Welcome to Governance Today : December 2015

Tuesday 29 December 2015

Why I Ditched Nyako for Atiku

Governor Muhammad Jibrilla of Adamawa State has

A Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), Girl-Child Rights Awareness Initiative in

Tompolo

Some ex-members of the

The naira edged higher to about N260 to a dollar on the

There is a growing wave of discontent among some officers and men of

President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki has

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf was the Minister of Information in the dying days of

Former director of media of the

Buhari: IsThere still Money Left in the Country, Nigerians Wants to Know - Olisa

Human rights lawyer and former President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has

Stephen Keshi

Former Captain and coach of the

The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday fixed February 26, 2016 for judgment in the appeal filed by the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Reverend King challenging the judgement of a Lagos High Court sentencing him to death by hanging.

The apex court presided over by Justice Walter Onoghen adjourned for judgment after entertaining arguments from counsel to prosecution and defence in the matter.

Lagos State Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who appeared before the Supreme Court alongside Mrs. Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public Prosecution and other Senior Counsel in the State, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the judgment of the lower courts.

Ezeugo was arraigned on September 26, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder.

He pleaded not guilty to the allegation but was sentenced to death by the then Justice Joseph Oyewole of Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on January 11, 2007 for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzoh.

Justice Oyewole is now a justice of Appeal Court, Calabar division.

The Lagos State Government had said that the convict poured petrol on the deceased and five other persons and that Uzoh died on August 2, 2006; 11 days after the act was perpetrated on her.

Specifically, Ezeugo was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the attempted murder and death by hanging for the offence of murder. Dissatisfied, Ezeugo challenged the verdict before the Court of Appeal in Lagos, but the appeal was thrown out.

“I hereby rule that the prosecution effectively discharged the burden of proof on it. This appeal is devoid of any basis and accordingly fails.

“The judgment of the High Court is hereby affirmed, and the conviction imposed on the appellant, (which is death by hanging) is also affirmed,” Justice Fatimo Akinbami who read the judgement held. The two other members of the panel of Justices, Amina Augie and Ibrahim Saulawa concurred with the lead judgement.

Again, Ezeugo not being satisfied with the verdict, approached the Supreme Court, and urged the apex court to upturned the judgment.

The apex court has now reserved judgment till February 26, 2016.

It’ll Be Disaster if APC fails Nigerians –Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, warned on

AS a new year approaches, hopes of a

When former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Professor Attahiru Jega as

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that

Okonjo-Iweala Why are You Pretending to Be a Saint ? Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, should be joined in the probe of the $2billion arms procurement scandal.

The governor said the arms deal scam linked to the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, is a tip of the iceberg and one of the leaking points in the past administration.

He alleged that the past administrations engaged in “arrangee stealing”.

Oshiomhole spoke at the State House in Abuja after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “The NSA is supposed to be an advisory officer; he is not supposed to be a procurement agent for government. I am happy the figures are coming out and I know that this is a tip of the iceberg and I read some reports, the numbers are in billions, Dasuki is just one bleeding point; there are several bleeding points in the system.

“You look at the total number of expenditure on subsidy which the World Bank has just released figures; about how many trillions of Naira over the past four to five years,” he said

On Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, the governor said: “I am shocked. I have been talking about it, I just said to a couple of persons, the government has to go the whole hog, because I know as a governor that no money gets out of the treasury even after I have approved as the governor without the approval of the Commissioner for Finance; so the probe should go into whether all these monies are appropriated all of it; when the money got out of the treasury, through who? The Minister of Finance under the rules must endorse before money gets out of the treasury, before the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approves.

“So for the Ministers of Finance, including Okonjo – Iweala, I don’t care what people say because you cannot be coordinating a corruption-ridden economy and you pretend to be an angel, you cannot selectively deal with issues; you must deal with all involved in the conspiracy. In criminal law when two to three people are involved in a act of criminality, all of them are charged with conspiracy.”

“Now if you lay your hands on the various appropriation bills passed by the National Assembly and see how much the National Assembly appropriated for subsidy for all those periods, you will find out they are not even up to half of what was spent.

“This means that money not appropriated for was spent. If people are involved in those acts, they must be brought to justice,” he added.

Onu: Nigeria Cannot Continue to Import Toothpicks, Others

Ogbonnaya Onu

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, yesterday said Nigeria cannot continue to

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has

Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State has

There was a mild drama in the Senate on

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says he does not

Don't Pay Tithes and Offering in Church If... Papa Adeboye

Papa Adeboye

Don't pay tithes and offerings if.

