Igbos Should Follow The Right Channel To Get To Buhari

Igbos Should Follow The Right Channel To Get To Buhari

Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a former governor of Anambra State under the platform of the PDP, is now a member of the ruling APC. In this interview with Vanguard, he spoke on number of issues ranging from the party, Ndigbo, President Buhari’s administration, APC, etc. His words:

President Buhari does not by any means hate Ndigbo. As for appointments, yes, some Igbos across the Niger are complaining, but it is still too early.
The President has just made few appointments. We should exercise patience and give him time before attacking him. Even former President Jonathan whom Igbo gave almost all their votes, what did Igbo get from Jonathan? Nothing! Is it 2nd Niger Bridge or Onitsha to Enugu to Abia to Port-Harcourt roads, indeed nothing?

On the performance of his former party, PDP in the last elections?
PDP has been the party on the ground for about 16 years but its performance all these years cannot be said to be satisfactory. For me, the issue of performance is not necessarily the number of years each party has been in existence. PDP was a party destined to save Nigeria’s democracy but it failed. PDP became a party of the past not a party of today and tomorrow.

And because nature abhors vacuum, the PDP was no longer able to take care of its members, APC now fills the space.

Over the period, PDP turned to something else, it became a party of “use and dump” according to its former National Chairman, with many victims, including my humble self.

Do you believe the APC can wrest power from PDP in the South-East?
It is very easy. I believe there is no question about APC taking over power in the zone. In the last election there was little or no planning by APC in Anambra State that was why we lost. The leaders were more mindful of money, how much was brought from Lagos and Abuja and how much was shared.

There was no proper engagement and party members were running up and down chasing the money bags to no avail. But this will not happen next time around. By the time of another election, PDP will still be in shambles.

On the party leadership
In APC both Tinubu and Buhari are leaders in their own rank. Even in the PDP arrangement it is the President that they usually regard as leader of the party. This has become a convention. In the case of APC, there are four regional parties, namely CPC, ACN, ANPP and APGA that had functioned independently and each of these parties had its party leader and that was how the issue of one party “Leader” came up. It was not wrong for people to refer to Tinubu as leader in a limited party situation.

The over-all party leader of APC today is President Mohammadu Buhari and he is known politically in Nigeria as leader of APC. National President and National Leader are about the same in appellation.

Boko Haram Massacre: Who Is Now Leading These Killings?

Boko Haram Massacre: Who Is Now Leading These Killings?

Claims that Nigeria's Boko Haram has been "decapitated" have been spectacularly rebuffed by the jihadists’ leader, yet his first broadcast in months may not see off an impending mutiny, say analysts.

Abubakar Shekau released an eight-minute audio recording on - his first since March - denying claims by Idriss Deby that he had been replaced, and dismissing the president as a "hypocrite" and a "tyrant".

The tirade was a reaction to President Deby of Chad telling reporters last week that Boko Haram was no longer led by the fearsome Shekau and that his successor, whom he named as "Mahamat Daoud", was open to talks with the government.

According to AFP, security analysts accept the Shekau recording as genuine and many experienced observers are taking Deby's claims with scepticism, pointing out that similar reports have proven untrue in the past.

But Ryan Cummings, chief security analyst at South African consultancy Red 24 and an expert on the Nigerian insurgency, described the Chadian head-of-state's claims as “not without merit”.

Cummings believes Boko Haram may be an umbrella movement comprising many disparate factions rather than a monolithic organisation and says internal rivalries “would by no means be a new development for the sect”.

He points to the formation of Ansaru, a splinter group formed in 2012 on the back of ideological differences and a leadership struggle between Shekau and a high-ranking Boko Haram commander known as Khalid al-Barnawi.

“So this does highlight that a precedent for leadership squabbles and factionalism does exist within the Boko Haram entity,” Cummings told AFP.

Boko Haram has been waging a six-year uprising against the Nigerian state, claiming more than 15,000 lives, but the jihadists’ recent extension of their northeastern insurgency across borders has brought Chad and its neighbours into the fray.

In March, Shekau pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, renaming his organisation “Islamic State West Africa Province”, or “ISWAP”.

Deby's speech on the group's decapitation made headlines around the world, but shed little light on Shekau’s putative replacement, an apparently new player in global jihad who was virtually unknown before last week.

Nigerian security analyst Fulan Nasrullah, one of the country's most respected Boko Haram watchers, argues in a blog post for the London-based Royal African Society that the “Mahamat Daoud” to whom Deby referred is actually Muhammad Daud, a Shuwa Arab from Borno State, the cradle of the insurgency.

Daud, aged around 38, is an ex-serviceman and protégée of slain Boko Haram founder Muhammad Yusuf, who disagrees with the 2009 uprising and is “one of the few top dogs against the pledge of allegiance made to Islamic State”, Nasrullah says.

The militant, who has a Chadian mother, is a powerful commander in charge of counter-intelligence and internal security who oversaw the training of suicide bombers and the planning of attacks in major cities, according to the analyst.

Nasrullah says Daud has broken away from ISWAP with hundreds of fighters, including commanders who are against the IS pledge and disagree with Shekau's “extreme brutality”.

Two months ago, he says, they retook Boko Haram’s preferred pre-pledge name “Jama'atu Ahlil Sunnah lidda'awati Wal Jihad”, or “Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad”.

“They have declared Shekau a rebel against the teaching of Muhammad Yusuf, an apostate, a deviant and a religious hypocrite,” Nasrullah writes.

Daud, he says, has approached the government to form an alliance to wipe out Shekau’s IS franchise in return for an autonomous state in the northeast ruled by Islamic sharia law.

Crucially, Daud would go into any negotiations with Abuja in possession of key secrets about Boko Haram’s fundraising, inner structure and even possibly intelligence on how to track down and kill Shekau.

Boko Haram’s leader, according to Nasrullah, is now likely to be in the “rifle sights” of the breakaway Daud, whose “hatred of Shekau may very well surpass his hatred for the Nigerian state”.

Super Rich Civil Servants Selling Their Homes For Fear Of Buhari

Super Rich Civil Servants Selling Their Homes For Fear Of Buhari

These are not comfortable times for some ‘super rich’ civil servants as they are said to be rushing to sell their choice houses and state-of-the-art automobiles in order to avoid losing the properties to the no-nonsense anti-corruption war that President Muhammadu Buhari is about to start from Abuja.

Already, the ICPC has reportedly confiscated some buildings said to have been owned by public servants whose earnings are said not to support ownership of such big houses.

For fear of Buhari, some corrupt big civil servants have been bombarding estate agents in Abuja in order to aid the quick sale of their houses...

According to Punch, financially buoyant buyers were said to have started cashing in on the development.

