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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Still on the primacy of rule of law

    SIR: “The rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest”. The statement was made by President Muhammadu Buhari while flagging off the, recently concluded, 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on August 26. Since the president made the statement, there have been mixed reactions and endless controversies. In truth, many of the commentaries are flavoured with political sentiments as the members of the opposition subjected the president to public attack by way of criticisms, whereas the pro-government folks have thrown weight behind the president. President Buhari is both right and wrong.

    His general stance on rule of law is very wrong. Rule of law is the political and constitutional principle that stipulates the supremacy of the law over the ruler, the ruled and all decisions taken in the country. In a constitutional democracy, the place of rule of law is indispensable. In the absence of rule of law, what obtains is lawlessness, arbitrariness, abuse of power and near-dictatorship. The place of rule of law is so potent that it is the bedrock upon which any democratic state is built. It is the very foundation; and once the foundation is taken away, one expects unimaginable disaster.

    The President mixed it up by linking an entirely different court decision to defend the breach of rule of law currently ongoing in the country. Distinguishing cases is a paramount tool that must guide all law enthusiasts who wish to rely on judicial precedents to back up their positions.

    Even in rare cases where fundamental rights would be subject to national security, the court held in the Dokubo-Asari’s case that the meaning of and what constitute “national security” can and should only be determined by the court. In view of this, the cardinal principle of rule of law is still in place as it still governs properly the instances where fundamental rights take second place. So, even if President Buhari takes that as a justification for abuse of human rights, albeit wrongly, it is not under his jurisdiction to determine or dictate what is national security, but the court.

    Let it be made known that rule of law is the only remaining pillar, at present, that can save our dear nation from collapse. The principle must be well respected by both the government and the people.

    Court decisions must be well respected and must not be disregarded on self-opinionated wrong notion of national security and interest.

     

    • Festus Ogun,

    Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

  • Atiku raises alarm over alleged threat to life

    …Petitions Buhari

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm over alleged threat to his life and those of his family members.

    In a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, dated September 7, 2018, Atiku linked the alleged threat to his decision to contest the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The petition, a copy of it was sent to the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, urged President Buhari to urgently probe the allegation

    The petition was titled “Petition Over Criminal Intimidation And Threat To My Life, That Of Members Of My Family, And Cyber Stalking Using Mobile Phone Number 08148228704”.

    Apparently apprehensive over the alleged threat, Atiku had requested more police protection for himself and his family from President Buhari.

    Atiku stated in the petition that his wife and daughters had received separate text messages from a mobile line, demanding that their patriarch backed out of the presidential race, failing which they would be raped and killed.

    The former Vice President added that the author of the threat text messages had stated that members of his family were being closely watched.

    Urging the President to urgently order investigation into the matter, Atiku warned that the threat could lead to serious security breach and that it posed real danger to national security.

    The petition read in part, “I present my highest compliments to the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have the honour to request your excellency’s kind review/investigation and urgent consideration of extra protection for my family and I against some criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of my family, and the cyber stalking against my family and I, using telephone mobile number +2348148228704”.

    Atiku in the petition said the author of the message had threatened that if he did not withdraw from the presidential contest, “We will kill, and rape your wife and daughters”.

    He added that the stalker had mentioned two of his daughters – Mariam who works at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN$ and Fatima, a former commissioner in Adamawa State.

    According to him, the author of the said threat message had also threatened to blow up his plane and poison him and members of his family.

    Read Also: Atiku begs Lamido to step down for him

    “We will blow your plane off the sky and we will poison you and your family. You are going to see what we will do with your family. We know where and where your children travel to”, he quoted the from the threat message.

    The author of the said message was also said to have threatened to blow up all his property and those of his wife.

    “We control the aviation towers in Nigeria and South Africa. We are in government and Buhari will win again. Your party members will never select you and if they do, we will assassinat (sic) you. We will kill you by blowing up your plane”, the threat message further stated.

    Atiku further stated that in separate text messages to his wife and daughters, the author had asked them to ask him to back down from the contest or they would be harmed.

    Concluding the petition, Atiku stated, “From the foregoing, Mr President can see that if adequate and urgent steps are not taken to identify and deal with these threats, they could lead to serious breaches and may constitute real danger to national security.

    “Considering that these threats border on the right to life of my family and I, as well as my freedom to aspire for and contest for the Presidency in Nigeria, I urge you to commence urgent investigation with a view to identifying the person(s) behind the threats, expose and prosecute the culprit(s) in accordance with the laws.

