Former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida: Nigeria is complex and difficult to manage

General Ibrahim Babangida, a former military head of state has described Nigeria as complex and a difficult entity to manage.

Babangida spoke from his residence in Minna when the leadership of  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, minority caucus of the House of Representatives, led by Ndudi Elumelu, paid him a visit.

Consequently, he called on the legislators to perform their responsibilities honourably and diligently to make the country one entity. Babangida, who said he had been following recent developments in the country, noted:

“I am passionate in observing what is going on in the country; I have developed lots of interest in the ongoing across the country and I think the leadership of the House of Representatives, the speaker, the opposition leadership and everyone are all doing well.

“You represent the people and it is what the people wish that you take up. I want to commend you for doing your job honourably and I urge you not to give up. The country is complex and difficult because in Nigeria, there are as many opinions as there are the number of people in the country. Nigeria is a very vibrant society and what is important is the determination to carry on and you have to remain very resilient in everything you do for the benefit of the country.”

Babangida assured the lawmakers of his support where necessary, saying: “We are all together for the progress of the country and now that you have succeeded in your elections, it is now time for you to settle down to do a lot of good work for your constituency and for the country.’’

Members on the entourage of the minority leader include the Minority Whip, Gibbion Gwari and Deputy Minority Whip, Adekoya Adesegun. Others are Efe Afe,  Kpam Jimin Sokpo, Robert Tyough, Soyinka Anjola,  Femi Bamishele, Benjamin Mzondu and Samuel Onuigbo.

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CoS Abba Kyari: Atiku wasn’t born a Nigerian

President Buhari's Chief of Staff (CoS) Abba Kyari in his testimony at the Presidential tribunal on Tuesday July 30, alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar wasn't born a Nigerian. 

Abba Kyari was one of the three witnesses called in by President Buhari's legal team led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) after they tendered 26 sets of documents. Giving his testimony after the PDP and Atiku closed their case on July 19 after calling in 62 witnesses, the CoS said Jada area of Adamawa State was still part of Northern Cameroon and referred to as French Cameroons as at November 25, 1946 when Atiku claimed that he was born. 

CoS Abba Kyari maintained that Atiku’s parents also qualified to be Cameroonians and further added that every child born in Jada and to Jada parents were automatically citizens of Cameroon by the French policy of assimilation and before the 1961 plebiscite was conducted.

However under cross-examination by Atiku's lead counsel Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), Kyari confirmed that Atiku was vice president for eight years and also contested to be the presidential candidate of the APC in 2014. The CoS who said he is from Borno but not a Cameroonian also admitted not knowing Atiku’s grandfather and father even though he is 67 years old. 

The hearing was adjourned till today July 31, at the conclusion of Kyari's testimony. 

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Breaking News: Governor Ferdinand Waititu arrested

Governor Ferdinand Waititu of Kiambu presented himself at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) headquarters on Sunday July 28, after being “out of town since Friday July 26” when news broke out that he was wanted for prosecution.

A manhunt was launched on Saturday morning for the Kenyan Governor, his wife Susan Wangari Ndungu and twelve others for allegedly misappropriating public funds amounting to Sh588 Million (N2bn). 

Apart from Waititu and his wife, others declared wanted are M/S Testimony Enterprises Limited co-director Beth Wangeci, Chege’s wife and three other tender evaluation committee members, Zacharia Njenga Mbugua, Anselm Gachukia Wanjiku and Samuel Muigai Mugo. The county chief and his wife are directors of Bieneveu Delta Hotel Limited while the latter and daughter Monica Njeri Ndung’u, are directors of Saika Two Estate Developers Limited, both under probe. A search party for Waititu’s wife and five others is still on going.

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President Buhari speaks in new book: How we merged to defeat PDP in 2015

President Buhari talked about some 'behind the scene' incidents that led to defeat of the People's Democratic Party in the 2015  election, in a book written by the Director-General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Comrade Salihu Mohammed Lukman.

Buhari revealed that only the Southwest was a secured constituency when the merger talks between four parties; Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was initiated. He also admitted that the merger became neccesary when it dawned on opposition parties that they can't defeat the PDP individually.

 “At one point, we in the four former opposition parties, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), came to the painful realisation that there was no way we could defeat the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as separate entities without coming together as a united force.

“So, having agreed to come together, we decided to set up committees to look into how we can best merge to form a formidable opposition party. After that each of the four parties developed the terms of reference for the committees on the modalities of the negotiations for the merger.

