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Tag: Jonathan

  • Anambra PDP: we don’t regret voting for Jonathan

    •Chieftains support Metuh, Ekweremadu

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State has said it does not regret voting for former President Goodluck Jonathan in the last elections and would do so again, if given another chance.

    The party warned those fuelling crisis against Metuh and others to desist from such.

    A statement signed by Uche Ekwunife, Stella Oduah, Andy Uba, and other party chieftains said PDP would not allow anybody, group or political party drag its Igbo leaders into the mud.

    Vice Chairman Central Ken Enenmuo said it was wrong to accuse Metuh of masterminding rigging in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States. He described the allegations as false.

    The statement reads: “One of the sins of Chief Olisah Metuh, as enumerated by former workers at the PDP National Secretariat, was that he had been at Wadata Plaza in the last 16 years as a party officer.

    “We wish to remind the workers that Olisa Metuh is not, and was never appointed at the zonal or national level, rather, he was elected to serve in all the capacities he has served.

    “We are not unaware of the plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to employ every means to distract and to discredit Chief Olisa Metuh and Senator Ike Ekweremadu to deny the PDP a credible voice in its new opposition role.

    “We pass a vote of confidence on our leader, Chief Olisa Metuh, and urge him to ignore the antics of the APC and continue with his works, alongside other members of the National Working Committee”.

  • Borno elders seek Jonathan, others’ probe over military’s funding

    Borno State elders’  have urged the Federal Government to probe the alleged poor funding of the military by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    In a statement by its Chair, Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, the Borno Elders Forum said some revelations made by the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, must be investigated.

    The group wants Jonathan and others questioned over  killings by Boko Haram insurgents due to the milltary’s alleged ill-equipment.

    It is also demanding compensation for relations of the dead.

    Air Chief Marshal Badeh was reported to have said that he presided over a military that was ill equipped and its troops poorly motivated.

    To the forum, the comments are “very revealing”  and extremely disturbing.

    Said the forum: “What particularly baffles the Borno Elders Forum was that at some point in 2014, the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, had said it publicly after assessing the true situation as the man on ground, that troops deployed in the fight against insurgents seriously lacked and required better military equipment and that those at battle fronts were poorly motivated. Several voices were raised in support of the governor’s position.

    “The governor’s comments were completely rebuffed by the then President who went as far as threatening to withdraw soldiers from Borno as he spoke on live television interview relayed by the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, at a Presidential Media Chat.

    “Not only did the President rebuke the Governor and, by extension, the people of Borno State, his aides followed suite and roundly condemned the Governor.

    “The Borno Elders Forum deliberately refused to make any comment at that time because the Forum thought that as Commander-in-Chief, President Jonathan was in the best position to speak on the capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Forum remained silent out of wisdom and not to complicate matters.

    “To our very rude shock, it turned out on Thursday, coming from an authoritative mouth, that indeed the governor was absolutely right after all.

    “He has been vindicated by no less a person but the then Chief of Defence Staff who was the symbol of the Nigerian Armed Forces,” the forum said.

    It added that in view of Badeh’s revelation, a National Judicial Commission of Enquiry headed by an incorruptible judge from the South be set up.

    The commission, the group said, should “ask the immediate past President questions on why his administration refused to provide the military with the required functional and superior equipment whereas our sons and daughters were exposed to mass murder, severe injuries and grave destructions of our communities.”

    The group said anyone  found culpable, should be charged with genocide against the people of Borno or at least criminal negligence at the International Criminal Court of Justice.

    “The retired CDS retired should also be asked why he kept silent when the military under his command was not provided with the right equipment.

    “He had the option of speaking or resigning as he ought to have done in order to draw attention of the world and by that he would have saved lives of Borno people,” the group said.

    On those to be compensated, the group said a list of Borno citizens killed be compiled and their relations fully compensated “for the death of their loved ones as a result of criminal negligence.”

    It said a list of soldiers sent on missions without being properly equipped and exposed to death should be also compiled and celebrated, with their survivors fully compensated “since their bread winners died not just in combat but out of negligence of those in authority.”

    The forum urged President Muhammadu Buhari to liaise with the National Assembly to set up a Presidential Armed Forces Capacity Monitoring and Evaluation Unit which could be directly supervised by the President.

