Five things suggested for PDP to win 2019 presidential election

2015 will definitely remain a year best forgotten by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as for the first time in Nigeria’s political history since the return to democracy in 1999, the party was voted out of power. Its fiercest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over the rein of power.

While the APC deserves credit for its tactical way of wrestling power from the PDP, the latter made some mistakes and decision that cost the party. The party not only lost the presidency but also lost the majority position in the House of Assembly and many governorship seats.
2019 however presents the party with the opportunity to mount a come back and win back power. To achieve this requires strategic planning and step away from the failed campaign method the party adopted in 2015.

Here are five things the PDP must do to win back power in 2019. 

Field a Hausa/Igbo presidential candidacy
The choice of Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo as the presidential and vice presidential candidacy in 2015 was not a bad choice but there was no way the two could have stood against a Muhammadu Buhari. In fact, it is fair to say Professor Yemi Osinbajo played a minor role in the decision to elect Buhari as president. Without any sense of prejudice, the south west part of the country has always voted with focus on the candidacy rather the party. It will be recalled that in Lagos, the governorship election in 2011 was won by Babatunde Fashola of ACN while Lagosians voted massively for Jonathan of the PDP. In 2015, Lagosians changed gear and voted for Buhari of the APC. If the PDP presents a northerner as their presidential candidate, this will create a crack in the approval and unanimous voting of Buhari as it is safe to assume he is likely to run for office in 2019. An Igbo as a running mate is likely to secure the votes from of the south east and south south. The south west can be trusted to vote based on the assessment of the candidates and not swayed by the region the candidates come from.

Adopt a Ben Bruce-styled criticism
The seemingly dirty politics adopted by the Femi Fani-Kayode-led campaign during the 2015 election did more harm than good for Jonathan. Frankly, PDP’s campaign and criticism style helped Buhari to become president. This was because PDP channelled its energy towards discrediting Buhari rather than projecting Jonathan in good light. While the APC went about ‘dressing-up’ Buhari, Fani-Kayode and his partners went about defacing him. This left Nigerians with just a single choice of candidacy: a good or bad Buhari.

Senator Ben Murray Bruce has adopted a kind of crystal clear criticism that has brought life to the party. His ‘common-sense’ mantra is in tune with the level of exposition Nigerians have especially with the growing interest in new media. Nigerians have quicker and better access to information and can clearly deduce the clarity and sensibility of criticism.
Focusing on how expensive Buhari’s shoes are or that his daughter files first class is not likely to discredit a person. This is evident in the reactions that trailed the party’s tweet about the Buhari’s daughter flying first class.

The PDP must move beyond gutter politics and over-the-fence mudslinging and provide sound intellectual criticism, the type championed by Senator Bruce. Nigerians are not fools and can tell criticism is reasonable or just trash.

Outline APC’s unfulfilled promises
The road to 2019 already starts from the minute Jonathan made the historic call congratulating Buhari on his victory at the 2015 polls even before the official INEC declaration was made. The PDP is expected to start building a case for itself and try to convince Nigerians that president Buhari and the APC do not deserve a second chance. One of the ways to achieve this is to provide concrete promises and manifestos made by President Buhari and his party and focus on the promises that have not been fulfilled. The essence of a democratic system of government is not only candidates to contest and win elections but to put political office holders on their toes to either perform or risk being voted out. Nigerians must be reminded the promises the APC made and the PDP must capitalise on it.

Provide solutions 
Outlining the APC’s unfulfilled promises is not enough to win back power in 2019 but also providing means of providing solutions. Nigerians have grown beyond ‘we will provide electricity; we will provide good roads’ without providing a frame work of how his will be done. The electorate is interested in knowing HOW it will be done rather than only WHAT will be done. Members of the PDP who are serving in various elective positions must begin to show what they have done and what they are still doing in order to sway the electorate to vote for their candidate at the top.

Corruption
Without mincing words, the PDP as party is synonymous with corruption and it is not uncommon to hear people say some played a PDP on his opponent as synonymous to using dubious means. The onus is on the party to change this mind set by taking a firm stance against corruption. The party should not hesitate to disown members of the party convicted of corruption and take a neutral stance when culpability of its member on the issue of corruption is inevitable. The party is yet to be free of the blame of the misappropriation of $2.1 billion dollars meant for the purchase of arms that was disbursed to it through the office of the national security adviser. While the APC is not the party of saints, the PDP has a point to prove that it does not support or represent corruption. Nigerians are aware of the effect of corruption on the country’s future and development and the PDP through its members occupying elective positions must try to maintain clean records in order to better the chances of the party in 2019. 2019 is not far, it’s just around the corner and Nigerians are the decider.

- Rexinews

- MaDailyGist

Senate suspends ammendments of CCB/CCT, Criminal Justice Acts

The Senate rose from a three-hour executive session on Wednesday and agreed to suspend further legislative action on the bills to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Tribunal and the Administration of Criminal Justice Acts.

According to the Punch, the three bills which had already passed second reading on the floor of the upper chamber, were intended to whittle down the powers of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, in the discharge of its activities against corrupt officials.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, explained that the senate also agreed to suspend deliberations on the report of the ethics committee on the alleged activities of Senator Kabir Marafa that were not parliamentary.

Ekweremadu added that the senators unanimously resolved to stand by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his on-going trial in  line with global convention of an accused being innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
He added that the senators in the executive session had directed all members of the red chamber who had instituted certain court cases in courts to withdraw them forthwith in the spirit of true reconciliation.

Apart from this, Ekweremadu said the closed session agreed to set up a powerful committee, made up of two members each from the six geo – political zones to deliberate on other issues that had divided the Senate since inauguration of the eight senate and how to resolve them.

Ekweremadu said, “We have decided to suspend the discussion of the committee on Ethics report on Senator Marafa. We also agreed to suspend further deliberation on the amendment on the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice act the amendment thereto.

” We equally agreed that this senate should stand and we do stand by the senate president in his trial until proven guilty by the court in accordance with our constitution and democratic practices all over the world including South Africa, Brazil and Russia.

