BIAFRA IS DEAD AND BURIED - AKINJUDE

Akinjide served as minister of education in the Tafawa Balewa’s cabinet in the First Republic and as minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Second Republic government of President Shagari. Akinjide was a front-line member of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN and served as the party’s legal adviser prior to his appointment as attorney general.

He is presently, a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In this interview, he reviews the actions and in-actions of the Buhari government, the prospects of the PDP following its recent electoral loss among other national issues.
You have not been so visible in politics in recent times.

Is it age or you are just playing it cool?

I am a prominent member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and I play very active role in Ibadan, Oyo State and in other parts of the country. So I am very active in the PDP.

Apart from the former Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, is there any of your other children who is also in politics?
All of them.    Abayomi who also is a lawyer is very active in politics, Mobola, my daughter is very active in politics and if you count Jumoke that makes them three, so my family is very active in politics.

What is your assessment of the assignment of portfolios to the ministers?

He nominated very good people, I have no doubt about that. But my concern is with Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. When we were in Lagos as Federal Capital, Yar Adua was a Minister for Lagos and he came from the North. When Obasanjo was in office before the Capital Territory was created, a Yoruba person was in charge. But since the Capital Territory has been created, Northerners have been ministers throughout. I don’t think that is the best for the country.

I will like to see an Igbo, Yoruba, Middle-Belt man be a minister in charge of the Capital Territory. To consistently pick someone from the North as Minister for the Capital Territory is not in our national interest and is not good. I am not saying the people that have been picked are bad but I am talking about geographical spread. We should not give the impression that the capital territory belongs to a particular part of the country.    It should be something that belongs to the whole country. That is the objection I have and I hope that will be corrected very soon.

Since President Buhari assumed office six months ago, how can you rate his performance in the fight against terrorism?

He has been trying his best. I mean there are areas in which I might have done things differently but overall, I will give him a good pass mark as president of the country.

So Nigerians did not make mistake voting him as the President?

I would not say Nigerians have made mistake although I would have preferred Goodluck Jonathan to win the election. But since he has been elected, I accept the election and all of us will support him to succeed.

In your wealth of wisdom, what do you think the president should do to make this country better?

Economically, Nigeria is the greatest in Africa. There is no doubt about that. But, we have a committee of 20 of which South Africa is a member and Nigeria is not, I don’t think that can be supported at all. Nigeria should be one of the people in the committee of 20, why Nigeria is excluded, I don’t understand at all. It cannot be defended, it cannot be justified. We should not be looked upon as if we are the colony of Europe or somebody who should be playing third or fourth role in that regard. Europe and America, Japan are wrong.

What is your candid advice to both the Federal Government and the Pro Biafran protesters on the Biafran agitation?

Anybody supporting Biafra must be very, very wrong. I don’t know their reason but whatever their reason, they are wrong. We fought a war for three years over Biafra and Biafra was defeated and the whole country united with the belief that Nigeria should remain one country and the Igbo joined the country and since then they have been governors in the country, they have been ministers both at the state and federal levels. They have been ambassadors abroad. I don’t see why anybody should now be asking for Biafra again, I think it should be rejected.

I think they should call them to a meeting and talk to them as father to son and ask them to stop because there is no reason for them to do what they are doing. In the last government, we had an Igbo as Minister of Finance (Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) and also, we had an Igbo as Secretary to the government, we also had Igbo as ambassadors in many parts of the world. So, there is no excuse for anybody to say he wants to break up the country again after we fought a bloody war of about three years. We don’t want to go back to that. We want peace everywhere and we want a fair share whether you are from the North, East, West, South, Middle-Belt everything should be evenly and fairly distributed.

While you say you are still active in politics but the likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Edwin Clark have chosen to opt out of politics. Do you think it is good for the polity when men of your stature are opting out one by one?

Those people you have mentioned have positions and are statesmen. There is no way they can get out of politics. It is in our blood; it is part of our life and it is in the national interest for us to be actively involved in politics and in governance. I will forever be in politics throughout my life, I will not opt out of it at all either as an adviser or as a statesman. In whatever form that is appropriate, I will definitely    play some role in the national interest.

What do you think actually led to the defeat of PDP in the last general election?

I don’t want to talk on the defeat of PDP. In all elections, somebody has to win somebody has to lose. Nobody should talk of defeat as if it is a disease. When they do elections in America, one has to win one has to lose. The same in England, even in Germany, Israel, Australia and Japan. Defeat in election is not a disease; it is a normal process. One party cannot be in power forever and one party cannot be in opposition forever. I don’t see defeat as a disease; I see it as a normal political process.

But the fact is that with the reputed numerical superiority and influence that PDP wielded years back, nobody thought it could lose election quickly?

I don’t use the word quick. What happened was normal; sometimes, a party rules the country and in another election it is defeated and after another election that party finds its way back. Don’t look at winning or defeat as a disease it is a normal process. It happened recently in Canada whereby the son of a former prime minister is now a prime minister in Canada.

Looking at our electoral system, what do you think should be done to make it more attractive to people outside to stop complaints of rigging?

It is culture. This type of election is not in our blood.    We copied it from Europe and America and other countries, and over in the generations and years to come it will become part and parcel of our culture. Look at India. India is the second largest country in the world following China and yet in my view the greatest democracy in the world is India. I will rate India better than America and that is very good and that is what Nigeria should copy.

So, do you see any role for the BOT of the PDP to return the party to winning ways?

Leadership is very important, leadership of the party with the right person. Then, two, we should nominate the right candidate, once we have the right leadership and candidates who have credibility. I am sure the country will vote for PDP again.

The issue of internal democracy was very loud in the PDP in Oyo State and some other states prior to the last general elections. So, what is really the way out?

That is subjective whether there is internal democracy or not. What I know is that in any election, one will win one will lose.

Whether this is the reason for winning or losing is a different matter. But I have no problem that what happened has happened and I have no doubt that PDP will come back to power again, PDP will win elections.
In 2019?

As soon as possible.

Can you say precisely that PDP did well in the last 16years?

Very well in many respects.

Very well?

That comment is subjective. It is not objective and other people may hold opposite views. Politics is argument and I listen to anybody whether it is right or wrong. But in my view, PDP has done well. Once we pick the right leadership to run the party and we pick the right candidates to contest elections for us at all levels we will be winning.

Do you agree with Raymond Dokpesi when he said that the party made a mistake on the issue of zoning?

He said the party ought to have allowed the North to complete its term and also to allow the North to go for a 2nd term instead of choosing the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
You may be right you may be wrong. I respect his opinion that is what is called democracy. You may see something as white, I may see it as black and you may see it as green.

Ok sir, do you believe in Zoning?

Oh yes. Certainly, we cannot be monolithic.    One country cannot be run by a set of people all the time. We can have a Yoruba running it this time next time it could be Igbo after that it may be Kanuri, Hausa or Fulani. I believe that we should be moving the offices from place to place.

