The List: Amaechi, Fashola, Ngigi not missing

President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list contains a number of familiar All

Progressives Congress (APC) names such as Babatunde Fashola, former governor of
Lagos state, and Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, TheCable can
report.

Also nominated to be minister is Lai Mohammed, national publicity secretary of the
ruling party, and Kayode Fayemi, who lost his Ekiti governorship re-election bid in 2014
to Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
From the south-east are the likes of Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra state
and former senator of the federal republic; and Ogbonnaya Onu, first executive governor
of Abia state and former national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), on
whose ticket Buhari contested and lost the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections.
Udoma Udo Udoma, a former senator who represented Akwa Ibom south senatorial
constituency at the national assembly, made it as well.
Buhari also nominated for ministerial appointment, Aisha Alhassan, who was on the
brink of becoming the first elected female governor before eventually losing the Taraba
state governorship election to Darius Ishiaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
From his days at the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari picked Malami
Abubakar, a senior advocate of Nigeria and former legal adviser of the defunct
party; Hadi Sirika, a former pilot and former CPC senator who represented Katsina north
senatorial district; as well as Adebayo Shittu, former governorship candidate of the party
in Oyo state.
Ibe kachikwu, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum (NNPC), is a
surprise appearance on the list. But with Buhari already declaring himself minister of
petroleum resources, it is likely that Kachikwu will combine his current portfolio with
that of the minister of state for petroleum resources.
Amina Mohammed, special adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on
post-2015 development planning; and Kemi adeosun, former commissioner for finance
in Ogun state; were also nominated.

Boko Haram Poisons Water Source in Borno - Nigerian Army

Press statement from the Nigerian Army

Information reaching the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole indicates that Boko Haram terrorists have now resorted to poisoning water sources like wells and streams in areas they were dislodged by gallant troops or areas threatened by offensive operations. The latest being the poisoning of the cattle water ponds in Kangallam village along Marte and Abadam axis in Borno State where a large number of cattle died after drinking water from the ponds.
Credible information available to the Theatre Command indicates that though no human life was lost as a result of the barbaric act of the terrorists, however, some cattle were killed after drinking water from some poisoned sources. The action of the terrorists is no doubt aimed at taking their own pound of flesh on the innocent citizens and livestock as a result of the unbearable offensive operations through the combined effort of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force to route them out completely from their enclaves and hide-outs all over the North East. In view of this development citizens are called upon to avoid as much as possible drinking water from unverified sources especially in locations that troops routed out Boko Haram terrorists. You are please requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium. Thank you for your usual cooperation. Colonel TUKUR GUSAU Deputy Director Army Public Relations

Source : Linda Ikeji Blog

Sport: Man United vs Wolfburgs 2:1

United aim to bounce back against Wolfsburg.
Manchester United FC will bid to get their first points on the board in Group B when they host a VfL Wolfsburg side seeking a change of fortune on English soil.

Manchester United FC will try again to get their first points on the board in UEFA Champions League Group B when they host VfL Wolfsburg on matchday two.

• Man. United suffered a 2-1 loss at PSV Eindhoven on matchday one, but Wolfsburg made a positive start with a 1-0 home victory over PFC CSKA Moskva.

Previous meetings
• This latest encounter falls precisely six years ago to the day since the first – when United overturned an Edin Džeko goal (56) at Old Trafford to win 2-1 through Ryan Giggs (58) and Michael Carrick (78).

• The lineups for that group stage match on 30 September 2009 were:
United: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidić, Evra, Valencia (Fletcher 82), Anderson, Carrick, Giggs, Owen (Berbatov 20), Rooney.
Wolfsburg: Benaglio, Riether, Costa, Madlung, Schäfer, Hasebe (Ziani 73), Josué, Misimović, Gentner, Džeko, Grafite (Martins 82).

• Džeko struck again in the return on 8 December but Michael Owen scored a hat-trick as group winners United prevailed 3-1 to consign the Bundesliga side to third place in the section.

Man. United
• United are unbeaten in their last six home fixtures in UEFA competition (five wins, one draw), including the 3-1 success against Club Brugge KV in August's play-off round.

• When United last hosted a German team at Old Trafford – Bayern in the 2013/14 quarter-finals – Bastian Schweinsteiger hit the visitors' goal in a 1-1 draw. United had begun that campaign with a 4-2 win over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in which Wayne Rooney (two) and Antonio Valencia found the net.

• Their overall home record against sides from Germany is W8 D4 L2.

• This is the first time United have entered their second game of a UEFA Champions League campaign without a point since 1996/97, when they started with a 1-0 loss at Juventus.

Wolfsburg
• Wolfsburg's only defeat in six away matches in the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League was in the north-west of England – a 4-1 reverse at Everton FC on 18 September 2014. Ricardo Rodriguez got the Wolfsburg goal.

• Wolfsburg have scored on all three of their previous visits to England but lost every time.

• Diego Benaglio and Marcel Schäfer played in Wolfsburg's first meeting with a Premier League club – a 3-2 home triumph over Portsmouth FC in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage.

Ministerial List to be Made Public Next Week Tuesday.

Anxiety and suspense that trailed the transmission of the ministerial list from the Presidency to the Senate may not be over yet as Nigerians may have to wait til Tuesday next week to know the ministerial nominees.

Against widespread expectations, President Muhammadu Buhari failed to submit the much-anticipated ministerial list to the senate until after lawmakers ended Tuesday’s plenary session.

But Senate President Bukola Saraki announced this evening on his Facebook page that he eventually received the ministerial list from the Presidency at about 5PM Wednesday.

“About an hour ago, I received the list of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees from the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Abba Kyari, and the Special Adviser to Mr. President on National Assembly (Senate) Sen. Ita Enang,” Mr. Saraki posted on Twitter at 6:06PM on Wednesday.

However the ministerial nominees may not be officially known to Nigerians until Tuesday next week owing to the timing of the transmission of the list and the established tradition guiding the announcement of the nominees.

The tradition has been that upon receipt of the correspondence from the Presidency, the senate president would read the content of the letter on the floor, after which a motion for screening and confirmation of nominees would be moved by the Senate Leader.

The names of the ministerial nominees would have been read Wednesday had the presidency conveyed it to the leadership of the Senate at the appropriate time, a senator said.

In anticipation of the list, the senate president, Bukola Saraki, had to stay beyond office hours to receive the correspondence from the presidency.

A principal officer at the Senate told PREMIUM TIMES the Senate President can only read the names on the next legislative date, which is Tuesday.

“This means that all of us will only have the privilege of knowing the ministerial nominees presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday next week,” a senator said.

While explaining the reason the list may not officially made public until Tuesday, he said the Senate does not sit on Mondays, Fridays and at weekends.

“If tomorrow, Thursday, were not public holiday, the list would have been announced before the Senate,” he said. “You know the federal government has announced 1st October to be a public holiday in order to mark our independence anniversary.”

On w

ednesday evening, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the presidency would not make the list public.

