The Nation Newspaper

Tag: personal

  • Yar’Adua placed national interest above personal, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was a selfless leader who placed national interest above personal interests.

    On his Facebook page yesterday in commemoration of the ninth year of Yar’Adua’s death, Jonathan said he used the opportunity he had in public service to build bridges of love, foster unity and give hope to Nigerians.

    He said: “On this day nine years ago, I lost a friend, colleague, brother and boss, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He was a selfless leader who placed national interest above personal and ethnic gains.

    “(The late) President Yar’Adua was a man of integrity with a humble spirit who always took upon himself the burden of national reconciliation, peace-building and democratic consolidation.

    “Today, I remember and celebrate him for the works that he had done. Peace he lived for and homes of peace he built. Democracy he loved and democracy he nurtured. We will always remember you for your service. A servant leader truly you remain.”

    Also, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar described the late President Yar’Adua as a man of peace.

    In a statement yesterday, He wrote: “On May 5, 2010, Nigeria lost a man of peace and a leader with a vision in the person of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

    “The late President Yar’Adua was a man I was closely connected to. First, because his late brother, the great Tafida of Katsina, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, was my political mentor who taught Umaru and I the ropes in politics.

    “Obviously, with Umaru, the apple did not fall far from the tree.

    “Secondly, we worked very, very closely when he was the Governor of Katsina State at the time I was Vice-President to our leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “In this period where Nigeria is facing almost unprecedented violence and insecurity, the world will remember that it was President Yar’Adua who bequeathed peace to the Niger Delta through his futuristic and visionary Amnesty and rehabilitation programme.

    “That singular action saw an unprecedented improvement in the performance of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, which led to record-breaking five per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

    “Beyond that, the late President Yar’Adua was an advocate and proponent of the rule of lLaw and the doctrine of separation of powers. His was the only administration that did not suffer from Executive-Legislative tensions in this Fourth Republic.

    “I am proud of what he achieved and the fact that such a decent leader was produced by my political family (the Yar’Adua political family) and my political party (the Peoples Democratic Party).

    “May the Almighty Allah continue to shine His noor (light) on the face of our late dear President Umaru Yar’Adua as we mark nine years of his passing and may Allah (SWT) grant him Al-Jannah Fir’daus.

    “I also pray that God continues to bless the family he left behind. A grateful nation appreciates the labours of their beloved son almost a decade after his passing.”

  • FCMB Bank (UK) unveils personal, business banking

    FCMB Bank (UK) Limited, an independently incorporated subsidiary of First City Monument Bank Limited (which is a member of FCMB Group Plc), has introduced its Personal and Business banking proposition in London, United Kingdom and Lagos, Nigeria at an impressive ceremony attended by the top echelon of the business community within and from outside the country.

    The development follows the latest variation of permission obtained by the United Kingdom-based Bank to extend its services to include retail (investments) for individuals and business enterprises. This is in addition to the existing wholesale deposit taking activities, foreign exchange, treasury, corporate banking and trade finance offerings to corporate and institutional customers of FCMB Bank (UK) Limited.

    The variation of permission was granted by the Prudential Regulation Authority, the financial services regulatory body of the United Kingdom, and it became effective on June 8.

    The Personal and Business banking proposition of FCMB Bank (UK) Limited is anchored on the Bank’s London Leverage and Africa Awareness. This will enable the financial institution deliver its promise of being the Corporate and Private Bank for African-oriented entrepreneurs, investors and professionals across all their banking needs.

    The Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun, explained at the ceremony that the launch of FCMB Bank (UK) Limited’s personal and business banking proposition is as much a statement of substance as it is one of intent. According to him, “our successful UK platform has proven to be of great importance to the Nigeria stockbroking and international trade finance activities of FCMB Group. Leveraging our deep networks in Africa’s biggest economy, the importance of a London presence to many of our Personal and Business banking customers, and technological innovation, we welcome this opportunity to meaningfully serve more of our customers and grow the value of our UK franchise”.

    Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of FCMB Bank (UK) Limited, James Benoit, said, “with the extension of its services, the Bank is now able to receive deposits from both customer segments as well as provide them bank loans to enable them meet their financing needs. The deposit products on offer include current, notice savings and fixed deposit accounts at competitive rates; while its lending products include Buy-to-Let Mortgage Loans enabling target customers to acquire a piece of London and purchase property to include in their investment portfolios.’’.

    He added that the Bank will be expanding its premises and entering into partnerships with Fintech providers to open up service options to

  • FCMB begins personal, business banking in UK

    Individuals and Business Enterprises, who seek to transact their banking services between Nigeria or other African countries and those who desire to maintain banking relationship in London, United Kingdom (UK) now have the opportunity to do so.

    FCMB Bank UK Limited recently obtained a variation of its banking permission to include retail (investments) services. The permission was granted by the Prudential Regulation Authority and was effective on June 8, 2018.

    Based on the approval, FCMB Bank (UK) Limited is now able to extend the level of excellent banking services its Corporate and Institutional Customers currently receive to High Net Worth individuals (HNWI) and Small and Medium Business Enterprises.

    The bank’s Chief Executive Officer, James Benoit, said: “This approval and extension of services is a major achievement, which will enable the Bank deliver its promise of being the Corporate and Private Bank for African-oriented entrepreneurs, investors and professionals across all their banking needs. The Bank will be expanding its premises and entering into partnerships with Fintech providers to open up service options to our clients and enhance their overall banking experience.”

    The bank’s Chief Risk Officer, BC Achary, said with the extension of its services, the bank is able to receive deposits from both customer segments as well as provide them bank loans to enable them meet their financing needs. “The deposit products on  offer include current, notice savings and fixed deposit accounts at competitive rates; while its lending products include Buy-to-Let Mortgage Loans enabling target customers to acquire property in London.”

    FCMB Group  CEO Ladi Balogun, added: “Our successful UK platform has proven to be of great importance to the Nigeria stockbroking and international trade finance activities of FCMB Group.

    “Leveraging our deep networks in Africa’s biggest economy, the importance of a London presence to many of our Personal and Business banking customers, and technological innovation, we welcome this opportunity to meaningfully serve more of our customers and grow the value of our UK franchise.”

     

  • Growing personal insecurity

    There is no doubt that the economic decline in Nigeria and the general lack of accountability on the part of our leaders have created a disconnect between the various governments and the generality of the people. The ease with which people misuse or exploit their offices as if there were no checks and balances amazes reasonable and thinking people. The humongous looting of the treasuries by individuals demonstrate the breakdown of bureaucratic and government control system. This is undermining the integrity and legitimacy of the governments and their officials and consequently creating a vacuum in governance space which anti-social people and hoodlums are filling. The result of this is that those who can afford to hire personal security guards are doing so and those who cannot are resigned to prayers and luck that they will not be victims.  Even as we all know, one can hire policemen if one has the resources whether one is in government or out of it.

    Kidnapping has become so lucrative that those previously involved in armed robbery have shifted to kidnapping. People are routinely kidnapped on their way home from work or while sleeping at night or travelling between cities. Once kidnapped, those who are not killed in the process are traded as commodities and prices are put on their heads and if lucky after successful negotiations and payment of ransoms, they are released to their relatives while the police will issue dishonest statements that no ransom was paid. The situation is so bad that there are no longer sacred places that are respected by kidnappers. Churches and mosques now routinely hire guards and policemen whose loyalties cannot be guaranteed.  Our church in Ibadan has two layers of security, one by the police, the other by private guards. While praying to God for our security, we keep our eyes half closed in case we have to bolt away if we hear “fire on the mountain”. This is really sad. In the past, old people are spared but not any more; in fact they are increasingly becoming easy targets because of their cash value and the ease of catching them since they can neither fight nor run when accosted. The result of this is that those who live in cities cannot visit their villages where their ancestors are buried!  The environment is poisoned with fear; mere greetings by loud youngsters can lead to people running for dear lives.

