APC, PDP battle over $5.5bn NLNG dividend

Metuh, Buhari and Lai

By Henry Umoru & Olasunkanmi Akoni

ABUJA—THE All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to account for $5.5 billion realised from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) since 2004.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also called on the Federal Government to urgently unravel what happened to the past Company Income Tax/Education tax as well as dividends paid to the Nigerian government by the NLNG, against the background of published reports that the funds were never paid into the Federation Account as they should have been.

Reacting to the question, the national leadership of the PDP said the APC was lying. It dismissed as untrue, accusations that former President Goodluck Jonathan had anything to do with the accounts of the  NLNG, saying that PDP-led governments before the present saved the money for reinvestment.

PDP is grandstanding

However, the APC described as a glaring example of grandstanding, the attempt by the PDP to distort the facts about the source of the $2.1 billion that was approved for sharing by the three tiers of government by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said: “Whereas the Presidency corrected the initial erroneous report that the shared money was sourced from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), the skittish opposition continued to insist it was from the ECA and that it was part of the ‘savings’ by the Jonathan Administration.

“Well, we can tell Nigerians that the $2.1 billion was sourced from the $1.6 billion Company Income Tax/Education Tax paid to the Federal Government on June 17, 2015, over two weeks after the Jonathan Administration left office, as well as the $500 million tax paid by Shell. We can tell Nigerians that this is the first time the payment of the Income Tax/Education Tax by the NLNG was being disclosed by any government, in addition to paying it into the Federation Account for sharing, hence those who call it their ‘legitimate’ earnings should be asked why they did not demand the sharing of such ‘legitimate’ earnings in the past.

“We can tell Nigerians that apart from the said $1.6 billion NLNG payment for 2015, NLNG also paid $1.4 billion as Income Tax/Education Tax in May 2014; paid $0.3 billion as Education tax to the Federal Government  in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and $1.2 billion in VAT and With-holding Tax to the Federal Government since 2009. These payments are just those made in the past six years alone, hence there were other payments before then.

“In addition, dividend payments totalling $4,728,136,946 was paid to the Federal Government between 2004 and 2009, out of which only $127,851,348.19 was credited to the FG’s Independent Account with JP Morgan, leaving a balance of over $4 billion. The questions to ask therefore are why all the past taxes and dividends were neither fully paid into the Federation Account nor shared by the three tiers of government and what happened to the funds,” it said.

APC said now that President Muhammadu Buhari has started to ensure that all funds due to the Federation Account are paid in there as well as plugging all financial leakages, in an effort to restore transparency to the system, it is important to let Nigerians know why all due funds were not paid into the Federation Account in the past and what happened to such funds.

Where is $5.5bn NLNG dividend?

The party also said that as part of the investigation, the PDP must be asked where it kept the $5.5 billion which it said was the dividend paid to the FG by the NLNG before the May 29 handover.

“Since, according to the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan asked that the money be ‘left for the incoming administration to manage’ it is important for the party, therefore, to tell Nigerians in which account the money was ‘saved’ because it is definitely not in the Federation Account,” it said.

APC insisted that for any opposition to be credible, it must not only be factual and truthful, it must eschew pandering.

“Had the PDP embraced these cardinal principles, it would not have, in the rush to belittle the package that was approved for the states by President Buhari and to discredit his administration, engaged in outright lies and selective perception. While the PDP became fixated on the source of the money shared by the states, it forgot that there were other measures in the package that included a special intervention fund of between N250 billion and N300 billion from the CBN as a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

“The PDP also forgot the debt relief programme designed to assist the states to restructure their commercial loans of N660 billion, with a view to extending the life span of such loans and reducing the states’ debt-servicing expenditures. That way, the states are freed from their perennial inability to pay workers’ salaries, and more funds are available to the various governments to use for the benefit of the people. They have forgotten that the only time in the country’s history that this kind of rescue package was made was also during the tenure of Muhammadu Buhari as military Head of State,” the party said.

