May 2015 ~ JayZgist

Sunday, 31 May 2015

Buhari, VP fail to declare assets publicly

6:55 am No comments

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo have declared their assets to the Code of Conduct
Bureau as required by the Constitution but failed to make
the contents public.
The head of Buhari’s media team, Garba Shehu, in a
statement on Saturday, said the President and the Vice
President submitted their assets declaration forms
separately on Thursday.
Shehu added that the CCB, through its Chairman, Sam
Saba, on Friday acknowledged the receipt of the forms.
He gave Buhari’s declaration identity number as “President:
000001/2015.”
Shehu, however, did not disclose the contents of the assets
declaration forms.
“By declaring their assets, President Buhari and Vice
President Osinbajo may have not only fulfilled the
requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, but also fulfilled
the first of their many campaign promises.
“While seeking election into the highest office in the land,
the President had promised Nigerians that he would publicly
declare his assets as soon as he took over government,” he
wrote.
The Nigerian Constitution states in Chapter VI Section 140
that a person elected to the Office of the President shall not
begin to perform the functions of that office until he has
declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in the
Constitution.
Though the president’s aide believes the declaration was in
fulfillment of Buhari’s campaign promises, analysts claim
the President has not done anything spectacular because
the contents were not made public.
In February this year, while campaigning Buhari had said
that he would publicly declare his assets and liabilities, if
voted into power.
Buhari stated this in a document. The document highlighted
what Buhari would do in his first 100 days if he assumed
power on May 29.
He said he would encourage political appointees in his
administration to also declare their assets publicly.
Had the new president kept to his words he will be the
country’s second president to publicly declare his assets.
Reacting to the news of the asset declaration by Buhari and
Osinbajo to the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Peoples
Democratic Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa
Metuh, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the PDP was not ready to
engage the All Progressives Congress-led government on
asset declaration by the two most important persons in the
country or any other issue.
Metuh said, “No comment for now. These are early days.
At the moment, we wish them well.”
The late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, also from
Katsina State as Buhari, was the first and the only Nigeria’s
President to have publicly declared his assets when he
assumed office.
This action forced his then deputy, Jonathan, to also make
his assets declaration forms available to the public.
However, since he assumed office as the substantive
President, Jonathan had refused to make the forms
available to the public, saying that he did that when he was
serving as deputy to Yar’Adua.
But Buhari, in the document titled, ‘I pledge to Nigeria’ had
also said that all his political appointees would only earn
salaries and allowances as prescribed by the Revenue and
Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission.
He said, “I pledge to publicly declare my assets and
liabilities, encourage all my appointees publicly declare their
assets and liabilities as a pre-condition for appointment. All
political appointees will only earn the salaries and
allowances determined by the RMFAC. I pledge, as
Commander-in-Chief, to lead from the front and not behind
in the comfort and security of Aso Rock, to boost the
morale of fighting forces and the generality of all
Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, about 48hours after they took their oaths of
office, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo have yet to move into the Presidential Villa,
Abuja, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.
Investigation by our correspondent on Saturday showed
that the duo only attended the events held in the Villa on
Friday and returned to town.
While Buhari was suspected to have returned to the Defence
House, the official residence of the President-elect, which
he started using shortly after he won the March 28
presidential election, Osinbajo might have returned to his
private residence.
Immediately after they were inaugurated as President and
Vice President at the Eagle Square on Friday, Buhari and
Osinbajo moved to the Presidential Villa for a state
luncheon organised in honour of world leaders who
attended the inauguration.
They left and later returned in the evening for the
inauguration gala night held inside the villa’s old Banquet
Hall.
“The President and the Vice President have yet to move into
the State House. I learnt that the President returned to
Defence House on Friday,” a source said

Nigerians will appreciate Jonathan in future - Nyesom Wike

6:50 am No comments

Read the press statement below...
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has
declared that Nigerians will in the future appreciate
the contributions of immediate past President
Goodluck Jonathan to national development. In an
interview with journalists after the Thanksgiving
Service for Former President Goodluck Jonathan at
Yenagoa on Saturday, Nyesom Wike said that
Jonathan has worked hard to improve the standard
of living in the country.
He described Jonathan as a worthy Nigerian leader who has
contributed to deepening the country’s democracy.
Wike said: "Nigerians will in the near future appreciate all
the contributions of President Goodluck Jonathan to the
development of the country in all spheres of life. "His
greatest achievement is his work in democratic circles.
Nigeria will forever be grateful to him for being a
statesman".
The governor noted that the high-powered delegation from
Rivers State to the former President was indicative of the
appreciation of the state.
Governor Wike was accompanied to Bayelsa by his deputy,
Dr Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Former Governor, Celestine
Omehia, former deputy governor, Tele Ikuru, former Deputy
Speaker, Rt. Hon Austin Opara, Senators elect, House of
Representatives elect and elected members of the House of
Assembly.

