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Tag: Olusegun Obasanjo

  • Obasanjo, others urge Africa to learn from global trends

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other stakeholders at a security forum on Monday stressed the need for Africa to carefully study global trends with a view to learning and positioning the region at an enviable height.

    They spoke in Abeokuta at the Second Intellectual Fiesta on Africa’s Development.

    The theme of the programme, which was organised by the Centre for Human Security and Dialogue, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), was  “Emerging Developments in Europe and North America: Lessons for Human Security in Africa.”

    Obasanjo, who was a special guest at the event, noted in his opening remarks that the world had become a global village with interdependence consequences.

    While urging African countries to take keen interest in developments in Europe and North- America, the former president warned that the region must not copy or sheepishly follow the process in such socio-economic, political and cultural trends.

    ” We have to study the trends to take the things that could be beneficial to us and discard things that are inimical to our development, ” he said.

    A communique issued at the end of the dialogue noted that recent developments in Europe and North- America, particularly in education, health, politics, economy and culture had ongoing and potential impact on Africa’s development.

    It particularly noted in Europe and North-America the growing self-centrism, America-first, Brexut, growth of rightist movements, protectionism and dissolution of trade deals.

    The communique said Africa must take a cue from Europe and North- America where huge investment was being committed to education considered as a potent pathway of improving human security.

    “Such investment, among other benefits, will ultimately contribute to reducing terrorism and violent extremism in Africa,” it said.

    It recommended that Africa should stop paying lip service to the concept of self reliance but should take practical steps to ensuring self reliance in food and nutrition by engaging and encouraging interested citizens in agribusiness.

    The communique, which noted that Africa was not paying due attention to “the Trumpian phenomenon” called for an observatory committee to monitor its impact on the world order and develop a coping strategy.

    It recommended that Africa should initiate and improve on policies which place emphasis on youth development and employment.

    Read Also: Presidency tackles ex-Vice President Atiku over Obasanjo

    The communique also stressed the need for human security policy at the national and regional level while harmonising efforts of agencies involved in human security that currently operate in silos.

    “Although we should feel concerned about issues relating to market economy and liberal democracy, Africa should define the form of governance that is contextually relevant to the African setting and not assume that what is working in Europe and North America will work for us.

    “Africa should stop putting the responsibilities of its challenges on the colonialists.

    “The international community does not owe Africa respect but Africa has to earn the respect through defining for itself the type of development that is contextually beneficial to individual countries and the continent,” it added

    NAN

  • Obasanjo, others seek engineering education

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the economic development of the nation depended on the constructive contribution of the engineering sector.

    Obasanjo, who spoke during a programme organised by the Nigeria Academy of Engineering in Lagos, said without engineering there, cannot be any meaningful development.

    He said economic growth is achieved when efforts are made to develop infrastructure such as roads, railways among others.

    He said  for the country to achieve sustainable economic development, there  was  need for more engagement of indigenous engineers in the provision of infrastructural facilities. He said the only professionals that have the capacity to apply the knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study and experience in the provision of social amenities are the engineers.

    The former president called for the re-engineering of the country’s engineers for optimum economic growth and development.

    According to him, the purpose of engineering education is to learn how to impart knowledge of the engineering content which can solve societal problems in a sustainable way for the development of a nation.

    Read Also: Don’t lose hope despite country’s bad situation, Obasanjo tells youths

    Deliering the lecture titled: Engineering Education for sustainable in Nigeria, Prof Funso Falade of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Lagos,  said engineers are supposed to conceive, design, implement, operate and maintain individual, corporate and government projects using relevant codes and standards that take into consideration the local environment.

    He said local engineers have fared well on government projects, because foreigners are used instead of local experts.

    According to him, local engineers have not been challenged because of low level of patronage.

     

     

  • Sowore faults claim he planned to topple govt

    Detained convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore has faulted claim by the Department of State Services (DSS) that he planned to topple the government of President Mohammadu Burahi with his planned protest.

    Sowore, who is being held by the DSS after it got a court order to detain him for 45 days in the first instance, categorically denied plotting to topple the government.

    He explained that his action was directed at expressing his displeasure with the current state of affairs in the country.

    Citing instances where the DSS had accused many prominent Nigerians, including President Buhari of engaging in treasonable acts for participating in street protest, Sowore denied receiving funds from any external sources as claimed by the DSS.

    Sowore’s position is contained in a document filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja by his lawyer, Abubakar Mashal.

    The document was filed on Tuesday in response to an earlier application by the DSS, claiming among others that Sowore plotted to topple the government.

    He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the ruling party had led street protests in the past which the Applicant/Respondent claimed were planned to overthrow the federal government.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari led protest marches after each consecutive loss of the presidential elections won by Messrs Olusegun Obasanjo, Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP in 2003, 2004 and 2014 but was neither arrested nor charged for planning to overthrow the government.

