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Tag: Jonathan

  • Fed Govt votes N280m as car allowances for Obasanjo, Gowon, IBB, Jonathan, others

    Fed Govt votes N280m as car allowances for Obasanjo, Gowon, IBB, Jonathan, others

    Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Goodluck Jonathan, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abubakar Abdulsalam and Chief Ernest Shonekan have been paid N40 million as monetisation. The money is part of a proposed N280 million for vehicle procurement, documents from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation have shown.

    The allocation, which was meant for the 2017 fiscal year, was in the documents showing procurements totaling N2.492 billion in the 2017 capital expenditure and earmarked for seven former Presidents and Heads of State.

    For this year, N2.492 billion capital expenditure is proposed, according to the report submitted  by the SGF during the 2017/2018 budget defence session held by the Hon. Husseini Suleiman Kanagiwa-headed House Committee on Governmental Affairs.

    The N240 million balance for the procurement of vehicles remains outstanding and is meant to be cash-backed before the budget year runs out in March. An additional  N96 million is proposed for procurement of vehicles in the 2018 budget estimates.

    About N120 million was proposed for purchase of vehicles for former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and the late Alex Ekwueme and had been released in 2017.

    Mustapha also told the lawmakers that N65 million was earmarked for building a website in the 2018 estimates.

    The committee members were not happy with some aspects of the presentation, especially the proposed N18.360 million for purchase of 27 laptop computer (Mac Book) in 2018; N,995,190,118 for purchase of security equipment.

    Also, the N64 million for purchase of monitoring trucks also got a knock, as well as the N316 million for purchase of motor vehicles; N124 million for four of 18-seater buses and two 30-seater buses.

    Estimates in the document show that N130 million was also proposed for procurement of two Land Cruiser Prado Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs); N65.551 million for ambulance and clinic equipment while N170 million was proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebrations same as in 2017.

    The SGF told the lawmakers that the Mac Book computers were meant for Council Chamber because of the high volume of work they do.

    Other proposed expenditures for 2018 include: N1.734 billion for political officers and standing committee; N760.277 million honorarium and sitting allowance; N133.421 million for welfare packages.

    Similarly, N88.65 million is for the purchase of office furniture and fittings; N18.36 million for purchase of computers and N456.64 million for computer software acquisition while N106.834 is for cleaning & fumigation services for the SGF headquarters.

    N116.64 million is meant for support/maintenance of e-Council document management; N60 million for upgrade and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers Conference system; N30 million radio frequency identification device system (RFIC); N35 million for expansion of local area network/OSGF website upgrade and N40 million for socio-economic impact studies challenges/solutions.

    However, the 2017 budget document showed that out of the total sum of N20.800 million proposed for the 52No of Mac Book procured in 2017, the sum of N20.790 million (99.52%) has been released while from the total sum of N170 million proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebration, the sum of N138 million was released.

    From the sum of N35 million proposed for 1 Xerox D125 Heavy Duty Photocopy Machine to enhance timely production of Council memoranda, the sum of N34,938,750 was released (99.83%) leaving a balance of N61,250 only.

    Also, out of the total sum of N55 million proposed for upgrading and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers System, the sum of N54,400,500 has been released leaving the balance of N599,500 only (98.91%).

  • 2019: Jonathan’s kinsmen to work with Dickson

    2019: Jonathan’s kinsmen to work with Dickson

    Kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan from Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, have resolved to work with Governor Seriake Dickson, in future general elections.

    The kinsmen, who rose from their meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, passed a vote of confidence on the governor, saying he had done well for the Ogbia Kingdom.

    The meeting, which was initiated by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, was attended by many indigenes.

    They included the commissioners for Special Duties, Mr. Fred Ogbua; Information and Orientation, Iworiso-Markson; Chieftaincy and Community Development, Mr. Salvation Ibegi; member representing Ogbia Constituency 1 in the House of Assembly, Mr. Mietama Obodor among others.

    The kinsmen, who met under the auspices of Ogbia Restoration Caucus (ORC), said Dickson was instrumental to the envious political profile of their brother, Jonathan, from his days as a deputy governor to his period in the presidency.

    The Chairman of the Caucus, Chief George Okirinya, said Dickson was one of the few persons, who worked behind the scene providing the needed support and encouragement to enable Jonathan succeed in all the offices he occupied.

