Oliseh is not a good Coach - Clemence Westerhof

Clemence Westerhof slams Oliseh over his celebration for beating Swaziland 2 - 0 in Portharcourt last week. 

The former Super Eagles Handler said: “Congratulations, you beat Swaziland 2-0 in the return leg match of the preliminary round of the qualifiers. 

“But does that really call for celebration? Yes, there are no minnows in football but who are Swaziland to hold the Super Eagles to a goalless draw?

He continued: “The Super Eagles won 2-0 in Nigeria but is it not a game the Super Eagles should be winning 6-0, 7-0 under normal circumstances? What type of football do they play in Swaziland?

“Swaziland is not the first match Super Eagles have played under Oliseh. There has not been any difference between their first game under him and the game with Swaziland.

“I’m sorry, with Oliseh, the Super Eagles may not go to the World Cup in Russia.”

You Are On Your Own - Ex President Jonathan Tells Dasuki

President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday in Washington DC,  denied allegations that his Government awarded contracts for the procurement of weapons in the range of $2billion. The former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has being in the news in recent weeks over the award of these contracts as reported by the Presidential committee handling procurement of arms in the twilight to the end of Mr Jonathan's administration in its interim report submitted to President Buhari revealed that it found extra-budgetary spending by the Jonathan administration to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional $2.2 billion in the foreign currency component, all managed and supervised by Sambo Dasuki, a retired army colonel. But the president said his government never awarded any contract in the range of $2 billion dollars.

“I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons” Mr. Jonathan stated categorically querying, “Where did the money come from?” and repeating emphatically that “I did not award a contract of $2billion for procurement of weapons”.

Mr. Dasuki however said in a statement Wednesday that all contracts and accruing payments were made based on the approval of Mr. Jonathan, adding that due process and military procurement regulations were followed in all the transactions.

“Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment,” said Mr. Dasuki.

But Mr. Jonathan said he never awarded any $2billion arms contract, suggesting that the claims by the Buhari administration were false and unsubstantiated. Mr. Dasuki have the same argument.

See the Ten hotest Models in Africa

1. Herieth Paul:- Tanzanian

2. Maria Borges:- Angolan

3. Betty Adewole:- Nigerian

4. Ajak Deng:- South Sudan

5, Roberta Narciso:- Angola

6, Malaika Firth:- Kenyan

7, Liya Kebede:- Ethiopian

8, Candice Swanepoel:- South African 

9, Fatima Siad:- Somalian

10, Anais Mali:- Chadian

THE NIGERIAN ARMY DISPELS REPORTS OF MISSING SOLDIERS

Earlier today, reports of the disappearance of 105 soldiers dominated discussions on the Nigerian Social media. The soldiers according to the report suffered a heavy attack by the Boko Haram insurgent who targeted them at the base in the theater of the ongoing war. A tweet to Defense HQ twitter handle was not replied. the Chief of Army staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai refuted the claim via a telephone call to journalist. But he admitted that the attack did take place but the soldiers have since returned to their units after the operations. Details later.

You do not have powers to summon Lamorde - Keyamo tells Senate

Read what Barr Festus Keyamo told Senate when he represented former EFCC Chairman CP Ibrahim Lamorde at the Senate yesterday.

He said: “I have great respect for the Senate. I also have great respect for this distinguished committee. Unfortunately, we have a law that is superior to all of us whether it is the Senate or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So as distinguished as this committee is, it is not greater than the constitution.

“The constitution is very clear as to those who can be subject to investigation by Sections 88, 89 of the constitution. By Sections 88, 89 of the constitution, the Senate has powers over two categories of persons - the first are those who are the subject of investigation. They can be summoned before the committee and the second are witnesses to appear in respect of that investigation.

“Now, those who can be the subject of investigation have to be public officers holding that office that is being investigated. In other words, if you look at Sections 88 or 89, it refers to those who are charged or intend to be charged with the responsibility of an office; so it does not talk about those were charged or who was charged with a responsibility.