    I once went home to Okemesi and as I was driving out of town, I was stopped right at the boundary between Okemesi and Esaoke by two middle aged men who had put across the road a barrier of a long stick full of nails to puncture the tyre of anyone who refused to stop.  I was very angry because I was rushing to Lagos. When I asked what the problem was, I was asked to show my tax clearance. I asked which kind of tax clearance? I was told that of Oriade Local Government. I told them I was a teacher at Redeemers University in Osun State and paid “pay as you earn” tax. They refused to budge. Then I felt, let me speak my local dialect to these people and that perhaps that would do the trick. When I spoke, I was shouted at and asked to speak English and that they did not understand Yoruba, my language. It then turned out that the people were non-Yorubas hired by the local government to force money out of anybody they could find by terrorizing them. At that point, I bluntly refused to be robbed. Suddenly I saw a solitary mobile policeman standing a few meters from where my driver and I were. I called him and introduced myself. His response was – “oga you are an old man, pay them their money and go away”.  I was shocked. I became deadly stubborn saying “the only way you will get money from me is over my dead body”. Eventually one of the boys knew the game was up and said “old man go away”.

    For a long time afterwards, I never visited my home town. Our compound at home where we had celebrated many Christmas parties and where the larger family congregates often when occasions demand has been robbed many times. So has the First Bank that serves my town Imesi and our sister town Imesi-Ile been robbed and the policeman guarding it killed thereby shutting down banking operations of the two towns. Sometimes we are told the young people robbing my home town come from a nearby polytechnic which I refuse to believe. But who knows? We are really in trouble!

    A friend of mine living in Abuja but who comes from the north-east told me a story that early in January 2016 he was driving to Bauchi from Jos and a policeman stopped him and asked for his papers. He assumed it was one of those “oga give us something now”. He brought out his wallet and attempted to offer something for the boys. To his surprise, the policeman said “oga don’t you know Buhari is the president?” He was pleasantly surprised and happy and drove off. President Buhari’s integrity matters to many of us who support him. As my nephew has clinically examined the coalition that brought Buhari to power in his write-up in Thisday, the southern intelligentsia was critical. This support was based on the confidence we have that Buhari is the only politician among the current ones who can clean the Augean stable of corruption in Nigeria.

    He must do everything possible to maintain this integrity and those around him, if they love him, must not do anything to undermine the confidence people have in him. Perception can sometimes be stronger than reality. There must be no room for doubts and if any assistant or ministers appear to undermine his campaign against corruption, such a person must be shown the way out and must be swiftly dealt with.

    The insecurity in the country is intricately linked with the corruption. If there is money in the coffers of government, we would have excellent infrastructure and with this the country will be open for businesses. But if it is a free for all kind of situation, then the insecurity will increase and the country will descend into warlordism where brigands carve up the country and reach some concordance with security agencies to fend for themselves. Unless something is done quickly, the Boko Haram insurgence will be replicated in other parts of the country not in form of religious rebellion but in form of criminal gangs that would be laws unto themselves.

    It is an open secret that people from the north-east living in Abuja can no longer drive through Plateau State to Bauchi for fear of being killed. They now have to go through Kano to Bauchi if they survive ambush in some parts of Kaduna State. Thus a journey of a few hours becomes a full day’s journey. South-easterners are marooned in Lagos and the South-west and hardly go home any more, not even at Christmas for fear of kidnappers. Even the peace in the South-west has been shattered by people from outside the area who have brought their nefarious business of kidnapping to the region.

    This among other reasons is why we have been calling for local or zonal police recruited from the local environment who know the place and speak the local languages of the people. This is no brainer! It is commonsensical. We cannot and must not wait until we are killed or kidnapped before we speak out because self preservation is the first law of nature. As presently configured the security agencies have failed and people do not feel safe any where any time whether in the night or in the daybreak, at home or at work in the city or in the country!.

