WOW!!! Don't Miss this......Biafra Republic: A Myth or Reality

By Adedayo Osho

Adedayo Osho,
a Political Scientist
(The Author)

On Friday 6th of November 2015, South-East largest city, Onitsha witnessed thousands of anti-government demonstrators, primarily under the aegis of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB staged Million Man March protesting the continued detention of their group leader and managing director of Radio Biafra: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

This is not the first time a separatist movement like IPOB would assemble in Nigeria. In the early years of political independence, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro had declared Niger Delta Republic. The struggle only lasted for twelve days. Agitation for Biafra Republic, which is currently gaining traction was first championed in 1967 by late charismatic leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu- the Ikemba II of Nnewi.

Fast forward to four decades after the end of civil war in 1970: West Africa tiger, Nigeria faces security challenges along its three dominant ethnic/geographical line. Resilient killing of civilians by Boko Haram in the North; Clandestine proliferation of light arms by the Oodua Peoples’ Congress in South-West; and the insufferable propaganda employed to dent the country’s image by Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra in the South-East.

Scotland and Spain’s Catalonia experience provides modern reference point for federal government on how best to handle secessionist agitation by Ndigbo. Dragging South Sudan which has now slide into a war-torn zone inside the case at hand, leading forces for Biafra must consider the brutal consequence of power rivalry. This is not intended for insult on ground of leadership incompetence. Ongoing political rumble between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President turned-rebel leader, Riek Machar offers secessionists anywhere in the world a lesson on how manufactured nations bicker with power. Since large swathes of Niger Delta will be merged along with the long anticipated Biafra Republic, if any coming to being, our cousins in the coastal region need start raising dialectical questions on power sharing/allocation under a refurbished nation.

I advise my Ndigbo brothers to wear the garment of civic and pursue their course with subtle nobility. Rather than resort to violence or propaganda, the place of strong advocacy for referendum remains their golden alternative.

For instance, In January 2015, the company GFK Ukraine, a member of one of the largest international companies in the field of marketing research, GfK Group (Nurenberg, Germany) conducted a survey in the Crimea. Results of the survey showed that about 93% of Crimean residents support the reunification of Crimea with Russia, voted against only by 4% of respondents. “Do you support the reunification of the Crimea to Russia?”

82% – fully support

11% – probably, support

2% – do not support

2% – probably, do not support

3% – hard to say.

Forbes business magazine writes that one year after the reunification of the Crimea with Russia, poll after poll shows that the locals there — be they Ukrainians, ethnic Russians or Tartars are all in agreement: life with Russia is better than life with Ukraine.

It need be emphasised that self-determination is strongly supported by United Nation UN itself. There’s no gain in painting a bad image of one’s rivals in an attempt to convince admirers. That courageous man, Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travellers should be informed that slaves who devised slanderous concoctions as a means of gaining freedom from their master will only extend their years of stewardship.

I’m aware that those who harp on secession does owing to political marginalisation and domination my powerful groups, but then, for true Biafranism to manifest, Ndigbo needs the backing of many of their political leaders who are wary of their pocket and the benefits accrued to a larger political territory: Nigeria.

Adedayo Osho is a political analyst and freelance writer. He holds a Bachelor degree in Political Science & Education from University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Email: oshoadedayo7@yahoo.com Twitter: @Jahpolitica

Chai...Asset Declaration: Saraki's Lawyers Deny Walking Out on CCT

Senate President, Olubukola Saraki

•     As Lagos court rejects plea to stop trial

Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Senator Iroegbu in  Abuja

The legal team of the Senate President, Olubukola Saraki, has denied reports making the rounds that they staged a walk-out on the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja to protest the alleged bias by the Chairman, Danlandi Umar.
This is coming on the heels of a Lagos High Court throwing away an attempt by Saraki to stop his ongoing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja for lack of jurisdiction.

