CHIEF OLU FALAE OPENS UP ... SHAME ON THOSE WHO ACCUSED BUHARI LED FED GOVT OF COMPLICITY IN HIS ABDUCTION : How I was abducted, tortured, released — Olu Falae ... PremiumTimes

A former finance minister, Olu Falae, who was kidnapped and released last week, has provided shocking details of his ordeal at the hands of his abductors, narrating how he was deprived of food and made to trek several kilometres to freedom.

Mr. Falae said he was kidnapped by six Fulani herdsmen last Monday at his Ilado farm in Akure.

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who spoke to journalists in his home in Akure, said the armed hoodlums threatened to kill him every 30 minutes until they received information that money had been given to them as demanded.

“There were six of them with three or four guns and every half an hour or so they will say, ‘Baba we are going to kill you, if you don’t give us money we are going to kill you,” Mr. Falae narrated.

“On Wednesday, one of them came and said ‘look we are going to leave here on Thursday morning. Since we cannot leave you here alone, if we don’t get what we want we are going to kill you.”

“And they said they gave me until 3pm and if at 3pm they don’t get the money they would execute me. I thank God that at 21 minutes to 3pm, one of them came and said, ‘the money don complete’.”

Giving details on how he was kidnapped, he said: “When the hoodlums came, they slashed me with their cutlasses, they said I was not cooperating. And they dragged me barefooted into the bush.

“After dragging me around for about two hours, they stopped somewhere for us to rest and there they asked me to phone my wife and tell her that I have been kidnapped and taken out of Ondo State by car which was a lie.

“It was about 2.30pm on Monday, We started walking with very few stops until 2am the following morning. I suspect that I must have covered a minimum of 15km. That morning I did not take anything. So all day I had no food, no water and I walked close to 15km. How I survived I cannot really remember. I had no food in my stomach, I had no shoes, my clothes were torn to shreds.

“At some point one of them gave me a rubber slippers. We walked until about 2am. At some point they called for an Okada. At about 2.30am the Okada man took me way down I had no clue where we were going. Finally they dumped me somewhere, where I was until I was released on Thursday.

“In that place we all slept on the floor on leaves, unfortunately the rain came in the night and I was thoroughly drenched where I was lying down. One of them brought a small umbrella to cover my head, my head was covered, but the rest of my body was not covered.

“They offered me bread, but I told them I could not eat it. I demanded for a bottle of coke, which was what I drank every day to have the requisite strength to survive and to continue on the march, because they were permanently moving.

“They were changing locations at two to three times a day. I suspect because they did not want the police to succeed in tracing them,” Mr. Falae said.

He noted that although the confirmation of the payment of ransom was made on Wednesday afternoon, he was not allowed to go until Thursday morning.

“So the following morning they said I should go. One of them took ropes to stitch my buba which was already in tatters, so that it could at least stay on me and I wound not look like a lunatic while leaving that place,” he explained.

“So when I came out of the bush, I was able to find an Okada, a man riding bike, who gave me a lift to Owo.

“The place was about 10km from Owo town. The place was between Owo and Ifon. And I walked most of the distances between my farm to that place and as the farrow flies, that is about 25km that we had to trek.

“As I said miraculously I was not tired, I was not hungry and I was not afraid of them at all. Each time they said, ‘Baba we will kill you,’ I will tell them, ‘no, insha Allah, you will not kill me’.

“I did not break down, but I want to tell you that when I got back home I became completely exhausted. But I am now 80 per cent fit and I know in the next few days I will be up again.”

The 77-year-old warned that such attack should not be allowed to happen again as it could result to even graver consequences.

“It is not because of me. As for me, I am a very humble person, but by virtue of what God has made me and the status God has given me, it is an insult to our race that a man like me could be abducted by a bunch of hoodlums,” he said.

“By the way, one of them told me, he said, ‘Baba, if after you leave us you talk nonsense I will come and catch you again’. That is the kind of insult I received.”

Asked if the kidnappers were illiterates, he replied: “Only two of them could speak some English. They were between the ages of 25 and 35. They were Fulani, they spoke Hausa.”

Mr. Falae however said it was plausible that his ordeal was closely connected to his conflict with Fulani herdsmen who consistently grazed at his farm.

“The cattle rearers have been giving me a hard time for the past two or three years. Because I have a dam on the farm, so they like to bring their cattle there to drink water, then they eat other people’s crops,” he stated.

“This time they ate up my maize farm, two hectares. We took pictures, and it was videoed, the police went there. They were asked to pay compensation, they begged and paid half of what we claimed and we accepted it.

“That was about two months ago. Whether it was one of them who went to bring his brothers to come and deal ‘with this wicked man’, I don’t know. It is plausible. Absolutely plausible.

“My view is that this is my home. I have not gone to farm in any other person’s territory. This is my home where I was born. I have every right to farm here and live in peace here. So, this is totally unacceptable.

“I once told the Commissioner of Police that if he cannot protect us and protect my farm, that I will protect myself. There will be self-help if government fails to protect its citizens.

“It would have been unfortunate if that were to happen. The IG met me and gave me assurances that they will give us protection. I hope that we as a community in Ondo State and in Yoruba land as a whole must go into consultation to ensure that we enhance our protection. We cannot be slaves in our own territory.”

Mr. Falae said he was not surprised that the police could not trace and arrest the kidnappers because of the manner of their movement and operation.

“These fellows were permanently on the move. Day and night they were walking. Through farm lands, through water, through swamps…they were scared, they knew they could be traced with GPRS, that was why they were running around all the time,” he said.

“I was not surprised at all that the police could not trace them before they decided to let me go.”

A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND PROTESTERS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHARGES AGAINST THE MAN : Anti Saraki senators protest as 83 senators pass vote of confidence on Senate President ... PremiumTimes

Embattled President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, who is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged corrupt practices, got a morale booster Tuesday as 83 of his colleagues gave him a stamp of approval.
The names of the senators said to have co-sponsored the motion were not read on the floor of the Senate.
But some senators protested the endorsement, saying the processes adopted in moving it were faulty and that the motion violated the upper chamber’s standing rule of not dabbling in matters before a court of law.
David Umaru (APC-Niger East), who read the vote-of-confidence motion, said the proposal was initially sponsored by 84 senators but that the Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Babajide Omowarare (APC-Osun East) asked that his name be removed from the list.
In dissociating himself from the motion, Mr. Omoworare said, “Ordinarily, by virtue of my position as the Chairman, Commmittee on Business and Rules, I should have seen this motion before now.
“But it comes as matter of urgent public importance. My name is listed as number 11. Let me say that I don’t know how my name got into the list. I therefore say I am not part of it.”
In spite of the lawmaker’s protest, Mr. Umaru proceeded to move the motion.
He argued that the Nigerian Constitution guaranteed separation of powers and condemned what he described as the “ongoing unwarranted media embarrassment of the Senate and the Senate leadership”.
He urged Nigerians not to allow themselves be used to harass or intimidate the leadership of the Senate.
Supporting the motion, Sani Yerima (APC-Zamfara Central), said “we shall continue to support our leaders”.
According to him, the lawmakers’ right to choose their leadership should be respected.
He added that “anybody outside this chamber who wants to control the Senate should go and sleep”.
The motion was later passed by a voice vote.
But no sooner than that was done that the chamber descended into pandemonium.
Kabir Marafa, a staunch opponent of the embattled Senate President, was so incensed by the motion and the proceedings on the floor that his reaction almost disrupted the session.
He vociferously criticised the motion, arguing that it should not have been entertained in the first place.
Mr. Marafa wondered why issues surrounding Mr. Saraki’s corruption trial was entertained as a motion even while the matter was still pending in courts.
The Senate has a standing rule barring it from discussing matters pending in court.
For minutes, a visibly livid Mr. Marafa engaged Mr. Saraki in heated argument, with both lawmakers talking back at each other.
However, the duo of Senators Gbenga Ashafa and Sola Adeyeye saved the legislative body from what would have been another violent session.
They calmed Mr. Marafa down and then persuaded him to leave the chamber. They then escorted him out of the chamber.
The Nigerian government had last week, on the recommendation of the Code of Conduct Bureau, arrainged Mr. Saraki before the Code of Coduct Tribunal over charges relating to false assets declaration and operation of foreign account while he served as governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.
Mr. Saraki had said in his preliminary statement said he was arraigned and being persecuted because he emerged Senate President contrary to the wishes of his party.