    “The current service chiefs should learn from their predecessors by building on their successes and avoiding their mistakes with regards to refusal to tell the nation the true situation of things where political leaders fail to meet critical needs of the military on matters of national security.

    “We urge all sons and daughters of Borno wherever they are to continually accord 100 percent support to our gallant armed forces and pray for them to succeed in their national assignment of keeping Borno safe and secured.

    “We urge President Buhari to remain focused and not to be distracted in the fight against insurgency,” the group said.

     

  • Borno elders demand Jonathan’s apology over killings

    Borno elders demand Jonathan’s apology over killings

    Following the disclosure by the immediate past Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Badeh that the Nigerian troops were ill equipped for the fight against Boko Haram, Borno Elders’ Forum on Tuesday called on former president Goodluck Jonathan to make an unreserved apology to the people of the state for his failure to handle the crisis.

    The forum in a statement signed by its chairman, Amb. Usman Gaji Galtimari, wondered why Governor Kashim Shettima was “almost hanged to death” when he made the same assertion as Badeh.

    The elders were also shocked that Badeh was complacent with a sensitive issue that led to massive loss of lives and property without justification.

    “What particularly baffles the Borno Elders’ Forum was that at some point in 2014, the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, had said it publicly after assessing the true situation as the man on ground that troops deployed in the fight against insurgents seriously lacked and required better military equipment and that those at battle fronts were poorly motivated. Several voices were raised in support of the Governor’s position.

    “The Governor’s comments were completely rebuffed by the then President of Nigeria  who went as far as threatening to withdraw soldiers from Borno as he spoke on live television interview relayed by the Nigerian Television Authority, at a Presidential Media Chat. Not only did the President rebuke the Governor and by extension, the people of Borno State, his aides followed suite and roundly condemned the Governor,” the statement said.

    The elders in the light of Badeh’s confession, which according to them has vindicated the governor, demanded the following:

    –  A National Judicial Commission of Enquiry under an incorruptible judge from preferably the Southern Nigeria be set up to ask the immediate past President questions on why his administration refused to provide the military with the required functional and superior equipment whereas our sons and daughters were exposed to mass murder, severe injuries and grave destructions of our communities

    – If the former government is found wanting it should be charged for genocide against the people of Borno State or at least criminal negligence at the International Criminal Court of Justice.

    – The retired CDS retired should also be asked why he kept silent when the military under his command was not provided with the right equipment. He had the option of speaking or resigning as he ought to have done in order to draw attention of the world and by that he would have saved lives of Borno people.

    – A list of citizens of Borno State killed from the time the issue of military capacity became in question, is compiled and relations of those killed are fully compensated for the death of their loved ones as a result of criminal negligence.

    – A list of soldiers sent on missions without being properly equipped and exposed to death at different battle fronts in Borno State, is also compiled and that they are specifically celebrated with their survivors fully compensated since their bread winners died not just in combat but out of negligence of those in authority.

    – An unreserved apology is tendered by the immediate past President and his service chiefs to the people of Borno State, especially those lost relations and also to Governor Kashim Shettima for all the humiliation he was made to suffer for telling the truth about capacity of the military at that time.

  • Amaechi: fuel subsidy under Jonathan rose from N300b to N1.9tr

    Amaechi: fuel subsidy under Jonathan rose from N300b to N1.9tr

    •‘Wike afraid Buhari’ll make me a FEC member’

    Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said subsidy payment under former President Goodluck Jonathan rose from N300 billion to N1 trillion without justification.

    He said his successor, Nyesom Wike, is jittery that President Muhammadu Buhari would make him a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The ex-governor spoke at a reception organised in his honour in Abuja on Sunday night.

    Amaechi noted that since Wike and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state were jittery that his appointment would be the main determinant of the state politics, they have moved to tarnish his image in the eyes of President Buhari, who detests corruption.

    He said besides disagreeing with  Jonathan on his management of the economy, “I never insulted him.”

    Amaechi explained that he incurred the wrath of Jonathan when he decided to contest for the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

    The former governor added that Jonathan got angrier with him when he rejected the fraudulent N1.9trillion Petroleum Support Fund (oil subsidy) claim.