    “The respondent/applicant (Sowore) is not a coup plotter like the military officers who toppled elected governments in Nigeria in January 1966 and December 1983 and who were never arrested and prosecuted by the Federal government.

    “Based on the misleading advice of the applicant/respondent (DSS), any political leader who criticized the federal government has always been accused of engaging in sabotage, treason, treasonable felony or terrorism.

    READ ALSO: Detention order: Court to hear Sowore’s motion Wednesday

    “He (Sowore) did not plan a coup with anyone but he mobilised the Nigerian people including students and youths, workers, market women and other oppressed people to influence the federal government, the 36 state governments and 774 local governments to address the crises of corruption, maladministration, mismanagement of the economy and insecurity.

    “The present administration had promised to create one million jobs per annum, build one million houses per annum, end epileptic supply of electricity, end corruption and impunity and restructure the country, end insecurity and manage the economy in the interest of the Nigerian people.

    “Apart from failing to address these problems, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has compounded them in a manner that majority of Nigerians are frustrated.

    “Aside the myriads of challenges noted above, insecurity has increased to the extent that thousands of people have been killed by terrorists, kidnappers, armed robbers, armed herders, armed soldiers and armed policemen without any hope in sight.”

    Meanwhile the hearing of the application by Sowore, challenging his detention and a similar application by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (INM) also known as Shiite Movement have been scheduled for Wednesday.

    Both cases are expected to be heard by Justice Evelyn Maha, sitting in Court 11.

  • Atiku framed Obasanjo over the years – Presidency Sources

    Some Presidency sources on Tuesday night faulted the alarm raised by the former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Atiku had on Monday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was bent on framing Obasanjo in order to stop him from criticising Buhari’s administration.

    In a statement by his media office, Atiku had also alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was giving falsehoods to the media  towards causing disaffection between him and Obasanjo on one hand, and between Obasanjo and Nigerians in general.

    But a Presidency source, who spoke to The Nation on a condition of anonymity, said that Atiku had so much framed Obasanjo that nobody could beat his record.

    He said “When Mr. Atiku Abubakar reflects on some of the things he said of President Obasanjo, he will realize that having framed the former President so well in the past, Obasanjo cannot anymore be framed by anyone, no matter how he tries.

    “On the unresolved issue of the mismanagement of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund, PTDF under their government, Mr Atiku’s revelation before the Senate was that Obasanjo took N10 billion to kickstart his Third Term campaign.”

    This source added “This is how the press captured it: “Abuja — The ill-fated third term agenda re-echoed yesterday in Abuja at the public sitting of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) when Vice President Atiku Abubakar alleged that President Olusegun Obasanjo approved the immediate release of N10 billion in the thick of the battle to push the agenda in the National Assembly.”

    Another source recalled what Atiku said about Obasanjo on the 16 Billion Dollar spending on electricity, which he noted nothing to show.

    Read Also: Still on Atiku’s ‘treasonable’ comments

    He quoted Atiku as saying “The issue of electricity is a thing that I feel very emotional about it, because I believe if we had handled the issue of electricity when we were in office by 2005 we would have provided enough electricity for the people of this country; but unfortunately we did not follow that route. … I have said it in many interviews. … I was then the chairman of Privatization Council and we commissioned international consultants to come and help us – How do we get power within the shortest possible time and they came. They went round this whole country and they submitted their recommendations. …”

    Atiku, according to the source, added “The government went for the IPPs, … the President, … we collected money from local governments, states federal government and others, five set of contracts were given, some contracts were paid 100 percent, we left nothing, was achieved … ”

    The source declared “Obasanjo has already been framed by Mr. Atiku. Nobody needs to do that all over again.”

    When contacted on telephone on Tuesday night, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, declined to comment on the issue.

     

     

  • My son-in-law gave Obasanjo Library N50m, says Atiku

    A SON-IN-LAW of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar gave $140,000  (N50 million) to the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, the ex-VP’s Media Office said on Monday.

    According to a statement, the Atiku Media Office said Mr. Babalele Abdullahi facilitated the donation as part of a plan to support institutions promoting peace in the country.

    It said donations to institutions set up to promote peace in Nigeria and Africa should be commended and not criminalised.

    The ex-VP’s office was responding to a story exclusively published on Monday by The Nation that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) visited the Obasanjo Library on August 8 as part of investigation into the receipt of $140,000 by an official of the Presidential Library.

    The money was suspected to be a source of money laundering and illegal cash used to corrupt some officials to influence the 2019 elections.

    Babalele is being investigated with others for allegedly laundering 150 million euros.