It was gathered that the sale of properties in Abuja since the new administration came on board had increased by about 30 per cent. In fact, it was learnt that property sales in the FCT increased “tremendously” within the past four weeks, in contrast to the lull that characterised the sector from January to May this year.

“The probe has created panic. People now consult us, requesting our assistance in helping them sell their properties. Of course, they won’t say they are trying to avoid probe, but most of us know that that is what they are avoiding,” an agent and member of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, who pleaded not to be identified, said.

Ex-sgf Anyim Deceived Jonathan To Sign Fraudulent Multibillion Centenary Deal In Abuja

Ex-sgf Anyim Deceived Jonathan To Sign Fraudulent Multibillion Centenary Deal In Abuja

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim unilaterally acquired the multi-billion-dollar Centenary City on the Airport Road, Abuja, a PDP chief has alleged.

PDP’s National Vice Chairman (South-South zone) Dr. Cairo Ojougboh said he is ready to face the ex-SGF in court to prove his sole ownership of the controversial housing estate.

At a media briefing in his Abuja home late Monday, Ojougboh, reacting to what he described as “the show of shame”, which he said Anyim sponsored against him on Monday, accused the former SGF of acts of desperation “to cling onto his loot and spoils of office without putting into consideration the millions of Nigerians he is depriving of the dividends of democracy”.

Calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to

probe transactions relating to the Centenary City, Ojougboh said Anyim persuaded former President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the Centenary City documents without the ex-president reading the contents or consulting his advisers.

The Centenary City project is sitting on a land area covering over 1,500 hectares, the size of three districts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The PDP chieftain has petitioned President Buhari, stating the facts relating to the transaction and the role played by Anyim in what he described as “a scam” perpetrated by a United Arab Emirates company, allegedly operating as a front for Anyim.

Ojougboh said: “Yes, the former president signed the papers as presented to him by the former SGF. He was not properly briefed because of vested interests.

“I can defend him; he was not part of the fraud. If Jonathan had been properly briefed, he would not have approved the project, let alone going to perform the ground breaking.

“The former President thought that the Centenary City was for the good of all Nigerians because of the centenary spirit. Unknown to him, it was the private project of the former SGF and his cohorts.

“I am calling on President Buhari now to revisit the centenary city project and he will be shocked that the project is owned by a private individual, but procured with government funds”.

According to Ojougboh, the original landlords demanded compensation from the Federal Government, “but the sponsors of the project used a private firm to pay them N1.2 billion. He asked: Where did they source that money from?”

He continued: “How can an individual still serving in the government get such a huge sum to pay compensation without government knowledge?”.

Ojougboh alleged that the money was paid into a private company’s account.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari should direct the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, the Directorate of Military Intelligence as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look into the matter.

“The President must insist that each of these security agencies should carryout independent investigations so that the depth of the matter would be reached. I am available to offer the much I know from my independent quests on the matter”.

Ojougboh, a medical doctor, insisted that the project was a scheme used to defraud the Federal Government in taxes, stressing that the Free Zone status given to the multi-district estate was a fraud.

Ojougboh also quoted Anyim as saying that the project was worth $4 billion, adding that the process violated the rules guiding the granting of free trade zone status by the Nigerian Export Processing Zonal Authority (NEPZA).

The PDP chieftain, who was chairman of the board of NEPZA during the project’s conception, said the board did not approve a free trade zone status for it.

“I can categorically attest to the fact emphatically and unequivocally, that the board did not approve the grant of the status of free trade zone to centenary city.

“Centenary city cannot be a free zone because it is purely a residential estate within the confinement of the Federal Capital Territory and it is implicit that those who live in the free trade zone will require re-entry visa for ingress and egress.

“I make bold to say that the Federal Government has no equity in the Centenary City project and that Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is the sole owner of the 3000 acres of land owned by the Centenary City, Abuja.

“This is against the tenets and spirit of the Public Service rules for a public servant to own such a business whilst in government,” Ojougboh said.

The party chieftain stated that his attention was first drawn to the scam by the Anti-Corruption Network, and that he had voiced his opposition to the anomaly.

“It was meant to give import duty to the owners through the back door. The consequence was to rob Nigerian masses of their land, revenue and retard the industrial growth of the nation.

“Therefore, for every one job the project creates today, it robs the nation of over 10 jobs in taxes and industrial development”. Ojougboh stated.

Ojougboh raised some questions for Anyim:

Does the law establishing the FCT allow for a free zone? Is it in the Abuja mater plan?

How did Pius Anyim obtain the N1.2 billion resettlement fees?

In whose custody is the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of the Centenary City?

Anyim’s media aide, Mr. Sam Nwaobosi, declined comments because, according to him, the matter is in court. In a telephone conversation with reporters in Abuja yesterday, Nwaobosi said Anyim would not take up issues with Ojougboh.

Said he: “Senator Anyim has gone to court to sue him for defamation on the previous press conference and interviews that he granted in which he accused Anyim of almost all these things you said he is saying now.

“So, the matter is already in court and Senator Anyim does not wish to take up issues with him on matters that are already in court.

“Since he feels aggrieved by what Cairo (Ojougboh) has been saying and writing against him, he is pursuing a very civilised cause by going to court to plead his case.

"So whatever Ojougboh is saying, he will have an opportunity in court to explain and then plead his case."

Court Dissolves Ekiti PDP Chairman’s 28-year-old Marriage

Court Dissolves Ekiti PDP Chairman’s 28-year-old Marriage

An Ado Ekiti Customary Court on Monday has dissolved the marriage of the Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Chief Idowu Faleye, and his wife of 28 years, Olajumoke.

The union was blessed with two children; Toyin, 27 and Dupe, 24.

Delivering judgment in the suit filed by Faleye, the President of the court, Joseph Ogunsemi, held that the union had collapsed beyond reconciliation.

He held that the evidence by Faleye was unchallenged and incontrovertible as the respondent did not
appear in court to give contrary evidence. He said:

‘This court has no option than to grant the request for dissolution as sought by Faleye.”

He added that Olajumoke had 21 days to appeal the judgment.

Faleye (62) had dragged Olajumoke (52) to court, accusing her of being aggressive and unpredictable. Punch reports that he had said:

“I don’t love the respondent anymore, I only appreciate my children and I don’t see any resolution in the union.”

The PDP chief told the court that upon dissolution of the union, he would allow the respondent to remain in his house for six months after which she would leave the house.