    Unfortunately this insecurity has economic and foreign policy dimension. Investors are shying away from Nigeria, even our young ones are running away to foreign countries through indescribable and dangerous routes and means and our counsel and collaboration are no longer sought by those who hitherto were our partners. Our problem has gone beyond party affiliations. It is a matter of life or death and we must all stay here in Nigeria and find solutions to our problem.  Those of the opposition who gloat when something goes wrong in government should bury their heads in shame. As some people have said, 50 percent of the so-called APC government are from the PDP with the same buccaneering attitude to governance. So how can we expect fundamental change when only the president appears to be fighting a solitary battle and he is being pulled by the instincts of survival or self sacrifice in an environment laden with political mines?

  • ‘Bello’s critics are pursuing personal interests’

    ‘Bello’s critics are pursuing personal interests’

    Alhaji Mohammed Bologi, a former Senior Legislative Assistant at the National Assembly and politician, is an ardent supporter of Governor Bello Yahaya of Kogi State. In this interview with JAMES AZANIA, he speaks on the crisis rocking the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the industrial crisis in the state, the achievements of the administration and other partisan issues. 

    You were an ardent supporter of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, who was on the verge of winning the November 21, 2015 Kogi State governorship election, but died and Governor Bello inherited the APC ticket. Bello’s emergence as governor under those circumstances is believed to be the genesis of the political crisis in the state, because the Audu-Faleke group says they were short-changed. Can you throw more light on the matter?

    To begin with, I want to say there is nothing acrimonious about how Governor Yahaya Bello emerged. Our late leader, Prince Abubakar Audu, contested and almost won the election before he unfortunately died. It became another constitutional lacuna, because the framers of the constitution did not envisage this kind of emergency and so, did not provide for it under our laws as at the relevant time. Therefore, providence favoured our dynamic and courageous governor who came second to late Prince Audu. Expert legal opinion was sought to guide the process and this led to Bello continuing the race. And as you know, this matter progressed even up to the Supreme Court and the highest court in the land okayed the party’s decision in transferring the votes to Bello, who came second in the primary. So, there was no acrimonious circumstance.

    It was a straight forward matter as the highest jurisprudence has shown. It is quite unfortunate that it appears to you that I have distanced myself from what you call the Audu-Faleke group and I equally don’t understand what you mean by ‘being short changed’. I have a good rapport with everybody in the party. The primary aim of going into politics is to bring services and dividends of democracy to the people; I mean the grassroots. If the governor is giving these to the people and certain people are saying they are short-changed, that means they have interests other than the people.

    We should be able to think outside the box and play politics for the benefit of the people. Take myself for example, I hail from Lokoja Local Government, from Ward C, the traditional area, but presently the P.A to Hon. Ned Nwoko, and this is a position, I have held for over 17 years now. My boss retained my services up to date, due to my capacity to think outside the box. Yet, I have remained connected to the grassroots. And, despite my being of the same parents with the one-time chairman of Lokoja Local Government and two-term commissioner under Capt. Idris Wada’s government —- while my brother believes in the PDP platform, I do not share the same ideologies. We see things from different perspectives. They belong to the old block of politicians, while I am in the same age bracket as the hardworking Governor Yahaya Bello. We can play politics devoid of rancour, bitterness or other ulterior motives.

    What are the chances of resolving the lingering crisis within the ruling APC, considering that the 2019 general elections is getting closer by the day?

    It’s unfortunate that the Kogi APC is in such a mess. But, we thank Allah that in less than two years, it has done considerably well, compared to what the previous government/party did during the long period it was in power. I can assure you that what you call crises will be resolved in no time, because the governor does not want the crises to linger. He has said it over and over again that his doors are open. The only problem is the governor’s insistence that everybody in the present government must eschew personal interests for the collective interest of the people.

    In your opinion, what are the achievements of the governor in his close to two years in power?