    “I request that you ensure the continued protection of my rights to life, that of my family, my property and my rights and freedoms to associate and aspire to any political office as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended)”.

  • A shocking defeat awaits you if you contest, APC tells Dogara

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara not to recontest the House of Represent seat on the platform of the opposition party as “a humiliating defeat” awaits him.

    Reacting to the purported defection of the Speaker to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Acting National Organizing Secretary, Yekini Nabena said it was surprised if the Speaker decide to join the opposition in view of his anti-party activities in the National Assembly.

    He said the anti-party activities became more glaring when the PDP won his local government of Bogoro during the recently concluded Senatorial election in Bauchi state.

    Nabena said “We have received several media requests for a reaction to the purported defection of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to one of the opposition political parties, as reported in the media.

    “In reacting, a recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari, aptly sums Dogara’s reported defection: “The weakest people whose senses of expectation do not align with our vision have exited our Party”.

    “Dogara’s reported defection has not come to us as a surprise. It was only a matter of time judging by Dogara’s anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive.

    “Dogara’s anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Party’s sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogara’s council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.

    Read Also: Dogara: I have not endorsed anyone for political office

    “Indeed, all politics is local. As a Party, we empathise with Dogara on his confusion and despair over his bleak political future given the fact that he is not on ground and a political paperweight in his home Bauchi state.

    “In his emergence as Speaker, Dogara was merely used by his political master to achieve their selfish political ends at the time. They have since moved on to pursue their individual political aspirations and left Dogara in the cold.

    “We would advise Dogara against his ill-advised decision to recontest his House of Representatives seat under the opposition Party he is linked with because a crushing and humiliating defeat surely awaits him.

    “As a Party, we remain united and committed to our Progressives ideologies. We urge Party faithful to consolidate on our strengths and collectively go into the 2019 general elections as a united and strong political fighting force to sustain the Change Agenda we are implementing for the benefit of Nigerians.”

     

  • Minimum wage: You are crying wolf where there is none, Ngige tells Labour

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said on Thursday that organised Labour in the country were crying wolf on the issue of minimum wage where there is none, saying the National Minimum Wage Committee set by the federal government was still working within its time frame.

    The Minister also said that together with the Chairman of the Committee and former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms Amma Pepple will brief President Muhammadu Buhari on the progress so far made by the committee on Friday.

    Ngige who was reacting to the two weeks ultimatum issued by organised Labour accusing the government of stalling negotiation, said the ultimatum issued by the Labour leaders was unnecessary as the committee was working within the time frame it set for itself, pointing that he regard the ultimatum by Labour as a subtle threat.

    He said that the various conventions of the International Labour Organisation that has to do be minimum wage and other forms of negotiations does not allow partners to issue threats as the other partner will be regarded as negotiating under duress

    Labour leaders had accused the Minister of delaying arriving at a figure for the committee to agree on, seeking time for government to consult while adjourning the meeting indefinitely.

    According to the Minister, the work of the committee, including a draft bill to be sent to the President and subsequently to the National Assembly and all other work of the committee were ready except the issue of a particular figure to be agreed upon.

    He disclosed that while it is easy for organised Labour to agree on a figure, it was not that easy for the government as it must put into consideration the economic situation in the country and the ability of the various State governors to pay the agreed figure.

    Read Also: Ngige and the parable of the stolen fowl

    He said while organised Labour first made a presentation of N56,000 as its demand and withdrew its, only to withdraw it and made another presentation of N65,000, the Organised Private Sector made a presentation of N42,000 and later withdraw it for lower presentation of N25,000.

    Ngige said that with all the presentations, the government need to look at everything that has been presented before arriving at a figure which can be paid by all saying “if we arrive at a figure that is not implementable, what then Is the essence of negotiation”.

    He explained that at the last meeting of the committee, he requested for two weeks to consult with members of the Economic Management team, most of whom were out of the country with the President, adding that the committee was inaugurated by the president because of his personal interest on the matter.

    He said “We don’t want people to renege on the agreement when we finally come up with something. That is why the President insisted that the governors must be part of the process. They had complained that they were not part of the last process.

    The Governors Forum had also asked for more time to consult among themselves and dismissed insinuations that the governors said they were not elected to pay salaries.

    While accusing organised Labour of trying to over heat the polity, Ngige said the Buhari government was a worker friendly government , adding that no worker has been sacked since the inception of the present government while also putting in place several palliatives for workers.

    He said that the federal government spent about N70 billion last year in settling the backlog of workers emoluments, while encouraging the private sector to grow and employ more workers.