    One of those under probe is an Atiku associate and lawyer, Mr. Uyi Giwa-Osagie.

    About  67, 950,000 of the suspected 150 million euros was traced to Osagie’s and Babalele’s accounts, two slush firms and two Bureau De Change operators.

    Of the 67.9 million euros, Uyi’s account was credited with 26,050,00 million euros between January 9 and 28, 2019.

    Babalele is expected to account for 41,900,000 euros.

    Out of the cash credited to Babalele, he gave about N50million ($140,000) to his childhood friend, Bashir Mohammed to take to an official of  ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

    The EFCC is investigating why the $140,000 was taken to the library, making its detectives to visit the Library in company of Bashir.

    The Atiku Media office said: “Yes, he (Abdullahi) did facilitate a donation of fifty million naira to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, but so did many other individuals, including civic-minded traditional rulers, state Governors, bankers and captains of industry.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Mallam Abdullahi’s donation of fifty million naira was made via a bank transfer, in full compliance with the law.

    “He did not donate or make any payment in cash, as the EFCC is erroneously and salaciously misleading the public. Furthermore, the sources of these funds are completely legitimate and have been conclusively proven to the EFCC.

    “It is instructive to note that even the EFCC has not once claimed these funds to be the proceeds of any illegal activity whatsoever”, Atiku said

    Read Also: Supreme Court rejects Atiku’s, PDP’s appeals

    Presidential libraries in America and other parts of the world are similarly funded by donations from civic-minded individuals”, the statement said, accusing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of hatching plots to rope ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo into a crime in a bid to silence him.

    “Yes, he did facilitate a donation of fifty million naira to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, but so did many other individuals, including civic-minded traditional rulers, state Governors, bankers and captains of industry. This is because the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is a non-governmental organization that plays a pivotal role in promoting peace and stability in Nigeria, and that should be applauded. “Unlike another past leader, who did not improve himself or Nigeria after leaving office, but sat down nursing grudges and plotting revenge, former President Olusegun Obasanjo improved himself and Nigeria by authoring books, founding international think tanks and engaging in peace and capacity building efforts.

    “Donations to institutions set up to promote peace in Nigeria and Africa are to be commended, not criminalized. Presidential libraries in America and other parts of the world are similarly funded by donations from civic-minded individuals.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Mallam Abdullahi’s donation of N50m was made via a bank transfer, in full compliance with the law. He did not donate or make any payment in cash, as the EFCC is erroneously and salaciously misleading the public.”

    The statement said the sources of the donation were legitimate and proven to EFCC.

    It added: “Furthermore, the sources of these funds are completely legitimate and have been conclusively proven to the EFCC. It is instructive to note that even the EFCC has not once claimed these funds to be the proceeds of any illegal activity whatsoever.

    “The truth is that there is desperation on the part of the current administration to rope in former President Olusegun Obasanjo into a crime as a way of silencing his voice, which they see as the preeminent critical voice against the misrule that they have foisted on Nigerians.

    “This is why they asked the Federal Inland Revenue Service to falsely and libelously include his name in a published list of tax evaders, along with the names of other Peoples Democratic Party sympathizers, such as prominent international singer and pride of Nigeria, Davido, who played a prominent role in PDP’s gubernatorial campaign in Osun state, for which he is being punished.

    “We are therefore calling on Nigerians to be watchful for false and misleading stories planted in the media by the EFCC against Atiku Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other persons deemed to be opponents of this government.

    “Let it be known that former President Olusegun Obasanjo established the EFCC to be an investigative body and not a propaganda or enforcement arm of the ruling party, as it is now being misused.

    “May we also add that whenever the EFCC wish to come up with mischief, they fly their kite in The Nation This is now a pattern. It should be clear to Nigerians that the Presidency, APC, the EFCC, The FIRS and The Nation are now working together as five fingers of the same leprous hands.”

  • Lead other monarchs to support Ogun govt, Obasanjo tells Alake

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday advised the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo lead other Obas in Egbaland to support the state government to ensure more developments in the zone.

    Obasanjo also advised Oba Adedotun not to listen to bad counsel and intrigues that could tear the monarchs in Egbaland apart, saying it is high time all traditional rulers in the land work in unity for the socio-economic development of Ogun state.

    Egbaland consists of Abeokuta, the state capital and Ogun central Senatorial district and  four major Obas in the city, namely, Alake, Osile, Agura and Owu sections of the city

    The elder statesman who is High Chief – Ekerin in Egba and Oluwo in  Gbagura respectively urged all monarchs in the state capital to steer clear of the aged-long bickering and rivalry among the Obas as prolong bickering would neither bring peace nor development to Egbaland and Ogun state.

    The former president gave the advice at the Coronation ceremony of Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre, Jamolu II, the 9th Agura of Gbaguraland at Oke-Iddo in Abeokuta.