Given the recent kidnap of Chief Olu Falae by some Fulani herdsmen and the agitation of some Yoruba leaders on the issue, what suggestions would you proffer to solve the issue of Fulani herdsmen in the Southwest?

What they did to Falae was very bad and we all support Falae. But, I don’t believe we should break up the country. We should be objective; we should be nationalistic. We should warn those people and if they don’t stop they should be called to order.

What is your advice to the APC government, at least on how it can do things better?

We should offer very strong opposition at the federal level and make sure the government is run properly and in those states where we won elections, we should provide good government and run the government properly. In those areas where we are opposition, we should be good opposition, we should not make it as a matter of life and death.

How has the judicial system fared in the last 55 years after independence?

Oh Nigeria we’ve got the best democracy and judiciary in the whole of Africa. I have no doubt about that at all. If you look at our judgments and law reports it is as good as anything in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England and we will continue to do better. I am proud of this country. I am a member of the English Bar, Nigeria Bar and African Bar. I practise in three jurisdictions and I enjoy it very much.

Is there any of your children practicing law?

Oh yes.    I have about nine or ten of my children who read law and wife and grandchildren who are studying law and I have about three of my grandchildren who are in banking and I also have in business and I am very proud of my children and grandchildren. I have been lucky the boys have married very well likewise the girls and we will do our best to continue to contribute to the well being of this country.

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BIAFRA: BUHARI IN TALKS WITH IGBO LEADERS

President Muhammadu Buhari is reaching out to some prominent leaders in the Southeast to wade into the pro-Biafra protests rocking the region for a while now, the presidency says.

According to the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari has also been assured by state governors in the region that the issues arising from the protests are being resolved.

Adesina who made the remark during an interview, added that President Buhari has the interest of all parts of Nigeria at heart and  would always follow due process and the rule of law in tackling any issue.

He further stated that the pro-Biafra protests was part of the agenda of the last Council of State meeting, adding that a governor in the Southeast region assured the council that the matter was being handled.

Government is in communication with credible leaders of the South-East on the Biafra issue. At the last Council of State meeting, one of the governors from the region assured council members that the issue was being looked into.
“The leaders of thought are working already. The President is concerned about every part of the country, but he will always respect due process and rule of law,

 Adesina said.

Meanwhile, Igbo leaders had a meeting in Enugu some days ago and decided to set up a delegation of elders to meet President Buhari concerning what they say is the marginalization of Igbos in Nigeria.

In a related development, the Ukrainian arm of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) recently protested the continued detention of one of their leaders, Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian authorities at the Nigerian Embassy and International Amnesty office in the country’s capital Kiev.

Nnamdi Kanu, director of Radio Biafra, was arrested in October by the Department of State Services. He was charged with offenses related to his station’s broadcasts. He is yet to be released but appeared in court recently.

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BOKO HARAM KILLS FEW IN FRESH NEW BORNO ATTACKS

About seven persons including a soldier, were killed in both Bam and Gajigana villages of Biu and Magumeri Local Government Areas of Borno State.

In the two attacks, while unspecified numbers of teenage girls were abducted in Bam Village, scores of people were injured in Gajigana village after insurgents set ablaze shops and houses without confrontation.

Bam is about 7 kilometers away from Buratai village the home town of Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai. Buratai village has suffered series of Boko Haram attacks including the razing down of a mansion owned by the Army General.

A resident of the area who fled to Miringa town for safety, Mallam Ali Bam, told Vanguard on phone that the insurgents went to the village at about 3:30 am at the weekend and set ablaze the whole village, after killing four persons and fled unchallenged with unspecified number of unmarried teenage girls kidnapped.

He said:

the Boko Haram terrorists after separating a lot of teenage girls from married women in Bam, set ablaze the whole village and fled with the girls unchallenged, as the attack lasted for some hours before they fled. I called on General Buratai to do something as we have been telling the soldiers that the Boko Haram were so close to the village, but they only went to Mangari village which is few kilometers away from Buratai and shot into the air and left. The soldiers don’t want to confront the terrorists, Buratai should better do something before they start attacking and sacking villages, as they were doing before.

Similarly, Boko Haram terrorists attacked and burnt down Gajiganna village killing three persons including a soldier before carting away a lot of foodstuff.

Gajigana is north and about 50 kilometres drive from Maiduguri.

A member of the Civilian JTF from the area, Mallam Aliyu Jibrin,  told Vanguard that the insurgents who came at 8:30pm on Friday started shooting sporadically into the air to scare people, where they killed one man, one woman and a soldier before they carted away a lot of foodstuff after setting ablaze all the shops in the village.

I believe it was a revenge mission, because recently, we arrested over 17 Boko Haram insurgents in the community and handed them over to the military. I am calling on the Federal government and the military authorities to do something about the pockets of insurgents in the bushes and villagers before they regroup and start attacking big towns and villages,

he stated.

He lamented that the attack on Gajigana could have been avoided if soldiers acted on the information at hand, but when they came the soldiers took to their heels without facing the insurgents.

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BUHARI AND THE BIAFRANS

Dr. Chu S. P. Okongwu in his 2004 tributes to Ukpabi Asika, took an aside in his eulogies to emphasize the following: “The generation born after the civil war will not know that the former Eastern region, comprising East-Central State, South-Eastern state, and Rivers state, enjoyed a highly developed road network, with probably the highest quality road density in sub-Saharan Africa. These had been damaged or neglected during the war. Ukpabi Asika planned to reconstruct and modernize these.

Action was also taken to upgrade and transfer to central government responsibility some trunk ‘B’ roads (1, 240 kilometers) and introduce some new federal highways and alignments… .” Dr. Okongwu was East Central State’s Commissioner forEconomic Planning from 1970-1975, and presumably has the data. But that’s besides the point. The real point is that assertion that the East had the “highest quality road density in Sub-sahara Africa” before the damages of war and neglect ruined it all.

The terrible state of roads and interchanges in the old Eastern region, particularly in the current areas now known as the South East zone, remain even now, a sore point; and hard evidence of the neglect of the East by the Federal government since the end of the civil war in 1970. Those who have challenged the current agitation for Biafra, talk of equal opportunity misrule of the federation. But Biafrans present evidence of a specially targeted form of neglect.

There was no reason for agitation for a Biafra from 1970-1983, because in those intermediary years, the East was in recovery mode, and its key intellectual and political leadership, and its highly trained bureaucracy was still intact, and they had the requisite institutional memory to mediate some of the more difficult and challenging obstacles placed on the Eastern states, through both strategic negotiation and initiative. I do recommend Dr. Okongwu’s tributes to Asika to readers of the “Orbit” for a really good context, and a closer understanding of “where the rain began to beat us.” From 1983, a strategic neglect of the East became more pronounced.