It advised those who are showboating and distorting facts to tarry a while, as what they are seeing is just the first step in a long journey to clear the rot left behind by years of purposeless governance, plug all financial leakages, ensure that all funds due to the Federation Account are paid in there for the benefit of all Nigerians and bring to justice all those who have mismanaged or looted the commonwealth.

“The revelations concerning the deep rot in the system that will come in the weeks and months ahead will shock even the most ardent critics of the Buhari Administration’s salvaging efforts,” APC added.

Stop lying to Nigerians –PDP

Countering, the PDP in a statement by its National Publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, urged the APC to desist from misleading Nigerians on the NLNG, saying no government before now touched the money.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the misleading and outright falsehood by the APC. The truth is that the NLNG had been on a 10-year tax haven until 2014.

“Within this period, successive governments, right from President Olusegun Obasanjo never shared nor tampered with the cumulative dividends. Whatever taxes paid from the NLNG go through the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and recorded as part of the income of the Federal Government.

“It is imperative to note that by the end of the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, NLNG dividends had risen to a cumulative $5.6billion and not a single cent was ever taken from the funds.

“Although it is within the rights of the APC administration to spend the funds in any way they may decide, it is however, cruel for them to inflict on us all such malicious falsehood while the current Presidency, without the benefit of economic advisers and relevant statutory organs of government unilaterally decided to deplete the funds without thinking of the attendant future investments and financial obligations of Nigeria in the NLNG project.

“The APC must note that there is a limit to propaganda and lies. Now is the time for governance and this government has shown total unpreparedness to face the challenges of governance at the centre.”

Nigerians will be fed up with APC in 1 year — Ojougboh

Dr. Cairo Ojougboh was member, House of Representatives, Senate Liaison Officer to late President Umaru Yar’ Adua and currently National Vice Chairman, South -South of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In this interview, he said for the PDP to get it right after its loss in the last elections the truth must be told. He attributed the loss to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s refusal to adhere to an existing agreement. He also, among others, spoke on Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s election as deputy Senate President and the illegality of President Muhammadu Buhari’s bail out to states. Excerpts:

By Henry Umoru

ON why the PDP lost the presidential polls after  boasting that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years

Let me take you back. When Abacha died, the South came together to say it was their time to produce the president of this country because Abiola had just won the election that was annulled and he was a Southerner. So the North put themselves together and said this agitation if not well handled could break this country. As Northerners, we love this country so we will give power to the South. That was how cleverly, Obasanjo and Olu Falae contested the election in 1999 and that was how power was transferred to the South.

Then, there was an arrangement by the 34 great men that formed the PDP that they would start shifting power eight years to the North, eight years to the South. It was a gentleman agreement. It was enshrined in the PDP constitution but it is not in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The South-West had the first shot, everybody co-operated, Obasanjo became president. After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president then problem started. Some people started toying with the idea of third term. PDP said ‘no,’ PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said ‘no, it will not work.’ The PDP had to produce a candidate and that was how Yar’Adua emerged.

Unfortunately, Yar’Adua did not survive, so the North said, ‘look this presidency is our own, we have to utilise our allotted eight years’ and they were right.

Jonathan himself said he would do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan will do only four years so that power can shift to the North. When time came, a lot of Maccaba dances started; people started putting pressure here and there and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest.

Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerves to say,  ‘no, I will keep to my agreement.’ So Jonathan contesting meant that the zoning formula had been breached. The North didn’t take it kindly; they said ‘this is not what we agreed. Even the Christian North that used to be very friendly, especially the North-Central said we had an agreement. Some governors, about five of them left the party because of that, because they saw what was happening. So it was this pressure that the North now agreed that they must take power back, that it was their turn.

Fortunately or unfortunately, only two candidates were presented at the election: Jonathan and Buhari. Buhari is from the North, Jonathan is from the South. The South had done more than enough for the time being for the agreement of 1998/1999. So the North said look we are going to vote for our son whether he is good or bad.

