Don’t accept Fayose’s rams, Imams tell Muslims

The League of Imams and Alfas in Ekiti has ordered Muslims in the state not to collect rams and other food items for Sallah celebration, if presented to them in any form by the state government.

The League reached the decision at a meeting held on Tuesday at Ansar-u-Deen Society Central Mosque Odo-Otu, Ado Ekiti, where it reviewed the “deliberate marginalisation of Muslim members in Ekiti State Government’s political appointment.”

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation, Ekiti State, had respectively issued statements condemning Governor Ayodele Fayose for neglecting Muslims in appointments.

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, had also described “Fayose’s treatment of Muslims in terms of appointment in the state” as “the worst since the state was created.”

The party claimed Ekiti Muslims were not given up to one per cent of the appointments made by Fayose’s administration.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the League said, “Based on the above, the League, Ekiti State Council, hereby resolved that no Muslim in the state should collect rams and other food items, if presented to them in any form by the government.”

The communiqué was signed by the state’s Assistant Secretary, League of Imams and Alfas, Alhaji Quadri Oguntuase; a Representative of Ansar-u-Deen Missioner, Fatai Jimoh and Chief Imam, Ilogbo, Imam Abdul Rasak.

It added, “Any Muslim that collects such rams or food items under any guise has taken Haram (Unlawful) and the punishment of the Almighty Allah awaits the person. (Quran 71 verse 28).”

“This order stands until the government accedes to our demands as earlier published.”

Fayose had distributed chickens and rice to indigenes during the last Christmas celebration in the state as part of his stomach infrastructure policy.

Buhari condemns IDPs’ camp blast, orders tighter security

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to beef up security in all camps harboring internally displaced persons in the country to guard against the recurrence of the blast at the displaced person’s camp in Yola, Adamawa state on Friday.

The President condemned as heinous and cowardly, the bomb blast in the Malkohi camp which resulted in loss of seven lives.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said that the terrorists were bent on causing fear and panic among the populace by detonating bombs within soft spots where hapless citizens reside.

He encouraged members of the public to not be deterred “but rise in unison to root out whatever is left of the terrorists in our midst.”

Buhari said, “We must not let the desperate and evil-minded criminals have any respite. There’s now an urgent need for all to, by paying utmost attention to security issues at all levels – home, work, market, places of worship, schools, defeat terrorism.”

APC govs on assets: We won’t follow Buhari’s example

Some APC governors

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have said they will not follow the example laid by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in declaring their assets publicly.

The governors, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH, said it is not compulsory for them to declare their assets publicly and that they would not be pressured to follow the president’s action.

According to them, there is no law mandating the governors to publicly state their worth in terms of property and cash.

Buhari and Osinbajo last week made a public declaration of their assets with the former stating that he had declared his assets four times since 1975.

The President had said, “I recall that in 1975 when the late Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State, we were lined up in the corridor – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council – and officials of the Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.

“So right now, all heads of state and government, governors, ministers, and permanent secretaries will have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.”

However, one week after Buhari and Osinbajo declared their assets, the APC governors said they were only required to make details of their properties known to the Code of Conduct Bureau and not the public.

The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, told one of our correspondents that it was not his responsibility to publish his assets, but that of the CCB.

While claiming that his assets declaration form is with the CCB, Lalong said that all that the law required was for him to declare his assets before the CCB, adding that the law did not mandate him to make them public.

He said, “I have declared my assets as required by the law and it is left for the Code of Conduct Bureau to publish it. I don’t think that the law makes it mandatory for me to publish my assets. Anybody who wants to know should approach the bureau for the form I filled and submitted to it.”

Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, will also not declare his assets publicly. He alleged that those asking him to declare his assets were the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, who were bent on frustrating his administration as a result of the shock the party suffered during the last general elections.

Okorocha said, “I will not rule the people of the state by public opinion. There were no calls for declaration of assets during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

He advised Nigerians not to use the APC’s “change” promise against the party in whatever way.

Okorocha, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuamado, told one of our correspondents that the declaration of assets by Buhari was a welcome development, but added that it was an individual’s decision.

