Saraki Attempts To Deflect Attention From Lavish NASS Allowances, Blames State Agencies

In his words“we must block every leakage in government revenue," comes two days after public outrage over allowances for wardrobe, vehicle, and housing for all NASS members


Senator Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, attempted to deflect attention away from the the National Assembly budget controversy by criticizing government agencies and State governments for not remitting required funds to the Federation Account.

The wardrobe allowances are placed at N506,600 per legislator each year, according to data made available to the public.

Senator Saraki made his statements after a courtesy visit from the the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Chairman Elias Mbam.

Saraki said that the non-compliance of government agencies is what set backs major processes and major progress of governance.

A spokesman from the RMAFC told SaharaReporters that Senator Saraki’s statements were made “in partnership between the RMAFC and Federal Government to see revenue mobilized according to the Constitution.”

The same spokesman also added that Senator Saraki committed to “review leakages in remittances to the Federal Government, especially from oil bunkering.”

Election Petition Filed Against Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye Dismissed

An election petition filed against the Senator of the Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye was dismissed this morning at the tribunal in Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital.

The Elections’ Petition Tribunals are the equivalents of high courts that handle judicial petitions. These petitions may arise from the conduct of the polls conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Aggrieved parties are allowed to file such petitions within a stipulated time frame, after which the referenced poll is deemed validly conducted.

Senator Melaye asked the Election Petition Tribunal to strike out the petition of Senator Smart Adeyemi, who is challenging his victory as winner of the Kogi West senatorial election, arguing that the pre-hearing motion was filed by the petitioner a day after the deadline.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate, Smart Adeyemi, who alleged that the election was fraught with irregularities, filed the petition. Adeyemi said that the winner-declared by INEC, Senator Dino Melaye, did not win the election.

“Melaye was declared the winner of the election because of wrong and/or incorrect computation of lawful votes cast and intentional omission of collating results of the polling units won by the petitioners and counting of spoilt ballots in his favour,” Adeyemi stated in a statement cited by Vanguard.

The petitioner, Smart Adeyemi wanted the tribunal to order INEC to conduct another election, or declare him, instead, as the winner.

The tribunal however dismissed the petition this morning, citing lack of merit.

INEC originally announced Dino Melaye winner of the election with 41,120 votes. Smart Adeyemi of the PDP had 38,148 votes.

Femi-Fani Kayode Court Judgement Postponed

The Judge told the Court today that she could not deliver judgment in the case, as earlier scheduled, owing to the absence of the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in court. "It is proper for the entire parties to be around for the judgment, I feel this is the right thing to do, it is better to have everyone present for the judgment”, she said.

Justice  Rita Ofili  Ajumogobia  of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State,  has deferred judgment in the case of a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, till July 1, 2015.

She told the court on Thursday that she could not deliver judgment in the case, as earlier scheduled, owing to the absence of the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in court.  "It is proper for the entire parties to be around for the judgment, I feel this is the right thing to do... it is better to have everyone present for the judgment”, she said.

Fani- Kayode is facing trial on a two- count charge bordering on money laundering. His trial began in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed of the same court. He was accused by the EFCC of laundering about N100 million while he was the Minister of Culture and Tourism and later, the Minister of Aviation.  On November 17, 2014, the succeeding judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia dismissed 38 of the 40 counts leveled against him.

At the resumption of his trial on Thursday,  prosecution counsel, represented by Festus Afiyen, announced the absence of the lead counsel, Festus Keyamo, who was unavoidably absent due to his involvement in another matter where he was standing as a witness. “My lord, I regret to inform the court that Festus Keyamo who is the lead counsel in this matter, would not be able to make it, due to his handling of another important case where he is the principal witness. We regret this development, my lord”.

However, defence counsel, I.A Adedipe, sought the indulgence of the court to stand the matter down till 1p.m, hoping  Keyamo would be available by that time, “My lord, I spoke with my learned colleague, Keyamo, just now and he told me that if the court can stand the matter down till 1p.m today, he would be around. My lord, we pray that the matter will be stood down, so that the judgment can be heard as scheduled”.