FOR THE RECORDS ... SARAKI WELCOMES COLLEAGUES BACK FROM RECCESS : Welcome Address by the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON) to Senators of the 8th Senate on Resumption from the Senate Recess on Tuesday, 29th September, 2015

Distinguished colleagues, I heartily welcome you back from our annual recess. I hope you had a very rewarding time with your families and your constituencies. I also hope that the period of recess has afforded you opportunities to reflect on the enormous task before this Senate in the months ahead. I believe that we have all resumed today with greater vigour and higher commitment to serve our fatherland and serve the cause of democracy. In the face of the great challenges that our country faces on different fronts, which urgently demands our attention, we must be prepared to put in the long extra hours to make up for the precious time we have lost for sundry reasons. As we resume today, we must demonstrate clearly to Nigerians that we are prepared to fulfill our mandates and put Nigeria first in all that we do, no matter how we feel about anything else. To behave contrary will amount to a betrayal of the confidence repose on us by our constituencies and our country as a whole.
Let me seize this moment to register my deep sadness over the death of yet-to-be-determined number of pilgrims who lost their lives in the tragic events that happened in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. May the Almighty Allah grant them eternal salvation and comfort their families. Even though the incident in Mecca has global ramification, we must pursue a Nigerian angle to it. By so doing, we would begin to demonstrate to Nigerians and to the world that Nigeria cares about its people and will take care of its people wherever they may be. Pursuant to this, the Senate shall seek to determine the exact number of Nigerian lives lost in the incidents and through the Federal Government of Nigeria, work with the Saudi authorities to determine the remote and immediate cause of the tragedy with the general aim of averting such occurrence in the future.
On the 17th of September, 2015, we woke to the shocking news of a military coup in Burkina Faso. This is a monster, which we thought has been wiped off the West African political landscape forever. I therefore, commend the prompt response of the leaders of ECOWAS, not only in unanimously condemning the coup, but in pushing hard to ensure that the constitutional order is restored in that country. A threat to democracy anywhere, is a threat to democracy everywhere. We must therefore remain vigilant and leave no one in doubt that only democratically elected government would be accepted on our Continent and our Sub-region.
During the recess, I attended with some of our colleagues, the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in New York, United States. The high point of that visit for me was the conversation on Boko Haram and mobilization of global support for Nigeria, especially in dealing with the serious challenges of Internally Displaced Persons and the overall development of the North East of our country. I argued that the significant military success that has been achieved under President Muhammadu Buhari must now be complemented by a robust economic strategy in form of a Global Infrastructure and Development Fund that can deliver the vital services needed by the IDPs today, and the key infrastructure they would need to live a more meaningful and more secured life in the future: homes, hospitals, schools and, of course, jobs. Even though the evolution of Boko Haram has been regional and it is primarily a Nigerian problem; the consequences in human catastrophe implicates the whole of humanity and therefore demands a global scale solution, which can only happen with the support of our richest global partners and the biggest companies around the world. The call for a Global Infrastructure and Development Fund for the North East of Nigeria, is not only an appeal to our common humanity, but a call for a global platform that would demonstrate to Boko Haram and other terrorist groups everywhere that the whole world is united against them, and will ultimately defeat them.
The biggest challenge face by our country today is the state of our economy. The dwindling oil revenue has brought enormous shock to our economy and greatly limited the capacity of government at various levels to meet even basic commitments. Our country has gone through periods of recession in the past. What we face today is however unprecedented in ramification and potential gravity. We must think hard and work hard with the Executive to achieve greater clarity in policy direction and interventions. We shall therefore commence immediately, a review of the 2015 budget and begin now to lay down the fundamental principles that would determine the 2016 budget and the philosophy of our economy in times like this. Like I mentioned earlier, legislative agenda must take precedent over all other things in this Senate. I have no doubt that we are all capable of putting in the long hours, but those long hours must be invested primarily, in debating and making the laws that would move our country forward.
We are here to proffer policy solutions and minimize hardship amongst our people. Any other objective must be secondary. The externalized distractions we have had recently have been unhelpful but I am more than ever focused and resolute to the course of our people to provide them leadership that will ease their pain and realize their dreams. It is in view of this that we set for ourselves the legislative agenda committee to help us identify priorities that will have substantial impact on the lives of our people.
In the coming days we shall be considering the report of the committee. Adopt it and immediately begin the implementation of the priorities identified. There will be need to fast track issues- not with haste but with deliberate steps and diligence that would deliver results that can stand the test of time.
We promised Nigerians that our actions would positively impact on their lives. This I intend to keep. In that light I will urge you my distinguished colleagues that we make priority the passing of bills that would ultimately and substantially expand our peoples livelihood and opportunities.
As part of our agenda, we shall also be starting the journey to deliver the E-parliament blueprint. This we believe is a vital precursor to building a strong technology infrastructure that will engender greater public participation in law-making and enable real-time interface between committees in both houses, and between both houses and civil society organizations.
I took opportunity of the recess to undertake tour of the facilities, staff offices, agencies and institutions attached to the National assembly with a view to understanding their various peculiarities and state of readiness to implement and drive the adoption of the E-parliament agenda.
This will see us leapfrog into the ranks of efficient law-making entities able to solve 21st century problems. I believe that this will leapfrog our productivity and make lawmaking in this chamber much more efficient.
As we await the list of ministerial nominees this week, I believe the presence of ministers will create the space for greater policy engagement with the Executive Arm of government and enable us to begin to respond in a more systematic manner to the various economic and social challenges before us, especially through our various Committees that will also be constituted soon. On this note, I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us. Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch. We must not be held down by unnecessary politicking. The enormity of our national challenges at this time does not give room for pettiness or politics of vendetta.
Distinguished Senators, I believe you have all followed with keen interest, my trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. I shall avoid discussing the details of that case here for obvious reasons. But let me say it again, that I am ready and will submit myself to the entire judicial process as provided by law. Meanwhile, I wish to reiterate my remarks before the Tribunal, that I have no iota of doubt that I am on trial today because I am the president of the Nigerian Senate, against the wishes of some powerful individuals outside this Chambers. But what is clear to me also, is that the laws of Nigeria, and the rules of the National Assembly give consideration only to the wishes and desires of those of you who are here today as members of the Senate, to elect as you wish, one of your peers as President of the Senate. This, in your wisdom, is what you have done by electing me to be the first among all of you who are my equals. The laws of Nigeria do not give any consideration to any other forces outside the Senate in the election of its President. And to yield the ground on this note, is to be complicit in the subversion of democracy and its core principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our constitution. This is why we must once again, commend President Muhammadu Buhari, for refusing to interfere in the election of the National Assembly leadership even in the face of enormous pressures on him to do so. He has proven quite concretely that he is indeed a born-again democrat.
Too many people have fought and died for the democracy that we enjoy today. We would not be honouring them and their memories if we allow the sad chapters of our history to continue to repeat themselves like a bad curse. As for me, I am prepared to do my duty in defence of our democracy and in safeguarding the independence of the National Assembly. My duty, as I see it, is to do justice and honour to the memory of those who have paid even higher prices to give us this democracy and this constitution. Primarily as a Senator of the Federal Republic and as Senate President I owe it to this Senate to stand strong in the face of relentless persecution. I invite all of you to stand with me to defend this Senate and preserve its sanctity. Ultimately, our legacies would not be defined by how long we stay here and in whatever position; but by what we did with this great opportunity that our people have given us by the grace of Almighty God.
In the next couple of days, we would be celebrating our 55th Independence Anniversary as country. This is an auspicious moment for us to rededicate ourselves to all that which will advance our nation, move us closer to the dreams of our founding fathers and our attain our destiny as the greatest nation of the black race on the planet. All that we seek for our country is achievable in our life time if we all play our part and forsake our old ways. But the least we must do is to ensure that while we are here, we are able to lay the necessary foundation for our children and their children to live a more prosperous life.
Distinguished Senators, once again, I welcome all of you and thank you for your abiding support and confidence in my leadership. Ladies and Gentlemen, Let’s start our work!
Senator (Dr) Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

READ THE ADDRESS HERE

A GREAT MAN AND A TRUE UITE HAS DEPARTED : Gamaliel Onosode, technocrat and administrator, dies at 82 ... PremiumTimes