“We also agreed to set up a committee two from each geo-political zones to address all the remaining issues and as part of the reconciliation those in court should consider withdrawing the cases.

“Further to the agreement to set up the committees, the geo-political zones have sent names to their representatives. For South-South we have Senator Godswill Akpabio and senator James Manager.

“For North-West we have Senator Ahmed Sani-Yerima and Suleiman Hunkunyi; For the North-East, we have Senators Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Joshua Lidani; For for the South-East we have Senators Sam Egwu and Hope Uzodinma.

“For the North-Central, we have Senators Barnabas Gemade and Abdullahi Adamu, and for the South-West, we have Senators Monsurat Sunmonu and Gbenga Ashafa.”

- Rexinews

- Punch

Rufai raises the alarm over emergence of deadly Islamic sect in Kaduna State

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has raised the alarm over the emergence of a deadly Islamic group, “Gausiyya” in Markafi Local Government Area of the state.

El- Rufai

El-Rufai disclosed this on Sunday in a radio interview over his attempt to regulate religious activities in the State

Mr. El-Rufai made this known in a radio interview on Saturday, while justifying the need to regulate religious activities in the state.

He stated: “We had a security report that a new Islamic organization called GAUSIYYA is springing up in one of our local government areas, precisely Makarfi,” the governor said.

“After studying the group’s activities, we understand that it is not a sect that we should allow to stay in our state. They preach contrary to the teachings of Islam and are gradually recruiting youth in the name of religion.

“We have decided to stop the group and their activities before they grew and become a problem for the state. Negligence is what brought about the Maitatsine in the 80’s and the Boko Haram insurgents we are now fighting.”

“The state government will not be responsible for issuing any license to preaching bodies or a new preacher who just surfaces.
“A committee that will consist of clerics nominated by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, will issue religious bodies permits depending on their faith.

The governor who was determined to curb excesses of the growing sect said his government came up with a bill to regulate religious activities in the state and that he would welcome suggestions from individuals over the bill which is currently before the State Assembly

The governor said the government would welcome further suggestions on the bill, currently before the state assembly.

The bill

A BILL FOR A LAW TO SUBSTITUTE THE KADUNA STATE RELIGIOUS PREACHING LAW, 1984 BE IT ENACTED by the Kaduna state house of assembly as follows:
1. The law may be cited as the religious preaching law no…………… of 2016
2. This law shall come into operation on the ……………day of ……………2016.
3. In this law unless the context otherwise requires :- “Authority” means express permission consent or knowledge of the preacher given by the relevant authority; “Governor “means the Governor of Kaduna state; “preacher” means a person duly licenced by Jama’atu Nasil-Islam or Christian association of Nigeria , to preach. “Public place “means public resorts and includes markets, public institutions or centre and other facilities accessible to the public; “Relevant Authority means the Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI) or the Christian association of Nigeria (CAN); “State” means the Kaduna state of Nigeria.
4. (1) The two major religions in the state shall be regulated by the following (a) a committee of Jama’atu Nasir –Islam with equal representation of Izala and Darika religious group in the case of Muslims ‘and (b) a committee set up by Christian Association of Nigeria in the case of Christians. (c) An inter – faith ministerial committee to be appointed by the governor. (2) The inter-faith ministerial committee shall inter-face between the Jamaátu Nasir Islam (JNI) and the Christian association of Nigeria (CAN) committee and exercise supervisory control over them. The committee shall comprise of the following (i) A chairman to be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the secretary to the state Government; (ii) The special adviser to the Governor on internal security; (iii) the most senior official of the Government advising the Governor on inter-faith matters (iv) A member representing Jamaátu Nasir Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); (V) Representative of ministry of justice; and (vi) One Representative each from the Nigeria police, the Department of state security and the Nigeria security and civil Defence Corp not below the rank of Superintendent of Police or its equivalent;
5. (1) The religious bodies establish under section 4 (a) & (b) of this Law shall issue licences approved by the ministerial committee (2) The licence shall be issued for a period not exceeding one year, (3) A sponsored external preacher shall be issued a permit for the period of the event.
6. (1) There is hereby established in each Local Government Area of the state, a committee to screen applications for licences and recommend same to the ministerial for approval. (2) The committee shall consist of the following members:- (a) the Chairman and Co-Chairman each representing; the two major religions to be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Local Government Chairman of the Area (b) a representative of the Police not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police; (c) two Muslim, one representing the Izala and Darika religious groups respectively (d) two representative of Christian Association of Nigeria; and (e) a representative of the Traditional Institute. (f) The proceedings of this committee shall only be valid if there is a quorum of not less than five members with the Chairman and Co- Chairman jointly sitting with at least one member each representing the two major religions in attendance.
7. The committee established under section 6 shall: (a) ensure compliance with the terms of the licences so issued; and (b) register accredited preachers of all religious groups and organizations operating in the Local Government Area.
Provided that the permit to be issued to the licensed preachers shall specify the duration or the number of occasions it is to be used.
8. The Kaduna chapter of the Jamaátu Nasil Islam and the Christian Association of Nigeria shall have and keep records of the Churches and Mosques including the data of all its preacher in the State.
9. All cassettes, CDs, Flash drives or any other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from accredited preachers may be played in the following places only:- (a) inside one’s house; (b) inside entrance porch (Zaure) (c) inside the Church; (d)inside the Mosque and (e) any other designated place of worship
10. Any cassette containing religious recording in which abusive language is used against any person or religious organization or religious leaders (past or present) is hereby prohibited in the state.
11. Member of the ministerial committee may be paid such allowances as may be determined by the Governor.
12. A person shall be guilty of an offence who, in contravention of this law; (a) preachers without a valid licence; (b) plays religious cassette or uses a loud speaker for religious purpose after 8pm in a public place; (c) uses a loudspeaker for religious purpose other than inside a Mosque or Church and the surrounding arrears outside the stipulated prayer times; (d) uses a loudspeaker in vehicles plying the streets with religious recording; (e) abuses religious books; (f) incites disturbance of the public peace (g) abuses or uses any derogatory term in describing any religion: or (h) carries weapons of any description whether concealed or not in places of worship or to any other place with a view to causing religious disturbance shall be guilty of an offences”
13. A person who commits an offence under the provision of this law shall be liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine of two hundred thousand naira or both; and have his licences revoked.
14. The sharia courts and customary courts shall have jurisdiction to try violators of this law summarily and shall, on conviction give order for the forfeiture or destruction of any vehicle, equipment, instrument, gadget or book or other material carrying any offensive message.
15. The Kaduna state regulation of religious preaching Edit No. 7 of 1984 is hereby repealed.
Dated at Kaduna this ……… Day of………2016
Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai
Governor, Kaduna State
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note does not form part of this law and has no legal effect)
The purpose of this law is to regulate religious preaching and to provide sanctions for its violation)

