APC warns against last-minute looting

APC warns against last-minute looting




President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to rein in government officials whose actions may cause problems for the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that there are reported allegations of:

•last-minute looting of the nation’s resources, hurried recruitment into the public service and

•rushed privatisation of key financial institutions.

In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said apart from the instances of such cases that had been reported by the media, it has been inundated with calls and messages by concerned Nigerians, alerting it to the unscrupulous actions of some Jonathan Administration officials.

It said while the Jonathan Administration remains in office till midnight of May 28th and governance in the country will not stop because a new President has been elected, it is incumbent upon the outgoing Administration not to create any more problems for the incoming government than it had already done, or to tie the new government’s hands through some suspicious actions.

APC said while it is true that the incoming Buhari Administration will not get itself bogged down by an endless probe of the activities of the Jonathan Administration, all actions taken since the result of the May 28 presidential election was announced may come under the searchlight.

‘’For example, the National Council on Privatisation, which is headed by the Vice President, has just approved the financial bid opening for transaction advisers for the privatisation of the three Development Finance Institutions in the country – the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and Nigeria Commodity Exchange. The question is: What is the rationale for rushing this exercise with just weeks left for this administration?

‘’Also, there have been reports, yet unrefuted, of a planned hurried recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service, after a previous attempt ended in a national tragedy and the fleecing of innocent job seekers by mindless federal government officials. Apart from the fact that this last-minute recruitment is suspect, it is irregular.

‘’The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPSB) is only empowered to recruit, promote and discipline only senior officers (levels 8 and above). The power to recruit, promote and discipline junior officers is vested in the different services, in

this case the Nigeria Immigration Service.

‘’Therefore, the recruitment exercise now being conducted by the Federal Civil Service under the auspices of the Presidential Committee to Assist on Immigration Recruitment usurps the functions of the Board as it relates to recruitment of Senior Officers (level 08) and that of

the Immigration Service as it relates to Junior Officers (levels 07 and below),’’ the party said.

It also called attention to a published report that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, plans to use the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to carry out a secret employment of no fewer than 500 workers before the end of  this month.

‘’We do not know if this report, as well as others, is true. But if indeed these rushed privatisations and hurried recruitment exercises – in the twilight of the Jonathan Administration – are true, they raise serious questions concerning the reasons behind such actions. We are therefore compelled to call on President Jonathan to call his Administration officials to order, lest they engage in actions that can later embarrass his Administration.

‘’This is against the backdrop of the precarious situation into which the Jonathan Administration has plunged the nation’s economy, no thanks to years of ceaseless and unprecedented profligacy by the outgoing Administration, as well as mind-boggling acts of corruption and looting of the public treasury by some Administration officials and their collaborators,’’ APC said.

I’ll revisit $20b missing oil money, says Buhari

I’ll revisit $20b missing oil money, says Buhari




The last may not have been heard of the $20 billion “missing” oil money.

“The new administration will take a look at it,” President-elect Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, alleged that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit $20 billion to the federation account, but a committee, which investigated the issue, claimed that about $10 billion was unremitted. Accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers was brought in. It said only $1 billion was unaccounted for. Details of its report are yet to be made public.

But Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has said the money, which was transferred by NNPC to the Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC), was being sent to the treasury.

This is not likely to be the end of the controversial matter, going by Buhari’s view.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from Adamawa State led by the governor-elect, Senator Jibrila Bindow, at the Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja, Buhari also said that it was unfortunate that the PDP government had practically destroyed the armed forces.

He reiterated his earlier pledge to fight corruption and restore the confidence of Nigerians in the economy while taking practical steps to create employment for the youths.

Buhari, who is scheduled to take office on May 29, said: “I heard that some people have started returning money; I will not believe it until I go and see for myself. You all know what the Emir of Kano talked about when he was the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria when he said $20billion,  not naira, $20 billion was unaccounted for; they said it was a lie. Instead of investigating it, they sacked him.

“And God in His infinite mercy made him the Emir of Kano. In any case, that is what he wanted and since this was documented, the new administration will take a look at it.”

Gen. Buhari, who decried the level of destruction inflicted on the nation by the Boko Haram insurgency, said: “I thank God for your visit. From what he (leader of delegation) has said on this problem of Boko Haram, we thank God it is now evident that this is not a religious problem, but purely terrorism. I said it earlier, all the religions we practice, both Islam and Christianity, do not support terrorism.

“So, to go and kill people either in the mosque or in a church, market, motor park or to go and slaughter children in school, anyone who commits such a crime either does not know what Allahu Akbar (God is great) means or does not believe in it. This is terrorism. It is our hope that God gives us the power to end this.”

Buhari spoke also on jobs, describing unemployment as Nigeria’s biggest problem. He said: “I went to 35 out of the 36 states of the federation. I went to some states about six times. I went for town hall meetings in Kano, Lagos and here in Abuja. I met with religious leaders in churches of all denominations.

