Erdogan: the Trojan Horse of Terror

by Ghassan Kadi

Love him or hate him, Erdogan has been a survivor; a hero for some, and a stick in the mud that would not go away for many more others. He has thus far managed to dodge many serious decisive moments, the last of which was the recent parliamentary elections that he won with flying colours despite the predictions of many analysts, including myself, that he was destined to lose abysmally.

Even though the November elections did not give Erdogan the 66% majority that would enable him to change the constitution, after being in power for more than a decade, his initial domestic financial successes, one would imagine, became plagued by his failed regional gambles in Syria, however, the November elections came to give Erdogan a new lifeline that he himself perhaps did not believe he was going to achieve.

Is Turkish Sudden Battle Tank Attack On S-400 A Possibility ?

The conflict in Syria is evolving into a more dangerous form.

Originally appeared at Interpolit, translated by James Cooksey exclusively for SouthFront

“Turkish troops could make a rapid rush with the tanks to the area of Russian S-400 air defense systems and overtake it,” said a former Russian journalist Yevgeny Kiselyov on the of radio station “UkrLife”, who’s been working in recent years in Ukraine.

Conductor kills man a week before his travel date to the US over N50

Babatunde Omoyeni, a web designer who planned to travel on the 10th of December to spend his Christmas and New Year holidays  in the United States of America, has been killed in Lagos over N50.

EFCC drags man to court, accused of swallowing $115,000 at the airport

One Onwuasonya Augustine was charged to court on Tuesday by the EFCC for purportedly gulping $115,000 to avoid declaring it to authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

He was charged alongside five other asserted associates, Christian Okoli, Kingsley Nwokenta, otherwise known as Buchito, Nwokenta Emmanuel, Ezenwa Ikenna and Ezenwa Uzoma for the offense of money laundering

The six were accused of four counts before Justice C.J. Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos. The agency claimed that Onwuasonya and the 5 others committed the offense on August 25, 2015, and were caught at Room 303 of a five-star inn in Lagos. The 6th accused, Uzoma, was uniquely accused of the offense of obstructing a NDLEA official, Bello Tsanya, in the release of his duty.

Be that as it may, when the charges were perused to the six accused in court, they all pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor said:

Be that as it may, the counsel for the first to fifth denounced, Mr. Victor Opara, told the court that he had filled bail applications on their behalf expressing that the second litigant had wellbeing issues, which were being dealt with while he was in the authority of the EFCC.

He requested that the court remand all the charged in EFCC care with the goal that they could have simple access to treatment and lawyers.

Justice Aneke adjourned till December 11, 2015, to take the bail applications of the charged and ordered their remand at the Ikoyi Prison.

 

#Efcc

Fayose plans to pay ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 residents monthly allowance.

While showing the state spending plan to individuals from the state House of Assembly today December eighth, Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose reported that starting from ‎January 2016, N5,000 will be given to 10,000 poor inhabitants of the state as a month to month stipend

#Fayose

Oppostion United Against PDP To Save Nigeria – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said opposition political parties had no choice but to unite to stop the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party to save Nigeria from destruction.
Buhari said this at a public presentation of a book entitled, “From Opposition to Governing Party: Nigeria’s APC Merger Story,” written by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
Buhari noted that the leaders of major opposition political parties realised that the PDP machine could not be effectively tackled unless they set aside their differences and came together to salvage the nation.
He said, “We realised in 2015 that unless we come together, the PDP will succeed in killing Nigeria, so we had to make sacrifices.”
The President also recalled the genesis of his relationship with the author.
He recalled that his relationship with Onu dated back to his days in protective custody during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida dictatorship.

$15m Bribery Allegation: Nuhu Ribadu, A Liar – Ibori

Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has denounced as horrible, revolting, nasty and totally false, the devilish claim made by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu in several newspapers and on-line publications of Monday 7th December 2015.

Fayose: Everything Under Buhari Is ‘Inconclusive’.