The senate president in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/1507/15 and filed by his lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, had dragged the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission (ICPC), Inspector-General of Police, and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as first to fifth respondents to court.

At the resumed trial on Thursday, the  three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN),  Mahmoud Magagi, Ahmed Raji, and Saka Abimbola Isah,  said to have led no fewer than 100 other lawyers to the tribunal withdrew their services.

However, Raji in a statement in Abuja, debunked that the Saraki’s Legal team walked out on the tribunal.

The Senior Advocate clarified that the legal team only sought permission to leave the tribunal pending when the issues at the Supreme Court were settled, which he noted, was granted by the tribunal chairman.

Raji further clarified that even though he disagreed with some the proceedings,  he had utmost respect for the Tribunal and never used the words "Judicial Rascality" as was being attributed. 

"My attention has been drawn to several news articles making the rounds in both the print and online media to the effect that I, Ahmed Raji, SAN, as a member of the Defence team engaged by Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki in his trial currently pending before the CCT walked out on the Honourable Tribunal following the Tribunal’s refusal to accede to our application for an adjournment of the proceedings.

"It has also been reported in the aforesaid media that the defence described the actions of the Honourable Tribunal as; “Judicial Rascality”.   

"I wish to use this medium to correct the said erroneous information", he stated.
Part of the statement read: "At the resumed hearing of the case against Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (‘Our client’) before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on the said 5th November, 2015, we, as defence counsel, notified the Honourable Tribunal that we have filed an Appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal, wherewith we filed a Motion on Notice for Stay of Proceedings of the Honourable Tribunal pending the determination of the Appeal.

"Consequent on the foregoing, and citing a plethora of judicial authorities on the point, we respectfully urged the Honourable Tribunal to adjourn the matter pending the determination of our client’s appeal filed at the Supreme Court or in the least, to await the outcome of the Motion on Notice for Stay of Proceedings filed at the Supreme Court."

Happily, Raji disclosed, the Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, November 13, 2015, for hearing of the application for Stay of Proceedings "which is why we had respectfully urged the tribunal to grant an adjournment".

"It is therefore not true that I walked out on the Code of Conduct Tribunal or described the tribunal’s actions as “Judicial Rascality” as widely reported. This press release is made for record purposes," he stressed. 

Saraki is facing 13-count charges on false assets declaration during the period he was the governor of Kwara State between 2003-2011.

Others dragged before the court in Lagos are: CCT, its Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar; Mr. Ataedze Agu A.; Mr. Sam Saba; Mr. Mohammed Diri and Mr. M. S. Hassan, as six to 11 respondents.

Senator Saraki in the suit sought the court's declaration that his ongoing arraignment and trial before the CCT as constituted by seven and eight respondents fell short of the requirement of Article 3 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and Section 36 of the Constitution of federal republic of Nigeria, which was in the clear, appearance of bias against him, and the apparent pursuit of pre-determined agenda for his humiliation and conviction.

He also wanted a court order nullifying the charges brought against him by the first, second, nine, 10 and 11 respondents before the CCT, relating to asset declaration which had not been the subject of the procedure prescribed by the CCB Act LFN 2004, in breach of his fundamental rights to equality before the law and fair hearing as guaranteed by the Article 3 of the African Charter of human and people rights and Section 36 of the Constitution of federal republic of Nigeria.

Saraki also sought for court order restraining the first to fifth respondents from inviting, arresting, harassing, persecuting or prosecuting him on the basis of any allegation of wrongdoing arising before or from his tenure as governor of Kwara State between 2003-2011, in view of the breach of his fundamental rights to a speedy trial, fair hearing and his exoneration by the AGF and judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/152/2014.

At the hearing of the suit in Friday, lawyer to the respondents, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, SAN, in response to the suit, urged the court to discountenance the reliefs sought by the applicant, owing to the fact that same suit was filed and dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Jacob, SAN, also informed the court that the Federal High Court in Lagos does not have jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

He therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction.
Justice Ibrahim Buba while ruling on the senate president's fundamental right application said all the material placed before the court is inconsistent, and that the court lack jurisdiction to entertain the application.

