Politics

Falana faults appointment of new service chiefs, says Buhari’s action illegal

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The appointment of new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari has been described as illegal and unconstitutional by a famous human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

In a statement on Wednesday, Falana said Buhari was wrong to have announced the appointment of new service chiefs without the approval of the National Assembly.

Following the resignation of the former service chiefs, President Buhari on Tuesday, announced the appointment of new service chiefs to replace them.

But, the human rights lawyer, who faulted the appointment based on a 2013 judgment, said that Buhari had only nominated the service chiefs.

Falana’s statement read in part, “Yesterday (Tuesday), President Buhari was reported to have appointed new service chiefs for the armed forces.

“Upon a critical review of the law on the subject matter the members of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAP) have found that the appointments remain inchoate as President Muhammadu Buhari has not forwarded the names of the proposed service chiefs to the National Assembly for approval in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act.

“The appointments of service chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly which had been the practice since 1999 was challenged in the Federal High Court sometime in 2008 by Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN in the case of Keyamo v President Goodluck Jonathan (unreported Suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/611/2008).

“In his landmark judgment delivered on July 2, 2013, Adamu Bello J. (as he then was) held that it was illegal and unconstitutional, null and void for the President to single-handedly appoint Service Chiefs without the approval of the National Assembly having regards to the combined effect of Section 218 of the Constitution and section 18 (1) & (3) of the Armed Forces Act.”

According to Falana, the 2013 judgement, which was never challenged by federal government remains binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria in accordance with the provisions of section 287 of the constitution.

He, therefore, asked Buhari to forward the names of the new service chiefs to the federal lawmakers for confirmation in accordance to the law of the land.

Politics

Jubilation in Military Barracks Over Sacking Of Buratai, Others.

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Jubilation in Military Barracks Over Sacking Of Buratai, Others.

A 20-second video captured the moment some personnel of the Nigerian Navy in their barracks believed to be in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, screamed and danced over the development.

There was jubilation in some military barracks across the country, when the news of the sacking of the former service chiefs filtered in on Tuesday and the announcement of their replacements.

A 20-second video captured the moment some personnel of the Nigerian Navy in their barracks believed to be in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, screamed and danced over the development.

Sources told SaharaReporters that there was also jubilation in some army barracks across the country over the announcement.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday appointed new service chiefs and finally fired the Chief of Defence Chief, General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, after the four had spent five years and five months in office.

Although Buhari said on Tuesday that he accepted their resignation letters, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, already clarified in the past that the military chiefs could not resign and had to be laid off by the Commander-In-Chief.

Buhari had on July 13, 2015, appointed Olonisakin, Buratai, Ibas, and Abubakar.

In a State House press release on Tuesday, Buhari’s Special Adviser, Femi Adesina, said the new service chiefs were Major-General Leo Irabor as the CDS, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as the army chief, Rear Admiral A. Z. Gambo as the naval chief and Air-Vice Marshal I. O. Amao as the new air chief.

“People dey happy say they don change CNS o,” one of the navy personnel said in the video.

“Who will not be happy that they were replaced? It was long overdue, they had become principalities and they had stagnated the career progression. I don’t think they resigned. They were fired. The three service chiefs were supposed to visit the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Ship House, on Tuesday afternoon but the meeting was cancelled in the last minute when the announcement filtered into the country,” a Ministry of Defence top official told SaharaReporters.

Olonisakin is the longest serving CDS since 1999. The closest to him was Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi (retd.), who served for four years and 29 days between May 29, 1999 and June 27, 2003.

Also, Buratai is the longest serving COAS since 1999. The closest to him was Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.), who spent three years and four months in office; between September 2010 and January 2014.

Ibas is also the longest serving CNS since 1999, while the closest person to him was Vice Admiral S. O. Afolayan, who served for four years, between 2001 and 2005.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported last week that the outgoing military chiefs had awarded four Sport Utility Vehicles, four Peugeot vehicles, among other juicy retirement benefits to themselves, according to the 2017 Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers, which their administration revised.

SaharaReporters had obtained the new HTACOS 2017 which revealed that the military chiefs will get security staff of over 40 soldiers as well as domestic and foreign medical cover.

Politics

Buhari nominates Aghughu as new Auditor-General

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday nominated Mr. Adolphis Aghughu as new Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF).

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Babajide Omoworare, who disclosed this in a statement, said Buhari has forwarded a letter to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, pursuant to Section 86(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Aghughu, who hails from Edo State, has been acting as the Auditor-General since the retirement of Mr. Anthony Ayine from service.

President Buhari also nominated Victor Muruako as Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

Buhari, according to Omoworare, called be expeditious consideration of the nominees by the lawmakers.

Politics

Some Nigerians dislike Buhari for his perceived identity, not incompetence, says El-Rufai’s son

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Bashir, the son of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has risen to the defence of President Muhammadu Buhari over his alleged incompetence.