    He regard he regard the ultimatum by organised Labour as a subtle blackmail which is not allowed in Labour laws.

    Organised Labour had issued a two week ultimatum to the government t to resume and conclude the work of the minimum wage committee, but Ngige said the committee was still working within the deadline it set for itself.

  • 2019: 2.5 million votes ready for Buhari in Katsina, Says Masari

    Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, on Thursday said that a minimum of 2.5 million votes are already waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari in the state for the 2019 presidential election.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

    According to him, his state is 100 percent behind Buhari, who hails from the state.

    He said “The people of Katsina are 100% behind president Buhari and they will continue to support him even after the elections of 2019.

    “We expect based on figures coming out of the registered voters to give him nothing less than 70 to 80%.

    “We don’t have the figures now because they have completed additional registration, we are not talking about the last exercise that led to the election of 2015 and in 2015 he got almost 1.5 million votes from Katsina state.

    “So we expect by 2019 we will be able to give him additional 1 million making it not less than 2.5 million votes.” he added.

    Read Also: Don’t return undertakers to power, says Buhari

    On FEC setting up electoral offence commission, he said “If I could remember during the Uwais committee,  we were heading some  sub comitttees of former legislators, former and serving governors and we made presentation and part of our recommendations is that apart from the independence of the electoral body, to establish this tribunal so that at least, this tribunal will help in sanitising the electoral process.

    “The legal system as that today is prolonged and takes time and cases are decided when you have even forgotten about your offence and I think , this will help to sanitise and make the elections more credible.” he said

    He said that there is nothing contentious on the direct and indirect primary controversy.

    Masari said “It is not a hot cake, first of all, let me say from all the states that we have read and heard, Lagos, Kano and Niger are the only states that have opted for direct primaries in  a country of 36 states plus FCT.

    “I think it shouldn’t be contentious issue. In fact the constitution of the party is very clear,  there is nothing contentious in this .The constitution of the party recognizes direct, consensus and indirect primaries.

    “So which ever method is adopted, nobody is breaching the constitution of the party. So what is the big deal about it?” he queried

  • Direct primaries desirable but not practicable in Borno–Shettima

    Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, says it will be difficult to conduct direct primaries in the state because of its peculiar security situation.

    Shettima, in an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja, said that the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had provisions for direct and indirect primaries.

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of APC recently adopted direct primaries for all elective offices.

    Shettima opined that every state should adopt the option suitable to it based on its peculiarities.

    The governor said that in the U.S from which Nigeria borrowed the presidential system, states of Delaware, Florida, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey and Illinois conducted closed primaries.

    According to him, states like Alabama, Arizona and some of others in the southern part of the country conducted open primaries.

    “So, we are a nation of diversity; and our diversity should be our source of strength.

    “The constitution of the party provides for direct, indirect and consensus, so there is no cause for alarm; depending on the peculiarities of particular location, they will choose the option that is best for them.

    “Like in Borno, direct primaries is desirable but is not practicable; we have challenges; so why do we have to go the whole hog of imposing an untenable system on our people and main election is coming.’’

    Speaking on the 19 governorship aspirants in the state,  Shettima said that it was the beauty of democracy as the more the merrier.

    Read Also:2019 Senate poll: Tough battles ahead for Shettima, Okorocha, Yari, other 2nd term govs

    He said that there would be a level playing field for people to exercise their rights.

    According to Shettima, it is when people are suppressed from expressing their fundamental rights of choice that problems erupt.

    He said, however, that he was in the Presidential villa for consultation and update on the security situation in his state.

    Shettima said that in juxtaposition with what it was four years ago, there was an improvement in security situation.

    “Being optimists, we believe that things will change for the better in the coming weeks.

    “Four years ago, 22 Local Government Areas were under the occupation of Boko Haram.

    “So, whatever anybody might say, I think we have to give some credit to President Muhammadu Buhari administration for securing the lives and property of the citizens.

    `No doubt, we have challenges; but then you have to think of the past to judge the present in order to forecast the future.

    “There has been remarkable improvement and I believe that if tempo is sustained, we shall have an enduring peace in the region very soon,’’ he said.

  • Learn From Buhari, Osinbajo’s , Group Counsels Fayemi, Adebayo

    A group in Ekiti State, under the banner of Democratic Defender Movement (DFM), has appealed to the Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Deputy National Chairman(South) of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Otunba Niyi Adebayo, to be fair to all aspirants seeking elections ahead of 2019 in the State.