He said, “This is an individual thing. Governor Okorocha believes he is a second-term governor, he is not a new governor that should be declaring assets. Meanwhile, there is no law that says governors should declare their assets.

“When former President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, who talked about declaration of assets? What President Buhari has done is a good thing, but it is not mandatory.”

Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, also said he would be the last person to make details of his assets public.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs,, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said, “My governor has said while it is constitutional for public officers to declare their assets, making it public is not a matter enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

“Every public officer is bound to declare, but the idea of making it public is not in the constitution.”

A Government House source told one of our correspondents that the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, was not ready for public declaration of his assets since he had sent details of his worth both in physical property and cash to the CCB.

The media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, also said, “The constitution does not state that the governor should declare his asset publicly. I know that the governor has declared his assets to the CCB.”

The media aide said, “The governor has met all the necessary constitutional requirements.”

The Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, who spoke on behalf of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, stressed that public declaration of assets is not statutory.

Similarly, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said no law compelled him to declare his assets publicly.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibraheem Dooba, said his boss has declared his assets as the law stipulates and has submitted his assets declaration form to the CCB.

“The governor said he declared his assets before being sworn in and no law compels him to make his assets public.”

Also, the Special Adviser to Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, Mallam Isa Gusau, said the governor had not held any discussion on the public declaration of his assets.

The same is true for the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.

His Director of Press and Publicity, Baba Dantiye, said in a text message to Saturday PUNCH that the governor had yet to discuss the matter with him.

In Nassarawa State, Governor Tanko Al-makura has remained silent on the issue of public declaration of his assets.

His Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Tukur Ahmed, also refused to speak for the governor on the governor’s asset declaration.”

A similar situation exists in Adamawa State where Senator Jibrilla Bindow holds sway.

The governors’ supporters, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it was not the requirement of the law for anyone to make a public declaration of his assets.

One of them said, “It is a personal decision of the governor to choose to make his assets and liabilities public.

“However, he has complied with the law by filling and submitting his assets declaration forms with the CCB.”

Attempts to speak with the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yohanna Mathias, failed as he neither picked his telephone nor responded to the text messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has also yet to publicly declare his assets.

His Senior Special Adviser on Media, Imam Imam, said he was in transit when one of our correspondents asked him when his principal would publicly declare his assets.

It was gathered that the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, would not declare his assets publicly.

“Governor Ajimobi has already made his assets public through the Code of Conduct Bureau before the last general elections,” a government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents on Friday in Ibadan.

The source added, “Ajimobi made his assets known twice – in 2011 and 2015 – before the governorship elections which he contested and won. He did this because he has nothing to hide.”

His Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, is also not planning to make his assets public.

A senior government official who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the governor had complied with what the law stipulates. He said, “There is no moral reason for the governor to make his assets public.

“He did not promise to do so during his campaigns. Buhari made it a campaign issue and he has fulfilled his promise.”

A social commentator and policy analyst based in Lagos, Dr. Anthonia Orji, said it was necessary for the governors to follow in the footsteps of President Buhari.

She said it would go a long way in telling Nigerians that their administrations embrace transparency.

She noted that the actions of Buhari and Osinbajo had in some way proved to Nigerians that the duo had no tolerance for corruption.

She said, “Fighting corruption starts with transparency and truthfulness. That is what Buhari and Osinbajo have done. They are telling the world that they have nothing to hide.

“They are not afraid to be questioned and criticised, which are good things for the country to move forward.

Explosion kills seven, injures 20 at Yola IDP camp

The National Emergency Management Agency on Friday confirmed a bomb explosion at a school at the Malkohi Camp of the internally displaced persons in Yola, Adamawa State.

The agency said seven persons were killed while 20 were injured as a result of the explosion that occurred around 10.50am.

It added that seven of the injured had been treated and discharged at the Federal Medical Centre in Yola while the remaining 13 persons, including four NEMA officials, were still on admission at the hospital.

The explosion would be the first of such attack on an IDP camp in the North-East.

Though no information had been made available about the perpetrators of the act, there are indications it might have been carried out by the Boko Haram insurgent group.

