The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PRESIDENCY

  • Families petition NJC, Presidency over trial ‘manipulation’

    The Integrity Leadership Organisation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over alleged manipulation of the trial of suspects arrested in the alleged murder of a World Bank consultant, Dr Ayodeji Daramola, and the late Tunde Omojola.

    The duo were allegedly murdered between 2005 and 2006 in Ekiti State.

    Daramola was reportedly murdered at Ijan-Ekiti on August 14, 2006 while Omojola was killed during 2005 councillorship election crisis at Ifaki-Ekiti.

    In a petition, dated June 16, by its Ekiti State Coordinator, Lekan Oyediran, and received in the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, on June 23, the group said it was writing on behalf of the families of the deceased.

    The deaths occurred during political crises arising from the governorship and councillorship elections.

    It pointed NJC’s attention to reports of alleged manipulation in the consolidated murder trial of Daramola and Omojola in the Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti, in an alleged connivance of the governor with a section of the Judiciary to save the suspects in the murder.

    The petition was also copied to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo; Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura and the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Mr Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

    The petitioners claimed that 11 “fake” witnesses were listed from Ifaki-Ekiti home country of Omojola while six were listed to come from Ijan-Ekiti, Daramola’s home town.

    It averred that following investigations at Ijan-Ekiti and Ifaki-Ekiti, it was discovered none of the witnesses was aware of any hearing of the murder case in court.

    The petition reads: “In Ijan-Ekiti, there was nobody called Kehinde Femi at 6, Ikota Street, as the house was fully rented out to strangers, according to the online publication.

    “It also reported that there was nobody called Edward Kehinde in Dr Daramola’s house, adjacent to Ujilogun Grammar School, as the house had been rented out to a sports club called Phoenix Athletic Sports Club and a football academy that conducts football coaching for Ekiti youths.

    “In Ifaki-Ekiti, Suleiman Bakare, Omojola’s brother-in-law and a banker living in Lagos, who is the authentic author of the petition on the murder of Omojola and who is also a purported witness listed as living at P7, Ona Oja St, Ifaki-Ekiti, said he was not aware that he was a witness in the trial.

    “It is the same denial by another purported witness, Sule Aliru Olatunji, who was put in a newspaper report in 2007 with his photograph by alleged Fayose’s men as having disowned his earlier statement to exonerate the governor only for Aliru to renounce the publication as a fraud to save the suspects in the murder case.

    “It was also discovered in Ifaki that witness Number Four in the alleged witness list, Suleiman Labaika of Ilero Quarters, Ifaki-Ekiti, was Suleiman Bakare’s brother and in fact was the councillorship candidate in the ill-fated election. Labaika knew nothing about the list and in fact he was not aware that a trial is ongoing in Omojola’s murder.

    “The same with Osenatu Suleiman, mother of both Bakare and Labaika, who knew nothing about the ongoing trial, while Ogunleye Akeem, Suleiman Bakare’s nephew, would be hearing about the trial for the first time.”

    The petitions also pointed the attention of the NJC to the alleged travesty of justice in a murder trial in which the chief suspect is said to be the chief prosecutor in a trial that the families of the deceased, who are also the chief complainants and petitioners, were kept in the dark.

  • Presidency releases Buhari’s voice message

    Presidency releases Buhari’s voice message

    The Presidency has released President Muhammadu Buhari’s voice message to Nigerians to debunk reports that he is suffering from speech impairment.

    There have been reports in the social media claiming that the President is suffering from speech impairment and memory loss.

    However, in the recording, aired yesterday  by some radio stations, including the BBC, the President was heard felicitating with Nigerians on the occasion of Eid-el Fitr.

    Buhari thanked them for their consistent prayers for his well-being.

    The President urged all citizens, irrespective of their socio-political affiliations, to always avoid hate speech and divisive tendencies capable of causing disaffection among them.

    He also prayed for good harvest for farmers following the coming of the rains.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Malam Garba Shehu had on Saturday in a statement issued a similar message.

    A presidential source on Saturday had earlier confirmed that “the President is getting better and “will return to Nigeria very soon”.

    Buhari left Abuja for London on May 7 to see his doctors.

  • Speech impairment: Presidency releases Buhari’s voice message

    Speech impairment: Presidency releases Buhari’s voice message

    The Presidency has released President Muhammadu Buhari’s voice message to Nigerians to debunk reports that he is suffering from speech impairment.