Youth Corper Arrested For Armed Robbery While On Nysc Uniform

Youth Corper Arrested For Armed Robbery While On Nysc Uniform

A male NYSC member serving in Gboko LGA has been arrested after he allegedly waylay-ed a woman at GRA On 13th August, 2015 at about 07:00pm and dispossessed her of her car, Mobile phones and monies. The suspect was on full NYSC uniform at the time of the robbery,

The robbed woman called Police and reported that she was intercepted by a lone-gun man at the gate to her house as she was about driving in. That the said gun man forcefully snatched her Honda Accord (EOD, reg no. withheld), huge sum of money and two mobile phones.

All Police units were alerted, one of the Safer Highway Patrol teams also mobilized to go after the hoodlum and they intercepted the car at Akpagher village and one Babatunde Asemoyebun 'm' a Corper attached to Gboko LGA was found to be driving the vehicle and was promptly arrested. One black toy gun, victim's mobile phones, cash stolen from victim, head mask and NYSC ID card were recovered from the suspect.

Victim identified the suspect as the attacker, arrested suspect claim that he is a one man-squad. State CIID Makurdi is investigating.

Customs Boss 'dikko' Resigns In A Bid To Avoid Sack By 'buhari

Customs Boss 'dikko' Resigns In A Bid To Avoid Sack By 'buhari

The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Dikko Abdullahi, has resigned before president Buhari fires him.Dikko took over as the customs boss in 2009.Speaking to pressmen after his meting with the president, he said

The time I’m leaving is the time I feel those young ones that have developed the software can come up and manage the software. So that is basically the reason and I’m sending out this signal to all those who have stayed put. ”Don’t stay until you are asked you to go. When you feel you have done so much and you believe in the system you have built, then why do you stay? Why don’t you be an umpire? Leave, be by the side and watch and advise”.

Customs Boss 'dikko' Resigns In A Bid To Avoid Sack By 'buhari

Buhari May Forgive Any Looter Who Return Our Stolen Money

Buhari May Forgive Any Looter Who Return Our Stolen Money

The loot recovery efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari may soon take a new dimension as there are strong indications that he could grant amnesty to treasury looters to encourage them return stolen billions kept abroad and in Nigeria, rather than spending money and years to prosecute them.

A credible source told National Mirror that Buhari might opt for amnesty option to fast track the recovery of looted funds to enable him fulfill his campaign promises, which will involve trillions of naira.

The amnesty option would serve as the soft side of the looted money recovery strategy otherwise referred to as a “carrot and stick approach.”

While the carrot approach will be for soft looters, who may be willing to return their loot to the government treasury without arrest and charges, the stick stance would be for hardened ones who, may head to court to protect their ill-gotten wealth.

A close associate of President Buhari, who did not want his name mentioned, said different interest groups had prevailed on the president to consider amnesty to enable looters return money without arrest.

“Some interest groups are suggesting that President Buhari should not only rely on prosecution/trial of looters, but should use carrot and stick approach for him to succeed in his anticorruption campaign.

“Amnesty for looters may fast track the recovery of our national wealth being cornered by some few selfish Nigerians. The idea is that, with the amnesty, many looters will quietly return their stolen funds direct or indirectly to the federal government treasury. I can tell you that President Buhari has no money to implement the APC campaign promises to Nigerians.

“The only option now is for looters to return their stolen money. Crude oil has dropped at international market, so where will APC government get funds to fulfill its campaign promises? Many programmes that will change the fortunes of this country are on line but no money to implement.

“You know, many of the looters have money and they can hire best lawyers to defend them in courts and it may take time before any meaningful progress, but with amnesty in place too, many of them will return the money. President Buhari is looking into amnesty for looters too,” the source said.

Amaechi Has Been Vindicated Of Corruption Allegations

Amaechi Has Been Vindicated Of Corruption Allegations

...Rivers APC Berates Wike over failed attempt to demonise his Ex-Boss
Former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has been vindicated in the corruption allegation levelled against him by his successor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Sunday.

Rivers APC noted in a statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, that the allegations, which it dismissed as spurious, have been successfully refuted by Amaechi through past Rivers State Government functionaries who served under him.

“Immediate past Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyi, and the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari did not only dismiss the allegations as a figment of the imagination of Wike and his cohorts but also provided concrete proof that Amaechi ran the affairs of Rivers State using transparent financial procedures that cannot be faulted by any well-meaning person or organisation,”

Rivers APC said in the statement issued in the State Capital, Port Harcourt.


“As Messrs Feyi and Peterside made clear in their letter to President Buhari, these fabricated allegations against Amaechi, sponsored by Chief Wike and spread through the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and such amorphous groups as The Integrity Group are borne out of malice, with the sole aim to malign the integrity of Amaechi and his administration so as to poison President Buhari’s mind and discourage him from appointing Amaechi into his cabinet,” Rivers APC said.

The party said that with the refutation of the satanic allegations by Messrs Feyi and Peterside, it is now very clear to both President Buhari and Nigerians that Amaechi is just one of our few leaders that ran a corruption-free and transparent administration during his tenure as the Governor of Rivers State.

“Thus, Chief Wike has failed woefully in his desperate bid to tarnish the good image of Amaechi. Surely, President Buhari cannot be deceived by the antics of Wike and his cohorts seeking to stop him from making Amaechi part of his administration in recognition of his well-known managerial acumen and the role he played as Director General of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation in mobilising Nigerians to cast their ballots for the APC Presidential Candidate during the March 28 presidential polls,” Rivers APC said.

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
SSA on Media and Public Affairs to the
State Chairman, APC Rivers State.

Stop Begging Me, All Big Thieves Must Face The Law – Buhari

Stop Begging Me, All Big Thieves Must Face The Law – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that no amount of pressure would make him give up the war against corruption in the country.

“I believe it is time for Nigeria to change course. That is why I sought election as President and got elected. As President, I am determined that Nigeria must move away from a course of endemic corruption that was leading us to perdition.
“There can be no question of our willfully allowing anyone to get away with corruption. No matter the pressure and entreaties, the anti-corruption war will continue and all accused persons will have their day in court.”

In an address to a group of Nigerians who marched to the Presidential Villa to pledge their full support for his administration’s anti-corruption campaign, President Buhari promised a relentless prosecution of the war against corruption, with due regard for the rule of law.

The President said all persons charged with stealing the nation’s resources will have their day in court and that, upon conviction, their ill-gotten wealth would be seized and returned to government coffers.

The Nigerians Against Corruption group led by Aisha Yesufu had condemned recent statements by some very respected individuals against the President’s anti-corruption campaign.

They assured Buhari that majority of ordinary Nigerians are fully in support of his anti-corruption stand.

Fg To Recruit 10,000 Policemen

Fg To Recruit 10,000 Policemen

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday unveiled Federal Government’s plans to recruit 10,000 policemen 2 years after the last recruitment by the Nigeria Police Force.