After listening to the defence counsel, Justice Ajumogobia turned down his prayer and adjourned judgment in the matter to July 1, 2015.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
18th June, 2015

Zenith Bank Guts Fire

Ajose Adeogun branch of Zenith Bank was today gutted by fire. The fire destroyed one of the administrative offices located inside the bank before fire fighters came to put it out. No life was lost and the cost of damages has not yet been ascertained.

From A Street Fighter Dad

Lol,I found this on facebook,i decided to share it with you guys....what do you guys think?

I Was Forced To Sleep Under A Cocoa Tree- Ondo Regent Recounts Ordeal

"I was hit on the head several times when they kidnapped me and I slept under the Cocoa tree. It was raining and I was drenched.


The Regent of Akungba Akoko, in Akoko Southwest Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, has regained her freedom.

Princess Omosowon, who was abducted on the 2nd of June, was set free on Tuesday by her abductors from the combined efforts of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

The JTF included men of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Army (NA), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

A member of the JTF, who was part of the rescued team  has it that the Regent was freed at Arimagija, near a bush in Ifon, Ose LGA of the State.

"The bush burst ‎out to Edo State and it was a thick one. We have to locate where they kept them and we shot sporadically to scared the kidnappers away," the security officer said.

"A leader of kidnapper identified as "Mr. Federal" was shot dead during operation because he was dragging with one of our officers", he added.

Freed alongside ‎the Monarch was an Indian citizen-Mr. Alex John, his mobile Police escort-Sunday Obafe, a Corps member- Miss Ijeoma Azubike, and a driver- Ali Abdujelili.

Addressing Journalists, the Regent narrated how she was traumatized, bruised, and made to sleep under very hard conditions.

She disclosed that the kidnappers made ‎her to sleep under a Cocoa tree and blindfolded her for days.

"I was hit on the head several times when they kidnapped me and I slept under the Cocoa tree. It was raining and I was drenched.

"The kidnappers blindfolded us and we couldn't see their face except their feet. They chained my leg and arms. I prayed inside of me that I would not die by reciting the book of Psalm inside the bible.

"When it was 3 Am, they took us inside the thick forest. I think the place is very close to a sawmill because I perceived the sound of their big machine use in cutting logs of wood.

"At the time, their second-in-command told me point blank that those who sent them message to kidnapped me had already paid them to kill me. I was very scared.

"The second-in-command said it was because me (Princess Oluwatoyin) didn't want the community to have another king and that am on the throne enjoying the dividends. He added that they needed N200 Million ‎so that they would not kill me.

"I replied him that I don't know anything about the Obaship tussle as the case is even in court.

"‎They handcuffed me tightly and I was in pain. During that process, myself and the driver were together.

"I had a terrible experience because I was maltreated. Although, their gang-leader had a little fear of God. Even, during interactions with them (kidnappers) they told me, they were into kidnapping because there is no job in the country.

She spoke further: "They gave me Rice and Eba to eat. Although, I am an Asthmatic patients, the boys (kidnappers) accorded me that respect of being a Regent. Sometimes, they would buy me drinks. But I go through fasting and prayers for the majority times.

"On Sunday afternoon, I called one of the kidnappers and told him that by Tuesday I would be going home. He was surprised ‎and looked at me foolishly and replied me back that 'hope they would have pay the money they demanded for before they released me from their den' but told him that I can't guarantee it. I thank God. I was freed today (Tuesday). God is merciful and wonderful" she said.

Also, a ‎member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Ijeoma Azubike abducted by the same gang said‎ she was kidnapped late last month on her way to Lagos.

Miss Azubike, who graduated from the Ekiti State University (EKSU) and currently serving in Jigawa State also narrated her experience.

"I was travelling from Abuja to Lagos on 31st of May, which was on Sunday. I boarded a vehicle by the roadside. I never knew they were kidnappers.

"The experience was horrible. We were under the rain, so cold and had to sleep under the floor. We were beaten and I was handcuffed. They demanded N10 million from my parents. I thank God have been release", she said.

An Indian, Alex John, also said he was beaten severally and made to face difficult situations.

‎The two arrested suspects were: Lucky Smart, 35 year, and David Akpan, 52 year-old.

It was gathered that Akpan always drove the kidnappers for their operations.

We inherited N42.6 billion debt from bank loans and bonds from the APC government.- Ekiti Government

Ekiti has been under the media's scrutiny because it is in debt to State Government workers for an alleged three months.