He explained that the responsibility of the Presidency is to convey the list to the Senate, while the Senate has the responsibility of announcing the nominees during plenary.

Primary Source : Primetime News

Nigeria Received $5bn Oil Revenue in Q3 2014.

Nigeria received about $5 billion of oil revenues in the third quarter of 2014, BusinessDay has learnt.

The huge revenues were made possible following the enactment and successful implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICDA, 2010).

In the last five years, NOGICDA has remained an impactful legislation for the nation’s oil and gas industry, with some people calling it the most significant since the Petroleum Act of 1969.

NOGICDA prescribes that indigenous operators be given first consideration in the award of contracts and licences, as well as first consideration for training and employment opportunities, and that preference must be given to domestically manufactured goods.

According to a report released Tuesday by CWC Group, a UK-based energy and infrastructure consulting firm, Nigerian content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry grew from around 5 percent to 18 percent, and 89.2 percent of marine vessels were either built in Nigeria or owned by Nigerians. This, the report said, resulted in a 40 percent increase in domestic fabrication facilities.

“In just one year, Shell Producing Companies in Nigeria awarded $2.4 billion worth of contracts to indigenous companies and Total launched the Total Supplier’s Financing Scheme worth $7.5 billion to be made available through Nigerian banks, aimed at bridging the gap between local vendors, suppliers and financial institutions,” the group further stressed in its report.

In Q2 of 2014, Nigerian firms Taleveras and Aiteo placed the highest bid for Shell’s OML 29 at the cost of $2.85 billion. In the same year, Oando Energy Resources completed its landmark acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ onshore and offshore businesses in Nigeria for $1.5 billion.

“The profile of the Nigerian oil and gas industry has gone through greater transformation than seen in previous decades; there are more indigenous players in the industry than ever before, a wider pool of skilled Nigerian professionals and indigenous asset ownership has increased steadily as has the domiciliation of manufacturing and fabrication,” said Denzil Amagbe Kentebe, executive secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Source: Business Day

"We Are Still Waiting for Ministerial List" Senator Dino Melaye

Contrary to the rumours going on, the senate has voiced out the truth about ministerial list submissions, saying that they are yet to receive any list from the president. Senator Dino Melaye Confirmed  this when he said

"I want to announce we are still waiting for the ministerial list from the president I want to advise there is no need for agitation. September expires 12 midnight today and I want to assure Nigerians that as soon as we get possession of the list, we will communicate to them. 
I also want to assure Nigerians that we will attend to the ministerial list expeditiously but diligently. It is not going to be business as usual. We are going to properly screen the nominees and only those who meet the constitutional and moral requirements will be cleared. We want Nigerians not to be agitated. September expires 12 midnight. The doors of the senate are opened 24 hours"

Source: gabbybanks.blogspot.com

HEADIES 2015 AWARDS NOMINEES

The nominees of the 10th Headies Awards.

Olamide leads the nomination table this year with 8 nods including – Best Pop single, Rap Album, Best Collaboration (twice), Best Street-Hop Artiste, Album of the Year, Artiste of the Year, and Song of the Year.

Following Olamide closely is Wizkid, who has seven nominations in Recording of the Year, Best RnB/Pop Album, Best Pop Single, Best Collabo, Album of the Year, Artiste of the year, and Song of the Year.

Contending for one of the biggest awards of the night – Artiste of the year are Olamide, David O, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and P-Square.

The highly prized Next Rated category will see Reekado Bankz, Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Cynthia Morgan and Lil’ Kesh slug it out.

Other new nominees at the Headies are Falz The Bahd Guy, Mr. 2Kay, Small Doctor, Ugovinna, Di’Ja, Shaydee, Simi and Aramide.

The Hall of Fame Award which has celebrated industry heavy weights like Obi Asika, Kenny Ogungbe and D1, Philip Trimnell, Grand Master Lee, FAJ, and a host of others shall be inducting Pop super star, Innocent ‘2Face’ Idibia.

See List Below.

1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Eyo – Asa

3. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo

4. Bez – There’s A Fire

5. Cobhams – Do the right Thing

2. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

1. Don Jazzy – Godwin (Korede Bello)

2. Mastakraft – Wiser (Flavour)

3. Young John – Bobo (Olamide)

4. Shizzi – Fans Mi (DavidO)

5. Legendury Beatz – Ojuelegba

6. Cobhams – There’s A Fire (Bez)

3. BEST MUSIC VIDEO

A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review.

This award goes to the video director.

1. Jamb Question (Simi) – Mex

2. Crazy (Seyi Shay) – Meji Alabi

3. The Sound (DavidO Feat. Uhuru & Dj Buckz) – Sesan

4. Katapot (Reekado Banks) – UnLimited LA

5. Baby Jollof (Solid Star Feat. Tiwa Savage) – Clarence Peters

4. BEST R&B/POP ALBUM

A category for the best R&B/Pop Album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

1. Bed of Stone – Asa

2. A.Y.O. – Wizkid

3. King of Queens – Yemi Alade

4. Rich & Famous – Praiz

5. Double Trouble – Psquare

5. BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

1. Heartbeat – Praiz

2. Baby Daddy – Iyanya

3. Say You Love Me – Leriq ft. Wizkid

4. Do the Right Thing – Cobhams Ft. Bez

5. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo

6. BEST POP SINGLE

A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group)

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Collabo – P-Square Feat. Don Jazzy

3. My Woman, My Everything – Patoranking Feat. Wande Coal

4. Woju – Kiss Daniel

5. Godwin – Korede Bello

6. Bobo – Olamide

7. BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE

A category for the best Reggae/Dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group).

1. German Juice – Cynthia Morgan

2. Sanko – Timaya

3. My Body – Solid Star Feat. Timaya

4. Daniella Whyne – Patoranking

5. Cheques and Balance – Burna Boy

6. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay

8. BEST RAP ALBUM

A Non-Voting Category for the Best Album By A Rap Artiste Or Group In Year Under Review.

1. Baba Hafusa – Reminisce

2. Street OT – Olamide

3. Chairman – M.I.

4. Above Ground Level – Modenine

9. BEST COLLABO

A voting category for the best R&B, Pop or Hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

1. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide & Phyno

2. Hold on – Joe El Feat. 2Face Idibia

3. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay Feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay

4. Shoki (Remix) – Lil’Kesh Feat. Olamide & David O

5. Do The right Thing – Cobhams ft. Bez

6. Sisi – Praiz ft. Wizkid

10. BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap.

1. King Kong – Vector

2. Bad Belle – M.I

3. Bank Alert – Ill Bliss

4. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide, Phyno & Stomrex

5. G.O.D – T.R

11. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

1. Praiz – If I fall

2. Shaydee – High

3. Timi Dakolo – Wish Me Well

4. Cobhams – Do The Right Thing

5. Bez – There’s A Fire

12. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

1. Waje – Coco Baby

2. Aramide – Iwo Nikan

3. Asa – Bed of Stone

4. Simi – Tiff

5. Yemi Alade – Duro Timi

13. NEXT RATED

This category is a voting category for the most promising upcoming act in the year under review.