Well, the members most of them, stood on their ground and worked for the party; if you look at the margin, it’s just two million and where did the two million votes come from? Kano and Katsina.

The North and some Nigerians said that look Jonathan could not be strong enough to keep to an agreement that has been well accepted. When Obasanjo said it, nobody believed him, but the elders of the party should have had the courage; the founding fathers, the BoT, they sould have had the courage to go to Jonathan and said: ‘look why don’t you keep to the agreement? But party members and stakeholders went ahead endorsing him. So from now on, any agreement reached, the PDP must abide by it.

You were quoted as saying that Nigerians would beg the PDP to return to power, how will this happen?

It is very clear. The PDP is a party and if you look at the APC, there is only one member in APC and that is Buhari. You see, the APC came to power as a result of a gang-up against the PDP and obviously, it is not going to stand the test of time. There will be a lot of confusion and there will be a lot of problems. Buhari is not going to agree with the persons within the APC because they are not of the same parentage and Nigerians will be very tired because it will be all motion and no movement. In fact, in the next one year, Nigerians will be fed up. You have already seen it and that is the truth of the matter. There will be all motion, no movement.

Will the PDP have a hand in it?

Why would the PDP have a hand in it?

How is the party strategizing to bounce back?

We are repositioning our party and it is when the leaders of the party begin to accept the truth, speak the truth and allow people, who are uncontrollable to take control, work their best and contribute their quota that our party will take over power again. The PDP has remained the most viable and well-built party that this country has ever had.

Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu resigned recently as the national chairman of the PDP, following pressure from the presidency and other stakeholders that he led the party to failure. Is the entire National Working Committee of the party going to be dissolved?

No, you must follow due process of the law. The NWC members were voted into office and their tenure will expire in March. There are two ways to remove them; number one is they voluntarily resign. 

Second is that National Executive Council, NEC, with a vote of 2/3 will remove them. Anything short of these two, you can’t remove them. So the party must be patient to wait till March, 2016, to be able to effect any change in the NWC. So far, they have woken up and they are working.

Buhari has bailed out states with money the PDP claimed was part of funds saved by former President Jonathan, what is your take?

Yes, it is money left by the Jonathan administration. President Buhari has been in office for just one month, where did he get the money from? But the issue with it is the method of disbursement, did the National Assembly approve it? You see, this is where democracy comes in. Was it appropriated?  Does it have legal backing? The PDP is a party and is watching.

APC has produced Senate President while the PDP has produced deputy senate president. How do you look at this development?

The emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy Senate President is a welcome development. You see, it shows you that PDP is the party to beat. It allows you understand that the PDP is a great party. We speak with one voice. It is a wonderful experience and it is to show any party that you cannot impose your will on Nigerians. The unfortunate incident that led to the failure of PDP in the presidential elections would not happen again. We are one family and from now on, the PDP will learn to obey zoning because this matter called zoning is very important in Nigeria. It is the Nigerian system of democracy and if you don’t align, there is always a problem.

Is it possible for one man to change the Senate rules?

No, one man cannot change the Senate rules It is because the whole thing didn’t go down well with people, that is why they started casting aspersions and looking for scape goat. Ekweremadu could never have changed the Senate Rules on his own. Because he is the deputy Senate President, which was never expected, they now want to give him a bad name.

Real story behind Cossy, Saraphina boobs tango

Since Potpourri broke the story of Cossy meeting  bigger boobs in Saraphina Amaechi on set of a yet-to-be released movie, ‘Ara Saraphina’, blogging hounds have been feeding off it like it was a feast of some sort. But all of them have been clueless as to the real story behind the tango. Some went with the flow that the boobs contest took place in the film, ‘Ara Saraphina’, but none could proffer the real story.