“From the airports to the streets, we saw youths running after our vehicles, sweating; some walking the whole distance to wherever we were driving to. Whether they went to school or did not go to school, they don’t have jobs.

“This is the biggest problem we have in Nigeria today. Apart from security challenges, the next thing is to find jobs for our youths. Our youths form 60 percent of our population in Nigeria and without jobs, these people who are still bubbling with energy will constitute a danger for this nation. If our youths don’t get jobs, we will not enjoy our stay in this nation.

“But one of the things we can do for you to fight poverty in Adamawa is the abundance of arable land that you have. Where I come from (Katsina State), the Sahara (desert) has eaten into the land and our populace who were not opportune to get  formal education became private guards because there is no more land to farm.

“But for you in Adamawa, you are blessed with land and water for agriculture. The 16 years of the PDP has further impoverished the people. It was the PDP, not the APP, not the CPC, not the APC because of that, within the next four years, we will do our best.

”The three things we in the APC will give priority to are the issues of security, the economy and the war against corruption. These are three things that affect all the states in Nigeria.

“We hope that like I have been hearing over the radio that we have regained most of the territories captured by Boko Haram; we thank God. But, among the worst atrocities committed against Nigeria by the PDP is what it has done to our military.

“It is our military that went to Barma; the same army that when I was commissioned second lieutenant, I did not spend three weeks before I found myself in Kinshasa (in Congo), then (the civil war) in Nigeria, Sierra Leone.

“Then to say Nigerian soldiers failed to retake 14 local government areas out of 774, for me who served in the military, I find it incomprehensible, except if I go there to find out what is the reason for this. The kind of leadership brought upon us by the PDP, whether it is documented or not, it can never be forgotten in our history.

“Because of the (Boko Haram crisis) some of our fellow Nigerians from the Northeast don’t know where their parents are; some don’t know where their children are; their houses have been burnt, their cities, like Bama, Michika, Mubi, Madagali and the rest of them.

“Some have built houses outside and when trouble starts they don’t even bother to carry their bags; they take a ride on Achaba (commercial motorcycle) and they flee Nigeria and leave us with the crisis. God help us.

“I hope those of you who have been elected as members of the legislature: the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Federal and state levels, you will work with us.

“I urge you to be patient and ensure that anything that will benefit our nation receives your support. We will try our possible best and ensure that we repair hospitals, schools, roads and ensure that we get drugs in our hospitals, books and other equipment.”

Bindow urged Buhari to help build institutions, such as health and education. Besides, said Bindow, Buhari should fight corruption.

INEC declares PDP’s Ishaku winner

INEC declares PDP’s Ishaku winner


The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Darius Dickson Ishaku has won the governorship election in Taraba state.

Ishaku won 10 local government areas with accumulated votes of 369,318 at the end of the supplementary election on Saturday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for Taraba State Prof. Ahmed Kyari declared him as governor-elect at the commission’s office in Jalingo on Sunday.

Aisha Jummai Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 275,984 votes.

Ishaku won with a difference of 93,334 votes.

Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came a distant third with 29,985 votes.

Obiano is an embarrassment

Obiano is an embarrassment


A socio-political group, Maka Odinma Anambra, has enjoined Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and leaders of the Southeast to stop embarrassing the zone by their shameless attempt to jump on the Buhari victory train.

The group decried Obiano’s visit to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, where he pledged to support Buhari, wondering the change in gear after the governor openly told his party members not to vote for a ‘jihadist and a party belonging to the Hausa/Yoruba ethnic nationalities’.

PDP wins Delta Central seat

PDP wins Delta Central seat




The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate for Delta Central, Chief Ighoyota Amori, has been declared winner of Saturday’s supplementary election.

Amori led with 116,723 votes, ahead of Labour Party’s (LP’s) Ovie Omo-Agege, who polled 76,635 votes and the All Progressives Party’s (APC’s) Halims Agoda, who scored 15,491 votes.

According to the breakdown, in Ethiope East, Ethiope West and Sapele councils, Amori got 14,142, 172 and 8,864 votes while Omo-Agege got 7,168, 12 and 1,541 votes.

For Udu, Uvwie, Okpe and Ughelli South areas, the PDP candidate polled 9,194; 4,819, 8,613 and 2,981 while the LP candidate got 3,956; 2,366, 2,022 and 681.

The Media Director of Omo-Agege Campaign Organisation, Martins Aruviere, alleged that results in the strongholds of his principal were cancelled.

“INEC is not independent as they want us to believe. Results from LP strongholds were cancelled, especially in Ethiope East, Uvwie and Udu. This is the beginning, election is just the first phase, the tribunal is there to scrutinise and question the process,” he said.

Senator’s police guard beats up cabbie

Senator’s police guard beats up cabbie


It was like a scene from a horror movie. In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Saturday night, a riot policeman on guard duty at the home of Senator Azuta Mbata, battered a taxi driver, Mr. Peace Ezekiel, with dagger and rifle.