Every effort of the past made to rebuild it; including investments in new industry, new skills, and so on, were stripped deliberately, almost as if to stifle the resurgence of its people by Federal authorities. Two marked examples for me includes Dr. Okongwu’s claim that the East Central State’s Data Processing Center, the first of its kind presumably in the continent, long before the current IT craze, was stripped and moved to Kaduna following the 1975 military coup.

Here are Chu Okongwu’s words:

Immediately there was dispatched to East-Central State a mandatory pro-consul in the person of the late Colonel Anthony Aboki Ochefu. His assignment: the dismantling of the East-Central state. Colonel Ochefu dismantled the public service of East Central state.

For good measure he declared that the mainframe computer of the Eastern Data Processing Center was unnecessary madness, beyond the needs and interests of the state. It was summarily dismantled and relocated to the Ahmadu Bello University where it found a necessary sane and needful home. Everybody in East Central state, except Col Ochefu, elements of the army of occupation and their touts, was a thief; the hounding campaign was underway. Cheer leaders and Coryphaei were not wanting in East-Central State.” Buhari was a member of the Supreme Military Council of that regime in 1975.

The same scenario played out following the December 31, 1983 coup at which Buhari was head. A little drama played out in Owerri when, according to close associates of the late Governor Sam Mbakwe, he held out at the Governor’s lodge, Owerri, prepared to call out a mass demonstration starting with street protests from Aba to resist the coup, until he was finally persuaded to give up that move. Buhari appointed his own proconsul, in the person of the then Brigadier Ike Nwachuwku. Again, his assignment: dismantle the gains made in Imo under Mbakwe. Ike Nwachukwu’s first declaration, under what he called the “Imo Formula”  was to dismantle all the 42 industrial installations embarked upon by Sam Mbakwe, which were at various stages of development, and to which financial commitments had been entered.

Nwachukwu’s “achievement” was to consolidate the Imo state university under a single campus at Uturu, near his ancestral home, from the five-campus design which had been envisioned on a model of the State of New York University system, by Mbakwe and his team, to evolve into beautifully designed network of university campuses to stimulate strategic development, and carter to a wider range of students and skills development in the long run.

The effect of these was to stultify development in the East and drive a growing population of highly educated and skilled youth out of the East, into the wilderness. Kids who grew up in Government Reserved Areas in the East, for instance, suddenly found themselves living with rats in the ghettoes of Lagos because all the systems created to afford them the opportunity of living productive lives in the East on equal terms with their peerselsewhere in the world were strategically dismantled.

It is called diminution. Divestments, and lack of investments in both industry and infrastructure in the East, especially by the federal government has led to this moment. What these examples suggest is that Nigeria’s postwar domestic policies have, it has always seemed obvious to Easterners, especially the Igbo, been directed towards subduing, rather than reconstructing the East. Even now, Buhari is talking about billions of naira to be earmarked for the “reconstruction of the North-East.”

What about the East that has suffered from a devastating civil war levied against it, and from the mindless exploitation of oil that has rendered what was the entire Eastern region, one of the world’s great ecological disasters, with incidents of new cancers, the result of massive pollution, possibly the highest currently in the world? Easterners consider themselves victims of state-terror. There must be both reconstruction of the East and reparation for the years of discrimination.

These facts will continue to drive the agitation for Biafra. And this is the point that Ohaneze and the South East governors meeting last week in Enugu failed to acknowledge, and which continues to make them irrelevant to the solutions for these agitations.

The governors in the East and Ohaneze may make ex-cathedra claims, but they do not yet speak for these young people, who have clearly defied them in staging their protests. Again, whoever is advising this president must be plain in telling him that this generation considers him a great part of the Igbo problem, because under his watch as military head, progress in the East was stifled; and the East was isolated in his administrationfrom 1983-85; and as a member of the SMC in 1975, the first postwar moves to “dismantle” the East was set in motion. The onus is on him to show good faith, and dissuade the agitators, or he could show further proof, as some have suggested, that Buhari is rigid and does not listen.

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OBASANJO RAISES ALARM OVER UNEMPLOYMENT

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged the federal, state and local governments to do more in the area of employment.

The former president who spoke at the 10th anniversary and 6th and 7th convocation ceremonies of Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, warned:

If there is no job for the unemployed to feed themselves and also to contribute to the development of the country, then, we will all be sitting on gun powder.
“If university education was not for development then, it was not serving any useful purpose. It must be for development, personal, local, national and even global and that is very important.

He stated that education is a meal ticket for anybody that has it, adding that it is also a means of breaking the poverty cycle.

Obasanjo advised:

I believe in lifelong education. Nobody should stop learning until he or she die.

He said that he accepted the award because of the personality the school was named after, saying that Tai Solarin was one of the greatest educationists the country has ever produced.

He also told the audience that he was honored to be honored in conjunction with Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, insisting, “Anywhere Mama is being honored, we must join hands to to honor her.”

Obasanjo was honoured with an Honourary Doctorate of Education in Political Science while HID was honored with Honorary Doctorate in Business Education while Aliko Dangote was conferred with Honorary Doctorate in Science and Business Education. HID Awolowo’s daughter, Mrs Tola Adeniran, received the award on behalf of her mother’s behalf.

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in his speech at the occasion said:

This year’s convocation ceremony, which marks the successful completion of another academic session, is a continued demonstration of commitment to the production of qualified teaching personnel for our education system.
“You are all expected to use your collective wisdom, knowledge, ability and exposure to sustain and promote the ideals of this great institution.

He disclosed that the 12 First Class students would be given automatic employment by the state government.

The Vice -Chancellor of the University, Professor Oluyemisi Obilade, in her welcome address, said:

The university is a specialized university, uniquely positioned to respond to national and global educational needs for equipping grandaunts with the necessary  and pedagogical skills as well as content knowledge for effective teaching and learning.

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AYO FAYOSE ATTACKS BUHARI YET AGAIN

Ayo Fayose, the Ekiti state governor, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that last six month of his government were that of “deceitful change”.

The governor also laments Nigerian leader ruined the image of Nigeria and its people for cheap international recognition.

He also defined the claim by Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, that the ministry does not have details of any loots returned from officials of the previous government of Goodluck Jonathan as a clearing of his position that Buhari was not saying the truth.

Fayose added that Nigerians must ask their leader where the so-called looted fund was paid and who made the payments.

Ekiti governor said:

If the Ministry of Finance is not aware of any recovered fund, it is either those who purportedly made the refund did so by loading cash into Ghana-Must-Go bags and dropping the bags in the President’s bedroom or the fund was lodged into the Central Bank without records.
The only areas President Buhari has recorded tremendous achievements are areas of political persecution, disobedience of court order and desperate bid to turn the country to a one-party state as evident in the Kogi State election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by staged managed and muddled up.
In the last six months, a section of the judiciary has been so openly manipulated by the Buhari’s administration such that different judgments were given in similar cases, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) getting negative judgments while the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured positive judgments in cases with similar facts and evidences.