The proposed law has generated controversy among the religious groups and pitched the governor against some religious leaders within and outside Kaduna State, among whom is Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the leader of the Omega Fire Ministry. He accused El-Rufai of trying to intimidate Christians with law and said he should revoke it or risk God's anger and death.

EFCC to arrest Jonathan before May 29

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC has fixed a tentative date to arrest former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Goodluck Jonathan

A source within the EFCC has revealed that the former president may be arrested before May 29, 2016, according to Report Afrique

The unnamed EFCC source said, ''Unfolding events in the next few weeks will actually confirm whether the EFCC has indeed become a toothless bulldog. We arrested Mr. Azibaola Robert on March 23, 2016 when he came to honour our invitation. We also arrested his wife, but she has since been granted bail.

The following day, we arrested Dakoru Atukpa, Executive Director of his company. As we speak, both men are in our custody and are helping with vital information needed to nail the former president. ''

The source said the commission is committed to proving Obasanjo wrong by taking on some people considered to be one of the sacred cows, saying: “You know former President Obasanjo has his unique way of passing his message. Before Obasanjo even described our Commission as a toothless bulldog, several persons accused us of shielding former President Jonathan. The truth is that we are not shielding anybody. It will not be good for us to rush to court only to be disgraced, the reason we took this long to make the arrests.

“However, be assured that a very big fish will land in our net before May 29. We intend to make the arrest of this big fish a Democracy Day gift to Nigerians''.

- Rexinews

- Report Afrique

Ekiti Politics: Fayose and Aluko Reconcile in Lagos

Governor Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Temitope Aluko

People were surprised to see that the outspoken and fiery Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and his estranged friend, the embattled former Secretary of the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Temitope Aluko have reconciled.

Both seem to have resolved issues on Sunday night in Lagos during a meeting held behind closed door to end the lingering crisis between them since 2014.

THISDAY gathered that the reconciliation was facilitated by the immediate past Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Dele Olugbemi, who brought the two combatants together.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Fayose said he is the father of all and must accommodate everybody in whatever that happened.

“We are resolving the issue, we have made appreciable progress and we hope and pray to God that there will be peace.

“In politics, we resolve issues like this and we have made considerable progress like Aluko had said. His coming back is to further strengthen the progress he is talking about and I am sure if this is not important, he won’t be here. He is here because there must be peace.” He said

In a brief remark, Aluko affirmed all is now well between him and the governor.
“There is peace. This is about peace,” he said.

When reminded that he betrayed the governor, Aluko replied: “Am I not standing with him (Fayose) now?”
Aluko said he had come down to see Fayose, who he described as his brother, declaring that the crisis that had led to misunderstanding between them was being resolved and that appreciable progress had been made towards achieving a lasting peace.

While blaming the crisis on undue interference from some quarters, Aluko said the processes leading to renewed peace between him and the governor was being achieved without any string or condition attached. When asked if he had forgiven Aluko, Fayose reiterated, “You see, whether you are talking of forgiveness, Aluko remains my boy, my son.”

Aluko made several damning allegations against the governor concerning how he allegedly took advantage of then federal might under the PDP to subvert the credibility of the state governorship election in 2014, describing the election that brought Fayose back in office as a “coup against the Ekiti people.”

But barely 12 hours after the truce, a Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, described Aluko as a man of unstable character.

Olayinka said in a statement that the Sundays meeting in Lagos between his boss and Aluko, who had been on each other’s throats over the conduct of the June 2014 governorship polls, had vindicated his position that “he (Aluko) can make a 360 degree turn around and return to the same Fayose he accused of rigging election, because he lacks integrity.

“Being the person that faced Aluko on television interviews where he told all the lies that he told against Fayose and the people of Ekiti State, I am constrained to make my position known on this new development.

“Even though Governor Fayose, being someone with a large heart may not be too happy that I am making this statement, but as one of the major dramatis personae in the whole saga, my conscience won’t allow me to just keep silent after all the pains and confusion caused by Aluko.

“I did say on Channels Television that giving the right situation or after Aluko must have concluded his scamming of the APC and its gullible leaders, he will return to Governor Fayose and recant everything that he had said.

“Today, I have been vindicated because Aluko has done just that and I wonder how he will feel when he comes face to face with the people that he has destroyed. I wonder how he will feel when he comes face to face with those fine military officers that he went to Kaduna to lie against and made them to lose their jobs.

“I wonder how those who funded him will be feeling now, having failed to listen when I was consistently saying that they were being duped. I wonder how the Department of State Services (DSS) men who took Aluko’s lies and acted on them by invading the State House of Assembly will feel now that they have integrity problem because of what he (Aluko) made them to do.

“However, I salute my boss, Governor Fayose for once again displaying his statesmanship because only a statesman with a large heart can hold the hands of someone like Aluko after all that he did to pull down
his government.

“I also thank God for vindicating me by finally exposing the hypocrisy of Aluko to the whole world to see.”