Boko Haram has in a six-year period displaced thousands of people in the North-East, while killing other thousands as a result of its activities.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said on Twitter that he was saddened by the incident and condemned those behind the attack.

He said, “I’m deeply saddened by the bombing incident at the Yola IDP camp today. Only persons with hearts of evil could do this. The Yola IDP camp is the largest in Nigeria, and is a refuge to the thousands of people who fled the insurgency from mostly Borno and Yobe.

“Many people I know were working as volunteers in the camp, including staff and students of American University of Nigeria, who sustained minor injuries from the blast.

“Today’s attack is an attempt to break the spirits of the people who came to seek refuge. The perpetrators will know no peace. We refuse to be broken. We will win the war against terrorism. We shall overcome!”

Adamawa State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ahmed Sajoh, also told journalists that seven persons were killed by the explosion.

It was learnt from one of the camp’s residents, Abubakar Sani, that two female suicide bombers detonated the bomb that led to the killings.

Sajoh, however, said the state governor, Muhammadu Bindow, had directed the state emergency management agency to foot the medical bills of the injured.

He said among those killed was a toddler, adding that those on humanitarian service were not spared by the suicide bombers.

N600bn debt: Contractors abandon Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 183 others

Contractors handling over 184 federal road projects have abandoned the various sites due to lack of funding from the Federal Government and the huge debt owed them by the Federal Ministry of Works.

Saturday PUNCH reliably learnt that following the decisions of the contractors to abandon the sites, N1.76trn federal road projects across the country had suffered setback.

The amount is the total cost of ongoing federal road projects across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The President, Federation of Construction Industry, the umbrella body for construction companies, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said all federal roads that had not been completed had been abandoned.

The contractors said they were owed over N600bn, adding that although part of the sum was owed by state and local governments, over 80 per cent of the amount was owed by the Federal Government.

This, according to them, was largely the reason why they decided to abandon the various project sites across the country.

They explained that their decision was not in protest against the government, but was purely because they could not function without funds.

The contractors could not state the exact number of ongoing federal road projects abandoned across the country, but findings showed that 184 projects were classified as ongoing by the Federal Government as at September 2014.

The North-Central Zone had 29 projects with a total length of 1,201.81km and a cost of N294bn; North-East had 26 projects, 1,219.65km long and cost N314bn; North-West had 20 projects, 1,040.22km long and cost N188bn; while the South-East had 45 projects stretching 1,251.4km with a worth of N357bn.

The South-South had 33 ongoing projects, 739.57km long costing N245bn; while the number of ongoing projects in the South-West was put at 31, stretching 1,072.63km at a total cost of N365bn.

The total number of ongoing projects at the time this report was done by the FMW in September 2014 was 184, and the projects were meant to cover a cumulative length of 6,525.63km across the country at a total cost of N1.765tn.

We are owing banks –Contractors

Explaining why they abandoned the various sites where they work, Ogunbusola told one of our correspondents that the contractors had no fund to work with.

He said, “All federal roads awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works that have not been completed have been abandoned. They have not paid anybody anything, let alone improving our payments. That is why we are not on sites. Maybe by the time the President forms his cabinet, we will start getting payments. It could be possible that the President wants the ministers to handle the matter. We are owing a lot of banks, so how can we work when we are not paid? Virtually all contractors have to abandon project sites.

“It is not that we are protesting against government policies or its anti-corruption crusade, we are only waiting for our payments. As soon as contractors get their payments, you will see that infrastructural development will pick up. We are happy with this administration’s policies, but the truth is that we have not been paid and there is no way we can go back to site when we don’t have money to pay workers after the construction industry has already laid off close to 10,000 employees due to issues of funding.”

Many roads are less than 30 per cent completed –Investigation

Further findings showed that as at September last year, only seven federal road projects out of the 51 contracts awarded in 2013 had recorded up to 40 per cent completion. Many of the projects were far less than 30 per cent completed.

In fact, one of the projects, the construction of Jarmai Basha Road in Plateau State, was zero per cent complete even after it was awarded in 2013. Many others had similar stories as they were less than 10 per cent completed one year after they were awarded.