My parents are using my destiny to get wealth –varsity undergraduate

6:24 am No comments

In a series of shocking allegations that have left his parents
heartbroken, a 21-year-old undergraduate, Demilade
Osholonge, who was initially reported as kidnapped, has
accused his father and mother of engaging in occultism
which he alleged was behind the many spiritual attacks he
had been experiencing since he was 17.
Demilade spoke with our correspondent in hiding,
maintaining that he would never return home to his father,
Mr. Fatayi Osholonge, a lawyer and his mother, Olufunke,
who is an evangelist.
Soft-spoken, with a mien that gave a hint of the affluent
home he came from (a fact he confirmed), Demilade went
into a narration that sounded much like a story out of a
novel.
He told our correspondent, “It started when I was 10 years
old and I started to see a young boy with blood coming out
of his mouth.
“Sometimes, I saw the boy in a dream, sometimes I saw
him even when I was wide awake but I was always the only
one seeing him. I told my parents about it but they waved it
off as mere dreams.
“It continued till I was 17 and I started to bleed from the
mouth as well. The first time it happened, I just noticed
blood coming out of my mouth. I would wake up
sometimes and blood would be coming out of my mouth.
Sometimes, I would be wide awake and notice the taste of
blood in my mouth.”
Asked what step his parents took when he told them, he
alleged that they did not take him to the hospital for a
checkup even after seeing the blood.
In the family home at Ajah area of Lagos, Demilade alleged
that he frequently experienced spiritual attacks. He was
asked to elaborate.
“Sometimes, I feel someone beating me while I sleep
without actually seeing the person. Sometimes, I would lie in
bed and not be able to move my body at all no matter how
hard I try,” he said.
He told our correspondent that he became so frustrated
with the strange experiences and the fact that he never got
help.
“As the years went on, I started noticing that my parents
were engaging in occultism activities because they visit
herbalists and strange prophets,” he alleged. When asked
what evidence he had of such activities, Demilade said they
sometimes took him along.
Demilade also alleged that in 2014, his parents took him to
two Ifa priests in Ondo town in Ondo State, during which
incisions were made on his waist. He lifted his shirt and
showed the incisions on the left side of his waist.
He told Saturday PUNCH that the bleeding from the mouth
continued despite the visit to the priests.
Our correspondent asked whether Demilade’s other siblings
in the house also experienced anything similar to the claims
he made in his allegation and he explained that when he
discussed it with his younger sisters, they told him none of
them experienced such things.
How then did he arrive at the conclusion that his parents
were behind his “spiritual attacks?” Demilade alleged that
his suspicion became clearer to him when he ran away from
home.
He said, “I was a 200 level Mass Communication
undergraduate at the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, but I
decided to drop out so that I could be out of reach of my
parents.
“After I fled from home, I told my step-brother (Michael
Ebun), who is my mother’s son from a previousmarriage,
about my problem and he took me to the house of a
prophetess, Mrs. Mercy Oyebo. As soon as we got to the
woman’s house, she prayed for me and I vomited blood.
“I got deliverance and gave my life to Christ right away.
Since that day, I have not vomited blood. I have been a
good Christian since then.
“I stayed along with my step-brother in the woman’s house
between March and April 2015 for intense prayer sessions.
We left after the sessions and I have been living with a
friend at Maryland since then.
“But I realised my parents were behind my problems when
my mother started calling and cursing me over the phone.
She said she would make me run mad. There was a time
she was reciting incantation when she called me and I
froze.”
Demilade declined to disclose his current home address.
“My parents are rich, they are using my destiny, that is why
they want me back home desperately,” he alleged.
He said life is hard for him currently because he no longer
enjoyed the affluence of his parents but maintained that he
would rather suffer physically than be turned into an
imbecile.
Asked about the motive behind bringing his story to the
public, Demilade alleged that his parents got his step-
brother (Ebun) arrested on charges of kidnapping.
“They locked him up for three days for kidnapping me. He
only tried to help me. I have even spoken with the police on
the phone that I was not kidnapped, but they insisted that I
should come over to Panti (Department of Criminal
Investigation, Yaba), where the case has been transferred
to. If I went there, they would hand me over to my parents,”
he said.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that Ebun has since been released
on bail.
But issues took a different dimension when our
correspondent contacted Demilade’s parents. They
maintained they could only speak in the presence of
investigators at the DCI.
During the encounter at the DCI, Mrs. Osholonge said she
believed her son was still holed up in the prophetess’ house
and that she had hypnotised him to the point that he was
not thinking straight.
Demilade’s mother gave an off-the-record detailed
narration of what she believed was the reason behind his
son’s strange behaviour, but she insisted she did not want
this information published.
When asked how she would respond to the allegations of
occultism, spiritual attack, visits to the herbalists,
incantations and curses made by her son, she said all she
wanted was to have her son back.
Our correspondent learnt that indeed there was an open
case of conspiracy and kidnapping on Demilade’s issue,
which the prophetess (Oyebo) is still wanted for.
A police officer who is familiar with the investigation said,
“We have spoken with this woman (Oyebo) on the phone.
All we need is for her to come and give her side of the
story. But all she did was send me a nasty insult by SMS. If
she did nothing wrong, why is she in hiding?” He showed
our correspondent the SMS.
The officer also said the police need Demilade to come
forward to prove that he was indeed not kidnapped.
But Oyebo has said the officer was the one who first spoke
rudely to him after she called him to explain her side of the
story.
When our correspondent spoke with Oyebo, she alleged that
she had made several attempts to see Demilade’s mother
but that she had refused to show up. But Demilade’s
mother said Oyebo is the one who had been avoiding her.
The prophetess said, “Did the boy sound like someone who
was hypnotised when you spoke with him? I told the boy to
go to the office of the police public relations office to
present himself and he did.
“I wanted to have a talk with the mother because the steps
the boy was taking were not good for the family. I wanted
the matter resolved. I did not want him to live like a
homeless child. But she refused to show up.
“The boy said there were so many things he knew about his
parents which was why they wanted him back so he does
not spill the secrets. If the boy said going to his parents
would mean the end for him, would I be the one to drag him
to them?
“I swear to God almighty the boy is not under my roof. I
realise that if the boy is handled with care, he might just
travel out of the country if he finds the means.
“I have reported this case at the National Human Rights
Commission in Lagos. I have been advised to write a
petition to the assistant inspector-general of police, Zone 2,
Onikan Lagos and send a copy to the Lagos State
commissioner of police. After I have filed the petition, I will
show up and we will tell Demilade to come and tell the
police if I kidnapped him or not.”