Jonathan & Okonjo Iweala

The immediate past Minister of

I wonder how some girls would want guys to

The outgoing year 2015 is an IT-driven year. Individuals, businesses and even the government utilized IT infrastructures to achieve various goals. Many more people are acquiring IT skills and building their careers in IT development. The year 2016 will not be different as more and more IT skills will be on demand in the marketplace. Here are the six top IT skills that will arguably be on demand in the year 2016.

The 2016 budget of the

Gov. Oshiomhole

the latest news reaching National Lifewatcch from the ancient city is that, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has directed the State Head of Service, Mr. Jerry Obazele, to proceed on retirement.

According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, and made available to journalists on Tuesday evening, Oshiomhole appointed Mrs. Gladys Idahor as his (Obazele) replacement.

He also approved the retirement of the Permanent Secretary of the state Information and Communication Technology Agency, Mr. Dan Aigbavboa, and suspended the Director (Software) of the agency, Toju Onaiwu.

Although the governor did not give reasons for the retirement and suspension of the senior government officials, he however, directed members of the Edo State Pensions Board to report to the State Civil Service Commission for proper investigation and disciplinary action, in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.

“Members of the Pensions Board are advised to steer clear of their offices until investigations are concluded,” the statement added.

Gov. Fayose: PMB Inconclusive Elections Shameful /Threatens Nigeria for 2019

Gov. Fayose

Ayodele Fayose, raised the alarm that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari is fast becoming a “shame” while elections under his watch ending up "inconclusive". The governor said, it is shame that the two elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “under Buhari’s kinsman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu”, were inconclusive. unlike his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan who ensured all elections conducted under him were fair, free and conclusive.

Fayose speaking through his special assistant on public communications and new media, Lere Olayinka said, "If in three days, INEC could not conduct credible election in Bayelsa State of just eight local governments, one wonders what will happen during the general elections in 2019." National Lifewatch recalls that INEC on November 22nd declared Kogi Governorship election inconclusive and monday, declared the Bayelsa State governorship poll inconclusive.

Kogi: Faleke Now in National Assembly

Following the conclusion of the

Senator Uche Ekwunife has

Different versions have been bandied on how the three legacy political parties, namely: All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) sacrificed their personal identities to form the largest political party in Africa, the All Progressives Congress (APC). While some political analysts and players have ascribed the success of the merger to the tenacity of some few individuals, thereby shutting out the heroic roles other played, there is another category of Nigerians who hold the view that there is more to what is been told to Nigerians.

Interestingly, one of the key actors who played a strategic role in the merger success story has written a book entitled, “From Opposition to Governing Party: Nigeria’s APC Merger Story”. The book scientifically and meticulously tells the merger story, as well as how power was peacefully transferred for the first time in Nigeria’s political history, from the major political party, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to the newly-merged party, APC. The book also debunks some wrong insinuations that were hitherto held by some less-informed Nigerians who were quick to ascribe the success story of the merger to certain individuals.

The historic book was unveiled on Monday, 7th December, 2015 at the popular Musa Yar’Adua Center in Abuja. The event had in attendance President Muhammadu Buhari, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, serving and former governors, serving and former federal lawmakers, spiritual and traditional leaders, as well as APC supporters were on ground to add flavour to the book launch.

Political observers who are pleased with the penning down of the interplay and underreported politicking that played out, have described the book as one that will educate students of history of how sacrifices of few individuals liberated Nigeria from the grip of PDP’s sixteen years rule. They also hold the view that as the first book written, which captures the merger, many more actors who played key role in the merger process will follow suit and tell their own stories.

The book launch, many believe, was significant for a number of reasons. It offered an opportunity for leaders of the ruling to pour encomiums on Dr. Onu whose earlier foresight birthed the mega merger of the legacy political parties. Speakers upon speakers who tune their turns to speak on the significance of the book, as well as the sterling leadership qualities of Dr. Onu, described him as the face of modern Nigeria.

President Buhari who wrote the forward of the book had this to say about the 470-page history material. “Dr. Onu is painstaking in his research and recollections. He cites relevant parallels in Namibia, Guinea and Togo, among others, at critical historical junctures when a dominant party becomes too strong and indeed assumes a one-party posture, thereby becoming inclined to break the law, violate the party’s and country’s Constitution by trying to illegally extend the tenure of an incumbent president. We in the APC, must learn and draw the correct conclusions from history.”