The film, ‘Ara Saraphina’, is about a young girl, ‘Saraphina Amaechi’, blessed with humongous boobs. She becomes cynosure of all eyes wherever she goes because of this. At one time, a bad boy, named Morocco (Zubi Michaels), fell in love with her because he was smitten by the boobs. But because of the attention Saraphina gets wherever she goes, Morocco was unable to keep her all to himself  because many men also want her.

Then, an American returnee, Mathew (Chibuzor Emelu Simon) appeared on the scene and wanted Saraphina too. But this was something Morocco would not have and the duo found themselves in a series of face-offs which led to Morocco killing Mathew. Morocco was thereafter sentenced to death by firing squad. Later, he confessed he was under the spell of Ara Saraphina’s boobs and advised young men to desist from getting infatuated with girls.

While the story centres around Saraphina Amaechi, Zubi Michaels and Chibuzor Emelu Simon, there are side attractions from Ebube Nwagbo and Cossy Orjiakor. Ebube Nwagbo was the girl who was always intimated by Saraphina’s boobs, and so wanted humongous boobs of her own. She decided to have breast enlargement surgery which eventually killed her. For Cossy, hers was a cameo appearance that pitched her boobs and against Saraphina’s in a boobs contest, which she won.

Bracing For The Floods

THE rains are back with heavy flooding also staging a come-back. Nigeria over the years has battled flooding disasters across the states. Recently, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA ) identified states and local government areas prone to flooding in Nigeria, cautioning against environmental habits that compound the disaster. These include Niger, Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Heavy rainfall, severe winds, unusual high tide, tsunamis, or failure of dams, retention ponds, or other structures that retain the water are contributory factors.

Flooding can be exacerbated by increased amounts of impervious surface or by other natural hazards such as wildfires, which reduce the supply of vegetation that can absorb rainfall.

In Nigeria, floodwaters from Cameroun enter Nigeria through the Benue River, into the River Niger on its way to the sea.

In the last three decades, the impacts of flooding have increased from significant to threatening proportions, resulting in loss of lives and property, wreaking irreparable havoc to the citizens. This often leads to the collapse of houses, schools buildings and bridges. Market places and farmlands are submerged for weeks and sometimes are washed away. Serious flood disasters occurred in Ibadan in 1963, 1978, April 30, 1980, 1985, 1987 and 1990.

Flooding can be prevented if Nigerians take serious measures to combat it. The most basic thing about flooding in human settlements, especially urban areas, is to ensure that water is given its natural right of way on its way to the seas. Any blockage is a date with disaster in the future. That is why town planning authorities and other specialists charged with regulating building activities must ensure that houses are not built on waterways.

Citizens must also be sensitised to refrain from dumping refuse in gutters and drainages. Whenever the drains are de-silted, the trash should be properly disposed of, rather than being kept for the next rain to return it to the drainage. The local authorities have formed the habit of abandoning their responsibility to educate the populace and play their part in preventing human practices that aid flood disasters.

When flood disasters do occur as they are bound to do all over the world, governments should take it upon themselves to respond to the needs of victims. Those displaced from their homes must be provided with temporary shelters, while efforts are made to assist them to return to their normal livelihood as soon as possible. This is how it is done in more developed parts of the world where the welfare of the citizens are taken serious.

Law-abiding citizens who pay their taxes and vote for politicians during elections have the right to be catered for in times of need.

Open letter to President Buhari

I HAVE watched carefully, with high expectation, but also with a tinge of regret, certain national developments since you were sworn-in as the democratically elected President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015. People have accused your government of lethargy.

Critics have pointed to a streak of favouritism, if not nepotism, in the precious few appointments you have so far managed. Some, even of your own political party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – have openly expressed doubts as to whether the change promised to dawn with the inception of your administration is in any way remotely resembled to what is so far self-evident. None of these is of immediate concern to me here.

My interest, Mr. President, is more fundamental since it touches on the very soul of Nigerian democracy, which you solemnly promised to nurture and enhance.