1. Reekado Bankz

2. Kiss Daniel

3. Cynthia Morgan

4. Korede Bello

5. Lil’ Kesh

14. HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION

A voting category for the best new artiste in the year under review.

1. Praiz – Rich n Famous

2. Yemi Alade – King of Queens

3. Skales – Man of the Year

15. LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

A non-voting category for the Rap Artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.

1. Ill Bliss – Bank Alert (remix) Feat. Ice Prince, Eva Alordiah & Phyno

2. Vector – King Kong

3. Reminisce – Baba Hafusa

4. G.O.D – T.R

16. BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

1. Reminisce – Skillashi

2. Olamide – Bobo

3. Small Doctor – Mosquito Killer

4. Mastakraft feat. Olamide, CDQ and David O – Indomie

5. Falz The Bad Guy Feat. Yemi Alade & Poe – Hello Bae

17. BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG

A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.

1. Di’Ja – Awwwwww

2. Bez – There’s A Fire

3. Asa – Satan Be Gone

4. Adekunle Gold – Sade

5. Ugovinna – Rain On Me

6. Simi – Tiff

18. ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges requirements of excellence (Songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (Sales and popularity).

1. Rich n Famous – Praiz

2. King of Queens – Yemi Alade

3. Street OT – Olamide

4. Chairman – M.I.

5. A.Y.O. – Wizkid

6. Double Trouble – P Square

19. ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste for the year under review.

1. Olamide

2. David O

3. Wizkid

4. Yemi Alade

5. P-Square

20. SONG OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Godwin – Korede Bello

3. Kiss Daniel – Woju

4. Olamide – Bobo

21. AFRICAN ARTISTE

A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.

1. Diamond Platnumz

2. Cassper Nyovest

3. Sarkodie

4. Uhuru

5. AKA

HALL OF FAME

Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.

2Face Idibia

Primary Source: http://www.forumspotz.net/the-headies-2015-nominees-list/

Senate Passes Vote of Confidence on Saraki

The Nigerian Senate earlier today expressed solidarity for the embattled senate president, Bukola Saraki, who is currently facing allegations of false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The motion to pass a vote of confidence on Saraki was moved by Senator David Umaru (APC-Niger East) and was seconded by Senator Ahmed Sani, with 84 other lawmakers in support.

Both senators Umaru and Sani said their support for the senate president was intended to rid the 8th senate of any external influence.

A mild drama, however, ensued as Senator Babajide Omoworare (APC-Osun East) who initially supported the motion asked that his name be struck out, claiming that he was not properly briefed on the purpose of the motion.

On his part, Senator Kabir Marafa (Zamfara Central) raised a point of order on the motion while plenary was going on. This led to a short rowdy session on the floor of the senate. The senator later walked out the session in protest.

The senate deputy president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, later apologised for Marafa’s outburst, promising that such action would not repeat itself and also thanked the lawmakers for throwing their weight b

ehind the senate presiden

"We Must Stamp Out Apocalyptic Cult" Obama-United Nations Confre

President Barack Obama warned that "dangerous currents" threaten to create a "darker world" in a wide-ranging address to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.

Obama slammed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad as a "tyrant" and urged the international community to work together to defeat ISIS.

"There is no room for accommodating an apocalyptic cult like ISIL," the president said, using an alternative name for the terrorist group.

The president also stressed that the United States " is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict" in Syria.

"We must recognize that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the prewar status quo," the president said.

President Obama also addressed issues including the Iran nuclear accord, the bloodshed in Syria, the rise of ISIS, Cuba relations and tensions with Russia. Obama pointed to the nuclear deal — a historic accord between Tehran and six world powers aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program — as an example of what can be accomplished by international cooperation when nations are held accountable for violating international rules, and principled diplomacy is pursued to achieve our objectives

Sourced From NBC News

Kaduna abolished payment of admission fees for tertiary institutions

The Kaduna State government  has abolished  payment of fees for admission forms and processes by students seeking admission into state owned tertiary institutions.

In a statement issued at the end of the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Shehu Adamu, said that all state government owned tertiary institutions had been directed to comply with the directive.

The Commissioner said: “Under no condition henceforth should scratch cards be sold to admission-seekers for access to school portals or admission processing”.

The Commissioner, who explained  that the executive council took the decision considering the plight of students, warned  that admission into higher institutions should not be treated as a revenue source.

The statement also directed all non-teaching occupants of public school quarters to vacate the premises within 90 days.

It  equally informed  teachers, who have been transferred to other schools, to vacate  their former quarters within six months.

Source
Channel News

BUHARI STILL PAYING LIPS SERVICE TO ANTI-GRAFT WAR- BRAITHWAITE

• Saraki’s arraignment before CCT will die a natural death
• Why Awolowo, Aminu Kano’s alliance did not fly in 1979
• I didn’t betray Awolowo in 1983 by running against him
• Nigeria not yet free of military opportunism

SECOND Republic Politician, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite is not happy over the deep rot in the polity occasioned by mindless graft especially among the leadership class. This was the reason he made eradication of corruption (clearing rats, mosquitoes and cockroaches) the fulcrum of his presidential campaign in 1983 when he ran on the platform of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) which he founded. Currently, Braithwaite says President Muhammadu Buhari has not started fighting corruption despite claims to the contrary. He said the arraignment of Senate President Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is a misstep that will make Saraki a free man soon in spite of the criminal charges slammed against him. Braithwaite, who has been practising law since 1961, in this interview at his Victoria Island, Lagos home, fears that Nigeria is not completely free of military opportunism and its influence in the polity. Going down memory lane, he disclosed why Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Malam Aminu Kano could form an alliance in 1979 and why he ran against Awolowo in 1983 in spite of their closeness.
By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor
His take on Chief HID Awolowo’s death
I see  Mama’s passing not as a sad event at all. At 99, approximately 100, it is not a bad news. Having said that I know Mama HID very well more than the public. The public saw her with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) government. Papa and Mama Awolowo were very close to me. They were regular visitors here. The late Wole (Pa Awolowo’s son) used to visit me.
On virtues Nigerians should learn from HID Awolowo
She was a hard working woman who supported her husband through thick and thin. As Pa Awolowo himself described her, she was a jewel of an inestimable value.
There are a lot of lessons  that Nigerians should  learn from her. In terms of womanhood, she was not like those opportunistic wives of military officers, who had one stupid project or the other, calling themselves first ladies. We never heard her being called First Lady of Western Region or anything and she never comported herself that way.
On what informed his closeness to the Awolowo family
It was primarily from Law. When he was in trouble before the trump-up charge, I was a great supporter of him when they were doing the Coker Inquiry. This, unfortunately, has been the bane of Nigerian politics. If you have courage that they don’t expect you to have, they will  set up some form of inquiries tilted against you. That was why I started  supporting  Chief Awolowo to his own surprise. He said to me and my mother: ‘how could a young man like Tunji stick out his neck for a man they considered finished?’’
You were part of the legal team before he went to prison…
Yes, even before they formally charged him when he was going through the Coker inquiry with his trusted friends like old Maja and Chief Shonibare. They were the three principal targets.
On Chief Olu Falae’s kidnap by Fulani herdsmen and freedom, last week
It is a sad news. That in this day and age, a public figure of Falae’s standing, an upright man, a hard working one-time technocrat could just be whisked away like that in broad day light is a sad indictment of the present government.
Serious indictment
If a man like Falae could be beaten and whisked away like that, it is a serious indictment which Nigerians will have to take seriously especially the entire South.
Why the entire South?
Can you imagine people from the South, traders or something doing that in the North? Of course not. How can Fulani herdsmen from the North carry a prominent figure like that? Then, lesser figures are not safe. I don’t know if they paid ransom or not. It would be worse if they paid ransom. It is downright criminality, it should be punished. I am not happy about ransom being paid to criminals.
Kidnapping should not carry jail sentence of less than 20 years.
You were close to Pa Awolowo. Why did you run against him in the 1983 presidential election?
I ran against him not because we fell out. I gave the reason to a journalist recently but he did not get it. I was approached by people from the Middle Belt, late JS Tarka’s people came here. They knew I was very close to Chief Awolowo. That was in 1978, when  General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime was preparing to handover and called for the formation of political parties.