    He said: “Alake, I am happy that you are here because when you ascended the throne, the first speech you gave then was encouraging and appealing, but, you later listened to (bad) advisers.

    “Don’t listen to bad advisers on Agura, ensure that everyone comes together so that they can be development in Egbaland. All of you should work together to achieve development. You all need to support government for socio-economic development. You must all join hands together to ensure community development because your support will help government to develop the state,” Obasanjo said.

    He also cautioned the new monarch against joining old issues with Alake and other Obas in Egbaland, saying he should leverage on his quality exposure as retired senior officer of Nigeria Customs Service  to further unite Obas in the land as peace and unity are needed in the country today.

    Read Also: How Oyegun earned my confidence, by Obasanjo

    He said: “Kabiyesi, you have a lot of work to do in Gbaguraland and Abeokuta as a whole. Our traditional rulers are not united and you do not have bad baggage because as you are coming, your hands are pure, you must ensure that everything about you is pure.

    “Kabiyesi, don’t let anybody tell you that they don’t do it this way, if you want to ensure that your reign brings peace and development to Gbagura, you may have to act out of the box.

    “When I and Muritala were doing it then, we told Queen of England that she could not come to Nigeria. My father cannot confront Queen, but, because the world has changed that is why I was able to tell her not to come and she did not come.

    “You will be the king in the day and night and follow all the customs that surround the throne.”

    However, the new Agura of Gbagura, pledged to support  the State government and other monarchs to move  Egbaland and Ogun state forward.

    In attendance at the coronation ceremony included the Deputy Governor of Ogun state; Engr.  Noimot Salako-Oyedele,

    Speaker and former Speaker of Ogun state House of Assembly  respectively, Hon. Olukunle Oluomo and Tunji Egbetokun, former Governor of Lagos state; Sinatu Ojikutu among others.

     

  • EFCC begins probe of Obasanjo govt’s $16bn power project

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun the probe of the $16 billion power project of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    There had been conflicting figures on the exact cost of the project as some people put it at $16 billion while others say it is $13.8 billion.

    It was gathered last night that the anti-graft agency may arrest key contractors involved in the power project scam which extended beyond the Obasanjo administration into those of former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

    It was also learnt that about 18 top former and serving public officers, including two ex-ministers, may be questioned.

    Also likely to be interrogated by the EFCC are some top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Preliminary investigation revealed that Rockson Engineering Limited got a chunk of the contracts worth about $2 billion.

    The findings revealed that the transactions involving the firms implicated in the power contracts were characterised by absence of due diligence.

    A reliable source in the anti-graft commission said a team of crack detectives had been put in place to interrogate the people involved in the scam.

    The source said: “The operatives of the EFCC have launched a massive investigation into the alleged $16 billion power scam between 2006 and 2011 just as concerted efforts are being made to recover the humongous funds allegedly diverted into private pockets by different firms involved in the power project.

    “The whole power project is $16 billion and anchored on generation, transmission and distribution.

    “The project is being handled by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

    “It is instructive to note that the NDPHC belongs to the three tiers of government, namely the Federal Government, state and local governments.

    “Investigators also discovered that most of the firms that secured contracts under the power project collected huge sums in naira and dollars but did not perform up to 30 per cent before abandoning the project.

    “Incidentally, most of the payments took place during the regimes of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The first amount released from the Excess Crude Account was about $8.3 billion.”

    Another source claimed that some of the contractors will soon be invited by the EFCC for interrogation.

    The source said: “A team of crack detectives has been raised by the commission to get to the roots of the power deal. Some of the key contractors will soon be quizzed.

    “One of the major contractors – Rockson Engineering Ltd- is being allegedly taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria.

    “From documents available to the commission, Rockson got four contracts and it received over $2 billion in the following tranches: $180 million; $220 million; $240 million and $480 million.

    “Rockson also received questionable $11 million and another N150 million.These payments are now under investigation.

    “These huge funds were released to Rockson for power generation alone.

    “Investigation further revealed that despite the release of the above to Rockson, the firm was only able to execute 30 per cent of the construction.

    “The firm also claimed that it imported certain materials since 2013 and lying in Onne Port without clearing.”

    It was also gathered last night that the EFCC will look into alleged lapses by some top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The source added: “Lack of due diligence pervaded the transaction while certain officials of the CBN are under probe over certain regulatory flaws.

    “Instead of opening Letter of Credit (LOC) in the name of the manufacturers of the equipment for the power project, operatives discovered that the LOC was opened in the name of Rockson.

    “Investigation also revealed that instead of the LOC being put in place in Form M (tangibles and specific), the LOC was opened in Form A (intangibles like school fees, medical bills, etc).