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has raised the alarm that Nigeria under President Mohammadu Buhari is fast becoming a “shame” while elections under his watch are ending up “inconclusive”.

According to Fayose, the failed attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the Bayelsa state governorship election is a “clear invitation to anarchy”.

Buhari Losing Focus, Says Fasehun

The National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, says although President Muhammadu Buhari started well, the President has lost focus.
Fasehun said Buhari’s zeal for transforming Nigeria, which restored Nigerians’ hope after his inauguration, has reduced.
The UPN leader, who said this in a statement on Sunday, advised the President to stop his frequent foreign trips and concentrate on improving governance in the country.
According to him, Nigerians want Buhari to remain at home and perform his responsibilities rather than travelling around the world.

$2.1bn Scam: EFCC Arraigns Dasuki, Others This Week

Strong indications emerged on Sunday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is intensifying efforts to take the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and other high profile suspects arrested in relation to the $2.1bn alleged arms deal to court.
It was gathered that the EFCC 27-man Task Force in charge of the investigation was summoned to the office on Sunday to continue with the process of investigation.

I Helped Ohakim Conceal $2.29m Cash Mansion Purchase – Witness

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Abu Sule, told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday how he allegedly helped a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, to conceal the ownership of a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, which he said the ex-governor bought with $2.29m in November 2008.
Sule was the Managing Director of Tweenex Consociates H.D Ltd, the company allegedly used by Ohakim to conceal his ownership of the property.

I Won’t Present Myself For Swearing-In As Deputy Governor In Kogi — James Faleke

The deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the recently concluded governorship election in Kogi State, James Faleke, has said he would not present himself for swearing-in with Yahaya Bello, the governorship candidate who was drafted in after the death of Abubakar Audu.
Mr. Faleke is billed to be sworn in on January 27, 2016, alongside Mr. Bello.
Mr. Faleke made his position known on Monday at Kabba at a meeting of APC stakeholders from Kogi West senatorial district.
He said his stance is in furtherance of his earlier letter to the national leadership of the party not to work with Mr. Bello, the governor-elect.

Nigeria Needs Off-Grid Solution To Power Problems - Okonjo- Iweala

Former Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said the solution to Nigeria’s power problem lies in off-grid initiatives that are climate friendly and also promotes sustainable development.
Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke at the Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (UNFCCC) in Paris, Franc, said Nigeria needs to get the private sector involved in the power sector, adding that government must look at renewable and off-grid solutions like the solar power generation.

Foreign Investors Besiege Nigeria At Climate Talks

The determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to put square pegs in square holes in his ministerial appointments may have paid off as Nigeria emerges the sought after bride at the ongoing climate change negotiations in Paris, France.
Contrary to the undesirable and unenviable position of Nigeria in previous climate change talks, Nigeria has emerged as the leading negotiator for Africa and a much sought after party for other countries. This change it was learnt has to do with the international clout of the Minister for the Environment, Amina Mohammed.

Bayelsa Governorship Poll: PDP Activates Structures To Defend Mandate -Metuh

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has activated its structures across the country to defend the party’s mandate in a democratic manner.
Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP National Publicity Secretary made the statement on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the cancellation and rescheduled governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The PDP he said, was “ready, willing and able to defend the choice of the people’’ during the rescheduled governorship poll in Southern Ijaw LGA.
“Never again will this leadership of the PDP allow our party candidates to be manipulated out of any election at any level.

A Lesson In Democracy For Buharimaniacs - By Femi Aribisala

It will take some time for those Douglas Anele fondly refers to as Buharimaniacs to realize that, in a democracy, there is nothing definitive about the outcome of an election. When an election has been concluded, those who opposed the winner are not required to shut up or go into exile.

Buhari Needs To Sack Some Ministers In Six Months — Sen Kakah

Senator Gbenga Kakah, former deputy governor of Ogun State, in this interview warns that if the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari must succeed, the president should consider dropping some ministers in the next six months. He also spoke on other issues.
Now that President Buhari has constituted his cabinet, what is your impression about his administration?
Any government stands the chance of delivering on its mandate because the essence of contesting for political power is to deliver. The normal expectation is that any government that the people repose confidence in should be able to perform.