    Amaechi recalled: “One day I was in a meeting with Mr. President (Jonathan) and the argument was the $1.9trillion for oil subsidy. I told him as the chairman, Governors Forum I will not support it. I said your Excellency, we are already in court on the issue of oil subsidy. Since that day the ex-President abused the hell out of my life.”

    According to him, people misconstrued his strict adherence to principles for stubbornness because he disagreed with the former President on the management of the treasury.

    He went down memory lane: “I can tell you how my trouble with the former President started. As chairman of Governors’ Forum, the oil subsidy was N300billion under President Obasanjo. Under President Yar’Adua subsidy was N300billion. Six months of president Jonathan oil subsidy rose from N300 to N1.9trillion. Is it that we now doubled our population or bought more machines, began to manufacture things? As chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, I was in a position to get my own share of the N1.9trillion. I chose the path of honesty and truthfulness. You cannot catch me doing such a thing.”

    He said some of his colleagues in the forum, including the former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu and the former Jigawa Satate Governor, Sule Lamido were also against Jonathan’s style of leadership but they failed to pullout of the PDP with him and other governors.

    Amaechi attributed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the integrity and popularity of President Buhari, noting that his instincts never ceased to tell him that his party would be victorious.

    Being the director general of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, he hailed his team for their tenacious struggle and success throughout the campaign.

    Recalling how a crowd followed their campaign train, especially in the North, he said “it got to a point I became afraid because of the over two million people (crowd) around us in Kano.”

    He reassured the electorate that in order not to be voted our of office as the PDP in 2019, “we will not disappoint voters in Jesus name.”

    On Wike, he said “may God not give me the kind of ambition of Nyesom Wike; he can sell anybody.”

    He said: “Let me tell you what is currently going on in Rivers State. The governor and PDP are afraid of me getting an appointment to the national executive council because that will determine what the politics of Rivers State will be.

    “And they know that the current President abhors corruption and the only way they can stop me from getting the appointment is to paint me with corruption. And the people that know me in Rivers State know that I don’t like money. But I am not angry with them. My anger is that in Rivers they know I don’t like money. And I expect them to defend me that I don’t like money.”

    The same Wike, according to Amaechi, who used to advise him that merely executing project without wasting money on people would not earn him a second term in office, has sponsored newspapers’ adverts to undermine his reputation.

    Amaechi added: “Governor Nyesom Wike has again sponsored one advert in a bid to undermine me. Only God knows that if there is one thing I don’t like, I don’t like money. Anybody close to me knows that I don’t like money. Even Nyesom Wike told me you will not win second term if you don’t use money. So all this wasted projects will not deliver us. And I said let us do it once and for all.”

    Those present at the reception were: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Aisha-Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu represented by Mr Dele Alake, Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai, House Leader  Femi Gbajiabiamila, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, former Bayelsa State Governor Timipreye Silva, among others.

     

  • Oshiomhole: primitive looting reigned under Jonathan

    Oshiomhole: primitive looting reigned under Jonathan

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said there was massive looting of the nation’s commonwealth under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The governor said although he was not in a position to determine whether the former President was guilty or if he acquiesced to the looting, he added that Dr Jonathan should take responsibility for what happened under his watch.

    In an interview with Sahara Reporters TV in Washington DC, the United States (U.S), Oshiomhole said although he had raised many questions on the tenure of the former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, he had nothing personal against her.

    He said: “What is obvious is that so much money was diverted and unaccounted for from government treasury, not just from Excess Crude Account (ECA) but also from other agencies of government. The numbers are huge. For example, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reports that it earned about N8 trillion within three to four years. But over the same period, it claimed to have spent N3.5 trillion and paid to the Federation Account about N4.1 trillion. So, the cost of running NNPC was as much as the cost of running the federation –  federal, state and local governments.

    “That tells you the amount of primitive stealing that went on. The numbers are mind-boggling. So, when we talk of excess crude, that is just one element.”

    He said his grouse about Dr okonjo-Iweala was that as the Coordinating minister of the economy, so much sleaze and acts of malfeasance went on under her watch without raising an alarm.

