Give Buhari Time, Nigeria Is Not An Easy Place To Govern – Gowon

 

Former military Head of State, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on Thursday, called for support for President Muhammadu Buhari-led-government, saying administering political leadership was not an easy task.

Gowon made the call while speaking to reporters during his condolence visit to the Obafemi Awolowo family over HID Awolowo’s death at the family’s country home in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun.

The former military leader urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the present administration, adding that he had utmost confidence in the leadership qualities of Buhari to increase the country’s fortunes.

He said Nigerians should always make their demands to government known through appropriate channels, noting that positive criticism was good toward improving the nation’s socio-economic challenges.

“Whenever any government comes in, it is highly important to give it time to be able to really put things right. Nigeria is not an easy place to govern.

“I can assure you that there are as many problems as there are Nigerians in the world and everybody wants to do things in a particular way, in his own way and probably for his own interest.

“When you think of that as a leader, you ponder how you are going to get all the ideas together and do things right.

“When you have problems in a nation, it is not easy to get rid of them overnight.

“I think we have got to be patient with our president and then we have to cooperate with government to get things in order.’’

Gowon further appealed to Nigerians to always seek peace to fast-track national development and support Nigeria’s fight against insurgency by being vigilant at all times.

He said “peace in the country will lead to prosperity. We must work together for peace and a unified Nigeria, there is no two ways about it.’’ (NAN)

#Gowon

Abati Accuses Clark Of Humiliating Jonathan With Recent Comment

Former Special Adviser to then President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati has described a recent comment by Edwin Clark, to the effect that Jonathan lacked the will to fight corruption, as the worst form of humiliation his former principal ever received since leaving office.

Diezani Reacts To Senate Screening, Says “Kachikwu’s Responses Show I Did Well”

Former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to the ongoing screening of President Muhammadu Buhari ministers-in-waiting.

Her media consultant, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, in a statement yesterday commended the Senate for televising live the screening of ministerial nominees, saying that the truth about Alison-Madueke’s legacy as Petroleum Minister, is beginning to emerge “despite the conspiracy to diminish her sterling accomplishments on the altar of politics.”
Commenting on the screening of Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Aguiyi stated that the brilliant performance of the current Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) during the Senate’s screening validated almost all the policies and actions championed and taken by the former Minister.

How APC Can Remain In Power For A Long Time — Ekweremadu

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has advised the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, to build on the successes recorded by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, while it held power for 16 years or risk being pushed aside in 2019.
Mr. Ekweremadu gave the advise on Thursday at the 67th meeting of he National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP, which held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that the PDP, in its 16 years of being in power, “changed the face of telecommunication in Nigeria”, making it the best in Africa.

People Fell Into Trap Set Up By Civil Servants – ICPC Boss

ABUJA – The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Ekpo Nta, yesterday, categorically noted that the country could only develop evenly, if the local government council as a third tier of government is accorded its place in governance and officials are thoroughly equipped with sound managerial acumen.
Nta said that local government in Nigeria had the least developed institutional processes in the country.

Rice Importation Not Good For Our Economy – Senate

ABUJA – THE Senate,yesterday, summoned the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Service,Col. Hameed Ali,to appear before it to explain why he did not only ordered the removal of rice from import restriction list but also approved its importation through land borders.
The Senate said Ali would appear before its Ad- hoc Committee on Import Duty Waivers, on a yet to be determined date, to explain reasons behind his action, which it noted to be beyond him since the order restricting rice importation through land borders was a presidential one , issued in 2011.
The action of the Red Chamber was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero,APC,Kebbi Central,and supported by 28 other senators, which was debated upon during plenary.

Clark, The Father, Jonathan, The Son, By Reuben Abati

I have tried delaying the writing of this piece in the honest expectation that someone probably misquoted Chief E.K. Clark, when he reportedly publicly disowned former President Goodluck Jonathan.
I had hoped that our dear father, E.K. Clark, would issue a counter statement and say the usual things politicians say: “they quoted me out of context!” “Jonathan is my son”. That has not happened; rather, some other Ijaw voices, including one Joseph Evah, have come to the defence of the old man, to join hands in rubbishing a man they once defended to the hilt and used as a bargaining chip for the Ijaw interest in the larger Nigerian geo-politics.