President Buhari, who spoke at the National Security Summit on Community Partnership Approach to Internal Security and Crime Management, organised by the police in Abuja, said the government will also establish a well-trained and equipped anti-terrorism and multi-agency based task force to address the challenges of insurgency in a sustainable manner.


President Buhari also said that efforts were being made to enhance the operational capacity of officers of the Nigeria Police Force through a training programme targeted at giving them the right civil orientation in performing their roles as guardians of the Constitution.

At the summit, the President stated that the government was already considering the expansion of the Closed Circuit Television across major cities and towns in the country.

He said:

“It is in acknowledgement of this that I have identified youth empowerment as one of the cardinal objectives of our administration; in furtherance to this, the Federal Government is planning to employ at least an extra 10, 000 police officers and establish a properly trained and equipped federal anti-terrorism multi-agency task force that will effectively address the challenge of future insurgency in a sustainable manner.
“In the meantime, efforts are being made to enhance the operational capacity of officers of the Nigeria Police through a tailor made training programme that will give them the right civil orientation in their roles as guardians of the constitution. “In order to further strengthen security of the public space, consideration is being given to the expansion of the CCTV monitoring system across major cities and towns in the country, while the police accountability mechanism will be strengthened.”


In appreciation of the strategic roles of the citizens and the community in modern policing, the President stated that his administration will encourage states to look at state-level community police interaction.

He commended the police leadership for dismantling roadblocks and deploying policemen in the highway to protect Nigerians. The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, called for funding of the Nigeria Police to ensure operational efficiency, stressing that it was only through adequate funding that the huge logistic demand of the police could be met. Arase noted that modern policing was a cost-intensive venture, which he said the benefits far outweighed the value of budgetary investment.
“Through effective funding, the welfare needs of police personnel will be met and the challenge of corruption that has eroded professionalism and public respect for police will be addressed,” he said.

He called for the resuscitation and passage of the Bill on Police Trust Fund pending before the National Assembly to enhance public-police partnership. The bill seeks to tax corporate entities to complement the Federal Government in funding the police.

Arase maintained that if the bill was passed into law, the funding challenges of the police would be addressed on a sustainable basis. He said that the security challenges in the country and inadequate manpower would be best addressed through citizens-driven policing model.

If Igbos Are Butchered Again,nigeria Will Break-fani Kayode Warns

If Igbos Are Butchered Again,nigeria Will Break-fani Kayode Warns

Chief Femi Fani- Kayode on Monday berated the Convener of the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, describing his comments that President Muhammadu Buhari owes Igbos nothing as most most insensitive, cruel and Puerile.
Responding to comments credited to Junaid, Fani- Kayode in a message to Vanguard noted that his statements that If the igbo feel marginalised they should attempt to break away again, was most uncharitable and careless, warning that if there was any attempt to butcher the Ibos or a repeat of what happened in 1966, it would be resisted by not only the Ibos, but by all Nigerians, with attempt to secede, which according to him, would be successful.

According to him, the like of Junaid must learn from history, our mistakes, preach peace and peaceful coexistence, rather that boast and beat our chests for yet another round of war. Fani- Kayode reacting to a statement titled, ” If the igbo feel marginalised they should attempt to break away again”- Dr. Junaid Mohammed, The Punch Newspaper, 17th August 2015, said, “Given the immense suffering that the igbo were subjected to both before, during and after the civil war this is one of most insensitive, cruel and puerile comments that I have heard in recent times.


“I daresay that if Junaid Mohammed’s Nigeria ever butchers over 100,000 innocent igbo civilians again, as they did in the north in 1966 just before the civil war, there will indeed be another attempt to secede, but this time it will not only be successful, but they will also take many others with them.
“Rather than boast and beat our chests, we must learn from our history and we must never repeat its mistakes.” Dr. Junaid Mohammed, had in an interview in one of the national dailiies dismissed the sentiments shared by a former Governor of Anambra State that the Igbo have not been treated fairly in the governance of Nigeria.
Junaid who noted that people of the Igbo nation have enjoyed favourable treatment, said it was wrong to reward the Igbo simply on the basis of the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted between 1967 and 1970.

Mohammed had said,

“If it is about Buhari making the appointments based on merit, I have no problems with it. I don’t believe Buhari or Nigeria owes any Igbo anything. I don’t care what Ezeife says; if they had seceded, there would have been no Nigeria today. As people who acted outside the interest of Nigeria as a country, to expect compensation is a very odd logic.
“If the Igbo don’t like it, they can attempt secession again. If they do, they must be prepared to live with the consequences. Nobody owes them anything and nobody is out to compensate them for anything.”

Man Who Strangled 3yr Old Stepsister Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

Man Who Strangled 3yr Old Stepsister Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

A western Ohio man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for strangling his 3-year-old stepsister. Brian Scales, who turned 22 on Sunday, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, aggravated murder and child endangering in the death of Tristan Carlton in February.

The toddler's mother told police she found Carlton unresponsive after coming home from shopping. Medics attempted to revive the girl but were unsuccessful.

Insas Scales told her son at sentencing that she still loved him but "it was the devil that took ahold of you" the day Carlton died.

Brian Scales said it was a mistake what happened, but his mother told him "you don't mistakenly murder somebody."

Why Ambode Is Yet To Set-up His Cabinet - Lawmaker

The lawmaker representing Epe Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Tobun Abiodun, in this interview denies that the House was embarking on too many recesses.

Why Ambode Is Yet To Set-up His Cabinet - Lawmaker

Honourable Tobun Abiodun

He also explains why Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos is yet to form his cabinet.

Excerpts:

Q: Members of the Lagos Assembly are on recess and some people think it is becoming one too many since you have not done much since the beginning of the 8th Assembly. What can you say about this perception?

I think it is wrong; we did not go on recess before now, we only went on break for the festive period and we came back. So, the perception of the people is wrong.

The constitution allows us to regulate our activities and that we must attend sittings 180 times in a year. I don’t think we have come short of expectation.

We have moved so many motions on the floor of the House that would help Lagos State and its residents since we resumed. We are expected to perform oversight functions on the ministries, but the cabinet has not been constituted. We have started working on some and bills such as comprehensive environmental laws.

READ ALSO: Read How Ambode Is Battling Fraud In Lagos State

I came to attend a meeting of an ad-hoc committee now. We are on recess, but that does not mean we are permanently on leave. A lot of our members are here attending to one committee duty or the other. I have been around since morning attending one committee meeting or the other.

I just finished a meeting with the ad-hoc committee on illegal dredging reclamation and mining in Lagos State, which is causing environmental degradation in the state.

