They don’t care whether they die or not. This is against human dignity. And we should uphold our vows as a nation of great people who love and respect one another.

    “I believe in a peaceful Nigeria and since my award today is based on my commitment to peace, I have to spread peaceful message to my fellow graduands and indeed to the entire student body of this university. Because you know with this award today, myself and Gen. Yakubu Gown (rtd) are also alumnus of this university,” Jonathan said.

    He appreciated the University for the Award.

    Jonathan said he turned down international honours during his time as president because he felt such awards were better received after serving one’s nation.

    He said Nigeria as a country must overcome its economic and political challenges.

  • 2019: Jonathan’s loyalists seek lifeline for PDP

    2019: Jonathan’s loyalists seek lifeline for PDP

    Loyalists of former President Goodluck Jonathan are trying very hard to end the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 general elections, it was learnt Saturday.

    The loyalists especially former ministers and governors during former administration of Jonathan were said to be visiting different state chapters of the PDP to seek reconciliation among aggrieved PDP members.

    It was was gathered that Jonathan’s men were working under the auspices of the Ministers’ Forum (MF), comprising former governors, former ministers and PDP stalwarts.

    There were indications that if their mission yielded expected fruits, they would either mount pressure on Jonathan to return for a second term or support the presidential ambition of former Jigawa State Governor, Lamido Sanusi.

    The team alongside some former PDP governors was in Bayelsa State for a similar purpose, though they were said to have seized the opportunity to tour some ongoing projects of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The visit of the team to Bayelsa also raised suspicions that Dickson might be nursing an ambition to become a running mate if PDP presents a northern presidential candidate in 2019.

    Among the visitors were former governors, Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; Boni Haruna and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau of Adamawa and Kano States, former deputy governor of Osun State, Olusola Obada, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, former ministers Abba Moro and Josephine Anenih.

    A statement from the Bayelsa State Government House quoted Lamido as describing Dickson, as a role model for the PDP and a symbol of excellence for politicians to emulate.

    Lamido confirmed that they were going round PDP states to reconcile aggrieved members and unify the party for future elections.

    “PDP is the only party that can keep Nigeria United because the party is in every house, community and state. Our mission in Bayelsa was very successful”, he said.
    He said their visit would inspire the party membership to have confidence in the PDP adding that they were working to reposition the party for greater heights.

    He said the MF consisted of former governors, ministers and other stakeholders.
    “The delegation of ministers forum captures every complexion of the PDP, made up of about thirty members, comprising former governors, National Assembly members and ambassadors to make sure the party reconciles its aggrieved members”, Lamido said.

    Also the statement quoted Dickson as describing the visitors as a source of inspiration and called on all strata of the party to work towards moving the party to new and enviable heights.

    Dickson explained that the party’s future was discussed and expressed hope in the party to overcome its challenges and forge a common front.

  • FG owes Jonathan, Obasanjo, IBB, Shagari, 10 month allowances 

    FG owes Jonathan, Obasanjo, IBB, Shagari, 10 month allowances 

    • SGF blames it on paucity of funds

    Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, Alhaji Shehu Shagari have not been paid their salaries and allowances since January this year, it was disclosed on Thursday.

    The revelation came as a shock to members of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs who visited the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

    Paucity of funds due to non-approvals by President Muhammadu Buhari was blamed for the inability to pay the entitlements of the former presidents, 

    Payment schedules were said to have been sent to President Buhari for approval to access funds from the Service Wide Vote to pay the outstanding allowances.

     The SGF, Mr David Lawal Babachir attributed the failure to pay the former leaders their entitlement to the unavailability of funds in Service Wide Votes for salaries of former presidents. 

    Babachir told the committee members: “There is a department responsible for payment of former Presidents. Presently funds are not available in Service Wide Votes to do that. We are aware that there was a protest in Bayelsa State that former President Goodluck Jonathan was not paid, but we have explained that he is not the only one affected. 

    “Others affected are the Inter-religious council, traditional rulers council and so on. For some reason, we have been writing and writing, but there has been no response. And there is presently no money to pay them.

    “The budget for this year’s democracy day was N33 million and we had to do it on credit, we are yet to pay. There are lots of retreats which ought to be organised but there is no money to do any. The last time we got any release was in August.”

    The Senator Tijjani Kaura (APC, Zamfara North)-led committee members frowned at the non-payment of the former presidents’ entitlements.

    They canvassed joint action between the Office of the SGF and the committee to find an immediate solution to the problem describing the development as “most unfortunate.” 

    The lawmakers also emphasised the need to draw the attention of the budget office and ministry of finance to the development with a view to having the issue addressed immediately.

    Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, described the non-payment of former presidents as abnormal. 

    Hunkuyi said, “What we have seen here is an abnormality. Before referring any matter to the National Assembly, it is a function of the executive to appropriate funds. Therefore, the SGF should understand that there is something wrong in this office that must be addressed. 

    “There is no way you can run the expenses of this office without cash backing. We definitely have to draw the attention of the budget office and ministry of finance to the problems.” 

    A Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, also criticised the non-payment of former presidents by the office of the SGF. 

    Wamakko said, “We can understand if former President Goodluck Jonathan has not been paid because he just left office. But for someone like Shagari, who lives from hand to mouth is something I can’t understand. This development is really unfortunate;  It doesn’t indicate seriousness, and it doesn’t indicate fairness.”  

    The SGF who laboured to calm the lawmakers said, “When I got into this office, there was a lot of money on this account, but there was no Treasury Single Account.”

    He said, “Before the government left office, they jacked up salaries. We told former President Jonathan and Obasanjo that they cannot earn twice what the others were earning. So we told them we wanted to review it, and we did. So they now earn what the others earn as well. 