- Rexinews

- Thisday

Detained Ekiti lawmaker dies in DSS detention, Ekiti State government alleges

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose

Ekiti State government has alleged that a member of the state's House of Assembly has died in the detention of the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

The Commissioner for Information, Youth Sports and Culture, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, who made the announcement in a press conference on Thursday, said although the DSS had held him incommunicado since March 4th, "our contacts in the DSS told us that he is dead."

A statement made by the commissioner said: "we were told that he developed an ailment last night and he died by morning. The DSS had denied him access to his family, his doctor or to anyone that knows him."

"Information reaching us indicates that one of the abducted members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Afolabi Akanni, has died in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS)."

The statement added: "Significantly, since his illegal detention, he has been held incommunicado without access to his family members, doctors and lawyers.

"We call on the DSS to immediately clarify the situation as to the status (dead or alive) of Hon. Afolabi Akanni, representing Efon Constituency by producing him physically for all Nigerians, particularly his immediate family to see.

"While we are waiting for the DSS, we urge every resident of Ekiti State, particularly the people of his immediate constituency in Efon, to remain calm."

- Rexinews

- Tribune

Agatu killing: Over 5000 cows, armed Fulani herdsmen now occupy the area

Benue State Police Commissioner, Paul Yakadi, yesterday said over 5,000 cows accompanied by armed Fulani herdsmen were occupying part of Agatu local government area of the state, where about 300 lives were allegedly lost last week and 7,000 persons displaced.

Vanguard gathered that killing of villagers had continued unabated despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that a panel of investigation into the crisis be established and announcement of the establishment of an inter-agency security team to forestall further attacks.

Similarly, Benue State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, claimed the killings in Agatu by suspected Fulani herdsmen weres politically-motivated because the people of the area “overwhelmingly voted for Senator David Mark” in the last senatorial re-run election in Benue South senatorial District.

Yakadi, who led a team of police officers to assess the besieged communities, confirmed that seven villages, including Okokolo, Aila, Adagbo, Akwu, Omikuidi, Ocholonya and Odugbeho had been completely deserted.

He told newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi, that the invaders stormed Agatu from Naka in Gwer West local government area of Benue State, Loco and Doma in Nasarawa State.

According to him: “The worrisome renewed attack on the Agatu communities by Fulani herdsmen was as a result of the alarming influx of the herdsmen into the area through neighbouring towns of Naka in Gwer West local government area of Benue State, Loco and Doma of Nasarawa State, where cattle are made to swim across the water to Agatu. The Command, which was on an assessment tour of the area few days ago to identify areas that security needed to be beefed up, discovered Fulani herdsmen armed with sophisticated weapons with their cows numbering over 5,000.

“We saw a number of houses that were either burnt or destroyed and foodstuffs from these areas were looted and some were burnt. The team also discovered that the following villages; Okokolo, Aila, Adagbo, Akwu, Omikuidi, Ocholonya and Odugbeho were deserted with no trace of persons living there while three corpses were seen in Aila and Adagbo.”

The Police Commissioner, who claimed the crisis had been brought under control, said the Police in conjunction with the state government and other sister security agencies had made conscious efforts to monitor and forestall further destruction of lives and properties in the area.

Meanwhile, fresh report indicates that killing villagers in the local government has continued unabated.

A survivor of the alleged killings, Mr. Ada Ojechi, told Vanguard that news of Federal and Benue State governments’ intervention made the villagers to relax and that many of those who had earlier fled Odugbeho returned to the village on Sunday.

He said, “As we speak, Odigbeho Agatu has been razed. The massacre there today had no equal because Odugbeho is one of the most important and well-populated villages in Agatu.

”Our people were caught napping because we relaxed when we heard what we considered the cheering news that the Federal Government has intervened.

“Unfortunately, the Fulanis knew we had relaxed and took advantage to unleash a terrible massacre on us. As we speak, corpses litter everywhere in the village.

Meantime, the state chairman of PDP, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, has alleged that the killings in Agatu was politically-motivated because the people of the area “overwhelmingly voted for Senator David Mark” in the last re-run senatorial election in Benue South senatorial District.

Speaking at the PDP headquarters where he led members of the state executive council on a solidarity visit to the national chairman of the PDP, Dr Agbo alleged that despite the widespread killings, the government had maintained silence.

According to him: “We have witnessed massive attacks on several communities in Agatu Local government area of the state that have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and properties worth billions of Naira. We have reason to believe that this recent attack on the Agatu people was punishment for their resolve to vote overwhelmingly for Senator Mark.”

Responding, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, promised that he would take up the issue with the Inspector General of Police, noting that the party would not sit by and allow its members to be intimidated and harassed.

He said: “I am going to site to the inspector General of Police over the complaints that you have told me. As a party, I will do everything to ensure that our rights are not taken for granted. We will follow this issue to its logical conclusion to make sure that none of our members is intimidated and harassed.”

- Rexinews

- Vanguard

Why Buhari will abandon some of his campaign promises

The minister of information, Lai Mohammed February 28, on Channels TV  explained the reason why the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari will not carry out some of its campaign promises.


He said crude oil price was $100 per barrel when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was campaigning, but now the price has dropped to $30 a barrel.

“When you campaign, you say you will do A,B, C, but when you win election, you prioritise. “We are still faithful to those promises, but as you have rightly said, when we were campaigning the price of crude was $100 a barrel, today it is $30 a barrel so definitely, we will have to downsize some of the things intended to do but this does not mean abandoning those promises.

“You do not make a budget for four years, you make an annual budget and in this years budget, we have outlined those parts of the policy that we intend to keep.

“Those we cannot keep this year, we will keep in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
This is how government works,” he said.

Mohammed assured Nigerians that the administration was focused on how to fulfill its campaign promises.

However, he added that the federal government was waiting for the approval of the 2016 budget before it would start implementing its plans. Speaking about the anti-corruption campaign, the minister noted that it may look one-sided because the indicted people are connected to one transaction that is currently being investigated.