It was former US President Harry S. Truman who often admonished that, “If you can’t stand the heat,get out of the kitchen.” His context was political, an arena in which blackmail, disinformation, excoriation and scaremongering aggregate as the common fare of partisanship.In that regard, any politician worth the name takes the cue and delivers as much as he receives, if not much more.

In my view, however, ournation’s fight against the cankerworm of corruption should, first and foremost, be a patriotic national service, not a schedule for partisan dogfights. Unfortunately, the indiscriminate and groundless invectives currently being spewed by your political apostles are in dissonance with the democratic ethos you promised Nigeria.They boil down to hysteria. And they are guaranteed to be counter-productive because they promote the fallacy that to be of service to one’s fatherland is mutually exclusive with malfeasance.

Please permit me, Mr. President, to quote a famous mantra of yours: “If Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.” The fight against corruption is many-pronged. But it does not include the demonisation of the innocent.

Unfortunately, some of your teammates have been on the rampage, leveling unwarranted and unsubstantiated charges against top functionaries of the administration you succeeded. For instance, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has been vitriolic in his attacks against a Minister in the Jonathan administration whose offence, so far, appears to be her agreement to serve her country of birth.

Does Oshiomhole not appreciate the possibility of the truly guilty escaping justice via the highway of distraction he is busily generating by his wild apportionment of guilt with neither concrete evidence nor rudimentary trial in a court of competent jurisdiction?

I raise for your consideration,and reversal, the interminable pillorying of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the immediate past Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance by, not the wayward social media, but GovernorOshiomhole and a few others associated with him. Nearly thirty years ago, the inappropriateness of lumping guilt and innocence in a single category of censure and penalty was roundly denounced in circumstances that can only remain vivid in your memory, dear Mr. President.

Thefollowing is apart of President Ibrahim Babangida’s inauguration speech of August 27, 1985, the day he toppled your military junta: “While this government recognises the bitterness created by the irresponsible excesses of the politicians, we consider it unfortunate that methods of such nature as to cause more bitterness were applied to deal with past misdeeds. We  must never allow ourselves to lose our sense of natural justice.

The innocent cannot suffer the crimes of the guilty.”

How can we, in all sincerity, find ourselves again at the point of reminding Your Excellency that “We must never allow ourselves to lose our sense of natural justice”? Really, how can we, especially bearing in mind your solemn declaration at your inauguration on May 29, 2015, to wit: “Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.”

I crave your indulgence to briefly examine a religious aspect of the dreadful thing that is going on because, it is not at all certain that GovernorOshiomholeand his coterie have looked at all sides of everything. I am not a Muslim. I am a Christian (Catholic). But Islam is a religion I hold in high esteem. I understand that the basic principle of Sharia is that one’s testimony must be based on knowledge, clarity and trust.

The Noble Quran [43:86] says ”…But only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know.” The Ninth Commandment of the Christian faith is a compelling injunction: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbour!”

Governor Oshiomhole’s smear campaign against the government of former President Jonathan may be down to personal grudge against some functionaries of that administration. His tenancy of the Edo State Government House expires in a year. When he vacates office, would the Comrade-Governor rather prefer a kind of treatment whereby, instead of examining his legacy with a sense of duty and balance, a band of critics would rise and drown out every other sound with incessant and mordant attacks on his name and person? The way things are going, it seems safe to suppose that the profession of faith is rampant among politicians who, nonetheless, consider the upholding of their religious tenets as the tiniest of concerns.

The penchant to heap every imaginable sin in the world on Dr. Okonjo-Iweala does not wash. Many Nigerians see this as unwarranted persecution. In so far as definitions go, Coordinating Minister does not mean Supervisory Minister. Ministers in the Jonathan administration did not report to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala. Why, then, is she being asked to account for all the Ministries in the last dispensation when all others who held down ministerial portfolios are alive and available? Anti-corruption fights often fail because people distract themselves chasing shadows. Mr. President, you should please prevent yourself from falling into this trap. The focus should be on priorities. Thank you, Mr. President, and may your administration represent a spell of God’s abundant blessings on Nigeria.