    Oshiomhole said: “She has to come clean. Having accepted the role of the coordinating minister, so many things went wrong with the Nigerian economy, even to the extent that for the first time in our history, even the Federal Government could not pay salaries; it had to borrow. The pension scheme has been drawn down, the social purpose of the pension scheme has now been defeated.

    “So, first of all we are asking her to accept responsibility that she failed to manage the economy properly. Two, she never gave in, even when we argued that the economy was in distress. She is on record as always saying no, the economy was fine; the economy was strong, that we were the largest economy on the continent. Of course, people are not fooled. It was just revaluing our assets and playing with the numbers.

    “What has changed in the quality of life of the people? You have rebased the economy, but have you rebased the quality of life? You haven’t!

    “If you claim to have the largest economy, you can’t also plead insolvency at the same time. What we are simply asking her to do is to open the whole book. “What the council has asked us to do is that the Committee of Four Governors is to look at this excess crude thing and show what went in, who took what, when and who authorised it. At least, we have a basis to start. But I think, going forward, we will need a forensic audit by competent auditors to look at the books so that the whole truth can be known, even if we can’t retrieve some of the money. But I believe a lot can be retrieved and it is good that we have a basis to identify who is responsible and who to be blamed.

    “I think people need to recognise that from my own background, I am never intimidated. As a labour leader, I questioned authorities, I interrogated power. The fact of being in government doesn’t give me much comfort as to be indifferent about gross abuse of power and criminal diversion of funds.

    “What should I hate her for? What for? I am not a federal official; I am as privileged as any other governor. But I am troubled by people saying one thing in the afternoon and doing another at night.

    “People should ask the question: How come each time the issue of corruption and abuse or diversion of funds was raised, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the first to defend rather than show concern and have open mind?

    “You remember when the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor (now Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II), who you can’t dismiss, talked about billions of dollars diverted. But Mrs Okonjo-Iweala was quick to say it was not $20 billion but only $10.8 billion…”

  • APC backs Buhari’s probe of Jonathan’s tenure

    APC backs Buhari’s probe of Jonathan’s tenure

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed strong support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to probe the immediate past federal government, saying the revelations of mind-boggling corruption that are just beginning to emerge have made such a probe imperative.

    The party said in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said; ”Some people have insinuated that the Buhari Administration should ignore the massive looting of our patrimony and move on. We say no responsible government can afford to do that, because it will amount to endorsing corruption and impunity.”

    It said in the oil sector alone, billions of dollars have been skimmed off by pathologically-corrupt public officials, wondering how the government of the day can meet its obligations to the citizens if it refuses to recover the huge funds taken away by thieving officials

    ”It is an irony that those who are suggesting that the Buhari Administration should turn a blind eye to the incomprehensible looting are the same ones accusing the government of not doing anything. It is
    even a cruel irony that the same party that presided over what is fast emerging as the worst governance in the history of our country is the same one that is daily bad-mouthing an Administration that is cleaning up its mess,” APC said.

    The party said even if all the acts of corruption that were perpetrated during the tenure of the last Administration are limited to what is now in the public domain, it is still absolutely exigent for the Buhari Administration to do all it can to bring the perpetrators to book and recover the looted funds.

    ”Where does one start from? Is it the fact that the NNPC failed to remit 3.8 trillion Naira to the Federation Account or the mind-blowing stealing of 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day? Is it the fact that the NNPC itself does not know how many bank accounts it had or into which ones the payments for Nigerian crude are made? Could anyone have imagined that a government minister would steal the unprecedentedly-huge amount of 6 billion US dollars of public funds as being alleged?

    ”How does any sane person rationalize the fact that 1 billion dollars was unilaterally and illegally withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account just because, as the immediate past Minister of Finance has disclosed, the President ordered the withdrawal? What about the billions of Naira waivers recklessly approved to dubious importers by the Jonathan administration?

    ”Is it not clear now that the stealing and the profligacy – more than anything else, including the fall in oil price – helped to drastically reduce the monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about
    800 billion Naira to about 400 billion Naira, thus pauperizing the states and the local governments, and by extension the citizenry?

    ”Against the background of the stunning revelations, what message will any government be sending to its citizens and indeed the global community by looking the other way, when it could still recover some
    of the looted funds for the benefit of the people? This is why we are supporting the Buhari Administration’s probe decision, and calling on all Nigerians to support ongoing efforts to get to the root of the matter,” it said.