    They are too numerous to mention, but I must confess that this is a serious question. I have addressed this matter when I mentioned the achievements on security, the infrastructural development across the state, building of classrooms, employment of qualified teachers and a series of empowerment programmes for youth and the indigent. There are also reforms in the civil service and continuous employment within the service of capable hands, enhanced revenue generation and decimation of godfatherism, equality, fairness and justice… Salaries and entitlements are also being paid as cleared. I personally have seen what Governor Bello is doing to transform the state. Look at the security architecture, for instance. The governor is a pacesetter in the whole country. This much was confirmed by no less a person than the Inspector General of Police, after he visited and undertook a study of the security situation in Kogi State. In the past, so much insecurity pervaded the state capital and its environs. Kidnappers, armed robbers who were having a field day have since relocated, due to the commitment of the administration in the fight against criminality in all ramifications. The same can be said about thuggery and other vices. The state is wearing a new look, with streetlights everywhere and constant raiding of dark spots by security agents. This was made possible because of the massive purchase of security vehicles and equipment by the administration.

    What is your take on allegations by some of the Kogi stakeholders, including Senator Dino Melaye and Hon. James Faleke, to the effect that the administration has nothing to show for the billions of naira it has so far received from the Federal Government, particularly the over N50 billion received as bailout fund and the Paris Club Loan Refund?

    The government runs a transparent administration with records in the open. Nothing is shrouded in secrecy. The administration has explained all the receipts of funds either from Paris Club, bail out or even allocations. These monies have been judiciously applied for their intended purposes. The website of the government is there for everyone whose seeks clarifications to visit.

  • Personal injuries: Get Justice with forensic medicine

    In the last two weeks, we discussed the role of coroner, inquest, autopsy and forensic medicine and how it applies to you. This week, we will take a very close look at how the knowledge of forensic medicine, coroner inquest and autopsy can bring you justice and restitution on one hand as well as penalty to the perpetrator of harm. Justice requires evidence. The legal system needs evidence to arrive at cause and effect and hence to give you fairness of judgment.

    Between you, your injury and equity stands the medical doctor and allied clinicians who will examine your injuries, causes and possible cost to repair the injury if possible.

    Those injuries be it physical, mental or injury that you sustain that are not due to your own fault but to the fault of others, is called personal injuries. Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions, as opposed to an injury to physical property such as your car or house.

    Personal injury term is most frequently used to denote a type of tort (offence) lawsuit in which the person bringing the suit (the injured person or victim or relation), or “plaintiff,” has suffered harm to his or her body or mind. Personal injury lawsuits are filed against the party or entity that caused the harm through act of negligence, gross negligence, reckless conduct or behaviour, or intentional misconduct. Different legal jurisdictions describe the damages (or, the things for which the injured person may be compensated) in different ways, but damages typically include the injured person’s medical bills, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life.  Very often, the compensation of restitution is financial or economic.

     

    Areas where personal injuries are applicable:

    Areas where personal injuries claims are commonly made include road traffic accidents in which the accident causing the injury is the fault of another, work place accidents, tripping accidents at work whereby a member of the public or worker get injured as a result of the negligence of the contractor or the party that got the contractor. Assault claims such as rape can both lead to personal injury claims and criminal prosecutions. Defective product leading to harm of the consumer or causing accidents (product liability) can lead to personal injury claims. The term personal injury also incorporates medical and dental accidents (which lead to medical negligence claims). Cases classified as industrial disease cases such as asbestosis, chest diseases (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic obstructive airways disease), vibration white finger, occupational deafness, occupational stress, contact dermatitis, and repetitive strain injury cases are all forms of personal injuries.

    Taking a look at the cause of death, coroner and personal injury cases in Nigeria, accidents, product liability and automobile collisions will probably be amongst the highest causes of injuries. Personal injury cases may also include toxic torts, in which a contaminant transmitted by air or water causes illness, injury, or death. Wrongful deaths of a relative can also lead to claim of personal injury by those concerned. Such wrongful death may also be a cause of criminal prosecution in which case coroner and or forensic examination would have taken place.