Mohammed said that those people facing trial were all connected to the investigation of how the fund meant for the purchase of military equipment was used. He further noted that some members of the APC were also being investigated for other corruption cases which he did not mention. “If you go to the EFCC today and ask them who are the people that are facing charges before them, you are going to find as many APC and as many PDP.

“However, what gives the impression that the fight is one sided is the fact that it is simply one issue that is being investigated now. That is money meant to buy arms which was diverted for other uses and unfortunately, everybody involved in that happened to be in the PDP. From the NSA to others who he had named.

“When you trace this thing, because it is just a particular transaction that is the contract of 2.1 billion dollars that was awarded to equip our soldiers, everybody that you have showed us here have been mentioned as a result of that investigation from that single transaction,” he said. The minister explained that it takes between 34 days and seven years to convict a low profile criminal. However, when that criminal is high profile, it takes as long as 10 years to infinity to convict that person, he added.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has said he could not pay N5000 to unemployed graduates as promised during the last presidential campaign, but he would rather focus on funding key sectors of economy that can create employment opportunities.

Tension in Christian communities as FG plans to install northerner as CAN president.

Ayo Oristejafor

Tension has been mounting within Christian communities, following the allegation that President Buhari and All People Congress plan to install a northerner as the president of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to succeed Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

A group of Christians under the umbrella of Christ Redeemers Union, yesterday, claimed that the Presidency was interested in CAN election for some selfish reasons, noting that APC wants pro-Buhari clergy from the North to avoid any radical opposition to his administration from the Christian community.

The National Director of CRU, Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Abednego, who disclosed this to newsmen, in Abuja, said that Christians would resist any plan by the Presidency to install CAN President.

“We have it on good authority that any leader being installed by the Presidency in CAN would avoid any virulent criticism of the Buhari government and this has informed their desperate to install a leadership that will not be critical.

“But we are vehemently opposed to government meddling into a purely religious affairs and should the Presidency succeed in installing an APC/Buhari stooge in CAN, we will pull out of CAN. We are ready for them, we have it on good authority that some Muslim leaders from the North are behind the plot. But by the power in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow and they won’t succeed,” He said.

But the Presidency has debunked the allegation, saying Buhari did not interfere in an internal affairs of any organisation. Special Adviser to the President (Media and Communications), Mr. Femi Adesina, dismissed the allegation and said Buhari did not interfere in the internal affairs of any organisation.

“It means that some Nigerians don’t know their President; Your President, Muhammadu Buhari did not interfere in things like that; so they need to know the person who is their President."

“The people making the allegation can’t insist that they are correct because that is the man for you and Buhari doesn’t interfere in anything. If he doesn’t interfere in State elections where his own party, APC is having candidates, how will he interfere in CAN elections? They don’t know their President,” Adesina said.

Nigeria's economy is in trouble as FG lacks direction, Says Fayose

Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti State Governor

The governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has raised the alarm over the imminent collapse of the county’s economy, saying the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government is yet to show any sign that it has any solution to the dwindling economy.

The governor, who called on Nigerians to prevail on President Buhari to stay at home and govern the country, said it was the height of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians that the president, who just returned from trips to France and United Kingdom, would again be travelling to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar from February 20 to 27, spending seven days out of the country in what they called “three-nation tour.”

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor lamented the lack of a clear cut economic direction from the Federal Government, saying “it is worrisome that President Buhari does not have any economic team and there is no policy direction yet, despite spending close to nine months in office.”

He said the implication of the development and resultant effects are human right abuses, escalation of prices of goods and services, daily retrenchment of workers, folding up of businesses, states finding it difficult to pay workers’ salary and the Federal Government not being able to prepare what he termed common budget.

The governor said with President Buhari, Nigeria is definitely “having a square peg in its round hole.

“Dollar has gone double since Dr Goodluck Jonathan left office, with United States Dollar exchanging for N350 as of today. Foreign reserve is declining on a daily basis, Boko Haram insurgents have come back, even stronger than they were when Buhari assumed office and Nigerians are now being made to pay more for electricity that is not available for them to use.

“Most importantly, prices of foodstuffs, newsprint, medicine, among others have gone over the roof. Should we still continue to attribute all these to Jonathan or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

“Even former Central Bank Governor (CBN) Governor and Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, is saying President Buhari’s anti-corruption stance is totally inconsistent with the forex regime he supported and that the Federal Government forex policy encourages corruption and rent-seeking.”
While urging the president to focus more on the dwindling economy and stay at home to attend to critical issues, Governor Fayose said “travelling from one country to another won’t solve any of our problems, because I have not seen where foreigners assist any nation to develop.”

Rexinews

Tribune

Sheriff emerges PDP chairman amidst confusion.

Ali Modu Sheriff

The former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was yesterday chosen to become the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The decision to choose him was first proposed by the national caucus yesterday morning before it was subsequently ratified by the National Executive Committee, NEC.

Sheriff was favoured by the governors, senators, national caucus and the National Working Committee, NWC. Other aspirants considered for the position, as reported by the Vanguard, included former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Engr. Abba Gana from Borno State; Ambassador Wilberforce Juta from Adamawa State; National Vice Chairman, North East, Senator Girgiri Lawal from Yobe State; former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Shehu Gabam; Senator Saidu Kumo from Gombe State, Muhammed Wakil from Borno and former Adamawa State governorship candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Ribadu who was the favourite of some notable party stakeholders, reportedly made himself unavailable for personal screening by the party chieftains yesterday. Two candidates, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta and Modu Sheriff were left after the screening,  but the national caucus reportedly settled for the latter because the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, is a Christian.

The contention was that having Juta, a Christian, as a national chairman would not go down well with the party, hence the choice of Modu Sheriff.

Sheriff emerged the leading candidate to fill the vacancy in the office of national chairman from 29 aspirants who appeared for the interview and screening before the national caucus.