“For instance, I want to ask a very simple question: If you write a petition today against Nuhu Ribadu that he was corrupt in office or Farida Waziri, can the Senate invite Farida Waziri to investigate her? It is not possible. They cannot.

“That will be the subject of a criminal investigation because they are no longer holding that office. They can only be invited as witnesses because the Senate has the power to summon anybody, and whoever the person is will appear as a witness not as the subject of investigation.

“In other words, if you are inviting Larmode, you can only properly invite him as a witness because he does not even have access to the documents again. He is no longer chairman of EFCC.

“Even if you say the petition was directed at him in his private capacity, can the Senate investigate him in his private capacity? The answer is no.

“For instance, if you are a public officer and somebody comes to report to the Senate that the public officer raped his wife. Can the Senate investigate that rape?

“The incident did not happen in his official capacity. The Senate can only refer it to the police and say this is a criminal case, because it did not occur in his official capacity.

“So it is clear that this Senate no longer has the power to summon Lamorde. The invitation, the summon, has been overtaken by events; he is no longer in office. He can no longer appear as a person being investigated in this Senate. He can only appear as a witness.

“If there is any allegation against him now, it should go to the police or the EFCC for him to be investigated purely as a criminal allegation.

“We will take advice; we will look at it and take the appropriate decision but I can tell you that the Senate itself is not in a place where their decision cannot be subjected to a review.

“The section quoted states anybody can be summoned as a witness, not as a person to be investigated. It says in the course of that investigation, anybody can be summoned as a witness to give evidence. But what they did was to send a letter of investigation.

“The Senate also has no power to send letters of invitation. They have powers to issue summons to people to appear. Can the court, for example, write a letter of invitation to anybody?

“The powers of this committee are the same powers a court of law exercises. If the court of law wants someone to appear before it, it issues summons. A court of law cannot write an invitation letter. So this Senate has no power to write letters of invitation. They should correct it.

“Do not forget that it is this same Senate that for many years did not know their powers regarding the service chiefs.

“I was the one that went to court to correct all of them. I wrote to them over and over again regarding their powers and they did not listen to me, so I went to court and corrected them.

“I am prepared to go to court at any time to correct this Senate. They don’t know their powers, I insist. You should know that I have done research on the powers of the Senate.”

We Spent 2b not 6b on Presidential Fleet - Presidency

ABUJA – The presidency has vehemently refuted the reports in several quarters that a huge sum of N6b had been lavished on the Maintenance of presidential Air fleet (PAF) in the last 6 months.

The presidency spoke through the Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

Shehu in a statement said that only N2.3b had been spent contrary to the figures making the rounds.

He regretted that the president has had to be distracted by some “fictional report”, which he had “caused the government a lot of negative reviews especially in the online media”.

The statement further stated thus: “The government is focused on solving the many major issues our country faces in the areas of the economy, corruption and security. Yet almost every week, the Presidency has to also deal with the distractions which do nothing but distract from the task of government.

“Referring to documents he had requested from the Operational Office of the Presidential Fleet after his attention was drawn to the speculative report, Malam Shehu pointed out that the sum of N2.3 billion was released to the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation between May and November 2015. This includes releases for personnel cost, overhead and capital expenditure out of the sum of N5,190,381,386.00 appropriated for PAF on the 2015 budget.

“The documents also showed that the sum of N2,127,103,086.66 had so far been expended, leaving a balance of N172,568,912.34 from the amount released.

“However, the sum of N149,062,791.12 was transferred from the PAG’s operation account to the Treasury Single Account, following the President’s recent directive,” he said.

“He added that the sum of N23,801,122.17 remains unutilised out of the funds so far released. During the period 31 May 2015 till date, the Fleet expended the sum of N1,358,910,962.75 to settle outstanding liabilities carried over from last year till May 2015. Furthermore, the sum of N500 million was refunded to the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA for financial support rendered to the Fleet prior to release of funds from the OAGF.

“Thus, the Fleet expended the sum of N449,081,037.25 within the last months comprising N98,500,218.00 for operations, N165,373,176.91 on training and N85,500,116.75 on personnel medicals and overhead. Additionally, the sum of N99,715,493.51 was expended on aircraft maintenance, spares, and subscription services required for operations.