Spain ‘Confident’ In Buhari’s Economic Reforms

The Spanish government has expressed confidence in the economic reforms and anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying they are vital to attracting investment to Nigeria.
Alfonso Barnuevo, the Spanish ambassador to Nigeria, made the remark at a ceremony in Abuja to commemorate the National Day of Spain in Abuja.
Barnuevo described the Nigeria-Spain relation as “excellent”, having strategic components from the security, economic and commercial points.

MASSOB Dares Police

•Begins satellite monitoring

In defiance of the clampdown on its activities by security agents, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has vowed to continue its activities unperturbed.

MASSOB Director of Information, Awka South, Paul Okoye made the pledge yesterday during a reception organised in honour of the former regional administrator of the group in Awka South, Chief Arinze Igbani, who was recently appointed zonal leader, Anambra South.

Okoye said in order to beat the security agents to their game, MASSOB had invented a secret satellite monitoring system, which it would use, to track the activities of its members and respond to any attack on them by the police and other security agencies.

PDP Divided Over North-East’s Move To Fill Mu’azu’s Vacancy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is divided over fomentation by top government officials in the North-east to fill the opening made by Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, a previous national executive of the gathering. Mu’azu resigned on May 20, taking after weight that he drove the gathering to an embarrassing annihilation in the last general elections when his tenure had not terminated.

As indicated by the provisions of PDP constitution, he should be supplanted by somebody from the North-east.

Tending to newsmen toward the end of the 67th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the gathering, PDP national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the gathering leaders had disparate perspectives on the issue, focusing on that the NWC would liaise with the gathering initiative in the North-east to re-consider the issue.

“The NEC did not discuss the issue of Mu’azu’s replacement but there is a kind of subtle understanding that the NWC will work with the North-east in that regard. Some members raised the issue but others did not key into it same way,” he said.

Metuh also said NEC adopted the recommendations of the Post Election Review Committee headed by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu with amendments and approved the recommendation that the party should seek its 2019 presidential candidate from the north of Nigeria to enhance its electoral chances.

PDP acting national chairman Prince Uche Secondus said the party has practically two months to go into another round of Congresses and National Convention to elect a new set of leaders adding that there would be regular NEC meeting to discuss and approve the programmes and framework for the exercise.

#Pdp

Boko Haram: Federal Government Welcomes US Deployment Of Troops For Cameroon

Although Nigeria had requested more direct help in the fight against insurgency from the United States, U.S, the Federal Government on Thursday welcomed Washington’s decision to send up to 300 military personnel to Cameroon to help the regional fight against Boko Haram.
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu described the deployment as a “welcome development” while the military said it was a demonstration of the needed cooperation against the Islamists terrorists.

Amaechi’s Fate Hangs As Senate Postpones Screening To Tuesday Next Week

The Senate has postponed the Thursday screening of Ministerial Nominees to Tuesday next week. Available report shows that the Senate took the decision following the non-readiness of the report of Committee on Ethics and Privileges that is looking into the petition submitted against Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

Another reason for the postponement as gathered by DAILY POST is that most of the credentials and CVs of the remaining nominees are yet to be reviewed by the Senate.

Non-Performing Refineries Will Be Shut Down In December – Kachikwu

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said refineries in the country performing below 65 per cent of capacity would be shut down in December, 2015. Kachikwu, one of the 37 ministerial nominees stated this while responding to questions by some senators during his screening at the Senate on Wednesday in Abuja.
He disclosed that the reality is that functioning refineries were operating at only 25 per cent, contrary to reports that they were doing well.

He said that it was not enough for a refinery to produce at 65 per cent today and at zero per cent the next day, stressing that anytime crude was not utilised by a refinery, the government lost money.
On recurring scarcity of petroleum products, especially petrol and kerosene, Kachikwu said that the situation would continue unless the refineries performed optimally.