Lere Olayinka, the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Governor, released a statement that said only the May 2015 salary was owed by the Ekiti Government, led by Governor Ayo Fayose.

Olayinka clarified that the immediate past government of Kayode Fayemi refused to pay workers the August and September 2014 salaries despite having the federal funds for those months.

He also stated, "the Fayose-led government had already cleared the August 2014 salary left unpaid by the APC government, leaving that of September that will be paid as soon as there is improvement in the State finances."

For the May salary that went unpaid he said, "allocation of May that was received was not enough to pay salary, leaving the government with the option of waiting for the June allocation that is expected to be released next week."

“As at the time we assumed office, unpaid bank loan was N15,831,613,425,.62 while outstanding payment from the N25 billion bond was N26,749,796,784.75, making N42.6 billion debt from bank loans and bonds alone.”

“N21, 286, 126, 729 was outstanding payment to road contractors while N5, 137, 888, 224.37 was outstanding emoluments to State public servants,” Olayinka said.

Olayinka said that the mismanagement of Ekiti State finances by the past government is the reason why the Ekiti is in such a bad state. Moreover, Governor Fayose has been fighting with legislators for a long time over many various issues.

But with optimism the aide said Fayose, with the cooperation of the workers, is expecting Ekiti and the State government to bounce back from previous financial irresponsibility.

Bomb Explosion Kills Scores In Borno

The explosions occurred in Monguno town, which was recently liberated from Boko Haram militants. Our sources stated that the explosion in town killed and injured unspecified number of people.

A late night bomb explosion killed scores of people in Borno town, a security source disclosed to SaharaReporters.

The explosions occurred in Monguno town, which was recently liberated from Boko Haram militants. Our sources stated that the explosion in town killed and injured unspecified number of people.

A local vigilante said they were trying to reach their colleagues in Monguno, but they could not reach them by phone at that time.

Monguno is about 137 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.‎ The area around Maiduguri has been repeatedly attacked by Boko Haram terrorists, even after towns have been liberated by the Nigerian military.

Saraki receives agency responsible for allowances of Assembly members, releases statement

Senate president this afternoon met with the management of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation & Fiscal Commission RMAFC, to clarify issues bothering on the alleged N8.64 billion wardrobe allowance the newly inaugurated Assembly members are entitled to.

At the meeting, the Chairman of RMAFC, Engr. Elias Mbam denied the media reports, stating that each lawmaker is entitled to N506, 600 wardrobe allowance per annum. A press statement from Senator Saraki on the matter after the cut ...


President of the Senate, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki today warned government agencies adamant of not remitting Federal Government revenue to the Federation account saying government will no longer condone such mismanagement act. Senator Saraki said this when he received the Chairman of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Engr. Elias Mbam and his team in Abuja that non-compliance by agencies of government has brought major setback in the processes of governance.

He reiterated the support of the Senate in bringing back justice to any erring agency that indulges in diverting government revenue to illegal channel adding, “Monetary revenue and allocation is a serious challenge to our economy. Though, diversification of economy is very important but is not an overnight issue. We must block every leakage in government revenue.

“We made campaign promises to Nigerians and we must fulfill all our pledges. It cannot be business as usual. We will do everything within our capacity to elevate the living standard of Nigerians.”

Senator Saraki also cleared air on the N8.64billion bogus wardrobe allowance to lawmakers as reported in the media, saying the Commission is charged with fixing of remunerations to public office holders and advise the media to be more accurate in their reporting.

Earlier, the RMAFC Boss, Mbam said the agency have always enjoyed cordial relationship with the National Assembly while calling for continued working partnership with the view to enhance their effectiveness.

Mbam condemned the recent media report that exaggerated the wardrobe allowances of Senators and members of the House of Representatives saying, that wardrobe allowance is 25 percent of the basic salary which when broken down amounts to N506, 600 per legislator, per annum. He advised that the agency operates a functional website where information concerning the day-to-day activities of the agency is published.

Bamikole Omishore
Media Office of the President of the Senate

Osun state blasts Ben Murray Bruce

This evening Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce offered to donate his wardrobe allowance to Osun state workers who have not been paid their salaries for months.  Well, the government of Osun state didn't appreciate his 'kind' gesture and clapped back at him. They released a statement saying he is mocking Nigerian workers. Find the statement signed by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Osun state Governor below...