My parents are using my destiny to get wealth –varsity undergraduate

6:23 am No comments

[Full text] Buhari’s inaugural speech

2:27 pm No comments

Inaugural speech by His Excellency, President Muhammadu
Buhari, following his swearing-in as President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May, 2015
I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to
witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph
for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and
cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their
commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench
its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the
determination of our people and strong support from friends
abroad we have today a truly democratically elected
government in place.
I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his
display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that
has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever
they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to
the transition process, he has made it possible for us to
show the world that despite the perceived tension in the
land we can be a united people capable of doing what is
right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise
the world that had come to expect only the worst from
Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by
the outgoing President will become the standard of political
conduct in the country.
I would like to thank the millions of our supporters who
believed in us even when the cause seemed hopeless. I
salute their resolve in waiting long hours in rain and hot
sunshine to register and cast their votes and stay all night if
necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were
counted. I thank those who tirelessly carried the campaign
on the social media. At the same time, I thank our other
countrymen and women who did not vote for us but
contributed to make our democratic culture truly
competitive, strong and definitive.
I thank all of you.
Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I
intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all
Nigerians.
I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.
A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming
back to office I shall go after them. These fears are
groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past
is prologue.
Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethenen
should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration
will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects
of it. Here I would like to thank the governments and people
of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed
forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria.
I also wish to assure the wider international community of
our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of
cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees and boat
people, financial crime, cyber crime, climate change, the
spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of
the 21 century.
At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity,
pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly
impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate
concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians
will not regret that they have entrusted national
responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness
and defeatism. We can fix our problems.
In recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our
mission. Our founding fathers, Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr
Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu
Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita,
Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their
colleagues worked to establish certain standards of
governance. They might have differed in their methods or
tactics or details, but they were united in establishing a
viable and progressive country. Some of their successors
behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and
bringing disorder to the house.
Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that
we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan
fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire,
the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain. The
blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins. What is
now required is to build on these legacies, to modernize and
uplift Nigeria.
Daunting as the task may be it is by no means
insurmountable. There is now a national consensus that our
chosen route to national development is democracy. To
achieve our objectives we must consciously work the
democratic system. The Federal Executive under my watch
will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the
Legislative and Judicial arms of government. The law
enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the
Constitution. We shall rebuild and reform the public service
to become more effective and more serviceable. We shall
charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize
the system.
For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of
making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so
expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse
itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the
judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on
corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is
only when the three arms act constitutionally that
government will be enabled to serve the country optimally
and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance
today.
Elsewhere relations between Abuja and the States have to
be clarified if we are to serve the country better.
Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the
three tiers of government but that should not mean the
Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes
to what is going on in the states and local governments.
Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint
Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in
the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross
corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the
constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is
responsible and accountable governance at all levels of
government in the country. For I will not have kept my own
trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs
under my watch.
However, no matter how well organized the governments of
the federation are they can not succeed without the
support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions,
organized private sector, the press and civil society
organizations. I appeal to employers and workers alike to
unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the
opportunity to share in increased prosperity. The Nigerian
press is the most vibrant in Africa. My appeal to the media
today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise
its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism.
My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the
legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves,
falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy
is in deep trouble and will require careful management to
bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges
confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta
situation, the power shortages and unemployment
especially among young people. For the longer term we
have to improve the standards of our education. We have to
look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our
dilapidated physical infrastructure.
The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress
has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but
victory can not be achieved by basing the Command and
Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be
relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is
completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated
Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other
innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.
This government will do all it can to rescue them alive.
Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing
large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a
tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by
his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Since
then through official bungling, negligence, complacency or
collusion Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens
of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and
villages covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory.
Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far
away from Islam as one can think of. At the end of the
hostilities when the group is subdued the Government
intends to commission a sociological study to determine its
origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its
sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that
measures are taken to prevent a reccurrence of this evil.
For now the Armed Forces will be fully charged with
prosecuting the fight against Boko haram. We shall
overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights
violations in operations. We shall improve operational and
legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken
against proven human right violations by the Armed Forces.
Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our
country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies,
herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add
to the general air of insecurity in our land. We are going to
erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people – friendly
and well – compensated security forces within an over – all
security architecture.
The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in
December, but the Government intends to invest heavily in
the projects, and programmes currently in place. I call on
the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with
the State and Federal Government in the rehabilitation
programmes which will be streamlined and made more
effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my
fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so
that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people.
No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerian’s poor
economic performance over the years than the power
situation. It is a national shame that an economy of 180
million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less.
Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply
and distribution and close on $20b expanded since 1999
have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and
resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go
on. Careful studies are under way during this transition to
identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to
bring light and relief to Nigerians.
Unemployment, notably youth un-employment features
strongly in our Party’s Manifesto. We intend to attack the
problem frontally through revival of agriculture, solid
minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium
size businesses to kick – start these enterprises. We shall
quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and
accelerate the revival and development of our railways,
roads and general infrastructure.
Your Excellencies, My fellow Nigerians I can not recall when
Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The
messages I received from East and West, from powerful
and small countries are indicative of international
expectations on us. At home the newly elected government
is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations.
Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our
long – standing potential of pulling ourselves together and
realizing our mission as a great nation.
Our situation somehow reminds one of a passage in
Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar
There is a tide in the affairs of men which,
taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life,
Is bound in shallows and miseries.
We have an opportunity. Let us take it.
Thank you
Muhammadu Buhari
President Federal Republic of NIGERIA
and
Commander in-chief-of the Armed forces