Speaking further Governor Fayose said:

Honestly, this change promised by President Buhari and his party, APC is nothing other than ‘one chance change’ and this has been attested to even by highly respected international news media.
For instance, Bloomberg, in a report two days ago said hopes have fizzled in Buhari’s ability to turn around Nigeria and that money that flowed into stocks and bonds in Nigeria, which McKinsey & Co. says could become one of the world’s 20 biggest economies by 2030, is now fleeing as growth prospects diminish along with oil prices.
Under President Buhari, the United States-based investment banking and financial services multinational J P Morgan ejected Nigeria from its Government Bond Index for Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) with effect from the end of October this year.
Under Buhari, the future of workers are being threatened by the APC government plot to reduce minimum wage and retrench workers.
Under Buhari, oil subsidy is to be removed next year January, thereby causing further hardship for the people.
Under President Buhari, multi-national companies are laying-off thousands of workers while contractors working for the Federal Government have left their sites. Yet, what the President does is to junket from one country to another to cast aspersion on Nigeria and its people and one wonders how foreign investors will come to a country that its President says is peopled by rogues.

Fayose had relentlessly criticized Buhari and his party, insisting the government has not performed impressively as Nigerians had expected. He was in the forefront of people who exaggerate Buhari’s school certificate saga, discrediting his education qualification.

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NIGERIANS ARE LAMENTING, DELE MOMODU TELLS BUHARI

Dele Momodu has written a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to as a matter of urgency fix Nigeria saying that Nigerians are lamenting that the change he promised is fast becoming a mirage and that Buhari’s style and methodology appear too slow.

He also went further to say that many mostly the oppotions want the government to fail saying that they were ‘skillfully setting the president up for failure in order to be able to taunt his supporters.’

Read the full memo bellow .

By Dele Momodu

Your Excellency, it’s been months since I wrote my desperate memo to you. I wish to thank you once more for reacting promptly and swiftly at that time and for giving me the honor and privilege of meeting you in your office. I remember presenting you a special compilation of my articles, especially the many admonitions to your immediate predecessor, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

After handing over the book to you, Sir, I promised to continue acting in my self-appointed capacity as Special Adviser because of the need to tell you what those very close to you might not be able to say. They might be afraid of you and your reaction.

The truth is you are a plain and simple man imbued with a mission and a passion to save this great country but you cannot do it on your own. You can only do it if people close to you, who should be advising you, tell you as it is so that you can do that which you were elected to do.

Sir, it is on the above basis that I’m back today for reasons some of which you probably know already from your own personal observations and readings. But before I go further, kindly permit me to set some records straight before some conspiracy specialists step forward to ascribe other people’s opinion to me. I shall clearly expose my personal views and state where I belong or stand for any avoidance of doubt. Everywhere I go, people refer to me as Buhari’s man and ask “what’s your Baba doing ooo?”. I seriously have no problem with that. I’m proud that I joined so many other Nigerians as well as foreign friends in supporting a man of impeccable pedigree and solid integrity. No matter your view of President Muhammadu Buhari, one thing his bitterest enemies give to him is the fact that he is way above the level of most mortals in matters of uprightness.

This is why many of us volunteered to scream your name to high heavens and we were ready to follow you to Golgotha. Many of your opponents have not gotten over the thrashing you gave them and would forever seek everything and anything to smear you with. It is therefore not surprising that there has been so much noise about what you’ve done or left undone. Whether they are right or wrong in their assessment, I feel it is right and proper to let you know what people are saying about you including your most ardent fans and supporters. Sir, please, let’s not dismiss them as mere rabble-rousers. A groundswell of public opinion can easily metamorphose into an ocean of disenchantment and cataclysmic confusion. In short, I believe your enemies are skilfully setting you up for failure in order to be able to taunt your supporters later by saying we “we told you so!” In this regard it is pertinent to always bear in mind the Yoruba saying ‘ehin kunle l’ota wa, ile ni a se ni ngbe’! Loosely translated it means “the enemy lurk outside in the backyard but your foe resides inside your house.”

What is the matter this time? Many Nigerians are lamenting that the change you promised them is fast becoming a mirage. It is certainly not what they are seeing right now. They insist that your style and methodology appear too slow for a nation in dire straits and in need of urgent and miraculous deliverance. They are not happy that you are no longer the prudent man they used to know. They think you’ve already capitulated by frolicking with members of the bourgeois class and junketing around the world while Nigeria burns like Dante’s inferno. They are miffed that you are still keeping the Presidential fleet when you are supposed to have sold most of them off, if not all. They are worried that the mandate of four years they gave you is being unwittingly frittered away and before you know it all the goodwill you garnered would have evaporated and vamoosed. Time, they say, waits for no man!

The economy and the free fall of the Naira have become worrisome. There are all manner of rumors that may make matters worse, if true, about the current state and status of our banks. Though the Central Bank of Nigeria has come out forcefully to dispel the dangerous rumors, they want you to unleash your economic master-plan as soon as possible, so that what was once a baseless rumor does not somehow become harsh reality. They are expecting a blue-print that would guarantee a farewell to poverty. On this I agree with the opinion that something drastic has to be conjured up to arrest this drift to perdition. Nothing amplifies this monumental tragedy than the debit card fiasco which stipulates that Nigerians cannot live in a civilized world by walking into any international hotel or shop of their choice and paying with their cards. This is terribly depressing.

What this means in plain terms is that Nigerians must patronize the black market and run the risk of carrying cash recklessly whenever they travel abroad. It makes a mockery of the cashless society that the CBN has fought so hard to put in place and jeopardizes your fight against corruption because government officials who travel abroad must of necessity carry large sums of cash if they are not to be embarrassed or even disgraced. Sir, the most important thing is that this is not healthy at all. The last thing your Government should be telling the world is that we are so broke that we are on our knees. The world laughs at us and treats us with derision because we have resources other than crude oil which should make us one of the richest in the world if we properly harness them. We must stop giving the impression that we are so impoverished when it is leadership, brigandage and a lack of focus that has failed us.

The other matter that continues to embarrass Nigerians is the issue of Boko Haram. The matter is made worse by the fact that you are a retired army General who should know and have what it takes to drastically reduce if not exterminate the canker-worm. But rather the menace has exacerbated. It has snowballed into a seemingly unquenchable conflagration. I had argued repeatedly that the military alone cannot achieve this result. Intelligence seems to be the key word here. Also identifying and locating some of the cells and prominent sympathizers is crucial. Those who arrogantly and naively say that no form of negotiation should take place are very far from the theater of war. They have probably not heard of a group called IRA, the Irish Republican Army, that terrorized Great Britain for God knows how many years. I and my directors at Ovation International were lucky to escape a massive explosion that shattered the peace and tranquility of London Docklands when a bomb went off inside the South Quay light rail station which was next to our office at Beaufort Court. The battle of wits and the war of attrition had to be fought using the carrot and the stick approach. It was the carrot approach that eventually succeeded and the United Kingdom has now been rid of that hitherto interminable scourge for many years!