    My attention has been drawn to a tweet by a member of Upper chamber of the National Assembly Senator Ben Murray Bruce of the PDP from Bayelsa saying he will not reject the alleged hefty pay for members of the National Assembly but collect it and donate to Osun workers. It is saddening and tragic that Mr. Murray Bruce whom many had accorded a lot of respect is too early in the day joining the fray of politicisation and trivialising the salary issue affecting more than half of the states of the federation in this ridiculous manner. While Nigerians are in hot debate over the alleged jumbo pay and the mood of the country,Bruce seems to have turned the plight of Nigerian workers to a thing of an entertainment. Of all the states in the federation who are battling to pay salaries as a result of the precarious economic situation his party the PDP threw Nigeria into why is it that it is Osun he wants to take his pay to?

    This is certainly playing to the gallery and nothing but a mockery in the faces of Nigerian workers and not only of Osun extraction. It is not only wicked but ungodly to play politics with the suffering of the people. If the Senator’s conscience tells him his pay is too high especially in the face of the prevailing economic predicament of Nigeria the most honourable thing to do is to lead a protest for reduction and not a self serving philanthropy only in the direction of Osun workers.

    Semiu Okanlawon, Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the Governor Osogbo

Ramadan Fast Starts Today

Akwa Ibom Governor Set To Sell State’s Private Jet

Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Mr Udom Emmanuel is contemplating on disposing the private jet acquired by proceeding administration of Godswill Akpabio. Governor Emmanuel who seems not to be finding the state’s ownership of private jet a worthwhile investment is said to be looking for buyers so that the state will be relieved of the burden of fueling and maintaining it.

Since Governor Emmanuel was inaugurated on May 29, 2015 he is said to prefer travelling by chartered helicopter which he considers less ostentatious. The slash in Federal Allocation and high cost of aviation fuel are other reasons Governor Emmanuel is taking this step, Vanguard reports.

Meet D’Prince' Baby Mama

She is Sharon Oparacho and she is 26. Sharon is a graduate of Coventry University in the UK and welcomed a baby with the singer few days ago.

Challenge Buhari Over Economic Policies, Falana Tells Nigerians

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for attending the just concluded G7 meeting with a shopping list of Nigeria’s problems. Mr. Falana spoke today at a civil society round table on the state of the nation organized by the Nigerians United for Democracy in Lagos.

The group of seven industrialized nations had urged Mr. Buhari to attend the Munich event with a “wish list” for their consideration and assistance.

“Our president went to the G7 and we are happy. And he went there with a bowl, ‘please do this for us, do this for us,'” said Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Continue below...


“Again we must interrogate that, has our situation become so bad that we have to ask for external support? When we have not mobilized the energy, the potentials of our people to turn this country around.

“And please, let the new regime be told that the dangerous prescriptions of the IMF and the World Bank and the G7 that we have followed since 1986 that the Structural Adjustment Programme was imposed on Nigeria, those prescriptions have reduced Nigeria to a banana republic. Since then we have been managing poverty, what they call poverty alleviation, not poverty eradication, because this system can never abolish poverty.”

The lawyer called on Nigerians to challenge the government over its choice of economic policies.

“There are alternative economic programmes to the ones that are forced on Nigerians every time,” Mr. Falana said

I say no to huge NASS allowances - Sen. Dino Melaye

APC Governors at their meeting in Abuja yesterday

Buhari says old age will limit his performance, PDPMW replies without any further delay

Press statement from PDP Watchdog. Read below...

    The PDP Media Watchdog has reacted to the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari in which he declared and admitted that age will limit the rate of his performance in office as President of Nigeria.

    The group while reacting to the statement on Wednesday June 17, 2015 said the APC and President Buhari are gang of hypocrites and liars. "The PDP is again vindicated by this confession from President Muhammadu Buhari and many more that are yet to come.

Nigerians will recall that during the presidential campaigns, the PDP and other well meaning Nigerians complained on the choice of sponsoring Muhammadu Buhari as Presidential Candidate of APC and the effect it will have on the country when it comes to managing the affairs of a multi dimensional nation like Nigeria, but the APC and its leaders said that age is just a number".