He was the former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP before joining the PDP in July 2014 after the fall out with his one time protégé and successor, Governor Kashim Shettima.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the party's 2015 presidential campaign organization, Chief Fani-Kayode has flayed the emergence of Sheriff as national chairman of the party, saying the party needs prayer. In a statement made available yesterday, Fani-Kayode said: “I do not often speak publicly about the internal affairs of the PDP because I have always chosen to remain well above the fray. This is because I have good friends in every single group and on all sides that constitute the party.

“However, given today’s event, there appears to be deep cause for concern. it is clear to me that, more than at any other time in its almost 17 years in existence, the PDP needs serious prayers.

“If we fail to provide the strong, united, progressive, credible and focused leadership and opposition that is needed to keep our country on course and our government on their toes then God will never forgive us and He will surely punish us.

“If we insist on making the wrong choices about our leadership and if we keep taking people for granted not only will we be finished as a party but the entire country will suffer the consequences of our errors and inexplicable ways.

“May God help us and may He forgive us and deliver us from evil, greedy, corrupt, ignorant and bloodthirsty men.”

Some stakeholders were also opposed to choice of Sheriff, but the party spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh in his first briefing said: “We had decided that the North-East Caucus should meet and bring a candidate to replace the National Chairman that resigned, Adamu Mu’azu. But when they met, they were not able to narrow it down to one person. So, what they did was to send to us five people; one from each state of the North East. They sent Giri Gana from Yobe State, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta from Adamawa State, Abba Gana from Borno State, Shehu Gabam from Bauchi State, Senator Kumo from Gombe State. Taraba did not have any other person. So, these five people were invited to come and see the National Caucus on Monday to take a decision.

“At the meeting we had with them, we decided that it was important that we enlarge the scope and the number of people that will come. So, we extended and invited some other people to come and show why they want to be chairman. One or two governors confirmed that Ribadu had shown interest in becoming chairman; so we extended invitation to him to come. We were told that Modu Sheriff over the weekend expressed an interest. We invited him to come and tell us, and because Hon. Wakil had come down from the United Kingdom to participate in the process, we invited him as well.

“On Monday, apart from those five people, we interviewed Ali Modu Sheriff and Mohammed Wakil. But we were told that Ribadu was not comfortable with an interview.

“After the interview process, they were narrowed down to two persons. A little over an hour ago, the National Caucus discussed. The governors first of all discussed and brought a candidate, the National Assembly discussed and brought a candidate, the BoT discussed and came up with a candidate, the National Working Committee discussed and came with a candidate. So, we brought the candidate at the National Caucus. One interesting thing was that unanimously, it was the same candidate that every single organ of the party brought to the National Caucus.

“So, the National Caucus endorsed that they will bring to the Board of Trustees the choice of the National Caucus, after which both organs will bring the nomination to the National Executive Committee (NEC). So, there is no approval of the National Executive Committee but for now, I can confirm to you that the National Caucus has chosen Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to be the National Chairman of the party. But we are awaiting Board of Trustees approval and the NEC to appoint this afternoon. So, this is exactly where we are.

No one'll regret my choice, says Sheriff
Following his endorsement by the NEC, Sheriff promised to take off immediately in building the party even as he acknowledged that there were different views on his emergence, but promised that no one will regret his choice as he would deliver to ensure that PDP wins the 2019 Presidential election.

“I ask everybody for prayers, whatever your feelings let's work together I will carry everybody along.”

Sheriff was immediately sworn in by Chief Emeka Etiaba, SAN, in a ceremony witnessed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; all PDP Governors and other PDP bigwigs.

Buhari sacks Director-General for Budgeting, other 26 DGs

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday removed the Director-General for Budget  budget, Mr Yaya Gusau over controversy surrounding 2016 and replaced him immediately with Mr. Tijjani Abdullahi.

The President also  appointed Mr. Ben Akabueze as the Special Adviser to the President on National Planning, and the former member of House of Representatives, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa as his Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora.

Also on Monday, the President sacked heads of 26 federal parastatals, agencies and commissions. The Secretary yo the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, in a statement said those affected in the game of sack include head of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA; Mr. Sola Omole; heads of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN; Voice of Nigeria, VON; News Agency of Nigeria, NAN ; National Broadcasting Commission, NBC and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF.

Others are heads of New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD; Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF; Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN; Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund; National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA and the Petroleum Equalization Fund, Nigeria Railways Corporation, NRC; Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP; Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE; Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA; Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON; National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC; Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, NIPC; Bank of Industry, BoI; National Centre for Women Development, NCWD; National Orientation Agency, NOA; Industrial Training Fund, ITF; Nigerian Export-Import Bank as well as the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic In Persons and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP.

Meanwhile the President directed the most senior officers in the parastatals, agencies and commissions to oversee the activities of the organisations pending the appointment of substantive Chief Executive Officers.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said the new DG Budget, Mr. Abdullahi, "is a fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria, and a banker of repute with experience in managing public finance, who will now replace the current Director-General (Budget), Mr. Yahaya Gusau. The new Director-General of Budget is expected to work with the Minister of Budget and National Planning to efficiently deliver on the mandates of the Budget Office of the Federation.

President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Mr Akabueze as the Special Adviser to the President on National Planning. Akabueze, the immediate past Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos State, has worked in senior management positions in Citi Bank, Fidelity Bank, United Bank for Africa, NAL Merchant Bank, Sterling Bank and BIA Consulting Limited, among others. He is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers; Fellow, Institute of Credit Administrators."

Simon Achuba sworn in as Kogi Deputy Governor

Simon Achuba

Governor Mr. Simon Achuba has been sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State after the state House of Assembly approved his nomination for the position.

Governor Yahaya Bello had sent a letter containing his nomination as deputy governor to the Assembly on Monday after weeks of deliberations. Achuba was sworn in as deputy governor behind closed doors at the banquet hall of the Government House shortly after the House endorsed his nomination.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Lawal, confirmed to journalists, who were denied entry into the venue of the inauguration, that the approval was in response to a letter by the governor seeking the consideration and approval of the House for the nomination.

He added that the request and approval of the Assembly was in consonance with Section 191 (3) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) which provided for the position of a Deputy Governor.