    NAN reports that recently there have been reports in the social media claiming that the President was suffering from speech impairment and memory loss.

    However, in the recording, aired on Sunday by some radio stations, including the BBC, the President was heard felicitating with Nigerians on the occasion  of Eid-el Fitr.

    Buhari thanked them for their consistent prayers for his well-being.

    The President also urged all citizens, irrespective of their socio-political affiliations, to always avoid hate speech and divisive tendencies capable of causing disaffection among them.

    He also prayed for good harvest as farmers embarked on agricultural activities occasion by the commencement of rainfalls across the country.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity had on Saturday in a statement issued a similar  message.

    A presidential source on Saturday had earlier confirmed that “the President is getting better “will return to Nigeria very soon”.

    Buhari left Abuja for London on May 7, to see his doctors for follow-up medical checks.(NAN)

  • Divisions persist in presidency

    Divisions persist in presidency

    IF anyone thinks the divisions in the presidency are abating, he needs to look more closely at Aso Villa politics and do a little bit more reflection. Nigerians were unnerved last year when the Department of State Service (DSS) appeared to take sides with the National Assembly in undermining the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). For reasons best known to them, the senate did not, and still does not, want him. For tactical reasons, the DSS, citing purely professional, investigative and unbiased reasons, also said it was unable to support Mr Magu’s appointment. Since then, the presidency has seemed riven by divisions, with some of the lines even ill-defined. The divisions have also plunged the seat of power into a terrifying cold war that often breaks out in unsavoury remarks and deliberate and tactical leaks to the media.

    Just when the country thought the divisions could not be worse than they already were, another front in the war broke out, this time more embarrassingly. At a programme recently organised in Abuja by the National Association of Seadogs, both Itse Sagay, a professor and chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), and Femi Odekunle, another professor and member of PACAC, let loose incendiary views, particularly against other presidential appointees. The general tone of their views was that the said appointees were unserious about the government’s anti-corruption war, an accusation they took umbrage at, if not even thoroughly resent.

    Perhaps the fieriest and most direct of the accusations came from Prof Odekunle who trained his guns on the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Said the professor: “Is the Attorney-General of the Federation, who is to lead the anti-corruption fight, going by the way things have been going in the past two years, as committed as others who could have done the job better?” In one fiery statement, the professor not only cast doubt on the competence of the minister, he also doubted his loyalty and integrity. The cause of all the brouhaha was the setback the government suffered in prosecuting some accused persons charged with corruption. It in fact appeared that the immediate trigger was the acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki of charges of false asset declaration.

    Mr Malami has of course responded with as much searing passion as he could manage. But what that cut and thrust indicates is that the divisions in the presidency are set to intensify, and the bad blood worsen. With new fronts opening on many sides, rapprochement, not to talk of healing, could become a chimera. Worse, it seems also clear that the divisions continue only because there is absence of leadership, an absence that, sadly, has little to do with the physical presence or absence of the president, but everything to do with the government’s lack of both ideological conviction and governing philosophy.

  • Kanu not regarded as Southeast leader, says Presidency

    Kanu not regarded as Southeast leader, says Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday explained why the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was not part of the ongoing consultations with leaders of the Southeast.

    The main reason for his absence is that he was not considered as a leader of thought in the Southeast region.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo last week started series of conversation meetings with leaders of thought, politicians, traditional rulers and the clergy over rising ethnic tensions in parts of the country.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator BabafemiOjudu, said the IPOB leader was not invited because the Presidency does not regard him as a leader of thought in the Southeast.

    According to him, a window of possibility would be opened for Kanu to meet with the Federal Government for discussion should the need arise in the future.

    He said: “Well, the thing is that we were looking for leaders of the people, leaders of thought and we do not see him as a leader of thought in the East.

    “May be opportunity will come at one time or the other for him to be engaged.

    “But so far, what we have done is to look at people who have influence in the communities, whether it is religious, whether it is traditional, whether it is political, social or governance. These are the people we brought in for discussion.” he added

    He added that the South leaders, including Ohanaez Ndigbo,who came to see Osinbajo have neither asked for a referendum on Biafra or secession, Ojudu said they have only complained about marginalisation in appointments and harassment by police at road blocks.