Bashir, who has been vocal in his opinions, said on his Twitter handle on Monday that President Buhari is not hated by some Nigerians because of incompetence but because of his “perceived identity.”

The younger el-Rufai, however, noted that the perceived enemies of Buhari are too shameless to admit why they dislike the president.

He wrote: ”They do not dislike President Buhari for his ‘alleged’ incompetence, they hate the president for his perceived identity and they are too shameless to at least admit that on a basic level so we can all fundamentally recognize the beast staring at us as a nation.”

Many Nigerians particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition elements have continued to accuse Buhari of incompetence over his alleged inability to effectively address the country’s security and economic challenges.

Politics

Gov Sule says terrorists regrouping in Nasarawa, runs to Buhari for help

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The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the rescue of Nasarawa State from terrorist attacks.

Sule met with Buhari on Friday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja over the insecurity in his state.

After the meeting which they held behind closed doors, Sule told State House correspondents his state had been facing attacks by a group of terrorists that had earlier been dislodged.

He said the dislodged insurgents recently regrouped at the Nasarawa/Benue border and had continued to launch attacks on Nasarawa residents from there.

According to the governor, some of the apprehended terrorists, revealed that they belong to Boko Haram group, Darussalam, who were earlier dislodged from Niger State.

Governor Sule said having spoken to President Buhari about the situation, he had a firm belief urgent action would be taken against the terrorists.

Politics

‘We look forward to working with new US government,’ Buhari tells Biden

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday congratulated the new United States President, Joe Biden and his deputy, Kamala Harris on their inauguration.

Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the US on Wednesday.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president said he looked forward to working with the Biden presidency and expressed hope that the new administration in the US would mark a strong point in the cooperation and support for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Buhari congratulated the new US leaders and the entire country on the successful transition, which marks an important historical inflection point for democracy as a system of government and for the global community as a whole.

The statement read: “We look forward to the Biden presidency with great hope and optimism for strengthening of existing cordial relationships, working together to tackle global terrorism, climate change, poverty, and improvement of economic ties and expansion of trade.

“We hope that this will be an era of great positivity between our two nations, as we jointly address issues of mutual interest.

“President Buhari and all Nigerians rejoice with President Joe Biden, sharing the proud feeling that the first woman elected Vice President of the United States has an African and Asian ancestry.”

Politics

Bafarawa urges Buhari to divert N400bn budgeted for COVID-19 to security

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Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto State, Tuesday said that Northerners and indeed all Nigerians were not happy with the security situation in the country.

Bafarawa revealed this in his state of the nation address where he urged President Muhammadu Buhari to show more concern on insecurity than COVID-19, adding that insecurity had claimed more lives than the pandemic.

According to him, the government appeared to have abandoned the situation and channelled all its effort to a pandemic that had taken about 2000 lives in the country.

He said: “When I see things are not going, I cannot keep quiet, because if I keep quiet maybe other parts of the country will start accusing us that we are promoting what is bad. But, the reality is that we in the north are not happy with the way things are going.

“I see Nigeria as one country, it is not a question of whether the president is a northerner, we are not saying this based on our own personal interest, we are saying this behalf of the people who do not have the opportunity to say it, and I believe most of Nigerians have the same feeling. In my village about 14 people were killed just two days ago, insecurity has not improved,” Bafarawa said.

“About 2000 people have died last year from Coronavirus, come to think of how many lives were killed within a year, 3000 to 400,000 people died from insecurity. ”

He further adviced the government to divert the budgeted N400bn for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to tackling insecurity.

“Now we are talking about 400 billion and just about 2,000 people have died. Why can’t we divert this money for security? Because this insecurity is Nigeria’s Coronavirus because we don’t have much COVID-19 in Nigeria, so that we can move forward.

“Coronavirus has taken lives less than insecurity. Insecurity has taken lives and property. Look at the danger the insecurity is bringing, if we use that 400 billion to buy security equipment, it will do a lot in curbing insecurity”, he added.

Politics

Buhari reaffirms Nigerian govt’s commitment to anti-graft war, economic diversification

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President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday his administration was fully committed to the fight against graft and diversification of the country’s economy.

Buhari stated this at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Committee of Heads of State and Government on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APR Forum) and Nigeria in Abuja.

He said: “We remain fully committed to promoting the good governance practice enshrined in the ideals and vision of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development which gave birth to this review mechanism.

“Our administration has continued to vigorously pursue security, economic diversification and anti-corruption as the main thrust of the national change agenda.”

The president said Nigeria had since the first Peer Review in 2008 implemented the national programme of action.

President Buhari added: “The totality of this strategy is premised on the promotion of democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights, gender equality, and by far the largest investment in social change in Nigeria’s post-independence history.”

He stressed that his administration would continue to participate in the review exercise, adding that Nigeria is ready to join the league of African Union Member States that would undergo the second peer review exercise.