Abuja agog for Buhari

7:10 am No comments

Global attention shifts to the world’s most populous black
nation on the planet, Nigeria, where the country’s fifth
democratically elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, will
be inaugurated on Friday (today).
Contrary to speculations, indications emerged on Thursday
that the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, will attend
the historic occasion which would mark the first time a
sitting president would hand over power to a victorious
challenger.
The event expected to be witnessed by many world leaders
will take place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the nation’s hilly
capital city.
As of the last count, no fewer than 20 world leaders have
flown into the country in readiness to attend the ceremony.
Activities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,
peaked on Thursday as Presidents and representatives
from many countries landed at the facility and were
subsequently driven to their various hotels.
The PUNCH learnt that Jonathan, whose administration had
earlier expressed the wish to hand over power to Buhari a
day before the May 29 official date, has decided to attend
the event in demonstration of his sportsmanship.
It was gathered that the outgoing President would fly the
flagship of the presidential fleet codenamed “Nigerian Air
Force 001” or “Eagle One” in an official capacity as
President for the last time today.
After the inauguration, the aircraft will fly Jonathan to the
Port Harcourt Airport, Rivers State, from where he is
expected to be flown in a helicopter to Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State, en route a homeward journey in a convoy of cars to
Otuoke, his hometown.
Speculations were rife that Jonathan might shun the
inauguration ceremony owing to the acrimony that greeted
the election.
But a top Presidency official, who pleaded anonymity, told
our correspondent that Jonathan would attend the event.
He said if Jonathan failed to attend the event, he might end
up portraying himself as a bad loser despite the fact that he
conceded defeat to Buhari shortly after the election.
The official, however, expressed the hope that the leaders
of the All Progressives Congress would prevail on their
supporters not to do anything to humiliate the outgoing
President at the event.
The official said, “Immediately after the inauguration, the
outgoing President will travel to his state on Air Force 001
for the last time.
“As a former President, any of the smaller aircraft in the
presidential fleet can be made available to him on request,
but not the 001. The only reason why he can fly that aircraft
again is either if he becomes the President again or if he is
to accompany a sitting President on a trip.”
Jonathan out, Buhari in
Jonathan is leaving office after a five-year stint as the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Jonathan, who became the President in May 2010 following
the death of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, finished the
one year remaining in his former boss’ administration and
went ahead to contest the 2011 presidential election which
he won.
He contested the March 28 presidential election but his re-
election bid was thwarted by Nigerians who chose
Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.
Jonathan and his handlers believe that as he is bowing out
of office, he is leaving a legacy that is unparalleled in the
nation’s history.
The government’s programmes were centered on what he
called Agenda for National Transformation.
His administration prided itself as having succeeded in the
areas of electoral reform, revamping of the railway system,
remodelling of airports, privatisation of power sector,
agriculture, and rule of law, among others.
Critics of Jonathan are, however, of the opinion that his
administration aided corruption and impunity.
This has fuelled the calls on Buhari to probe the outgoing
administration, especially the oil sector, where the
allegation of missing funds was rife.
Buhari will be taking his Oath of Allegiance and Oath of
Office today before Nigerians and friends of the nation with
a burden to run his government differently in accordance
with his party’s “change” mantra.
10 world leaders arrive for inauguration
It was learnt that before 5pm on Thursday, the aircraft of
over 10 African countries had touched down at the tarmac
of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Our correspondent gathered that the two recently
inaugurated lounges for pilots and international protocol
officers located close to the international wing of the
airport, were beehives of activities as some guests were
received at the new facilities.
Officials at the NAIA stated that the Presidents of the
different nations were sighted at the presidential wing of the
airport while countries, whose Heads of State could not
show up, sent representatives.
The flags of the visiting countries were displayed on the
airplanes.
“Some of the countries whose Presidents or representatives
are now in Nigeria include Mali, Sudan, South Africa,
Namibia, Chad, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Senegal, the
Gambia and Guinea,” an official of NAIA said.
The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, was sighted at
the airport, according to our source, who added that the
advance teams of France and the United States were on the
ground as of the time of filing this report.
The official stated that the flight of the US government was
scheduled to land around 3am on Friday.
Our source said, “Other countries whose Presidents or
representatives also arrived Abuja airport on Thursday
included Togo, Angola, Lesotho, France, Ghana, Turkey,
United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. More are
still coming, going by the manifest that we have.”
Obama sends Kerry, Olajuwon
The United States President Barrack Obama has detailed
the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, including basketball
icon and Olympic Gold medallist, Hakeem Olajuwon, to the
inauguration. Other members of the delegation are the U.S.
Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, and the Assistant
Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State,
Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Also in the delegation are Commander, U.S. Africa
Command, General David Rodriguez, and the Special
Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African
Affairs, National Security Council, Grant Harris.
Court dismisses bid to stop Buhari’s inauguration
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday
dismissed an application seeking to stop the inauguration.
A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Societal
Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, had on
Tuesday filed a suit as well as an ex parte application
seeking an interim injunction restraining the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from inaugurating
Buhari on Friday.
The application was adjourned till Thursday for hearing
following the failure of the representative of the plaintiff or
its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, to show up in court on
Wednesday when the application was initially fixed for
hearing.
After hearing the plaintiff’s lawyer on Thursday, Justice
Ahmed Mohammed, dismissed the application for lacking in
merit.
He held that the urgency which the application was
predicated on was self-induced because the election in
which Buhari emerged as president had held about two
months before the suit was filed.
Justice Ahmed held, “The presidential election in which the
1st defendant (Buhari) emerged winner took place on March
28, 2015; today is May 28. It is now two months the
election took place. Now, I sincerely ask, how can a court
grant an interim injunction on the issue?”
“Where was the plaintiff/applicant before and after the
election? Is it that the applicant did not know about the
presidential election of March 28 or what?
“The inauguration of the 1st defendant will be held
tomorrow (Friday) and the applicant is talking about
urgency.
“This motion ex parte is a clear case of self induced
urgency. Therefore this application is devoid of merit and
accordingly dismissed.”
The judge subsequently adjourned the suit till June 24.
Buhari’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had earlier asked
the court to hear the application but the request was
rejected.
The court agreed with the plaintiff’s lawyer’s submission
that Order 26 rule 9 of the Federal High Court forbade him
from being heard in such an application filed as an ex
parte.
Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, are
the 1st to the 3rd respondents in the suit respectively.
The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining the CJN from
inaugurating in the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on
Friday, May 29.
The suit also seeks an order nullifying the Certificate of
Return issued to Buhari by INEC.
The plaintiff hinged the suit on the allegation that Buhari did
not qualify to contest the presidential election on the
grounds that he gave a false information about his
academic qualification to INEC.
Between January and February 2015 there were about 10
cases instituted by various plaintiffs challenging Buhari’s
eligibility to stand for the polls on the grounds of his
academic qualification controversy. But after he won, the
cases were withdrawn.
In the fresh suit filed by its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, the
group alleged that Buhari did not meet the qualification
enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to
stand for the March 28, 2015 presidential election.
The plaintiff is seeking an order of interim injunction
restraining the CJN “or any person acting in his capacity”
from swearing in Buhari as President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any other date
thereof pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
Police assure of security
The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians and foreign
dignitaries of adequate security for the inauguration.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in a
telephone interview on Thursday, explained that the police
had deployed an anti-bomb squad as well as thousands of
riot and conventional policemen nationwide.
According to him, operatives had been dispatched to
various strategic parts of Abuja, including vulnerable areas,
hotels and shopping plazas to ensure a hitch-free
transition.
He said, “Our men are on the ground nationwide to ensure
a successful inauguration programme in Abuja and the
states. The different squads and units have been deployed
and we want to assure Nigerians and our international
guests that adequate manpower has been deployed and the
security of everyone is guaranteed.”
When asked to give the number of personnel that would be
on duty for the inauguration, Ojukwu declined, saying he
could not do that for strategic security reason.
“I can’t give you the number of personnel that we have
deployed, but I can tell you that adequate manpower had
been deployed nationwide to protect lives and property and
to ensure a smooth inauguration ceremony,” the
spokesman stated.
NSCDC deploys 55,000 operatives
In a related development, the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps said it had deployed 5,000 officials in the
Federal Capital Territory and 50,000 others across the
states.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Okeh, told
our correspondent that sniffer dogs and surveillance
vehicles would be on duty throughout the period of the
inauguration.
He said, “We are deploying 55,000 personnel nationwide as
well as sniffer dogs and other units. Five thousand
operatives would be on duty in the FCT while the rest would
work in the states in collaboration with our sister agencies.”
Abuja hotels
Meanwhile, the major hotels in Abuja have been playing
host to foreign dignitaries and diplomats who are billed to
attend the inauguration.
Foreign visitors including journalists from different
countries were seen checking into the Transcorp Hilton and
Sheraton hotels on Thursday.
As part of measures to make the visitors comfortable, the
Transcorp hotel had reserved two lifts for VIPs.
Respect rule of law, Mark tells Buhari
Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday, urged the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to adhere strictly to
the rule of law and respect human rights while discharging
his constitutional responsibilities.
He specifically appealed to him to “do the needful for
citizens and anchor his actions on adherence to rule of law,
respect for human rights, freedom of expression, equity and
justice.”
The senate president said he anticipated an egalitarian
society under the new government where all citizens would
be safe and protected to live and carry out their legitimate
duties without fear of molestation or harassment in any part
of Nigeria.
Mark, who stated this in his goodwill message to Nigerians
on the occasion of Democracy Day celebration, also said,
“All hands must be on deck as everyone plays his or her
role to ensure that our democracy endures.”

Punch.

A commercial motorcyclist Allegedly steals Fuel from Police Station

7:05 am No comments

A commercial motorcyclist, popularly called `
Okada rider’, Abiola Salawu, who allegedly
stole 50 litres of petrol from the Ketu Police
Station, Lagos State, on Thursday appeared
before an Ogudu Chief Magistrates’ Court.
Salawu, 28, who lives at No. 18, Ishawo Rd.,
Ikorodu in Lagos State is facing a charge of
stealing.
Vanguard allege that the Prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky
Ihiehie, told the court that the accused had on
May 25, at 5.40a.m., illegally entered the
premises of the Ketu Police Station and stole 50
litres of petrol. Ihiehie said that the stolen
product valued at N18, 000 belonged to the
station. He said that the policemen observed
that the petrol inside a gallon was missing from
where they kept it.
The officers searched around the area and saw
the accused with the same gallon in which they
kept the petrol with only 30 litres of the
substance remaining. The prosecutor said that
the offence contravened Section 285 of the
Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Salawu,
pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs O. J. Awope,
granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000
with one surety in like sum. She said that the
surety should be gainfully employed with a
verification of address as part of the bail
conditions. The magistrate adjourned the case
to June 24 for mention

Photo: First female VC of Oxford University in 800 years

7:03 am No comments

For the first time in 800 years, a woman is about to be
appointed as VC of Oxford University.
The University of Oxford is to appoint its first female
vice-chancellor since its records began nearly 800
years ago, after Prof Louise Richardson was
nominated for the university’s most senior office.
Richardson, currently the principal and vice-
chancellor of St Andrews University, is an expert on
the growth of terrorist movements.
She held a succession of high-profile positions at
Harvard until she was appointed to lead St Andrews
in 2009.
Students and staff hailed the nomination as a
momentous event in Oxford’s history. Richardson,
56, told the Guardian she hoped her nomination
would inspire current and potential female
undergraduates. (UK Guardian)