“We, however, made it clear that none of the committees has the power to take any final decision on the merger. Their work was mainly to discuss with their party members and report the outcome of the discussion to the leadership of their parties.

“The understanding was that the final decision regarding how to go about the merger would be made by the executives of each of the parties. We wanted to make the process as democratic as possible" he said. 

The President however noted that Nigeria would have been worse if the merger talks between the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Interim (pioneer) National Chairman of the new party, Chief Bisi Akande had failed. 

“The decision to come together and agree to merge to become a strong opposition party that will face PDP was historic. In my reckoning, it was one of the most significant political development in contemporary Nigerian political history. I hope historians will record the events correctly,” he stressed.

“I would recall speaking to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande at the commencement of the merger negotiations about the need to have a broad-based national political party, because at that point the South-West geopolitical zone of the country was the only secured constituency, while there were sharp divisions in the other geopolitical zones (North West, North East, North Central, the South East and the South South).

“We eventually succeeded in coming together. It was a major sacrifice made by the leadership of the respective political parties. And the significance of this event was underscored by the fact that the future of Nigeria was tied to it. Which is why for historians and political scientists, it becomes a major research question.

“I always wonder what would have been the political, economic and security consequences to the country without the merger of the old opposition parties and seizing political power from the ruling PDP democratically.

“I wonder how many people have taken the time to reflect on this development and make projections as to what could have happened if the opposition had failed to come together to take away power from PDP.”

Also reacting to the criticism he has faced over his performance in office, President Buhari insisted that his government prevented the nation’s downward slide under PDP government.

“I have been constrained to go public several times to remind Nigerians where this country was economically and socially and the deplorable conditions of the nation’s infrastructure, despite the unprecedented huge earnings from oil exports between I999-20l4, and how the then ruling PDP squandered nation’s resources and opportunities.

“Fortunately, we have been able to reverse this downward slide in such a short period of time, even under more challenging circumstances from 20I5 to date.

“I feel that without coming together, we would not have been able to achieve this feat. And Nigeria will be the worse for it. We remain the only hope of the country in terms of charting a politically stable and economically prosperous future for our people.

“I will, therefore, encourage us to continue leading this country effectively, now that Nigerians have entrusted us with a mandate once again to chart the course for the future of our beloved nation.

“There is no doubt that we have the popular support of Nigerians. l have seen this myself when I went around the 36 states and FCT during the electioneering campaigns. The turnout of people and messages of goodwill across the country was what no individual, party or government could organize or buy. It was purely a demonstration of confidence in our Administration and its political platform, the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), the product of the merger.

“The multitudes that trooped out to see me and hear me out was reassuring that Nigeria, despite its cultural diversities, are united on the imperative of change.

“Our duty as leaders is to ensure that we keep this nation united, build a better future for the citizens and the coming generation" he said. 

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Abak LGA Chairman Barrister Imoh Williams suspended for assaulting man he was owing

Barrister Imoh Williams, the Chairman of Abak Local Government Area whose aides were spotted in a video assaulting an artisan over a money he (Abak LGA Chairman) owed him, has been suspended by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. If you missed the report, read here. 

Rt Hon. Uduak Udo-Udo, member representing Ikot Abasi state constituency brought up the assault incident involving Mr Godwin and the Abak LGA Chairman, during Thursday's plenary session.

The lawmakers condemned the sad act before handing an indefinited suspension to Imoh, pending the outcome of an investigation by the State's House of Assembly's committee on local government matters. It is expected they will report back to the assembly after a month. 

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, had on Wednesday also condemned the incident, describing it as “unacceptable in a civilised society and does not represent our core values”.

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Okorocha reacts to EFCC’s sealing of properties owned by him and his family members in Imo - Humbsblog

Rochas Okorocha has reacted to the sealing of properties owned by him and his family members by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Recall we reported yesterday that the anti-graft agency said they sealed the properties owned by the former Imo State Governor and his family members over their failure to appear for questioning. 

Rochas Okorocha in the statement released on his belalf by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, claimed that most of the sealed establishments preceded his emergence as Governor of Imo State. He also debunked claims of EFCC's invitation to Managements of the Colleges and other establishments sealed.  

Read the full statement below; 

PRESS RELEASE

SUBJECT: SEALING OF ROCHAS FOUNDATION COLLEGE OWERRI WITH MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND STUDENTS & OTHER INVESTMENTS, BY AGENTS OF ENUGU OFFICE OF EFCC WITHOUT INVITATION OR INVESTIGATION.