He explained that approval of the Achuba, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All progressives Congress in May, 2015 was to prevent a vacuum from being created in the state government.

Achuba, a two-time member of the House was asked to take a bow and go following the submissions of members that as a former member of the Assembly, there was no need to subject him to rigorous screening.

 He was born on July 13, 1964 and a member of the Assembly between 1999 and 2007, Deputy Speaker of the house between 2003 and 2007 as well as the immediate past chairman of Kogi State Environmental Protection Board. The State Assembly also approved a list of 21 nominees for appointment as special advisers to the governor.

- Rexinews

- Punch

The Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed the elections of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

Governors Ikpeazu and Emmanuel of Abia and Akwa Ibom States

A seven-man bench presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, unanimously affirmed the governors’ elections after upholding their separate appeals against the judgments of the Court of Appeal which had ordered their removal from office.

The decisions of the Supreme Court put paid to the legal actions initiated against Emmanuel and Ikpeazu by their main rivals shortly after the April 11, 2015 elections in the two states.

While Emmanuel’s election was challenged by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Okon Umana, that of Ikpeazu was challenged by All Progressive Grand Alliance’s candidate, Dr. Alex Otti.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had nullified the Akwa Ibom State governorship election in the entire 31 local government areas of the state on December 18, 2015, while the Owerri Division of the appeal court had removed Ikpeazu and declared the APGA candidate, Otti, winner of the election in Abia State, in a judgment delivered on December 31, 2015.

Both governors, who had appealed against the separate judgments of the Court of Appeal which had removed them from office, are of the Peoples Democratic Party.

This judgement follows similar judgement on Tuesday which affirmed Delta, Yobe and Oyo State governorship elections over opposition parties' petitions against Appeal Court Judgements.

Supreme Court upholds Ajimobi, Okowa and Gaidam's election

The supreme court Abuja this evening, in a marathon judgement upheld the elections of governors Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State.

The seven-man panel of Justices of the apex Court that heard the three cases however said they would adduce reasons for their judgement on February 15

Supreme court sacks all Anambra senators

The supreme Court today sacked the remaining two senators from Anambra state in the National Assembly.

Senators Stella Oduah a former Minister of Aviation and Andy Uba a former Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Domestic Affairs were sacked today while Senator Uche Ekwunife had earlier been sacked.

The court has since ordered for their replacements with Chris Ubah (Anambra South) and Annie Okonkwo (Anambra Central).

Supreme court upholds wike's election as the Rivers State Governor

The Supreme Court on Wednesday  upheld election of Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of the Rivers State.

Nyesom Wike

Premium Times reports:
The court gave the ruling validating the April 11 governorship election on Wednesday but did not provide reasons for its judgment.

It said detailed reasons for the verdict would be provided on February 12. The Court of Appeal had on December 16 affirmed the judgment of the Rivers Governorship Election Tribunal.

The appeal court had ruled that Mr. Wike was not validly elected.

The Rivers Tribunal had earlier on October 24 nullified Mr. Wike’s election.
The tribunal, which delivered its ruling in Abuja, also ordered that a fresh governorship election be conducted in the state.

After the tribunal’s ruling, the governor headed to the Court of Appeal, saying the judgment was untenable. The petition challenging the election of Mr. Wike as Rivers State Governor was filed by Dakuku Peterside, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the election.

With today's ruling, issues that have sparked violence and caused apprehension about who and which political party rules the oil-rich state can now laid to rest.

- Rexinews

- Premium Times

Yahaya Bello sworn in without deputy

Yahaya Bello

Premium Times reports:
Kogi State on Wednesday made another unusual history as its fourth democratically elected governor, Yahaya Bello, was sworn in without a deputy.
The man nominated by the All Progressives Congress to be Mr. Bello’s deputy, James Faleke, made real his threat not to present himself for swearing in with the governor.

He was conspicuously absent at Wednesday’s ceremony, and no replacement was announced at the event. The legal implication of that arrangement remained unclear Wednesday.

It is the first time in Nigeria’s political history that an elected governor would be inaugurated without a deputy.

The North-Central state had made another history late last year when a leading governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, died before its governorship election is concluded, throwing the state into what appeared a constitutional logjam.
On Wednesday, Mr. Bello was inaugurated amid pomp and ceremony by the Chief Judge of the state, Nasir Ajana, who administered the oath of office and that of allegiance on him.


Mr. Bello was picked by the All Progressives Congress to replace its late candidate, Mr. Audu.
Mr. Faleke objected to the party’s decision and approached the election tribunal in the state asking it to declare him governor-elect.
He contended that the election had been won and lost before Mr. Audu died and that he (Faleke) should have been pronounced governor-elect.
Mr. Faleke has repeatedly claimed that he was not consulted or taken into confidence by anyone regarding the choice of Mr. Bello as Mr. Audu’s replacement.
He was also quoted in various reports as expressing suspicion that the party was planning to announce his replacement on the grounds that he absconded from Wednesday’s inauguration.

Those attending Wednesday’s inauguration include the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun as well as the governor of Nasarawa state and the Minister of Communication Technology, Adebayo Shittu.
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, was represented by Kabir Gaya, a senator and former governor of Kano.
The Senator representing Kogi East, Dino Melaye, who gave the welcome address, said Wednesday’s inauguration was historic because “a minority is now the governor of Kogi state”.

He pledged that Mr. Bello would not disappoint the people of the state and called on all aggrieved people to unite and cooperate with the new governor for the sake of Kogi state.

- Rexinews

- Premium Times

Okonjo-Iweala blasts Falana for implicating in $2.1b arms scandal

FORMER Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana is funny and filled with malicious intent tarnish her image in his letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

She said it was not the first time Falana would  attack her person as he was being used by corrupt politicians against her. According to her, this happened anytime she receives national or international recognition for her work.

Vanguard reports:
“He has resorted to this action because his previous efforts to tarnish my name - through his discredited NGO, and petitions to the EFCC – failed, because they were lacking in credibility.

