Posts

Showing posts from June, 2016

FG Pays N1.68 billion To 638 YouWin Enterpreneurs.

Image
Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria’s minister of finance has revealed on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 that the Buhari government would continue former President Goodluck Jonathan’s job creation programme, YouWIN. Adeosun said that as part of the change agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the YouWIN programme has to be restructured to ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in investing the capital grants given to the beneficiaries by the federal government. The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria, YouWIN, programme initiated by the Goodluck Jonathan administration has been named one of the best by economists and analysts around the world. At the launch of the third edition of the programme in November 2013 fomer President Jonathan said that the first two editions had created over 27,000 jobs in the Nigerian economy. Former finance minister and globally respected economist, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who championed the creation of the YouWin programme had urged President

Corrupt Dubai Properties: Buratai Says Boko Haram Terrorists Waging ‘Cyber War’ Against Him.

Image
Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Nigeria’s chief of army staff, has branded those seeking a probe of his choice Dubai homes as the defeated Boko Haram terrorists who are now hiding behind the Internet to continue with their attacks against the military institution and government of Nigeria. Buratai stated this on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, while fielding questions from journalist during a press briefing on the activities lined up for this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration, NADCEL 2016 with the theme, Optimizing the Capability of the Nigerian Army to Meet Contemporary Security Challenges. The army chief, who had earlier elected not to speak much on it since both the federal government and the Nigerian Army have spoken and exonerated him on the issue, went ahead to state that terrorists having been defeated on the field in the North-East, have now migrated to the cyberspace and the internet to carry out acts of mischief. General Buratai vowed that th

‘No Surrender To Subversion Of Our Democracy’: Saraki Says Presidency Persecuting Him.

Image
President of the Nigerian senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Monday, June 27, 2016 broke silence on a case of alleged forgery involving the Senate leadership following his arraignment in court on Monday alongside the deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu. In a statement he personally signed, Saraki described the move by the executive branch of government as a violation of the principles of separation of powers and a misguided adventure. Saraki said he was prepared to go to jail if that is what it takes to defy the desecration of the institution of the Nigerian senate and preserve the sanctity of the senate. Read the full statement below: Today we the leaders of the Nigerian Senate reiterate our innocence against the charges filed by the Attorney General of the Federal Government of Nigeria at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on the allegations of forgery of the Senate Standing Rules document. In our view, the charges filed by the Attorney General represent a violation

Ekweremadu writes UN, US Congress, UK, EU, others; says Nigeria’s democracy in grave danger.

Image
BARELY 24 hours after the arraignment of Senate President, Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and others for alleged forgery of 2015 Senate Standing Rules in an Abuja High Court, Ekweremadu has taken his case outside the shores of Nigeria. He called for intervention of the United Nations, Us Congress, United Kingdom, European Union Parliament and foreign missions, saying a powerful institution as the National Assembly was being ridiculed and rubbished by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. But the Presidency in a swift reaction, said it would not bandy words with the Deputy Senate President. Also, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said it would not comment on the matter since it was in court. Ekweremadu, who noted that the nation’s democracy was in grave danger, said their trial for forgery of Senate Standard Rules was an attempt to truncate Nigeria’s democracy and silence him as the leader and highest ranking member of

‘I Pray Buhari Is The Last General That Rules Nigeria’ – Bishop Kukah Expresses Disappointment.

Image
A respected Christian cleric and leading voice in national issues, Bishop Mathew Kukah says quite a lot, about a lot of issues affecting Nigeria in this extensive interview with Punch. Kukah appraises General Muhammadu Buhari’s first year in office as president and suggests solutions to the many agitations in the country. “National stability is still more crucial than fighting corruption,” Kukah says as he comes close to slamming Buhari’s performance in office. On Atiku Abubakar’s call for restructuring Nigeria: There you go. Typical of Nigerians, boarding any bus irrespective of which direction it is heading. If someone just looks at you and says you need surgery, will you just rush to the hospital? Did the former Vice President define what he meant by restructuring? Did he say what parts of the country need restructuring? Did he tell you who would do the restructuring and what their credentials are? Is the restructuring economic, political, psychological, or just another sound

Account Freezing: Governor Fayose Sues EFCC And Zenith Bank.

Image
Mr. Ayo Fayose, governor of Ekiti State in southern Nigeria, on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 filed a suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Zenith Bank Plc in a federal high court in Ado-Ekiti over the anti-graft order to the bank to freeze his personal bank accounts. Subsequently, the court ordered the EFCC and Zenith Bank to appear before it on July 4, 2016 to show cause why it should not grant Fayose’s request that the freeze on his account be lifted. The governor had announced on Monday, June 20, 2016 that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has frozen his personal bank account in Zenith Bank. “My personal account of at Zenith Bank has been frozen courtesy of Buhari led APC tyrannical government,” the governor wrote on micro-blogging website, Twitter. Fayose has been an outspoken critic of President Muhammadu Buhari and enjoys immunity from criminal and civil prosecution as a governor. The EFCC claimed that Fayose’s personal accoun

Clinton marches in New York gay pride parade.

Image
Hillary Clinton marched in the New York Pride parade on Sunday, highlighting her support for same-sex marriage and national LGBT nondiscrimination laws. Clinton, flanked by Secret Secret agents, stepped out of her motorcade near the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village neighborhood that was recently named a national historic landmark because it was the site of 1969 riots for gay rights. Clinton was joined by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Actress Cynthia Nixon, known for her role on "Sex in the City," joined Clinton, as well. Clinton marching four blocks of the parade route was a logistical nightmare for the New York Police Department and the Secret Service, who rarely left Clinton's side. Clinton, who seemed unfazed by the chaos, shook hands along the route and waved to the many well wishers. Supporters, some of whom hung out of windows on Christopher Street, chanted: "Hillary, Hillary, Hillary!"