    The group said the duo commanded large followership and respect among APC owing to the wide belief that they have carried themselves above sectionalism, advising that allowing themselves to be hoodwinked by any aspirant to key into imposition agenda may damage their reputations and put them into disrespect in the eyes of theirs followers.

    The movement urged the two eminent Ekiti citizens to take a cue from President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who had refrained from imposing anyone in their respective states since they assumed office in 2015.

    The group said any leader that treads on the path of imposition is gradually digging his own deep political grave, warning that any attempt to create unnecessary cleavage among aspirants on the premise and intention that some are more loyal to them than others might lead

    to serious protest votes and internal crisis that will create a huge unabated bedlam in Ekiti APC.

    In a statement tagged : ‘Open Letter to the Governor-Elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Otunba Niyi Adebayo’ and madeavailable to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, advised that the best way for these leaders to earn the respect of followers, is for them to pave way for the conduct of free and fair primaries where consensus is unattainable.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari presides over FEC meeting

    The statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Com. Saliu Aina, warned that if the rumour that some State Assembly and House of Representatives aspirants were being positioned for imposition against the interest of party members was found to be true, that such tendency would not only brew crisis but would boomerang and cause serious apathy that will affect the party’s fortunes in the coming election.

    The letter reads: “This letter could have been delivered to you, but to make it available to you personally might be a herculean task and that is why we are using this media avenue to pass our genuine concerns across to you as our leaders, whom we believe are also fathers.

    “The rumour is rife that you are perfecting plans to impose some candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats in a certain district and constituencies against the wish of those with whose ladders you climbed to political stardom and gain reckoning in our state, country and globally.

    “There are three Ps in a democracy; The Politics, The Party and the People, the people are the most important and most pivotal to achieve success. The moment the people are taken for granted, then leaders and parties doing so should be ready to return to political oblivion and

    the pathetic situation of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria and particularly our State were suffice to substantiate this philosophical assertion.

    “President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo have written their names in gold by not being domineering with powers, they have been modest and these will remain indelible in the country’s political history.

    “We have never heard or even found to be at the realm of rumour, attempt by President Buhari or Vice President Osinbajo to be plotting or planning to impose any candidate in Katsina and Ogun States, in spite of the enormous powers, influences, carriages and respect they earned from people, this is nothing but democracy in action.

    “At a time in APC in the Southwest region, we learnt some former and serving governors of our great party actually approached a leader where they craved for decentralized leadership, where former and serving governors of the states would have the leeway to control their respective states, but that would not erode the fact that there is a centralized leadership that can mediate in case of crisis and that has been seen to be happening now in the Region.

    “If that was the case, it would be a sin against God and humanity for any leader to impose any candidate through the instrumentality of the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Otunba Niyi Adebayo here in Ekiti. This will be antithetical to the creed of justice, fairness and equity these leaders had fought to entrench in APC.

    “To this end, it will be our humble advice that these leaders we so much revered must desist from imposition. Where consensus could not be reached despite their interventions, there must be free, fair and acceptable primaries to save APC from toeing a ruinous path”, the group counseled.

    The group added that the leaders must learn from the fall of the PDP in Ekiti, necessitated by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s domineering tendencies and hard posturing tended towards muzzling those opposed to his views, in a desperate bid to control party structures.

    “Governor Fayose thought he could manipulate the system by putting those he felt were loyal to him in the party’s structures and House of Assembly, despite his own antics and strategies failed him. Many of those he thought were loyal ended up betraying him while those that begged before getting the tickets of the PDP are still with him.

    “In 2011, Dr. Fayemi  canvassed that former Assembly lawmakers, Mrs Adunni Fatumbi, representing Moba II   and Mrs Olayinka from Ado constituency II to get their tickets by consensual agreements, they later defected to PDP when they were needed most.

    “All these instances were instructive for our leaders to believe that only God knows the hearts of men, so they should not play God by imposing people in the name of loyalty”, the group concluded.

     

  • Why Buhari deserves second chance – Amaechi

    …Nigerians will enjoy 24 hours power supply if Buhari is re-elected 

     

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said Nigerians will enjoy 24 hours power supply if President Muhammadu Buhari is given a second chance.

    Amaechi also said the Buhari led administration has achieved a lot in security, road, fight against corruption.

    The Minister also said the government is tackling killings associated with herdsmen

    Amaechi disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive session with the media.

