As President, Insults Were Pleasant To Me — Obasanjo

Ibadan—FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that it was a form of pleasure to him when he was being insulted as a sitting president by his critics or perceived political opponents.
To show that he enjoyed the ‘fun’, he said all those published insults were kept in the archives at his presidential library.

He said, “If you visit the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, you will find thousands of archived newspaper comics and columns meant to spite and insult my person even as a sitting President. No individual or group of people was ever queried or jailed or repressed for expressing this freedom. Rather, I encouraged them because I derived fun and pleasure from the humour as I know who I am and nobody needs to tell me who and what I am not “.

Your Anti-Corruption War Is Selective, Jonathan’s Former Aides Tell Buhari

AIDES of former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sent a protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over what they described as disparity in the ongoing investigations into cases of cor­rupt practices against some political ap­pointees under the last administration.
The former political aides under the aegis of the Voice of the South-South, declared that though they support the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration with the belief that it will be done with justice and equity yester­day, they however, said the exclusion of the former president’s aides who hail from nothern Nigeria and other stalwarts of All Progressive Congress (APC) showed losidedness, selective justice and bias.

One Year In Office: I’ve Done Well –Fayose

Wife donates model school to orphanage
EKITI State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose yesterday reviewed his one year in office and declared: ‘I have done well’.
His wife, Feyisetan do­nated a model school to the Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home in Iyin Ekiti, in a bid to give edu­cation to motherless chil­dren.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti while inspecting some projects, Fayose said con­sidering the paucity of funds in the state, he has done well.

AIG Mbu Appears Before Rights Commission

Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Joseph Mbu yesterday appeared at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to defend an allegation against him of torture, threat to life and abuse of human rights.
Mbu appeared at the Commission’s office in Abuja after disobeying several summons.
Executive Secretary, NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe told journalists yesterday at the commission that Mbu honoured the third and last invitation which if he had turned down, the powers of the commission would have been invoked on him.

World Bank Defends $75m Loan To Edo

The World Bank has defended its $75 million loan to Edo State Government, saying it grants significant funding only to governments it trusts would use the funds judiciously to achieve its development results.

Speaking on Wednesday at a three-day retreat for members of the State Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries holding at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to brainstorm and re-strategise on raising the bar on governance in the state, with the theme, ‘Finishing Well’, two top executives of the World Bank, Mrs. Gloria Joseph Raji and Dr. Khwima Nthara said the bank trusts Edo State Government to use the fund properly as it only provides support to governments the bank trusts to use its funds for development results.

Obasanjo Decries Worsening Corruption In Africa

Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has decried the worsening level of corruption in Africa, urging African nations to wage war against it.
Obasanjo, who delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the First International Conference of the African Studies Association of Africa, ASAA, held on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, southwest Nigeria, said one of the main challenges for the African continent was corruption.
At the event hosted by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, the former president stated that corruption negated the deep moral fabric of the African society, saying that to steal from the community is considered a grave offence that puts permanent dent on the integrity and values of the family.
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Nigeria Loses $15bn To Non-Passage Of PIB - Kachikwu

THE Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, on Wednesday said Nigeria loses $15 billion (about N3.3 trillion) to non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Kachikwu, who stated this while appearing before the Senate during the ministerial screening, said the new government would, however, tinker with the bill to ensure its passage.
“I will not be constrained by lack of PIB to continue to tinker with the operations of NNPC to ensure efficiency. As long as we would like to pass a holistic PIB, which will be cumbersome, it is better we break it up and take it in parts.

I’m Ready To Go To Prison For Nigeria – Clark

TWENTY FOUR hours after Edwin Clark told newsmen that President Jonathan meant well but had problems fighting corruption, the Ijaw leader granted us another interview where he clarified things. He was quoted as having dumped the People’s Democratic Party, PDP for the ruling APC.
“I never said that I was joining APC. I said that at my age I should be an elderly statesman and will no longer play partisan politics. At 89 why should I be playing partisan politics?

Akure Markets Shut As Deji And Eze-Ndigbo Clash

Igbo in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have reportedly shut down their businesses to protest the planned dethronement of their Eze- Ndigbo, Sir Gregory Iloehike.

Shops belonging to the Igbo were locked in all major markets in Akure; they also withdrew their services from the markets.

The Igbo, who converged on their secretariat at Gbogi Street as early as 7am, warned the Deji of Akure against dethroning the Eze Ndigbo.