Buhari's Chief Of Army Staff, General Buratai, Wives Own Dubai Property

Image
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai, and his two wives are joint owners of a Dubai property that was paid for in one transaction. Investigations by SaharaReporters indicated that the money for the purchase of the property may have come from a vehicle contract scam while Mr. Buratai was the Director of Procurement at the Army HQ. Our correspondents discovered that the Nigerian Army had awarded an apparently bogus contract for the supply of vehicles and motorcycles for the use of troops involved in an anti-terrorism offensive in Nigeria’s beleaguered northeastern zone. The allegation that General Buratai might have pilfered funds meant for the purchase of military vehicles has sparked outrage among soldiers and officers, especially those from the northeast part of the country. Two military sources disclosed that irate officers had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to order an investigation into the contract scam. In the petition, exclusively ob

Bretix Nightmare – What Did UK Just Do To Itself? - Reuben Abati.

Image
What has the United Kingdom just done to itself, its people and the future of its youth? It is difficult to fully understand why a country in taking a decision about its future will decide on a false option that seems to negate long-term interests. And this, just because a total of 17.4 million people out of over 61 million chose to vote against the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the EU. More than 50% of these pro-Brexit voters are actually between the age bracket: 50-70, thus an ageing class of voters has taken a decision to undermine the future of the younger generation. Pro-EU Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “courageous and optimistic” when in January 2014, he tried to justify the need for a referendum. His words then: “I think the overwhelming majority of the British people say they want to be in Europe but they want some changes to that relationship and they would like to be given a say. It is not something that we should be frightened of. It’s something we sho

Election Funding: Zenith Bank's management team pay a visit to allegedly beg Fayose.

Image
This is according to SA to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications & New Media, Lere Olayinka. Read the statement below.. 'A management team from Zenith Bank Plc visited Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, over the involvement of the bank in the funding of the June 21, 2014 governorship election of the governor. Their visit to the governor followed a reported denial by the bank that it was not part of the funding of the election. The team was led by an Executive Director, Sola Oladipo. It also had two zonal directors of the bank and the Ado-Ekiti branch manager. When accosted by newsmen, the ED said they only came to see the governor. Asked whether the bank really dissociated itself from the claim by the governor that it was part of the funding of the election, Shola could only mutter some inaudible words. He eventually said the spokesman for the bank was not on the team and could not say anything. While commenting on the development, Governor Fayose said the

Halliburton Scandal: Aisha Buhari Writes Fayose, Demands Retraction In 5 Days.

Image
Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria’s president, General Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 wrote to Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose demanding a retraction of his claims that she was named in the bribery case involving disgraced former US lawmaker, Williams Jefferson. According to Premium Times, an online newspaper and a spirited defender of Mrs. Buhari on this scandal, the letter was sent via courier to Governor Fayose on Wednesday. In a warning letter from Nigerian law firm, Mary Ekpere & Co, Aisha Buhari said Fayose’s action was directly responsible for the publication of the “very wild and unfounded” allegations in the media. The subject of the letter is, “Demand for unqualified retraction of the false statement published by you in various media on the 20th of June, 2016, and subsequent dates regarding our client, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,” In it, reportedly, Aisha Buhari gave Governor Fayose five working days t

Buhari Panics Over Coup Reports, Appoints New Chief Security Officers.

Image
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, June 23, 2016 named police officers, Abdulkarim Dauda and Kayode Sikiru Akande as the chief security officer to the president and the officer in charge of presidential movement respectively. Both officers were also promoted from the position of assistant commissioner of police to deputy commissioner of police. The development is coming on the heels of reports that top military officers in President Buhari’s government are planning to overthrow the President. Sources privy to the development told Signal, an online newspaper, that while the appointment of a new chief security officer for the president may have long been overdue, President Buhari’s concern about the threat of a possible military coup has forced him to rejig his personal security apparatus at the presidential villa. “The issue of a new chief security officer for the president has lingered for some time now. But, I can tell you that Thursday’s announcement is a swift a

There’s No Ceasefire Between Us And Nigerian Gov’t – Niger Delta Avengers.

Image
The new militant group operating in the oil-rich region of southern Nigeria, the Niger Delta Avengers has refuted news reports that it has agreed on a ceasefire with the federal government. ThisDay and several other papers reported on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 that Niger Delta militants, including Niger Delta Avengers had agreed on a 30-day ceasefire with the federal government has part of negotiations to end hostilities in the troubled region. The group used its handle on micro-blogging website, Twitter to refute the report saying that the group has no agreement Niger Delta Avengers Denounces MEND, Timpre Sylva, Oshiomhole In a similar vein, the Delta Avengers has denounced the alleged role of “professional conflict merchants” former Bayelsa governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, defunct militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, and Edo governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole their alleged role in the Niger Delta crisis. In a statement on the group’s website on

The Constitutional Validity Of EFCC Freezing Governor Fayose’s Bank Account - Inibehe Effiong.

Image
On Monday, June 20, 2016 the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Peter Fayose, alerted the nation that his personal bank account domiciled with Zenith Bank of Nigeria Plc has been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Mr. Fayose excoriated the anti-graft agency and the federal government of Nigeria for taking such “illegal” and “criminal” action without reference or regard to the immunity clause in the Constitution which protects him during the currency and subsistence of his tenure as the Executive Governor of Ekiti State. In his response, the spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren told Vanguard Newspaper that the anti-graft agency has the right to investigate any governor whose account is being used to move funds. “Immunity does not prevent EFCC from investigating suspicious accounts of those enjoying immunity and Fayose cannot be an exception,” Mr. Uwujaren said. Before delving into the substance of this legal controversy, it should be noted from the begi