Speaking further on the relevance of the book, President Buhari quipped: “Dr. Onu is lucid, meticulous and generally accurate in his facts and analyses. Uninitiated students of Nigerian political history could do worse than study the first three chapters if this book. They give fairly accurate, yet concise, account of Nigeria’s political development since the First Republic.

Speaking on the role Dr. Onu played in the formation of APC, Buhari said: “The role played by Dr. Onu in the beginning and especially at the critical stage of the merger cannot be underestimated. Some of his colleagues in the ANPP, of which he was chairman, had different and I day say, narrower visions than Dr. Onu’s. His ultimate aim was a general consolidation to create a strong party, capable of dislodging the PDP. Whenever his personal interest, wishes and desires came into conflict with the overall interest of the merger, he sublimated his own interest.”

President Buhari traced the origin of his relationship with Dr. Onu to his days in protective custody when Ibrahim Babangida held sway as military Head of State. He revealed that Onu was among the few Nigerians who stood by him during his trying days.

“My relationship with the author is cordial. When I was placed in protective custody, he was sending people to greet me regularly. That was how the relationship developed. We realised in 2015 that unless we come together, the PDP will succeed in killing nige.we had to make sacrifices,” Buhari further remarked.

Former vice president Abubakar, while making his comments, hailed Onu. He said: “Let me start my congratulating Onu on his appointment as minister. I think every Nigerian pays attention to public affairs. His appointment is well deserved. Those of us who have worked with him have come to see in him competence, humility and sharp intellect. He is a gentleman in every good sense of the world.

“It is amazing that he found time despite what was going on to write this book. The book chronicles the process that led to the formation of the the APC. As we have been told, it is a story of patriotism and sacrifice. It is also a story of change.”

Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal while recalling his days as Speaker of the House of Representatives and the role Onu played in the formation of APC, said: “I was privileged to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives when all that is captured in this book happened.

“Then, I was maintaining a very delicate balance. My emergence as Speaker in 2011 was as a result of the efforts of all parties. Back then, the formation of APC was already in the wing. Onu is a man of many parts. The presence of two former governors from Ebonyi state who are PDP and a serving governor is a testimony of who you are.”

Acknowledging cheers and tributes from dignitaries who were present at the book launch, the author, Dr. Onu explained how the three legacy political parties gave up their identities to form the largest political party in Africa.

His words: “What happened has never been witnessed in Nigeria or Africa when political parties merged to defeat a ruling party. Three political parties gave up their identities to form the largest political party in the history of this country.

“Before this historic event, several efforts were made to bring the opposition parties together. None of that worked. In the past, we had tried to work together. At first, it appeared possible until the whole process collapsed. But in 2013, APC was born. This book is to document the events that led to the formation of the APC. It is about how we moved from being an opposition party to become the ruling party.

“This book will help APC to learn from the mistakes of the PDP and avoid what led to their downfall. In this journey of merger, the hand of God was clearly with us. Most people thought it was insurmountable. It is important for me to stress that in writing this book, I do not have any other interest, but to contribute to history. APC will help transform Nigeria into a great nation. The hands of God has remained with this nation. We must all work together to build a Nigeria that is united, strong and prosperous.”

The large turnout of Igbos at the venue of the book launch, as well as the presence of political leaders from the South-east gave credence to one insinuation that was hitherto the gist in beer parlours that a new Igbo leader may have emerged. Whenever Onu’s name was mentioned by speakers, there was always a thunderous shout from Igbos.

At the event, two former governors of Ebonyi state, Sam Egbu and Martins Elechi who are staunch members of the PDP were in attendance. The current governor the state, Mr. David Umahi was also there. Former Senate presidents from the South-east, market women, traders and Igbo resident in Abuja thronged the venue of the book launch, even though no official invitation was extended to them.

Since the demise of the defacto leader of the Igbos, Odimegwu Ojukwu, the South-east has been without a central leader. This has adversely affected the fortunes of the region and their collective power to negotiate what is best for them.

Observers are however of the view that Onu has the charisma, intellect and political decency to champion the cause of the Igbos and place the geopolitical zone in their right place at the national stage. Onu, unlike other Igbo leaders, made a strong case for quality representation of the South-east during the book launch. Although President Buhari did not openly react to Onu’s position, his body language supported it.

Onu remarked: “In the Southeastern part of the country, there is a growing protest. It is important that all regions are represented in an orderly manner that represents all interests. Buhari understands the plurality of Nigeria and will do everything to accommodate all. The Igbos need Nigeria just Nigeria needs the Igbos. We must assure the youths of the South-east that the administration of President Buhari means well for them.”