Buhari expressed the hope that Nigeria would continue on the pathway to a peaceful, secure and more democratic nation.

Politics

Buhari approves nomination of Abubakar Fikpo as acting DG of employment agency

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the nomination of Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo as the acting Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment.

A statement by Garba Shehu,

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, on Monday, said that Buhari formally conveyed his approval of the nomination to the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN).

According to the statement, Fikpo would served in acting capacity “pending the appointment of a substantive Director-General for the Agency.”

Buhari had last month relieved the former DG of the agency of his appointment and directed the minister to nominate an acting DG to superintend over the agency pending the appointment of a substantive DG.

Politics

Utomi Faults Buhari, Says Nigeria Better Five Years Ago

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Nigeria’s leading political economist and Co-convener, National Consultative Forum, Prof. Pat Utomi at the weekend rejected a claim by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration that Nigeria is better today than it met it more than five years ago.

Contrary to Buhari’s standpoint Wednesday, Utomi claimed that Nigeria was not the poverty capital of the world seven years ago, but currently had more people living in extreme poverty than any country worldwide.

He expressed these concerns on Friday during a phone conversation with THISDAY on the rising inflation rate and shrinking debt to revenue ratio, which was as high as 99% in Q1 2020 and 95% in Q3 2020.

Buhari had, in a self-assessment report Wednesday, claimed that Nigeria was better than he met it more than five years ago while hosting the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Revd Yakubu Pam.

While the dust raised by the president’s self-assessment report was yet to settle, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released its Consumer Price Index (CPI) with an indication that inflation rate increased to 15.75 per cent (year-on-year) in December 2020 compared to 14.48 per cent in November 2020.

Unlike the last six years, the year-on-year inflation rate was 13.74% in 2010, the year former President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office after the death of his predecessor, President Umaru Yar’Adua.

In 2011, the year-on-year inflation rate was 10.83%; 12.23% in 2012; 8.5% in 2013; 8.05% in 2014 and 9.01% in 2015, the year President Buhari assumed office. But the inflation rose to 15.7% in 2016 and 16.5% in 2017, though dropped to 12.09% in 2018; 11.4% in 2019 and 12.88% in 2020.

Confronted with these stark realities under the Buhari administration, Utomi, founder/CEO, Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), said: “The truth of the matter is that Nigeria is not in a good shape. Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world today. But it was not seven years ago.”

He, also, said Nigeria “is more divided and tense today than it was seven years ago. Nigeria has been getting progressively worse. Every government has been worse than the one before it. That is the tragedy of Nigeria.”

Amid the worsening socio-economic indices under Buhari’s administration, the political economist warned that national disaster was looming if the country’s political leaders did not change their behaviour in public service.

Concerned about the future of the federation, Utomi said: “I have talked about this several times. National disaster is looming. The fact is that political actors do not understand the meaning of public service any more.”

In concept, the political economist argued that public service “is a place where people make sacrifices to build a greater tomorrow” contrary to the thinking of the present political leaders at virtually all levels.

He lamented that the country’s political actors “always want their rewards on earth and right now even if it destroys tomorrow,” which according to him, was the reason the federation was descending into deteriorating socio-economic and political conditions.

Utomi lamented: “If we look at the scramble to borrow and what it is being committed to, which is not in productive activities, we know tomorrow will be scary and perhaps most uncertain. There is no question about that.”

He, however, admitted that Nigeria could still be rescued out of the woods only if political actors, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities, political leanings and religious bias, could change their behaviour in public service.

To tame the country’s intractable debt crisis, the political economist observed that the policy option that the present government should consider “is to focus any borrowing on intense production concentration.

“When you produce enough to meet that concentration will not only amortize the debt, but also will also provide you more employment and expand the economy. General borrowing can only lead us to more trouble.”

In specific terms, Utomi recommended the need for all political actors across party lines “to change behaviour. There is no point in borrowing when no investor wants to invest in Nigeria because of the behaviour of our political leaders.

“Nigeria is considered an unsafe place to invest in because of the regulatory risks. The investors are more likely to fail in business because of the actions of the government than any market force. We spend so much in infrastructure and no person comes to invest. What is the point?”

Utomi, therefore, argued that the starting point to rescue Nigeria from descent into insolvency “must be the behaviour of political leaders in Nigeria. If they do not change it, we are finished. It does not matter what else we do. One business fails everyday because of the government.

“Most of the money spent on infrastructure is unnecessary. There is private money we can attract and spend on infrastructure. But that private money is scared of Nigeria because it does not know if the next governor will come in, he will continue or discontinue with the project.

“Nigerian political leaders, quote me, are irresponsible. Quote me ten times. They are ruining the future of their children and grandchildren because of unintelligent pursuit of money or reckless pursuit of personal aggrandizement,” he lamented during a short conversation with THISDAY.

