CHECKOUT FUNKE AKINDELE’S NEW LOVER

Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, is one lady that cannot be easily seen because she has been moving from one location shoot to the other couple with her advertorial campaign for a detergent company.

The actress was recently cut up in a love affair with fellow actor, Muyiwa Ademola, kissing which has left many laughing at her.

It’s been long since the duo acted together, but they both look cool in this new movie titled ‘Eliza.’ Funke Akindele is popular for her highly successful Jenifa movies which she has even made into a television series titled Jenifa’s Diary.

POLICE IG BARS HIS MEN FROM CARRYING BAGS FOR POLITICIANS, WIVES, OTHERS

There is a recent welcomed development in the Nigeria police sector, as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, on Thursday made some new orders which included warning his men from detaining suspects more than 24 hours.

The Police high-ranked inspector stressed that appropriate due diligence should be conducted before arrest warrant was issued.

He also banned policemen posted to provide security for top government officials from carrying their bags or converting themselves to domestic staff, just as he emphasised his disdain against all forms of corruption.

According to him, "management decided to invite you for interaction so we get first-hand information from you. We expect that you should no longer collect money from members of the public, you should be civil to the public and observe all forms of human right abuses.

"Some of you who are escorting think they are in their bedrooms. Misuse of firearms, Force Order 223 is there. Make sure you observe the provisions of this law. You must change your attitude to the public because we need them to support us.

"We shall train you on alternative disputes resolution. All those who dabble into land matters and commercial matters should hands off and advise them to go to the court.

"You should no longer detain anybody more than 24 hours. Before you invite anybody, ensure that you have investigated the issue and have with you concrete evidence before you invite or arrest anybody.

"Henceforth, only government officials are entitled to police protection. You should no longer carry people's bags, open their doors, man their gates or engage in any domestic chores for anybody. I have directed the commissioners in-charge of airports to arrest you if they see you dragging your pistol with boxes or bags of anybody.

"For your promotion, immediately after the inauguration, the DIG in-charge of training will invite those of you who are qualified to the various training colleges so that you can be trained for promotion.

"On no account should we see anybody on our highways wearing slippers or shabbily dressed. If we see you, we are going to arrest you. You have been given authority to arrest anybody who is blowing siren. It has been banned, but you must not carry horse whip, you must be civil," he ordered.

Culled

Grant amnesty to Boko Haram, Northern elders tell Buhari

SOME prominent northerners including the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mohammed Uwais and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Gambari have asked the President -elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, declare amnesty for Boko Haram insurgents when he takes over power on May 29.

However, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, dismissed the call saying it would amount to rewarding criminals instead of punishing them for crimes against humanity.

They also asked Buhari to give priority attention to the special economic programmes for the North East geopolitical zone which had been ravaged by the Boko Haram terrorists, just as they warned against the scrapping of the on-going amnesty programme for ex-militants in the Niger Delta region.

These were contained in a communiqué issued after a two-day conference with the theme: “Security and Governance Challenges in Africa’s largest Democracy,” by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, SCDDD, as part of its “Nigeria Beyond 12015 Project,” in Abuja yesterday.

Those communiqué was signed by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, founder of Savannah Centre, Major General Ishola Williams, Executive Secretary, Pan-African Strategic and Peace Research Group, PAN-AFSTRAG, Justice Mohammed Uwais (chairman of the occasion) and Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki, executive director of the Savannah Centre.

They also called on the Federal Government ‘’to expedite action on the compensation of victims of Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency through the established and funded Victims’ Support Fund,’’ and for urgent priority attention to the special economic programme for the North East by the incoming administration, just as they condemned ‘’the carnage, devastations and displacements, which the Boko Haram group inflicted upon many innocent Nigerians in the north east region.’’

Furthermore, the communiqué called ‘’for the establishment of a special economic programme for the affected states of the North-East, focusing on rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction,’’ as well as on the need for ‘’the governors of the North-East States and indeed of the entire North, on the necessity for a blueprint that addresses the issues of vocational and skills-acquisition education for the youths.’’