These people that are complaining are not inside and they may not see clearly the way we are seeing it, but we know we are putting in our best to serve our people. I have not eaten or drunk water since morning. I want to tell you that the 8th Assembly has started on a good note and we will continue to do our best.

Q: President Muhammadu Buhari has set up an anti-corruption committee headed by Professor Itse Sagay. Do you see this as necessary when we have the EFCC and the ICPC that should probe corrupt people in the society?

We have EFCC and ICPC. A former chairman of the EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu said recently that he was used by some people during his tenure of office.

Who knows if the people there now are being used by some people? So, it is imperative on President Muhammadu Buhari to look at the best way he can handle issues for the betterment of this great country.

Professor Itse Sagay is a credible person and someone with integrity; he is not there as a permanent solution, but let them go and review the activities of past public officers in the country and make suggestions to the President on how he can fight corruption in the country.

Maybe they are going to recommend something we can work on. If the committee recommends some measures and sends in a report that would reduce corruption to the barest minimum, the credit would go to the committee and this would help the President to make a bold decision on corruption.

Let us allow them to do their work; it is a government of four years and we have not spent three months in office.

Q: Recently, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) had issues with some organisations and religious bodies. The agency said recently that some of its staff were attacked so much so that some of them went blind. What is your reaction to this?

There is a law in place that prohibits noise pollution. Despite the fact that you are free and you enjoy some measure of freedom, you must not use your freedom to injure others.

That is why there is government. The government says that noise pollution is inimical to our hearing and thinking faculty. There is environmental law in place and there is a resolution on it in place.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has just passed a resolution giving LASEPA power to enforce the regulations on noise pollution.

If by one way or the other, some government officials, in the cause of enforcing that regulation were attacked, it is the duty of the agency to ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to book and charged to court for assault and for disturbing people from performing their lawful duties.

If they are found guilty, they should jail or fine them. If it is a church or mosque, close it down; I don’t subscribe to anybody attacking government officials in the cause of discharging their duties.

Q: Two months into the government of Governor Ambode, he is yet to appoint commissioners…




Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state

Appointing commissioners to work with him would not be the solution to our problem. He would appoint commissioners when he feels it is necessary.

Technocrats are in place, the commissioner is just an individual, he would come to work with the technocrats. If the governor feels he should continue to work with the technocrats for the main time to enable him streamline his projects, this is not bad.

Three or five months from 48 months is not too much. So, there is still a lot of time for the commissioners to work. Those, who are clamouring for commissioners are those who are clamouring for positions. How many states in the country have appointed commissioners?

Let them give him time, what he is doing is re-organisation, he wants to take charge of governance the way he feels he can do it better. Let us allow him, let us give him a space.

Are you saying the governor is waiting for the President to appoint ministers before he appoints commissioners?

I won’t say that. I don’t know what has delayed him; what I know is that we should give him time to plan himself on how best to run the state.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So we should allow him to plan. Presently, there is re-deployment of permanent secretaries across the ministries and agencies in the state.

By doing that, he has succeeded in changing people rather than allowing someone to be the permanent secretary of a ministry or an agency for more than a decade. The permanent secretaries recently had a retreat. He is trying to see how best to use the technocrats to stabilise the state.

READ ALSO: Alleged Witch-hunting: Anti-Corruption Crusade Must Start Somewhere – PDP Lawmaker

By the time the commissioners would come, the permanent secretaries would have laid a good template to work with and there would be no going back. The state would then be better for it. I feel he is trying to lay a solid foundation for the state.

Q: What is your legislative agenda for the people in your second term in office as a lawmaker?

We are trying to give them quality representation and make their voices heard. We will perform our legislative duties as expected as well as attract dividends of democracy to our constituents.

Q: Someone said that as long as you live, you keep learning, what are those things you want to change in this second term of yours?

You learn parliamentary activities and language, you learn the procedure and how you get the dividends of democracy to your people as well as the process of making bills and moving motions.

Even the courage to speak effectively on the floor of the House must be learned. You need to articulate yourself and ensure that what you have learnt for four years is improved upon. I would not say I have erred over the years. I am contributing systematically and developing on it.

Stop Desecrating Executive Office - Group Advises Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has been advised to stop desecrating the hallowed office of the executive governor with his anti-Buhari belligerence, his foul language and his motor-park antics.

Stop Desecrating Executive Office - Group Advises Fayose

Governor Fayose, buying items from a local market

The group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in a statement yesterday August 16, declared that a state governor must be a symbol of authority, maturity and integrity.

READ ALSO: Governor Okowa Visits Buhari, Thank Him For Appointing Delta Indigene As NNPC Boss

MURIC also appealed to critics of President Muhammed Buhari’s war against corruption to employ decorum, finesse and parliamentary language in their quest for attention.

The group in the statement which was signed by its director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola and a copy sent to our correspondent in Abeokuta, charged the President to remain undaunted and focused in his anti corruption crusade.

The religious group accused the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan of romancing with those it referred to as ‘international drug barons’.

“We laud the sobriety of President Buhari, we charge him to remain undaunted. Mr. President must remain focused in his anti-corruption crusade.

“We affirm that corruption is party-blind and unlike Jonathan who hobnobbed with international drug barons and gave national awards to kleptomaniacs and those who smeared Nigeria’s name abroad by jumping bail in London while disguised as women.

“We repose full confidence in Buhari as the man who will bring pen-thieves to their knees,” the group posited.

On the recent sacking of leaders of some agencies and parastatals byBuhari, MURIC described the action as a welcome development, giving kudos to the President for taking the bold steps.

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) give kudos to the president for taking this bold step. We find the reversal of all appointments and sacks carried out by the former ruler mandatory because they were executed with the style of a rampaging herd of elephants keen on bringing down anything that stood in its way.

“At a point, Nigerians started asking themselves if, at best, Aso rock under Jonathan did not need the attention of psychologists.

“This question became necessary when in the last few days, Jonathan displayed great dexterity and utmost pleasure in relieving Nigerians of their legitimate sources of income. The cry of vendetta rented the air and not a few social critics called for caution,” he averred.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari recently sacked the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero. He has simultaneously appointed Alhaji Habib Abdullahi as his replacement.

Election Tribunal Throws Out Wike's Request To Stop Case

Election Tribunal Throws Out Wike's Request To Stop Case

The bid of Governor Nyesom Wike to stop the petition before the Rivers state governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Abuja, seeking to sack him from office suffered setback.

Wike had sought tp get the tribunal to dismiss the case filed by the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidates, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Justice Muazu Pindiga-led tribunal held that the Peterside and his party properly convoked a pre-hearing session on their case against Wike, Vanguard reports.