Consequently, Justice Buba struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. 

ALERT: Ogun Raises Alarm As ‘Killer Ponmo’ Floods Market

The Ogun State has issued a warning to residents of the state after large quantities of poisonous cattle hides popularly known as ‘ponmo’ were discovered in some markets in the state.

In an address to ‘ponmo’ dealers and other stakeholders in the state, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun, warned against consuming of the toxic delicacy.

Sokefun added that it has come to the state government’s notice that some unscrupulous businessmen were taking advantage of the gap in demand and supply of the soup ingredient to sell industrial ‘Ponmo’ laden with tanning chemicals to the unsuspecting public.

In her words: “Tanning chemicals like biocides and fungicides are added along the processing chain to preserve the hides against protein degradation, bacteria and mould growth that would have damaged the hides and skin.

“The raw hides are later processed into the local delicacy called “ponmo” and bought by unsuspecting members of the public for consumption.

?”The government, being aware of the health implication of the consumption of this imported hides and skin considers it important to enlighten the public on the danger inherent in the consumption and prevent further sales of the product as food of animal origin in the state,” she said.

Sokefun further implored the general public to be on the lookout for the ‘imported ponmo’ which is often brownish black, foul smelling, abnormally thick with layers and ridiculously cheap compared to the certified ponmo.

She added that the cattle hides and skin are raw hides that are meant for leather production in some African and European countries like Sudan, Italy and Japan.

“The ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has commenced investigation and placed a trail on the importer.

“In addition, we are in strategic liaisons with the public health department of the Ministry of Health and all environmental health departments of local government councils to confiscate such ponmo at our various markets.

Welcome to 9ja Routes: A Must Read... BUHARI must conquer both PETER and JUDAS

BUHARI must conquer both PETER and JUDAS

A Must Read... BUHARI must conquer both PETER and JUDAS

By D-One Ayekooto

The main agendum of the Buhari led APC government is to fight corruption. 

Corruption it is that killed our education, corruption it is that killed our aviation leaving us the be a paper giant without a national carrier! What a shame?

Corruption it is that killed our hospitals.......elites cannot treat headache in our hospitals again. And when an accused elite wants to travel abroad, needs his international passport, he simply tell the judge 'I'm sick, you know there is no good hospital here, allow me to go to the hospital abroad...." If we continue like this I'm sorry for Nigeria. 

Corruption it is that killed our railway, GEJ lied to us that our railway is back but railway is still at the back!!!! Corruption killed our morals, known thieves are being celebrated while honesty has become a bad market!!!

Corruption will not allow your salaries to be paid while in active service and eat up your pension when you grow old........  

Corruption is the reason why honest people run away from politics and evil people embrace it!!! Corruption is the father of poverty and terror......

Nigerians realized that corruption is about to kill their country especially when GEJ introduced material and mental vandalism to his own........We desired CHANGE......Buhari did not have any dollars to give us, he only promised to give us his ALL if he wins......

"If we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria" he said!!! 

Our votes for him therefore, should be a death sentence on corruption!!!!

Buhari's assignment is to give his ALL.....But in doing that someone must reveal him to us for us to really know whether or not he is serious about his main mission or not! The revealer is Saraki who has been destined to be the JUDAS among the disciples of CHANGE. He has betrayed his 'master', connived with Pharisees and want to show to the world that his master is not capable of fighting corruption!!!! If Buhari failed to reveal his mission........that will rubbish him eternally. A child who threw away oracle must be used to appease the oracle......One of his disciples has been caught pants down, he was not just caught, he is also running helter skelter to compromise the ONLY Legacy of Buhari.... 