    An official in the media unit of the EFCC only said: “We will do everything to recover the huge funds and prosecute indicted officials accordingly.”

    Investigation revealed that the EFCC might also review issues in the report of the House of Representatives Committee.

    The House actually recommended 18 top former and public officers, including two ex-ministers, for investigation by anti-graft agencies, especially EFCC and ICPC.

    Read Also: Court okays EFCC request to freeze Bauchi govt. account

    Many salient issues were raised for investigation by the House Committee, which was headed by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.

    The issues raised by the Elumelu Committee were as follows:

    All NIPP payments were made without following Due Process

    No meaningful progress was made in the execution of power contracts

    Officials rushed to pay contractors in full even before engineering design for the projects had been completed and approved

    NIPP contracts were not only overpriced in comparison with PHCN contracts, they were also wide off the mark

    Widespread evidence of systematic over-scoping of projects in order to inflate costs both in PHCN and NIPP

    NIPP Distribution EPC contracts were awarded at costs averaging about 10 times the norm when compared to PHCN contracts

    The Ndudi Elumelu Committee was put in place by the House on January 31, 2008 to look into how much was spent on power projects.

    In its report, the committee said that about $13.278 billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007.

    The committee recommended termination of 13 contracts and review of 10 projects.

    About 15 contracting and consulting companies were asked to be investigated by the appropriate agencies.

    The report reads in part: “From the oral and documentary evidence, it was clearly established that the total expenditure in the power sector during the period 1999-2007 was US$13, 278,937,409.94billion.

    “Indeed, had the supplementary budget of the power sector in 2007 been implemented, the expenditure could then have been over $16billion reported by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “There are also unfunded commitments to the tune of US$7.265billion for NIPP projects as at May 29, 2007.

    “There is another US $1billion for PHCN capital projects awarded between 2000 and 2007, which have been captured in the 2008 Appropriation Act.

    “Additionally, the total commitment of the NNPC and its Joint Venture partners(of which the Federal Government, through the NNPC has an average of 51% interest) towards  IPP power plants, gas sources development, gas transmission and metering of JV IPPs, PHCN power plants and NIPP power plants, according to the submission of the acting GMD of the NNPC is US$7billion, out of which about US$1.62billion has been expensed, leaving outstanding commitments of over US$5.5billion out of which the Federal Government will provide about US$3billion.

    “Recognition of these unfunded commitments would bring the total (funded and unfunded) FGN expenditure commitments in the power sector to over US$24.5billion between 1999 and 2007.

    “From the assessment done during the Committee’s tour of the project sites, it is safe to conclude that no meaningful progress was made in the execution of power contracts.

    “It is curious and quite strange that officials rush to pay contractors in full even before engineering design for the projects have been completed and approved.

    “NIPP contracts were not only overpriced in comparison with PHCN contracts, they are also wide off the mark when viewed against comparable power stations in several parts of the world.

    “A comparable review of the cost of power installations in varied regions of the world such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, U.S.A, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico and Chile showed that $10billion could have built plants to produce between 5,000 to 6,000 MW of electricity. But this amount failed to do so in Nigeria.

    “Unfortunately, all NIPP payments were made without following Due Process. In its place, a process called ‘Waiver of Due Process Certification for Payment’ was adopted in flagrant disregard of Due Process Policy, thus paving the way for dubious and highly risky payments to contractors and consultants by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “The committee found hard and widespread evidence of systematic over scoping of projects in order to inflate costs both in PHCN and NIPP.

    “At least 15 transmission lines and substation projects have been identified. For example, the New Haven-Ikot-Ekpene 2x330kv Double Circuit Line was over-scoped by 49% whilst the Afam-Ikot Ekpene 330kv line was over-scoped by more than 100%.

    “The estimated aggregate cost inflation identified so far for transmission projects is over N20billion and this is recoverable from contractors.

    “A clear example of project cost inflation is the proposed supply of 9No GE frame 9 gas turbines and auxiliaries at the cost of N185billion($1.55billion) awarded to Rockson International.

    “In comparison, it is noteworthy that GE supplied 18No turbines of similar specification previously at about $404million, including cost of Technical Assistance (TA) services and Long-Term Service agreements (LTSA). The implicit cost inflation on the additional turbines and associated services exceeds $1.145billion.

    “Another example is the costing of the so-called change-order provisions for Alaoji Power Plant (Phase I) at a highly-questionable amount of US$123million.

    “NIPP Distribution EPC contracts were awarded at costs averaging about 10 times the norm when compared to PHCN contracts costs for similar projects in the past five years. This 1,000% cost inflation of the NIPP Distribution EPC work scopes translates to an aggregate overpricing of over N50billion.”