     

    The benefits

    Pursuit of personal injury claims is not a child’s play. It may be tortuous and painful. It may take a long time to arrive at resolution and require expensive investigations. In general, the society is better off as the parties that are involved will now take caution not to cause similar injuries in the future. Suffice to say that government at various levels and big corporations are not immune to personal injury claims. It’s on this basis that sane and insightful parties would have taken the steps to insure their products, work and services against personal injury claims.

    Forensic Medicine and Personal Injuries: Forensic medical practitioners including coroners are specialty workers that determine the cause, nature and extent of injuries to a person. As I stated earlier, these professionals work along with lawyers in resolving death and injury issues so that justice can be obtained for the victims. Next week, we shall take a look at suicide in concluding our series on medicine and law.

  • Mercedes cars to become autonomous personal assistants

    Mercedes cars to become autonomous personal assistants

    Daimler’s Chairman, board of directors, Dr Dieter Zetsche, has revealed that Mercedes-Benz wants to create cars that will act as personal assistants and wellbeing monitors.

    Speaking at the weekend in Berlin, Germany at the Internationale FunkausstelIung (IFA) consumer electronics show, Dr Zetsche explained that cars will one day carry out chores and tasks humans do not enjoy in a bid to improve their quality of life and reduce stress.

    He said cars would be able to communicate with one another and pass on information to make journeys more efficient, and that in the very short term, they will be able to use the shared data to do things such as find spaces and park themselves.

    “We’ve already begun testing community-based parking in Stuttgart together with our partners at Bosch,” Zetsche said.

    He added: “It works using car sensors that can find empty spaces along a road and then share the information with the Mercedes back-end database. That information is then shared with other Mercedes cars.”

    The process means all connected Mercedes cars will be able to instantly know where the nearest and most convenient parking space is. In the short term future, this system will allow users to drive their cars to them, but further ahead, autonomous cars will drive off and park themselves.

    Zetsche said cars will then begin to work as their owner’s assistant, carrying out chores like taking the kids to school and picking up other family members while an owner stays at work or home.

    “Everyone is talking about digitalisation and connected cars. But software alone will not be able to take you from A to B. It is the total package that will take you from A to B,” he said.

    Additionally, the Mercedes boss said cars would work to make sure their passengers are as comfortable as possible during transit.

    “It’s our goal that a passenger gets out of a Mercedes in better condition than when they got in. The car will use its sensors to monitor the health and wellbeing of passengers, and then adjust settings to improve your situation and blood pressure,” he explained.

    While he refrained from going into further details, Zetsche cited the Mercedes F015 concept (pictured above) as an example of the idea. The concept was revealed at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, United States (US), and showcased Mercedes’s vision for autonomous cars that focus on offering maximum comfort to passengers.

    He said: “We do not know exactly what the car will look like in 10 years from now, but we do know it will be of greater value for all of us. That’s why our cars have begun to become quality time machines, to hand back time to let you do what you want.

    “But that time will always include driving a car for pure pleasure. We will certainly never forget that at Mercedes.”

  • Abubakar Audu: Of loyalty and personal interest

    SIR: Since the unfortunate demise of Kogi State and Igala Kingdom’s most celebrated and decorated politician and onetime governor of the State, Prince Abubakar Audu, I deliberately chose not to add to the deluge of manifestly twisted, ignorantly pedestrian and hate-induced analyses packaged by power mongers and self-seeking elements masquerading as true defenders of the interest of the masses.

    I know for a fact that, late Audu, if given the opportunity to stage a comeback to this world would not want to identify with some characters who often fall over themselves to celebrate, eulogise or adulate him as their hero, especially on the cyberspace. Hardly was his death fully confirmed that these characters began to plot their games on the next line of action.

    Well, with his demise, I wasn’t really bothered with the issue of who would succeed him since nature abhors vacuum. But I am particularly worried by the rather callous disposition of certain characters who often pride themselves as Prince Audu’s disciples and diehard supporters who couldn’t wait for the remains of Audu to be properly committed to mother earth before they severed whatever relationship they ever had with him.