    APC said it is now clear that the Jonathan Administration cleverly delayed giving the then incoming Buhari government the handover note so as to avoid being asked critical questions pertaining to the
    unprecedented looting under its watch.

     

  • Probe Jonathan, wife, APC chief urges Buhari

    Probe Jonathan, wife, APC chief urges Buhari

    A kinsman of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Perekeme Kpodo, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute his predecessor and his wife, Dame Patience.

    Kpodo, who addressed reporters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said the former President, his wife and allies should be tried for alleged financial misdeeds.

    The Bayelsa indigene declared himself a factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He faulted the defection of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to APC.

    According to him, the acceptance of the defectors to the APC by the Tiwei Orunimighe-led executive committee was illegal.

    Kpodo said those rushing into the APC aimed to escape prosecution by the Buhari administration.

    The APC chieftain described most of the defectors as corrupt politicians who should face the law.

    He urged President Buhari not to be discouraged by pressure from those whipping up sentiments to protect Jonathan and his wife.

    Kpodo said the APC stance against corrupt associates of the last administration of Jonathan was well known.

    He said: “As a decent state executive, we consider the attempt to make the APC a dumping ground unacceptable and vexatious. APC in the state will not allow itself to become a dumping ground for desperate looters and thieves in need of protection from prosecution.

    “We call on President Buhari to order a detailed investigation into the acts of fraud and embezzlement by these defectors and their associates.

    “We support the moves by President Buhari for the prosecution of former President Jonathan, his wife, Patience Jonathan, and his known associates for the looting and associated crimes committed against the state.”

    Kpodo advised APC’s aspiring defectors to get clearance at the ward and state levels.

    The APC chieftain said defectors to the party must show clear records of performance from their parent party or parties before official presentation to the loyalists and progressive supporters of the party.

    He said the APC would soon release the timetable to receive its supporters, defectors and the processes for its primaries.

  • Jonathan ministers sold one million barrels of oil per day- Buhari

    Jonathan ministers sold one million barrels of oil per day- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has given more insights on the extent of corruption in the country’s oil sector under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
    He spoke on Tuesday while reacting to questions from members of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in the United States and Canada at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC.
    According to him, “250,000 barrels per day of Nigerian crude were being stolen and people sell and put the money into individual accounts,” adding that the United States and other developed countries “are helping us to trace such accounts now.”
    ” We will ask that such accounts be frozen and prosecute the persons. The amount involved is mind-boggling. Some former ministers were selling about one million barrels per day.
    ” I assure you that we will trace and repatriate such money and use the documents to prosecute them. A lot of damage has been done to the integrity of Nigeria with individuals and institutions already compromised,” Buhari stated.
    Citing the example of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), President Buhari said unlike what obtained during his tenure as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum under military regime when the NNPC had only two traceable accounts before paying oil proceeds into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “now everybody is doing anyhow.”
    The President, who expressed skepticism on the existence of oil subsidy, said if subsidy was removed, transport, housing and food prices would go out of control and the average worker would suffer untold hardship.

  • Jonathan fails to shield ex-ministers from probe

    Jonathan fails to shield ex-ministers from probe

    Buhari, Abdulsalami peace panel yet to meet 

    FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan may have failed in his bid to shield some of his former aides and ministers from being probed.

    It was learnt that the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar  Peace Committee has been unable to have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari with whom Dr. Jonathan would like the committee to put in a world.

    Jonathan had anticipated a peace session between him and the President at the instance of the Abdulsalami Committee, which played a major role in ensuring peace during the general elections.

    Gen. Abdulsalami was said to have tried to reach out to the President about five times but state duties did not allow a meeting.

    Jonathan, who arrived in the country about a week ago, is said to be worried about the fate of his former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col.  Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and detention of his ex-Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Gordon Obuah.

    There were reports yesterday that his former Aide-de-Camp, and later Chief Personal Security Officer, Mr. Moses Jitoboh, had been picked up by security agents, but The Nation could not confirm this.

    Initially, the arrest of Jitoboh was linked to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but a source in the anti-graft agency denied knowledge of such.

    Many of Jonathan’s ministers have relocated abroad.