Politics

Nigeria will miss Martins-Kuye’s insight on development – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday expressed his shock at the death of former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Jubril Martins-Kuye.

Martins-Kuye died earlier on Sunday.

The president, who reacted to the ex-minister’s death via a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Nigerians would miss Martins-Kuye for his insight on developmental issues.

The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with family, friends and associates of former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sen. Jubril Martins-Kuye, praying that the almighty God will comfort them at the moment of grief.

“President Buhari condoles with Ago Iwoye community, government, and people of Ogun State over the passing of the legislator in the Third Republic, who served in the Fourth Republic as Minister of State, Finance, and Minister of Commerce and Industry, bringing with him many years of experience from the banking sector.

“The President believes Martins-Kuye will be sorely missed for his insight on issues of development, particularly in tailoring budgets that reflect the needs of the people, with his emphasis on full implementation.

“President Buhari prays that the soul of the former minister will rest in peace.”

The ex-minister was born on August 16, 1942, in Ago Iwoye, Ijebu constituency of Ogun State.

He was appointed as minister of Commerce and Industry by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2010.

Politics

Soyinka To Buhari: You Can’t Defeat B’Haram By Sitting In Aso Rock

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Nobel Laureate, Prof. wole Shoyinka has called for a national mobilisation to combat the menace of insecurity bedevilling the country.

He also said Nigeria’s sovereignty had been taken away by Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

In a direct reference to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nobel laureate said the President could not end the country’s insecurity challenge, sitting down in Aso Rock.

Soyinka stated this on Saturday while featuring on an Arise TV programme monitored by Sunday PUNCH.

According to him, Nigeria has reached the “stage of desperation”. The government should be willing to “pay people to come and help us” in defence against Boko Haram insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements.

Soyinka said, “There are those on whose shoulders must be placed the primary responsibility and that include some former Heads of State who refused to see the inevitability of what we are going through right now.

“I am very glad that the northern elite is now speaking up, boldly and practically, (and are also) now taking measures which they should have taken years ago. They’ve moved beyond the unbelievable policies of actually paying killers to stop killing. I don’t want to mention names, but some admitted that they were paying protection money to killers instead of dealing with that cancer in the only way they should, which is excision, to take out killers instead of giving them money.

“You don’t appease evil, and we are dealing with evil; there is no other word, we are dealing with the proliferation, the enthronement of evil in society. And unfortunately, we have encouraged its manifestation, its proliferation, its entrenchment.

“So, let them get away with the issue of sovereignty. If they have to pay people to come and help us, then call them whatever you want. Please go ahead because we’ve reached that stage of desperation.

“But I will prefer a general mobilisation in which people are trained, farmers especially are trained to work with the hoe in one hand and the gun in the other hand, ready to protect their lives, their harvests and the rest of us.

“We are not unique; history is full of those situations. I would like to see a national mobilisation. Let’s be practical.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that at least 43 rice farmers were beheaded by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State last November.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, had consequently urged the Federal Government to engage mercenaries and the militaries of neighbouring countries, like Chad and Cameroon, to crush the over decade-old Boko Haram insurgency.

Soyinka added, “From a self-protective point of view, it is a common problem; it is a national, collective issue. Don’t just sit there and think that you can solve it from Aso Rock; no. This now concerns even the lowest common citizens in this nation because that lowest, that most impotent individual has become a prime target. So, it’s a collective issue. I’m not surprised some governors now say let us reach outside help; I have also said something. I don’t say mercenaries necessarily, but this has gone beyond a Nigerian problem.

“Instead of that, what do I hear? Somebody gets on the podium and say, ‘The sovereignty of this nation cannot be challenged. Please, don’t let us hear any more of that rubbish. The sovereignty of this nation is in the hands of the murdering herdsmen. The sovereignty of this nation has already been taken over by Boko Haram; it’s been taken over by ISWAP, it’s been taken over by those with absolutely no respect for what is called national integrity.”

Soyinka also said Buhari’s nepotistic tendencies were outrageous, adding that the President appointed wrong people into the wrong places.

Soyinka’s statement comes two weeks after the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Kukah, also accused the President of nepotism.

Meanwhile, Soyinka also warned that the Western Nigeria Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun, must not transform into another form of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The writer said Amotekun operatives must be trained in ethics to not end on the wrong side of history.

Soyinka said, “Community policing, like Amotekun, is a recognition of the fact that the civic part of the entire national polity has got to wake up in not just its defence but also survival.

“I have told them that anytime they want us to come and assist; we will come even if it is just on the ethical session so that as you are training them to defend us, we are also training their minds so that Amotekun does not become another SARS – very important. We must do everything together.

“It is about time the public examined itself; what are we made up of? Are there those among us who, if they got into power, will behave exactly as those kinds of agencies which we are repudiating and against which we are protesting? There is no excuse for the brutality that occurred in the wake of the noise, rumour or reality of people being shot at the lekki tollgate.”