Dr. Tunji Braithwaite

Before then, some young northern fellows, one of them was Dasuki, I think Ibrahim was his first name, he was a middle level civil servant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs at Ikoyi when late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was the permanent secretary. It was Awoniyi that I knew very well. In my professional capacity, I used to go there. I had many corporate clients and the issue of business permit and expatriate quota was a major part of any corporate lawyer. For instance, I registered Julius Berger in this country.
So, to get expatriate quota for my foreign clients, I would go to see Awoniyi because his ministry handled such things at Alagbon, Ikoyi here because they had not created Abuja. This young Dasuki was the one who would process it. He got to know me and he used to visit me when I was living at South/West Ikoyi. This Dasuki was one of the young Turks for Malam  Aminu Kano in the North. And I was close to Chief Awolowo. So we started talking. They knew my politics, I was writing articles attacking northern hegemony. Still  they came to me. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Mohammed Gusau were also part of the young Turks for Aminu Kano.
And I was for Awolowo together with Alao Aka-Bashorun, Olu Onagoruwa, etc. I was the leader of the young Turks for Awolowo. So, when the military said they wanted to return the nation to politics, the two sides said why can’t Awolowo and Aminu Kano team up to lead the country? These boys asked if I could introduce them to Chief Awolowo. I was the person who took  Babangida and Dasuki to Parklane, Apapa where Pa Awolowo lived and introduced them. The plan was Awolowo as the president and Aminu Kano as the vice president should work together for the 1979 election.
Meanwhile, Tarka, the United Middle belt Democratic Congress (UMBC) people who were associates of the Action group (AG) in the First republic approached me and said: ‘Dr  Braithwaite, this return to civil rule is fraught with danger.’
Return to civil rule
I said, ‘how’? They said they had been victims of oppression for many years in the North, and that was why they teamed up with the AG in the First Republic but it did not help them much. I was reporting what they said to Chief Awolowo every time they came. He too found it interesting and he said, ‘all right, continue to listen to them.’ They wrote papers and I was delivering everything to him. I was not convinced at first and I was reporting to Awolowo. Meanwhile, Chief Awolowo’s inner core of the AG was forming the UPN. He didn’t keep me out of such meetings. Then after some time, Chief Awolowo said, ‘Tunji, be careful that these people were not out to rip you off.
The people convinced me that if this country would realise its economic and political potential, the next dispensation must be revolutionary. They said, these military boys must be watched. The people from the Middle belt knew the military boys, some of them were also living in Kano. They said, ‘Tunji, we want a young fearless person like you, a lawyer to form a distinct party.’ They turned out to be right. They said they knew the military boys that the boys were deceiving the Nigerian public. I told Pa Awolowo. He asked what I meant. I said there were many things that needed to be changed in the Nigerian Constitution. He said that would be too dangerous to them (AG), that they would see us.
Pa Awolowo was the only one whose outlook came relatively closer to what those boys wanted. Then we had a number of young university lecturers of socialist bent. Pa Awolowo could not go half as revolutionary as we wanted. When he said he could not, we formed the Nigerian Advance Party (NAP). Our complexion was made clear, that we wanted revolution. We will sweep out the corrupt element. We will probe. That was where clearing the rats and cockroaches  came into it. We said we will deal with the military and all the people who had been involved.
That was why the military registered the First republic parties in their new names. They registered UPN, which was AG. They registered Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), which was the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). They registered National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which was the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). They also registered Aminu Kano’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). In 1979, they did not register us deliberately even though the PRP came to me the night before and said they were sure that NAP had met all registration requirements. Aminu Kano and SG Ikoku came to this house and said, ‘you are likely to be registered, should we form an alliance?’ I said, ‘yes’ because they were the nearest to us.
NAP was finally registered in 1983, what happened?
We had gone to civilian rule then. Before the handover, the military asked us to dismantle our operations. We said no. they harassed us but we did not dismantle. We had structures because from 1978 to 1983 we did not stop operation. We were going through the entire universities and polytechnics. We were pretty strong and given our socialist and revolutionary bent, they had no choice than to register us in 1983.
We were going strong. And we knew that something would happen to that regime. In fact, President Shehu Shagari sent Alhaji Umaru Dikko to me to say that the information was that if he was declared the president after the election, the military would intervene. And that he was advised that if he invited NAP, PRP and the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) there was a possibility that the military would not intervene. I met him one-on-one at the State House. We declined. There were a few offers made to us. We declined. Given our socialist revolutionary bent we were not ready to form an alliance with these bourgeois neo-colonialist groupings.
Didn’t Awolowo feel betrayed?
He was not betrayed at all. In fact, what he said was that he did not know that I was that serious a politician. He thought our relationship was based on law because I was passing briefs to him. He said he did not realise I wanted to do politics that he only saw me as a man for justice, human rights activism.
I can’t tell you many things, they will appear in my book but certainly, he did not feel betrayed. I don’t want to disclose this yet. Pa Awolowo regretted that I was not in the UPN because he said some of those who were governors were not as useful to him as Tunji would have been.
Mama HID Awolowo still sent such message at my 70th birthday through a lawyer, Awoniyi, who worked in Awolowo’s chambers. So, there was no question of betrayal. Pa Awolowo felt he should go with his old friends in AG. I was not in AG.
 His assessment of  President Muhammadu Buhari administration so far
I spoke on a TV programme where people asked me questions on the latest appointments that he made – chief of staff, secretary to the government of the federation, etc, whether they were not slanted to the North.
Latest appointments
I said may be so but I have other insight to the latest appointments because I know Buhari very well and he knows me. I said forget about the northern slant and look at other more significant things. The date of the announcement of those appointments was significant. The announcement was made on August 27, which was the anniversary of the Babangida coup that toppled Buhari in 1985.
I said people should think about that. Why would he make such pivotal announcement on such an anniversary? People should think. We should not take things on face value. So, it is clear to me that, Buhari for the moment, is not thinking about North and South. My analysis is that Buhari is thinking of the military. He wants to do something about the Nigerian military. If you looked at his latest appointments, two of the appointments were his former military colleagues. It shows that Nigeria is not yet out of the woods when it comes to military opportunism and he wants to clear his backyard first.
Much noise, no action against graft
We have heard a lot of noise being made about attacking corruption. What has he done about attacking corruption four months after he was sworn in? The fact that we are having better electricity supply and the refineries are working cannot be what he has done.
His body language, may be. But what we got all this time is military news. To me, he wants to make sure that military opportunists, military looters, who are still very much around in the  control and administration of this country directly or through their proxies are adequately handled.
How many people have been charged for corruption? Nobody. One military fellow, Sambo Dasuki, the former NSA has been taken to a Magistrates’ Court. Put your two and two together if you are a thinker.
What about Senate President Bukola Saraki being taken to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT?
That is what I am saying. Saraki’s arraignment before the CCT will die a natural death. The charges that I heard read against Saraki were criminal, why take him to the CCT, which is like a bull dog without teeth? The CCT has not got criminal power.
Where should Saraki have been taken to?
He should have been taken to a court with criminal power to send people to jail if found guilty. The CCT cannot jail. You will find that this circus show will die a natural death.