They insisted that the traditional ruler has no power to dethrone Iloehike.

Presidency Happy With Saraki’s Handling Of Ministerial Screening

ABUJA —THE Senate, yesterday, screened 10 of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 37 ministerial nominees in an exercise that was both colourful and dramatic. The exercise also raised the issue of thoroughness as some of the nominees were hardly grilled as expected.

The exercise, which started after Senate President Bukola Saraki read out the names of the 16 nominees on the second ministerial list, which President Buhari sent to the Senate on Monday was an opportunity for the nominees to clear their names over some allegations as well as disclose what they would do if appointed.

Buhari Withdraws Ibeto From Ministerial Nominees

President Muhammadu Buhari has withdrawn the nomination of Ahmed Ibeto from Niger State as a Minister, bringing the total number of nominees to 36 from 37 earlier submitted.
This was just announced by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki at today’s plenary.
Meanwhile, the Senate has promised to improve on whatever gains it recorded yesterday, adding that it would use the feelings of the general public as the yardstick with which to adjudge self.
Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, who disclosed this on Wednesday, explained that what happened yesterday was the confirmation screening. He added that “We are not going to confirm in batches. We are going to confirm holistically.”
Daily Post.

Amaechi Will Not Be Screened – Senate

The Senate has said that former governor of Rivers State who was billed to be screened today will not be part of the exercise despite his name being reflected on the order paper.
This development follows the failure of Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s led Ad-hoc Committee on Ethics, Public Petitions and Privileges to submit their report at today’s plenary.

The Committee had reported that it was yet to submit its report on the petitions against Rotimi Ameachi to the Committee of the whole, hence, the Senate will have to stay action.
“You will recall that the Committee on Ethics, Public Petitions and Privileges has been investigating Mr Rotimi Ameachi, a ministerial nominee from Rivers State. As I speak, the report is yet to be concluded”, Anyanwu maintained.

Obasanjo Blames Colonialism For Africa’s Underdevelopment

Ibadan – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday in Ibadan identified colonialism as an impediment to Africa’s progress and development.
Obasanjo spoke at the first edition of the International Conference of the African Studies Association of African (ASAA) held at the University of Ibadan.
The theme of the conference was “African Studies in the 21st Century: Past, Present and Future.”
“As we are all aware, colonialism devastated and depopulated the continent through transatlantic slave trade,’’ the former president said.

Don’t Abandon Jonathan’s Policies, Former Minister Tells Buhari

A former finance minister, Shamsudeen Usman, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to carry on with projects initiated by the immediate past administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking at the 56th annual conference of the Nigerian Economic Society on Monday, Mr. Usman said continuing with previous projects will ensure growth and development in the country.
He said Nigeria has over the years planned richly but lacked consistency in leadership and implementation.

“What is lacking is really leadership and consistency. So I am happy to know that our new president is providing that clear leadership, which is very critical, because it’s the message signal from the top,” said Mr. Shamdueen who was also a national planning minister.

Kachikwu: Lack Of PIB Costs Nigeria ₦3trn Yearly

Ibe Kachikwu, a ministerial nominee and group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has revealed that Nigeria is losing in excess of N3trillion annually to lack of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“The investment that we are losing on an annual basis because of the lack of PIB, is in excess of $15b (N3tr) a year, and the reason is simple,” he said while addressing the senate on Wednesday.
“It would have been better that you didn’t start at all, then announce very flamboyantly that you were going to do PIB then step back from it, because it increases the level of uncertainty that no international investor wants to grapple with.

THE QUESTION: How Did Buhari Overlook Utomi, Ezekwesili, Falana And Abdullahi?

With the release of the second list of ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari, several All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts and technocrats were surprisingly overlooked.
Here are six candidates you would have sworn Buhari would give a chance.

Utomi, from Delta state, had been prominently mentioned in the media as one of the technocrats who would be appointed minister by Buhari. Utomi is highly regarded in business and politics as a man of high intellect and honesty. He is an advocate of a more ethical politics. He is the founder of Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL) and was the presidential candidate of the lesser-known African Democratic Congress Party in the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections. He joined the APC in 2014. Utomi campaigned vigorously for the APC in the last general election.
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Fuel Not Scarce, Stop Panic Buying, NNPC Tells Nigerians

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Tuesday, called on Nigerians to desist from panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as fuel, stating that it has about 23 days of product supply in all its depots across the country.
Reacting to the resurgence of fuel queues in some cities across the country, the NNPC, in a statement by Mr. Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, stated that its depots have about 927.461 million litres of PMS which is enough to serve the country for the next 23 days if no drop of the product is imported within the period.