The Boko Haram issue has defied every effort made so far and it is time to expand the options for the sake of our fellow citizens in the heart of this conundrum. When over 200 girls vanished into thin air, we were so sure they would return very soon but that has remained an illusion. This should tell us that this issue is not a joke and that we need to keep all windows open. Sir, Nigerians want to see government show a different approach and better compassion than what we had in the past. They are waiting to see how you will do this with minimum collateral damage.

Sir, you have a herculean task ahead but it is not a mission impossible. Other nations are experiencing almost similar challenges and they are forging ahead. The first indicator to exhibit our seriousness is when we stop the business as usual syndrome and tighten the belts of government officials and politicians. If the idea is to continue along the path of profligacy then Nigeria is contagiously jinxed. The Republic of Tanzania has already taken the lead. I will publish a report that has already gone viral below this letter as a veritable example of what is possible.

I wish you well as always Sir.

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LAGOSIANS WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT EXCUSES - AMBODE TELLS POLICE

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Friday,  handed over series of security equipment and vehicles to the State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), just as he charged them to ensure that the equipment are deployed effectively to tackle criminal activities as residents will no longer accept excuses.

The Governor who spoke at the official handing over of 100 4-Door Saloon Cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 Power Bikes, Isuzu Trucks, three (3) Helicopters, two(2) Gunboats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, Revolving Lights, Siren and Public Address System, Vehicular Radio Communicators, Security Gadgets including Bullet Proof Vests, Helmets, Handcuffs, etc, Uniforms, Kits and Improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for officers, put the total cost of acquiring the equipment to N4.765bn.

He said with the new development, the Lagos State Police Command has been repositioned to compare to similar outfits in other modern City States, expressing optimism that the equipment will go a long way to aid security agencies respond faster to crime.

Our Police Command will have its operations significantly driven by the right technology and equipment that will match the emerging sophistication of crime in our contemporary time.
Members of the Police Command have been undergoing training to better equip them for the job. We have also rebranded the Rapid Response Squad of the State police Command to give them a new identity.
Given the encouraging partnership and support of well-meaning citizens and corporate organisations, we are on course to making our State a safe haven only for law abiding citizens 

the Governor said.

He however urged the officers of the State Police Command to ensure that the purpose for which the equipment was acquired is not defeated.

We say to whom much is given, much is expected. Law enforcement officers are never ‘off duty.’ They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect the public at any time and place. Lagosians will not accept excuses.

he said.

Governor Ambode also seized the occasion to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to further strengthen support for the state, noting that the security of the state reflects directly on the economic fortunes of Nigeria.

He also urged residents to play their part by volunteering useful information on suspected criminals and activities that might lead to the breach of security in our communities to the Police through the state emergency hotline 112.

President Buhari in his remarks commended Governor Ambode for his laudable role in prioritizing security and the purchase of the security equipment that would make the state safer and conducive for residents and citizens of the state.

The President who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau, said the security equipment is a clear demonstration of the fulfillment of the Governor’s mantra to the people of the State.

This is indeed a laudable achievement by Lagos State Government to improve the security of life and property of the people of Lagos State. I therefore salute the Governor of Lagos State for initiating this judicious use of public funds to protect Lagosians.

Buhari said.

The President who said that addressing security challenges calls for collaboration among critical stakeholders, especially elected government representatives, also enjoined other states to emulate the great strides of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode by supporting security agencies in their various states.

He however called on men of the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the equipment is preserved through diligent maintenance culture in order to justify the huge resources expended.

Speaking earlier, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, said with the huge investment in security equipment donated to the police by the State Government, Governor Ambode has shown that beyond his widely acknowledged commitment to the security wellbeing and welfare of the people, he is determined to prioritize security.

Arase said the gesture was a clear demonstration of political will and clear vision to rebrand, re-equip and re-energize the security architecture in a manner that will motivate security personnel to operate optimally and remain step ahead of criminal elements in the battle to re-assure citizens of security and safety.

The police boss, who acknowledged that Governor Ambode has been consistently motivating security agencies in the State, said the Governor deserved to be commended for remaining a strong executive pillar for which the security architecture of Lagos could confidently rest.

While appreciating Governor Ambode, Arase said:

I can assure you that the huge investment will not be in vain. For by this gesture, you have motivated us and assured us that as we work hand-in-hand as security agents to advance your vision for a safe and secured Lagos State, you, as the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State, will be by us, meet our needs and give us the executive leverage needed to succeed.
You have challenged us by this gesture and I can confidently assure your Excellency that we shall not fail you as we appreciate that to whom much is given, much is expected

Arase said.

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VERY SOON GOVT WILL FULFIL ALL ITS PROMISES - ADEOSUN

Respite came the way of Nigerian insurance industry yesterday as the federal Government promised to offset all outstanding premium owed to the sector as soon as the economic situation of the country improves.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun at the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM)’s 2015 Staff retreat in Abuja said government is cautious of its debt to the sector and will endeavour to clear its debt as soon the country recovers from the economic downturn

Adeosun said,

 Government meeting its responsibility of paying premiums to some extent is a challenge; you will also agree with me that there is a serious situation in the country in terms of revenue that accrues to government.
When there is challenge in the revenue that accrues to government naturally it will affect all the spending of government. That is one of the aspects that government is dealing with but very soon as the economy improves, government will fulfil all its responsibilities by paying all its commitments.

Cumulative premium on group life insurance owed to the nation’s insurance industry by the Federal government runs over N10 billion. The Minister said, that does not debar the industry from meeting its expectations of the federal government,

The tasks ahead are onerous. It is the expectation of Government that the Nigerian Insurance Industry should wake up to its responsibilities. As a potential growth area of our economy, it must accept the challenges of change.

It must surmount its timidity and shape up and contribute to the turnaround of the economy. It must contribute positively to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creation of employment. It can achieve these by cleaning itself of the bad eggs within itself and by improving its services to its consumers.
To achieve these, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government (including NAICOM) must shade their old ways. You must imbibe good corporate culture, shun corruption and reinvent yourselves.

She warned against waste of government resources,

Old ways of public waste and inefficiency must be put behind. Government agencies, particularly in the financial services sector that have become centre of waste and corruption must look inwards to correct attitudes and culture to work. As public servants there is an expectation on you to be productive, efficient and incorruptible.

Insurance industry is an industry that is known for mobilising funds, by that activity of insurance industry they can improve the economy. This is because in any economy if we succeed in mobilising resources particularly fund you will find put that there will be opportunity for more investments and opportunity for more spending so naturally the economy improves.