The tribunal added that it was not fully convinced by the arguments advanced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Wike that the petitioners fail to pay the mandatory N100 to enable the pre-hearing session thus calling for the dismissal of the petition.

The counsel to INEC, K.O.C Njemanze (SAN), has requested for the dismissal of the petition on the grounds of non compliance with the provision of paragraph 18(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.

READ ALSO: Amaechi Can Be Minister But Must First Return Loot – Wike

INEC insisted that there was no evidence that the petitioners paid the necessary fees before they applied to the secretary of the tribunal to issue them Form TF007, which will okay pre-hearing on the petition.

The same argument of the electoral body was maintained by wike’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN). He said that in the case of Ihedioha vs Okorocha where the petitioners failed to properly apply for the pre-hearing session rendered the case before the tribunal liable to be dismissed.

The Peoples Democratic Party which is the third respondent agreed with arguments of Wike’s counsel and INCE’s and based on the strength of these arguments sought for the dismissal of the petition.

However, in its ruling, the tribunal upheld the argument of counsel to the petitioners, Chief Akinlolu Olujunmi, SAN, ‎who had urged the panel not to allow the respondents to rely on technicalities to defeat the essence of justice in the electoral dispute.

READ ALSO: For Praying For Him, Gov Wike Makes Promise To Church

Besidees, the panel stressed that the letter the petitioners served on the secretary to the tribunal on June 23, which requested for the issuance of Form TF007, did not qualify as a filed document as envisaged by paragraph 37 of the Electoral Act.

“It is clear that there is no imposition of any fee for the kick-starting ‎of a pre-hearing session and the application for issuance of pre-hearing form does not involve any filing fee. “Form TF007 and TF008 are not documents filed as envisaged by paragraph 37 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.

“If a pre-hearing session has began as in the instant case, the way it was kick-started‎ is no longer of any moment whatsoever. We hold that there was no defect in the pre-hearing kick-started by the petitioners. The applications by the Respondents are hereby discountenanced and dismissed”, the tribunal ruled.

Meanwhile, the immediate past governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi has alleged that the plan to probe his administration by Governor Wike is targeted to blackmail him.

Jega Gets New Appointment; Becomes Pro-chancellor

Jega Gets New Appointment; Becomes Pro-chancellor

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has appointed the former INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Plateau State University (PLASU).

Lalong also approved the reconstitution of the new Governing Council of the institution with Jega as the chairman in line with the resolve to address, as a matter of urgency, the challenges facing the state owned institution with a view to reposition it for effective educational training in line with the best practices.

Jonathan Must Not Be Probed- Bishop Kukah

A hint of what transpired between President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Peace Committee led by the former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has been revealed by the prominent Catholic priest and social critic, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

Jonathan Must Not Be Probed- Bishop Kukah

Bishop Matthew Kukah
Kukah was one of the members of the committee which recently met with the president at the Aso Villa.

The bishop, who spoke during a programme monitored by our correspondent, gave reasons why the former president Goodluck Jonathan should not be investigated by his successor Buhari and the current administration in Nigeria.

He said Jonathan must be accorded respect for deciding to relinquish power after his defeat in the 2015 presidential election.

READ ALSO: Anti-Corruption War: Stop Demonizing Jonathan’s Government – Reps Member To Buhari

Kukah said Jonathan made the country the first of his priorities and even kept the nation above personal interests by the “singular” decision to accept defeat, even against opposition from his party members.

He warned President Buhari to be conscious that he would one day leave power and could be subjected to the same probe that he has decided to carry out against Jonathan and his administration.

Kukah, the bishop of Sokoto Diocese, however, said that Jonathan had never met the committee or pleaded with them to stop any probe of his government, adding that he (Kukah) just felt it was time to stop the probe.

He said that unfortunately, the government was yet to commence any true government of the country and that this had resulted in an air of uncertainty across Nigeria.

“The business of governing the country belongs to politicians; our own business is just to offer moral directions and encourage the political class to get on with governance.

“APC has come into power to govern. Even the political class appreciates the fact that the world is waiting for Nigeria. Nigerians are waiting for a new nation.

“How we are going about it and the roles we all have to play need to be clearly spelt out,” he said angrily.

Continuing, the bishop, who was asked various questions ranging from the country’s current situation and the reasons his committee met with Buhari, added:“I don’t want to say there is a feeling of anomy, but there is a feeling of uncertainty in the air and I think the government needs to develop a communication strategy to keep Nigerians busy on what would effectively change our attitudes so that a real nation can truly be born.

“People were elected and not appointed and there had been these speculation of hitting the ground running. Nature abhors a vacuum. It is in the interest of the party in power to map out how to engage Nigerians.

“We are three months down the line and I think that only a hypocrite can pretend that we are not anxious to have a sense of direction about where we are going and what exactly needs to be done.

“There’s nothing new about what this nation needs to do. The laws are there, everything is there and if we don’t take time, three, five years down the road, we would still be whining and complaining about basically the same thing.”

Asked why he would not support the decision to probe the immediate past administration, Kukah said: “Franky, there is a limit which you go under the doctor just receiving diagnosis.

“We are going to wait till September before ministers are appointed and from what one is thinking, I’m not sure those ministers are going to come from outer space; they are going to be the same Nigerians with the same foibles. We need to see an assignment of roles.

“This is the best moment for Nigeria and people don’t have all the time to wait for us. What we clearly need now is a roadmap to keep Nigerians busy.

“There is no way I or any member of the committee can be told to go and beg General Buhari for a favour in anything relating to corruption. His body language does not suggest that and only a fool can undertake that kind of a mission.

“Before we went to see the President, at 9 o’clock of the same day, we spent about an hour with (former) President Jonathan.

“And please, let us not loose sight of what has happened in this country.”

Kukah said when the committee met with the PDP board, the members were told that not all of them supported the “singular” decision of Jonathan to relinquish power.

“And I think that as Nigerians, we must become sufficiently serious and realise that, that singular act is what has kept us as a nation.

“So I think that even for that singular act alone, Nigerians must be appreciative of what President Jonathan did.

“And for how this country is going to move forward, President Jonathan himself was eloquently clear in saying he was not afraid of probe.

READ ALSO: How I Escaped Death 12 Times – Obasanjo

“He wasn’t saying he was not ready to be probed, but we are saying if you are going to a forest to catch monkeys, you don’t go blowing a whistle or beating a drum.

“I don’t think we should be pre-occupied with who is going to be probed or how this probe is going to be undertaken. There are no charges before President Jonathan or even anybody for that matter.

“It may be Jonathan today, and we don’t have a case against Jonathan, but even if we do, this public lynching is not going to help anybody. Nobody knows if when Buhari steps aside, he might face the same thing.