    Regarding the funding of NIPP projects, the panel says: “The contracts were not funded from any Appropriation Act. What this means is that the National Assembly had no knowledge of the source of the funds of the NIPP projects. All the government functionaries who testified referred to what they termed Excess Crude Account as the source of funding.

    “The Committee was not able to determine the level of involvement of the National Assembly in the decision to set up the Excess Crude account. What the committee established is that it was illegal and unconstitutional for such a fund to be established without legislative authorization. Sections 80(3 and 4) of the 1999 Constitution which states clearly.

    On the role of the CBN, the panel’s report added: “The committee is perturbed by the failure of the CBN Governor to provide information in respect of Letters of Credit opened and where the money involving over $1billion has been kept all these years

    “It is necessary to note that the Central Bank of Nigeria refused to provide the Committee with schedule of utilization and draw-downs on Letters of Credit as well as interest accrued on unutilized balances.

    “The committee strongly believes that these monies might be on fixed deposit accounts with some banks.

    “In view of the apparent unwillingness of the CBN to cooperate with the Committee in this matter or provide the Committee with a proper account of withdrawals from Excess Crude account, the balance on the account, where the monies in respect of the unutilized Letters of Credit are kept and interest that have accrued thereto, we recommend that the EFCC be invited to investigate the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria in respect of the above issues relating to Letters of Credit opened.

  • Obasanjo to cattle breeders: Peace must return to Southwest

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday met with leaders of   Fulani cattle breeders in the Southwest as well as  Kogi and Kwara States, over the wave of   banditry and insecurity across the region

    Obasanjo said what people knew about the security challenges in the Southwest before were  all myths and not clarity, darkness and not light, hence the need for the meeting to properly interrogate the root cause of the banditry, kidnapping  and other security challenges in  Yorubaland.

    He charged the group to evolve a system that would enable them effectively police their settlements in the Southwest so that the region could enjoy once more the peace it once knew.

    The elder statesman addressed the meeting at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.

    In attendance were Dayo Adewole, a cattle breeder and son of the immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, spokesperson of the Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin and a leader of the Fulani group, Alhaji Sale Bayari.

    The younger Adewole was recently kidnapped from his farm in the outskirts of Ibadan.

    Obasanjo told the Fulani group who came under   the aegis of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) that the Yoruba wanted peace, harmony, wholesomeness and progress in the region, stressing that the time had come for everybody to acknowledge that “bad things are happening” in the Southwest and which have been attracting bad names to the Fulani in their midst.

    He urged Nigerians to stop the culture of “passing blame” and think of a lasting solution to the menace of armed banditry and other forms of insecurity.

    He noted that the solution to the nation’s security challenges, including Southwest, should not be left to one person to address but through collective efforts.

    Obasanjo said: “I take it that you are sufficiently knowledgeable, sufficiently aware, sufficiently understanding to be able to interact actively and successfully at this meeting on behalf of those that are not here.

    “None of us here will say he doesn’t know what has been happening, what has been reported and what is being reported about the insecurity in our country generally.

    “I believe that whatever that we are able to achieve or to discuss or to disabuse in this zone will be taken as a model in other zones.

    “I want to learn from you and I hope you will learn from me and at the end of the day, we will be all wiser and we will be able to determine what should be the way forward for us to get rid of bad things in our community.

    “Let me tell you some of the reasons for our meeting. What has been happening in Nigeria, particularly in this area, the Southwest, we have got a lot of bad things happening here, let us not deceive ourselves.

    “We have got a lot of heat, not enough light. And without adequate light, we may not be able to deal with the problem the way we want to and find solution to it. We have got enough heat but we now need light to guide us so that we are all out there.

    “Secondly, we are all in darkness, all of us. We need to be in the light. And those who may want to choose to be in darkness and want to deceive themselves, we can leave them in darkness but majority of us have to be in the light and let the light shine upon us so that we can see our faces, we can see ourselves as we are, where we are naked, let us see ourselves as naked, where we are half covered, let us see ourselves as half covered, where we are fully clothed, let us see ourselves as fully clothed.

    “We are also going about among ourselves with history. Some of the histories that we are going about among ourselves are the histories we need not perpetrate.

    “We are going about with myths; we are not going about with reality. We are going about with lack of clarity so what we want to do is to push aside myth and talk about reality; we want to talk about clarity. We want to see things clearly the way they are.

    “There is criminality, there is insecurity and it has not been like that before. If this is what we have, what we want to do at this meeting is find solutions to stop it.

    “We want to interrogate and be inquisitive among ourselves about things around us but particularly about unusual things around us. We are not inquisitorial, we are not prosecutorial but we want to interrogate ourselves why is it, how is it, where is it and then we find solutions to it.