The conspicuous absence of two key APC leaders from the South-east, namely, Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state and Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment. National chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun was also absent at the event. No leader from the South-west attended the event.

FG's Fresh Charges that May Land Dasuki, Dokpesi and others in Jail

Aminu, Bafarawa,Dasuki and Dokpesi

The Federal Government, yesterday, slammed 43-count charge on

Investors Loses huge Monies from Zenith Bank, Forte Oil and Transcorp

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Forte Oil Plc on Tuesday topped the losers’ chart after the close of business at the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The share price of Zenith Bank dropped by N0.94 (6.15 per cent) to close at N14.35 from N15.29 while that of Forte Oil went down by N12.75 (5.13 per cent) to close at N235.90 from N248.65.

Transcorp share price also dropped by five per cent (N0.08) to close at N1.52 from N1.60.

The share price of Africa Prudential Registrars Plc dropped by N0.12 (4.92 per cent) to close at N2.32 from N2.44 just as that of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc fell by N0.38 (4.88 per cent) to close at N7.40 from N7.78.

The NSE market capitalisation fell by N103.4bn to close at N9.466tn from N9.569tn. Similarly, the All Share Index fell to 27,533.03 from 27,833.89. 485.04 million shares worth N4.453bn traded in 2,785 deals.

After Tuesday’s trading at the Exchange, the highest index point hit 27,833.89 while the lowest and average index points stood at 27,287.89 and 27,569.01, respectively.

Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Eterna Plc, Livestock Feeds Plc and Trans-nationwide Express Plc topped the gainers’ chart on Tuesday with Unilever Nigeria gaining N3.50 (8.33 per cent) to close at N45.50 from N42.

The share price of Mobil rose by N6.30 (five per cent) to close at N132.41 from N126.11; while that of Eterna Oil rose by N0.07 (4.83 per cent) to close at N1.52 from N1.45.

Livestock Feeds’ shares saw a rise of N0.06 (4.38 per cent) to close at N1.43 from N1.37; and the shares of Trans-nationwide Express rose by N0.04 (4.04 per cent) to close at N1.03 from N0.99.

For equities in the past week, a turnover of 1.218 billion shares worth N14.685bn in 13,495deals was made by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.041 billion shares valued at N13.007bn that exchanged hands in the previous week in 13,407deals.

The financial services industry (measured by volume) was said to have led the activity chart with 1.068 billion shares valued at N9.888bn traded in 7,803 deals, thus contributing 87.7 per cent and 67.33 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.

The consumer goods industry followed with 48.455 million shares worth N2.450bn in 2,560 deals.

The third place was occupied by the conglomerates industry with a turnover of 45.914 million shares worth N364.525m in 622 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely – Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Union Homes Savings And Loans Plc (measured by volume), accounted for 610.558 million shares worth N7.340bn in 3,262 deals, contributing 50.13 per cent and 49.98 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.

National Lifewatch took out time to seek opinion of financial experts on the remote cause of this ugly trend. It was discovered that the low economy activities in the country were directly responsible, but, the experts assured that the aforementioned losers will bounce back in no time.

Tuesday 8 December 2015

What is Good for The Goose is Surely Good for The Gander - Fani Kajode Tells Buhari

I am not a Biafran and neither am I igbo. I do however believe that it is

Senator Gbenga Kakah, former deputy governor of

Dasuki&Jonathan

The Presidency is a prize with a

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, distanced himself from the

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has disagreed with critics of former President Goodluck Jonathan who described him as incompetent saying Jonathan was rather “inexperienced” rather than “incompetent.”

General Babangida who spoke with The Interview magazine in the December 2015 edition which is currently on sale argued that Jonathan who lost his re-election bid in March “is a very pleasant person” and that he believed the former president meant well for the country.

Asked about the perception that Jonathan is a good person but was “incompetent”, Babangida replied: “If you use inexperience, I will buy that.”

The retired general spoke on a wide range of issues, including the botched coup of 1990 and how his late wife, Maryam, woke him up in the middle of the night to alert him about the movement of troops at Dodan Barracks, which was the seat of power then. He denied that his life was saved by Sani Abacha, who was then the chief of army staff, and also denied reports that he hid in a bunker while the coup plotters were looking for him.

“They obviously didn’t have a lot of experience,” Babangida recalled. “It was during the fasting period. We were still in Dodan Barracks then. My wife got up from sleep and said she had noticed very unusual movement of troops from one end to the other. So she woke me up and said I should look through the window.