Foremost technocrat and administrator, Gamaliel Onosode, has died, the family said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr. Onosode was 82.
‎Born Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode on 22nd May, 1933, in Sapele, Delta State, Mr. Onosode attended Government College, Ughelli, then known as Government Middle School, in 1947.
Five years later, he won multiple scholarships to study at the University of Ibadan (then known as University College Ibadan) where he graduated with a‎ Bachelors Degree in Classics in 1957.
‎Thereafter, he made a successful switch into the world of banking and business management.
‎His career began as a management trainee at the Commonwealth Development Corporation before he was appointed, in 1962, the General Manager of the Nigeria Housing Development Society (now Federal Mortgage Bank). He, however, resigned from that position after his ambitious plan to incorporate savings services into the mortgage institution was turned down.
‎Between 1973 and 1979, Mr. Onosode served as Chairman and Chief Executive of NAL Bank Plc.
He also served as Chairman of various companies and organizations including Dunlop Nigeria Plc from 1984 to 2006; Cadbury Nigeria Plc from 1977 to 1993; Commerce bank from 1989 to 1994; Nigerian Stock Exchange Investment Protection Fund from 1995 to 2000.
He was a Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank as well as the Nigerian Institute of Management where he was President from 1979 to 1982.
A native of Ekigbo in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State‎, Mr. Onosode was founder of Good News Baptist Church, a church which he began in his sitting room in 1984.
He was the inaugural Chairman of the‎ Global Missions Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, in addition to serving as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho.
Once he was was asked why he kept quitting from his official positions and he responded:
“It is a question of integrity. Some people say I am a coward, maybe I am. But I prefer to be that kind of coward. My view is that since I never asked for any position, the position doesn’t bring anything to me.
“On the contrary, I try to take something into the position. So on the basis of that, I couldn’t possibly have any problem quitting a position.”

THIS SANUSI MAN SEF : Emir Sanusi secretly marries Adamawa princess ... PremiumTimes

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has finally tied the knot with his rumoured heartthrob, Sa’adatu Barkindo-Musdafa, the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo-Musdafa.
The 18-year old becomes the emir’s fourth wife. She recently completed secondary school and is been enrolled for advanced level studies.
In addition to his first wife, Sadiya, who is the daughter of the late emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, Mr. Sanusi has two other wives — Maryam and Rakiya.
The secret wedding was contracted in a low-keyed ceremony in the town of Yola on Friday.
Palace sources in Yola told PREMIUM TIMES the wedding fatiha held inside the palace of the Lamido minutes after Jumma’at prayer.
Insiders say that the influential emir only sent out invitation to some dignitaries across the country, as Kano government officials sneaked into Yola for the wedding fatiha to avoid journalists.
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, was said to have acted as the guardian for the groom, while his Adamawa counterpart, Jibrilla Bindow, played the role of the bride’s guardian, who gave her hands out in marriage to the monarch.
Mr. Sanusi’s rumoured marriage to the princess was debunked in the past.
“His decision to take a new wife is in line with Islamic injunction.
Islam allows having a maximum of four wives for those who can treat all of them equally and provide for a large family,’’ said a top Kano state government official who travelled to Yola for the wedding.
A social commentator, Dan’Almajiri Ibrahim, argued that in ancient times, links between empires were tightened by marriages among royals and nobles across boundaries.
“So, the engagement of the Adamawa princess to Emir Sanusi II may also be a move to deepen royal bond between Adamawa and Kano.
“You see, historically, both emirates have similar origins in the 19th Century Uthman Bn Fodio’s jihad,’’ he concluded.
Emir Sanusi could not be reached for comments as he is currently away in Saudi Arabia, where he is acting as leader of Nigeria’s delegation to this year’s hajj.
A highly placed palace source however confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES, saying Sa’adatu would not move in with the emir immediately.

CLUELESSNESS IS INCURABLE ... WHY HOLD THIS NEEDLESS JONATHAN PDP PRIMARIES PLEASE? : Jonathan gave it all as Jesus Christ did – Fayose ... VanguardNews

YENAGOA -Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and chairman of the PDP national electoral panel, Bayelsa State yesterday described Dr. Goodluck Jonathan former president’s participation in the primary election in the state as a “home coming” .
And Fayose went further comparing Jonathan to Jesus saying that Jonathan, just as ‘Jesus Christ did exactly to save souls’, gave it all.
He also said it was wrong on the part of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint his in-law as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
According to him, “A president took me out of the government house by force and another President gave me a leverage and a platform to come back. To whom much is given, much much is expected.”
Fayose, spoke during the Bayelsa PDP Primary in which the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson, the sole candidate was elected as the party candidate for the December governorship election.
He said “My President and former President of Nigeria, my loyalty is not in doubt. Forever and ever I am your person and I remain your person, when others fall by the way side, disloyalty, consequences must come and we are witnessing consequences of such in the country.
“Those of them that left us they should learn a lesson from what is going on. We will remain here when you come back, we will remain in the PDP when they come back.
“Your Excellency, the former President of Nigeria, the son of Africa, I don’t want to say the son of Nigeria, my former President, you have done what no African leader has done. You threw in the towel to save Nigeria, you gave us all the relative peace we are enjoying. You remain a man after my heart.
“I am a governor that has no apology for supporting you. Everybody must remember that it is a virtue to be courageous to defend the truth. Whether you throw your own virtue away, will not take away our own party. Jonathan is a man to be recognized in the whole world.
“Conducting an election that worked against his interest, he gave it all. Jesus Christ did exactly the same to save souls. Keep your fingers crossed. Every battle against you will fall by at your feet. There is a purpose of God for everything, you have done your best, leave the rest to God.”
Ayodele Fayose also said it was wrong on the part of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint his in-law as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
He also urged Governor Dickson not to entertain any fears over the forthcoming election, declaring that the governor has all it takes to defeat the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the December poll.
Speaking as the chairman PDP National Electoral Panel, Chief Fayose said the party is closely monitoring the activities of the INEC, adding that at the appropriate time its hidden agenda will be made public.
According to him, “I have complained very clearly about the choice of the INEC chairperson. Nobody can give us an INEC chairman that is his daughter or in-law. This is our country and nobody can run out of Nigeria.
“Therefore, we are watching INEC and its activities. We will not allow you to play pranks. This is an Ijaw state and so they are going nowhere. This is a PDP controlled state. No hidden agenda will work in Bayelsa.”
On the preparedness of the party for the December 5 poll, Chief Fayose told the Bayelsa governor not to worry about the ranting of APC.
“In our place, it is one stone that scatters so many birds. Your (Dickson) stone will scatter their birds. I’ve worked with them before. I know their style and antics. So fear not.
“If you read the book of Joshua chapter one, it says, fear not. So don’t be afraid but be courageous because their armies will bow to your army.
“I am conducting this PDP primary in Bayelsa transparently in line with the PDP guidelines. I am not ready to dodge out of this stadium to run away. The truth will stand the test of time and speak for itself.
Describing Governor Dickson as a great fighter, he assured him of victory in the next election.
According to him, “You have won the battle already. This is not a party where they will do one primary today and cancel it tomorrow. In this our own, there will be no cancellation. This is an authority in Bayelsa.

FOR THE LOVE OF NIGERIA OR WHAT? : I pray APC doesn’t break – Okupe ,,, PunchNews

A former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, says he prays that the All Progressives Congress does not break up due to its friction with Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Okupe, who was a staunch critic of the APC during the last electioneering, said although he remained a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, anything that affects the APC will affect Nigeria as a whole.

Okupe said this in a Facebook post on Thursday.

He warned that the trial of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Trial over alleged corruption could lead to a national tragedy.

ADVERTISEMENT

He said, “I did in the past predict that the APC will break up, but that was before the APC formed the government. Now that they are in government, it is not in my interest or that of any reasonable or patriotic Nigerian to wish that they break up.

“A break up of the APC now has the capacity to undermine the current political process and the entire political dispensation we are passing through to the detriment of the country and the innocent masses.

“But what is currently going on is ominous and dangerous and will require wisdom and extreme tact from all the dramatis personae, remembering always that an ill wind does not blow anyone any good.”

Okupe said such a crisis was what usually led to coups in the past.

He, however, argued that Nigerians should not see the trial of Saraki as a ‘soap opera’ but as a bad omen for democracy.

He added, “To ordinary watchers of Nigerian politics, the ongoing ordeal of the Senate President may be an interesting soap opera. But to more discerning minds, it is nothing short of a tragic comedy.

“Over the years, Nigerian politicians fail over and over again to convince anybody that they actually learnt anything from our chequered political history. This is why we have had many republics in our national history.

“Winston Churchill said the failure to act when action would have been simple and effective, lack of good reasoning, and confusion of counsel, all these lead to endless repetition of history.”

The former presidential spokesman said he was not a friend of Saraki because he (Saraki) dumped the PDP in 2014 and contributed to the failure of the party during the last elections.