-OBVIOUSLY, THE PDP GOVT. IN IMO INSTIGATED THE ACTION, WITH ALL THE CHIEFTAINS OF THE PARTY WHO FELT POLITICALLY DISPLACED FROM 2011 TO 2019 & GOVERNOR IHEDIOHA LAUNCHING WAR AGAINST SENATOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA, THE FAMILY AND OTHERS, IN THE STATE

1. On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, as at about 6am, Agents of the Economic & Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, from its Office in Enugu with Hilux buses loaded with armed military and mobile Policemen stormed the Rochas Foundation College Owerri, with more than three thousand students, and most of them, orphans, and sealed the College.
2. The Commission also sealed the East High College and Academy, Owerri with Uloma Rochas Nwosu as the proprietor, among other investments belonging to the former governor and family which the Commission Sealed.
3. The action of EFCC with the presence of heavily Armed Military and Police Mobile Personnel frightened the students and most of them began to cry. It was a sympathetic scenario.
4. What is obvious is that the PDP government in the State with Chief Emeka Ihedioha as governor and all the PDP Chieftains who felt politically displaced from 2011 to 2019 by Rochas Okorocha had come together to launch war against Rochas and his family. And APC members. And that was why they needed INEC to declare their Candidate winner even when he didn’t meet the requirement. Unfortunately, they have instigated certain agencies like EFCC into taking some hasty actions following flood of petitions by them.
5. Our concern about the action of the EFCC is the approach. There was no prior invitation to the Managements or Proprietors of the Colleges and other establishments sealed by the Commission as expected before such action. To the best of our knowledge too, these Colleges have not been under the investigation of the Commission. We have had the feeling that the Sealing of the Colleges or any other structure as the case maybe, would have been based on the outcome of their investigation in which the managements or the proprietors would have also been interrogated.
6. Sealing the colleges and other properties because they belong to Rochas Okorocha’s family before investigation is what is difficult for us to comprehend especially when most of these establishments had preceded the governorship of Rochas Okorocha.
7. The Rochas Foundation Colleges have existed in Imo and in several states of the Federation including Plateau, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Oyo, Bauchi and so on, years before Okorocha’s governorship. And the EFCC may also go to those states outside Imo to seal the rest of the Colleges.
8. What is happening in Imo at the moment is not governance. It is a total war against Rochas and his family, APC members, members of other parties and Opponents. They said they want to make the State uncomfortable for Opponents and they are doing it with recklessness.
9. It should also not be forgotten that there is a subsisting Court Order to this effect. And we believe that the Commission’s office in Enugu is aware of the Court Order in question as it concerns the Commission and Okorocha’s investments. The EFCC is a highly responsible Institution and our appeal is that it should not be incited against Okorocha and family and should equally take cognizance of the Court Order in question.
10. Senator Rochas Okorocha and family believe strongly in the State and have relocated most of their businesses to Owerri unlike these PDP bigwigs who do not love the State, with all of them having nothing to show that they have a stake in the State.
11. We want to appeal to the EFCC to unseal the Colleges and other ventures they had sealed pending the outcome of the investigation they said they have begun. And also considering the stand of the Court of Competent Jurisdiction on the issue.
12. The students of the Colleges, most of them without parents, cannot be allowed to suffer because of the action of a wicked government in the State. It is not all about Rochas Okorocha and the family, but about humanity and posterity.

Sam Onwuemeodo

Special Adviser (Media) to the former governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha

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FCT nominee in Ministerial list; Aduda and Melaye Reacts

Senator Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi) and Senator Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) got quite vocal at Wednesday’s plenary ahead of the commencement of the screening of the 43 Ministerial nominees, over the non-inclusion of an FCT representative. 

Senator Philip Aduda while speaking at the plenary, recounted how the FCT produced Ministers in the past. 

”Years back, we had a minister from FCT. General Bagudu was a minister. Please ask the president to consider FCT" he said. 

Dino Melaye in his contribution, said; 

“It is not a matter of appeal, it is a constitutional matter. If the constitution says that FCT shall be treated like a state, it should be considered.”'

Senate President Ahmad Lawan also commented on the exclusion, stating that it is an executive function. 

“ This is an executive function and I’m sure the executive will take appropriate action" he said. 

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Reno Omokri writes Buhari open letter: If you can free repentant Boko Haram members, you can also free El-Zakzaky

Reno Omokri has asked President Buhari to release detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, just the way he released repentant Boko Haram members.

In an open letter he posted on his Instagram page, Reno stated that the bloody protests the Shi'ites have carried out in recent times, has shown that El-Zakzaky is very dangerous.  