“This latest effort to try to attach my name falsely confirms that Femi Falana is nothing but a tool of corrupt elements whose interests were hurt by the work I did in fighting corruption while in office.

“These elements have now made a habit of making false allegations against my person whenever I receive any national or international recognition for my work.

“The pattern is clear and Nigerians should be alerted to it. I will not be intimidated from going on with my life and performing my duties. I will not give in to cowardly and unmanly bullying,” she said.

The former minister further explained that the latest attempt to implicate her falsely suggested that the lawyer had no grasp of the facts, adding that contrary to allegations, she had absolutely nothing to do with the alleged misuse of $2.1 billion by the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA).

She explained that the January 20, 2015 memo in which she sought and received the approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the release of part of the newly returned Abacha funds to the NSA for the purchase of arms was totally separate from the $2.1 billion issue.

“The memo which is now in the public domain speaks for itself. The release of the resources was in response to an approval by the former president, following a meeting chaired by him after a committee had considered the request,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala added that it was a fact that some of the funds recovery was done under the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the first term of President Olusegun Obasanjo, when she was not even in government, reiterating that during the time she was finance minister in the second Obasanjo administration, $500 million was recovered.

“As documented by the Field Study conducted by the World Bank with the assistance of national and international NGOs, this amount was properly applied. It is on record that I championed transparency and vigorously fought corruption during my two terms as minister. Among other actions, starting from the second Obasanjo administration, I, for the first time in Nigeria’s history, published monthly revenue allocations to all tiers of government for Nigerians to see,” she added.

The former minister said while serving in the Obasanjo administration, she requested the assistance of the World Bank and Department for International Development (DfID), to build institutions and systems that could block leakages from the treasury, adding that this stalled after she left office in 2006 until August 2011 when she returned under the Jonathan-led government.

She said with the assistance of the Ministry of Finance team, she re-invigorated the establishment and use of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS), the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“All of this saved the country billions of naira by drastically reducing avenues for corruption in the public service. These facts are well documented in successive World Bank, DFID and IMF Article 4 Reports.

“It is gratifying that the present government has adopted and is further building on these systems for the benefit of the country,” she said.

She concluded that Falana was callous beyond belief for ignoring a fact of recent Nigerian history; the kidnap of Professor Kamene Okonjo, her 83-year-old mother, by agents of fuel subsidy fraudsters who were angry that she had blocked them from defrauding the country further.

“The kidnappers had told the traumatised old woman that they were sent to punish me for refusing to pay some oil marketers,” she said.

According to her, it was insensitive and, in fact, inhumane for Falana and his sponsors to level false accusations against someone like her, who went through a searing personal ordeal for her principled fight against corruption, adding that Falana’s attempt to implicate her falsely was a disservice to law, justice and the image of the country.

“It is sad that a person who had earned some prominence as a human rights lawyer now tramples on the human rights of others as a political jobber,” Okonjo-Iweala stated.

Federal Government fight against corruption is globally endorsed - Minister

The Federal Government has expressed satisfaction over the global endorsement of its fight against corruption, stating that the fight will continue until the menace is completely stamped out for the country to achieve for sustainable development.

According to the Leadership report,  the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the acknowledgement of the efforts by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari by the US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, was commendable.

‘’The Federal Government is delighted that the anti-corruption war being led by President Muhammadu Buhari has been acknowledged and applauded on a global stage.

‘’It is particularly gratifying that in that speech, Mr. Kerry made the link between corruption and terrorism. We agree that corruption is indeed a radicalizer because it destroys faith in legitimate authority. Let me remind you, gentlemen, that radicalization is a key causative factor of terrorism,’’ Mohammed said during a meeting with newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.

The minister announced that he would soon kick-start a series of town hall meetings across the country to take the sensitization campaign, which he launched in Abuja last Monday, directly to Nigerians, in addition to using the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the relevant units of the ministry to reach every part of the country.

He said the government was aware that when one fights corruption, corruption also fights back. ‘’We know that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations and an army of supporters to continuously deride the government’s war against corruption. But we are undaunted and will not relent until corruption is also decimated,’’ he said.

Mohammed said corruption was responsible for the endemic poverty in the country today, noting that whereas Nigeria’s national budget has increased from just over 900 billion Naira in 1999 to over 6 trillion Naira in 2016, poverty has also increased almost by the same proportion. ‘‘The reason is not far fetched: appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters,’’ he said.

The minister added: ‘‘When the money meant to construct roads are looted, the end result is that the roads are not built and the people suffer and even die in avoidable road accidents. When the money meant to provide electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness. When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce maternal and infant mortality. These are the costs of corruption.’’

He also made a comparative analysis of the number of ‘Dasukigate’ beneficiaries and the amount they collected from the office of the National Security Adviser in 2015 on one hand, and the list of projects and amount of funds deployed across the nation in the Zonal Intervention project of 2015 appropriation act.

‘’Whereas the sum of N51.829 bn was appropriated for 1,278 projects in the Zonal Intervention Projects for 2015, a total of 21 individuals and companies benefited from the fraud to the tune of N54.659 bn as we know so far. The implication is that the amount received by 21 individuals and companies is more than the 2015 Zonal Intervention Project budget by N2.829 bn.”

‘’Furthermore, the value of what beneficiaries of Dasukigate contributed to development is zero, compared to how the lives of Nigerians would have been transformed, poverty reduced and livelihoods improved by the projects which – as we have shown – would have cost N2.829 bn less than the Dasukigate fraud’’ the minister said.

He said contrary to what was being said in certain circles that the government was dwelling too much on the war against corruption to the detriment of other areas of governance, the time spent on eradicating the menace cannot be too much.

‘’The situation is very grim indeed, as far as corruption is concerned. That is why the Federal Government is embarking on this sensitization campaign. Our approach – which is to count the cost of corruption – is not to vilify anyone but to use facts and figures to give Nigerians a sense of what corruption has done to their lives,’’ the minister said.

- Rexinews

- Leadership