The PDP Media Watchdog again reminded Nigerians of their earlier statements on the need for the people of this country to challenge the numerous inconsistencies of this APC administration and call on President Muhammadu Buhari  to resign immediately to save the country of this four years of motion without movement because according to the group, all they have done since May 29th is that  Buhari and the APC has hit the ground sitting instead of running as they promised.

"It's barely three weeks into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his age is already telling on him, so, what will happen to Nigeria in the remaining 1,440 days of this government. It's better to find a black goat in the day time rather than looking for it in the night and this is why we are asking President Buhari to resign now because Nigerians will not entertain further excuses of why the APC cannot deliver on their campaign promises". the group said.

The group also gave another example of how President Buhari's age is affecting his performance and reminded Nigerians of how he disgraced the country in a world forum when he referred to the President of Germany as President of West Germany. "Nigerians saw this all along during the campaigns but could not resist the broom stick voodoo that the APC used to hypnotize the people. Nigerians will also recall that this same  Buhari could not remember the complete name of His Vice Presidential Candidate and even the full name of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) under which platform he was contesting and instead referred to it as  the All Progressive Confidence during the campaigns. How long will a nation like Nigeria, the giant of Africa remained under this hypnosis of the APC" the group queried.

Finally, the Watchdog urged the people of Nigeria to wake up to the challenge and resist this daylight robbery and blackmail of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and demand the immediate resignation of Pa. Muhammadu Buhari and call for another election to elect a more competent and vibrant Nigerian to lead to the people to the Nigeria of our Dreams.

Tunde Lawal
For: PDP Media Watchdog
pdpmediawatchdog@gmail.com

Ondo governor, Mimiko emerges chairman PDP governors forum

Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko has emerged the new Chairman of the PDP governors forum He was elected new chairman at the PDP governors meeting in Abuja today June 17th. He takes over from Akwa-Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, who is now a Senator.

Kidnapped Ondo regent regains freedom

The regent of Akungba Akoko township in Ondo state, Princess Mojisola Omosowon who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen along the Owo-Akure road in Ondo state on June 3rd has regained her freedom. A team of police officers and state security service officers rescued the regent in Edo.

Princess Omosowon was kidnapped along with her driver while on her way to attend the inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Buhari returns to Nigeria after attending AU Summit

Ex Jigawa gov returns to Nigeria, says he will respond to EFCC invitation on Thursday

Ex governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who was accused of conspiring with his sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido to steal about N1.3 billion from his state while he was governor, returned to Nigeria yesterday June 15th. He went on holiday immediately after handing over power to the new governor. When he returned yesterday, he was welcomed by his teaming supporters at the Dutse International Airport.

Alhaji Lamido while responding to questions from newsmen at his home in Bamaina village in Birninkudu Local Government area of the state said he is aware of the EFCC invitation and he will be honoring it.

 “I am aware of the invitation.’’he said He said that EFCC is an antigraft agency of the government, recognized by law, therefore, he would not shun the invitation. He added that he will be honoring the invitation on Thursday June 18th.

APC is unfortunately divided - Kwankwaso

Former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso said happenings that led to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President has divided their party APC  Rabiu has it that the failure of the leaders of the party to do act at the right time led the party to where it is now. Senator Kwankwaso said this while speaking to journalist in Abuja    

 "I think the party, unfortunately, is divided but it is not too late to correct many things but the party should take certain steps to ensure that such things will never happen again in the party and I am one of those who advised or tried to advise my brother, Saraki that he should not go too far with that ambition under this circumstance. At this level and his level, people should be more careful and cautious in what they do and what they don’t do and especially that the situation is even worst than the case of Tambuwal during the House of Representatives election of principal officers in 2011. Of course, Tambuwal’s case was a case of going out of zoning but all the positions went to members of the party. But this time around, because of the ambition of our members, I think they went and connived with people who are not only opponents of the party but enemies of the party to fight the party after the people of this country have discarded these people. And now because of ambition, these people were made in a way relevant and I don’t think that is the best way to go. Members of the party should have certain limitations, they should know when to start and when to stop and I think this is going too far in romancing members of the PDP.
As far as we are concerned, PDP was dead until recently when this ambition brought certain people to do what they should not do in democracy and party politics and how they are just about to create unnecessary life for them to the extent that some of them are servicing again and making all sorts of statements. On the issue of what went wrong, I think there were so many things having to do with time. This election had to do with time. We had so many weeks before the election to address this issue. This is not the time to say I told you or I told them, but many of us tried to tell our leaders to do the right thing at the right time. I think the party missed the crucial opportunity to address this challenge. I think time was crucial of which the party missed some important steps and therefore things went wrong. I told you the party missed some vital steps and gave an ample opportunity to Bukola Saraki’s group and they used it effectively and took all the advantages that had to do with the mistakes of our leaders" he said