An educated and respectable lady, who claimed some presence around today’s corridors of power, averred that you recently said that yourpresidential tenure would be a loadstar and a legacy for the rest of African leaders to emulate. This moved me greatly, to the point that I offered an instant prayer for God to strengthen and direct your hand to the objective of meaningful and purposeful leadership. Now, Mr. President, you will not inhabit Aso Rock forever, even if you served multiple terms. The day will eventually come when you will become former President Muhammadu Buhari. How would it feel, if after you have done your bit and passed the baton, a rabble rises and scripts the lyrics of a scathing swansong for you that is antithetical to your presidential pedigree?

We pray, Mr. President, that commentators will not, in the ultimate, have cause to pronounce anathema on your administration. I am one of those persuaded that you mean well for Nigeria. For this, I recall again that the central platform of your campaign for the presidency is the fight against corruption.

Is this fight now being prosecuted by the virulent attacks on the personality and integrity of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, by Oshiomhole and company? Oshiomhole has, among many other indiscriminate charges, accused Dr. Okonjo-Iweala of spending $2.1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) without authorization! How can it be said that there was expenditure without authorization, when the evidence is there that authorization is undeniable?

How are we sure that the attacks on this woman is not down to the fact that she published details of the Excess Crude monies paid to the Governors most of whom cannot now pay salaries of their civil servants, or show to what useful purpose they put the funds they readily collected? Isn’t it obvious that there are high costs to pay for shadow chasing – like when wild allegations are concentrated on the innocent, while an expressway is paved for the escape of those who may have some explaining to do?

In your inaugural address, you paid tribute to President Jonathan for his statesmanship in “graciously accepting defeat” at the presidential ballot. With the most profound respect, I urge you to keep to that path of rectitude.I put it to you, Mr. President, that the fight against corruption, which you are leading, can do with one imperative, namely, the putting of an immediate end to unwarranted and unsubstantiated accusations that can only divert attention from the real culprits of corruption, if any?

Mr. Chuks Iloegbunam, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

‘How my father beat me with barbed wire because of mum’

By Esther Onyegbula

LAGOS—Operatives of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, Ebutte Metta chapter, have rescued a 12-year-old girl (names withheld), who was battered by her father in Lagos.

It was gathered that the victim was found in critical condition at Oyingbo market, Ebute- Metta, following beatings she allegedly received from her father.

A close family source said: “The victim, a Junior Secondary School, JSS, 1 student with the Canal Secondary School, Orile, Lagos State, would have died from the wound she sustained after her father flogged her with barbed wire, but for the intervention of vigilante members, who found her writhing in pains in the dead of the night.”

It was learned that she was rushed to Star Clinic, Ebutte-Metta, where she is receiving treatment from the wound she sustained all over her body.

‘He broke my mother’s knees’

Narrating how she incurred the wrath of her father, the girl said: “I live with my parents at 4, Kuforiji Street Orile, Lagos.

“On July 7, I ran away from home after receiving severe beating from my father. My offence was that I tried to stop him from beating my mother.

“My father accused my mother of using his hard-earned money to play lotto game and he descended on her with anything he could lay his hands on. My father alleged that my mother loves patronising lotto game and he beat her up mercilessly and broke her knees.

“Despite my mother’s cry for help, none of our neighbours came to her rescue because they are afraid of my father. When I could not bear the beating anymore, I begged my father to stop. He became furious and pounced on me, using a barbed wire to flog me.

“This is not the first time my father will beat my mother and I. I have lost count of his endless beatings. On one occasion, I begged my mother to relocate four of us, her children, to Ilorin so we can stay away from our father due to his constant beating.

‘My mum said he’ll change’

“I am the first child. My mother said my father will change, but he gets worse by the day. My mother is currently on admission at the Charity Hospital, Orile, following the beating my father gave her.