He said insurance industry should put in more effort at mobilising fund NAICOM as an organisation will be expected to make efficient use of the financial and non financial resources available to it. In this regard, my Ministry will be looking to see a strategic, efficient and effective mobilization, allocation and use of public resources, fiscal discipline, transparency, integrity and accountability through timely reporting, monitoring and auditing across all its agencies.

The regulation backing the scheme is contained in Section 4(5) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, which states that the employer shall maintain life insurance policy in favour of the employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee.

Welcoming the various cadres of staff of NAICOM, the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari said the insurance industry has made frantic effort at recovering federal government outstanding premium owed to the companies.

Kari said that the commission is looking at reviewing federal government insurance policies to meet the desired requirement of present day insurance.

The CFI bemoaned that the existing insurance policies of the federal government did not have the inputs of insurance professionals hence the need to review them.

The whole idea is to review the policies they have because we believe that those policies were developed without inputs from insurance experts and they seem not to have understood where we are coming from.

On the effort the sector has made so far, Kari informed that the Commission on behalf of the sector has been reaching out to stakeholders of the industry including government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on imperative of prompt payment of premium.

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MANY KILLED AS SUICIDE BOMBER HITS MUSLIM SUCCESSION

Dozens of worshippers have been reported killed after a suicide bomber, who was part of a Shia Muslim procession in Kano State, today, November 27 2015.

According to the Guardian, the attack happened in the village of Dakasoye, some 20 kilometres (13 miles) south of the city, during a march by followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. The blast was said to have occurred around 2.00pm.

It’s a huge crowd so it’s too early to give a precise figure of casualties.We now have the other suspect in custody”, the group wrote on its website.

One of the organizers of the procession who spoke to AFP could not give a specific figure of casualties as at press time. The organizer who pleaded anonymity said:

 It’s a huge crowd so it’s too early to give a precise figure of casualties. We now have the other suspect in custody.

He explained that the bomber cunningly mixed with the crowd and in matter of seconds detonated the bomb.
The source added that the bomber “was dressed in black like everyone else. His accomplice was initially arrested and confessed they were sent by Boko Haram.

They were part of the young men abducted by Boko Haram in (the Borno state town of) Mubi last year and taken to Sambisa Forest where they were given some military training.

They were sent to Kano 11 days ago and kept in a house specifically for this attack.
The bomber was said to have blown up the place after he found that his accomplice had been arrested.

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Buhari Has Failed Nigerian Youth - Dasuki

National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo, yesterday declared that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to carry the Nigerian youth along.

He said that the practice of “use and dump” of the youth after each election should be stopped forth with, saying it was counter-productive.

Jalo spoke against the background that no youth made it as a minister in the cabinet of President Buhari.

The APC youth leader spoke yesterday in Abuja at a workshop organized for the APC youth in collaboration with the International Republican Institute (IRI), with the theme “The Role of Youths in post-election era.”

Jalo said:

 “There is this saying that the youth are leaders of tomorrow but in Nigeria today, the tomorrow seems endless. After all we are leaders of today not tomorrow because we have waited long enough and this tomorrow remains an elusive business.
“It is my opinion that the young people be given the opportunity to serve in leadership positions especially by this government because of the role they played in ensuring victory during the last election. Yet the young people are clouded, therefore the imbalance needs to be corrected.
“In order to build next generation of leaders, we must invest in the young people, the government must give support and ensure participation of young people in politics and government, and every effort must be made to ensure they become better citizens.
“But in most cases the youths of Nigeria are usually used and dumped by politicians. Most especially during elections after getting into office they rarely have something for the young people. When in the real sense they constitute the majority of the voters with about 60 percent of the total voting population.
“It’s therefore pertinent for the youths of Nigeria to come together to address this problem.
“It is regrettable that with the population of about 70 million people, the youth constitute a powerful voting bloc in election, but they are however missing from political space active players, but active spectators. As indicated by the hype of activity in social media”, 

he said.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalong, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, John Pofi, urged the youth to be more creative and embrace peace.

Dalong said:

“I urge the youth to maintain peace, be more creative, engage in positive criticisms to ensure the government succeeds.
“Put your hands on deck, contribute your quota instead of engaging in militancy, terrorism and come up with a policy to drive the country forward.”

Delivering a paper at he event, the National Auditor of the party, Chief George Moghalu, admitted that his generation had failed the youth.

“My generation has in many ways failed to do the right thing, we forgot that society is a continuum and the decisions we take each day affect not only those of us living, but generations that come after us.
“For all these and more, I apologise from the bottom of my heart. We say of many things that they cannot be forgiven but it is from forgiveness that we can forget the sins of the past”.

Moghalu however decried the unpreparedness of the Nigerian youth to take up leadership positions.

“I must also confess that I am worried about certain things. I am disturbed by the knowledge that as there are many of you here gathered, there are many more others who are at this very moment being subjected to the dangerous manipulations of religious extremists, of mercantile politicians and purposeless agitators.

“I am disturbed by the fact that as eager as many of you are to be agents of positive change and irreversible progress in a tumultuous world, you are also in many ways woefully unprepared for the challenges of leadership, the tests of character that will confront you as you step forward to inherit the mantle of leadership that must inevitably pass from one generation to another”, 

he said.

National chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun who declared the event open earlier stated that the youth should change their mind sets.

Represented by the party’s Director of Administration, Alhaji Abdullahi Gashua, the chairman said

“The role of the youth cannot be in isolation but should be a synergy. It is not about seeking appointments but a change of mindset. How the youth tap from their experience is important.
“Come out with a blueprint with meaningful suggestions, views to reposition the party to maintain, sustain the goodwill the party enjoys,” 

he said.

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APC is best platform for change — Sylva

APC candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva says his party remains the best platform to bring the desired change in Bayelsa just as he has dismissed claims by his rivals that the PDP is an Ijaw party.

Sylva in an interview in Yenagoa urged the Ijaw to embrace the APC, declaring that the state has a history of aligning with the ruling party at the center.

He described as cheap sentiment the claim that the PDP is “Ijaw party” saying the only true Ijaw party was the National Solidarity Movement (NSM) formed by the late Chief Melford Okilo.

The former Bayelsa State governor said though the forthcoming election is not about him or his main rival, Governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP, “it is about Bayelsans and the Ijaw people.”

Sylva said he was one of the founding members of the PDP in the state before he left for the APC and described the incumbent governor as a beneficiary of the PDP  having crossed from the, Alliance for Democracy, AD.

“I have said in other fora that none of the parties, either APC or PDP is an Ijaw party, they are national parties. I was one of those who brought PDP into Bayelsa; he (Dickson) was not even a member of the PDP. He was a member of AD at that time.

He was never even a member of the PDP and that is, he doesn’t know that I know the PDP more than him and what the PDP stands for even though I am not a member of that party now.

“The APC is also a national party. The true Ijaw party we had was called the NSM, the National Solidarity Movement, formed by the late sage, Chief Melford Okilo. That party, when Chief Okilo realize that PDP has won the national government he decided to subsumed that party into the PDP because he thought that we cannot survive without the center.