Among those who participated in the conference were the National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki, rtd, (represented by Ambassador C.L. Olaseinde); the Secretary, Borno State Elders’ Forum, BSEF, Dr Bulama Gubio (who represented Governor Kashim Shettima); Dr. Zakariya Ousmane Ramadene of N’djamena, Chad. Prof. Abubakar Momoh, DG, Electoral Institute, INEC, Abuja and Professor Habu Galadima, director research, NIPSS, Jos, Plateau State.

The communiqué read in part, ‘’After thought-provoking, incisive and lively discussions, the Conference resolved follows:

SECURITY

Recognizes the need for security shift from military-centred to military-civilian centred. Mindful of the military’s cherished role as security provider, calls on all security organs to play their pivotal role in protecting citizens’ life and property as well as protecting them from fear and physical harm;

‘’Affirms the primacy of developing integrated comprehensive national security policies addressing the major military and human security concerns;

‘’Observes the need to redress the current communication deficit by improving on information sharing by the defence and security establishments on a need-to-know basis with stakeholders and the citizenry;

‘’Notes with dissatisfaction, the proliferation of institutions of state with overlapping functions and calls for urgent need for this to be addressed with a view to stream-lining their functions, and also cutting the cost of governance as well as reducing un necessary bureaucratic misunderstandings;

Acknowledges the efforts of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, in pioneering, initiating and developing policy and operational framework documents to enhance effective and efficient security and defence service delivery; encourage the ONSA to properly enlist and engage other relevant agencies and stakeholders in implementing these laudable initiatives and wide-ranging responsibilities encapsulated in these documents;

‘’Emphasizes the efficacy of adopting, nurturing, developing, consolidating and strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations with Nigeria’s neighbours by evolving strategic and tactical, military, socio-economic and political cooperation with Nigeria’s neighbours, particularly Niger, Cameron and Chad, Benin Republic as well as Mali and Burkina Faso in combating the Boko Haram terrorists;

‘’Recommends that Nigeria must seek to enhance her security through a combination of strategies. First, is through careful and full implementation of the various provisions in the recently released National Security Strategy Document. Second, through a revitalized Bilateral arrangement with her immediate neighbours, namely Cameroun, Chad, Benin Republic, Niger as well as Mali and Burkina Faso. Third, through Multilateral arrangement by way of an expanded Multinational Joint Security Task Force (MJSTF) under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), taking into account the strategic location of Benin Republic to Nigeria’s security interest;

‘’Acknowledges the high vulnerability of the Lake Chad region, which is currently compounded by the Boko Haram insurgency and urges member-states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission,as a matter of priority to ensure the operational effectiveness of the Multinational Joint Security Task Force. Pursuant to this, member-states are further urged to quickly conclude the ongoing negotiations on the legal status and operational modalities of the Task Force, to enable it quickly take control of the security situation in the sub-region.

POLITICAL

‘’Notes the successful and peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections, and calls for the urgent need for party building and the institutionalization of management mechanisms;

Recommends that political party organization and management in Nigeria should be based on the rules, guidelines and constitution of the party. In this regard, parties and members should always allow internal party democracy to prevail;

‘’Reiterates the supremacy of party constitution paramount so long as it is not in conflict with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act as amended;

‘’Urges the Political Parties to move away from the current syndrome of political elitism to building the real political class whose focus is anchored on sustainable development of party politics; devoid of the current political nomadism whose sole purpose for power acquisition is to satisfy the parochial interest of its political class (not of the people). In order to attain this, it is important that parties are built on interests, issues and ideology;

‘’Recommends that inter-party cooperation and understanding should be strengthened; calls on the Nigerian political parties must return to the original concept of party-building and democratic values, guided by a disciplined political class in order to stem the spate of defections that have characterized the Nigerian political system;

MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION

‘’Urges the media to strictly adhere to professional ethics, standards of journalism, and any violation should attract severe sanctions

Calls on the Media and Civil Society Organizations to be agents in the promotion of national interest, religious tolerance, peaceful co-existence, national integration and cohesion;

ECONOMY

‘’Stresses the necessity for full implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act to check corruption as well as strengthen the relevant state Institutions, such as the EFCC and ICPC;

Notes that while due process as a procurement policy is important and necessary, it must be conducted in transparent manner;

Observes with disappointment that the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission, RMFAC. has abdicated its responsibility of mobilizing revenue and instead concentrating mainly on allocation;

‘’Calls on the Nigerian-State to expedite action on the compensation of victims of Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency through the established and funded Victims’ Support Fund;

Condemns the carnage, devastations and displacements, which the Boko Haram group inflicted upon many innocent Nigerians in the Northeast region;

Calls for the establishment of a special economic programme for the affected States of the North-East, focusing on rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction;

‘’Underscores the necessity for the incoming Government to reduce the size of governance by collapsing appropriate MDA’s and other institutions of Government; Notes the success story of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (for Niger Delta ex-militants) which terminates in 2015 and called for targeted review of the scheme to forestall the relapse of the region into its turbulent past. ‘’It further calls for a similarly arrangements to address the peculiar issues arising from the insurgency in the Nort-East, while noting the singularity of purpose for the General T.Y Danjuma Victims Support Funds;

COMMENDATION

The Conference commends the Savannah Centre for organizing this Conference on “Security and Governance: Challenges in Africa’s Largest Democracy” at this critical moment in Nigeria’s security development and sub-regional security challenges.’’

Don’t grant amnesty to Boko Haram-Junaid Mohammed

But in a swift reaction, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed dismissed the call for the extension of amnesty to Boko Haram terrorists as inimical to the country.

Mohammed said: “I don’t support any call for amnesty for the Boko Haram members because we don’t know who they are and what they are fighting for. As at today, we don’t who they are. Some of them were sponsored by the government while others were sponsored by Niger Delta militants to destabilise the north.

“There must therefore be a strong reason for any right-thinking Nigerian to call for amnesty for terrorists in Nigeria. Even the one granted to Niger Delta militants is a scam because it is a reward to those who committed heinous crimes against the rest of the country instead of punishing them adequately.

“As far as I am concerned Gambari does not know much about the Niger Delta than myself and I see his call for the continuous running of amnesty as a serious disappointment and something done in bad taste.’’

Lamido jets out to S/Arabia, leaves N14bn debt

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State yesterday handed over to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdu Babura, after a news conference at the end of the council meeting and left the state for Abuja-Lagos en route Saudi-Arabia.

The out-going governor said at the news conference that a debt profile of the state obtained from the joint sitting of the two transition committees was N14 billion.

He said the federal government owes the state N12 billion from the airport project executed by state government with the understanding and commitment of the federal government to reimburse the state while N2 billion is the actual debt of the state.

It would be recalled that the governor had at a briefing two weeks ago, said he committed about N17 billion of the state’s funds in the airport project with hope that President Goodluck Jonathan, who promised during his visit to Jigawa in 2010 to establish an airport there, would reimburse the state, adding that the federal government only paid the state N5.8 billion, leaving a balance of N12 billion.

President Jonathan in October 2014 while commissioning the airport said the federal government would only support state governments handling airport projects because the government cannot reimburse all the eight state building airports across the country.

Lamido also told newsmen that there were  rollover projects worth N90 billion for which the state government had awarded contracts  but had not made any payment to the contractors, adding that it was left for the incoming administration to continue or stop the projects.

The governor also told journalists that all political appointees would be in their offices till the midnight of May 28, adding that statutory appointees would stay till their tenure expires.