He, therefore, noted that he was in no way protecting Saraki but the overall interest of Nigerians

He said, “I am personally not a supporter of Dr. Saraki and for good reason. He spearheaded the demolition of the PDP and the eventual catastrophic electoral misfortune of the Goodluck Jonathan presidency. Neither am I a detractor of the Senate President.”

NOW THAT THE SCALES ARE FALLING OFF OUR EYES 2 : SPECIAL REPORT: How GAVI rewarded Okonjo-Iweala after she worked against Nigeria’s interest ... PremiumTimes

On Monday, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization announced that Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been appointed Chair of its 28-member Board.

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala will be succeeding Dagfinn Høybråten as Chair of the US$12 billion multilateral international public private partnership committed to saving the lives of children and protecting people’s health by improving access to immunization in developing countries, including Nigeria.

The former minister’s appointment came months after she spearheaded a controversial decision to pay US$2.2 million to the Geneva-based organization, being a refund for funds allegedly mismanaged by Nigerian health officials.

The refund was made despite protests by officials of the health ministry that all GAVI grants had been judiciously used.

Hours after her appointment was announced, online whistle blowing site, Sahara Reporters tweeted that Ms. Okonjo-Iweala got the position from an organization with whom Nigeria did business under her watch and “paid GAVI $2.2m shortly before she left”.

But in a swift response, Paul Nwabuikwu, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala’s media aide described the tweet as “lies.”

“GAVI was paid back according to MOU because grant was misused. NOI (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) handed case to EFCC before she left.”

However, several documents reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES showed that despite a robust defence on how the GAVI funds was spent, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala indeed went ahead to authorize the refund.

Allegations of graft

Last year, GAVI alleged that Nigerian officials mismanaged cash grants allocated to the country through the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency between 2011 and 2013.

But the Nigerian health officials fought back, accusing GAVI of manipulating events to suit their narrative and deliberately turning a blind eye to its explanations on how the funds were spent before publishing their final audit report.

Civil society organisations who had undertaken independent investigations into the allegations, after they were made public last year, say their efforts to reconcile their findings with GAVI’s audit report met a brick wall from the organization.

A PREMIUM TIMES e-mail to GAVI, since May 26, seeking explanations for their alleged refusal to entertain explanations from Nigerian officials or organisations over the report remains unacknowledged and unreplied.

Between 2002 and 2014, the Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, received vaccine and cash-based support from GAVI Alliance to the tune of over US$100 million.

While US$165 million was disbursed for vaccines, US$143.5 million was for cash support through a number of mechanisms, including Health Systems Strengthening, Immunization System Support, operations costs for vaccine campaigns (Measles, Meningitis, and Yellow Fever), and Vaccine Introduction Grants.

Previous audits by GAVI had raised concerns about how Nigerian officials utilize disbursed funds.

For instance, a four-year audit between 2008 and 2011 revealed about US$300,000 unsubstantiated expenditures relating to the Immunization System Support programmes from 2009 to 2011.

In October 2014, GAVI released its findings from a Cash Programme Audit, CPA, of US$29 million it disbursed to Nigeria between 2011 and 2013.

The CPA findings claimed that funds – running into millions of dollars – meant for the procurement of vaccines and other immunization support activities in the period under review were mismanaged.

Of the total expenditure (US$29 million) stated in the period under review, 32 percent (US$9 million) was examined in the audit of which 87 percent (US$8.1 million) was found to be questionable.

The remaining US$20 million reported expenditure for the period could not be verified, according to GAVI, because of a number of limitations that included outstanding returns from states and poor security levels in some states which could not be visited.

“The report describes systemic weaknesses regarding the operation of controls and procedures in national systems used to manage Gavi cash-based support,” GAVI said in a statement following the report.

“As a result of specific findings the Government of Nigeria has agreed to repay funds deemed to have been misused, which are quantified as US$2.2 million.”

According to the report, 40 percent of the total expenditure of US$29 million (about N4.5 billion) within the two year period was spent on procurement.

GAVI further stated that based on its preliminary findings, cash-based support to Nigeria was suspended in April 2014 and funds previously disbursed but not yet used were immediately frozen.

The audit stated that there were fundamental weaknesses in the area of procurement which included collusion between government officials and contractors.

In certain instances, it stated, assets – such as incinerators, boreholes, and medical equipment – which had been delivered and full payments made were found to be non-functional.

The audit further established that several suppliers shared the same addresses and telephone numbers and that documents of different suppliers were signed by the same people.

“However, these related suppliers submitted separate quotations/bids in order to create the appearance of competition,” the report stated.

“Multiple companies registered to one individual are used to increase the chances of obtaining contracts at inflated prices – this was observed for procurement relating to printing, motor vehicles and incinerators. Some of the suppliers could not be located at the addresses provided to the NPHCDA.

“The audit noted inflated costs of assets/goods. An example is the purchase of motor vehicles where third parties purchased Toyota cars from a licensed Toyota dealer and sold the same cars to NPHCDA at double the price.”

In the area of tax payments on goods and services, the audit stated that it could not verify whether payments were correctly made to the relevant tax authorities. But it found out that from a sample of 184 companies with which NPHCDA transacted, the registration of 97 of them with FIRS (Federal Inland Revenue Service) could not be confirmed.

“In addition, NPHCDA records indicated that they had made VAT (Value Added Tax) and WHT (Withholding Tax) payments of approximately US$950,000 to FIRS in the period 2011 and 2013; independent validation of amounts received by FIRS indicates that only approximately US$70,000 is recognized as being received by them from NPHCDA,” the audit said.

“Specific accounts are not maintained in the accounting system for VAT and WHT to record and monitor the taxes paid.

“NPHCDA did not provide a statement or receipts from FIRS confirming how much has been paid to the tax authorities and if indeed the payments were received by FIRS – it was not clear how payments to FIRS for VAT and WHT could be made on behalf of companies whose existence was questionable.”

The report called for the suspension of disbursements to NPHCDA until it put in place a prudent management of GAVI funds.

It also sought for a reimbursement of US$2.2 million from the Nigerian government being the amount it claimed Nigerian officials mismanaged.

The report also requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to carry out a detailed investigation of the GAVI grants disbursed to Nigeria.

Before the completion of the GAVI audit, a Joint Letter of Understanding had been signed by Nigeria’s former Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, and GAVI’s Chief Executive Officer, Seth Berkley.

In the letter, Dr. Chukwu admitted that there had been systemic weaknesses which may have led to inappropriate use of funds.

Dr. Chukwu also agreed that the Nigerian government “agrees on principle” to reimburse GAVI for any amounts identified as inappropriately used for the period under review.

At the time of the release of the GAVI report, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, filed a petition to the EFCC demanding the investigation of Dr. Chukwu over the alleged mismanagement of the GAVI funds.

In a letter dated November 19, 2014, CSNAC stated that the alleged misused funds should not be refunded from Nigeria’s coffers, but rather from the individuals involved in the misappropriation.

Nigerian officials’ fury

When GAVI released its final report in late October 2014, it sparked anger among Nigerian health officials who accused the organization of unilaterally arriving at conclusions without giving them a chance for a reconciliatory exercise.

While noting the shortcomings and recommendations from the CPA, Nigeria’s implementing agencies insisted that the sum of US$233,000 remained unaccounted for as at June 30, 2014, and not the US$8.2 million claimed by GAVI in its May report or the US$2.2 million in the published report.

An angry Dr. Chukwu said his ministry’s zero tolerance for corruption was the reason he signed the joint agreement with GAVI, which committed both sides to transparency and integrity in transactions.

“That was also why in principle he signed the joint statement,” Dan Nwomeh, who was Special Assistant to the former minister at the time, said one month after the final audit report was released.

“That if at the end of the review of the audit including the responses of Nigeria and there are areas where funds may not have been spent in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with GAVI, those funds would be refunded by Nigeria (that is, the NPHCDA).

“In fact, at the time the joint statement was signed, GAVI never informed the former minister that they had about 2 million dollars they were still querying.”

In addition to its petition to the EFCC, CSNAC had also followed up with a similar letter to the Nigerian government demanding explanations over the conduct of its officials in what it described as an “international embarrassment”.

In its response to CSNAC, the Nigerian government stated that it “strongly objected” to GAVI’s final report and accused the donor of “unilateral conclusion and publication”.

“The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) stands by its earlier response to the initial CPA Report issued by GAVI in May 2014,” the Nigerian government stated.

“The FMOH and NPHCDA strongly objected to GAVI’s final report which it released and published without carrying out a post audit reconciliation exercise (a standard audit practice); and without incorporating the Government of Nigeria response to the CPA as agreed withGAVI.”