    “When I came into office, there was N1.5bn in the account. We had payment of all liabilities which came to 700 million. Then we wrote to the President to return what was left to the TSA. That was how we came back to a zero balance. 

    “It is painful to me because as a person I know all of them (Ex-Presidents) personally. Now, why have we not been able to get the money? We requested for a budget of N700 million complaining, but the President has his way of doing things. 

    “Look around, you’ll see government vehicles breaking down every now and then. Really, I know the challenges the budget office is facing, but the truth is the funds are not just there. In any government, there are certain agencies that must be served first before others. So we have agreed on that. However, we will lean harder on the finance ministry to see that the situation is turned around. 

    “As SGF I’m getting embarrassed and demeaned by chasing money coming from demands. All MDAS come to me for things to be done, and it is not quite easy, but we will try our best. 

    “Last year, these political appointees had nothing. As to assistance, we really need assistance, if not but to retain all that we have budgeted for.”

    Babachir urged the National Assembly to intervene by ensuring it approves funds proposed by his office in the 2017 budget to be submitted soon.

    “What is in our budget, we need your help to defend it. This is part of the change agenda, so we must learn to sew our cloth according to the material,” he said.

    The committee faulted the office of the SGF over replication of 2016 budget details in its 2017 budget proposal.”

  • Obasanjo, Yar’adua, Jonathan blew over N70trn oil money in 15 years – Adio

    Obasanjo, Yar’adua, Jonathan blew over N70trn oil money in 15 years – Adio

    Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Waziri Adio, Tuesday said that the administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan blew over N70 trillion earned from sale of crude oil and gas between 1999 and 2014.

    Adio disclosed this in his office during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

    The NEITI boss insisted that unless the country developed a prudent way of expenditure, it is likely to be in for difficult times in the years to come.

    He noted that it was unfortunate that despite the huge earnings from sales of crude oil over the years, the country was unable to account for over $100 billion in the excess crude account.

    He urged the Federal Government to immediately develop a saving culture that would ensure slash on government spending to the interest of the country.

    Adio said: “Let me inform the committee that we discovered that between 1999 and 2014, the country spent over N70 trillion it received from oil and gas alone. That is a whole lot of money. What is sad is that it was spent without the country being able to show anything for it. I think it is quite unfortunate.”

    “For the sake of emphasis, however, I think if previous administrations had developed a culture for prudent management of resources, Nigeria ought to have over $100 billion saved in the excess crude account. So, going forward, it is necessary for government to think about saving a lot more, and do all it can as well to cut down on wasteful spending if the nation must make progress.”

    On the challenges confronting the agency, Adio told the committee that the country risked suspension from the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), if the agency failed to complete its audit report by a given deadline which comes up in December this year.

    The NEITI boss also decried the paucity of funds in the agency due to late releases by the Ministry of Finance.

    He blamed lack of funds for the inability of the agency to conclude work on its audit report to the EITI.

    He noted that should Nigeria be suspended from the world body as a result of the agency’s failure to meet the December deadline for the submission of its audit report, the development would be an embarrassment on the image and reputation of the country.

    He said, “The agency has been battling with the issue of funding, and this is due to late releases. As a result of this challenge which we face, we have been unable to conclude work on the 2014 audit report.

    The deadline which we have been given is December, and this is due to the two year interval required to come up with one as stipulated by the world body. Failure to meet it may result in Nigeria’s suspension. That will be very embarrassing for us as a nation.”

    Vice Chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North), noted that the committee would require the effort of NEITI to close the communication gap between the agency and the upper chamber with a view to ensuring effective collaboration.

    He said that NEITI is the second agency of government among other that has not received its capital releases adequately met by the federal government.

    He described the development as “a misnomer.”

    Hunkuyi said, “All agencies have had releases between 45 percent and 65 per cent. It is a misnomer to find that your agency up till this time has got less than 30 per cent, a figure which falls short of the average releases.

    “Our focus now is to help you achieve greater heights, and this involves working with you and putting heads together so as to avoid a repeat of non-release of funds in the 2017 budget.”

     

  • N5.1bn fraud: Prosecutor’s absence stalls Jonathan’s ex-aide’s trial

    N5.1bn fraud: Prosecutor’s absence stalls Jonathan’s ex-aide’s trial

    The Federal High Court, Lagos Tuesday adjourned till Wednesday the continued trial of former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-owei Emmanuel Dudafa, following prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo’s absence.

    Dudafa, who the court heard was ‘seriously sick’, was also not brought to court from prison custody.

    He and one Iwejuo Joseph Nna, also known as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, are standing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris on a N5.1billion fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The two accused persons were alleged to have used four companies namely; Pluto Property Development Company Limited, Avalon Property Development Company Limited, Seagate Property Development Company Limited, Rotato Property Development Company Limited, and Ebiwise Resources Limited.

    At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, Justice Idris read out a letter from the EFCC and signed by Oyedepo seeking an adjournment to enable him defend an appeal filed by Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), against the Commission in suit number CA/497/2016.

    Tarfa is being prosecuted by the EFCC in three courts on charges including offering gratification to judicial officers and obstruction of public officers in the performance of their duties.

    Defence counsel Mr. Gboyega Oyewole, who did not oppose the application, said he was surprised at his client’s absence.

    “On enquiry from Prison officials, I was told that Dudafa was seriously sick that was why they didn’t bring him to court,” Oyewole said.

    He added that the anti-graft agency had “flagrantly disobeyed” the order of the court to hand over Dudafa’s international passport to the court registrar.

    Consequently, Justice Idris granted the adjournment till November 10, for continuation of trial.