After six days, NDLEA finally leaves Buruji Kashamu's Lagos home

6:57 am No comments

After six long nightmarish days and nights that the
agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) laid siege to the Lagos residence of
senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu, despite valid
and subsisting court orders directing them to vacate
the place, we are pleased to announce that they
have left the facility. They left at exactly 7:45pm.
But this was after the agency displayed a high level of
brigandage and lawlessness that is only fit for a failed
state.
However, we thank the almighty God for His infinite
mercies. He is the one who thwarts the plans of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
We also salute the judiciary for once again rising to the
occasion and proving yet that it is truly the last hope of the
common man and the oppressed. We are grateful that the
judiciary has again affirmed Prince Buruji Kashamu’s
innocence of the charges against him, thus turning for good
what was meant for evil.
Our appreciation also goes to the media, civil society
groups, student bodies and all well-meaning Nigerians for
their prayers, support and solidarity during the period.
After attending to his health, Prince Kashamu will address
the media, Nigerians and the whole world on his ordeal and
the intricate web of political intrigues behind the wicked
attempt to abduct him for no just cause using the
instrument and machinery of state.
Until then, we hope we can truly say the siege is over!
Signed
Austin Oniyokor
Media Aide to Prince Buruji Kashamu

Congratulations! Uche Jombo is now a Mum

6:51 am No comments

Actress Uche Jombo is now a Mum!! Uche and her
Husband welcomed their son Matthew on May 28th, 2015.
She shared this photo of her son's legs with the message
below on her FB and IG pages. She made the
announcement on her Facebook page about 10 mins ago.
Baby matthew is here! Just one look at him and the world
is alright with me! Yeah its a lovely day! Thank you Jesus!
Thank you ALL for your prayers! We are grateful and
thankful for this gift of life. #geminibaby #May28th

[Full text] Jonathan’s speech at handover note presentation

6:19 pm No comments

REMARKS BY
HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE
JONATHAN, GCFR,
ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF HAND
OVER NOTES
TO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT,
MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR
THURSDAY, 28 MAY, 2015
PROTOCOLS

1. I welcome you all to this occasion of the formal
presentation of the Hand-over notes of my
Administration to the in-coming Administration of the
President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

2. This event and tomorrow’s inauguration of a new
administration are truly historic as it is the first time in
the history of our nation that we are witnessing the
democratic and orderly transfer of power at the Federal
level from one political party to another.