Dear General Buhari,

You have been killing Shiites, and it has not worked. You have been beating them and they are even more determined. Not everybody is AFRAID of DEATH. If one strategy does not work, then try another. If you can free REPENTANT BOKO HARAM, you can also #FreeZakZaky. The man is more DANGEROUS in prison than he is outside. Learn from the cases of Nnamdi Kanu. When you arrest a leader with a FANATICAL following, you achieve 2 things. You make the followers more ERRATIC. And you make the leader appear more CHARISMATIC. It is better to DIFFUSE a BOMB than to EXPLODE it. That is how they arrested Naira Marley, now our children are dancing that dirty SOAPY

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PDP tells President Buhari: Declare state of emergency on security

The Peoples Democratic Party has called on President Buhari to declare a state of emergency on security in order to address insecurity situation in the country.  
 

The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, made the appeal at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to the open letter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Buhari. Secondus said the advice was necessary looking at the increasing rate of cases of killing and kidnapping across the country.  

He recalled the killing of the then female international aide worker and the recent killing of Funke Olakunrin daughter of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere. Secondus said that the worsen security situation between April and now had made concerned patriotic leaders to voice out their concerns.

These leaders, according to him, include Mr Obasanjo; the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka; and former governor of old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, among others.  Secondus described Mr Obasanjo’s letter as truth that could not be run away from, if the insecurity situation must be addressed.

“Former President Obasanjo in a timely tirade to the President on Monday raised all the issues and properly situated the security position in the country. He went further to highlight the implications of the current state of the nation and where we are headed if urgent steps are not taken.  “As National Chairman of the main opposition party I cannot agree less with the former President.

“I cannot agree less with him where he said among other things that Quote. The main issue, if I may dare say, is poor management or mismanagement of diversity which, on the other hand, is one of our greatest and most important assets…”.

Secondus said the PDP whole-heatedly associates itself with the position of the patriotic Nigerians.  “The PDP urges President Buhari to respond appropriately to their timely advisories by declaring state of emergency on security in the country and go further urgently to address the issues raised in Obasanjo’s letter.  

Secondus said the killing of Mrs Olakunrin was the high point of murdering of innocent Nigerians across the land.  “It certainly cannot be well for a nation that creates an ugly situation where a 94-year-old Nationalist would be burying her 58-year-old daughter.  “This certainly is not Nigeria of our dream.”

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Breaking News: Bayelsa States Commissioner for local government administration, Agatha Goma found dead in her apartment

Bayelsa States Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Mrs Agatha Goma has died.

She reportedly died in her sleep on Sunday at her apartment in Yenagoa, the state capital. The 55- year- old was appointed into Governor Seriake Dickson’s cabinet in 2016 and remained one of the best apostles of the governor’s restoration team. 

Though the real cause of Goma’s death is yet unknown, a team of doctors are said to be examining her case.

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo denies supervising establishment of Ruga Fulani herdsmen settlements

The office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied claims it supervises the establishment of cattle Fulani settlements known as “Ruga” in parts of the country.

The General Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria MACBAN, Baba Uthman Ngelzarma, had said Osinbajo’s office was in charge of implementing the programme nationwide.

“This Ruga settlement model is a component part of the livestock development and transformation plan that is being implemented under the Office of the Vice-President. It is a component part of it. All must agree with me that the crisis we are facing today has become a multi-dimensional one and so the approach must also be holistic. It was the desire of the Federal Government to take a holistic approach that gave birth to the Ruga settlement model and it is not only for Fulani herders.” he said

Reacting to his claim, Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President in a statement released on Friday June 28th, said  the Ruga initiative is different from the National Livestock Transformation Plan approved by State governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The statement recalled that NEC on January 17, 2019, approved the plan based on the recommendations of a Technical Committee of the Council chaired by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

Other State Governors on the committee and Working Group of NEC, its said are those from Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Zamfara – mostly the frontline states in the Farmer-Herder crises.

The statement explained that the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) 2019-2028 is a programme to be implemented in seven pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara (as decided by NEC in January), being States in the frontlines of the Farmer-Herder crises.

Afterwards, six other states have indicated readiness to also implement the plan. They are Katsina, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, and Edo states, the statement said.

It added

 “The plan has six pillars through which it aims to transform the livestock production system in Nigeria along market-oriented value chain while ensuring an atmosphere of peace and justice.

“The six key pillars include economic investment, conflict resolution, justice and peace, humanitarian relief and early recovery, human capital development and cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, research and information and strategic communication.

“In all the Federal Government will not impose on any State government regarding its land.”

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