According to the government, a significant downward revision of the ‘unaccounted sum’ of US$8.2 million in the audit’s initial report (in May) to US$2.2 million in the final report raised questions on the basis of the reduction without a reconciliatory process.

The government said that it became obvious from the GAVI report that any document not placed before the CPA Team was deemed ‘non-existent’.

It also said the CPA Team did not make any specific request for additional information and refused to engage senior management to seek clarifications on specific issues.

“In the CPA report, it was noted that there was no evidence for the transfer of N44.5 million to UNICEF, whereas no senior management staff in the Finance and Accounts Department was contacted for this document. UNICEF has since confirmed (in writing) receipt of the said funds,” the government said.

“The CPA Team performed field visits without informing the Federal Ministry of Health or NPHCDA of the locations and gave no feedback on return. Government of Nigeria provided evidence to show that the team in some instances visited wrong locations and interviewed wrong persons.

“The report claimed that incinerators were not delivered whereas all were delivered at the time of the CPA.

“In its final report, GAVI maintained that only $70,000 (about N11 million) was remitted to Internal Revenue body. FIRS has since confirmed in writing that over N237 million was received by it on the GAVI Alliance funded projects.”

The Nigerian government further stated that GAVI refused to conduct reconciliatory exercise following its response to the audit, turned down invitations for joint site visits for verification, and therefore had no basis to demand for a refund.

The government also stated that it went ahead to contact the Corporate Affairs Commission, FIRS, UNICEF, EFCC, and other agencies mentioned in the GAVI report.

“Contrary to GAVI’s allegation of NPHCDA engaging companies without appropriate registration, the Corporate Affairs Commission through a letter dated Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, in response to a request for the verification and confirmation of status of the companies by the NPHCDA, listed the names of those companies as duly registered with the Commission,” the Nigerian government said.

“The Federal Inland Revenue controverted GAVI’s assertion of failure to remit taxes vide a letter dated November 6, 2014, confirming the agency paid due taxes, even beyond GAVI quoted amount, as at when due.”

The federal government also stated that the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency and Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency in letters dated 10th October, 2013, and 26th June, 2013, respectively wrote to confirm the receipt of 7,140,278 units of vaccination cards in Kaduna and 1,105,300 units of Non Polio SIAs Vaccination cards in Bauchi.

These were contrary to claims in the GAVI report that those cards were neither produced nor delivered by the NPHCDA.

The Nigerian government also said that no petition, oral or written, had been submitted at the EFCC contrary to claims in the GAVI report that an official report had been lodged.

“Contrary to claims of failure to disburse fund by GAVI, UNICEF also wrote via its New York office to confirm receipt of funds from the NPHCDA as reported by the agency.”

GAVI’s silence

Following the responses by the Nigerian government, CSNAC led other civil society organizations to carry out an independent investigation into some of the claims made in GAVI’s final report.

Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC’s Chairman, said his organization solicited, free of charge, the support of civil society partners domiciled in states where NPHCDA claimed they had executed its incinerator projects.

“Responses were received from some committed and reliable networking partners and their officers were dispatched as field investigators who visited sites to verify the status of projects, and presented the findings from their sites visits,” said Mr. Suraju.

“CSNAC received support from CSOs and individuals who volunteered and assisted with visiting locations of incinerators constructed by the NPHCDA across the northern states of Nigeria.”

Civil society investigators visited 13 incinerator sites in seven northern states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

In Kano, for instance, the five sites visited – in Gwale, Municipal, Dambatta, Bichi, and Wudil – showed all the incinerators had been completed.

However, the incinerators at Numan in Adamawa State, and Wukari in Taraba State had not been built, according to the private investigators.

In November last year, CSNAC opened communication with GAVI’s Geneva office with a view to compare notes and share information regarding the report.

“We got no positive response,” Mr. Suraju said.

“We then reached out to GAVI’s American office via telephone in December and got a promise of an official response by January 2015.

“On January 8, 2015, CSNAC received a response from GAVI saying it had no further information to give on the issue beyond what it published on its website.”

Mr. Suraju said that it was unacceptable for any foreign organization to hide under Nigeria’s perceived corrupt status to level corruption charges against its government without providing verifiable evidence to support their claims.

“We are seriously concerned by GAVI’s adamant and uncooperative posture in spite of the apparent weight of evidence provided by the NPHCDA in the Nigerian government’s comprehensive response with attached documentations, the site visitations by CSNAC; confirmation of receipt of funds by UNICEF, tax remittances to FIRS, and authenticity of agencies by the CAC,” said Mr. Suraju.

“In the extant case, since the Government of Nigeria has refuted GAVI’s claims and provided documentary and other evidence which contradict GAVI’s claims, it is therefore surprising that GAVI has held on to its position as shown by the GAVI Management’s repeated utterances that ‘there was no significant change in their position.’

“GAVI needs to respond to charges by the Government of Nigeria that ‘many of the actions of the CPA team were not in tandem with expected level of professionalism; and may have been premeditated on a mindset”.

‘No case of fraud’

In the midst of the dispute between the NPHCDA and GAVI, the Nigerian government, led by Ms. Okonjo-Iweala still went ahead to refund the alleged misused funds of US$2.2 million to the organization.

On August 11, the EFCC responded to CSNAC’s petition over the alleged mismanagement of the GAVI funds stating that no prima facie case of fraud, diversion of funds, or other crimes had been established in relation to the project.

“Our investigation confirmed that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) paid all due taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service. The NPHCDA also paid required funds to UNICEF in 2012 for meningitis vaccine campaign (MENAFRIVAC),” the EFCC said in its response signed by Olaolu Adegbite, on behalf of the Executive Chairman.

“All contracts under the project were duly executed while the provisions of the Nigerian financial regulations for the public service were duly followed in the disbursement of duty tour allowances and other incidental expenses for the staff.”

The anti-graft agency stated that the findings of GAVI’s initial audit report was based on an unfounded suspicion of fraud and called for the ongoing reconciliation between the organisation and the NPHCDA to be concluded.

“We believe that the GAVI report underscores the effect of negative media coverage of events on our national reputation,” the EFCC stated.

“It is unfortunate that some reputable foreign organizations continue to perceive most Nigerians as corrupt and fraudulent in spite of contrary evidence.”

But despite the EFCC report, GAVI stuck to its claims. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala believed the donor agency despite protests by a government she served.

She brushed aside the concerns and proceeded to refund $2.2million to the organisation, even without clearance from the health ministry.

Few months later, GAVI named her the chairperson of its board.

NOW THAT THE SCALES ARE FALLING OFF OUR EYES : US$2.2 million GAVI refund: Group petitions EFCC, demands probe of Okonjo-Iweala ... PremiumTimes

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the ‎refund of US$2.2 million by the Nigerian government to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
In a petition dated September 23, CSNAC‎ requested the investigation of the alleged mismanagement of the US$2.2 million as well as the role played by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, who authorized the refund of the money to GAVI.
On Monday, GAVI announced the appointment of Ms. Okonjo-Iweala as chair of its 28-member Board.
The former minister’s appointment came months after she spearheaded a controversial decision to pay ‎the US$2.2 million to the Geneva-based organization, being a refund for funds allegedly mismanaged by Nigerian health officials.
The refund was made despite protests by officials of the health ministry that all GAVI grants had been judiciously used.
“Following our petition on this matter and reportage of same by local and international news media, our network received a response, accompanied with evidences, from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), controverting claims that were contained in the GAVI’s Cash Program Audit (CPA) report which was the subject of our petition,” Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC’s Chairman, said in the petition to the EFCC.
“Through voluntary support of volunteers, partners and members of our network, we undertook independent investigation of the allegations contained in the CPA report and, confirmation of assertions and proof provided by NPHCDA. These included independent and unannounced visits by different volunteers to locations in Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Kano, Kaduna.
“To our utter amazement and in consonance with your preliminary findings, our investigations revealed findings at variance with the allegations of fraud contained in report of GAVI, through its Cash Program Audit (C.P.A) on cash grants allocated to Nigeria between 2011-2013. The C.P.A had returned an indicting report of fraud and mismanagement of funds by the Nigerian government through Federal Ministry of Health and National Primary Health Care Development Agency.”
In October last year, GAVI released its findings from a Cash Programme Audit, CPA, of US$29 million it disbursed to Nigeria between 2011 and 2013.
The CPA findings claimed that funds – running into millions of dollars – meant for the procurement of vaccines and other immunization support activities in the period under review were mismanaged.
Mr. Olanrewaju said his organization found a letter written by the New York office of UNICEF officially debunking claims in the GAVI report, as it concerns their transactions with NPHCDA under the contract.
“The Federal Inland Revenue Services did write to acknowledge receipt of taxes deducted by NPHCDA, as against position of GAVI,” CSNAC stated in the petition.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission further provided evidence controverting malicious claims contained in the CPA report. The big question and worry for our network is, why would an organisation like GAVI embark on a smear campaign of such magnitude against a sovereign nation.
“Also, contrary to the misinformation and falsehood peddled by GAVI on the admission of guilt by the Nigerian Government, as represented by the Federal Ministry of Health, in reference to a letter titled ‘Letter of Understanding on the Principles Regarding the GAVI Cash Program Audit 2011-2013’, dated October 17, 2014 and signed by the former Health Minister, Professor C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the Ministry had demanded a joint post audit reconciliation of the disputed CPA report, as it is the standard practice.
“The minister had only committed the government to refund of any unused fund discovered after the joint reconciliation with GAVI.
“The organization went ahead to deceive concerned Nigerians and the international community by twisting the intent and content of the LoU signed on the agreed joint reconciliation to mean an admission of guilt in the alleged mismanagement of $2.2m.”
The petition further stated that, in response to the GAVI report, CSNAC had petitioned the EFCC demanding investigation and possible prosecution of officials of the Ministry of Health and NPHCDA connected with the allegations.
“I should inform that GAVI was contacted by this group for evidence to corroborate the allegations of fraud contained in their report,” Mr. Suraju said.