    “Even after his Presidency, Dickson hosted him to a heroic reception in appreciation for his service to Nigeria,” he said.

    He added that the governor had continued to provide uncommon leadership and political sagacity in galvanising support for the stability of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Okirinya said apart from appointing many people from Ogbia into his government, the governor had initiated numerous projects in the council such as the model schools, general hospital and provision of funds for the Ogbia-Nembe road.

    He said the people were also grateful that the governor had concluded plans to construct all internal roads, reconstruct the Ikoli and Imiringi bridges and the Anyama road among others.

    He said: “Having taking note of these remarkable actions, which have given the Ogbia people a pride of place, it is our resolve to state categorically that indeed Governor Dickson loves us and means well for us. We are, therefore, on this day passing a vote of confidence in him assuring him of our total support.

    “Governor Dickson is a good man, a great mobiliser, one of the best managers of resources and leader we have experienced as a state”.

    The vote of confidence passed in the governor was later formalised by a motion moved by Obodor and seconded by Ogbua.

    A six-man committee headed by Ogbua was inaugurated. It was mandated it to reconcile the aggrieved members in Ogbia, who left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ogbua said: “The only way we can win elections is to reconcile everybody. We will do everything possible to deliver on our mandate”.

    Iworiso-Markson thanked the stakeholders for attending the meeting, saying Ogbia remained one big PDP family.

    He added: “We are united and we are strong. His meeting is to reinforce the fact that we are one. We may have issues because there is no family that doesn’t have issues. But I believe that the reconciliation committee knows the importance of its job of uniting everybody.”

  • Buhari, Jonathan congratulate George Weah

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated Mr George Weah on his election as the next President of the Republic of Liberia.

    President Buhari also commended the Liberian people on the peaceful conduct of the historic presidential run-off election, stressing that “this is another plus on Africa’s democratic scoreboard.”

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, equally applauded the efforts of the National Election Commission of Liberia, as well as regional and international observers who contributed immensely to the electoral process and the strengthening of post-conflict democracy in the West African country.

    Describing Weah’s victory as an affirmation of the will of the Liberian people to remain united, peaceful and prosperous, President Buhari pledged Nigeria’s readiness to work with Liberia on issues of mutual interest at bilateral, regional and global levels for the benefit of citizens of both countries.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has also congratulated Liberia’s President-elect.

    He advised him to maintain his policy of open-mindedness in his new position.

    Weah, a retired international footballer and standard bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in the presidential election was declared winner Thursday after the Boxing Day run-off polls with over 60 per cent of the votes.

    Jonathan who has just returned from Monrovia after leading the National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Elections Observation Mission to Liberia, posted the goodwill message to Weah on his Facebook page, saying. “I congratulate the declared winner, Mr. George Weah. I urge him to continue as he has started, with an open arms policy. Everybody is a winner when democracy wins. And democracy has won today.”

  • Jonathan congratulates Liberia’s President-elect Weah

    Jonathan congratulates Liberia’s President-elect Weah

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday congratulated Liberian President-elect, George Opong Weah, for winning the West African nation’s election.

    He advised the new Liberian leader to maintain his policy of open-mindedness in his new position.

    Weah, a former soccer star and standard bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in the presidential election was declared winner on Thursday after garnering over 60 percent of the votes in the election run off held on December 26.

    Jonathan, who has just returned from Monrovia after leading the National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Elections Observation Mission to Liberia, posted the goodwill message to Weah on

    his Facebook page, saying: “I congratulate the declared winner, Mr. George Weah. I urge him to continue as he has started, with an open arms policy. Everybody is a winner when democracy wins. And democracy has won today.”

    The former President also commended Liberians for demonstrating the willingness to give democracy chance.

    He added: “Throughout my political life, I have lived by the creed that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of their citizens. I am most grateful to the nation of Liberia and especially the candidates – Mr. George Weah and Mr. Joseph Boakai, for living up to this creed. As co-leader of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Elections Observation Mission to Liberia for these elections, I salute the zest for democracy of the Liberian people.”