”I found troops moving from one end to the other. The next thing I heard was shooting going on. We tried to put a small party together. It was about 1.30am. Then the guards, the bodyguards said let’s check out of this place. I was a bit stubborn. I told them I was not leaving. It didn’t occur to me that we had a bunker at Dodan Barracks. We had, but it didn’t occur to me to use it. And so, they came. I said the only thing I would concede to, I would evacuate my family. My wife had her last born, who was just a few months old, with her. So they evacuated them to a safe house.

“So, I remained with a few bodyguards. We decided to get out and move around. We went to a safe house around Surulere. I had a bodyguard, Omuah. We just moved in there. From there, we established communication. I later established communication with Abacha, Raji Rasaki (who was governor of Lagos then) and the other. They had mobilised their troops.”

He maintained that “Abacha didn’t save my life in the Orkar coup. We worked together to crush Orkar’s coup.”

Gowon:Without The Igbos Nigeria is Going No Where

Gowon and Ujukwu

Nigeria's wartime leader, Gen Yakubu Gowon, says ''Nigeria is

The Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed says the

My Whole Life’s Dream was just to Own a Wheelchair… Nweke

Nweke Before His Dream Wheelchair

Papa God has given me a wheelchair, thank you God, “this is what I have been praying for, I have been looking for money to buy just a wheelchair of my own, but I couldn’t, today am happy and fulfilled for owing a wheelchair of my own” say Nweke.

This is the heart rendering story of a physically challenged young man living beside NNPC filling station at Karu, in Abuja. Why, some steal the common wealth of all, buy all the luxuries of the world, without caring how others live or die, the dream of one out of 160 million Nigerians is just to have a wheelchair, what an irony of life.

Nweke is a young man that will draws attention of those living in Karu axis of Abuja, especially during the early morning traffic that has become part of Karu dwellers. You see him more often whenever there is fuel scarcity, he is always around Mobil Filling Station now NNPC before Karu bridge. He is a very hard working energetic man, although disabled, he talks, pursue lives’ activities like the normal person, the only difference, while the normal person stands with his or two legs to work, Nwekw uses is hands and waist as the mobility to get things done.

His dream of owning wheelchair for life was actualized courtesy International Care Initiative for the Physically Challenged (ICI for PC) who has given joy and sense of belong to all the Physically Challenge persons in FCT on December 3, 2015 at the popular Abuja Children Home, Karu Site in Abuja. It wasn’t Nweke only that smiled home that day. Another physically challenged person by Yakubu Abdul living within the community was also given a brand new wheelchair by ICI for PC. Kakubu has this to say “Am very happy I thank the organizers and everyone who has made this day possible for me to own a wheelchair of my own. I am appealing to all Muslims in Nigeria to love Christians and we should see ourselves as brothers and sisters, there is no need for hatred, killing one another, we are all created by the same Allah” he appealed.

Besides the hundreds of t-shirts and face-caps given to physically challenge persons, every other normal person who graced the occasion,there were also a lot to eat and drink.

One of the disabled woman, a mother of six who attended the event could not hold her joy laden with emotion of how she felt touched and loved by the uncommon humanitarian service carried out by International Care Initiative for the Physically Challenged (ICI for PC) Again, she has this to say during the event “ I beg the federal government to be doing as this people has done to us today, see how they gave us wheelchairs, food and drinks to our satisfaction, not only that, they taught us how to be self dependent instead of going through hazard and danger begging. God almighty will reward you the organizers of this event that have come to put smile on our faces especially, this time of hard economy situation in Nigerian”

Speaking during his welcome address, the initiator Mr. Bright Nkwanta thanked all the participants especially, the royal father of the day His Royal Highness the Sa’karuyi of Karu who was ably represented by the Esu of Jikwoyi. He recalled the death of his younger brother who was afflicted by blindness immediately after his secondary school who eventually died; his death motivated me and my wife to take to this unpopular venture. Today, “I am fulfilled to see our little efforts being appreciated by these our dearly beloved physically challenges persons, whose plight is not their bargain neither is it their making. He appealed to all our leaders, those in authority and the religion leaders to give a helping hands, whether it’s convenient or not”

The father of the day who also chaired that occasion lamented the plight of the physically challenged; hear him “as you can see, pastors the Immas should emulate this gesture displayed by the angels in human form today in the persons of Mr. Mrs. Bright Nkwonta, the society will be a better place for all. “Today our clergies give more priorities to mosque and church building more that human being that makes up the church or mosque. We must reorganize our priorities, without human being there will be no churches or mosque he opined.

Below are some pictures news during the event, happy viewing.