“Though, the report of fraud was deliberately shared with local and international media by GAVI, to attract negative attention and unfair criticism on the Country, the organisation failed to substantiate claims contained in its report much less respond to our requests.
“Our findings, negating spurious allegations of GAVI, was shared with leadership of the organisation and its major funding partner, Bill and Melinda Gate foundation since March and no response has been received till date.
“It is to our chagrin and with consternation reading a letter from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, alleging refund of the $2.2m to GAVI by the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, without recourse to the Ministry and demanding clarification from your Commission.
“This is nothing but an act of sabotage, aimed at placating an international organisation at the expense of National integrity and reputation. Your findings, as contained in your preliminary report, further laid credence to this conclusion.”
CSNAC stated that with the appointment of Ms. Okonjo-Iweala as Chair of GAVI’s Board, there is every reason to suspect conflict of interest in the “unprofessional and unpatriotic” refund of $2.2m to GAVI by the former minister.
“CSNAC is therefore, by this petition, requesting an extended and thorough investigation into the abuse of office, unprofessional conduct and conflict of interest associated with the activities of GAVI in Nigeria and, the actions of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala in connection with the refund,” Mr. Olanrewaju said.
“Your timely and further action would correct the negative impression of Nigerian, created by the repayment.”

THE DAME AND AN UNCOMMON TRANSFORMER ... TALES FROM THE GREAT BEYOND : How I died, resurrected and returned from the land of the dead — ex-Governor Akpabio ... PremiumTimes

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has spoken publicly about the trauma he went through after the road crash in Abuja involving his car and a vehicle belonging to the United States Embassy in Nigeria.
Mr. Akpabio, while addressing a large crowd of Akwa Ibom people, who gathered Wednesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, to mark the 28th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State, said he had just returned “from the land of the death”.
Mr. Akpabio, minority leader of the Nigerian Senate, said he lost consciousness for about an hour because of the impact of the crash.
“When that accident happened, I was rushing in the morning to join my daughter who was ill in her school abroad and when it happened I lost consciousness and all I shouted was God take care of my children and my people,” said the former governor, who now represents Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in the Senate.
Mr. Akpabio said when he regained consciousness at the National Hospital, Abuja, he was surprised to see Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State sitting by his side.
“I was moved to tears,” he said.
The former governor, surrounded by a handful of supporters and former aides, including his cousin, Emem Akpabio, entered the stadium around 5:45pm after Governor Udom Emmanuel and other dignitaries had long seated and the ceremony was underway.
He wore Akwa Ibom ‘chieftaincy’ attire. His entry into the stadium energized the crowd, his presence overshadowing his successor, and his speech, though somewhat uncoordinated, electrifying the gathering.
The climax of the anniversary celebration was the launch of a rebirth programme for Akwa Ibom people tagged ‘Dakkada’.
‘Dakkada,’ an Ibibio word, means stand up.
Apparently to dispel speculations that he was in the bad books of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Akpabio told the ecstatic crowd in the 30,000-capacity stadium that the President telephoned to wish him well while he (Akpabio) was in hospital in London.
He said, “Let me place on record the support of President Buhari who did something extraordinary. The President called the hospital that I was in London. He called the hospital line, and said put me through to the Minority Leader of the Senate who is in your hospital. And they connected him. The room number was Room 215. And he spoke with me. He said, Akpabio we are praying for you. Insha Allah, it shall be well with you.”
The former governor seized the moment to explain why the ‘world class’ 20th Anniversary Hospital, Uyo, built during his administration, hasn’t started operation several weeks after its commissioning, saying the foreign doctors to be employed in the hospital were waiting for clearance from the Nigeria Immigration Services and relevant medical associations in the country before they could come in to start work.
He however insisted that the 20th Anniversary Hospital has superior facilities than the London hospital he went to.
“When people are talking about the 20th Anniversary Hospital, they should go there and find out, even the CT scan that I saw in London is not up to the one that you have in Uyo. That is the one they call 64 slides. Udom, the one that you have here is 640 slides. Ten times in magnification of what you have in Europe”.
He also spoke on the reported search of the Akwa Ibom Government House by the Department of State Security, dismissing reports that a large amount foreign currency was discovered in the building.
“They raided even your Government House to collect some of the money, but they did not find anything. The picture they are circulating was a picture taken in Iraq in 2011. That picture is on Google.
“If we have such money would I not build something greater than this (stadium)? Will I not build air-conditioners in all the streets so that when you are walking as an Akwa Ibom child you don’t need to fan yourself?”
Mr. Akpabio took out time in his speech to taunt the local press, which his aides say has remained critical of him even after completing his tenure as governor.
“The wish of the enemy has been defeated. All the newspapers in Akwa Ibom State, tomorrow your headlines should be ‘Akpabio rises again’, ‘Akpabio rises again’.
“Why will I not rise again when the governor has launched a very significant project in the state today, ‘Dakkada’?”

A DARK DAY FOR THE MUSLIM PILGRIMAGE : Mecca stampede: 700+ people killed, 800+ injured in Hajj crush (PHOTOS, VIDEO) ... RT

A stampede during the Hajj outside of the holy Muslim city of Mecca has claimed about 453 lives and left 719 pilgrims injured, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense Service reported.

220 ambulances and 4,000 rescue workers were deployed in the field for emergency treatment of the victims of the crush.

The crush happened in Mecca’s neighborhood of Mina, which traditionally provides temporary accommodation for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. The ritual of the ‘Stoning of the Devil’ is performed in a valley surrounding the neighborhood on the night before last day of the Hajj.
The stampede happened in a street separating two pilgrim camps, Al Jazeera reported from the scene.
"The street is named Street 204. This stampede did not happen during the Stoning of the Devil ritual, which was happening today," correspondent Basma Atassi said.
Street 204 is one of the two main arteries in Mina leading through the camp at Mina to Jamarat Bridge, where the Stoning of the Devil ritual is performed.
The incident happened near an exit from a monorail train station near the tent camps. The camp sector houses pilgrims from Gulf nations, who apparently are the majority among the victims.



Muslims worldwide are celebrating on Thursday the holy day of Eid al-Adha. An estimated 2 million pilgrims traveled to Mecca for the celebration.
Just two weeks ago over a hundred people were killed in Mecca when a construction crane fell on the crowded Grand Mosque. The worshipers had gathered in the city ahead of this year’s Hajj.
Mina has seen a number of fatal stampedes over the years. In 1990 over 1,400 pilgrims died in a stampede inside a pedestrian tunnel leading out of Mecca towards Mina, one of the most catastrophic of such incidents.
A number of stampedes happened on the Jamarat Bridge. The death of almost 350 pilgrims in 2006 finally prompted Saudi Arabia to conduct reconstruction of the bridge to avoid such tragedies.