Ezekiel, who was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), is in a critical condition.

His ash colour taxi cab, Mazda 323, has been moved to the Ozuoba Police Station on NTA-Choba Road.

Mbata represented Rivers East for two terms in 1999 and 2003, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Narrating his ordeal yesterday, the taxi driver said: “I was stabbed with dagger many times by one of the mobile policemen guarding Senator Azuta Mbata’s home at Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt. The policeman also used his dagger to cut the front tyre by the driver’s side.

“I picked up a woman passenger on Peter Odili Road and I dropped her after Senator Mbata’s house at 9:45 pm. on Saturday. As I was reversing, the MOPOL rushed to me with  a dagger and gun. He shot into the air and said I flashed my light on his face. The MOPOL threatened to kill me, forced me out of the taxi and stabbed me with dagger many times. My shout attracted residents, passers-by and the woman I came to drop. Three policemen on guard at the Senator’s home also came. But before they showed up, the MOPOL had cut one of the tyres of my taxi.

“The other policemen tried to intervene, but the MOPOL continued to beat and drag me on the ground, with my clothes stained with blood. The woman I came to drop, other residents and passers-by witnessed the brutality. We were begging, but the MOPOL ignored us. The three policemen first took me to a nearby clinic, they kept knocking the gate, but the owner did not open. We went to a pharmaceutical shop, but the owner said I should be taken to UPTH.

“The sympathisers rushed me to UPTH, after reporting at Ozuoba Police Station. I am with the medical report. Some policemen later went to the scene and moved my taxi to Ozuoba Police Station. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) said on Sundaymorning that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was busy and could not see me. The IPO asked me to return to the police station on Monday (today). The policemen are trying to protect the MOPOL.”

The driver, who was in great pains, called on the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, to intervene in the matter, and ensure justice.

Police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad confirmed the incident on telephone yesterday.

Ahmad said: “The investigation is on. I contacted the DPO (of Ozuoba Police Station), but he said the policemen denied the incident.

“The DPO confirmed that the matter was reported and that the complainant (Ezekiel) came to the police station with wound on his body. DPO promised to continue with the investigation. Whoever commits the offence will be dealt with, according to the law. Nobody is above the law.

APC chief Akinyelure: we shall not let Nigeria down

APC chief Akinyelure: we shall not let Nigeria down




National Vice-chairman (Southwest) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Pius Akinyelure yesterday said the party  would not disappoint Nigeria and her citizens for voting it into power.

He said the party would not be guided by status and ethnicity in dealing with Nigerians.

Akinyelure added that contrary to the reports of some pessimists, who dashed the hope of Nigerians in the last 16 years,  the party would keep faith with all promises it had made “to guarantee security of lives and properties; transform Nigerian domestic economy and ensure robust political stability in all party of the country.

He, in a statement in Lagos, urged Nigerians not to listen to some people that were saying the APC “has nothing to offer”.

Akinyelure, who was appointed to serve on the APC Inauguration Committee, faulted reports that Southwest “will not benefit from the Buhari administration and that the party has nothing to offer Nigeria contrary to all the promises the party made in its manifesto. The reports are mere products of ethnic sentiment.”

Unlike the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre, he said the APC government “will add value to all Nigerians irrespective of their geo-political zones, political parties and religious inclination. Like other zones, the people of South West will not be left out in the gains of positive change the APC will bring about.”

He explained that before it won the just concluded presidential election, the APC had governed five states in South West and one in South-south with proof of outstanding performance, citing successive administrations in Lagos State, from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, as standard bearer.

Akinyelure said: “In Lagos, for instance, we are living witnesses to massive infrastructure development, urban renewal and slum upgrade that the Fashola administration has embarked on and aggressively pursed. The outcome has not only drawn attention of other states to Nigeria. It has also attracted global attention.

“As a matter of fact, Lagos is not just a standard bearer to Edo, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states when the APC governors took over the reign of power in 2011. It is equally a standard bearer to the PDP states, which the party’s national leaders including President Goodluck Jonathan and the Senate President, Sen. David Mark acknowledged.”

He, therefore, said under the leadership of the President-elect, the APC would definitely replicate the good works it had done in the states it controlled at the federal level, assuring that the party “is committed to the welfare and wellbeing of all Nigerians. We are committed to rehabilitating Nigeria’s dilapidated social fabrics.”

He added that the APC “is committed to rebuilding national consciousness in every citizen of Nigeria with a view to promoting social harmony and political stability. We are committed to reforming education sector and enhancing the country’s human capital for strategic national development. We are committed to devolving more power to federating units in order to promote the principle equity and fairness in our federal system.

“There is no way the people of Southwest will not benefit from the APC government. In fact, we are confident that the Southwest will have fair deal under the administration of the President-elect. But we need more support from all Nigerians than what they gave use at the polls. We, therefore, appeal to our brothers and sisters to be patient with us. We will not let Nigeria down. Rather we shall keep faith with all promises we have made.”