    Speaking on why Buhari and the APC government deserves second term, he said: “Nigerians have taught me a lesson I learnt in politics and that is why nothing bothers me again. The people praising you today, if you see them when you are out of power, you will be shocked.  Those singing hallelujah and hosanna will still be the same people to shout crucify him tomorrow.

    “We have done much more than transport. In terms of Corruption; this economy was a rent economy. Public money was spent anyhow and it was an economy that was not worked hard for. That is why you see politicians today very rich and one year after government,  they are poor. They are like that because they don’t know how to manage the money.

    “When Buhari came, he said no and that we cannot continue to spend anyhow. Buhari has not said people should not steal, he has rather kept quiet to see who can steal because there is a consequence for stealing.

    “I don’t want to say it has stopped completely but it has reduced. Before, there were so many empty houses in Abuja. People were building and speculating that new politicians will come in and buy but we came in and could not buy because of the economy. So if you say Buhari has not done anything on corruption, you are being most unfair.

    “Also, the 2016 budget was 6percent capita but we are doing 20 percent capita now. We are doing 80 percent recurrent and 20 percent capital. We believe that in the next two to three years, we will get to 30 percent capital and we will get there if we reduce the current expenditure and deal with wastage.”

    He continued: “It is also unfair if Nigerians think the ministry of works is not working. The road to Bonny was abandoned after Obasanjo left government.

    “The road was below N39bn but it is now N120bn. When I was Governor,  I wrote to federal government under Jonathan  that I wanted to do the road for N39bn but they didn’t reply me.

    Read Also: ‘Tinubu, Amaechi didn’t impose Tonye Cole on Rivers APC’

    “My final year as governor,  energy wrote that they will take care of 50 percent of the bill and I wrote again to the Federal Government but they didn’t reply because I was in APC. Now that the Federal government wants to do it, the cost is now N120bn.

    “So, Buhari government is dealing with corruption, building roads. The worst roads in Nigeria used to be between Uyo and Calabar but it has been awarded.

    “The road to Enugu too that people are complaining about, contractors are working on the roads already. The work may be slow but they are working. When we came oil was $28 per barrel and our budget was $35 and suddenly it dropped but the Minister of Budget managed it for us to survive. Now oil is $74 but we still have not reached $110. If we get to that, things will change rapidly. Also the Ilorin-Jebba road. So many roads have been awarded.

    There is also an improvement in power. We have from 3000megawatt to 7000 but we are distributing 5000 because some of the Infrastructures are not in good state  but we are slowly  fixing them.

    “The expectation is that it should be 24 hours power supply but there will still be a gap but if you give us a second term, that gap will be closed.”

    On insecurity, he said: “There are improvement in security. When the president promised security; he was looking at Boko Haram.  Boko Haram no longer have the power that they had then. Before we came, the situation  was worse, churches were not safe but now you can go to church freely and nearly all the security agencies that had special protection have reduced their protection gates because fears have reduced.

    “The threats which used to envelope the north has reduced and we are addressing the ones in Borno by the federal government unlike before where they will overrun villages and put their flags and say they own the villages.

    “If you ask of our achievement,  I think many people can attest to what we have done. People no longer go through rigorous searches before going into places.

    “We have also done well with herdsmen. Herdsmen is a huge problem that started and we are facing them with the deployment of Army and the President also said that it is the right of Nigerians to enjoy peace and stability and hence the military must address all manner of insecurity to end the herdsmen attack.

  • Buhari urges NASS to pass Proceeds of Crimes Bill

    Says He won’t allow diversion, embezzlement of public funds

    Malami: N769 billion recovered from looters

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged the National Assembly to speedily consider and pass the Proceeds of Crimes Bill.

    According to him, the provisions of the bill are crucial to effectively recovering and managing stolen assets.

    The President spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while receiving the report of the three-man Presidential Committee set up to audit recovered funds.

    The Committee was set up to carry out a comprehensive audit of assets and funds recovered by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria from 29th May 2015 to 22nd November 2017.

    Buhari said “However, a key tool that will revolutionize our asset recovery and management architecture is the Proceeds of Crimes Bill which is currently awaiting passage by the National Assembly.

    “Once the Bill is passed and assented, many of the challenges facing our asset recovery and management practice will be adequately taken care of as the Bill addresses most of the challenges facing effective asset recovery and management in Nigeria.

    “I therefore encourage the National Assembly to take necessary steps to pass the Bill.” he said

    On the committee, Buhari said “As a result of gaps identified in the asset recovery process and in order to foster greater accountability and transparency; when I inaugurated the Committee in November 2017, I emphasized the resolve of this administration to pursue a strong anti-corruption policy and to trace and recover stolen assets using all legal and diplomatic resources at our disposal.