Turning himself to Postmaster General, celebrating eye service and pretending to love the wife he has divorced just because the child of that wife has now become a king!!! Judas has betrayed the agenda of APC, he must not be allowed to scuttle the agenda of Buhari government!!!! He has been caught, let him return the shillings and hang!

There are also some Peters around now......asking Buhari not to fulfil his mission.......They want him to stay in the world of corruption where the previous government had stayed. They 'don't want problem for him at all'. All they want is the protection of their comfort zone!!!!! They bear the name peace committee. When the real war begins, some of them will go into hiding watching him from afar........but he will conquer just like a man with the backing of GOD......but he must tell the peters "Get thee behind me you satan!"......Buhari will conquer corruption and after his 8 years rule, a Spirit of Excellence will take over NIGERIA.

There must not be any form of compromise so that we don't end up like King Saul......

No sacred cows.......

No protection of the kings..........

Remember if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us!!!....

SARAKI EXPOSED: Nigerian Senators Receive Text To Accompany Saraki To Corruption Trial

SaharaReporters has obtained a copy of a text message sent out to Nigerian Senators urging them to accompany embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki to his corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja tomorrow (November 5 2015).

Mr. Saraki and the leadership of the Senate have consistently shut down the Senate to enable senators to storm the venue of the CCT tribunal in a show of solidarity. In previous outings, more than 60 senators had showed up with Mr. Saraki at his hearings. Some civil rights activists have accused Mr. Saraki of using Nigerian taxpayers’ time and funds to attend to his personal corruption trial.

Yesterday, Mr. Saraki adjourned the sitting of the Senate until November 10, shortly after releasing the list of newly constituted committees of the Senate.
 
A copy of the text message to senators, signed by one “Arthur,” self-identified as “Director of Protocol to Saraki,” read:

Gdevenin Distinguishr. Wish to inform dt Buses are available 2moro mrnin to convey Senators wishing to accompany H/E d Senate President.
Departure is at 9 am frm d house @ 22 Yesderan Str. by IGP’s House Maitama. Regards. -Arthur (dir’ of Prot. S/P). +2348077770119

T.Y Danjuma Blasts Buhari, Says Boko Haram Better In Intelligence Gathering Than Security Agencies

Posted By: Breaking Times

Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) has opined that Boko Haram was 100 per cent better in gathering intelligence than Nigeria’s security agencies.

Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma was speaking at the opening of a new secretariat for the Catholic Diocese built by Bishop Matthew Kukah, in Sokoto.  Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma then went ahead and called on Nigerians to “brace up” and weather the new challenges posed by Boko Haram as the war against Terror enters its critical stages.

Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma also stressed that the terrorists have now devised a strategy of disappearing into the wider civilian population and setting up sleeping cells who wreak havoc on softer targets, adding that this new strategy has not only bolstered the intelligence capability of the terrorists but has made them have superior surveillance techniques than Nigeria’s security agencies.

In his address, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma who is the Chairman of Boko Haram Victims’ Support Fund stressed that “When Boko Haram openly denounced all religions, Muhammadu Buhari called them terrorists and urged all Muslims to consider them as such,” he said.

“Later, some who chose to remain on the fence realized the threat posed to all and reluctantly joined in condemning Boko Haram.

“Having sleeping cells among the generality of the population has made them have intelligence capability that is 100 percent better than that of our security agencies‎,”

Also present at the occasion, was Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole who added his voice saying “religious harmony was the only panacea to a peaceful country”.

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said that ‘’Nigerians must not let the activities of Boko Haram sow the seed of doubt and mistrust among themselves as allowing such will be detrimental to the peaceful coexistence of various religious and ethnic groups in the country’’, adding that “now is the time for leaders to close ranks and work for the stability and progress of the country”.

The Governor said the unity of Nigeria has been threatened by the emergence of Boko Haram; a tragedy which he said has deepened anxieties across the country.