“Any of these documents could have been made available had the newspaper reached out to me or to any one of my colleagues. The damage to the image of government and the good management of the Presidential Air Fleet could have been avoided”.

“Shehu also pointed that the number of aircrafts on the Presidential fleet was 10, not 14 as being bandied about, even as he gave the inventory of the planes to include:
PAF-AIRCRAFT INVENTORY
1. 1× 737 BBJ
2. 1× G550
3. 1× G500
4. 2× Falcon 7X
5. 1× HS 4000
6. 2× Agusta139
7. 2× Agusta 101
Total aircraft holdings 10.”

LAMORDE ILL? Flown abroad - Keyamo

The Nigerian Senate resumed the hearing of a petition of diversion of over 1triliion Naira against the former EFCC chairman, CP Ibrahim Lamorde. Expectedly, Lamorde was absent at the hearing. His Lawyer Festus Keyamo who represented him argued that the Senate does not have powers to invite Mr Lamorde in his personal capacity as a Nigerian citizen haven vacated his office as EFCC Chairman two weeks ago. 

Lamorde is a serving commissioner of Police who spent over 10 years at the EFCC inviting people to clear their names over allegations of fraud. Those who failed to appear were declared wanted. Abdulrasheed Maina of the Defunct Pension Reform Task Force was declared wanted three weeks ago by Lamorde's EFCC over his non appearance at the Commission. Today, that a serving Senior Law officer chooses to dishonor an invitation by another independent tier of Government is disturbing. Is the law really  above?

Read the Presidency's Press Release Over Dasuki

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES INTERIM REPORT OF INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE ON ARMS PROCUREMENT, ORDERS ARREST OF INDICTED PERSONS

On the authority of Mr President, a 13 man committee was set up by the Office of  the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date.

While the committee which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015 is yet to complete its work, its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions. 

As part of the findings, the committee has analyzed interventions from some organizations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force  Headquarters,  both in local and foreign currencies.

So far the total extra budgetary interventions articulated by the committee is Six Hundred and Forty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Hundred Naira and Eighteen Kobo (N643,817,955,885.18).

The foreign currency component is to the tune of Two Billion, One Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand US Dollars and Eighty Three Cents ($2,193,815,000.83).

These amounts exclude grants from the State Governments and funds collected by the DSS and Police. It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defense procurement. 

The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and €54,000.00; Fifty Three (53) were failed contracts amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.

Interestingly, it was noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the $1bn loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East. 

The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N3,850,000,000.00) were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfilment of tax obligations to the FGN.

Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50,  $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00. The contracts which were said to be for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.

Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, 2 companies, were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and €9,905,477.00 alone. This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.

Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions.

The findings made so far are extremely worrying considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that our troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition. Had the funds siphoned to these non performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.

Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided. It is worrisome and disappointing that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury, while innocent lives were wasted daily.

In light of these findings, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the relevant organizations arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts.

 

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

November 17, 2015

See why Buhari ordered the arrest of former NSA Dasuki

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received the interim report of the investigative committee on arms procurement with an order for the arrest of all indicted persons in the arms scam.

This information is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

According to the statement, the committee which was inaugurated on Aug. 31, is yet to complete its work. But its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions.

“As part of the findings, the committee has analysed interventions from some organisations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, both in local and foreign currencies,’’ it said.

It stated that so far the total extra budgetary interventions collated by the committee was N643.8 billion while the foreign currency component was $2.2 billion.

The report indicated that the amounts excluded grants from the state governments and funds collected by the Directorate of State Services and the Police.

The statement said the committee observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defence procurement.

“The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at 8,356,525,184.32 dollars; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and 54,000.00 euros; Fifty Three were failed contracts amounting to 2,378,939,066.27 dollars and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.’’

According to the statement, the committee also noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the one billion dollars loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East.

It stated that the committee also discovered that payments to the tune of N3.850 billion were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfillment of tax obligations to the Federal Government.

“Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt. Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50; 1,671,742,613.58 dollars and 9,905,477.00 euros.

“The contracts, which were said to be for the purchase of four Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.

“Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, two companies, were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00; 1,661,670,469.71 dollars and 9,905,477.00 euros alone.

“This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.

“Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of 132,050,486.97 dollars and 9,905,473.55 euros to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions,’’ the statement said.

The statement noted that the findings made so far “are extremely worrying’’ considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that the nation’s troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition.

“Had the funds siphoned to these non-performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.

“Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided,” the statement said.

The committee noted with disappointment that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury, while innocent lives were being wasted daily.

“In the light of these findings, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the relevant organisations to arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts,’’ the statement concluded. 

BREAKING! BOMB BLAST - BOKO HARAM STRIKES AGAIN

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists, on Tuesday night, hit Kasuwan Gwari along Jimeta bye-pass close to Tipper park, Jambutu, Yola, the Adamawa State capital with an explosion suspected to be from an improvised Explosive Device, IED.An witness, said the explosion occurred close to the main vegetable market in the town, as traders were closing for the day and rushing home. According to him, scores were feared killed. The casualty figure, could however, not be determined immediately but officials of the Nigeria Police Force are said to have barricaded the area.

We must Go Back to The Land - President Buhari

The president who is currently Launching the Anchor Borrowers Programme in Kebbi has said that diversifying Nigeria's Economy is not a choice but a necessity following the sharp drop in oil prices from $120 per barrel in 2014 to $46 per barrel in 2015. We must therefore return back to the Land, the president said.

Era of short changing Farmers with Sand as Fertilizer Over - Audu Ogbe

The Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbe has sent a word of warning to desperate business Men who indulge in sharp practices to make quick profit that those times are over. He said this while delivering a speech at the Launch of Anchor Borrowers Programme Tuesday in Kebbi. He lamented that these Business Men uses sharp sand in well packaged bags and sell to ignorant farmers thereby resulting to their low yields and making it difficult for them to service their loans. 

He assured farmers that with the President, Minister of Agric as farmers respectively, they have never being in safer hands.

President Buhari in Kebbi to Launch Anchor Borrowers Programme

The President, federal Republic of Nigeria Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, is in Kebbi, Kebbi state to Launch the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) initiated by the central Bank of Nigeria. Details follows.

Russia Confirms Cause of Plane Crash over Sinai in Egypt

The Russian government has confirmed that it was a bomb that downed a Russian passenger plane that crashed over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on Oct. 31, killing all 224 people on board.

According to a statement posted on the Kremlin’s web site on Tuesday, Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s FSB security services told a meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin, that “One can unequivocally say that it was a terrorist act”.

Mr. Bortnikov, said “an improvised explosive device” had detonated soon after the plane took off.

“The plane disintegrated in midair, which explains the widely scattered fuselage pieces,” Mr. Bortnikov said.

The Airbus A-321 took off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, on its way to the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

The plane owned by Russian airline Kogalmavia, was carrying mostly Russian tourists.

Initially, the plane was thought to have disappeared over Cyprus.

An Islamist militant group affiliated to ISIS said its shot down the plane but this was quickly dismissed by the Egyptian government which said it was not possible as the plane was flying at an altitude beyond the reach of shoulder-mounted missiles normally carried by the militants.

Gunmen Kidnap Samson Siasia's Mother

Gunmen has Kidnapped Madam Ogere Siasia, the Mother of Nigeria's Under 23 Side, the Dream Team at Odoni community of  Sagama Local Council Area of Bayelsa State.  Reports say armed bandits stormed the Siasia family house in the community in the wee hours of today and forcefully whisked away Mrs. Siasia on a get way motorcycle.

Confirming the latest kidnap incident, Bayelsa State Police Command spokesperson ASP Ansinim Butswat, said the matter has been reported, but details are still sketchy.

The kidnappers are yet to demand ransom from the family.

Lamorde's Hearing Resumes Today At The Senate.