    “I also directed the agencies involved to submit detailed reports of all their recovered assets by March 2017.

    “I must say that today’s event which symbolizes the successful completion of the onerous task given to this committee is another milestone in the fight against corruption; a project that is very crucial to our developing democratic governance.”

    Read Also: Buhari to open NPA conference

    Corruption, he said, constitutes a threat to the well-being, national security, and economy of Nigeria.

    “I have made it clear that this government will not allow the wanton diversion and embezzlement of public funds into private pockets.  Thus, we intend to continue taking all necessary measures to deprive looters of public assets of the fruits of their crimes.

    “It is in keeping with the Anti-corruption Policy of this Government, and in line with global best practices that this Committee was set-up to review our asset recovery and management practices in order to evolve a proper management, transparency and accountability culture in the management of recovered assets.

    “Given our history of impunity, much of Nigeria’s wealth has historically been squandered or stolen; leaving us with inadequate infrastructure for our growing population and economy. Asset Recovery is thus one of the essential tools for fighting corruption and we must therefore take issues of managing such recovered assets very seriously.”

    The President said that the proceeds of the recovered assets would be utilized optimally to address the economic and social problems in the country.

    According to him, loopholes for stealing public funds must be blocked.

    He assured that the findings and recommendations of the Committee would be carefully examined and given due consideration with a view to implementing the recommendations.

    “Our asset recovery and management system will in future be transparently, effectively and efficiently managed, and we will set-out a fresh template of public accountability in the country.” he added

    He also assured that his administration will remain committed to its promises.

    “Until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts all her security challenges.” he said

    He thanked the Committee members for their service and dedication in preparing the Report.

    Speaking earlier, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami gave the breakdown and total amount of assets recovered within the period under consideration.

    He said “N3.8 million, $378 million US dollars 27,800 pounds was equally recovered from public officials.

    “In summary the recovered funds by the three man committee is N769 billion cash was recovered within the period under review.” he said

    He also disclosed that the Federal Government recovered N13.8 billion from tax evaders in May 2018.

    In May 2018, he said, government paid N439.2 million to about 14 whistle blowers who gave specific information on tax evasion.

    While thanking the President for the opportunity to serve the country, the Chairman of the Committee, Olufemi Lijadu, hoped that the report will assist the government’s efforts to ensure that recovered assets are accounted for and managed in an accurate, transparent and logical manner.

    According to him, the report is prepared in four volumes.

    He said “Volume I is the main report which contains the committee’s findings and recommendations.

    “Volume II contains the detailed schedule of cash recoveries. Volume III contains the detailed schedule of non-cash recoveries.

    “Volume IV contains correspondence with auditees. Volume V contains presentations and memoranda from auditees and professional organizations.” he said

  • 2019: Omo-Agege, Kokori call for massive support Buhari

    The senator representing Delta senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ovie Omo-Agege and former National Secretary of NUPENG, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, on Tuesday charged Urhobo nation, Delta State to give massive supports to President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Great Ogboru in the forthcoming party primaries.

    Speaking at a gathering of APC members in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state, Omo-Agege said reelecting President Buhari and supporting Chief Great Ogboru as Delta state next governor will further enhance the development of the state.

    Omo-Agege said he is supporting Ogboru because of his believes that only him can win the governorship election, considering his track record on the elections he has contested and denied in the past years.

    He appealed to Delta Central people to support his re-election bid in the indirect primaries, saying that is the system that allows elected party executive members to be actively involved in the election of the candidates because of lack of credible register and security challenges.

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    Omo-Agege said, “Today I speak as the Senator representing Delta senatorial district. I have come today to formerly inform you that I wish to serve Urhobo in the senate. Some Urhobo don’t want an Urhobo man for governor.

    “I support Great Ogboru for governor not because he is Urhobo but he has the most qualified, competent and popular person among those seeking the ticket of our party. We need Ogboru and Omo Agege to deliver President Buhari in our state “,

    Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, former National Secretary of NUPENG, who also drummed up support for the reelection of Sen. Omo-Agege, Ogboru and President Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming primaries, adding that Ogboru should this time be given the privilege, while Omo-Agege, Buhari be re-elected to continue their good work.

    Kokori said, “Great Ogboru has been in the struggle for the governorship, this time he will win. Let us all give them all the support for their victory”, he added. On his part, Chief Ogboru assured the state of a better deal when elected.”