    The special adviser assured that their concerns were issues that could easily be addressed.

    He said: “Nobody has tabled that in all the discussions we have had. Nobody, I can tell you. Ohanaeze came with a prepared document. They never talked about referendum. They never. They never even talked about secession.

    “They made complaints about police harassment at road blocks. They made complaints about losing some key positions, not being appointed into security positions and all those kinds of things.

    “And these are things that can easily be addressed. Nobody canvassed secession at those meetings, nobody canvassed referendum.”

    Ojudunoted that the Southeast leaders that have met with the Acting President were in support of one united, peaceful Nigeria.

    He said the Federal Government would tackle the perceived injustice in parts of the country through equitable distribution of resources and employment creation.

    He added: “So, for us, and that was the conclusion that everybody came to in the consultations we have had that we should all agree that we can live together peacefully.

    “We should address injustice where we find it and the government should be equitable in the distribution of resources across the country and then, find solution to youth unemployment and the frustration that is confronting most of the young people across this country.”

  • Presidency, FCTA nationwide business exhibition to cost over N104 million 

    Over N104 million will be spent to host a nationwide Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) business clinic by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA) through the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA).

    Scheduled to hold on July 19 and 20 in Abuja at the Eagle Square, the nationwide MSME Business Clinic is organised as one of the initiatives of the Federal Government to diversify the economy through strengthening of MSMEs in the country.

    The initiative will enlighten MSMEs on government programmes that will accelerate business growth and provide on-the-spot support services to MSMEs and also provide the platform to promote and showcase Made-in Nigeria products and services.

    AEA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Arabi Tukur disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the preparatory plans toward the exhibition. He described the development as a vehicle for entrepreneurial development, poverty reduction and wealth creation.

    The event, according to Tukur will facilitate interaction between business regulators such as Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) among others.

    He said that through this interaction business owners will understand better the roles of business regulators and the regulatory challenges that exist will be addressed on the spot by Regulators.

    Tukur said: “Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) we have nothing to hide. After serious deliberation involving the office of the Acting President we came up with a budget of over N104 million. We will ensure that every kobo that has been given to us for this MSME business clinic is accounted for. This is why after setting up a committee I removed the directors, all the managers from the committees, so that they will serve as supervisors.

    “On that day I will give them serious directives, to be transparent and to do their job with all sense of responsibility. Should there be failures, God forbid, I will hold them responsible just as the Minister of FCT will hold me responsible likewise the office of the Vice President is going to hold the minister FCT responsible.

    “This funds are with us and we have kick started the process of expending the money inline with the Procurement Act. There are pressures on us but we resisted the pressures and ensure that all things are done and we will continue doing the right things until the end.

    “The business clinic is expected to host 5000 MSMEs within and outside the FCT. The activities of the two-day programme include: exhibition, business matching & market linkage, One-on-One interaction with regulatory bodies, interactive sessions such as business round-table meeting and the Policy Advocacy Forum (PAF).”  

    On the benefits of the MSME, the AEA chief  said: “AEA in collaboration with relevant stakeholders through this business clinic is expected to interlink at least 5000- 6000 businesses within and outside the FCT, expose them to potential partners and interested investors

    “The business clinic is aimed at promoting the MSMEs business profile for networking with similar business organization in this part of the country/world. It is aimed to provide a very useful platform for associations to meet and explore co-operative exchanges and activities with counterparts in other states.

    “The business clinic would create an excellent opportunities for participants to meet with prospective local and foreign buyers to sell their products internationally.

    It will also avail them the opportunity to have a no hold bared discussion with relevant government Agencies regulating Exportation in Nigeria.”

    The Technical Adviser to the Vice President on MSME, Mr. Tola Johnson also said the exhibition will help increase the country’s Internally Generate Revenue (IGR).

     

  • ‘Atiku should run for presidency’

    ‘Atiku should run for presidency’

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has received the Nigerian flag at the just concluded Hall of Grace Awards in Lagos for his contribution to the nation’s democracy.

    The event was held in honour of notable Nigerians, including, Governor Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, BoI and Wilma Aguele of WILBAHI.

    Abubakar was honoured for his role in the fight against the military, his strides during his tenure as Vice President and efforts to sustain his democracy.