     

     

  • Jonathan, NDI, others hail Liberians for peaceful, orderly polls

    Jonathan, NDI, others hail Liberians for peaceful, orderly polls

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is co-leading the National Democratic Institute Election Observer group to the Liberian Presidential election run-off election, and other leaders of the delegation have declared the Boxing Day poll in Liberia as peaceful, orderly and well-organised.

    The NDI made the disclosure in its preliminary statement issued in Monrovia on the December 26 Liberian Presidential run-off.

    The delegation, however, stressed that official election results were not yet complete. It called on “Liberian political parties and candidates to cooperate in good faith with the National Elections Commission and for the results to be expeditiously released.”

    Speaking of his experienced on the field,  former President Jonathan said: “I am proud of Liberians, who have come from crisis to democracy and have shown themselves to be a model of peace and stability in the region. Democracy goes beyond election day, and if Liberia succeeds, West Africa succeeds, Africa succeeds, and the world succeeds.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Kosovo’s former President Atifete Jahjaga said: “The NDI delegation would like to congratulate the people of Liberia for exercising their right to vote and for making a historic step towards the consolidation of democracy in their country. It is my hope that the positive trends that we have observed during this election will be sustained and further improved during future elections.”

    Stressing that voting was peaceful, orderly and well-organised, the preliminary statement also highlighted “aspects of voter participation, election administration, women and youth participation and security.”

    The NDI Liberia international election observer delegation included 36 political and civic leaders, elections experts and regional specialists from 18 countries across Africa, Europe and North America.

    In the delegation’s leadership are: Dr Jonathan;  Jahjaga; Hanna Tetteh (former Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister) and Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh (NDI’s Regional Director).

    The delegation’s preliminary statement offered recommendations to the government of Liberia, the National Elections Commission, political parties and candidates, security forces, civil society, the media, the international community, as well as other stakeholders.

    The recommendations’ focus was on reviewing legal framework, communicating timely and accurate information, promoting peace, improving women’s participation and continuing to engage citizens in the electoral process.

    The institute has been observing the Liberian electoral process since February. NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation, dedicated to supporting and strengthening democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

    Over the last 25 years, NDI has conducted more than 150 election observation missions in 62 countries. NDI’s first assignment  in Liberia was in 1997.

    The Institute has maintained a permanent in-country office in Liberia since 2003.

    NDI’s programmes in Liberia, which include technical assistance for voter education, citizen election monitoring, women’s participation and poll watching for all political parties, are funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

  • Jonathan, others commend Liberians over peaceful election

    Jonathan, others commend Liberians over peaceful election

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the co-leader of the National Democratic Institute Election Observer group to the Liberian presidential election run-off election, and other leaders of the delegation have declared the Boxing Day election in the West African country as peaceful, orderly and well-organized.

    The National Democratic Institute (NDI) stated this in its preliminary statement issued on the election.

    The delegation, however, stressed that official election results were not yet complete and urged the Liberian political parties and candidates to cooperate in good faith with the National Election Commission for the results to be expeditiously released.

    Speaking of his experience in Liberia, Jonathan said: “I am proud of Liberians, who have come from crisis to democracy and have shown themselves to be a model of peace and stability in the region. Democracy goes beyond election day and if Liberia succeeds, West Africa succeeds, Africa succeeds, and the world succeeds.”

    The Kosovo’s former President, Atifete Jahjaga, added: “The NDI delegation would like to congratulate the people of Liberia for exercising their right to vote and for making a historic step towards the consolidation of democracy in their country. It is my hope that the positive trends that we have observed during this election will be sustained and further improved during future elections.”

    The NDI Liberia international election observer delegation included 36 political and civic leaders, elections experts and regional specialists from 18 countries across Africa, Europe and North America.

    Other members of the team are – Hanna Tetteh, Ghana’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Regional Director of NDI.

     

  • Liberia run-off poll: Jonathan meets candidates, sues for peace

    Liberia run-off poll: Jonathan meets candidates, sues for peace

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan  has sued for peace and transparency in Tuesday’s presidential run-off election  in Liberia.

    Jonathan, who is co-leading the United States’  National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Elections Observation Mission to the country, made the appeal in Monrovia.

    The former president spoke during separate meetings with the two contestants in the race – former FIFA World Football Player of the year, George Weah, and incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai.

    His media adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, made public the meetings in a statement on Tuesday morning.