“What we are talking about is that we are not in a military regime, we are in a democracy and somebody said that in democracy, there are no probes, but only investigations,” Kukah averred.

Kukah also advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to abandon the report of the national conference.

Tinubu Set To Block Fashola From Becoming Minister?

It seems that the brawl between two former governors of Lagos state senator Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola takes another turn as supporters of both fighters have drawn up battle plans.

Tinubu Set To Block Fashola From Becoming Minister?

Former governors of Lagos state Tinubu (L) and Fashola.

However, the shareholders in both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Lagos state are said to have paddled in, calling for a peace.

A former member of the Lagos state executive council, who pledged to be anonymous, told Tribune that “some elders are planning a peace meeting between the duo.”

The forces loyal to Tinubu reportedly felt angry by the comment released by Fashola on August 13 in which he suggested that corruption accusations were being held on him by those opposed to his getting a federal appointment, an indirect reference to Tinubu and the incumbent governor, Akinwumi Ambode.

READ ALSO: Fashola, Amaechi Allegedly Lost Their Ministerial Bid

“The coming days will be interesting,” an assistant to a chieftain of the ruling party close to both leaders said.

Though the Tinubu camp is said to have pledged to fight on, “to teach the former governor a lesson,” the Fashola side of the rift, according to a source, “is determined to ensure that his integrity is not tainted by those who are jealous of his ascendancy in the polity.”

Meanwhile, both sides renounced from taking direct shots at each other.

Sunday Dare, Tinubu’s spokesperson, said that he had just arrived in the country and would need time to get conferences from his chief before reacting to the statement from Fashola while Ambode’s chief press secretary, Habib Aruna did not answer repeated calls made to his telephone line.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s Cabinet: List Of The Supposed Ministers

On his part, Ambode’s aide, who wants not to be named, noted that it was too naive for anybody to think that the government, led by Ambode, was behind the current corruption charge campaign against ex-governor Fashola in order to rubbish his record of achievements while in office for eight years.

The source said: “Ambode is not interested in the smear campaign against Fashola, it is a non- issue. It is too simplistic to suggest that, it is left for people to find out who is doing this. I can tell you that government is not involved. It is not possible for government to have a hand in that.

“The governor is a pragmatic person and ready to move on by restructuring the state.”

Other sources said national leader of the APC is determined to block the chances of Fashola from becoming a minister in the delayed cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari due to his supposed “new found independence.”

This, according to a source, might have forced Fashola to announce in his published statement that he was not looking for a job, emphasizing that “For those who still wish to remain in the mud, they should look in the mirror. For those who wish to throw mud at me, they should look at their own hands. As for me, I have moved on. My job is done.”

READ ALSO: Buhari’s Ministers List: New Details Emerge

Another source even revealed that “Tinubu’s supporters could even be the ones fighting back because of the perceived ill- treatment Tinubu suffered at the hands of Fashola while he was governor of the state.”

It should be noted that Fashola was supposed as AGF/Minister of Justice, while earlier he was predicted as minister of works and housing.

However, there had been reports that President Buhari doesn’t consider the immediate former governor of Lagos state because of the large sub-national outside debts experienced by the state.

Interview: A Lot Has Changed Since Buhari Took Over - Dele Momodu

In this interview with Michael Abimboye, journalist, social critic and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu, speaks on the administration of presidential Muhammadu Buhari and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

Interview: A Lot Has Changed Since Buhari Took Over - Dele Momodu

Dele Momodu: I think a lot have changed I will say even if I think three month is still a very short time for the new government, certainly electricity have improved maybe not the way we want it but people that carried the rumour that maybe the fear of Buhari is making a lot of people to sit up. The refineries are beginning to work and yet they have not appointed ministers yet things are beginning to happen.

He is definitely reforming the NNPC that government department have been in practical shamble and something needed to be done urgently so definitely lot of thing lots of activities are going on. The war against corruption has started earnestly. We all know how the world sees Nigeria when it comes to issues of corruption.

Naij: Some people have said Buhari’s anti-corruption war is targeted against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members only, do you think this is true?

Dele Momodu: That is not true. Timipre Silva’s case is still on, he is an APC man. People just carry rumour. The truth is, naturally, there would be more PDP people been called because they were the dominant party so what do you expect? And I personally have even written that they should not witch hunt anybody. I don’t support kangarooism.

I believe that war against corruption should be done across board and should not also too loud because sometimes if the noise becomes too much like it was pre-2007 and at that time I wrote against it. People said are you defending corruption, but the thing is, you don’t set fire to a whole village because you want to catch a few rats.

“We have to manage it well otherwise it becomes totally chaotic and if care is not taken, that will be the only thing he will be battling with and there are different methodologies for fighting corruption everywhere in the world.

“There are people you don’t try on the pages of newspaper. Maybe you know where the money is, you call them and say I know you have 1.2 billion somewhere, go and bring the 1 billion and maybe you let him go, that way, you save cost for litigation and there are also innocent people. Your enemy can write petition against you and the EFCC grabs you and the newspapers in Nigeria pounce on you, you have already been convicted. That system, that style definitely has to change”

READ ALSO:Jonathan Must Not Be Probed – Bishop Kukah

Naij: If you had contested during the elect ion and won, what would you have done differently in the 3 month reign of President Buhari?

Dele Momodu: Well the only thing I would have done which have not been done and only me can understand why the issue of appointment. apparently maybe what they expected from me is not what they have seen maybe the situation is far worse. Like a doctor, doctor might come in and say I have fever like symptoms and I think I have flu. And the doctor examine you and realise its cancer, the treatment of cancer is different from the treatment of malaria so am willing to give him the benefit of doubts and I have the privilege of speaking with him and I know he means well and I know it’s working very hard, you won’t go to Aso rock now you meet people hanging around the corridor like it used to be. Serious if only for that he has achieved something

Naij: Persons have asked the president to probe former president, Goodluck Jonathan. What do you think?

Dele Momodu: I don’t know if Buhari has a case against him. I don’t know the deal the peace committee agreed to you know before the election they brought them together.

Usually the fear of most government why they don’t want to leave power is persecution outside power but if Hugh money have disappeared under the watch of the former president am sure even if they don’t want to embarrass or anything. If they can trace such money then the natural thing to do, for example we hear all types of rumours twenty billion dollars a times that is a lot of money anywhere in the world.

If any human being has that you are one of the richest people in the world. So it not a kind of money government want to loss especially government that need money desperately a lot of government can’t pay salary they can’t pay anything g. the need to bring out these money from where ever they are

Naij: There were rumours on social media that you made President Buhari’s ministerial list. Would you serve in his administration if eventually appointed?