Politics

NORTHERN COALITION PLANS TO SUE BUHARI OVER SERVICE CHIEFS’ TENURE.

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THE Coalition of Northern Groups says it’s dragging the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to court over the continued retention of the nation’s service chiefs.

On assumption of office in 2015, the President appointed General Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff.

There have been calls for their removal for non-performance, but spokesman for the President, Mr. Garba Shehu, had consistently argued that only Buhari could hire and fire the service chiefs. However, the CNG disagreed, saying that the service chiefs have overstayed.

The coalition added that under them, the security situation in the North had worsened, hence the need for the court to compel Buhari to remove them (service chiefs). The CNG argued that there were laws guiding the appointments of the service chiefs, which must be followed to evolve the system. This, the northern organisation said, would be explored when they get to the court. CNG’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, stated these in an exclusive chat with The PUNCH in Kaduna.

Suleiman said, “The CNG is going to court because we believe it is now no longer a question of performance, but one of legality on whether the service chiefs, who have overstayed their years of service should not be compelled to comply with the laws guiding the prevailing scheme of service in the country.

“We would seek interpretation from the courts on the applicability of the law that says if a public servant attains 60 years of age, he must retire, or if he covers 35-years in service, he should go. On moral grounds, CNG regrets that by any standard of judgement, President Muhammadu Buhari and his security chiefs as constituted today have failed the nation in the vital area of improving its security.0

Politics

Father Mbaka releases prophesy about Buhari’s govt,other politicians.

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Father Mbaka has prophesied said President Buhari’s administration may be facing extinction and can only be saved if action is taken .
According to him, those in the political circle have looted so much and disgraced Nigeria enough. The cleric said God was angry with the leaders and what will befall them if they don’t change will be unbearable .

The fiery priest warned that no one should attempt to attack this prophecy of his, else the person will become a victim . A Catholic priest, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has prophesied the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

Speaking during the popular annual December 31 Crossover Night ministration, Mbaka, who is the spiritual director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), said this will depend on the president’s ability to act fast and save his government.
The Nation reports that the cleric advised Buhari’s government to create employment opportunities before Nigerian youths embark on restiveness that may consume this administration.

Rev.Father Ejike Mbaka

Rev.Father Ejike Mbaka Adoration ministry Prayer Line Songs and Praises He stated: “The Holy Spirit of God asked me to warn the government of the day to be very careful; to change policies and take care of the youths without politicising their (youths’) condition.

That the government should rise and urgently create jobs and innovate opportunities that would benefit the youths of the nation because they have suffered so much. “Don’t politicise the condition of the youths, otherwise, they will arise and end the political system.

“Should the government fail to do so as soon as possible that time is coming when the youths will rise against the government”

Politics, World News

Buhari mourns over death of two leading members of Zazzau Emirate.

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The sudden deaths of two leading members of the Zazzau Emirate has gotten the attention of President Buhari – The presidency disclosed that Buhari is unhappy over the tragedy , Buhari has sent a condolence message to the Kaduna people over the occurrence.

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the deaths of two leading members of the Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna state as a double tragedy. The president in a message on Friday, January 1, said the death of the Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashir Aminu and Talban Zazzau, Abubakar Pate came to him as a shock.The Guardian reported.

President Buhari said the recent deaths of the Zazzau Emirate is sad. According to a statement issued by a presidential aide, Garba Shehu, Buhari expressed sadness over the tragedy and condoled the families of the departed prices. He said: ”The death of such two prominent figures in Zazzau Emirate comes to me as a rude shock not long after the death of former Emir Shehu Idris.

President Buhari

Atiku hits Buhari again, says president’s ‘lazy leadership’ brought woes to Nigerians .“I wish to extend my deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the two leaders, the Zazzau Emirate Council, the government and people of Kaduna State.”

The presidency stated that a ministerial-level delegation has been dispatched to visit the palace on behalf of Buhari. Meanwhile, President Buhari has promised to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture in 2021. The president made the promise in his 2021 new year message to Nigerians on Friday, January 1.

The president, however, noted that his government needs to be more proactive and preemptive in ensuring that such incidents do not become a norm. In another news, the president’s New Year day national broadcast is not sitting well with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The opposition party, in its reaction to the president’s speech, released a statement titled: Buhari’s New Year Address, Empty, Directionless The PDP accused the Nigerian leader of presenting a speech that was “a script full of lame excuses and empty promises that addressed nothing.

Politics

Buhari Condemns Katsina School Attack.

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday condemned the bandits’ attack on a secondary school in Katsina.

About 54 students are said to have been abducted after gunmen attacked the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State late Friday.

The attack was carried out as Buhari commenced a one-week private visit to his hometown in Daura, Katsina State.

“I strongly condemn the cowardly bandits’ attack on innocent children at the Science School, Kankara,” the President said, as quoted in a statement released by spokesman Garba Shehu.