According to him, all Nigerians must learn to put the nation and the survival of the citizenry first before any other consideration. “Because if there’s no nation, there will be no space to practice our faiths”.

By Aminu Wamako – Sokoto.

NEWS FLASH: Buhari Scraps SURE-P

President Muhammadu Buhari has scrapped the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and also ordered the Presidential Committee and workers of the agency to close shop. The President’s order was delivered to the SURE-P Committee through a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

As expected, The President has ordered a probe into their activities, funding and expenditure of the agency. President Muhammadu Buhari in the letter directed the panel to wind down the operations of SURE-P on or before October 31, 2015 and submit a comprehensive report of its activities to The Presidency.

We'll deliver Bayelsa to APC, says Tambuwal

Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said the events leading to the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State will not affect the party’s chances of winning the election.

Addressing reporters at the APC secretariat, Tambuwal said the party was working to ensure that every member in Bayelsa State worked for its success at the polls.

He said the National Campaign Council, set up by the party, would deliver the state to APC on December 5, adding that signals from the state indicated that the party was sure of victory in a free and fair election.

Tambuwal said: “Our task is clear to us and the task has been defined and blessed by God Almighty. We shall do everything within the confines of the law to bring Timipre Sylva to the Government House after December 5.

“I assure you, Mr. President and members of our party that by the grace of God, we shall not fail you in the execution of this assignment. Thank you for appointing us to serve and the service we are going to render.

The signals are clear from Bayelsa and by the grace of God, the state is ready for the change train. Bayelsa is set to join the ruling party. Sylva’s records are there to speak for him.

“I have been to Bayelsa while he was the governor and after he left office. The records are clear. I believe the people have the advantage of comparing the two individuals we are talking about and I believe the APC candidate will be the one the people will vote for.

“As a party, which has imbibed the culture of winning free and fair elections, you should know that we are ready to set out as a team to ensure that APC and its candidate win the Bayelsa election.

“Members of the party in the state are working together. You can see that the chieftains were around for the inauguration of the campaign council and it is work in progress.

“We shall ensure that we bring everybody on board to make sure that the party wins this election. We have taken the factors into consideration and the signs are clear. By the grace of God, APC will win this election.”

Femi Fani-Kayode: Oceans of blood and the power of truth

“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it but in the end, there it is” – Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain (1940-1945 and 1951-1955).

Nothing empowers the spirit more than the truth. Nothing warms the soul more than the truth. Nothing dispels the darkness more than the truth. Nothing emboldens the noble more than the truth. Nothing sheds the light more than the truth. Nothing enlightens the ignorant more than the truth. Nothing frees the enslaved more than the truth. Nothing liberates the mind more than the truth.

Nothing purges the evil more than the truth. Nothing hurts the vile more than the truth. Nothing troubles the murderous more than the truth. Nothing exposes the reprobate more than the truth. Nothing burns the slanderer more than the truth.

Nothing chains the liar more than the truth. Nothing heals the wounded more than the truth. Nothing brings the peace more than the truth. Nothing torments the oppressor more than the truth. Nothing haunts the wicked more than the truth. Nothing punishes the tyrant more than the truth. Nothing humiliates the proud more than the truth. Nothing restores our hope more than the truth. Nothing serves justice more than the truth. Nothing delivers the captive more than the truth. As Churchill said, ‘’the truth is incontrovertible’’. It is overwhelming and it is irresistable. It is powerful and it is beautiful.

It cannot be destroyed. It cannot be denied. It cannot be suppressed. It is eternal. It will always be revealed at the appointed time. It may be ignored for a season but it will eventually resurface to torment the deceiver.

With truth comes the opportunity to repent and to forgive. With truth comes justice, healing, peace, love, restoration, reconciliation, reparation, redemption and the chance for new beginnings. Without truth there can be none of these blessings or virtues: only darkness, deceit, ugliness, suspicion, hate, carnage, violence and the enthronement and celebration of bitter and wretched souls. Without truth evil goes from strength to strength. Without truth the wicked crush innocent souls. Without truth the oppressor continues to thrive and flourish but with truth the righteous rise and reach the top. Without truth nations wither and perish but with truth they prosper and excel.