    We were told of how they eulogised late Audu and even threatened to jump into his grave when prayers were offered for his soul. But all that ended the very moment the late Aduoja was laid to rest in his family compound. Expectedly, the family members and REAL mourners were left to mourn the dead, while the pseudo mourners congregated elsewhere to plot their game.

    As you read through these lines, these same characters who swore to kill anyone who dared to malign late Abubakar Audu or make any attempt to seize power from his camp have since jumped ship and are now drumming support for a man they so hated, maligned and called names – Governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

    We all know the hidden intentions behind their actions. It is all about what they stand to benefit from the about-to-be-sworn in government.

    I took out time to read through the list of the Yahaya Bello Transition Committee as well as its sub-committees. I was indeed shocked by the names of individuals I found on it. I saw the names of a few self-acclaimed unrepentant, unapologetic and diehard supporters of late Prince Audu on the list. The same Senator Dino Melaye who once vowed never to recognise Yahaya Bello as Governor-Elect now heads the transition committee. Hon. Benjamin Ikani, a man who owes his political achievements to Prince Audu’s political astuteness is to serve as Secretary of the committee. I remembered watching Hon. Ikani vowed never to identify with the Yahaya Bello camp.

    Comrade Odaudu Joel Minister is another very character who consistently sang the praises of late Audu in the build up to the last election. He has since abandoned the late Audu/Faleke struggle. His name featured in media sub-committee of the Yahaya Bello transition committee. He has been making fruitless efforts to explain his reasons for his action.

    The emergence of Bello as the governor-Elect of Kogi state further affirms the lifetime truth that power belongs to God and He gives it to anyone he so desires.

     

    • Abdullahi Yunusa,

    Imane, Kogi State.

  • Buhari: PDP govt ruined economy for personal gain

    Buhari: PDP govt ruined economy for personal gain

    Opposition accuses President of ‘demarketing’ Nigeria

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday knocked the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration for wrecking the economy for “personal gain”.

    He repudiated the party’s claim that he is “demarketing” Nigeria with his public speeches on corruption by former public officials, saying he won’t lie to cover up the truth.

    “Nigerians will hear only the truth on the economy and the state of the nation from President Muhammadu Buhari”, the Presidency said last night.

    It alleged that the Jonathan-led PDP government lied to Nigerians on the state of the economy which was found to be in dire straits contrary to that government’s claims.

    “President Buhari will remain true to the virtues of honesty, integrity, sincerity, incorruptibility and plain-speaking which endeared him to Nigerians and made them prefer his leadership to that of a lying and deceptive PDP administration.

    “The President will not, in the guise of ‘marketing’ the country, refrain from telling Nigerians and the world, the emerging truths about the abject state in which years of plundering by a PDP leadership has left the Nigerian treasury and economy.

    “President Buhari will not in the name of ‘marketing’ or ‘attracting’ investors, follow in the footsteps of the ousted PDP Administration and its discredited officials who shamelessly lied to Nigerians and the world about the buoyancy and vibrancy of an economy they had bled dry for personal gain, when it was very obvious to the discerning, that the Nigerian economy was headed for serious trouble,” Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina, said in a statement.

    The Presidency condemned PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh’s statement that the President has been “demarketing Nigeria “with his public stance on corruption.

    “We restate for the umpteenth time to Mr. Metuh and his ilk that their attempts to distract President Buhari from the job he has been elected to do will fail,” the Presidency said, adding: “It is  most unfortunate that instead of showing some remorsefulness for the harm done to the nation by his party, and giving genuine support for President Buhari’s efforts to salvage and revamp the national economy, Mr. Metuh persisted in a vain attempt to remain relevant on the national stage by unjustly denigrating the President who continued to strive with all his might to alleviate and reverse the harm done to the nation by PDP misrule and corruption.”

    Mr. Metuh’s antics, the statement said, were futile.