“I could not stand his beating anymore and I ran away from home to meet one of my mother’s friends at Oyingbo market, but I did not meet her when I got there.

“I was in great pains and I decided to sleep in the market because I do not want to go back to my father’s house. It was while I was sleeping at the market that some vigilante men came and rescued me. I told them my plight and they took me to the hospital.”

Police refuse to intervene

Agbodemu Musbau, Secretary of the VGN, said: “At Iponri Police Station, they said they do not handle such a case. At Area C Police Command, Surulere, they told me to take her to the office of the Public Defender.

“I have been running around with this girl to get the necessary authorities to look into this matter and arrest the father, but they have refused to take up the case.”

I’m not caged, Buhari replies Nyiam

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari declared, yesterday, that he was not caged by any group or individuals and that he was in firm control of the presidency and the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari

The President was reacting to assertion by Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd), who in an exclusive interview with a national daily yesterday stated that President Buhari was caged by some powerful forces around him who now dictate and determine most decisions of the President, especially in the areas of political appointments.

Nyiam was quoted as saying that some of the appointments of the president were lopsided.

He said: “One of the greatest things I heard from Buhari was when he said ‘I belong to everyone, I belong to no one.’ I believe him, but I do hope he doesn’t allow some irredentists around him to prevent him from practicalizing it and not for his own ethnic nationality.

“The recent appointments we have seen so far suggest that President Buhari is being misguided and being pushed to be very partial. He has made critical appointments in three critical areas. One is the Accountant General of the Federa­ tion, the Director of DPR and the acting INEC chairman. These three critical appointments and of course that of the Chief of Staff are all coming from the same zone.

“There is also that of the Director General of the DSS, Daura. Not only is he a man that has been in retirement, he is directly from the president’s town. If Jonathan had done the same thing by appointing the Director of DPR and the Accountant General from the South-South, people would have raised hell.

“You must remember that the Accountant General took over from someone from the South-West, Otulana. Why couldn’t Buhari appoint a south westerner, at least as a gesture to the South-West for the support they gave him. The DPR director was an Igbo chap. I think these appointments are clearly indicative that the President has not been allowed to follow his principle that he belongs to everyone.

“President Buhari is a man I served with, he is a man who is a true Nigerian; he is a man who is a true man of God. What I am suggesting is that he appears increasingly and gradually being caged by irredentists who are going to spoil his chances of becoming the Mandela of Nigeria.

“I have said it before that the closest analogue of Mandela in Nigeria is Buhari. But it does seem to me that some elements, some irredentists with agenda will not allow Nigeria benefit from such a figure.”

But reacting to the statement, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said though individuals are entitled to their opinions, the comments credited to Nyiam were not true.

According to him, if Col. Nyiam admitted to have a vast knowledge and workings of the President in the past and also spotted his impeccability, he was in a better position to tell other people that President Buhari cannot change.

Said he: “Well, Col. Nyiam is just an individual. He is entitled to his opinion. But his opinion is not necessarily right. The fact that he said it does not mean it is true.

“I am happy that he knows the person of President Buhari deeply. If that is the case, he cannot easily admit that the man he spoke glowingly about cannot change or be influenced by anybody.

“Everyone in Nigeria knows President Buhari. He had been a Head of State and we saw how he dealt with corruption and even now, he is not relenting. As a matter of fact, he made corruption the chief issue among his campaign promises and he is dealing with that.

“Besides, he has said right from his swearing in that he belongs to no one but everyone. Why would he now change? And don’t forget that the President before he was elected, ran for the same office three times. So, would he win and then give his presidency to someone else to run for him?

“Again, the President has said he does not have northern agenda. Look, Nigerians needed change and they have got that by voting President Buhari to power. He has a national agenda because he was voted for by all Nigerians.

“So, it will be preposterous to accuse Mr. President of having pro-North agenda or that he is caged. Caged by whom? He is the President of Nigeria and should be seen and addressed as such.”