PRIMARY SOURCE
VANGUARD NEWS

SENATORS AVIOD C,TEE CHAIRMANSHIP CAUSE OF COLD WAR

AS the Cold War between the presidency and the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Saraki over the later’s emergence as the Senate President rages on, a good number of the Senators have allegedly rejected heading Committees to avoid what they described as witch-hunt.
The tradition before now was that Senators and members of the House of Representatives lobby to become Chairmen of some of the Committees perceived to be juicy so as to better their lots.
But Vanguard gathered that some of the Senators especially those from the All Progressives Congress, APC, who played prominent role for the emergence of Dr. Saraki have allegedly decided not to take any Committee Chairmanship to avoid facing any form of persecution from some of the party leaders.
One of the APC Senators told Vanguard on strict condition of anonymity that the Cold War between the Senate President and some leaders of the APC was all about 2019 Presidential election.
He claimed that some of the Senators suspected to have played any role in the emergence of Saraki as the Senate President were strictly being monitored by those who felt embarrassed and defeated in the election for the senate president, adding that they have decided to set trap for them during the oversight functions.
Besides, he said that many of the APC Senators from the North have started having problems with their governors over 2019, and that some of the governors have contributed to the crisis between Dr. Saraki and the APC leadership.
The Senator who was rumoured to be eminently qualified to chair one of the juicy Committees because of his knowledge on the sector said that he alongside other Senators have decided not to accept Committee Chairmanship to avoid any form of persecution by some of the party leaders that felt wounded in the election of the senate president.
He said, “Some of us (Senators) especially the APC Senators have decided not to accept Committee Chairmanship. Those who felt aggrieved over the election of Senate President have decided to embark on a witch haunt and they want to use the Committee to achieve their devilish plans.
“They have planned to use the oversight functions to blackmail us and you know when you are blackmailed whether rightly or wrongly, the public will have a negative impression about you and we don’t want to create that room at all.
“You can see what is happening between the Senators and the governors especially in the North. Some of the governors who have their eyes in 2019 have started fighting their senators.
“One particular governor alongside a former governor that lost the bid to become the APC presidential candidate and one person that arrogates to himself the position of the party leader have decided that the present senate leadership did not have peace and have blackmailed the leadership before the presidency.
“You know that Saraki made sure that the APC did not have a Muslim/Muslim ticket and the party leaders that did not benefit from that have been angry with him (Saraki). The other one felt disappointed that he was not supported during the APC presidential primaries after their alleged initial agreement before they dumped the Peoples Democratic Party.
“You also know that we have only one canonised person in this country who believes that every other person is corrupt. When you are even talking to him and explain your position, he will not talk but only to be watching you because he has already made up his conclusion.”
The APC Senator explained that whatever was happening in the party was because of the 2019 elections, stressing that it was perceived by some of the party leaders that allowing Saraki a breathing space would jeopardise their ambition in 2019.
He noted that with the present composition of the party, if President Muhammadu Buhari decides not to contest the 2019 presidential election, there was the fear that Saraki has the brightest chance to emerge, alleging that it was the contributing factor in the crisis.
He also claimed that those who have become uncomfortable with the way things were going were making every efforts towards ensuring that they blackmailed the senate president before President Buhari.
“Saraki for now has the support of majority of those who decide elections in the North. Both in Sokoto, Gombe, Zamfara and some other states in the North. If he maintains the structure till 2019, there is the fear that he would definitely emerge as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
“Those who are interested in the position are aware of this and especially three of them, one from the South west, a former governor and a serving governor who are all interested are making sure that they blackmail him before President Buhari. You know the President believes that he is the only corrupt-free person in this country”, he stated.
He, however, said that if nothing was done to reconcile all the aggrieved members and accord the required respect to the office of the senate president, it would affect the chances of the party in the 2019 elections, adding that already the public have started having a negative impression on the APC

JEFF WINS 2015 PROJECT FAME

 After so much training and eveiction,18-yr-old Jeffrey Akoh has emerged the 2015 MTN Project Fame winner.
The young talent won 5 other finalists to emerge the winner of the 8th season of MTN Project Fame.
Jeff is a Sound Engineering graduate from the SAE Institute, Cape Town and has consistently wowed judges and the audience by going all the way in each of his performances. He joins the likes of Iyanya, iMike, Ayoola, Chidinma, Monica, Olawale and Geoffrey as a Project Fame superstar.
Third runner up in the competition was Ada, with second runner up being Anderson and Pearl being the first runner up.
His musical influencers are Chris Brown, Lawrence Flowers, and Kim Burrell. Jeff receives the grand prize of N5 million, an SUV and a recording contract.
Pearl Olanma Awa-Agwu secured a 2nd place finish, she receives a car and N3 million. Anderson Emmanuel Amos finished in 3rd place, he gets a car and N1 million. In 4th place was Adanoritsewo “Ada” Gold Tosanwumi and she receives a N1 million prize.
Primary Source
VANGAURD

Security Agencies Thwart Boko Haram Escape

A combined effort of security agencies saved the day on Friday as suspected Boko Haram terrorists stormed a Directorate of Security Services (DSS) facility in Lokoja and tried to free their members detained there.

This is as the Nigerian military said that over 200 members of Boko Haram terrorists group on Friday surrendered to their troops in newly liberated Banki Town of Borno State, North-eastern part of the country.

The effort of the police, DSS operatives and soldiers that were later called in successfully beat back the terrorists who allegedly stormed the facility with explosives to blow their way through so as to free their detained members.

Reports of pandemonium due to confusion on whether the shootings and explosions heard in the vicinity were from armed robbery attacks which are rife in the area prevailed till it was confirmed that it was a Boko Haram invasion.