“Our prayers are with the families of the students, the school authorities and the injured.”

According to Shehu’s statement, the military has located the bandits’ location and are in the process of retrieving the abducted students.

“In the latest briefing received by the President from Governor Aminu Bello Masari, with whom he has been in touch, and the Army Chief of Staff, General Tukur Buratai, the military, supported by air power has located the bandits’ enclave at Zango/Paula forest in Kankara and there have been exchange of fire in an ongoing operation,” the statement said.

“Police said so far, there has not been reported any student casualty.

“The President has directed the reinforcement of security of all schools in line with the safe schools policy of the administration.”

Meanwhile, the Katsina state government has shut down all boarding schools in the state.

Politics

PDP Reps Tell President Buhari To Ignore Malami, Honour Summon.

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The caucus described as “reckless” the claims by the Attorney General that by inviting Mr President to address Nigerians, the House of Representatives overstepped its bounds.

President Muhammadu Buhari was advised on Thursday by the minority caucus in the House of Representatives to disregard the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and appear before the House as soon as possible.

The caucus, in a statement signed by the minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, criticised the statement by the AGF that the National Assembly lacks constitutional powers to summon the president to address it on the deteriorating insecurity and killings.

He said the claim by the Attorney General was unlawful and reckless. “We as lawmakers, therefore, urge President Buhari not to allow officials like Abubakar Malami to ridicule his office and further alienate him from Nigerians”. 

“Mr President, having agreed to appear before the House and given that the constitution backs the invitation, should take steps to honour the invitation and not allow himself to be distracted by persons who have demonstrated that they do not wish the nation well,” he stated. 

The opposition leader noted that the same section 218 cited by the Attorney General as well as sections 88 and 89 grant the National Assembly the powers to request Mr President’s attention on his handling of security and operations of the armed forces. 

“Section 89 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended empowers the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with Section 62 of the Constitution, to procure evidence, written or oral, and to ‘summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place,” he stated. 

Elumelu said that President Buhari, in response to the constitutional invitation, had already agreed to appear before the House to address Nigerians. 

“Mr. President’s apparent backward steps on the invitation just because handlers like Abubakar Malami, are afraid of the people, puts him in very bad light before Nigerians and the world,” the caucus states. 

The caucus described as “reckless” the claims by the Attorney General that by inviting Mr President to address Nigerians, the House of Representatives overstepped its bounds. 

“Indeed, as lawmakers, we are surprised that an individual who calls himself a Senior Advocate of Nigerian and who sits in office as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation can reason in such a manner.” 

According to the lawmakers, “the fundamental reason for the existence of any government is the security of life and property and such is directly vested on the President as the commander-in-chief. 

“Today Nigerians are killed, kidnapped, and maimed every day in all parts of our country. Nigerians live in constant fear, and they are asking questions; they seek reassurances, which only Mr President can offer. 

“As elected representatives of the Nigerian people, members of the House of Representatives are mandated by law to ask questions on the state of the nation, especially on issues of security, and that informed the invitation to President Buhari. 

“It is therefore sad and a great disservice to the nation and the President that the only opportunity Mr President had to remedy his name by addressing Nigerians through their elected representatives is being thwarted by individuals pursuing their selfish interest not the interest of Mr President or that of the Nigerians people,” the lawmakers stated. 

The caucus further expressed concerns over the interest and roles being played by the likes of Abubakar Malami, to frustrate efforts to tackle insecurity in the country.

Politics

Those Who Supported Buhari In 2015 Should Apologise For Misleading Nigerians – Ayodele Fayose

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According to Fayose, the President showed the sign of ‘a dictator’ by shunning the invitation extended to him by the legislative arm of government over the insecurity challenges in the country.

A former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over his failure to appear before the House of Representatives on Thursday.

According to Fayose, the President showed the sign of ‘a dictator’ by shunning the invitation extended to him by the legislative arm of government over the insecurity challenges in the country.

“I said on December 1, that President Buhari wouldn’t honour the House of Reps’ invitation on the worsening security situation in the country. Truly he didn’t.”

“With a democratically elected President who does not have regard for other arms of government, how else do you describe a dictator?” The ex-Ekiti State governor wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

He added that those who supported Buhari’s ascension to power in 2015 should “publicly apologise for misleading Nigerians”.

Nigerian media had reported that the House of Representatives led by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, last week, invited Buhari over the rising insecurity and the killing of over 43 farmers by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

An aide to the President, Lauretta Onochie, had also revealed that Buhari would appear before a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday. However, reports began to filter in on Tuesday that the President had decided not to attend the meeting any longer.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), also said Wednesday that the National Assembly lacked the power to invite the President to speak on security matters.

As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has yet to offer any explanation for Buhari’s absence at today’s House sitting.