    “We want to have peace, we want to have security, we want to have harmony, we want to have wholesomeness, we want to have progress, how can we have these? We want to move Nigeria forward, irrespective of tribe, religion, ethnicity, trade, profession, where I come from, where you come from.

    “How can we together move Nigeria forward? And there is nobody else who will do all these for us; it is you, we, all of us here and all our brothers and sisters wherever they may be in Nigeria.

    “It is not one man’s job or one person’s job or one group’s job, it a job for all of us, all Nigerians and unless and until we see it that way, we should stop passing blame, everybody is wrong and everybody is right.

    “Let us take what is right in one group and join it what is right in other group and throw away what is wrong in all the groups then we will move forward.

    “Our brothers and sisters in West Africa are worried about our situation. They are wondering if Nigeria cannot manage her security, if Nigeria’s security is endangered, how can they look up to Nigeria who they normally see as big brother, that can be called upon to come and help them if they are in any type of problems. So, they are worried and we are here to assure them, to assuage their worry to be able to say yes, we are Nigerians, we can deal and we will deal with our security problem and any other problem that we need to deal with.

    “I was born in a village and grew up among all tribes that were in that area: Igbira, Egun, Igbo, Igala, we don’t even called them Hausas or Fulanis, we called them Mallams because that is what we knew them as. We knew them as Mallams and we grew up friendly. Peace was reigning but what has now changed?

    “From my own knowledge, when I joined the Army, I came back from training in 1959 to Kaduna, my interaction with the North and particularly with Hausa/Fulani is a different experience from the one that I hear and see today.

    “Normally, you know it when a stranger gets into a community, the head of that community must know and it is the responsibility of the head of that community to maintain peace and security so what is the problem with our community leaders, the chiefs while things are going wrong in your community, is it that you do not have knowledge, is it that you do not know what is happening, what exactly is the problem? Because this is what I know, this is what used to happen and part of what we have to do is what is wrong that we have to put right.

    “We must be able to have what I will call take away from this meeting. We will have positive measures that are measurable which we will put timeline to and which will be actions by individuals and groups and which we can follow and see what progress we are making and maybe before long, we can then have what I will call progress meeting to discuss what we have achieved, what is left to be achieved, where do we move to next? But we must have as take away that which will work for us individually and collectively.”

    Read Also: ACF hits Obasanjo over letter to Buhari

    Obasanjo however, tasked the GAFDAN members to evolve a system that would make the Fulani effectively police their environs in Yorubaland to enable them spot out bad eggs among them in order to sustain the peace and harmony that hitherto prevailed in Southwest.

    Some of the GAFDAN members who spoke at the meeting however, identified foreign herders, particularly from Togo and Republic of Benin as the major sources of the security challenges in Nigeria, although they said some Yoruba people are collaborators.

    GAFDAN Secretaries from Oyo, Garba Umar said the Fulani and farmers in Oyo State had evolved ways of settling disputes until the arrival of the foreign herders.

    The meeting thereafter, went into a closed-door session.

    Only about three months ago, Obasanjo branded the aim of the terror sect Boko Haram as ‘Fulanisation’ of West Africa and Islamisation of Africa.

    He urged an immediate and more aggressive approach by the federal government to deal with the current challenge of insecurity across the country brought about by the sect and its allies in ISIS.

    Obasanjo, in a keynote address at the 2019 Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), in Oleh, Isoko South council area of Delta State, said government should seek the opinions of all Nigerians that matter on the security situation and then proceed to bilateral, multinational, regional, continental and global levels for assistance in making the country safe for all.

    “With ISIS involvement, we cannot but go global,” he said.

    He spoke on the topic ‘Mobilizing Nigeria’s human and natural resources for national development and stability.’

    Tracing the origin of the security threat to the Boko Haram insurgency and cattle rustling in the north, Obasanjo said:  “They have both incubated and developed beyond what Nigeria can handle alone. They are now combined and internationalized with ISIS in control.

    “It is no longer an issue of lack of education and lack of employment for our youths in Nigeria which it began as, it is now West African Fulanization, African Islamization and global organized crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining and regime change.”

     

     

  • Killings reactions to the reaction: Obasanjo’s letter, Jonathan’s suggestions & the UK Parliament debate

    For the sake of Nigeria and Nigerians , I pray that God may  grant you, as our President the wisdom, the understanding,  the political will and the courage to do what is right when it is right and without fear or favour.  May He open to us a window of opportunity that we can still use to prevent the worst happening.

    Olusegun Obasanjo

    Substantially, that was the conclusion of the Monday Morning Missive from the former president in his letter to President Buhari on Insecurity in Nigeria, this past week. Obasanjo talked about the state of insecurity  in the country,  and made suggestions on how to address the challenges. Obasanjo said, “ Herdsmen/ farmers crises and menace started with government treating the issue with cuddling gloves instead of hammer. It has festered and spread. Today it has developed into banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and killings all over the country.