JIM IYKE GETS ‘LOCKED UP’ BY QATAR CABIN CREW

Could Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke be gradually backing out of Nollywood? This question is popping up because with his recent travelling from one country to another, one imagines when he has time for Nollywood scripts.

The actor who recently just launched his table water business in Lagos, is currently in the air as he was being celebrated in oil rich Qatar Airline.

Jimmy who was so elated with the reception he got from the cabin crew, explained that he has flown all international airline in the world but has never met such cool cabin crew as the once in oil rich airline.

The hard dude is currently in Doha for another business transaction where he will later move to Atlanta USA for other businesses too.

It seems for this actor, it is business all the way; please Nollywood still needs you bro

"Flown almost every international airline in the world but this crew was by far the coolest I've been with. Was blown away I had fans in #Qatar Airline. You guys pampered me so rotten other passengers got mad! Lol! Thank u guys. Y'all alien! I pray I meet u on my return trip. S/O to Denj and Maryam," he wrote.

WARNING: Regular use of paracetamol can cause deadly diseases

The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that the regular use of painkillers especially, paracetamols could lead to heart attacks, stroke and early death, The Guardian reports.

According to a study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases journal, patients prescribed high doses of the painkiller for long periods were 63% more likely to die unexpectedly.

There is also a 68% higher chance of having a heart attack or stroke and an almost 50% greater chance of having a stomach ulcer or bleeding.

Generally, Paracetamol is considered by doctors to be safer than Aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeds, and ibuprofen, which has also been linked to heart attacks and strokes.

But in 2013, NAFDAC and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had alerted Nigerians that Paracetamol had been associated with risk of rare but serious skin reactions known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), and Acute Generalised Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP) which can be fatal.

To this end, NAFDAC encouraged patients to report such cases to their health care provider, who will channel the complaint to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre, even as British researchers say the risks may have been underestimated and are calling for a major review to be conducted into the drug’s safety.

Meanwhile, Philip Conaghan who led an extensive research conducted on patients who took Paracetamol daily observing its effects advised that patients being prescribed the drugs for long periods for arthritis or muscle and joint pain should talk to their doctors about alternative treatments, such as exercise.

Culled

15 Marriage Rules of Old That No Longer Apply In Today’s Marriage

Still spending most of your time in the kitchen because you feel that you ‘have to’ make sure your husband gets a hot meal when he comes home from work exhausted? Well, the 90s called and they want this regressive approach back. While you were busy feeling guilty for not making round rotis and coming back from work later than your husband, things changed. Although age-old rigid rules seem like the golden guide to a happy marriage, they can also be limiting. So give up on the guilt – and these 15 other things, and work towards a happier and less stressful relationship.

Your husband should be your life: While it’s great to tend to your husband and kids, it is also a good idea to keep your own identity and not lose yourself in the everyday routine.

Be selfless: Constantly putting people’s needs over your own will result in you resenting the relationship and feeling depressed. Do something for yourself each day, something that truly makes you happy.

Good girls don’t talk about sex: As a society, we suppress sexual feelings to such an extent that a wife often feels ashamed to discuss her needs with her own husband. Don’t let the feeling of ‘shame’ come in the way of a healthy sex life.

Do what your husband says: In the past, married couples had a gender role to play where the man took the decisions and the woman followed. You are a strong, thinking individual and have every right to make your opinion heard and acted upon.

Don’t be too emotional: Many women shy away from expressing their true feelings for the ‘fear’ of their partner not understanding them. While we are in no way suggesting an emotional drama, at times, letting him know that certain things are just not acceptable, is a good idea.

Don’t wash your dirty laundry in public: Contrary to popular belief the first year of marriage is often the hardest. Don’t be afraid to talk about the problems and take help if necessary.

Don’t go to bed angry: When it comes to everyday issues, try to follow this rule. But there are certain things that take time to work through. Sleep on it, think about it the next morning and try talking to your partner about it once again.