    According to sources, Buhari has decided not to compromise his focus to “retrieve” ill-gotten wealth from some top officials in Jonathan’s administration.

    A source said: “Jonathan had approached the Abdulsalami Committee to intervene and prevail on Buhari to stop scandalising his administration and haunting his former aides/ ex-ministers.

    “Jonathan has been saying that Buhari’s attitude so far was not yet in line with the peace agreement the two leaders entered into before the 2015 general elections.

    “But the committee members, especially Abdulsalami, have not been able to have audience with the President due to the President’s tight state duties or commitments.

    “The President hosted ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to a dinner to break the Ramadan fast. But the two leaders could not talk much on the state of the nation as Obasanjo insisted on going back to Abeokuta at 9pm, The Nation learnt.

    “So, Jonathan has really run into a brick wall in his plans to seek soft-landing for some of his aides and ex-ministers,” the source said.

    The pre-election agreement between Buhari and Jonathan does not cover shielding corrupt suspects from prosecution, the source added.

    A source in the Presidency said: “We really do not know what agreement Jonathan and his group are talking about. The Abuja Accord and the Peace Agreement border on peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections, free and fairness of the process, acceptance of the outcome and the preservation of the nation’s unity.

    “There is nowhere it is stated that those who looted the treasury should either not be questioned or legally arrested by the relevant agencies.

    “It is important to clear the air on this matter. What the President promised was not to witch-hunt. And he even said ex-President Jonathan had nothing to fear.”

    It was learnt that some former ministers with sensitive portfolios where funds were mismanaged have relocated overseas.

    Although most of these ex-ministers promised to return home any time they are invited, only two or three of them have been coming to Nigeria.

    A former minister said: “I have been around. I have not gone anywhere. I am trying to earn my legitimate living.

    “The former President said he was in a cage while in power. I have also realized that we were all in a cage. We have to support the present administration to succeed.”

    Another former Minister said: “Some of us have tried to lie low because we have paid our dues. We only need to rally round the new government.”

    The March accord, which was fostered by the National Peace Committee on 2015 Elections, was read by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

    The joint statement by Jonathan and Buhari, said: “You may recall that on 14th January, 2015, both of us, along with nine other party leaders, signed what has now come to be known as the Abuja Accord.

    “The substance of that Accord was our commitment to free, fair and credible elections in our dear country.

    “In the accord, we agreed to, among other things, run an issue-based campaign and pledged that our electoral campaigns will not involve any religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and all agents acting in our names.

    “Now that the campaigns have come to an end, we meet today to renew our pledge for peaceful elections.

    “We therefore call on all fellow citizens of our dear country, and our party supporters, to refrain from violence or any act that may in any way jeopardise our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election.

    “In addition, we call on INEC and all security agencies to ensure strict adherence to their constitutional roles.

    “We also pledge to respect the outcome of free, fair and credible elections.

    “Today (Thursday), we again renew our commitment to a united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria. We want to urge all Nigerians to stand together at this critical phase of our nation’s history.”

  • Jonathan approved N1.45b legal fee, BPE tells EFCC

    Jonathan approved N1.45b legal fee, BPE tells EFCC

    Detectives probing the alleged N1.45 billion legal and consultancy fees scandal at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) have got some key documents which will help them get to the root of the matter, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The BPE is insisting that the legal contract was valid because ex-President Goodluck Jonathan approved it, based on a memo from ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

    It also said Sections II (J) and 55 of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act Cap. P.38, LFN 2004 exempt the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) from complying with the processes of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

    In a June 27 letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the BPP requested the anti-graft agency to investigate the payment scandal.

    One of the lawyers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was paid N950 million for the liquidation of the Power Holding Company when the company had ceased to exist and N500 million was paid as consultancy fees to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    The fees were paid contrary to the advice of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the BPP.

    Based on the BPP alarm, the EFCC has since started probing the payment.

    But, in a fresh twist, the BPE insisted that the contract was legal and approved by ex-President Jonathan.

    Armed with a heap of documents sent to EFCC, the agency said its supervising organ (the National Council on Privatisation) does not need any approval of its disposal procurement from BPP.