Yet what truth resides in our beleagured country? A country that feeds fat on lies and revels in deceit. A country that refuses to teach its children our history in order to cover up the many wrongs and injustices of the past. A country whose elders refer to the oppressed and dissolusioned as desperate ”miscreants”. A country whose leaders refer to those that seek to enforce their legitimate rights as ”money-loving drug dealers and skillful scammers”.

A country that cannot make a distinction between those that seek to peacefully exercise their right of self-determination and those that terrorise, kill and maim others in an attempt to impose their faith. There are many truths that the Nigerian people will have to come to terms with before our nation can be at peace with itself.

An ocean of blood has been shed in the name of a united Nigeria yet the perpetrators of state-sponsored violence have never been brought to book. Many souls have been wasted in trying to keep us one. How much more blood has to flow before those that have ruled us from time immemorial accept the fact that nations cannot be established by subjugation and tyranny but only by justice, equity, truth, equal rights and consensus.

The truth of the Jos massacre in 1945 where hundreds were slaughtered cannot be denied. The truth of the Kano riots in 1953 where thousands were butchered cannot be denied. The truth of the pogroms in the north in 1966 where hundreds of thousands were killed cannot be denied. The truth of the slaughter of millions of innocent civilians, women and children between 1967 and 1969 during the Nigerian civil war cannot be denied.

The truth of the Asaba masssacre in 1969 where 1000 little boys and old men were rounded up in the town square and shot in the head cannot be denied.
The truth of the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Christians and ethnic minorities all over the north and particularly in the Middle Belt throughout the 80’s and 90’s cannot be denied. The truth of political sharia with its attendant violence, trauma, blood-letting and butchery from 2000-2003 in the far north cannot be denied.

The bitter truth of Boko Haram and the relentless slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent Nigerians by Islamic fundamentalists in northern Nigeria from 2009 up until today cannot be denied. The truth of the murder of dozens of young youth corpers and hundreds of other people in the far north in 2011 cannot be denied. The truth of the brutal slaughter of innocent Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen over the last 20 years and up until today cannot be denied. O Nigerians, who has bewitched thee? Why do we hate truth and those that speak it with such passion? Like the ostrich, we have buried our heads in the sand and we act as if these things never happened. We refuse to acknowledge the evil within us and we refuse to honor the dead by atoning for our sins and calling for retribution and justice.

These horrendous events cannot be denied and neither shall they ever be forgotten. The blood of the innocents that were slaughtered by these relentless Huns speaks through the ages and from generation to generation. That blood cries out to God in heaven and it calls for vengeance. It is time for justice to be done. It is time for those that consistently kill and shed blood in their ignoble quest to rule us forever to be brought to book. It is time for the Tutsis of Nigeria to be brought to heel. It is time for those that starved millions of little children to death in the name of crushing Biafra to be exposed.

It is time that those who seek to play down these events and who seek to cover up their complicity in genocide be called out and shamed. It is time that some of our elders and so-called leaders are sent to the International Criminal Court for genocide and murder and for crimes against humanity. It is time to rediscover our humanity. It is time for the ancient leaders and guardians of the Nigerian state to admit that they have built our so-called unity on nothing but murder, carnage and the blood, guts and bones of millions of slaughtered innocents.

It is time for them to apologies to the Nigerian people for their insufferable conspiracy of silence and their insatiable greed. It is time for them to tell the truth about our blood-soaked and frightful history, to confess their sins, to kneel down before the Ancient of Days and to beg Him for forgiveness. It is time for them to start fearing the Lord of Hosts, to stop hating the messenger and to start dealing with the message

FIFA U17 VIDEO: Brazil 0 – 3 Nigeria (DOWNLOAD)

http://www.akpraise.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Magnito_X_Phyno_-_HoHa_Akpraise.com.mp3

DICKSON: Federal might doesn’t win election

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at the weekend told youths that federal might would not win the December 5 governorship election.