Major projects like the reconstruction and expansion of the two sections of the Lagos-Ibadan dual carriageway, which passes through Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, were only 11 and eight per cent completed, according to the ministry.

Also the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the two sections of the Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway in Abia State were just eight and 3.5 per cent completed after being awarded one year earlier.

These project sites and many others had been abandoned by contractors working on them due to paucity of funds from the Federal Government.

In the Federal Capital Territory, virtually all sites that used to have heavy construction work on them about four months ago have been abandoned.

For instance, contractors like Julius Berger, CCECC, Dantata & Sawoe, as well as many others had stopped work on project sites like the Lugbe-Airport road, the bridge linking Byazhim and Kubwa market, the major bridge linking the central business district with Nyanya, and many others in the FCT.

Ogunbusola further explained that although the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan gave out many contracts, it did not pay for most of the jobs, a development that had made many construction firms distressed.

some abandoned roads

When asked to state specifically the amount owed construction companies across the country, he replied, “It is over N600bn. I can mention over three companies that were owed over N200bn. The financial director of Julius Berger said at their AGM that they were being owed over N90bn. And out of the N90bn, over N70bn is owed by the Federal Government.

“MCC is owed over N70bn too, Setraco over N80bn. So all the companies are being owed. Even Dantata, they owe them and I will not tell you what I don’t know. How can you continue to owe all these companies? For over a year or two years now, we have never had it so bad! Because the payments are not coming, we don’t know what to do. We cannot carry placards.”

A senior official with one of the major construction firms confided in one of our correspondents that it was unfortunate that the government was faced with so much financial challenges.

He stressed that the sector would collapse if the government failed to pay the companies.

The official who pleaded not to be named, as he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said, “Over 10,000 workers have been retrenched as a result of this challenge. We are aware that the President is complaining, but the truth is that he has to sort out the issue in the construction sector if he doesn’t want this industry to collapse.

“We cannot go back to site, go back to do what when you have no money to work on projects? It is beyond begging us to return to work. They (government) have to show some seriousness, pay your contractors and work will commence on the projects.”

Ministry, contractors meet over abandoned projects

When contacted, officials of the FMW told one of our correspondents that the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kigbu, met with major contractors last month to discuss the challenges confronting the road sector.

The Director of Information, FMW, Mr. ‘Bisi Agbonhin, said the meeting considered the pressure on the national budget and the country’s dwindling revenue, adding that contractors resolved to maintain some level of presence at project sites to ensure good motorable roads.

Agbonhin said, “It was agreed that the FMW would swiftly resolve the outstanding issues in order to enable the contractors to execute the various projects they were handling.”

It said the meeting was attended by not less than 10 major contractors including Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, CCECC Nigeria Limited, Setraco Nigeria Limited, CGC Nigeria Limited, Gitto Construzioni General Nigeria Limited.

Contract debts linked with revenue decline

It was learnt that government’s failure to pay the contractors might not be unconnected with non-release of capital votes and the fall in the country’s revenues.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported on August 5 that the Federal Government had not released capital votes in the last 14 months.

The Presidency had told The PUNCH that capital votes would not be released until the government’s revenue generation improved.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had said that capital votes had not been released since the second quarter of 2014, meaning that in all, there had been no release of budgeted capital votes for 14 months.

Adesina said the implication was that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan did not release capital votes for three quarters while the present administration had not released for one quarter.

He was, however, hopeful that the present administration would release the capital votes of at least one quarter this month “once the nation’s revenue increases.”

The President’s spokesman said, “Since the second quarter of last year, capital votes have not been paid. This means that the outgone administration did not pay for three quarters.

“We are, however, hopeful that revenue normally goes up mid-year. If revenue goes up this month, the government will pay for at least one quarter.”

The 2015 budget is targeting a gross federally collectible revenue of N9.78trn to be shared by the three tiers of government.

The figure when spread over a 12-month period upon which the amount is to be generated, translates into a monthly revenue of N815bn or N2.44trn per quarter.

But figures obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance revealed that between January and May this year, the country has only been able to generate the sum of N1.74trn as gross revenue.

When the actual N1.74trn revenue is compared to the budgeted target of N4.07trn that should have been earned within the five months period, it translates into a revenue shortfall of 42.5 per cent or N2.3trn.