    One of the documents, exclusively obtained by our correspondent, reads in part: “The Bureau of Public Procurement reviewed the procurement process and issued Certificates of ‘No Objection’ dated February 26, 2013 (attached as Annex U4) to the BPE to appoint Messrs J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the Consultant, Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN in the sum of N929, 613,188.94 inclusive of 5 per cent VAT. A letter of award /engagement was issued to J.K. Gadzama &Partners on 6th March, 2013.

    “The National Council on Privatisation at its  3rd meeting for 2013 held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 approved the engagement of Messrs. J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the Consultant, Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN in the sum of N929,613,188.94. Excerpts of NCP minutes attached.

    “Thereafter, copies of the draft contract agreements were forwarded to the Vice President and Chairman, NCP (for approval), who subsequently directed that the draft contract agreements be forwarded to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for review before execution.

    “By a memo  referenced SH/VP/BPE/C2/XVII, dated August 30, 2013, a copy of a memo from the AGF to the Vice President and Chairman of NCP dated August 27, 2013 was forwarded to the BPE by the Office of the Vice President and Chairman of NCP for necessary action.

    “In the said memo, the AGF raised objection to the appointment of J.K. Gadzama as Liquidator of PHCN Plc, stating that such is within the purview of PHCN Board of Directors only.

    “Following the intervention of the Chairman of the Board of NELMCO, the AGF in his letter to the DG of BPP dated 11th, September 2014 (which was copied to the DG BPE) withdrew his earlier query on the ‘No Objection’ earlier granted by BPP to procure J.K. Gadzama and Partners for legal advisory services for the winding up of PHCN Plc.

    “BPE, in reliance on the letter above referred requested BPP to revalidate its earlier “No Objection” granted. The BPP declined to withdraw its “No Objection” without adducing any reason for doing so.”

    The BPE said it reported the stalemate to the National Council of Privatisation (NCP) at its meeting on April 16, 2015.

    It added: “The NCP noted that since the AGF had withdrawn his query on the procurement and there was no other tenable reason to withhold it, approved that BPE should immediately proceed to execute the contract with Messrs. J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the consultant, legal advisory services for the winding up of PHCN in the sum of N929,613,188.94 based on the ‘No Objection’ earlier granted by BPP.”

    The BPE also gave the details of how ex-President Jonathan approved  the contract during the transition period.

    The agency said: “In a briefing memo to His Excellency, the former President on the decisions of NCP, the former Vice President and Chairman of NCP, among other things, highlighted its approval directing BPE to immediately execute contract with J.K. Gadzama for the winding up of PHCN Plc in the sum of N929,613,188.94 based on the ‘No Objection’ earlier granted by BPP since all contested  issues had been resolved.

    “The former President  noted the said decision without any objection(memo attached as Annex U9). It is based on the two approvals of the NCP and Mr. President that BPE executed the contract with J.K.Gadzama & Partners who have since commenced execution of the contract.”

    The BPE said it does not  need any approval from the BPP to execute any procurement dealing with disposal of public property once it is carrying out NCP directive.

    It said the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act Cap. P.38, LFN 2004 empowers NCP to appoint and determine advisers and their remuneration.

    Section II (J)  of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act Cap. P.38, LFN 2004 empowers the NCP to approve the appointment of Advisers and their remuneration. The BPP had earlier claimed that the AGF did not at any time withdraw his ‘No Objection’.

    The Director-General, Mr. Emeka M. Ezeh, said in a letter that no instruction was received from the AGF nullifying the earlier directive.

    The letter said: “The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), having examined the request wishes to draw the attention of the BPE to Paragraph 14 of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (HAGF)’s letter to the BPP referenced that; “item 1,3,5,6 and 8 of the scope of work for the Legal Advisor unnecessary for the liquidation of the PHCN.

    “Similarly, any of the remaining items 2,4,7 and 9, which is not contemplated by the procedure described in Sections 457 -468 (and there is hardly any contemplated) would equally be unnecessary to accomplish the liquidation”.

    “ It can be deduced from the above citation that the HAGF’s position on this procurement clearly indicates that Legal Advisory Service is not needed as all constituent items (1-9) under unnecessary as listed by the HAGF constitute all items under the Legal Advisory Service, as such; no item is left for BPP’s consideration for a further review.”