    The Chief Executive  Officer of AlphaGrace Media, organisers of the Hall of Grace (HoG) Awards, Mr Rupert Ojenuwa, said: “Our nation is in dire straits, our nation has been bleeding, our nation searches for a hero. Nigeria needs help and this isn’t difficult to see. You can imagine that you have to provide for something as basic as power, as security, as potable water and all. Doesn’t it worry you that after close to 60 years of flag independence, we still struggle with these things? We are still known as a dark nation?

    “We must, going forward, look for qualified people to lead us. We must focus on heroes and not leaders who seem to think Nigeria is a cooperative society owned by them. We must pick leaders who see all Nigerians as the same irrespective of where they come from or what religion they practice.

    “Whilst I may lack the power or influence to ask Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to run for the presidency in 2019, I can advise every Nigerian.

    “If you must vote for leaders, vote for people in the mould of Atiku Abubakar. Atiku sacrificed so much for democracy. He almost lost his life fighting for its return and he delivered dividends during his tenure as vice president and this is why we honour him as All Time Hero of Nigeria’s Democracy,” he said.

    Bindow was honoured for his strides in Adamawa State.

    In less than two years, the governor constructed more than 120 roads and he has impacted the health sector and youth empowerment. he bagged the HoG Most Performing Governor of the Year.

    The BoI chief, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, was also decorated for his sterling performance at the BoI, as under his watch, disbursement has soared and the rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) have nosedived.

    The BoI under him has been brought to national reckoning because Olagunju will not rest on his oars until the nation is developed.

    Aguele received award for her contributions to agriculture in Nigeria.

  • Presidency, lawmakers disagreement stalls budget assent

    Presidency, lawmakers disagreement stalls budget assent

    Disagreement between the Presidency and lawmakers over the adjustments made to the Budget 2017 estimates stalled the assent by acting President Yemi Osinbajo, it was learnt yesterday.

    After foot dragging since December 2016 when the estimates were presented by President Muhammadu Buhari, the lawmakers finally passed the bill last month.

    But the Presidency is unhappy that the legislature adjusted some items in some key ministries including Water Resources, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Works and Housing.

    The Executive was said to have taken up issues with the National Assembly on the adjustment of the votes which were budgeted as counterpart funding for some turn-key projects.

    Also, the lawmakers raised observations on the budgeting of N5billion for school fencing without specifics.

    In line with their responsibility, the lawmakers allotted the N5billion to “needy schools”.

    But the government rated the allocation of the N5billion to schools as outside the scope of the lawmakers.

    Another sub-committee, headed by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has been set up to harmonise the difference between the two arms of government.

    The National Assembly on May 11 passed the 2017 Appropriation Bill, raising the estimate from N7.28 trillion proposed by President Buhari to N7.44 trillion.

    Although the Assembly exercised its constitutional right, the government was not expecting that the estimates would be raised

    The Presidency asked Ministers and the agencies under them to “go through what was passed.”

    The ministers discovered some adjustments which they were “uncomfortable with.”

    Investigation revealed that the affected adjustments formed the kernels of the disagreement between the Executive and the National Assembly which have delayed assent to 2017 budget.

    All the areas of disagreement were tabled yesterday at the Executive Session of the House of Representatives.

    It was learnt that at the session, Speaker Yakubu Dogara pleaded for understanding to “resolve the grey areas in the 2017 Budget.”

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “our main disagreement borders on adjustment of some items in the budget of Ministries of Water Resources, FCT, and Works and Housing.

    “The Executive complained that some of the adjustments have affected counterpart funding for some critical projects.

    “We were told that the ministers in charge of these portfolios were said to have pointed out the implications of the adjustments.

    “At the end of the day, we agreed that we may revert to original allocations for counterpart funding because it involves international agencies.

    “But we have all agreed that we will retain all other adjustments made in the interest of Nigerians.”

    Another lawmaker said there was no way the National Assembly could revisit the adjustments made to the N5billion allocated for school fencing.

    The Rep said: “The Federal Ministry of Education included a proposal to spend N5billion on school fencing without mentioning any specific school.

    “In considering the budget, we allocated the N5billion to needy schools. Yet, the Ministry has faulted our action. We did not add one kobo to the N5billion.’