“So, if we are talking of Ijaw patriot, I consider myself one as I think today that well meaning Ijaw people are quite happy with me because they believe that without me, there would have been no link with the center, there would have been no bridge builder.

“It is not the Ijaw people that lost the election because Ijaw people did not contest an election, I didn’t see Ijaw people on the ballot. I saw the PDP and the PDP Presidential candidate, who was an Ijaw son, but he lost and we have to carry on in this state, we have to carry on in this country,” Sylva said.

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PRESIDENT BUHARI, GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND OTHERS LISTED AMONG THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN AFRICA 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr Goodluck Jonathan have been named among the 100 Most Influential Africans in 2015 by New Africa magazine.

The publication, which was released yesterday, also has other Nigerians recognized. They include the UN Special Advisor on
Post Development Planning, Amina J. Mohammed; AfDB’s new President, Akinwumi Adesina and a surprising addition in the form of Nigerian Diaspora, UK MP and Labor Party leadership hopeful, Chuka Umunna; World Bank VP and Treasurer, Arunma Oteh, and Nigerian industrialist, Aliko Dangote also makes the list.

The annual “100 Most Influential Africans of 2015,” according to a statement from the magazine, presents the continent’s definitive power list and profiles the continent’s top game changers in eight different fields: Politics (22); Public Office (four); Arts and Culture (21); Business (21); Civil Society (11); Technology (nine); Media (seven); and Sports (five). Among the 30 countries represented, Nigerians and South Africans dominated the list, with 20 and 16 personalities respectively.

Kenya, Uganda and Cameroon also feature strongly with eight, six and six entries each respectively.

Of the top 100 personalities, 65 are men and 32 are women, with the other three being groups of people. South Africa’s students, for example, were recognised this year for their role in South Africa’s #FeesMustFall and #Rhodesmustfall campaigns.

The publication said: “In one of the continent’s most dramatic and unusual elections of 2015, and Nigeria’s most significant in recent history, Muhammadu Buhari defeated his opponent, Goodluck Jonathan. Both are recognized in New African.

“Other Nigerians recognised include the UN Special Advisor on Post Development Planning, Amina J. Mohammed, AfDB’s new President, Akinwumi Adesina and a surprising addition in the form of Nigerian Diasporan, UK MP and Labor Party leadership hopeful, Chuka Umunna.”

South Africa has its fair share of political influences, among them “the black leader of South Africa’s ‘white’ opposition” party, the DA’s youthful Mmusi Maimane who also makes the list as one to watch during the next elections.

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NIGERIA HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CHILD BRIDES IN AFRICA

Nigeria is home to the largest number of child marriages in Africa, a report by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed on Thursday.

Mauritania, Niger, Chad and the Central African Republic rank among countries where under-age marriages thrive in Africa but Nigeria, with 23 million, is home to the largest number of child brides.

UNICEF has warned as delegates met in Zambia to discuss how to halt the practice that child marriages in Africa are set to more than double by 2050 unless urgent steps are taken.

The two-day meeting in Lusaka is the African Union’s first conference on “Ending Child Marriage in Africa”, gathering representatives from member states as well as first ladies, UN officials and civil society groups.

“The total number of child brides will rise from 125 million to 310 million by 2050… if we do not do something now,” UNICEF deputy executive director Fatoumata Ndiaye told AFP.

“That means that the face of child marriage will be Africa,” eclipsing South Asia, which currently has the highest number of child brides, Ndiaye said in a phone interview from Lusaka.

The huge jump in the number of children being married off will be triggered partly by the continent’s rapid population growth.

“The child population of Africa is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years putting millions more girls at risk” of early marriage, said UNICEF in a report published as the meeting opened in Zambia.

Africa’s population of girls is expected to balloon from the current 275 million to 465 million within 35 years.

“By 2050 we will have more teenagers marrying in Africa than anywhere else in the world.

“So it makes it extremely important to do something today and not to wait any more,” said Ndiaye.

UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said in a statement that the huge numbers of girls affected “underline the urgency of banning the practice of child marriage once and for all.”

The African Union estimates that about 14 million under-age girls are married on the continent each year, almost all of them forced to by their parents, often against laws that are rarely enforced.

“Child marriage is a human rights violation that robs girls of their rights to health, to live in security, and to choose if, when and whom to marry,” the AU said ahead of the meeting.

“It is a harmful practice which severely affects the rights of a child.”

Searing poverty has been one of the driving forces behind early marriages, while traditional customs also play a significant role.

Girls married early face a greater risk of domestic violence, contracting HIV and are likely to die or face complications while giving birth, according to the global coalition Girls Not Brides.

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PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME IN ANOTHER SCANDAL

Popular Nigerian pastor and head of Believers World, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has yet again been involved in another controversy.

Popular Nigerian pastor and head of Believers World, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has yet again been involved in another controversy.

This time, the pastor has been accused by a member of his own church of staging miracle-healing sessions.

According to a report by South Africa’s Sowetan, followers have said that he has been hiring people to pretend to be sick and disabled and then “be healed” during his television shows and public prayer meetings.

I was offered R10 000 to rehearse and pretend to be in a wheelchair three weeks before the all-night prayer called Night of Bliss at the Johannesburg Stadium,” the newspaper quoted a member of the church.
The pastor told me that they were looking for people to work for the church. He said that I was going to sit in a wheelchair and be wheeled around while pretending to be physically ill. I would then stand up and walk as soon as Pastor Chris stopped praying for me.
Even children who are healthy are whisked around in wheelchairs. Some use crutches. Everyone is allocated a person who tells the congregation about your background, your specific illness and suffering.
The pastor then raises his hands and places them maybe on your legs if you cannot walk, and a few seconds later you get up and walk around the room, the source said.

 He claimed he called the church the day after their offer and turned them down.

I just told myself that using the word of God to lie to desperate people is immoral, so I refused to take up their offer.

Also speaking about the pay-for-miracle, another worshiper of the church, said:

 When he started healing people, I did not see him call anyone from the audience. The people that he ‘healed’ came from a certain section of the audience and it looked like he came with them especially for the event.
I saw a lot of people in wheelchairs leaving the venue who had not been healed. It was very sad.

Recall that pastor Chris and his wife Anita publicly filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Also, Seun Kuti in a recent interview criticised Pastors Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy and Chris Okotie of Household of God.

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BOKO HARAM NOW CAMOUFLAGE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES IN ATTRACTIVE OBJECTS – DHQ

The Defense Headquarters has warned the general public not to fall prey to the latest antics of the deadly Boko Haram insurgents who in desperate move to carry out their bombing plans have resorted to concealing Improvised Explosive Device, IED, in attractive objects.

Disclosing this to newsmen yesterday at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja, the Director of Defense Information, DDI, Col. Rabi Abubakar also urged the media to desist from publishing stories based on mere speculation without getting clarification from the military.