3. The Hand-over notes which we now present, contain the
governance philosophy, strategies, policies,
programmes and activities of my Administration for the
period – 2011-2015. Also to be found in the notes are
the objectives, targets and implementation strategies,
achievements and challenges of our key policies,
schemes, initiatives as well as the status of
commitments and liabilities of the various MDAs.
4. As we hand over the affairs of the nation, it is
appropriate to recall that at inception, in May 2011, we
committed ourselves to consolidating national unity
through democratization and good governance. Our
assessment then, and our firm belief ever since, is that
the unity of Nigeria, the security, well-being, greater
freedoms and opportunities for all citizens must remain
the primary objectives of government.
5. The Agenda for National Transformation which we did
our best to implement consisted of clear and consistent
governance strategies, policies, plans, programmes and
projects, in all facets of our national life. Emphasis was
placed on human and state security, democratization,
sound economic management, as well as structural and
institutional reforms.
6. Our foremost concern was the unity of Nigeria.In
keeping with that concern, we engineered a process that
began with a review of issues outstanding from
previous Constitutional Conferences by the Belgore
Committee. After that, we widened political
consultations through a National Dialogue that was
orchestrated through the Okurounmu Committee. These
culminated in the all-inclusive National Conference
which unanimously reaffirmed that Nigeria must remain
united and indivisible.
7. The Conference also made resolutions and
recommendations for serious constitutional, political
and governance reforms, which we have forwarded to
the National Assembly for appropriate legislative action.
It is our hope that the incoming Government will accord
the Report of the National Conference the very high
priority that it deserves, as a genuine expression of the
will of our people.
8. The recognition that the starting point for good
governance is the legitimacy of the government itself
informed our commitment to promoting free and fair
elections.
9. It also motivated innovations in the management and
conduct of elections which we undertook. Hopefully, in
the years ahead, those innovations will be properly and
fully implemented so that Nigerians will be even more
assured of the integrity of the electoral system and the
legitimacy of any government that it produces.
10. To strengthen the social contract between the
government and the governed, we institutionalized the
rule of law as well as the independence of the legislature
and the judiciary. We also promoted group and
individual freedoms. As a result, there is vast expansion
in democratic, social and economic space for all
citizens.
11.Our nation and citizens faced many new challenges over
the past four years but the greatest was the vastly
increased menace of Boko Haram with their mindless
terror, mass killings, utter ruthlessness, kidnapping of
innocent children and other unspeakable acts of brutality.
12. We should all remember that Boko Haram’s
emergence predated our administration going as far
back as 2002. The group however became extremely
malignant with the killing of its leader, Mohammed
Yusuf in July 2009.
13. It therefore became an urgent task for us to effectively
confront the great threat Boko Haram posed to the
security and well-being of our people. To do so, we
overhauled and virtually reinvented our security
architecture to confront Boko Haram and its insurgency.
We re-organized our security apparatus. We re-
equipped and fully motivated our forces.
14. Victory is now in sight and within our reach. However,
the cost in blood of citizens and heroes; and the
diversion of national treasure from urgent needs for
development have been very high. While more than 500
women and children have been rescued from the
clutches of Boko Haram thus far by our security forces,
it remains my sincere hope and prayer that our beloved
daughters from Chibok will soon be reunited with us.
15. I wish to thank the Nigerian people for their resilience
and patience. I also wish to pay very special and
personal tribute to all the men and women of our valiant
armed forces and security agencies. Their sacrifice and
dedication have brought us thus far.
16. While striving to overcome our national security
challenges, we still gave necessary attention to
economic development. Our goal was to achieve long-
term economic growth and stability, improve the quality
and quantum of infrastructure and enhance human
capital development.
17. Our financial system reforms included the Treasury
Single Account [TSA] that unified the structure of
government accounts for all MDAs and thereby brought
order to cash flow management; and Government
Integrated Financial Management Information System
[GIFMIS] was introduced to plug leakages and waste of
resources. The Integrated Payroll and Personnel
Information System [IPPIS] weeded out 60,450 ghost
workers in 359 out of 425 MDAs, yielding N185.4 billion
in savings to the Federal government.
18. Improved Revenue Mobilization was achieved through
improvements in the laws and compliance measures. In
2013 alone, these measures resulted in a 69% rise in
Federal tax revenues from N2.8 trillion to N4.8 trillion.
Also, Waiver Policy and Trade Facilitation were
reformed to create a more rational regime. Our
emphasis shifted to granting waivers to specific sectors
instead of individual companies and the Sovereign
Wealth Fund was established to provide stabilization
from external shocks, provide funding for critical
infrastructure and savings for future generations.
19. Our Financial Sector reforms addressed the issues of
inefficiencies in the coordination and monitoring of the
financial system. Our policies promoted transparency,
better risk management, new banking models and
payment systems. We established the Assets
Management Corporation of Nigeria as a resolution
mechanism for toxic banking assets. We strengthened
banking supervision and enhanced public confidence in
Nigerian Banks.
20. Similarly, we undertook innovative reforms for job
creation and repositioned the manufacturing, agriculture
and housing sectors. Specifically, it was observed that
over the years, job creation did not keep pace with
economic growth. Thus unemployment, especially
amongst the youth was assuming alarming dimensions.
21. To address this, my administration made job creation
a key consideration for all programmes in the
Transformation Agenda. Emphasis was also shifted
towards empowering youths to become entrepreneurs
rather than job seekers, through such initiatives as
Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOU-WIN),
Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), the SURE-P
Technical Vocational Education and Training
Programme (TVET) and the Youth Employment in
Agriculture Programme (YEAP).
22. Manufacturing in Nigeria faces many challenges,
including poor power supply, high cost of input, high
cost of doing business, multiple taxation, poor
infrastructure and lack of synergy with the labour
market. To address these problems, we launched
several programmes and initiatives including the
National Industrial Revolution Plan and a new National
Automobile Policy designed to boost domestic car
production and expand existing capacity. Since then,
five new private vehicle assembly plants have been
established.
23. Agriculture is critical to national survival and yet the
sector was besieged with many problems. By year 2010,
Nigeria was the second largest importer of food in the
world, spending about N 1.3 trillion on the importation of
fish, rice and sugar alone.
24. The reforms we introduced in agriculture dramatically
increased local production of staple food and saved us
vast amounts of money that we would have spent on
the importation of food items.
25. To address the glaring inadequacy of critical national
infrastructure, we focused on the Power Sector, Roads,
Railways, Aviation, Ports and Harbours as well as on
Water and Sanitation, Information and Communication
Technology.
26. My government introduced the Power Sector Roadmap
in 2010.Since then, we have privatized the generation
and distribution aspects in a most transparent process.
Obstacles to the private sector investments in power
supply were removed and we developed cost effective
electricity tariff to make the sector more attractive. It
remains our hope that the successor companies to
PHCN and also the private sector will step forward with
the necessary investment to make the power reform
work.
27. The major challenge in the road sector in Nigeria is the
high cost of building roads and it continues to rise. The
other challenge is the fact that because of regular use,
roads are one of the fastest depreciating assets in
developing countries.
28. To address this, Government has developed the
required legal and regulatory framework and created
opportunities for Private Public Partnership (PPP) in
road construction and maintenance.
29. From Ore/Benin Road, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway to the
Kano/Maiduguri dualisation projects, we made
concerted efforts to address age-long problems of
delays in construction, design defect, neglect and
ineffective maintenance. The construction of the historic
Second Niger Bridge has also commenced, and on
completion, it will open new and far-reaching
opportunities for greater trade and interaction among
our people.
30. In the Aviation Sector, our government developed a
Master Plan to institutionalise safety and security, and
to develop infrastructure at the airports and local
airlines. We embarked on the reconstruction and
rehabilitation of 22 airports nationwide. Construction
work on five new international terminals in Lagos,
Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu are also on-
going.
31. There has been a revolution in rail transportation. We
rehabilitated the old narrow gauge network and ensured
that it has served our people steadily for three years
running with new coaches and improved expanded
services nationwide.
32. We are in the construction stages of a new national
network for standard gauge speed-train services, with
the new rail line segment, from Abuja to Kaduna,
successfully completed. In addition, we have initiated
the process for the construction of an ultramodern
coastal rail line that will run from Lagos to Calabar, with
a link to Onitsha.
33. We have also successfully completed the dredging of
River Niger, from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger
State, and completed construction works for the Onitsha
River Port. Other River Ports at Baro, Lokoja and Oguta,
are at advanced construction stages. Working with the
states and development partners, we have facilitated the
process towards the development of two new deep sea
ports at Lekki in Lagos, and Ibaka in Akwa Ibom. We
have also implemented reforms to streamline the
clearing regime in existing ports, increasing cargo
turnover time and easing business for all users.
34. In the oil and gas sector, our local content policy has
continued to empower Nigerian companies, particularly
in technical and engineering projects. The Gas
Revolution Industrial Park in Delta State is
unprecedented in the subsector, and will not only deliver
Africa’s biggest industrial park, but all the
accompanying benefits to local industry and job
creation.
35. We recognized Human Capital as the most important
agent for transformational development. Our reforms in
this sector focused on Health, Education and Social
Development and also on Women and Youth
Empowerment and Social Safety Nets.
36. In the Health sector, the comprehensive National
Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) of 2011
laid the foundation for widening access and improving
the quality of healthcare with lower infant mortality
rates and higher life expectancy for the populace.Our
effective curtailment of the Ebola epidemic has
continued to receive worldwide acclaim as an example
in prompt and effective national disease management.
On our watch, guinea-worm has been eradicated from
Nigeria and we are on the verge of wiping out polio
entirely.
37. In the Education sector, our objectives are clear and
precise. They emphasise expansion of access and the
upgrade of quality. I am proud that we have widened
access by establishing 18 more Federal Universities and
other specialized polytechnics. We strengthened
TETFUND and used it to boldly address the problems of
inadequate infrastructure in the existing institutions.
38. I am particularly proud of our efforts with regards to
Early Childhood Education and Out-of-School Children.
We provided modern hybrid Almajiri Education
Programme in the North, attended to schooling needs of
boys in the South-East and ensured the construction of
special girls’ schools in 13 States of the Federation to
improve girl-child education. We expanded opportunities
for open and distance learning and provided
scholarships at all levels to help improve access to
quality education for bright and promising Nigerians.
39. We have promoted gender-mainstreaming with
commensurate priority and opportunities for our
womenfolk, beginning with ensuring that not less than
30 per cent of key Federal appointments go to women.
Other initiatives that we have taken include: the National
Gender Policy, Establishment of Gender Units in Federal
MDAs, Women Empowerment Training Programmes,
Micro-Credit for Women, Social Safety Net Programmes
and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Scheme.
40. My Administration has emphasized giving a free hand
to our Anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). We
preferred that they mature into strong institutions
instead of being the images, the hammer and the anvil
of a strong man. We must encourage them to abide by
the rule of law and due process instead of resorting to
dramatic or illegal actions orchestrated for cheap
applause.
41. Beyond the very impressive records of enhanced
convictions by statutory anti-corruption agencies like
the EFCC and ICPC, our other strategy has been to
fashion economic policies that deliver higher deterrence
and frustrate concealment. In this regard, the Bureau of
Public Procurement has played a central role and
impacted strongly on the fight against corruption.
42. In Sports, we have improved our national performance
in team and individual events. The disappointment of
not qualifying to defend our African Football
Championship was cushioned by a decent FIFA World
Cup appearance, an Under-17 World Cup win in addition
to other victories in other international football
tournaments and the Paralympics. We have also
encouraged excellence in other sports, apart from
football, resulting in exceptional performance in
international sporting events, especially in athletics.
43. Our foreign policy position remains strong. In October
2013, Nigeria was elected as a non-permanent member
of the United Nations Security Council for the second
time on our watch. Our country had only served in that
capacity thrice before 2011, since independence in
1960. Our Administration also played a leading role in
the resolution of security and political challenges in our
sub-region, particularly in Niger, Cote D’Ivoire, Mali,
Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso.
44. In addition, we increased engagement with Nigerians in
the diaspora who contribute so much in remittances to
their fatherland. Our Administration successfully
encouraged more of them to invest in Nigeria and others
to return home and join in the task of nation-building.
45. In summary, Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and
gentlemen, our administration has done its best to
intervene robustly and impact positively on key aspects
of our national life.
46. There is no doubt that challenges still abound, but they
are surmountable and overwhelming national
transformation remains realisable, with continuity,
commitment and consistency.
47. Nigeria is blessed with citizens that will always remain
faithful, firmly committed to national unity, accelerated
political, social and economic development.
48. As we hand over the reins of government, I believe that
our nation is secure, our democracy is stable, and the
future is bright. Let us all work together, and with
greater resolve, continue to build a stronger and more
prosperous nation.
49. May God Almighty continue to bless our dear country,
Nigeria.
50. I thank you all.