SEE VIDEO HERE

MAY GOD FORGIVE THOSE WHO CALLED THIS MAN SICK AND READY TO DIE : President Buhari Prays Eid-el-Kabir In DauraVAnd Departs For USA Later Today

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday joined Muslims faithful in observing Eid-el-kabir prayer at his native home, Daura, Katsina State.
The prayer was led by the chief Imam of Daura, Sheikh Safiyanu Yusuf, at Kofar-Arewa Eid ground around 9.30 a.m.
In his sermon, the Imam stressed the importance of sacrifice in Islam.
He said that the sacrifice could be done win ram, sheep, goat, cow or camel.
Yusuf said that the meat could be given to the needy and even non Muslims.
He urged people to continue to pray to the almighty Allah to give the country peace, unity and stability.
The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouq, directed all mosques in the emirate to organise special prayer for peace and stability in the nation.
He prayed to Allah to continue to guide the President to be able to lead the country right.
‘’We need to intensify prayer for peace and stability in the country, because nothing can be achieved without peace,’’ he said.
Some of the important personalities who observed the Eid prayer include Director, Department of Security Service (DSS), Alhaji Lawal Musa Daura, and other prominent sons of the emirate including religious and traditional leaders among others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari and the Emir slaughtered their rams after the prayer at the Eid ground.
NAN also observed that there was adequate security at the Eid ground and the prayer ended peacefully.(NAN)

THERE IS A MORAL QUESTION SARAKI MUST ANSWER ... IT'S TIME FOR SARAKI TO GO : Bukola Saraki: A polished name for political immorality, by Bayo Oluwasanmi ... OshodiTV

The moral pattern of Nigerian politics continues to degenerate with the crop of politicians elected into leadership positions. In the past, our representatives were primarily chosen based on their governance skills, civil commitment, moral principles, and human values.

Broken election promises, ill-advised lawmaking, corruption, and political falsehood that would attract degradation and rejection in a civilized democracy are flagrantly dismissed as “witch-hunting” by people of unexamined, primitive partisanship. Political leaders found guilty of political wrongdoing and leadership incompetence, and lawbreakers that should be impeached and excluded are the lawmakers. Any attempt to make these abhorrent political leaders accountable and be punished for their improprieties is viewed as “malicious,” “politically motivated,” “undue interference,” and “selective.”

It is the norm for our political leaders to trick, manipulate, and marginalize the ethical principles of right and wrong all of which are made to serve their greed, lust for power, and to serve their political party, their regime, or clan.

Our political leaders and their rabid supporters see political morality as a matter of personal opinion rather than ethical problem and human conscience. Realpolitik – politics based on material factors and interest considerations – rather than on ethical objectives and human ideals, is what drives our politics. In today’s Nigeria politics of politicking, assassination of political rivals, torture and revenge on innocent citizens, election rigging, political forgery, corruption, embezzlement, and other political aberrations are the order of the day.

Combating poverty, providing healthcare, jobs, quality education, safety and security to the poor are not of importance to the political leaders. Because in realpolitik, the rich and the privileged have their own priorities and different sociopolitical agendas. Of course, given the large empire of corruption that Nigeria has become, it is impossible to name clean-living political leaders. Majority of the members of the National Assembly, state legislators, governors, and local government councilors are either criminals or ex-convicts. They are wicked, insensitive, and insidious to honor human values. They are not morally equipped to take Nigeria to a better place.

Having forged the Senate Standing Rules that got him elected Senate President, Bukola Saraki is fighting with his last breadth for his political life. The latest hit from the Saraki Corruption Dynasty in what’s been a slow-motion crash for an unusually irresponsible and damaged Senate President, is the 13-count charge by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) against Saraki for alleged failure to fully declare his assets. The indictment reads in cinematic detail that portrays Saraki as a polished name for political immorality. The CCB 13-count charge include among other crimes, improperly using state funds to purchase private assets during his tenure as the governor of Kwara State while he was senator of the federal republic of Nigeria. He was also accused of declaring as part of his assets a property that had not been sold to him, a practice known as “anticipatory looting” in Nigeria.

Saraki assumed the Senate Presidency a diminished political leader. His bids to re-unite with President Buhari and the APC leadership met with stern rebuff, and senate colleagues co-exist with him uneasily. Embarrassments have become routine whenever he’s tried to forcibly reinsert himself into the national debate. The ethical and corrupt charges preferred against the Kwara State Senator by the CCB, show how deep Nigeria has declined in political morality. We’re all familiar with Saraki’s dossier of political sins it need not be rehashed. But the aspect of his transgressions that is fascinating as well as disturbing is the manipulation of right and wrong. Because of our ethnic biases, prejudices, and discrimination, we refuse to differentiate or agree on what is politically wrong or right. Even when we know that something is wrong, we still take the insanity road to argue otherwise.

What is our basis of judging what is right or wrong on the sociopolitical level? How do we as Nigerians assess and by which norms wrongfulness is adjudged? What qualifies for political immorality and violation of political ethical codes? Where do we draw the line between good and evil? Consider the following: Did Saraki forge his way to become Senate President? Was he falsely accused of declaring false assets? Did he trespass against the law that prohibits elected officials from having foreign bank accounts? Did he and his wife Toyin plunder and collapse Societe Generale Bank? Did he misappropriate Kwara State funds during his eight-year tenure as governor? Did he conceal his stolen wealth in his asset declaration forms by passing off some assets to his wife and two children, Semi Saraki and Teniola Saraki?

Did he fail to explain how he got his wealth on the asset declaration forms? Has he any foreign bank accounts under his name or those of his companies with at least 2.9 million pounds sterling and $400,000 in 2003? Did he declare at least eight of his registered properties in Nigeria calculated in 2003 to be worth more than N2.2 trillion? Was Saraki also the registered owner of eight properties in London England worth $12.6 million which he purchased sometimes in 2003? Why is Saraki afraid to defend himself in the court? Shouldn’t he have seized the golden opportunity as the chief lawmaker of Nigeria to set example that no one is above the law by appearing in court instead of seeking court order to squash the case? Bring Saraki before the law and let him defend himself. Until these and other criminal and ethical citations are resolved, he’s not fit to lead the Senate.

Aristotle once said that the happiest life for a human being is the life of moral virtue. The life of courage, temperance, justice, and the other virtues of character is better for the person living life than a life that lacks those virtues. And Plato’s Republic centers on a simple question: is it always better to be just than unjust? A political leader like the Senate President must project proper political morality. Certain personal qualities are essential to political leadership hence the relationship between ethics and politics.

The case of Saraki deals with discipline of political ethics: values and the good, right and wrong, obligations and rights, justice and ideal social and political arrangements. Saraki could be depicted as comic-book villain. Through financial frauds,Saraki throughout his life has enjoyed a gilded life. For long, the beneficiaries of the Saraki Corruption Dynasty lend their voices to the chorus of praise for Saraki. Over the years, Nigerian tabloids have generously devoted news columns exposing the Saraki Corruption Empire. With all his frauds and fleece, Saraki remains untouchable. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. As the Senate President, his honesty, trustworthiness, and favorability continue to erode each day. He’s now increasingly underwater and he’s sinking by the day under his own weight.

A moral collapse is eating away the foundations of our society like cancer. Nigeria immorality in government is at a peak. Immorality in government lies at the heart of our nation’s problems. We see the evidence of moral collapse all around us every day. If it continues unchecked, it will inevitably destroy Nigeria. Unfortunately, fixing moral decay is far more difficult than switching out political parties because it is in the hearts of millions of Nigerians.

So, where is the mourning for the fact that we, as a nation, have come to this: a choice between murderers, a choice between plunderers, a choice between looters, a choice between thieves, a choice between forgers, a choice between lawbreakers, a choice between cowards, a choice between fools, a choice between idiots, and a choice between an embattled, bruised, battered scammer Senate President.

As long as unsound political leaders like Saraki are in charge of our affairs, they will supplant Nigerians’ peaceful life, prosperity, civil norms, and ethics.

It’s time for Saraki to go!

RAISING THE TEMPO OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE : Buhari to meet Ban Ki Moon, Obama, Cameron, Putin at 70th UN General Assembly ... STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Nigeria for New York on Thursday for a series of meetings and interactions with notable world leaders at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The President is scheduled to hold talks with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban-Ki Moon, President Barack Obama of the United States, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Vladmir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, and Prime Minister Narenda Modi of India, among others.

A statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, said issues to be discussed include domestic developmental issues, bilateral relations, the war against terrorism, countering violent extremism, the enhancement of global security, peace-keeping operations, climate change and the adoption of a post-2015 global development agenda.

The statement added that Buhari would be accompanied by governors of Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger states, the National Security Adviser and permanent secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment.

It stated that the President would deliver Nigeria’s statement to the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 28.