Senator Kwankwaso said some members of the party acted out of anger because they believe one of their leaders Bola Tinubu was trying to take all the positions available.

    "I am aware that members of the G-5/G-7 group were interested in seeing one of us occupying one of the strategic positions. I am also aware that there are some people in the party who believed Tinubu had taken so many things and it was time to take a break. They had a perception that Tinubu was trying to take it all. There are other groups that believed that Saraki had given them so many things and they had to pay him back. Many senators believed that they were supported by Saraki.”he added
He stated that the allegiance of Senate President Bukola Saraki with PDP Senator that resulted in the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President will cause problems for President Buhari.

    "You see, first of all, the President will face a lot of irritations in the sense that these people must be very angry with themselves, they must be very angry with Nigerians and, therefore, will do everything possible to put all sorts of hurdles on the way of Mr. President. That is obvious. I can always read their mind. I was one of them, I was part of them, I was part of the party but we had to leave the party because of this attitude. So, in some of the books that I read, especially Islamic books,  there are things that we call Sadaqatuljariya (doing charitable deeds like building schools, hospital, throughout your life) and you will be getting reward and even after you die. These sorts of mistakes are what we call Musibatuljariya. It is so bad and it is a bad thing that will continue to occur until the system goes to end because they have their own agenda to tackle the APC, to tackle the APC government, they are angry with themselves, they are angry with the people and Nigeria because they feel Nigeria belongs to them and they wanted to take everything and Nigerians rejected them.” he points

He expressed his displeasure at Senator Ekweremadu's emergence as Senate Deputy President

    "Just yesterday, I was reading, I don’t know whether it is true or not, that Ike Ekweremadu was talking rubbish, nonsense. It is like they have reasons to speak again and I think it is because of the mistakes of our members. I believe that at the end of the day, the party and members must get a way of coming together and behave well, I think that is the only way we can make progress. I don’t think I should be in a hurry to say that he should resign but all I know is that many things have gone wrong to the extent that the party has to put its acts together to make sure that things that are done in that way are stopped and from there, we will build the party again. It (Deputy President of the Senate) does not belong to them. I have been in PDP from 1999 until 2014 or so. You see, it was unthinkable in PDP for you to allow any other party to take any of those positions. They have done it five times and they never allowed any member of any party to go near those positions, so I think it was unfair and not correct and they took it shamelessly and I am sure our party will look at it and take what belongs to our party back. Maybe there are ways APC can accommodate the Southeast by way of appointment but certainly, we have not seen PDP in the five times that they had reasons to select leaders in the National Assembly, they never considered other parties in terms of giving them position but I am sure that our party had it in mind that it will carry the Southeast but not in the position of the Senate President. The Senate has Deputy Senate President; that position does not belong to the PDP and that is the mistake Ekweremadu is making. Now he said he was elected deputy Senate president, yet he reduced himself to a zone and a tribe, which is not good enough. We are not saying he should step down or stay; what I am saying is that what they have taken does not belong to them and all those who supported him and his party to get it have made a big mistake for themselves, the party and indeed for the country and they should be ashamed of themselves"he said.

Senator Kwankwaso said erring members of the party must be disciplined

    “I don’t know, the party must be doing its own bit but if I were the national chairman, I would either write to these members individually a letter of displeasure or call them and tell them because there has to be discipline. It does not matter whether you are 10 or 20 or even 1,000, whatever your number is in a party, as long as there is no discipline, definitely there will be problem. I am one of the senior senators by any standard in this country but because of the consideration of the fact that Buhari is from the Northwest, of course not from Kano, you are not seeing me going round to say I want this position or that position. I have president in my zone and I have to be considerate in the sense that other zones should get it. It is not like you will come by all means and you must take it whether it favours the zoning, the party or not. So, all these things must be respected by the party and the members" he added.