Politics

Buhari Plots Forceful Retirement Of “Southern” Police AIG To Clear Path For Another IGP From North

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After being handicapped by law from using an unqualified AIG from the North to replace Adamu, Buhari has decided to promote several commissioners to the position of AIG hurriedly. The law requires that an IG can only be appointed from a position no less than AIG, i.e., only a DIG or an AIG could be made an IG.

President Muhammadu Buhari has engineered a desperate and sectional move to hedge out yet another southerner from clinching a crucial federal position under his administration, all aimed at elongating the Northern grip on the nation’s security architecture.

According to Peoples Gazette, a deep-laid plot to suddenly promote Moses Jitoboh, an Assistant Inspector-General of police from Bayelsa, to a higher rank of Deputy Inspector-General has been uncovered, despite having nine service years remaining and currently not the most-senior AIG from the South-South.

Section Seven of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 (PDF) has positioned Jitoboh, 50, as the only qualified officer to become the next Inspector-General out of all the 24 AIGs currently in the Nigeria Police Force.

The presidency-induced promotion scheme, if allowed to stand, will all but guarantee Jitoboh’s elimination from consideration as the next police Inspector-General; while clearing a dubious path for another northerner to take over from Mohammed Adamu.

At least four sources at the Force Headquarters, Police Service Commission and the State House told the newspaper that President Buhari was part of the strategy to forcibly promote Jitoboh to DIG to make his enduring stay in the police untenable beyond February 1, 2021 — when all his DIG peers will retire with Adamu.

To advance the plan, a Deputy Inspector-General has summarily retired from service under apparently puzzling but undisclosed circumstances.

Michael Ogbizi, from Cross River, handed in his early retirement filings late November, even though he had barely two months left to properly retire alongside Adamu and other colleagues from the 1986 course.

Following Ogbizi’s exit, Adamu swiftly requested for Jitoboh’s annual performance evaluation results (APER) to recommend him for urgent promotion to DIG. Extant police leadership order requires a deputy inspector-general from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to make up the police management team.

The Peoples Gazette’s findings showed that none of the six DIGs representing the six geopolitical zones in the police management structure is eligible for appointment as IG, having fallen short of the required years of service mandated by law.

The police service records showed that two of the DIGs — Celestine Okoye (Southeast) and Lawal Shehu (Northwest) are due for retirement in December 2020, while Aminchi Samaila Baraya (Northeast), Anthony Ogbizi Michael (South-South) and Adeleye Olusola (Southwest) will retire alongside IG Adamu (Northcentral) in February 2021. DIG Sanusi Lemu (Northcentral) is expected to proceed on retirement in January 2023.

The most-recent police staff list (PDF) obtained by the newspaper showed that there are 24 general duty officers in the rank of AIG. Previously, either of the 24 officers could have been appointed as IG by the President.

But the new police law signed by Buhari in September 2020 mandated that only an officer with at least four more service years’ grace could be appointed as IG.

Twenty-three of the 24 AIGs are up for retirement between January 8, 2021, and March 1, 2023, either based on enlistment or age. Only Jitoboh, the youngest of them all, has more than eight years left in service — twice the legal requirement.

Jitoboh’s status should have triggered his preparation to take charge of police affairs from Adamu, a Muslim northerner from Nasarawa, in two months.

But the President and his associates are loath to accept a Christian southerner of Ijaw extraction with the potential to lead the police for nine years — and are now racing to circumvent the law and pave the way for four northern Commissioners of Police to be the only available candidates for the top law enforcement officer.

After being handicapped by law from using an unqualified AIG from the North to replace Adamu, Buhari has decided to promote several commissioners to the position of AIG hurriedly. The law requires that an IG can only be appointed from a position no less than AIG, i.e., only a DIG or an AIG could be made an IG.

Recent administrations have, however, adopted the convention of appointing IGs from AIGs. Senior ranking officers (DIGs) are summarily sacrificed when a junior colleague is appointed in furtherance of the controversial practice.

There are currently 89 officers in the rank of the commissioner in the police, but only 20-24 of them can be promoted as AIGs to replace the current 24 AIGs. They will either be promoted as DIGs or forced to retire alongside Adamu in February.

But out of the 24 commissioners that the presidency is looking to promote to AIG, only four of them have at least four years left in service. And all the four are northerners.

They are Hafiz Inuwa from Jigawa (Northwest, retiring 2024); Dasuki Galandachi from Kano (Northwest, retiring 2025); Habu Sani Ahmadu from Sokoto (Northwest, retiring 2025) and Bala Ciroma from Yobe (Northeast, retiring 2025).

After resolving that only Northern police Commissioners will meet the legal requirements to become IG out of the 24 potential commissioners to be promoted to AIG, the presidency then sought to finalise Jitoboh’s promotion as DIG forthwith, police sources said.

Buhari’s associates quickly found an ally in Ogbizi, who agreed to proceed on retirement to create an excuse for promoting Jitoboh to become the new DIG for the South-South.