    While calling for a free and fair process in the Boxing Day poll, he advised the two presidential candidates to accept the result of the election  in the interest of peace and stability in Liberia.

    Weah of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)  and Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) are battling to succeed outgoing President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, whose constitutional two terms in office end in January.

    Jonathan met with both men alongside former President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, Hanna Tetteh, and other NDI leaders, according to Eze.

    He noted that the future of Liberia depended on the outcome of the run-off, urging Weah and Boakai to advise their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully during the election.

    “In any election, there are winners and losers. Only one presidential candidate will be declared winner.

    “The other should accept the election results to avoid a political crisis, especially if there are no good grounds to challenge the outcome,” he was quoted as saying.

    Jonathan equally called on the National Electoral Commission, security agencies and other stakeholders to be conscientious in playing their role to ensure a “peaceful, inclusive and transparent electoral process.’’

    “The economy of Liberia will benefit immensely from a positive and peaceful outcome  as a free and fair process would go a long way in reassuring investors that the country is now safe for lasting investment.

    “If the election fails it means Liberia has failed, it also means that Liberia has failed West Africa and failed the entire Africa,’’ he said.

    The former president noted that Nigeria and other West African nations played vital roles in stabilising the nation, urging Liberians not to do anything that could jeopardise the post-war peace in the land.

    “ Although both candidates pointed out some lapses in the preparations, especially with the issue of the voter register, they, however,  agreed to accept the outcome of the results.

    Speaking at the meeting, Weah reportedly said he was prepared  to accept the outcome of the election.

    “If the Liberian people decide that the other side will have another twelve years in the Presidency, we will call and congratulate them.

    “But as I said, if the election is free and fair, we are going to win. This is because we have worked so hard and our people want the change which we are offering,” he said.

    Jonathan and other NDI team members also met with the chairman of NEC, Mr Jerome Korkoya, where  he emphasised the need for a transparent, free and fair election.(NAN)

  • Jonathan’s ex-campaign chief forfeits 38 houses

    Jonathan’s ex-campaign chief forfeits 38 houses

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced 38 choice houses to a former Chairman of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Ngozi Olojeme.

    Mrs Olojeme, Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Goodluck Campaign Organisation in 2015, is being investigated by the EFCC for alleged diversion of $48,485,127 from the accounts of the NSITF.

    Of N62.3billion fraud discovered in NSITF, $48,485,127 is allegedly credited to Mrs. Olojeme.

    The anti- graft agency has secured a court order to place the assets under interim forfeiture, pending Mrs. Olojeme’s trial.

    Besides, EFCC has obtained a warrant from the court to detain the suspect for two weeks to complete the first round of the investigation and her arraignment.

    Mrs. Olojeme, who is said to have taken ill, is at a private hospital in Abuja where EFCC detectives are keeping an eye on her.

    EFCC detectives uncovered 40 houses, 38 of which are believed to be Mrs Olojeme’s.

    Of the 38 houses, detectives rated the mansion at No. 51, Kainji Crescent in Maitama, as a “multi-billion naira piece with some foreign leaders occasionally staying there when they come visiting”.

    The golden mansion was at the weekend sealed off by the EFCC.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “EFCC  recovered over 40 properties out of which 38 belong to the ex-NSITF chairman, including the property at No. 51, Kainji Crescent, off Lake Chad Crescent in Maitama District.

    “The Kainji Crescent property is said to have housed some foreign leaders when they came visiting. It is a multi-billion naira mansion.

    “We have invoked sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004, which empower the agency to apply the Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause.”

    Section 28 of the EFCC Act reads: “Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.”

    The EFCC source went on: “As I am talking to you, we have placed all the over 40 assets under interim forfeiture based on the approval of our application by the court. The assets will be temporarily forfeited until the end of the trial of all the affected suspects.”

    “We have also secured a court order to detain her for two weeks in preparation for Dr. Ngozi Olojeme’s arraignment in connection with the alleged diversion of $48,485,127 from NSITF’s account. We have charges already prepared and we will be arraigning her soon.

    “But she sought for medical attention in a private hospital for an undisclosed illness. We accorded her the right to seek medical aid and deployed in detectives and sentry guards to the hospital.”

    The EFCC has already arraigned a former Managing Director of NSITF, Umar Munir Abubakar, and four others for alleged diversion of N18billion.