UNIOSUN VC Sacked

5:56 pm No comments

The Governing Council of the multi-campus Osun State
University (UNIOSUN) has sacked three principal officers.
The council recommended for approval of the Visitor,
Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the termination of the
appointment of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Okesina.
The council, on Tuesday, gave letters of termination of
appointment to the Registrar and the Bursar, Dr. Julius
Faniran and Alhaji Fatai Lasisi.
The termination of their appointments followed the
recommendations of the Visitation Panel set up by the
governor.
The panel probed the allegations of financial
misappropriation and mismanagement in the university.
But the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) has rejected the decision.
In a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Abiona Oluseye and
eight other officers, the union said the action was done in
bad faith.
The union also said the sack was prejudicial and violates
the principle of equity and fairness.
It said: “It is instructive to state that a visitation panel was
constituted by the governor and the report submitted.

Don’t single me out for probe, Jonathan tells Buhari

6:43 am No comments

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday advised the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, not to single out his
administration in any probe he may want to carry out after
his inauguration on Friday.
He said all those advising Buhari to probe his
administration must also advise him to extend his probe
beyond his regime or else, the probe will be seen as a witch-
hunt.
Jonathan made his position known at the valedictory
session of the Federal Executive Council which he presided
over at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He also said those calling for his administration’s probe
should add that the probe should be extended to the way oil
wells and fields were allocated in the past.
A former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma,
had over the weekend joined the growing number of
persons calling on Buhari to probe the Jonathan
administration.
Jonathan said, “Some people are even calling for the probe
of this government. I agree that in Nigeria, there are a
number of things that we will probe; very many things.
“Even debts owed by states and this nation from 1960 up to
this time. They are saying it is Jonathan’s administration
that is owing all the debts.
“I believe that anybody calling for probe must ensure that
these probes are extended beyond the Jonathan
administration, otherwise to me, it will be a witch-hunt. If
you are very sincere, then it is not just the Jonathan’s
administration that should be probed.
“A number of things have gone wrong and we have done
our best to fix them. The Attorney General is aware of the
massive judgement debts, if we aggregate all of them, it is
about $1bn. How did we come to this kind of huge
judgement debts? These issues should be probed.
“How do you allocate our oil wells, oil fields, marginal wells
and others? Do we follow our laws? All these should be
probed. I believe all these and many more areas should be
looked at.”
Jonathan said regardless of what critics might say about
his administration, he and his team had done well under a
difficult situation.
He advised those who criticise him to endeavour to
compare his administration’s performance with those of the
administrations before him on a sector-by-sector basis.
The President listed some of the daunting challenges faced
by his administration to include the prolonged industrial
action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, terror
attacks and the ongoing fuel scarcity.
Jonathan described the ongoing fuel scarcity as an act of
sabotage.
The president claimed that those who felt they must bring
his government to its knees were the ones behind the
scarcity.
He wondered why marketers would choose to go on strike a
few days to the end of his administration.
“Even this last fuel scarcity, to me one can clearly say it
was an act of sabotage. This government has few days to
go, that is definitely not the time you expect massive
strikes, using marketers and unions. Unions asking for
increase in salaries at a time oil prices have dropped and
volumes have dropped,” he said.
The President made it clear that he had not dissolved his
cabinet as all ministers were expected to attend the
inauguration dinner on Thursday in their official capacity.
Earlier, the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, had thanked
Jonathan for finding him worthy to be his running mate in
2011 and 2015. He said he did not at any time lobby the
President for the position.
He promised to remain a member of the Jonathan family
and his ambassador anywhere he found himself.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), said the
administration had impacted on the lives of millions of
Nigerians.

Fuel scarcity is an act of Sabotage - President Jonathan

6:35 am No comments

During the Federal Executive Council valedictory session
earlier yesterday , President Jonathan said his administration
has witnessed various degrees of political manipulations,
particularly the ASUU strike which according to him is one
of the longest strike ever as well as the recent fuel scarcity
which he said is a clear act of Sabotage. He said if it wasn't
a case of Sabotage, how come the strike by the marketers
happened just few days before the end of his government.
He said the actions of the marketers was clearly to bring
his government to its knees.

103 year old identical twins die within weeks of each other

6:28 am No comments

After living most of their lives together, Gleyns Thomas and
Florence Davies, reportedly the world's oldest twin sisters,
passed away within weeks of each other.
Thomas died on April 23, according to The Telegraph, and
her heartbroken sister passed away less than a month later
on May 20.
The twins were born in 1911 in Wales.
For most of their lives, they were nearly inseparable, even
sharing a room until one of them got married. In their final
days, the sisters were living at the Abermill Care Home in
Caerphilly, Wales in adjoining rooms.
The sisters were thought to be the oldest living twins in the
UK and perhaps even the world, though Guinness World
Records say the record for oldest female living twins has
been unassigned since July 2014.
They are survived by a total of five children, 12
grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Relatives
attributed the sisters' longevity to a simple life enjoyed
within a tight-knit family and community.