Dele Momodu: I was indeed flattered by the rumours because I don’t know where they got it from, I met the president and he never and am serious and God is my witness we never discussed anything about appointment. I didn’t go there to seek for appointment.

I went there for a better Nigeria to offer my opinions and I told him am already a special adviser who is not paid by government and I advise them by chance every week. I did advice Jonathan but I was not in government.

The terms of this if if I like to react to issues and situation when they arise or occur. Am not sure what will happen am not sure anybody is thinking of someone like me. Don’t forget that am not a member of APC infact some people don’t know me if not because I supported Buhari. And I know that a state can only produce maybe one especially now they are trying to reduce the cost governance so I don’t know if a Dele Momodu from Edo state will be qualify or recommended or endorse by my governor comrade Adams Oshomole but I think this thing should be done on merit.

I will support whoever he pick am not desperate. I know if the government need me they will find me.

Naij: Who and who would you like to see as ministers?

Dele Momodu: I have written about them many times. Some of them must be people who are tested, some of them have never been in government .you can take this down they must be people of accomplishments without any bias or favour the great fan and admirer of Donald Duke.

I believe Donald Duke he will work. We need someone who understands what infrastructure is about and he had shown that while he was governor of cross river. I love Rotimi Amechi he is a man of a strong heart he was able to demonstrate . I visited some of his projects when he was governor of Rivers state. If all our schools in Nigeria could look like the Amechi School in Rivers nobody will complain I will want my kids to go to government schools.

READ ALSO: NNPC Boss Reveals His Plans, Discussion With Buhari

So the amount of money we are losing to foreign countries Benin republic, Ghana, Togo, Ukraine Malaysia where ever you turn you find Nigeria students. That money should be used in our country developing our economy but because we all believe that our education has gone bad if not dead.so everybody wants to run away

Naij: You supported Senator Bukola Saraki’s emergence as Senate President. Don’t you think he should have obeyed the party’s directive?

Dele Momodu: I rather let sleeping dogs lied my support for Dr Saraki is not based on any friendship. I am a very big fan and admirer of Bola Tinubu. if you love someone one month before that crises started lets honour our heroes and what was the idea behind it I knew the roles played by Rotimi Amechi, Bukuola Saraki and others and I believed that a business when you form a partnership you are supposed to consider everyone. So in the business of politic I thought there will be a level filled but what I saw was that some people were anchor some people were manner and were not to be allowed to aspire to greatness.

The dream of every human being is to aspire to greatness. I rarely defended the fundamental human right the Saraki or Dogara on principle. There is nothing to do with all the things I have being hearing because he is your friend you have been paid. When I write to support Buhari, I have been paid when I write to support saraki I have been paid people, when I write about Zahara I have been paid.

People will not respect you if that is what you do go around collecting bribes. I have been writing now for over thirty years. When you see a man with a great interest people see you, people treat you, when you are paid for a job.

When I support Jonathan I never met Jonathan one on one like this yet I demonstrated on the street of Abuja for Jonathan when he was there was I paid then Jonathan is alive did I get an appointment Jonathan is alive . I have been in the struggle since 1978 I have never shy away. I got into trouble on June 12. I was among the first people arrested between July and august 1993. In 1995 I was sent on exile for years I didn’t step my foot in Nigeria people should try to be.

So when we say things we don’t mind when we were promoting Buhari they abused us the PDP boys abused us in different government levels. The APC boys also abused us we got one faction lost against the other I advise for people I don’t want to mention names, the day Saraki there was a particular governor I told congratulate saraki, inmanainous people have to be amnainious they said they brought PDP in all that neither of them would have won without PDP.

People left PDP to APC and suddenly became angels and if you now speak to PDP you become Lucifer. We are all Nigerians, the president of the national assembly is the president of the whole assembly. So if you are the president of your party you must carry everybody along to take crucial decisions especially in an assembly where you don’t have an over whelming majority you must cooperate.

READ ALSO: Treasury Looters In Trouble As Buhari Begins Search For ‘Fearless’ Judges

What happened was that there was a game of history and one was able to man over the other. There is no name they have not called me and I feel ashamed. Only a few months ago all of us including Saraki fought to make sure PDP left power now we are fighting ourselves we are abusing ourselves but am use to it. As long as am convinced that there is nothing am doing wrong I will stand by it. I am one of those that say Dr Saraki carry on

Naij: Do You think Buhari’s government can put an end to Boko Haram?

Dele Momodu: There is something we have to look at about this matter. Do you remember the time they said Buhari was sponsoring Boko harm have now see that he is not. They called him an extremist and everything and eventually was because they Buhari will pursue them to the pit of hell or were ever but you see we always recommended and people abused us on that if we lack the capacity to fight Boko Harm then we must seek other measures because is not every war you can win at once people we want to go and negotiate with Boko Harm.

Are we happy that our fellow citizens are been killed. Whatever can bring Boko harm to an end I will support. If they are Nigerian, we don’t know how they are able to penetrate our security but all I know is that people are dying. if there are people and I have ready an interview of one of the greatest president of Nigeria president Olusegun Obasanjo were he said if they had listened to me on my advice so you know, he even went there and as soon as he left there they killed.

Maybe we should have followed and didn’t ignore. Is like you have that you wood for a long time it will scatter and that I what just happened now. The thing has gone so deep and the state of helplessness, the helplessness, joblessness .

Naij: You are a busy man, yet you maintain a regular column in ThisDay newspaper, what does it take to be a columnist like Dele Momodu?

Dele Momodu: Well I thank God for everything because I didn’t sell bags of lies to the press I step out of right to have that internally peace. Nothing is as good as being able to express you self. Every Friday where ever I am on the surface of the earth I must write.

Nobody can imagine how difficult it is to be a Dele Momodu. I have to do so many things. So am happy that people love what I do. On Saturday night a great photographer who called me the other day do you know your column is the most read in Nigeria I don’t know I haven’t seen the figures what I know is if I will judge by twitter .

Some people say am reading it with my breakfast I feel good about it, I mean its not easy to write 2000 words every Friday. If I tell you a secret you will not believe it. Every articule write 99% afer writing it that night I send it to my lawyer and who is my lawyer, Prince Adedamola Aderemi. He reads every article except am late or he is leaving London and I don’t send it to him before 12 even on the plane he is looking to make sure you don’t make any stupid mistake.

Ofcourse I read comments on the Thisday comment. People abuse me I go more for twitter because it has more people, if there are two people abusing me on this day. You find comments on twitter, facebook and so on. Because I know every article I write is a work of art. I am very stylish in the way I use my choice of words even the headlines. People ask me, on Fridays my family don’t talk to me I sit on my own to write.