Buhari commissions Nig Immigration center in SA

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Ambode Dissolves Parastatals, Sacks Fashola’s Sister, Others

Ms Fashola was the General Manager, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA. Also affected is the General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, whose head was Ola Oresanya; Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu; Executive Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bolajoko Fashola and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, headed by Babatunde Edu.
There has been a massive shake-up in the Lagos State Government as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dissolved all Boards of parastatals and agencies, sacking the sister of the former Governor of Lagos State, Ms Olayinka Fashola and 75 other heads of the parastatals and agencies.

Ms Fashola was the General Manager, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA. Also affected is the General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, whose head was Ola Oresanya; Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu; Executive Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bolajoko Fashola and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, headed by Babatunde Edu.

Also sacked are the General Managers of Lagos State Electricity Board, Ms Damilola Ogunbiyi; Urban Furniture and Regulatory Unit, UFRU, Joe Igbokwe; Lagos Water Cooperation, Shayo Holloway; Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Tunde Fowler; Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABCA; Managing Director, LAGBUS Assets Management, Babatunde Disu and the General Manager, Lagos State Lotteries Board, Lanre Gbajabiamila.

Other head of agencies affected are the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Building Investment Company Limited, Lagos State Ferry Services, Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, Lagos State Printing Cooperation, Lagos State Television, Lagos State Traffic Radio, Eko FM, Radio Lagos, among others.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Tunji Bello, it said Ambode had approved the dissolution of all boards of parastatals and agencies of government with immediate effects.

According to the statement, the dissolution is with the exception of the Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commission.

While expressing the appreciation of the Governor for the modest contribution of members of the dissolved Boards, Bello wished them well in their future endeavour.

The statement added that constitution of new Boards would be effected in due course.

I don’t have to appoint a minister today and sack him the next week – Buhari

“But the ministers knew that they were going but the technocrats, the permanent secretaries and directors and so on, they know they would remain," President Buhari said.






President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday attributed the delay in his appointment of ministers to the late submission of the transition committee’s report on the previous administration to him.

Mr. Buhari made this known while speaking to journalists at the Summit of the African Union in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The President said he was being careful in order not to make mistakes in appointing individuals especially to key positions such as in the finance and petroleum ministries.

“I don’t know why people are so anxious about ministers. But eventually we will have them.

“But the main reason is that I have an interim committee which I agreed with former President Jonathan that the ministers of the outgoing government should hand over their notes or their documents to this interim committee so that a position can be prepared for the new government to start from with clear records from ministers.

“But the ministers knew that they were going but the technocrats, the permanent secretaries and directors and so on, they know they would remain.

“If anything goes wrong they would be invited to explain, but unfortunately the outgoing government did not cooperate.

“So, what the committee did was to divide itself into about five sub-committees and get a resource person that was willing to come and bring the document, and so they prepared and I got the report I think three days ago.

“I was waiting for this report because I would like to know what position in the government especially in terms of finance and petroleum industry. So, I am not in a hurry to get ministers.

“I want to get ministers after at least I have seen the report because I don’t have to appoint a minister today and sack him the next week because this report would give me what actually happened in terms of security, economy of the country.

“And since I have to have ministers from politicians and technocrats, I wouldn’t (like to) make the mistake of getting somebody, who has been involved on account of accountability”.

Mr. Buhari added that he, Mr. Jonathan and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, had agreed to letting the former ministers hand over their notes to the interim committee he had formed.

He said that the planned examination of the handover notes had to be suspended when the outgoing ruling party accused his then incoming administration of forming a parallel government.

Mr. Buhari said he actually wanted to get a platform from the former ministers on which to start from following the problem of accountability in the administration.

The President, who recalled that during his time as minister of petroleum during the Olusegun Obasanjo military regime, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had only three accounts, said that during the immediate past administration, the NNPC and the ministry of finance did not know how many accounts they had.

He described the development as improper.

He also said that the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President divided the All Progressives Congress in spite of the moves by the party to avert a crisis.