A breakdown of the actual revenue revealed that the sum of N416.04bn was generated in January, N401.46bn in February while the months of March, April and May had N315.04bn, N282.06bn and N324.96bn respectively.

Army frees 128 Boko Haram suspects

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday freed 128 suspected Boko Haram members arrested in different locations of Borno State.

Speaking during the release of the 128 persons to the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buaratai, said the detainees have been carefully screened by a joint intelligence cell, which includes the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS and representative of Borno State government.

He said the Nigerian Army has three major tasks in the fulfilment of its role in the counter insurgency war in the North-East. These, it said, include facilitating humanitarian support to all agencies involved in humanitarian activities, defeat of the insurgents and the restoration of administrative function of all the areas liberated.

He said, “To attest to the fact that the Nigerian Army is a right body, we preserve human rights in the course of our duty and also maintain dignity of the individuals. The human right has vindicated the Nigerian Army, as we protect the territorial integrity of the country and defend its citizens.”

Gen. Buratai said the President was giving them more support by supplying them with more equipment and more troops deployed to various parts of the North-East, so as to end the insurgency within the stipulated time given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While addressing the 128 freed Boko Haram suspects, Governor Kashim Shettima warned them to desist from engaging in unlawful activities He urged them to embark on legitimate business to sustain their livelihood and be fully integrated into the society as good citizens of the country.

He said, “Through the magnanimity and professionalism of the Nigerian Army, you have been released and will be fully integrated into the society. You should abstain yourselves from criminal activities, as the government is ready to empower you so that you will be good citizens that can bring development to the society.”

Also, the Nigerian Army on Wednesday in Damaturu, the capital of the troubled Yobe State, paraded 16 suspected Boko Haram members and their alleged collaborators.

Parading the suspects at the military base of the 27th Military Taskforce Brigade in Damaturu, the Acting Commander of the taskforce, Colonel Dahiru Bako said the suspects were arrested from different locations across the state.

Bako said some of the Boko Haram suspects were arrested shortly after carrying out an operation at the outskirts of Damaturu, where two villagers were killed. He said others were nabbed as collaborators and informants of the insurgents.

The collaborators, he said, were involved in the supply of logistics, such as foodstuff, fuel and cigarettes, among other intoxicants.

Items recovered from the suspects and their collaborators include 16 jerry cans of 25-litre Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), eight jerry cans of cooking oil, two bags of cannabis, among large quantities of assorted drugs.

Others things included 10 bags of rice, two bags of sugar, 12 bags of millet and six bags of potash as well as 12 bags of fertilizers which were believed to be used in the production of Improvised Explosive Devices.

Speaking to journalists, one of the released detainees, a 62-year-old Musa Ayuba, said he was excited as he would be finally going to be re-integrated with his family members. According to him, he has been in detention for almost two years.

He thanked the Army and the government for making them to regain their freedom. He promised to go back to their village to carry on with his farming activities.

The Nigerian Army had in July 2015 released 182 persons cleared of any link with the insurgency group.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that the Boko Haram insurgents lacked the capacity to retake towns under the control of the military.

Nigerians assess Buhari, Osinbajo after 100 days in office

Saturday marked the 100th day since President Muhammadu Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in the country.

We asked Nigerians on social media to assess his government with hashtag #PMB100days.

Seven die in Lagos fire incident

No fewer than seven people have died in a fire incident in Obele Lawanson Community, Surulere area of Lagos State.

The PUNCH learnt that only a six-year-old girl survived the fire accident.

She was said to have been rushed to the emergency ward of the Gbagada General Hospital, while the the remains of the other victims were deposited in a morgue.

The Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said the agency could not tell why the casualty figure was high, as the fire only affected some parts of the house.

Fadipe, who said the state’s fire service responded to 12 fire disasters over the night, explained that there was need for increased vigilance among residents.

“We are still at a loss over why the casualty was that high because the fire itself was not that severe. The kitchen was not affected, so nobody can explain why it was that serious. The survivor was rescued from the bathroom,” he said.