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Ibrahim Lamorde's Hearing at the Senate committee on Ethics and Petisions resumes today Tuesday in Abuja. Lamorde is accused of diverting over 1trillion Naira of money recovered from corrupt cases that the EFCC handled while he was at the commission in a petion to the Senate. Details follow shortly ........

Why Donald Duke Apologized to Aide

Former Governor of Cross River State attributed misconduct of Public Office Holders to bad Marriages and Wives. 

Excerpts:

Donald Duke: When I See Public Office Holders Misbehaving, Probably, They Do Not Have a Good Wife or a Good Marriage

As governor, I was on call 24/7 sometimes. I got very angry and could take my anger on anyone. So, my chief of protocol bore the brunt one day. I had a reception for guests, and he placed them in rooms not the way I would have done it, but he didn’t do anything wrong. He used his own judgment. I would have done it the other way, but I over reacted, I spoke very harsh to him. While I was doing this, my wife walked in, and didn’t say a word. She goes in, does some other things in my office and leaves. When I got back home in the evening, I’ve forgotten about it. It’s just a normal event in the day. And she said to me the way I spoke to this guy was wrong and that I have to go and apologise to him. She said I had no reason to speak to anyone like that. I said what! He did this and she said ‘yes, I heard everything. The way you would have done it was different, but he didn’t do a bad thing. He used his discretion. So, what are you going to do? You have destroyed that. Tomorrow he is not going to do anything discretionally.

He would wait for others and then you will get irritated at that. You have made him lose his self-confidence and that is wrong. You need to go and apologise to him. Why should you speak to someone like that? Because you are governor?’ I ignored her. I was in my room still fuming and she came back, and said I had to do it that night and not tomorrow because I kept saying I would do it tomorrow. She said no, tonight. That he was not going to sleep well and so I did not have the right to sleep well when he was not sleeping well.

I said ok. We got into the car and we drove to his house. I knocked on the door. His wife turned in. They were about to go to bed. She was in her night gown. She saw me and was scared with the expression of ‘Okay you have come to fire my husband finally’. The guy came down stairs petrified. My wife and I walked in. The wife wanted to get up and leave. I told the guy I was sorry. They all got emotional but I got relief. It was like a load had been taken off me. I still get upset with things going up wrong, but I don’t get to a point I don’t feel I am too big to say sorry.

Ameachi Hits the Ground Running

The Minister of Transport Mr Rotimi Ameachi is set to commence work in earnest. Two days After he assumed office, he has invited for Bids for the procurement of Interstate Coastal Buses. Interested companies are expected to submit their bids on or before 30th Nov. 2015.

We Are Not United Nations ---Chukwudi Iwuchukwu

The World and France in particular are still in shock over the Paris attack that claimed 129 lives and  injured over 300 people with 99 of those injuries very critical in coordinated suicide bombs on soft targets on Friday night. Consequently, CNN has deployed Christian Amanpour with other reporters to Paris and all their air time dedicated to 24 hours- live coverage of the tragic event. This seems right and the whole World should remain united in fighting terrorism. What is rather different is why the World especially CNN aggressively responded to this particular tragedy but ignored other more devastating attacks on other Nations. Thanks to groups in America, UK, China, France and other Nations of the world that raised their voices against the abduction of the Chibok Girls that are still missing.

One of the Countries that has suffered deadly attacks in recent times is Nigeria. Documented records show that on:

February 14, 2014

Boko Haram attacked Konduga, Borno State and more than 200 people were killed by Boko Haram. CNN did not send any body to that village and it was not even a serious news item. 

April 16, 2014

187  people killed in Baga by Boko Haram.

June 9, 2014

Nine (9) children were killed in Maiduguri and 13 students and Teachers were killed in Damaturu by Boko Haram.

September 19, 2014

161 people killed in Benisheik by Boko Haram.

October 29, 2014

128 people killed (95 militants, 23 soldiers, 8 policemen, and 2 civilians) by Boko Haram.

Earlier in 2014

76 male students of Federal College In Buni Yadi, Yobe State killed by Boko Haram.

Cummulatively, over 10,000 lives have been lost.