    This is not about the former president; I can tell us the rest of the world is watching. Insecurity in Nigeria has been the hot topic on Vatican  television and in the Vatican News Agency. Actual events here feature regularly on Aljazeera as well as other international news organisations. And the matter has been debated upon at the UK Parliament , at the House of Lords. Precisely on June 28,2018, more than one full year ago, Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB) raised the issue thus: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the continuing violence between communities and armed groups in Nigeria “.

    In fact the Noble Lord,  Lord Alton even introduced the debate as one of ‘tragic topicality’.

    Sad to say, the currency is still the same. We even  now  have some countries giving their nationals  travel advisories to Nigeria.

    Former President Obasanjo’s lengthy despatch  has come after the brutal murder,  upper weekend of Mrs Funke Olakunri, the daughter of the Afenifere chieftain Reuben Fasoranti , which appears to be the last straw, for many. Since then, a lot of Nigerians have spoken out on various platforms, expressing how fed up they are with the unending condolence messages and visits by the federal government, to the various places successively hit by the mindless killings. Many are wondering why,  after several meetings between  the president and service chiefs; the situation seems to be worsening,  instead of improving.

    Well,  like Senator Shehu Sani says of Obasanjo’s reaction: The Messenger Is Not Handsome,  But The Message Is. Obasanjo warns of impending doom on a national scale if action is not quickly taken.

    “The President must be seen to be addressing this issue with utmost seriousness and with more dispatch and getting all hands on deck to help.  If there is failure, the principal responsibility will be that of the President,  and no one else”- Obasanjo’s words.

    Of specific interest here is the solution proffered by the former president.  He says, “Like the issue of security, government should open up on discussion,  debate and dialogue as part of consultation at different levels and the outcome of such deliberations should be collated to form inputs into a national conference “.

    Of similar interest here is the reaction at this time of another former president; immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan.

    From what he says,  he does believe in the meetings being held over security. But he too has a solution to offer, in 2fold. One is the implementation of the 2014 National Conference,  the other is the deployment of technology in a special unit on Insecurity.

    He says, “ There is nothing wrong holding  specific meetings to look at the issue of security. I believe the federal and state governments need to have a new approach,  deploy technology and have more money to protect our people. “

    “ In 2014 when I was president,  we had a national conference where a number of things were discussed. The issue of security,  state and regional police were discussed. I always believe that the government should look at that report; it was not written by me“.

    Examining the positions of both former leaders,  a common thread can be found , and that is the reference to a national conference.  On this,  I must say that it is most surprising to me hear from Dr Obasanjo , who held a robust national conference and who jettisoned the entire recommendations  therefrom and continued with his administration as if nothing had even happened- himself  to  be  calling  for ANOTHER NATIONAL CONFERENCE ?? I find it indefensible. I also beg to disagree. It is equally  saddening to see that the convener of the 2014 national conference did not as much as initiate the process of implementing even one of the aspects of the recommendations- maybe security,  to start with?!

    Having said that,  I believe that the recommendations of the 2014  national   conference should be adopted and APPLIED this time. The solutions to many of our national issues are contained in that document.

    To conclude,  I appreciate the Noble Lords of the UK Parliament for maintaining continuous discussions on the issue of Insecurity in Nigeria. Back home, I  uphold that there is an urgent need for critical and effective intervention.

    Delay is – Dangerous. Devastating. Deadly.

    07055547031 WhatsApp/sms Twitter @mikky_princess

  • Buhari told to ignore Obasanjo

    A Lagos-based entrepreneur and computer expert, Chief Livinus R. Okwara.has reacted to the letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation.

    Okwara described Obasanjo’s letter as self-serving, urging Nigerians not to attach importance to it.

    He said: “Obasanjo is pursuing a personal agenda. Since he failed to realise his third-term agenda, he has been trying to remain relevant. I advise our president to ignore him.”

    It would be recalled that Obasanjo had cautioned Buhari to address the multifarious challenges, confronting the nation, especially insecurity, warning that it could derail nationhood and development, if not addressed.

    Read Also: I’m committed to a safe Nigeria – Buhari

    Expectedly, eminent people, including politicians, retired military personnel and other Nigerians, have been reacting to the letter.

    Okwara, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), faulted Obasanjo for lacking the moral standing to criticize Buhari.

    He said: “If Obasanjo had done well in his eight years of governance, Nigeria would have overcome the current challenges he is talking about.”

    He said Buhari was tackling corruption, insecurity, infrastructure deficit, among other problems facing the nation.

    He urged Nigerians to support the president to succeed.