CBN urges state govts to maintain single account

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja advised state governments to adopt the Federal Government’s system of using a single account for all its revenue deposits.

Mr Kure Abubakar, Head, Client Services at the CBN, gave the advise while presenting a paper on “Understanding Treasury Single Account” at the close of a two day workshop on the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workshop, which began on Tuesday, was organised for government revenue generating Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He said the TSA, if adopted by states, could help them to get maximum benefits.

Abubakar, while answering questions from participants urged them to comply with the Federal Government’s directive and adhere to the September 15 deadline to avoid sanctions.

On the sidelines of the workshop, he told newsmen that some MDAs had complied and that if others failed to comply, they stood the risk of being sanctioned by the president.

Abubakar said, “There are sanctions and the directive says all erring MDAs will be penalised and that is enough because that is the type of political will we need.

“If you don’t comply the consequence is yours. I cannot say specific penalties but I believe the president has the authority to penalise either the Managing Director or Chief Executive of such MDA.

“So those that refuse to comply are on their own or they should show reason to the government why they cannot comply.”

He also said that MDAs that require a waiver could do so by making a presentation to the president stating why such should be granted.

Corruption ongoing under Buhari – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that corruption is ongoing under President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said despite the “holier than thou” posture of the present Federal Government, the opposition party has what it described as “incontrovertible evidence that grave corrupt practices are ongoing and allowed to fester by associates and cronies of government.”

The former ruling party listed these associates to include former and present governors of the All Progressives Congress and those who it said financed the Presidential campaign of the APC with “stolen state funds.”

The party said this has created a system that is neck deep in corruption, while the government hoodwinks unsuspecting public with propaganda.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, however, said the party was not averse to the fight against corruption.

He nevertheless said “the onus lies on the APC-led Federal Government to wage a credible holistic anti-corruption war by first purging itself of unclean association and coming out clear on sleazes already going on in government quarters since it took office in May.

“Whereas the PDP restates its respect for the person and office of the President as well as our support for the war against corruption, it is incumbent on us to alert Nigerians of the prevailing circumstances around this government that are capable of fundamentally undermining good governance if left unchecked.

“Charity, they say begins at home. For the APC-led Government, it has now become a question of ‘physician, heal thyself.’

“Every discerning mind knows that this administration is not executing a credible holistic war against corruption because it is a product of corruption, surrounded by corrupt persons; a factor apparently responsible for its obvious blind eyes to huge sleazes now being perpetrated in government agencies by persons claiming closeness to the President.”

He said it was indeed alarming that in so short a time, an administration that rode to power on claims of anti-corruption credentials had broken the records in constitutional violations and abuse of regulations, especially in its adamant stance to run a government without the statutory components of a full cabinet, thereby creating loopholes for APC’s interests to invade key government agencies for inflated concessions, allocations, jobs and other financial sleazes.

Metuh said, “How else can one explain the deliberate constitutional violations in the appointment of heads of financial handling federal agencies; such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Asset Management Cooperation of Nigeria without due process of ministerial consultations and legislative clearance, as the case may be?

“Is this a scheme to open up these key finance institutions for malpractices and turn them into cash cows for APC interests?

“This is in addition to ongoing maneuverings in the oil sector, where clandestine moves are on to award oil refining licenses to cronies without the due process of open bidding, as well as statutory guidelines and checks by the Department of Petroleum Resources.”

He called on Nigerians to note that the APC-led administration has not been forthcoming on how it has been depleting the funds it inherited in the Excess Crude Account and other government savings.

He, therefore, challenged the Buhari-led APC administration to show integrity and commitment in the fight against corruption by first cleaning its house and coming out clear on the numerous sleazes going on presently under its watch.

18 killed in Mali boat accident

At least 18 people were killed after a boat carrying over 100 passengers capsised Wednesday on a river in central Mali, local authorities said.

According to a statement issued by the Malian government, the accident occurred on Wednesday morning, but it did not say what caused the tragedy.

Local media said search and rescue operation were underway, adding that over 70 people had been rescued and the death toll is likely to rise.