Ministers: Fashola, Fayemi, Lai Mohammed Products Of Tinubu’s Talent – Ashafa

Senator representing Lagos State East senatorial district, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa on Thursday praised the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the confirmation of former Lagos governor, Babtunde Fashola; his counterpart in Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi and All Progressives Party’s, Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ashafa who made the remarks in a statement personally signed by him to felicitate with 18 ministers who were confirmed yesterday by the upper senate chambers said it was Tinubu’s foresightedness that brought the aforesaid ministers to limelight.
Read the statement in full

How NTA, AIT Maltreated Us During The 2015 Presidential Campaigns — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his gratitude to Nigerians for his victory at the general elections saying he emerged winner against all odds. Speaking at The Red Media Summit in Lagos, Thursday, Mr. Buhari that he won the election despite the deployment of state forces against him.

“Muhammadu Buhari’s goodwill greetings to you is on account of the fact that he won an election that many people think he was not going to win,” said Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who represented Mr. Buhari.

No Order Stopping Amaechi’s Screening, APC Insists

The All Progressives Congress has insisted that there is no court order from any part of Nigeria compelling the Senate not to screen the former River State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as a minister.
The party came out with the position in a statement made available to Vanguard following rumours in the social media that the a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, one Livingstone Wechie, has secured an injunction stopping the Senate from screening the former governor, who was the Director General of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation.amaechi
The social media became awashed with the story as soon as the AIT scrolled on its information bar that the PDP had secured the said order to stop Amaechi’s screening.

Petitions Can’t Stop Amaechi ’s Screening – Senate

The Senate has said petitions against the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, would not stop his screening and confirmation for ministerial position.

The Senate spokesperson, Dino Melaye, said this on Thursday.

The Senate on Wednesday deferred the screening of Mr. Amaechi to Thursday, following the inability of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to submit report on the petition against the nominee.

A petition by the Peoples Democratic Party, senators from Rivers State had stalled his screening, earlier scheduled for Wednesday.

Mr. Melaye however said the Senate would not consider the petition since its subject is a matter before a court.

According to him, the Senate had a standing rule that matter before a court should not be examined.

“So Amaechi has got no problem,” he said.

Mr. Amaechi had appeared before the Senate ad hoc Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Monday.

Mr. Melaye also explained why the Senate postponed the ministerial screening to next week, saying some of the nominees were yet to submit their resumè and other documents required of them.

Premium Times.

#Ameachi

Why Buhari withdrew Ahmed Ibeto as a ministerial nominee

Reports have emerged on why President Buhari withdrew the nomination of Ahmed Musa Ibeto from Niger state from his list of ministers. According to confirmed sources, Ibeto's nomination was withdrawn because he is from the same place as the Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello.

Kachikwu, Fashola, Steal Show At Senate Screening

Fashola calls for state police, apologises on deportation of Igbos
ABUJA — FORMER Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and Mrs Kemi Adeosun were clearly the star attractions at the screening of ministerial nominees, yesterday, as the Senate cleared 18 nominees for ministerial appointment.

Fashola’s suggestions on state police, review of the Abuja Master plan and apology to the Igbo over the deportation of some Igbo residents of Lagos during his second term marked one of the major highlights of yesterday’s screening of the nominees. So also were Kachikwu’s comments on the oil industry and Adeosun’s remarks on the economy, devaluation of the Naira and Treasury Single Account, TSA, foreign direct investment and how to improve Nigeria’s alternative sources of revenue.

Lawmaker Reminds Buhari Of Free Education Campaign Promise

DUTSE—A member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Gudaji, has reminded President Muhammadu Buhari of his campaign promise of providing free education to all when elected as Nigeria’s leader.
Gudaji, who represents Kazaure federal constituency, made the reminder in Dutse, while fielding questions from journalists.
He said it had become imperative as one the federal legislators and a card-carrying member of the ruling APC to alert the President to urgently fulfill the promise he made to Nigerians during the election campaigns.

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.