The DDI also revealed that the army in partnership with other security agencies have arrested five out of the 100 most wanted Boko Haram terrorists at various locations across the country.

Abubakar appealed to members of the public to be security conscious and resist the temptation of picking any strange thing found around them.

According to Abubakar, 

All the things we are doing is to make sure that the populace remain safe from the hands of these Boko Haram terrorists who are now devising different means of fighting through this issue of IED and even some cluster bombs which they conceal in attractive objects and drop on the streets for people to pick.We are using this platform to enlighten citizens to make sure that they do not fall victim on what could be avoided.

While commending the media for contributing immensely to the success of the war against Boko Haram, the DDI appealed to them to always confirm information at their disposal before publishing.

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PAYMENT OF N5,000 TO UNEMPLOYED NIGERIAN YOUTHS TO START 2016 - SOLOMON DALONG

The federal government has ​​​assured that it would commence payment of N5,000 promised unemployed Nigerian youth during the electioneering campaign, from 2016 . ​The minister of youth and sports, Solomon Dalong,said this on Wednesday when he paid a condolence visit on the national chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, over the death of Abubakar Audu.

Mr. Dalong,who spoke to ​ journalists​ during the visit​,​ said:

I would want the youth to understand that every promise must be backed up by budgetary provision and our promise to pay N5000 is not contained in the 2015 budget. So, definitely, it is going to begin in 2016 as we have made budgetary allocations for that “We are committed to the campaign promises of creating jobs, providing wealth and combat poverty. We have embedded in our manifesto things that we are translating to reality​.

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God knows I didn’t steal; Buhari paid bailout from $5.6bn I left in NLNG – Diezani

Former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke has insisted that she never looted public funds.

In the concluding part of her interview with Mr Dele Momodu, Diezani who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer in a London hospital, said “I actually left $5.6billion in the NLNG alone but no one is talking about it. I’m not seeking to be praised but to be acknowledged that I made some little contributions.

That money could have been wasted on frivolities but I was determined to keep something for the incoming government once we lost the election.

Continuing, she recalled:

 On 4th of May, Ngozi (Dr Okonjo-Iweala, ex-Minister of Finance) wrote to the President to release $2billion from the money to clear her table and pay contractors, which would have depleted the money to $3.6billion, but I said to the President we shouldn’t do that.

I explained what the accrued money was meant for and gave a detailed background of the account. Even in the past, Ngozi and the NSA had asked to be funded from it and I stood my ground because the money was meant for the gas project in Brass LNG in Bayelsa. Conoco Phillips pulling out affected it.We wanted to run a gas economy. It was the money that made it possible for President Buhari to pay the bail-out. If I was corrupt, I would have spent the money on paying contractors who would have been too happy to do anything. I got calls from some of them promising kickbacks if I could pay but I refused and the rest is history.

Diezani said she was not surprised about the allegations of corruption, adding that Buhari, despite his impeccable pedigree was alleged to have had N2.8billion vanished under his nose.

Till this day no one has been able to prove that the then Major General Buhari stole a kobo, she said.

She said while it is true that a Minister is influential, the real power is in NNPC.

A Minister sits in the Ministry treating files, holding meetings at home and abroad, looking glamorous and taking all the flak but people forget that the soul and heart of the nation is NNPC. The kind of due process we followed was rigorous. You know, I came from Shell, where you had to account for everything properly, she added.

Asked to respond to the negative perception about her, Diezani responded,

I was sitting on the prime portfolio in a mono product economy. I carried out my duty in the strictest terms. I stuck to my mandate which incidentally was one which I championed with my Boss, to open up the sector to our own people as long as they can satisfy the laid down rules in the Local Content Act.I ensured that Nigerians would get the right of first refusal. But unfortunately I stepped on toes, very powerful toes. I was not liked by the foreigners and also some Nigerians who lost out. Hakeem Bello-Osagie once told me something I cannot forget; that 90 percent of Nigerians want to do oil business but you can only satisfy about three percent, so the rest will get angry thinking you blocked them.Believe it or not, and God is my witness, I didn’t have to steal. I’m not an Angel but I’m not a devil. I don’t have billions anywhere. How is it possible for one woman to steal billions of dollars in a country like Nigeria? Did I blow up the vaults of the Central Bank or transfer the money to heaven? Where can you keep such money in this age of money laundering fiasco?I did my job professionally without even thinking of anyone as opposition. Otherwise we would not have approved the Oando-Conoco Phillips deal. Tinubu came to see me three times and we approved on merit…

She also spoke on accusations that she funded President Jonathan’s re-election bid:

 How can I use $20billion for elections, that is absolutely impossible. My boss will never do such a thing. Many people don’t know my boss. He is a very principled and stubborn man. There are things he will not do. And there are things I will not do. I protected the interests of my country.I can’t blame the doubters. They have seen more of the worst of Nigeria that it becomes difficult to trust anyone. But let me disclose something to you today because there is a difference between belief and reality. I did an unusual thing in our last days in government. I’m not sure I should tell you before people say I’m boasting.

Diezani added that her priority now is how to take care of her poor health.

I’m battling with a very serious type of cancer. I have tried everything to contain the malevolent spread. I have had two surgeries. The first was to take out the lumps from my breast and the second was to cut deeper into the tissues. I did the last one about three weeks ago (now about five weeks). I’m still in some pains. I’ve gone through Chemotherapy and now I’m starting Radiotherapy on Monday for five weeks (two Mondays ago).
I’m praying this one goes well because I don’t know if there is any thing the doctors can do beyond this. The steroids were devastating and at a point, I slipped into coma on July 28. My sugar level went wild first to 25 and then to 80. The doctors called it a near-miss and I now know what they mean when people say, ‘health is wealth’.
My 14 year old son has been asking if Mummy would die. I really don’t know because I believe nothing is impossible for God. I’ve told my son that I will carry his children and grandchildren…I pray I will.
If I were a man may be things would have been different; it would never have gone to this extent. I have never stolen from my country. I will repeat that before God and man even if no one would listen. On this job, you don’t have to steal.
Nigerians are the most wonderful people if you are lucky to have a few good friends who believe in you. All the foreign Ambassadors say it, the reason many often come back to work and reside in our country. People can call Nigeria and Nigerians bad names but we remain the most generous and humane people on earth.
If I have another chance, I will be more tempered on stepping on big toes but I will still do my job the best way but in a moderated way. Perhaps, I should have done things more subtly. I did what I thought was good for my country. I own no oil well. The President signed none for himself. I do not indulge in extravagant things even if people think I’m flamboyant. My only indulgence is my family and may be architecture and architectural interiors.
God will do as He wills. He said He will bless who He wishes to bless… There is nothing anyone can do about it. So be happy about people’s good fortune. It all feels like a bad dream but God knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning, 

 Diezani concluded.

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