He said the onus was on the National Assembly to resolve the issue as it had its own criteria for choosing its officers, which was why he did not want to interfere in the exercise.

Mr. Buhari said the problem of Boko Haram had been internationalised and expressed his happiness with the support coming from Nigeria’s neighbours and the G7 in an effort to end insurgency.

BUHARI MAY APPOINT NON APC MEMBERS AS MINISTERS-OYEGUN

APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun has said President Buhari may appoint some individuals who are NON APC members as Ministers into his government.

Oyegun said  Buhari is keen on appointing technocrats who will work with his agenda of moving Nigeria forward. Oyegun said this while speaking with journalists after a meeting in Abuja today.


    "There is absolutely no dispute between the party and the president. We agreed that we shall use all manner of people: politicians, technocrats, all manner of people even if not politicians, who can deliver and who subscribe passionately to the agenda of the president to move this country forward, irrespective of where the people come from; irrespective of whether the person is a card-carrying members of the party. What is important is the qualification of the person and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President. What we are interested is in the ability of the people to bring up the ideas that will help Mr. President achieve the set objectives and the ability to deliver on what the President wants. Secondly, this is an executive function and the President has the right to consult as widely as possible. This means he might pick people within the party; people outside the party. It is a prerogative the President should exercise and we cannot question that. We are quite happy about the way he is proceeding" he said

Aunt Cuts 9yrs old Nephew With Blade For Eating At a Party,

 Ronke Olayinka(pictured right)has been arrested for inflicting terrible injuries on her 9 year old nephew named Abdullahi Taoreed (left). According to New Telegraph, the woman inflicted blade cuts on the boy for eating at a party on June 7th. The boy's parents are dead.

On the day of the incident Abdullahi said he went to the house opposite theirs at Pipeline Street in Oke-Odo area of Lagos to serve food and also to eat since there was no food in their house.

This got his aunt, who he calls mummy, angry

    "Yes, it was my mummy who inflicted blade cuts on my hands because I went to a party opposite our house to eat. There was no food at home. I was hungry, so I assisted the people holding the party to carry chairs. I knew that if I assisted them, they would give me food. They gave me food. My sister went to report to my mummy. We went for evening prayer. After the prayer, my mummy called me and started cutting my hands with a blade. She went out to buy the blade. The cut was deep. She poured pepper into the wounds. She then gave me a hot pot of beans to carry to the kitchen with the bloodied hands. One of our neighbors, a woman, saw me and took the pot from me. She went and told everyone in the compound. People saw my hands and started crying. It’s not every time my mummy gives me food. She uses a piece of wood to beat me, but uses canes on her kids.”he told New Telegraph

Neighbors who saw him with the injury alerted the police at the Oko-Oba police station who immediately arrested the aunt. When interrogated, she said Abdullahi was a stubborn child who never listens to her

    “I’m a struggling widow. I have three kids. One is 15, the second is 12 and the third is 10. I’m a trader. I leave home in the morning and come back at night. Whenever I return, neighbours usually complain about Abdullahi; how he usually goes to different places to eat. Sometimes, he would go with his friends to a place called Agbele-Kale to swim. He’s just stubborn and doesn’t listen! He’s my brother’s son. I’ve been taking care of him since he was a baby. He behaves like someone without home training. He usually goes to parties to eat. He was behaving like someone who doesn’t have parents or like someone who has no home training. When I returned on Saturday, neighbours said I should warn him. On Sunday, he went out again. Food was ready, but he was nowhere to be seen. I was angry. I used the blade on his two hands. I never knew it would be that bad!”

Asked why she used a blade instead of a cane on the boy, Olayinka said:

    "Anytime I want to beat him, he would run away, forcing me to chase him. But what happened that day was the work of the devil. Yes, I poured pepper on the wounds. I only wanted to make him to be a good boy.”

Abdullahi said it was not the first time his Aunt had physically assaulted him.

One soldier killed, many terrorists injured during attack in Yobe yesterday

One soldier was killed while scores of Boko Haram members were injured during an attack in Babangida, the Headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Headquarters in Yobe state yesterday June 14th.

Over 10 rifles and weapon, three hilux cars as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition and some Hand Grenades were recovered from the terrorists. A vigilante member died while 5 were wounded during the attack.

Basket Mouth at 70