Speaking at a meeting with youth leaders at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Dickson said the election was about protecting the pride and future of Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.

He said the poll was about the future of Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation, adding that allowing the opposition to win the election was tantamount to selling the pride and destiny of the Ijaw.

The governor urged youth leaders to protect the state’s pride and integrity.

He said they should turn out en masse on December 5 with their permanent voter cards (PVCs). Dickson said they should vote, protect their votes and wait for the announcement of the results at the polling booths.

He announced automatic employment for youth leaders in the Bayelsa Volunteers Scheme (BVS) to enhance peace and security, ahead of the poll.

The governor enjoined youths to ensure that their communities were organised to give information on piracy, kidnapping and other crimes.

He advised them to cooperate with the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure peace and security during the election.

Said he: “Organise yourselves unit by unit, ward by ward, constituency by constituency and cooperate with the security agencies and INEC. Ensure that after voting, you remain at the polling booths and wait for the results to be announced.

“Federal might does not win elections. It is the people that win election. Stand up now or else you will never forgive yourselves, because your destiny is at stake. Those in the opposition were in government for five years and plunged the state into debts. Now they want to return.

“Today, all of you who are youth presidents and leaders, you are automatically integrated into the volunteer scheme. Ensure your communities are organised. Work hard to give information about piracy, work with your traditional rulers.”

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT: Buhari Considers Ahmed, Adeosun, Enelamah for Finance Ministry Mohammed for Budget & Planning

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs. Zainab

By Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Ahmed, a former Finance Commissioner in Ogun State, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and Chief Executive Officer, African Capital Alliance, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, are being considered by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the Finance Ministry, THISDAY has learnt.

The trio were among the 36 ministerial nominees screened and confirmed by the Senate. While Ahmed is a financial management expert with over 28 years experience in public finance management, Adeosun is a finance professional of over 23 years. Her experience includes her stint at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, London where she served as senior manager. Enelamah, a former Goldman Sachs banker, heads Nigeria’s biggest private equity firm.

Even though one  of them will eventually head the finance ministry, the trio will be part of the government economic team.
Presidency source disclosed to THISDAY that a newly created Ministry of Planning and Budget, could be headed by Ms. Amina Mohammed, who was until her appointment special adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning to United Nations Secretary-General. She had previously served as special assistant to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo on Millennium Development Goals.

Former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, is being considered to head an expanded Niger-Delta Ministry which will have under its purview the Presidential Amnesty Programme and an infrastructure department  for the South-south and the North-east.
For the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, it was gathered that the five prominent lawyers on the ministerial list are in contention. They are defunct CPC lawyer, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), Senator Udo Udoma (SAN),  Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and Mr. Adebayo Shittu.

Fashola, who is the immediate past governor of Lagos State is also being considered for the Transport, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Works or any infrastructure related portfolio.
The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and former Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, are being considered for the Foreign Affairs portfolio. Fayemi, who holds a Doctorate in War Studies,  has been part of the President’s entourage abroad, including the recently held United Nations General Assembly in New York.

It was also gathered that a surgeon, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, is being considered to head the Health Ministry. Ehanire has served in various medical boards within and outside Nigeria. Also, Senator Hadi Sirika, a former pilot and aviation expert, is said to have been penciled to man the Aviation ministry.
For the Information Ministry, it was gathered that Alhaji Lai Mohammed is being considered to hold the portfolio. Mohammed is All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman and had previously served as the spokesman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the parties that merged to form APC.