The statement said, “President Buhari is also scheduled to address the World Leaders Summit on ‘Violent Extremism’ – to which he was personally invited by Mr. Ban-Ki Moon during the Secretary-General’s recent visit to Nigeria.

“Also on the President’s busy schedule in New York are a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, a high-level roundtable on South-South Cooperation organised by President Xi Jinping of China and the United Nations, and participation in the launching of an updated global health strategy for women and children.”

On Buhari’s schedule too are meetings with former President Bill Clinton of the United States, Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is assisting Nigeria in several areas including polio eradication, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, the United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education, who is one of the main drivers of the Safe Schools Initiative.

The President will conclude his visit to New York on September 29 and leave for Abuja on the same day.

HEART RENDING TALE OF THE ESCAPADES OF A KILLER COP AND HIS TEAM FROM THE MOUTH OF A 9YR OLD : How policeman shot my mother to death —9-yr-old narrates ... VanguardNews

The wailing of 11 months old Elijah Ekpo yesterday, at Jakande Estate Oke-Afa , Isolo Lagos, sprang the curiosity of other commuters at the bus-stop on whether the woman carrying him was his biological mother. The crying baby held unto the blouse of the woman , wanting to force her breast out of it. From all indication it was obvious that he wanted to be breast- fed.
Curious commuters urged the woman to find a place to sit down and breast feed the baby. Rather than heed the advice, the woman burst into tears, an action that attracted this reporter.

Mr and Mrs-Ekpo

Her reason for breaking down was not far fetched as it was discovered that the mother of the 11-month-old baby was lying stone dead at the Igando General Hospital morgue.
Fate played a cruel role in the life of young Elijah Wednesday night at Obalagbe , in Ijegun area of the state, after his mother was added to the list of victims of the recklessness of trigger happy cops.
Her father, Mr Godwin Ekpo , a tricycle operator, was reportedly returning home from Mount of Victory Church , located in Orilowo Ejigbo , with his wife and their four children in his tricycle, popularly known as Keke Marwa ,  when one Police Corporal, Musefun Aremu, attached to Isheri-Oshun division flagged him to stop. It was gathered that Aremu allegedly demanded for N200 from the operator , for plying beyond the stipulated time for tricycle. But Ekpo was said to have explained that he was returning from church and that the time was just 8pm.
At that moment, his wife , Idongesit Comfort , who was with their youngest child , Elijah reportedly came down from the tricycle and showed the policeman her bible, with an explanation that she was not a passenger as assumed by the policeman but the operator’s wife.
But the Aremu was said to have insisted on getting his money. Report said Ekpo angrily gave him N50 which he refused, insisting that it was not complete .
Angry at his defiance, Ekpo attempted to enter the tricycle, with his wife following behind. But to the shock of all , Corporal Aremu who earlier threatened to shoot if Ekpo attempted to move the tricycle from the spot, made do his threat as he released a bullet from his AK 47 riffle.
Unfortunately for the couple, the bullet pierced through the skull of Idongesit , killing her on the spot.
At the sound of the gun shot, Ekpo reported turned , only for the bullet which shut out from his wife’s skull to hit him at the jaw.
Narrating what happened that fateful night, one of the children, Blessing (9), said in tears “My mummy was killed by the policeman. We were all in the  keke marwawhen we heard the gun shot. Immediately , my mummy fell down. She fell on Elijah . She could not move. Blood was all over her . Elijah was crying from where he was trapped under her. My daddy was shouting ‘they have killed me ooo’.
“My elder sister was screaming, calling for help. I was the only one that went and held one of the policemen by the trouser. I was shouting at the top of my voice that ‘you people have killed my mummy. Come and take my mummy to the hospital. People who heard the gun shot rushed to where we were and brought Elijah out of my mummy’s weight. His body was covered with blood”. She burst into tears while trying to talk. But her words were inaudible.
She explained that the killer cop and members of his team immediately left the scene. The body of Mrs Ekpo was reportedly taken to the Isheri-Oshun division by sympathizers, from where it was taken to the hospital where she was certified dead,while her husband was rushed to the Lagos. University Teaching Hospital, LUTH.
It was discovered that the incident occurred barely four days after the family moved to Ijegun.
The killing of Idongesit sparked off a protest next day, where the protesters complained about the excesses of policemen attached to that particular division.
It was alleged that three days before tragedy struck, Corporal Aremu had broken a commercial motorcyclist’s skull with the butt of his gun for not giving him N50 . Two weeks earlier, he reportedly sprayed tear-gas canisters on some tricycle operators for refusing to give him an undisclosed amount.
Killer cop, arrested arraigned in court

Aremu

The killer cop and members of his team have since been arrested on the order of the visibly angry Commissioner of Police , with the Isheri Oshun Divisional Police Officer queried.
28 year-old Aremu was arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s court yesterday on a two count charge of murder and causing grievous body harm.
The prosecutor Godwin Osuyi, told the court that Aremu allegedly   killed late Comfort (Idongesit) Godwin Ekpo and also wounded her husband, Godwin Sunday Ekpo , with his official rifle, AK 47, at Ijegun area of the state, at about 8pm.Osuyi, said that Aremu unlawfully shot the deceased dead , an offence he said was punishable under sections 221 and 243 of the Criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011.
Aremu’s plea was not taken, as the prosecutor applied that he   be remanded in prison custody pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.
Consequently, Magistrate Afolashade Botoku ordered that the defendant should be remanded in prison custody for the next 30 days, with the matter adjourned till October 19, 2015.
However, in defence , Aremu stated that he never meant to kill the woman, denying that he also demanded money from his victims.
He said, “We were stationed at Obalagbe when we saw the  keke Marwa  coming at about 12 midnight which was against the stipulated time for them to operate. When we stopped him, he refused. Rather, he hit our vehicle, in an attempt to escape. All I did was to aim at the tyres of the  keke marwa  .  Unfortunately the bullet hit the woman from behind and also hit the man in the jaw. I never meant to kill anybody. It was just a mistake. If he had not run, I would not have fired”, he said.
But  Crime Guard  gathered that the vehicle the policemen stationed at the spot was properly labelled, an outright disregard to the Inspector General of Police directive that policemen should not use any vehicle that is has no inscription of the Police on it . Some of the policemen were also said to have been in mufti.

HOW DO THEY DO IT? ... GOD HELP US ALL : Naija Bad Boy Caught In £5m Fraud Sentenced To Prison ... 9jaNinjaBlog

Many people are living fake, it takes proper home training and values for you to work and make your money legitimately. Those of us who are making out money from our businesses, we sleep well. Smile!

36-year-old Godwin Nwaofor kept a 'suckers list' of potential victims to send bogus letters saying they had won the Lottery. The Nigerian bad boy received around £1million from the scam and blew the money on luxury cars, gold jewellery and expensive champagne at top nightclubs in London

Nwaofor was a ‘willing and enthusiastic lieutenant’ to the mastermind of the scam
who is also a Nigerian, Frank Onyechonam, who is nicknamed ‘Fizzy’ for his love of vintage champagne.

Onyeachonam was jailed eight years last year, after he was exposed as the chief player in the scam.
He drove a Maserati and fired bubbly corks across exclusive private members clubs as he lived a life of fantastic luxury on his victim’s life savings.

The scam started with a bogus letter to a vulnerable pensioner telling them they won Australian Lottery.

The letters were sent by a ‘lottery agent’ targeting mainly American pensioners informing them they had won a life-changing prize and requesting a modest sum to release the funds.

Believing they had won, victims were hooked into paying fees to release their ‘winnings’ through an agent who would demand ‘activation fees’ to release their cash.

In some cases, dupes set up businesses in an attempt to receive their winnings and became unwitting money mules laundering cash from other victims.

Nwaofor, a father of two, regularly switched addresses to avoid being caught.

One victim, a 76-year-old woman, who believed she had won $1.85m, tried to track down Nwaofor after the FBI told her she had fallen victim to a scam.

She flew to the UK and went to the address she had for Nwaofor, but found that he had already moved on to another address.

Police identified 406 victims from notebooks found at Onyeachonam’s penthouse when he was arrested.

They seized Louis Vuitton shoes, Gucci handbags, a collection of expensive watches and dozens of designer shoes, as well as 5,000 pictures of Onyeachonam flaunting his wealth at exclusive upmarket venues including the Guvnor Bar in Docklands, east London.

One picture shows him showering a friend with champagne, in others he poses with scantily clad blondes or waves wads of £50 notes. All the property he acquired through fraud have been confiscated.

Now he is cooling his butt in prison, all the overnight big boy has expired. Fraud can't take anyone far.