CNN did not send any body to those towns and Villages of Northeastern Nigeria. These attacks were not even a serious news item. For CNN, those lives are not important and no correspondent was deployed Nigeria and no 24-hour coverage.CNN overlooked and gave it no or little reportage. This in my view means that white Europian lives are more important and deserves CNN's coverage and attention. Media is wonderful and a great tool for mental neo-colonialism. Are we really a United Nations? No, we are a sentimental World.

Africa, Think!

---Chukwudi Iwuchukwu.

Chief Raymond Dokpesi splits PDP over Jonathan

The controversial Former spokesperson to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, on Sunday, reacted to claims by Chairman of DAAR Communications (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, that the candidacy of Jonathan was an error.

Okupe said this on his Facebook page to react, affirmed that the decision by then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to pick his ex-boss was in order, stating however, that the only error by the PDP administration was their failure to sack the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, despite his alleged political leaning.

Okupe said: “The impression created in the media recently that the candidacy of Goodluck Jonathan was an error is itself a grand fallacy which totally undermined the whole truth about the sanctity and correctness of the wisdom of the PDP National Executive Committee which made and ratified that decision.

“All over the World, when an incumbent signifies intention for a second term, it is customary that the established machinery of the party wholly backs and gratifies such intentions.

“If any error was made, it was firstly the failure of the PDP administration to sack the unfair and compromised electoral Officer who was allowed to conduct the election in spite of his obvious and profuse partisanship.

“The second error was the inexplicable acquiescence of the PDP government to the use of the infamous Card Reader which was skilfully manipulated to the disadvantage of the PDP presidential candidate.

“The third error of the PDP was to have fielded a good, God fearing and patriotic man who in spite of his enormous power,
the avalanche of deployable arsenal of war at his disposal, transformed himself to be the victim and refused to fight so that his countrymen may live and his Nation survived. The situation in Burundi today is highly instructive.

“Certainly history will treat Goodluck Jonathan as one of the greatest Heroes of this generation of African Leaders. Definitely not an error by any stretch of imagination.

“I speak today not as a spokesman for President Jonathan. An episode and a proud chapter of my life which has since come to a Close. Rather I speak as a student of History and a veritable stakeholder in the Nigerian project,” said Okupe.

SALARY OF BUHARI'S MINISTERS REVEALED

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, have approved the  remuneration packages of each of the 37 ministers sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

According to Punch, a committee chaired by Chairman of Remuneration Committee, Mr. Abdullahi Inde, new packages prepared by the committee, had been ratified at a retreat held for commissioners of the agency, which was concluded recently in Owerri.

The recommendations of the committee concentrated on the allowances of political and judicial office holders as the salary packages will not depart significantly from the status quo.

However, after the preparation of the new packages by RMAFC, it still has to be presented to the Federal Executive Council which has the responsibility to present it to the National Assembly as a bill for enactment as an Act of Parliament.

Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, on Saturday said that the new packages would soon be made public. He said the work was “going through a process of editing.”

Presidency sources said that the new ministers would be paid in accordance with the existing statute because the reviewed package was not ready.

According to the current package, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed and other senior ministers will get N4,052,800 as housing allowance. The annual housing allowance is 200 per cent of a minister’s annual remuneration.

Each of the ministers is also entitled to N6, 079,200 as furniture allowance. The furniture allowance is 300 per cent of a minister’s annual salary. Unlike the housing allowance, however, the furniture allowance is paid once in four years. This means the furniture allowance per annum is N1,519,800.

Should any of the ministers desire, they are also entitled to N8,105,600 as motor vehicle allowance.

The motor vehicle allowance is, however, a loan repayable by the end of the tenure of the minister.

The annual basic salary of a substantive minister is N2,026,400. On monthly basis, this amounts to N168,866:66.

Apart from the monthly basic salary, there are other perks that each minister will receive at the end of each month. These include motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N1, 519,800 (annual value) with a monthly value of N126,650. The vehicle maintenance allowance is 75 per cent of the annual basic salary.