Although no security agency was willing to speak on record, THISDAY gathered that the attack on the DSS facility was foiled with the arrival of soldiers to beef up the efforts of other security agencies.

The surrender of the terrorists was confirmed in a statement signed yesterday by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman.

The surrender was corroborated by the Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole (Peace is a Must) in the north east, Major General Yusha'u Mahmud Abubakar who said that over 200 Boko Haram sect surrendered to the troop in Banki on Friday.

Usman recalled that the troops had on Thursday captured the economic important and strategic town of Banki in Borno State which is equally noted for fishing.

He said that the former Boko Haram enclave was a major economic and trading activity between Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African countries.

He noted that during the previous encounter, Nigerian troops not only recaptured the town, but several Boko Haram terrorists were captured while the stubborn terrorist who refused to surrender were killed in the military offensive.

In a related development, the Army spokesman also sent "A very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups who hail from Borno State in particular and North East generally, that there was information of plans by some highly placed individuals and political groups to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country".

"The unscrupulous individuals and their cohorts were determined to reverse the gains made and scuttle our efforts of achieving the Presidential directive to defeat Boko Haram terrorists within three months".
He alleged that the concerned individuals were enlisting the services of some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in this grand design.

According to Usman, "It has come to our knowledge that they were employing every means to see that our operation does not succeed in order for them to continue to enjoy certain benefits.

"It has been revealed that they are employing the services of marabouts and other unethical means in order to frustrate our efforts and the operations in addition to campaign of calumny."

Usman said that the Army was aware of their clandeastine meetings and other diabolical efforts to achieve their nefarious aims, warning that "this would not be tolerated".
Therefore, he said, such individuals and groups should be warned in unmistakable terms that anyone found would be dealt with accordingly.

He urged that "People should place the interest of the nation above any personal gain or ambition", adding that "the continued loss of lives and properties in this country through terrorists activities does not one any good".
The liberated town had been under the control of terrorists for over a year now.

Abubakar said: "I am happy to inform you that over 200 terrorists group surrendered to my troops around Banki town. The field commander just called me and briefed me about the development an hour ago."

The Army chief called on other terrorist members to lay down their arms as there was no escaping their eventual capture.
He said that the three months ultimatum given to the military to defeat the insurgents was visible.
According to him, “The militants had been depleted and before the expiration of the ultimatum they will have no Nigerian territory under their control.
Abubakar said it was clear to everyone that the insurgents had lost grip and were about going into extinction.
He however did not rule out the pocket of attacks on soft target, insisting that it may be difficult to rule out this even after the insurgents have been smoked out.

He however advised that the war was not that of the military alone but all Nigerians who must give information that would finally put an end to the insurgency.

He added that once a territory was retrieved from the insurgents, it was left for the civil authorities to occupy and stop the insurgents from sneaking back,

He said most of the areas that were hitherto in the hands of the insurgents were now retrieved and were inhabitable to members of the public

Abubakar said: "We have started sending our engineers to repair all the destroyed bridges. Already our engineers have started reconstructing the destroyed bridges along Gamboru-Ngala- Maiduguri, Gombi- Garkida- Biu roads among others and very soon the menace of Boko Haram will be over, but this can never be achieved without the full cooperation of the media and the general public.
"The fight against insurgents/ terrorists is a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck to nip terrorism in the bud".

The Army chief further revealed that a major disaster was averted in Maiduguri during the Sallah as a terrorist who had planned to plant a bomb in one of the mosques was apprehended on the eve of Eid-el-Kabir.

He said the troops of the 7 Division apprehended a suspected terrorist who went to Medinatu Central Mosque in old Maiduguri with intent to plant an Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in order to cause havoc on the Sallah day.

He said the apprehended terrorist was undergoing interrogation and was now helping the security agencies on vital information that would lead to the arrest of some other culprits especially those responsible for Sunday's multiple attacks on Maiduguri where 54 persons were confirmed dead,

Primary  Source

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/security-agencies-foil-attempt-to-free-boko-haram-detainees-in-lokoja/221204/

"You Left Me Vulnerable" Saraki to Kwara Governor

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was stoned yesterday with rocks and water sachets by an irate mob at the Eid Prayer Grounds in Ilorin, Kwara State, has accused Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of leaving him vulnerable and open to attack, an aide of the governor has told SaharaReporters. Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State

Our source added that Governor Ahmed confided in aides and the traditional ruler of Ilorin that the Senate President made himself the target of furious crowd because he failed to listen to security reports and advice urging him to stay away from Ilorin during the Sallah holiday.

A security source corroborated the governor’s sentiment. According to him, security agencies in the state had been aware of public anger against the governor and Mr. Saraki, especially as information circulated among residents about the size of the senator’s assets and personal wealth. He added that many people in the state, among them unemployed youth and workers who are owed arrears of salaries, felt that the Saraki family had exploited them for years. 

A reporter in the state also told SaharaReporters that rumors circulated widely that Governor Ahmed had given Mr. Saraki N1 billion from Federal bailout funds meant to clear several months of salary arrears to workers. “Whether it’s true or not, the rumors were making the rounds. And they made many people incensed against the governor and Senator Saraki,” the reporter said. 

Other sources in the state disclosed that a few local imams (Islamic preachers), shocked by media reports about Mr. Saraki’s obscene wealth, revealed in his past asset declarations, preached about the senator’s greed.

“Once we heard what the preachers were saying in mosques, we warned the governor [Ahmed] to avoid any public outing as it was clear that people [were] angry and waiting to attack him and his godfather, former Governor Saraki,” one of our security sources said.

He added that, days before the Sallah festivities, security agents had seen piles of stones hidden in drainages around the prayer ground, and told the governor about it.

An aide of the governor told SaharaReporters that Governor Ahmed, in turn, communicated his concerns to Mr. Saraki in Abuja. “But Senator Saraki continued to feel that he was popular in Kwara State, especially in Ilorin,” said the governor’s aide. “He would not agree to exercise caution because he wanted to show his popularity after his ego was bruised at the Code of Conduct Bureau,” the aide added. Mr. Saraki was last week arraigned at a tribunal for false declaration of assets.

Ignoring all security warnings, the Senate President reportedly ordered the governor to arrange a series of high profile events for him in the state capital. The events proposed by the embattled senator included meet and greet at the Ilorin Airport on his arrival in the state. 

A few days before Senator Saraki’s arrival, the airwaves were saturated with radio announcements calling on politicians and civil servants in the state to welcome the former governor at the airport. In the end, the event was abruptly canceled when security agencies warned that protesters were planning to launch an attack on Mr. Saraki at the airport.

SaharaReporters learned that, a night before the Sallah prayers, Governor Ahmed told Senator Saraki that he would not attend Eid prayers at the Ilorin praying grounds on account of adverse security reports. But Mr. Saraki was not deterred, said our sources. Instead, he ordered his aides to scout the length and breadth of Ilorin and surrounding towns in order to mobilize a huge crowd to show up and sing his praises at the prayer grounds.