Corruption In Nigeria Affects UK – Minister

The government of the United Kingdom yesterday has said the level of corruption in Nigeria affects it directly and it would take steps to protect the integrity of its financial system.
UK’s Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth, Grant Shapps, who was in Kaduna yesterday to meet with Governor Nasir El-Rufai, said there would be no impunity on the side of his government in tackling corruption, promising that it would take prompt action against anyone who commits criminal offence under UK jurisdiction.

“Where assets are recovered, we will return them to Nigeria as soon as we can so they can be used for Nigerian development,” he said.

Nigeria Is Technologically Ready For E-Voting But... – INEC

Nigeria is technologically ready for electronic voting and the country may adopt it as soon as the current electoral acts are amended to that effect, the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Amina Zakari has said.  Mrs Zakari disclosed this in Abuja yesterday while answering questions from journalists shortly after a courtesy visit by the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Olu Jack.

She said: “We have always used technology as far as electoral process is concerned so as to achieve free and fair elections. Anytime we have the time to recommend amendments we will be able to make amendmmsents and once that impediment is lifted INEC will partner with agencies to develop framework for electoral voting.”  According to her, “INEC shall however partner with NITDA to fashion a homegrown content that will be for Nigeria.”
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Ogoni Spill: FG Set To Release First Tranche f $10m To Begin Clean-Up

Federal Government has announced plans to release the first tranche of $10 million to begin the process of cleaning up areas devastated by oil spills in Ogoniland.
Although actual date for the release of these funds has not been disclosed yet, there were indications that the funds would be largely deployed for logistic arrangements, including setting up of a board of trustees to manage the implementation of the clean-up.
An estimated $1.04 billion dollars would be required to effectively clean-up the entire oil spill areas in Ogoni land,according to a recent assessment report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

EFCC To Arraign Arinze, Internet Fraud Kingpin, Others In Asaba

Two suspected members of a syndicate involved in Internet fraud have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In a statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC Head, Media & Publicity, The suspects, Arinze Ihekwo and Chinemelu Utaku, are to be arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged Internet fraud, Email hacking and obtaining money by false pretence before the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State.

Fayose Suspends Work On Ekiti Airport Project

•Farmer’s body taken to village for burial
Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has suspended work in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.This followed a meeting with land owners and farmers at Jibowu Hall of the Government House yesterday.
An oil palm plantation farmer, Tijani Hakeem, was said to have died of shock after the destruction of economic trees on his plantation by government bulldozers.

It was gathered yesterday that Tijani’s remains were conveyed to his village in Kogi State for burial.
With the tension surronding the project concerning payment of compensation, the governor summoned a meeting.

Buhari: Selfish Elite Behind Criticism Of My Appointments

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday fired back at critics of the appointments he has made so far. He blamed the elite for orchestrating criticisms of his appointments into government positions.
The President spoke through his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo at the opening of the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja Buhari.

He described as unfortunate that Nigerians pay more attention to sectional and religious interests, rather than the competence of the appointees, claiming that misgivings on the elite.
The President noted that those seeking the promotion of selfish interests were fuelling complaints on where government appointees come from, adding that the fact that a northerner is in government does not necessarily mean good fortune for his people.
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Why Buhari Must Work With Blders, By Maitama Sule

Elder statesman and Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Alhaji Maitama Sule has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to work with the nation’s elders to achieve the needed change in his government.

Sule gave the advice in Abuja at the inaugural ceremony and the international conference of the African Society for Ageing Research and Development on Ageing, organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in collaboration with World Health Organisation, (WHO)
The theme was: “New Realities of Ageing in Africa: Implications for Research and Policy”.

Complete Ongoing Projects, Shun New Ones, Fashola Tells Oshiomhole

Former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has advised Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to shun the temptation of initiating new projects unless they are very critical to the well-being of the people, but should rather concentrate on completing ongoing ones before the end of his tenure in November 2016.

Fashola told the governor that he could not completely rebuild Edo State within eight years, as it is practically impossible for any administration to initiate and execute all the projects needed by people in the state.
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