The personal assistant allowance of N506,600 per annum is also payable. This has a monthly value of N42,216.66. This allowance is calculated as 25 per cent of the basic salary.

Each of the senior ministers is entitled to a payment of N1,519,800 for domestic staff. This is 75 per cent of the annual basic salary and on monthly basis amounts to N126, 650.

For entertainment, each of the ministers is entitled to N911,880 annually or N75,990 per month. This is 45 per cent of the annual basic salary.

For utilities, each of the ministers is entitled to 30 per cent of their annual salary which translates to N607,920 per annum or N50,660 a month.

For monitoring, each of the ministers is entitled to 20 per cent of their annual basic salary. This translates to N405,280 per annum or N33,773.33 per month.

For newspapers/periodicals, each of the senior ministers will get 15 per cent of the annual basic salary. This translates to N303,960 per annum or N25,330 per month.

Allowances for their security personnel, medicals and special assistants are also provided. The tour duty allowance is N35,000 per night; the estacode is $900 per night and the leave allowance is 10 per cent of their annual salary or N202,640.

The summation of these annual allowances is N13,374, 240 for each minister excluding the optional vehicle allowance. Yearly, the Federal Government is expected to pay the 24 senior ministers no less than N320,981,760.

Each of the ministers of state, on the other hand, is entitled to N3, 915,160 as housing allowance and N5,872,740 as furniture allowance. Should any of the ministers desire, they are also entitled to N7, 830,320 as motor vehicle allowance, which is a loan repayable by the end of the tenure of the minister.

The annual basic salary of a substantive minister of state is N2,026,400. On monthly basis, this amounts to N168,866:66.

The state ministers are also entitled to other perks. These include motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N1, 468,185 (annual value) with a monthly value of N122,348.

The personal assistant allowance of N489,395 per annum is also payable. This has a monthly value of N40,782.91. This allowance is 25 per cent of the basic salary.

Each of the state ministers is entitled to a payment of N1,468,185 for domestic staff. This is 75 per cent of the annual basic salary and on monthly basis amounts to N122,348.75.

For entertainment, each of the state ministers is entitled to N880,911 annually or N73,409.25 per month. This is 45 per cent of the annual basic salary.

For utilities, each of the ministers is entitled to 30 per cent of their annual salary which translates to N587,274 per annum or N48, 939.50 a month.

For newspapers/periodicals, each of the state ministers will get 15 per cent of the annual basic salary. Which is N293,637 per annum or N24, 469.75 per month.

The security personnel, medicals and special assistants are also provided for the state ministers. The tour duty allowance is N30,000 per night; the estacode is $900 per night and the leave allowance is 10 per cent of their annual salary or N195,758.

The summation of these annual allowances for the junior ministers is N12,597,332 for each minister excluding the optional vehicle allowance. Yearly, the Federal Government is expected to pay the 13 junior ministers no less than N163,765,316.

Punch Sunday

Living Faith Church's 2015 Shiloh Unveiled

The Living Faith Church's yearly Crusade has been announced to take place from 8th - 12th Dec. 2015 at Canaan Land the Church's Headquarters located in a suburb of Lagos Nigeria. The theme for the year according to a release on the Ministries' Facebook page will be "From Glory to Glory". 

Living Faith church is one of the fastest growing churches in the World with a 50,000 capacity Auditorium reputed to be the largest in the World. The church is Pastored by its founder Bishop David Oyedekpo. 

Nigerian Prophet TB Joshua Prophesied Paris Attack

On Sunday 19th January 2013, during a Sunday Live Service at The SCOAN, Prophet T.B. Joshua gave a word of prophecy concerning the nation, France. This is what he said,

"France as a nation, there is a strange thing they have to pray about which is in their country now. There are some strange people; they have strategic places in France. They should pray against suicide bombers or an attack of any kind that will affect many. Take care of your homeland security. This is France, this time."

We pray for the families and loved ones of all those affected by this tragedy in the nation of France. May God strengthen them that their hearts may rise and seek the things above that they may be comforted under the present sorrow. 

Click on the link below to watch the Video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=rcS6YuwY3bM