On Sallah, Governor Ahmed headed for his hometown, avoiding showing up in Ilorin. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Saraki arrived at the venue where he was initially serenaded by a retinue of hired praise singers. However, shortly after the formal prayer events started, with the Chief Imam presiding, and the Emir of Ilorin, Sulu Gambari, next to him, protesters started shouting “Ole! Ole!” (meaning thief in Yoruba). Pandemonium soon ensued as the angry crowd began hurling rocks at the VIP tent. Prayers were aborted as Mr. Saraki and a coterie of other religious and political officials were smuggled out of the prayer grounds. The police, army and civil defense agents had a hectic time clearing the way for the dignitaries to escape. Several eyewitnesses disclosed that the security agents fired teargas and live bullets to scare the rampaging protesters.

In a public relations stunt, Senator Saraki quickly arranged a short press conference where some hired youth chanted his praise  in the background as he spoke for a minute or two before he fled. 

Our source, who is an aide of the governor, told SaharaReporters that Mr. Saraki was also displeased with the governor’s media team for issuing a statement condemning the attack on Senator Saraki and other VIPs. The embattled Senator Saraki felt that the statement undermined his earlier denial that he was not the target of the stone-throwing protesters. 

Mr. Saraki had handpicked Mr. Ahmed to succeed him as the governor of Kwara State. State workers are being owed salaries for the last five months, a development that is seen as the result of Mr. Saraki’s financial mismanagement during his eight-year stint as state governor. 

Primary Source
http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/25/ilorin-attack-saraki-upset-kwara-governor-who-responds

"Saraki's Trial Mischievous, Vindictive and Politically Motivated." Senators

A group of senators yesterday expressed support for embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki in his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

In a statement signed by Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (Sokoto South) on behalf of others, the lawmakers said the trial was mischievous, vindictive and politically-motivated.

The statement said: “We also want to state here, on behalf of our colleagues, that the Senate remains solidly behind Senator Saraki and we express our unalloyed support for his leadership.

“We are happy that he appeared at the Tribunal after availing himself of the opportunity to defend his Fundamental Human Rights.

“We reiterate the fact that he is our choice for the post of Senate President and no politically motivated, mischievous and vindictive trial will change our opinion of him.

“By his appearance at the Tribunal, he has demonstrated his firm belief in the rule of law and his respect for our judicial process. We join Dr. Saraki in affirming our commitment to the rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy.

“We only hope the other arms of government will ensure that due process and procedures are followed in this trial and on all other issues.

“It is our belief that at the end of this trial, our democracy, Nigerians and the people will end up as the beneficiaries”.

They also restated commitment to the programmes and policies of the Buhari administration.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu led 29 other senators to the CCT in solidarity with the Senate President.

Some supporters of the embattled Senate President, including placard-carrying women group, were also on hand at the CCB to show solidarity to Saraki.

Senators at the CCT are: Amori Ighoyota (Delta Central), Bassey Albert Akpan (Akwa North East) Abdulrahman Abubakar (Kogi East),Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central),Kabiru Gaya (Kano Central),Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto North), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North) and Theodore Orji (Abia Central).

Others are Senators Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East) Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central), Ogola Foster (Bayelsa West) Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East) Rose Oko (Cross River North), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Olaka Nwogu (Rivers South East), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), Sunny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger East), Isa Hamma Missau (Bauchi  Central), Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi  Central) Kaura Tijjani (Famfara North), Clifford Ordia ( Edo Central), Mohammed Ohiare (Kogi Central) Ibrahim Adullahi Dambaba, Rafui Ibrahim (Kwara South),Gershom Henry Bassey (Cross River South) and Ibrahim Dambaba (Sokoto South).

The women took over the road leading to the tribunal singing the praises of the Senate President.

Another grouped that styled itself Northern Youth Assembly Bukola supporters were also at the tribunal

The placard-bearing supporters described the trial of Saraki as politically motivated.

Some of the placards read “Leave Bukola alone, No Bukola no Nigeria, Bukola is a leader”.

Volkswagen CEO, Martin Winterkon Quits

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has resigned amid the emissions scandal engulfing the German carmaker.

Mr Winterkorn announced his resignation to the stock market, saying he had made the decision for the good of the company.

He said he was "shocked" at the scandal.

"I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part," he said in a statement.

"Volkswagen needs a fresh start - also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation."

"Saraki's Trial Mischievous, Vindictive and Politically Motivated" Senators

A group of senators yesterday expressed support for embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki in his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

In a statement signed by Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (Sokoto South) on behalf of others, the lawmakers said the trial was mischievous, vindictive and politically-motivated.

The statement said: “We also want to state here, on behalf of our colleagues, that the Senate remains solidly behind Senator Saraki and we express our unalloyed support for his leadership.

“We are happy that he appeared at the Tribunal after availing himself of the opportunity to defend his Fundamental Human Rights.

“We reiterate the fact that he is our choice for the post of Senate President and no politically motivated, mischievous and vindictive trial will change our opinion of him.

“By his appearance at the Tribunal, he has demonstrated his firm belief in the rule of law and his respect for our judicial process. We join Dr. Saraki in affirming our commitment to the rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy.

“We only hope the other arms of government will ensure that due process and procedures are followed in this trial and on all other issues.

“It is our belief that at the end of this trial, our democracy, Nigerians and the people will end up as the beneficiaries”.

They also restated commitment to the programmes and policies of the Buhari administration.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu led 29 other senators to the CCT in solidarity with the Senate President.

Some supporters of the embattled Senate President, including placard-carrying women group, were also on hand at the CCB to show solidarity to Saraki.

Senators at the CCT are: Amori Ighoyota (Delta Central), Bassey Albert Akpan (Akwa North East) Abdulrahman Abubakar (Kogi East),Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central),Kabiru Gaya (Kano Central),Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto North), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North) and Theodore Orji (Abia Central).

Others are Senators Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East) Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central), Ogola Foster (Bayelsa West) Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East) Rose Oko (Cross River North), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Olaka Nwogu (Rivers South East), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), Sunny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger East), Isa Hamma Missau (Bauchi  Central), Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi  Central) Kaura Tijjani (Famfara North), Clifford Ordia ( Edo Central), Mohammed Ohiare (Kogi Central) Ibrahim Adullahi Dambaba, Rafui Ibrahim (Kwara South),Gershom Henry Bassey (Cross River South) and Ibrahim Dambaba (Sokoto South).

The women took over the road leading to the tribunal singing the praises of the Senate President.

Another grouped that styled itself Northern Youth Assembly Bukola supporters were also at the tribunal

The placard-bearing supporters described the trial of Saraki as politically motivated.

Some of the placards read “Leave Bukola alone, No Bukola no Nigeria, Bukola is a leader”.

"Concessional Posting off the Table"NYSC D.G

The director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has disclosed that the scheme would no longer entertain requests from people, seeking concessional posting for their wards, relatives and friends for the NYSC mandatory one year service.