Magistrate Rules On Pro-Biafran Separatist Leader’s Charges Dec. 16

A Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2 of the Federal Capital Territory has fixed December 16 for ruling on whether or not to strike out the charges instituted against a leader of Biafra agitation and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, by the Department of State Services.
The ruling was earlier scheduled for December 1, 2015 but the presiding magistrate, Shuaibu Usman, could not sit because he was bereaved.

Findings by our correspondent on Monday showed that the ruling had been rescheduled for December 16.

I Took N100m To Suswam, Says Accountant

The Justice Kpojime Commission of Enquiry in Makurdi has heard how millions of naira were taken to Benue State ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam at the Governor’s Lodge in Makurdi, from the Ministry of Finance, without following due process.
The Government House Accountant, Mrs. Janet Aluga, told the commission that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Ruth Ijir, on April 10 called her to go and collect N100 million from a bank for Suswam, which she did.

Elections In Southern Ijaw Cancelled Due To Violence, Irregularities

New date to be announced
The result of the controversial Bayelsa State governorship election in Southern Ijaw local government area has been cancelled due to violence and irregularities.
A new date is to be announced later, according to INEC.

Ex-Minister, Tokunbo Kayode, Quits PDP

A former Minister of Defence, Prince Tokunbo Kayode, SAN, on Monday disclosed his plan to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another political platform which he has not disclosed.
Kayode, who was also the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, disclosed his plan in Akure, Ondo State, in a keynote address he delivered at the opening of the Week of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ondo State chapter.
The former minister, whose address was read by Dr Sunday Kayode, said while he would continue to contribute to the development of his environment and the state, he would not be interested in seeking any political office.

It’s Rape Of Democracy, Says Sylva As INEC Stops Poll,Decision In Order, Say Dickson, PDP.

•Election cancelled in Southern Ijaw Local Govt.
Bayelsa poll Results
Local Govt APC PDP
Brass 21, 755 6,516
Sagbama 5,382 28,934
Yenagoa 14,563 24,258
Kolokuma/ Opokuma 6,896 7,619
Ekeremor 7,918 14,604
Ogbia 9,106 13,051
Nembe 6,974 10,768
Another electoral logjam surfaced yesterday —courtesy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which failed to conclude a governorship election.
Just as it did in Kogi State last month, the agency threw a spanner in the works, declaring Saturday’s election in Bayelsa State inconclusive.

Buhari Govt Announces First Year-Long Spending, Proposes N6trn Budget

The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government on Monday proposed a budget of N6 trillion for 2016 at an oil bench mark of 38 dollar per barrel.
The planned spending is the first for the administration of Mr. Buhari, who took office in May 2015.
The minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, stated this while addressing State House Press Corps after an emergency Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister said the proposal was contained in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, approved by the council.

I Won’t Accept Any Anti-Free Speech Law, Buhari Says

President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration remained committed to the protection of free speech in keeping with democratic tradition.
Buhari reiterated this yesterday while reacting to the public hostility towards the social media bill currently being debated by the senate.
Presidential spokesperson Malam Garba Shehu said Buhari would not assent to any legislation that might be inconsistent with the constitution of the country.

Buhari Became President At A Very Difficult Time - Kalu

What is your take on plans by some state governors to either sack workers or cut salaries in view of the fact that many states still owe workers salaries?
It is a truism that all is not well with the state of Nigeria's financial economy. The current situation, if the truth must be told, is that we are in dire straits. These times call for deep reflection and serious financial reengineering by managers of the public sector.
This requires creative, strategic and visionary leadership by leaders at all levels because the reality is that the resources accruing from crude oil sales are dwindling by the day on account of falling oil prices in the international market.
Above all, leadership is about the ability to take the right decisions at the right time by putting the people first.