Details of Buhari, Osinbajo assets declaration

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday made public details of their assets which they have declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

According a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President has about N30m in his only one bank account with Union Bank Plc, while the Vice President has a balance of N94m, $900,000 and 19,000 pounds.

According to Shehu’s statement, the President has shares in Berger Paints, Skye Bank and Union Bank and a total of seven houses, comprising two mud and a standard house in Daura, his hometown; two homes in Kaduna, one in Kano and one in Abuja.

But the statements did not disclose the worth of the landed property and other assets, which both the President and the Vice President had declared.

However, Shehu said the President had no oil well and foreign bank accounts.

He said the President had two plots of undeveloped land in Kano and Port Harcourt. The President has not been able to ascertain the location of the Port Harcourt land, according to the statement.

The President is also said to have declared that he had a number of cars, two of which he was said to have bought from his savings and the others supplied to him by the Federal Government in his capacity as former Head of State.

“The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in a Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July, 2014,” the statement added.

He is said to have an orchard and a ranch in Daura with 270 heads of cattle 25 sheep, five horses a variety of birds and a number of economic trees in them.

For the Vice President, Shehu said the Senior Advocate of Nigeria declared a four-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City in Lagos, three-bedroom flat in Ikoyi, Lagos, two bedroom flat at Redemption Camp, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, two-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England.

He is said to operating his SimmonsCooper Law firm, which is based in Lagos, and has  shares in MTN Nigeria, Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd.,  Aviva Ltd., all of which are based in Lagos.

Osinbajo is also said to have one Infinity 4-Wheel Drive SUV, one Mercedes Benz and a Prado Jeep.

Shehu’s statement read in part, “The documents submitted to the CCB, which officials say are still being vetted and will soon be made public, show that prior to being sworn in on May 29, President Buhari had less than N30m to his name.  He also had only one bank account, with the Union Bank. President Buhari had no foreign account, no factory and no enterprises.  He also had no registered company and no oil wells.

“The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) who had been a successful lawyer before his foray into politics declared a bank balance of about N94 million and 900,000 United States Dollars in his bank accounts.

“President Buhari declared however that he had shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye Bank.”

The documents also revealed that Buhari had a total of five  homes, and two mud houses in Daura.  He had two homes in Kaduna, one each in Kano, Daura and in Abuja.

One of the mud houses in Daura was inherited from his late older sister, another from his late father.  He borrowed money from the old Barclays Bank to build two of his homes.

The President also has two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt.  He is still trying to trace the location of the Port Harcourt land.

In addition to the homes in Daura, he has farms, an orchard and a ranch. The total number of his holdings in the farm include 270 heads of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees.

“The documents also showed that the retired General uses a number of cars, two of which he bought from his savings and the others supplied to him by the Federal Government in his capacity as former Head of State.  The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in a Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July 2014.

“As revealed by the same forms, highlights of the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s asset declaration include his 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos and a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi.

The Vice President also has a 2-bedroom flat at the popular Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and a 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England. Aside from these, the Vice President has no other landed properties on the form.

“Apart from his law firm, known as SimmonsCooper, the Vice-President also declared shareholding in six private companies based in Lagos, including Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd., Aviva Ltd. and MTN Nigeria.

“According to details shown on the form, the Vice-President has about N90m, $900,000 and 19,000 pounds in Nigerian Banks with the foreign currencies kept in local domiciliary accounts. His personal vehicles are one Infinity 4-Wheel Drive SUV, one Mercedes Benz and a Prado Jeep.”

Nigerians Will Soon See The Change I Promised – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigerians will soon see the fulfilment of his election campaign promises.

He spoke on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving university students.

The president assured Nigerian youth that his government’s anti-corruption campaign would secure their future.

In an address to members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who marched to the presidential villa to pledge their full support for his anti-corruption campaign, President Buhari promised that he will do his best to place Nigeria well on the way to becoming the nation of their dreams.

“Everything you have asked for are the things that will make for a good country, and what we are after is a good country, a country where our youths can have a future and a hope,” the president said.

“We are totally committed to building a country where our youths can realize their full potential.

“You can be assured that your welfare and well-being are topmost in our minds and very soon you will see the things we have promised come to fruition.