    The others are Henry Ekhasomi Sambo, Adebayo Adebowale Aderibigbe, Chief Richard U. Uche and Aderemi Adegboyega.

    The cash was said to be the Federal Government’s contribution to the take-off grants and Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) for Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    EFCC’s report on preliminary investigation said in part: “That through this process, Dr. Ngozi Olojeme, the then NSITF board chairman, has collected a total sum of $48,485,127 from Mr. Chuka Eze (her account officer at FBN), which cash he collected on her behalf being the dollar equivalent of monies paid to BDCs by NSITF contractors.

    “She and others also diverted huge cash allocated for allowances of its staff and compensation to contributors. Detectives actually traced some of the NSITF funds in the personal accounts of Olojeme and the former MD, Umar Abubakar.

    “For instance, Abubakar and others dishonestly converted to N18billion, being contribution from the Federal Government of Nigeria as take-off grants and Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) for MDAs.

    “The said sum was diverted into personal accounts by an e-payment mandate jointly signed by Umar Munir Abubakar and Henry Ekhasomi Sambo.”

    The report added: “It was discovered that the NSITF accounts in First Bank of Nigeria and other banks have witnessed a total turnover of over N62, 358,401,927 between 2012 and 2015 from the Employee Compensation Scheme contributions.

    “That out of the N62bn, the Federal Government contributed N13,600,000,000 while the sum of N48,758,401,927.80 was contributed by the private sector. That there were several payments to individuals and companies from the NSITF bank accounts for purported contracts or consultancy services.

    “That some individuals and companies that received these payments, in turn, transferred part of the monies directly to the NSITF officials while others transferred huge sums to bureau de change operators who changed them to dollars.”

  • Liberia’s Presidential Re-run: Jonathan leads NDI Observation Mission

    Liberia’s Presidential Re-run: Jonathan leads NDI Observation Mission

    Former President  Goodluck Jonathan is due in Monrovia today  as leader of the delegation of the United States National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Elections Observation Mission to Liberia’s presidential run-off polls, scheduled for Boxing Day.

    The run-off election is being contested by the ruling Unity Party candidate and current Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, and the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) candidate, George Weah.

    The NDI delegation of 35 political and civic leaders, elections experts and regional specialists from 18 countries across Africa, Europe and North America comprises Atifete Jahjaga, former President of Kosovo; Hanna Tetteh, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana; and NDI regional director Dr, Christopher Fomunyoh.

    Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, said Jonathan will be leading the delegation, alongside former President Jahjaga.

    Eze quoted Jonathan as saying he is “honoured to co-lead NDI’s international delegation to support transparent and peaceful elections in Liberia, especially given the close relationship Nigeria has always had with this country.”

    Former President Jonathan, who is also the Chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation was initially invited as co-lead of the NDI team for the last October 10 presidential elections in Liberia but could not honour the invitation because of his earlier commitment to attend the 15th Rhodes Forum in Greece where he presented a paper on ‘Multi-Polarity and Dialogue in Regional and Global Development.’

    According to NDI, the election “represents a historic moment for Liberia, as the country will have the first opportunity for a peaceful transfer of power from one democratically-elected president to another. These polls would also mark the end of tenure for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female democratically-elected president in Africa.”

    NDI delegates have been meeting with the National Elections Commission, government officials, political leaders and civil society organizations, after which they will observe polling places on election day.

    NDI has organized more than 150 international election observer delegations in 62 countries and has established a reputation for impartiality and professionalism.

  • Jonathan prays for Buhari at 75

    Jonathan prays for Buhari at 75

    Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his 75th birthday.
    In a statement issued by his media adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze on Saturday, the ex-President described Buhari as a statesman whose rare experience of leading Nigeria at different times, has earned him a special place in history.
    The statement reads:
    “I wish to most sincerely congratulate you on your 75th birthday. My family and I are pleased to join your numerous well wishers to felicitate with you as you mark this day.
    “Your Excellency, you are a statesman whose place in history as Nigeria’s leader, at different epochs in our nation’s development journey, is guaranteed.
    “I pray that God Almighty that has kept you alive and healthy will continue to protect and strengthen you as you lend your efforts to the bid to realize our collective dreams for a greater and more prosperous nation. Congratulations!” it stated