    “President Buhari cannot be distracted by a broken record. If the PDP spokesman ever has serious matters to bring to our attention, we will be prepared to listen,” it stated

    In his party’s statement Metuh claimed that recent statements on the state of the economy credited to President Buhari were capable of harming Nigeria’s image.

    PDP observed that instead of making efforts to harness resources and grow the economy, Buhari has continued to scare away investors.

    According to the opposition, the President has continued to apply himself perhaps unwittingly, to demarketing the nation through negative labelling of Nigerians and unwarranted unhealthy portrayal of the economy.

    The party added that the President’s “unwary statements” have become very serious clogs in the wheel of progress, eroding the confidence of both domestic and international investors in Nigeria’s socio-economic system.

    The statement reads: “It is worrisome that in the last six months, the President, instead of making efforts to harness resources and grow the economy, has rather continued to apply himself, perhaps unwittingly, to demarketing the nation and scaring away investors through negative labeling of Nigerians and unwarranted unhealthy portrayal of the nation’s economy.

    “In the last six months, our President has only succeeded in discouraging foreign investors with his continued misrepresentation of our country as a business unfriendly environment, where most of the citizens are basically corrupt, dishonest, and cannot be trusted.

    “Whereas we have restated our total support for the war against corruption, we insist that Mr. President’s unceasing blanket negative labelling of citizens, in a country where millions of honest and hardworking individuals/firms are genuinely contributing daily to the development effort, is indeed a disservice and injurious to the nation and the people.

    “Furthermore, Mr. President’s recent announcement to the world that the nation, with its abundant human and natural resources, is broke and cannot pay cabinet ministers not only sends a discouraging signal to the domestic and international business community, but also exposes the ineptitude of the present administration to meaningfully and sincerely exert itself and work with industrious and innovative investors to create and manage wealth.

    “We ask; how can any reasonable investor still have the confidence to invest in a country where the President himself continues to alert that his country reeks of corrupt people and that the government is broke to the extent it cannot pay cabinet ministers?

    “Is the President not directly advising investors against having confidence in Nigeria and the system, and that they risk not being paid for jobs awarded by government at any level?”

  • Tinubu’s aide to Saraki: play down personal desire

    Tinubu’s aide to Saraki: play down personal desire

    •Senate President: no plot against Buhari

    An aide to All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday urged Senate President Bukola Saraki  not to allow his personal interest to affect the screening of ministerial nominees.

    In a statement, Mr. Sunday Dare,  Tinubu’s Chief of Staff/Special Adviser  (Media), said “Tinubu will remain true to the progressive ideas that fuelled the creation of the (APC)”.

    Reacting to a news story published by “The Sun” at the weekend that Tinubu was under security watch, having been fingered to be working with the senate president to thwart the ministerial screening, Dare said:  ”Given the exigencies of his position, President (Muhammadu Buhari) is placed in an unenviable position to some degree.

    “The duties of his office give him no choice; necessity constrains him, requiring that he discuss with Senator Saraki. As party leader, Asiwaju is free of such constraints.

    “On these matters, I know where Asiwaju Tinubu stands. He remains glued to the party decision that the manner by which Saraki captured his current seat travestied party discipline. It was a crass act of disloyalty showing that Saraki may have joined the APC on paper but has remained true to the malpractices and wrong aims of the reactionary PDP in his soul.

    “The alleged conspiracy is a figment. It takes at least two people to make a conspiracy.

    “There has been no substantive communication between Asiwaju and Saraki since the latter decided to foul the integrity of the Senate and the party.

    “To be truthful, I don’t think Saraki would care to hear what Asiwaju would have to say to him. He would admonish the Senator to treat the nomination process with dispatch, justice, fairness, transparency, and most of all with the greatest patriotism.

    “He would counsel Saraki to shelve his personal situation for the moment to concentrate on the people’s business. It would be a grave mistake and abuse of office for Saraki to directly or indirectly inject his personal matter into the approval process.

    “Saraki should not link the approval of a single Minister to his desire for extrajudicial treatment of his issues.”

    The full statement is hereby reproduced.