“During the campaigns, change was our slogan, but today it is no longer a mere slogan, it is now a reality and we will see it in every facet of our lives.

“The youth will feel it, the adults will feel it and old people will feel it and we will get the country of our dreams,’’ the president, who was represented by his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity), Femi Adesina, said.

Mr. Adesina later received a document addressed to President Buhari from the NANS President, Tijani Usman Shehu, and promised that the president will look into their requests.

In his remarks, Mr. Shehu said the students were united against corruption, cybercrime, prostitution, human trafficking, drug abuse and other anti-social vices.

“Nigerian students demand that our future must be secured and we strongly believe in the President’s zero tolerance for corruption,’’ he said.

Oyo Recorded 277 Deaths From 260 Road Accidents In 7 Months, Says FRSC

OYO State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Yusuf Salami, on Tuesday, said it recorded 277 deaths, 1,126 injured persons in 260 road crashes in the state from January to July.

Salami made this known while briefing members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on ways to reduce road accidents in the state. He bemoaned human negligence ranging from overloading to non-use of helmet by motorcycle riders, irregular vehicle maintenance and check-up, drunk driving, non-adherence to traffic rules, as constituting 80 per cent of the carnage. In particular, he identified the Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin and Lagos-Ibadan expressway as places where many of the accidents occurred.

Salami, who decried the non-existence of a trailer park in Oyo State, also advocated improved emergency response through the establishment of roadside clinics at strategic locations across the state. While calling for further enlightenment of drivers and motorists alike in the media, he noted the need for enhanced enforcement and implementation of statutory legal measures by the relevant agencies.

Gov. Fayose Pardons Ekiti Civil Servants Caught For Lateness To Work

Remember the pics of Ekiti state workers begging on their knees that went viral?

Well, Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has pardoned the 31 civil servants who resumed late to work that day.

According to Punch, the governor announced this at a meeting with public servants in Ado Ekiti

“I am begging workers to get to work on time.

If we are paying salaries on time, then civil servants must also reciprocate by coming to work on time.

Also, people must be ready to pay rates, taxes and levies.

If civil servants are paying taxes, others should pay as well.

Our IGR must improve.” he said at the meeting today…

Founder Of Oduduwa University, Prof. Ramon, Nominated As The New Ooni Of Ife

The Adesogba family, an arm of the Giesi ruling house of Ile Ife, has backed the candidacy of a renowned educationist and businessman, Dr. Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin, for the Ooni throne.

The family, in a statement issued in Ile-Ife yesterday, declared Adedoyin, proprietor of Oduduwa University Ipetumodu, The Polytechnic Ife, Hilton Hotels and other business concerns, as its sole candidate for the exalted stool. It became vacant following the demise of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II on July 28, this year.

The statement, jointly signed by eight princes and two princesses on behalf of the family, said Adedoyin, who hails from the Agbedegbede lineage of the dynasty was eminently qualified to succeed Oba Sijuwade by virtue of his pedigree, stature, investments, philanthropic activities and immense contributions to the human, physical and industrial development of the town.

They listed the aspirant’s investments as including First Access Microfinance Bank Ltd; Hilton Hotels; Odududwa University and The Polytechnic, Ife – all located within the four local governments areas of Ifeland – as well as Oduduwa Polytechnic, Idimu, Lagos State and Our Saviour’s University, Delaware, USA.

Adedoyin, they said, was “a bonafide son of the Agbedegbede compound, where he has been involved in all developmental projects” and possessed the knowledge and skills as an astute and effective manager of men and resources needed to make a success of the office of the Ooni.

The signatories to the statement are: Princess Kehinde Sijuwade Elugbaju (Nee Adewole); Princess Adekanmi Adelugba; Princeess Olufunmilayo Busayo; Princess Adedokun Adedoyin; Prince Gabriel Adedire Adewole.

Others include: Prince Adebolu Adewole; Prince Adekola Adewole; Prince Adekunmi Adewole and Prince Tilewa Bimbo Adewole.

- See more at: http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/08/28/founder-of-oduduwa-university-prof-ramon-nominated-as-the-new-ooni-of-ife/#sthash.UkR9St5E.dpuf