Ogbizi’s sudden decision to initiate his voluntary retirement in late November, when he could have just waited for additional two months when he would be officially due to retire, has continued to unsettle senior police officers from the South.

“We are still shocked that he agreed to such a desperate plot to deprive another officer of his region the opportunity of being the next IG,” a police chief told Peoples Gazette under anonymity over the weekend, adding that officers are still seething about the “messy plots.”

Following Ogbizi’s retirement, Adamu on November 26 asked Jitoboh to forward his annual performance results for 2018 and 2019 within a week, according to a memo obtained by the Gazette.

The Force Headquarters is now preparing to forward Jitoboh’s records to the Police Service Commission to approve his promotion as DIG.

But Jitoboh is not the most-senior AIG from the South-South. Austin Agbonlahor from Edo is scheduled for retirement in August 2021 and should have been the one promoted to replace Ogbizi in the police management team, staff records showed.

The newspaper learnt that the President told Ogbizi that he would be made the next chairman of the EFCC if he agreed to go along with the plan.

A PSC source said the presidency had already informed the commission to expedite Jitoboh’s promotion. But the official said the process would be stalled because there was no basis to circumvent the law to prevent the officer from becoming the next IG.

Quite frankly, we have no basis for ignoring the law because we want to prevent one man from attaining a position in the police,” a PSC official said. “The fight is currently being fought from within.”

A presidency source confirmed that two meetings had been held over the past week on who would be the next IG, and it was concluded that Jitoboh should be frustrated from getting the position in favour of Galandachi.

“I can confirm that Dasuki Galadanchi is the first option of the president to become the next IG,” the presidency source said under anonymity to comment on an internal matter.

President Buhari’s strong stance against the emergence of Jitoboh follows his pattern of nepotistic appointments into top positions, said police reform activist Okechukwu Nwanguma — considering that northerners appointed by Buhari currently fills top military and national security positions.

“The president must immediately withdraw from this plot, and the police council should also immediately reject it,” Nwanguma said. “An IG whose loyalty would be to the law and the people rather than to one man that created a path for him to emerge.”

Nwanguma described Buhari as a ‘dyed-in-the-wool sectionalist’, calling on him to ensure compliance with the law he signed and allow Jitoboh to be elevated to the top police job.

Despite glaring evidence, the President has frequently denied allegations of being sectional, often citing his appointment of ministers from southern states without noting that it is a constitutional requirement for all states to have at least one minister in the federal cabinet.

Yet in 2017, Buhari declined to appoint Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, despite a looming constitutional crisis. But when he fell ill and was flown to London for extended medical treatment, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo quickly moved to avert the crisis by forwarding Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation.

Barely two years later, Buhari ultimately plotted the inglorious ouster of Mr Onnoghen, a southern Christian, expectedly sourcing his replacement from the North.

In 2018, Buhari oversaw the infamous removal and controversial replacement of Matthew Seiyefa, a former acting Director-General of the State Security Service from Bayelsa. After seeing that the senior positions from which he could appoint the next SSS DG were occupied by southerners, Buhari ignored them to name Yusuf Bichi from Kano, years after he retired from service.

Last year, Azuka Azinge was removed from office as registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on allegations of false assets filings. Azinge was subsequently replaced with a Northerner and was never prosecuted to the purported allegations.

Ex-PenCom chief Chinelo Anohu was similarly booted out of the office and her position immediately ceded to the North.

Business, Politics

FG announces reduction in fuel price from #168 to N162.44 per litre.

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The Federal Government has announced a reduction in the pump price of premium motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol, from N168 to N162.44 per litre with effect from December 14.

The product presently dispenses at N168, following the decision of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company to increase the ex-depot price of petrol from N147.67 per litre to N155.17 per litre in November. The ex-depot price is the price at which the product is sold by the PPMC to marketers at the depots.

The minister said a technical committee has been set up to ensure price stability in the industry.
Ngige stated that the committee, which will report back to the larger house on January 25, will appraise the market forces and other things that would ensure stability in the industry.

He said, “Our discussion was fruitful and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation which is the major importer and marketers of petroleum products and customers have agreed that there will be a slide down of the pump price of PMS and that the price cut will get us about N5 per litre and that the price cut will take effect from next Monday, a week today.”

Ngige explained that the price reduction was not meant to suspend deregulation because it did not affect the price of crude oil but on areas where the NNPC as the main importer had agreed that it could cut costs like freight and demurrage costs.

He said the new price slash was a product of a joint committee of NNPC and labour representatives, which looked into ways of cutting costs.

On the aspect of electricity tariff, both sides agreed to wait till the next meeting date on January 25 to enable the special committee dealing with complaints to conclude their deliberations.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Ayuba Wabba, collaborated the position of the minister, saying that the agreement was reached by both sides.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, disclosed this at the end of a meeting with labour leaders which began around 9 pm on Monday and ended at 1:30 am on Tuesday.

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