    Asked of the next step, the Representative said: “Again, we have decided to raise a Sub-Committee, made up of the Executive and the National Assembly to harmonize our positions.

    “The Sub-Committee, headed by the Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu, will resolve the grey areas. But there is no time frame for the committee.

    “This is a follow up to the activities of the Main Committee which was led by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “If however there is no headway, we may have to use our Veto to pass the budget into law.’

     

  • I ‘ll run for presidency, says Duke

    I ‘ll run for presidency, says Duke

    FORMER Cross Rivers State Governor Donald Duke has indicated that he would still take a shot at the presidency, if he has the opportunity.

    Duke, who made this known in Lagos when he spoke at a programme, ‘The Nigerian Symposium for Emerging Leaders’, said it was because of his preference for the presidential seat that he did not vie for any federal legislative seat after serving out his terms as governor 10 years ago.

    Duke said he would still contest for the highest office in the country at the appropriate time and that his enthusiasm is not dampened by his failure to emerge as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the last time he aspired for that office.

    He said: “I do not have the flair for the legislature; standing up and sitting down at the chambers to raise a point. That was why I did not contest for the Senate but the presidency, after serving out my term as governor. I have contested the presidency before; I will still give it a shot when the opportunity presents itself. I believe I still have the energy in me.”

    He canvassed the reform of the country’s political system to accommodate wider participation and good governance and suggested the review of the electoral law to allow for independent candidacy.

    Duke said the country’s democracy would fare better if young people, who form the larger proportion of the population, took more active part in its political process. He added that most developed countries had young people as their leaders at one point or the other in their democratic history.

    He however urged young people to participate in the political process and use their prime to add value to the country saying power was never given easily. He added: “I want to urge young people in the country not to see leadership as if it belongs to some people, but do everything positive to be part of it. You can only make a difference at the prime of your life.

    “You can actually add value now, not when you are above 50. So, you need to be part of the political process and play your part. It is your right to be there; nobody is doing you a favour. You represent more than 60 per cent of the population; you don’t have to beg for it. Just make effort to make that change and contribute your quota to nation building.”

    Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Budgit, Seun Onigbinde, called on governments at all levels to always carry the people along in their budgetary proposals and implementation to achieve accountability.

     

  • No constitutional crisis over Buhari’s absence, says Presidency

    No constitutional crisis over Buhari’s absence, says Presidency

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has dismissed an article by a Nigerian historian,  Max Siollun, entitled “The Gentleman’s Agreement that Could Break Apart Nigeria,” published in the  United States-based Foreign Policy magazine.

    The piece speculated that Nigeria faces imminent political and constitutional crisis on account of President Buhari’s absence to attend to his health in London.

    Reacting to what he called “needlessly sensational and exaggerated speculations by conspiracy theorists”, the Presidential aide explained that it is misleading to compare President Buhari’s case to that of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, adding that the circumstances are completely different.

    According to Shehu, unlike President Yar’Adua, President Buhari has duly complied with the constitutional requirements by formally notifying the National Assembly of his intention to go for medical treatment  and handing over to Professor Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President.

    In a statement by Deputy Director (Information) State House, Abuja, Attah Esa, Shehu said: “While Yar’Adua was too severely ill to transmit a letter formally to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Buhari is not in such medical state, and therefore, the country is not currently facing any complications on account of his absence.”

    The media aide  noted that under President Yar’Adua, there was uncertainty about the role of the Vice President because the late President was not in a position to formally transfer power to his deputy, which necessitated the resort to the doctrine of necessity to enable Dr. Goodluck Jonathan act in his absence.

    Malam Shehu explained that, currently, none of these circumstances prevail in Nigeria on account of President Buhari’s absence for medical treatment.

    According to him, having transferred power formally to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari did not leave  Nigeria with any power vacuum, adding, therefore, that any suggestions of uncertainty or constitutional crisis are imaginary and exaggerated.

    He explained that with the Acting President Professor Osinbajo already running the affairs of the country in the absence of President Buhari, people should stop creating artificial fears of crisis or uncertainty, noting that governance has not ground to a halt because President Buhari has duly complied with the constitution.

    Shehu appealed to conspiracy theorists not to pollute the polity by needlessly seeking to create an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and suspicions in the country.

    The media aide said  the President publicly admitted he was sick and taking treatment and that he never pretended about his health condition.