Though 36 ministerial nominees were screened and confirmed by the Senate, President Buhari had last week, shortly before he departed New Delhi, India, declared that not all the ministers-designate  would oversee ministries as some of them will end up sitting on the Federal Executive Council in order to fulfil the constitutional requirement of having at least one minister from each state of the federation. He also gave a hint that the number of federal ministries would be reduced.
The president is said to be intent on allocating portfolios to the ministers-designate based on their core competences and past records of performance in specific areas.

This is aimed at ensuring that the new federal cabinet hits the ground running after five months of  absence of a federal executive council, a development that blurred the government’s policy direction.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Senate has made moves to calm tempers in the aftermath of the ministerial screening exercise, which ended on a controversial note last week. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu disclosed this in Lokoja yesterday. Ekweremadu said the tensions that arose between senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress and their colleagues from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the last day of the screening exercise on Thursday would not be allowed to create divisions in the senate’s ranks.

This was as some PDP senators said yesterday that their relationship with Senate President Bukola Saraki would not be affected by the disagreements following the confirmation of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s ministerial nomination despite a petition that was being pushed by the opposition. But they said they were still meeting to take a stand on.

PDP members of the upper chamber had on Thursday staged a walkout during plenary in protest at the APC-dominated senate’s insistence on confirming Amaechi as Minister of the Federal Republic. Their grouse was the refusal of the senate president to block the former governor’s ministerial confirmation based on an unfavourable report by the senate’s Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges, which considered the petition against him.

The PDP senators had wanted the confirmation of Amaechi to be put off until the determination of the case in court. This was vehemently rejected by the APC lawmakers, who went ahead to confirm him after the exit of the opposition senators.
As the debate over the former governor’s approval went on in the senate on Thursday, tempers got very frayed, prompting insinuations that the issue may ruin relations between Saraki and the PDP senators on whose bloc vote he had depended to win the post of senate president in June. 

But speaking in an interview with THISDAY, Ekweremadu said the leadership of the senate was not oblivious of the tense situation arising from the faceoff between the PDP and APC lawmakers during the ministerial screening. He said the leadership was making effort to calm frayed nerves.

“The parliament is a very dynamic place and I have been in the National Assembly for over 12 years. It is true that some people were angry and they have exercised their right to protest. I think we will now get back together to work for the benefit of Nigerians and in the interest of our country,” Ekweremadu said. “It is neither a PDP nor an APC affair; the interest of Nigerians is uppermost in our minds. We feel that what happened has happened and we will go back to reunite our members and then move on.  The PDP walked out of the chambers based on principles which they believed in but having made their point, I think that they would put it aside now and let peace reign.”

Ekwerenmadu said, “The issue is not just about the APC or the PDP, the fact is that the leadership of the senate will try to reunite everyone so that things can move on.
“First, we will need to engage all the parties in the senate towards making progress. We do not intend to have the senate appear to be partisan in the affairs of the country.”

He added that on its part, the PDP would try to remain a strong contender in governance and be on the side of the people.
“We will continue to hold APC accountable to their promises and things they are expected to do for the ordinary people of the country,” the deputy senate president, who is also a PDP member, said.
Some PDP senators interviewed by THISDAY spoke in a similar vein.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta North), Senator Olaka Nwogu (PDP Rivers South-east), and Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP Edo Central) acknowledged last Thursday’s development but doubted if it would affect the relationship with the PDP caucus.
They however said the caucus will still meet.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke on condition of anonymity said in spite of the controversial interlude on the last lap of the ministerial screening, the outcome of the exercise demonstrated Saraki’s loyalty to his party and popularity among his colleagues.

“We have to emphasise the fact that the senate president has shown that he is a loyal party man who enjoys the respect of his colleagues across party line and that he can be relied upon to rally the senate behind party positions,” one senator told THISDAY. He added, “The senate president has also proved that there is nothing the country’s president wants from the senate that he cannot help him to get. It is now incumbent on the president to reciprocate this new gesture and help to consolidate new cooperation between the executive and the legislature.”  2nd lead