ASUU condemns UNIOSUN council for recommending VC’s sacking

10:25 pm No comments

The Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Osun State
University has condemned the Governing Council of the
institution for recommending the termination of
appointment of its suspended Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir
Okesina.
Although the alleged recommendation of the council,
headed by Prof. Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN), has not been
made public, the ASUU, in a statement by its Chairman, Dr.
Oluseye Abiona, and other members of the executive,
kicked against the recommendation describing it as
prejudicial.
The statement was also signed by the ASUU Secretary, Mr.
Wende Olaosebikan; Treasurer, Mr. Sunday Sasona;
Welfare Officer, Mr. Samuel Kayode; Internal Auditor, Dr.
A.A. Adewumi; and Legal Officer, Nasir Adeniyi.
Others are Prof. A. W. Gbolagade (member); Dr. Kola
Olusanya (member), and Dr. A.O. Popoola(member).
The statement read, “ASUU UNIOSUN wishes to state
categorically and condemn in strong terms the termination
of appointments of the university bursar and registrar as
well as the recommendation for termination of appointment
of the vice chancellor.
“We view the sacking of these principal officers as
prejudicial and done in bad faith on the strength of the fact
that it violates the principle of equity and fairness.
“It is instructive to state that a Visitation Panel was
instituted by Governor of the State of Osun and the report
submitted.
“ASUU UNIOSUN is of the opinion that it would have been
better for the council to wait for the White Paper on the
report to be released by the Governor before assuming the
position of a judge in their own case.
” Against the backdrop of the foregoing, ASUU UNIOSUN
hereby calls for the immediate reversal if this decision.”
Efforts to speak to the chairman of the Governing Council
proved abortive as Olawoyin rejected a call put across to
him by our correspondent and he had yet to reply the text
message sent to him to confirm the recommendation.
The VC, Okesina, said he was not aware of the
recommendation for the termination of his appointment.

Rivers killings: Amaechi, Wike in war of words

6:52 am No comments

THE feud between the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, and the Governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike,
reached a boiling point on Tuesday when the former
accused the latter of being responsible for the deaths
recorded in the state during the 2015 general elections.
Amaechi had declared during a public lecture in Port
Harcourt to mark his 50th birthday that God would not
allow a killer to be the governor of Rivers State.
But Wike, who had attended another public lecture in the
state capital, said he had no record of killing anybody and
expressed displeasure that a public officer like Amaechi
could speak in manner that was not expected of him.
Wike expressed optimism that he would be sworn in as the
governor of the state on May 29, despite moves by Amaechi
to scuttle his inauguration.
Speaking further, Amaechi stated that the governor-elect
should realise that he (Wike) was his chief of staff, adding
that Wike’s record was with him.
Explaining that he will never kill anybody because of
personal ambition, the governor dismissed Wike’s
description of him (Amaechi) as a corrupt person, adding
that the governor-elect was accusing him of corruption
because he (Wike) was looking for a way to negotiate with
him (Amaechi) and his supporters.
Amaechi said, “In a bid for Wike to be governor, he hired ….
an ex-militant. They killed a young man in Okrika and cut
off his private parts. They slashed a young man’s throat
and decided to hang his head on a tree.
“When I wanted to become governor, God took me aside
and allowed Rivers people to vote for Celestine Omehia and
He brought me back. So, nobody died. In 2011, the
opposition joined us to vote for us; nobody died.
“But because of one man’s ambition, we were losing human
beings everyday. Walking like a thug, killing people like a
thug. The God I worship will answer our prayers. God will
not allow those who kill people to be governor of Rivers
State. God will allow only those who worship Him. I am not
perfect.
“Even some of you pray more than me. My priest told me
God said we would defeat Nyesom Wike. God said so. The
same way God told me in 2007 that I would be governor.
God will not allow us to make a killer, somebody who has
killed human beings, to become the governor of Rivers
State.
“I have been listening to Mr. Nyesom Wike and I have been
trying not to reply him. He has been accusing me of
corruption and I have been trying to keep quiet over the
issue of corruption. A thief cannot call me corrupt. The first
lesson he needs to learn is that he was Chief of Staff to my
government. If I have no records, I have records on him.
“Why Nyesom Wike is talking the way he is talking is that
they are looking for us to come and negotiate with them, so
that they can illegally stay in office. They cannot stay like
that. We are already in court (tribunal),” Amaechi said.
Recalling how he decided not to probe his predecessor, Dr.
Peter Odili, the governor pointed out that the people would
at the end ask him about his achievements and not the
number of people his administration probed.
However, Wike, who spoke through his Media aide, Mr.
Simeon Nwakaudu, added that Amaechi’s comment against
him was an indication that the governor was not worthy of
holding public office.
He said, “Only a man who is irresponsible would make such
a comment. It shows that he is not worthy of the public
office he occupies. He (Amaechi) is making comments that
are completely out of place for people who should be in
leadership position.
“To begin with and contrary to what Governor Amaechi
said, the governor-elect is a God-fearing person, who
believes in the rule of law. He is not involved in any killing
and he will never be involved. He has never done anything
that is outside of the law.
“Such unguarded comments should be disregarded by
members of the public and well-meaning persons just like
Channels Television did and apologised seriously to
Nigerians. Amaechi promoted insecurity everywhere.
“God has already made it possible for Barrister Nyesom
Wike to be governor. The people have already endorsed it
as they voted for him massively. Amaechi is too small to
stop the will of the people. On May 29, 2015, that will would
be consummated during the swearing-in of Barrister
Nyesom Wike.”

Group asks court to stop Buhari’s inauguration due to falsification of certificate

6:44 am No comments

A group, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and
Development Initiative,has filed a suit before the Federal
High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from swearing the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari in.
The suit is also seeking an order to nullify the certificate of
return issued to Buhari by the Independent National
Electoral Commission.
They filed the suit on the allegation that Buhari did not
qualify to contest the presidential election because he gave
false information about his academic qualification to INEC.
The Group's lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, alleged that Buhari did
not meet the qualification in the 1999 Constitution and the
Electoral Act to stand for the March 28, 2015 presidential
election.
Buhari, INEC, the CJN are the 1st to the 3rd respondents in
the suit respectively.
The group wants an order of interim injunction restraining
the CJN “or any person acting in his capacity” from
swearing in Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any other date thereof pending
the determination of the motion on notice.
The suits declares states that the plaintiff seeks among
other orders,
“A declaration that the 3rd defendant be stopped
from swearing in the 1st defendant as President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the issue of
perjury involving the 1st defendant has not been
resolved.
“An order restraining the 3rd defendant or any
person appointed for such purpose from swearing in
the 1st defendant as President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any future
dates whatsoever for giving false information to the
2nd respondent on oath.
“An order annulling the Certificate of Return given to
the 1st defendant by the 2nd defendant.”
“The 1st respondent (Buhari) gave false information
in the affidavit he presented to the 2nd respondent
(INEC) and on the strength of which he contested
and purportedly won the presidential election which
was conducted by the 2nd respondent on March 28,
2015.
“The 1st respondent deposed to an affidavit dated
November 24, 2014 that his West African School
Leaving Certificate is in the custody of the Secretary
to the Military Board.
“The Nigerian Army on January 20, 2015, said that
in the personal file of the 1st respondent with the
Nigerian Army, they do not have the original copy of
his West African School Leaving Certificate nor does
the Nigerian Army have the Certified True Copy of
his WASC results neither do they have a photocopy
of the said result.
“The 1st respondent has not met the qualifications
enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, Cap E6,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 (as
amended) to have contested the position of
President of Nigeria at the 2015 general elections.
“That the authority conferred by Section 140 of the
1999 Constitution (as amended) on the 3rd
respondent to administer oath of office to any
person who will occupy the office of the President of
Nigeria cannot be exercised in respect of the 1st
respondent who has not fulfilled the requirements of
the same constitution and the Electoral Act as it
relates to his eligibility to occupy the office of
President of Nigeria.”
The case is still pending as it has not been assigned to any
judge.
Punch.