Olawumi, who was speaking during the opening ceremony of the training organised by the NYSC and the Housing Developers Cooperative Society for Corps Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja, stated that the scheme has introduced a self-deployment mechanism to enable the prospective corps members choose a state where they wish to serve.

The DG, while urging members of the public to stop disturbing staff of the scheme with their requests for concession, disclosed that their online platform was designed in a way that corps members that have genuine reasons for concession would not be denied.

He said, “The NYSC is barring concessional posting; we have to take that decision, because in the past, we allowed concessional posting for prospective corps members, who had medical challenge, or married women or pregnant women, but as it stands now, our online registration platform has been designed in such a way to address the problem of those prospective corps members who have health challenges or married women.”

“So, all they need to do is that, in the process of doing their registration, there are information these categories of people need to supply and upload the documents, our portal has been designed in such a way that it will automatically post them to where they filled.

“I want to say that in the past few weeks we have been receiving requests from various quarters; ministries, departments, agencies, private institutions and individuals seeking for concessional posting. I want to say that they are just wasting their time,” he stated.

Olawumi explained that the training for the corps members organised by the scheme and the Housing Developers’ Cooperative Society was aimed at training and graduating skilled manpower in housing sector.

“The inauguration of 200 youth corps members for training in special areas of labour need in the housing development sector reaffirms our pledge to give useful skills to every willing graduate partaking in the national service,” he said.

Dr.Ngozi Iweala on Double Appointments

Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed into two key international positions.

She is to serve as Chair of the 28-member Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), an international Public-Private Partnership, which is committed to saving the lives of children and protecting people’s health by improving access to immunisation in developing countries, including Nigeria.

A statement from her Media Adviser, Paul C Nwabuikwu explained that she was elected to the position after a competitive international search process. “GAVI is a $12 billion multilateral partnership which disburses grants of upwards of $1.8 billion annually to developing countries for immunisation programmes,” the statement added.

GAVI brings together developing countries and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, (WHO) United Nations Education Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private philanthropists.

Obasanjo Now a Children Story Writer

The former president said he decided to launch the story book entitled, “Peace Story for Children” to ensure the entrenchment of sustainable peace in the country.

Obasanjo, while launching the 14-page booklet illustrated with various cartoons at an event held at the OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, attended by pupils from different secondary schools in the state, said that it had become imperative to sow the seeds of peace in the minds of children whose minds were more receptive to ideas.

Obasanjo, who was represented at the launch of the booklet by the Director of the OOPL Centre for Human Security, Prof. Peter Okebukola, noted that since the youths were the leaders of tomorrow, imbibing the essence of peace when young should be vigorously pursued.

Addressing the pupils from the various schools who also participated in a debate with the theme, “Whose Responsibility Is It to ensure peace? Is it the people or the government?”, Okebukola disclosed that Obasanjo called him overnight to tell Nigerian children to imbibe the culture of peace while still young.

"See Me in Court Tomorrow." Sariki

Senate President Bukola Saraki says he will be at the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrow September 22nd as a mark of respect for the rule of law. He said this in a statement he released this afternoon on his Facebook page

The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrowTuesday 22nd of September 2015. While the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from tribunal was based on legal advice he received from his counsel that it is not necessary for him to appear before the tribunal at this stage since the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the process of initiating the matter are being challenged before the federal High Court Abuja.

Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to 30th of September and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to the 29th of September 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim.

Dr. Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve.

Dr. Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter.

Source :linda Ikeji

Lagos Gridlock to Ease in 48 Hours

The National President of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Mr Remi Ogungbemi, on Monday assured that the gridlock in the Lagos metropolis would clear within the next 48 hours.

Ogugbemi gave the assurance while speaking on the latest gridlock locking down Nigeria’s economic capital.

He said that various stakeholders had been working tirelessly with the Nigerian Customs Service to clear backlog of trucks in at the ports to allow vehicles to manuevre.

“Since the Lagos State Government relaxed the restriction of trucks to start moving in the day, accessing the ports had been difficult, due to trucks trapped by the law.

“Trucks in the port have to go out for incoming ones, the Nigeria Customs Service have to clear the ones in the ports, hence the backlogs that locked down Lagos.

“I hope it will get better within 48 hours as stakeholders are working tirelessly to ensure free flow of traffic and we are sorry for the inconveniences,” he said.

Mr Hyginus Omeje, Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), said NAN that the gridlock was a deliberate action by truck and trailer owners.

“The whole trucks and trailers that were supposed to go into the ports are lined up on the road in Apapa and other roads in the state. We have positioned our men in strategic places so that they do not take over the whole part of the road; they are lined up on one part of the road,” Omeje said.

A senior officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who pleaded anonymity, also told NAN that LASTMA was disappointed over the gridlock.

“We have held several meetings with them on their operations not affecting other road users but they would not comply, the stakeholders should help talk to their people. Our men have been positioned at strategic places to work with other traffic agents to put the situation under control before the end of the day,” the LASTMA officer said.

A driver of one of the articulated vehicles, Mr Akeem Olaosebikan, said that the gridlock was as a result of the law restricting the movement of the vehicles.

“We have been on this queue since Saturday trying to get inside the port. I think the situation is because some trucks inside the port are unable to come out due to the time. Since the State Government has relaxed their order, I think some trucks will be finding their way out so that the gridlock will reduce,’’ Olaosebikan said.

Another truck driver, Mr Adekunle Teslim, urged government to rehabilitate alternative roads leading to the port to reduce congestion on the Apapa-Orile road.

“There are other roads leading to the Wharf but due to the bad state of the roads most trucks drivers concentrate on the Apapa-Orile axis. If government can repair Mile 2-Tin Can road, I think it will be better because it will reduce traffic on the Apapa route,’’ Teslim said.

But a commuter, Mr James Oduteliwo, appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene quickly to end the gridlock, noting that transport fares had sky-rocketed, due to the gridlock.

“I spent close to three hours on the road before getting to the office, government should do something about this current situation,’’ Oduteliwo said

Source :Business  Day

See Me in Court Tomorrow. Sariki

Senate President Bukola Saraki says he will be at the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrow September 22nd as a mark of respect for the rule of law. He said this in a statement he released this afternoon on his Facebook page

The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrowTuesday 22nd of September 2015. While the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from tribunal was based on legal advice he received from his counsel that it is not necessary for him to appear before the tribunal at this stage since the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the process of initiating the matter are being challenged before the federal High Court Abuja.

Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to 30th of September and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to the 29th of September 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim.

Dr. Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve.

Dr. Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter.

Source :linda Ikeji

We will Arrest Senate President Without Delay,Police

The police on Friday said the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase would promptly effect the arrest of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, without delay.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, stated this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday.

“We are going to promptly arrest the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and produce him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday.

“Since it is a bench warrant issued by a competent court, the order will be carried out without delay. We don’t want to pre-empt anything,” Kolawole stated.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal had on Friday, issued a bench warrant for Saraki’s arrest, for failing to appear in court in his ongoing trial for alleged false asset declaration.

Primary Source

http://thenationonlineng.net/police-vow-to-arrest-saraki-without-delay/