Culled

10 Signs The Man Wooing You Has Another Woman/ May Be Married!

I know there are females who deliberately date married men,I am not talking about those.this is specifically for girls who inadvertently fall for the lying tongues of men already in relationships and string along a girl who falls in love only to have her heart shattered that she had been dealing with a man who was just after having her as a side chic.This is not just for people who are mistresses without knowing it but many of the points can be applicable to wives whose husbands have mistresses.The saying goes that a criminal has to be lucky all the tile and the police just needs to be lucky one time to apprehend him is so trueThere are tell tale signs cheaters and deceives in relationships drop along the way

These are a few

His stories don’t add up
A lie usually cannot stand except by the support of many other lies so if a man is telling conflicting stories about his relationship or former wife,there is a chance he is hiding something.Most people cannot remember the lies they told previously in the exact way they told it so when you pick up inconsistencies.you should be be on the alert
Phone goes off while with him and he rushes out to take the calls
This is a big one
I had a friend whose husband would do this.He will jump out of bed and run off to answer phone calls,always speaking in very low tones and switches to yes and no and e he when she comes close,be warned. If he shuts off a ringing phone and starts texting continually afterwards.That is a sign not to be missed.he is telling lying to you or his wife about his location and probably apologizing for his absence. The frequency of the occurrences ought to set off a light bulb in your head.
You hardly ever get him when you call he does most of the calling
Another good sign.There are certain times of the day,most people you know are home and relaxing at home.If you cannot get the man to answer his phone at those times or he prefers to text only,you should wonder why that is the case.There could be another woman and he is having his family time.
He never takes you to his house
IMHO this is perhaps the most important sign.You don’t know his house,he discourages you and gives reasons you cannot visit.He prefers to come to your place or see you anywhere buy his house,there is a woman there.No ifs or buts.If you doubt mega unannounced and see if he won’t deny knowing who you are.
He calls only at specific times
Similar to the third point but not the same
If he only calls during work hours or at certain specific times,he may be married.those are his only freetimes
Conversations end abruptly
Of course it will.Once in a while his woman may walk in and he has to leave and tell you there was a bad network.The bad network was mama bomboi

He insists on avoiding certain locations or avoids public appearances with you entirely
Of course he doesn’t want to take you to where he may run into people who know him and if he is the very careful type,he will avoid outings entirely.
Find a restaurant near where he lives and tell him you really want to go there next time he wants to take you out and watch his reaction.

Check for a ring mark on his finger
Some married men like my husband doesn’t wear a ring so no ring is not a sign a man is single,however there are many married men who do wear rings but will take it out to meet women.
If you wear a ring on your finger long enough,you can’t run away from a distinct ring mark on your finger.look out for a ring mark on his ring finger or a sign of him covering that finger.
He disappoints at obvious times he should be around
Your birthday,valentines day,public holidays.Times you expect him to be there but instead comes up with excuses upon excuses.He was probably tied up with family affairs and in as much as he would have wanted to be there but he couldn’t.There are some he cannot explain away.
A gut feeling that something is not right
People have instincts,more so women,if you have this nagging feeling that you are being played, don’t shake it off,you probably are

- See more at: http://nigeriabreakingnews.info/10-signs-the-man-wooing-you-has-another-woman-may-be-married/#sthash.PswThuAP.dpuf

I know there are females who deliberately date married men,I am not talking about those.this is specifically for girls who inadvertently fall for the lying tongues of men already in relationships and string along a girl who falls in love only to have her heart shattered that she had been dealing with a man who was just after having her as a side chic.This is not just for people who are mistresses without knowing it but many of the points can be applicable to wives whose husbands have mistresses.The saying goes that a criminal has to be lucky all the tile and the police just needs to be lucky one time to apprehend him is so trueThere are tell tale signs cheaters and deceives in relationships drop along the way

These are a few

His stories don’t add up
A lie usually cannot stand except by the support of many other lies so if a man is telling conflicting stories about his relationship or former wife,there is a chance he is hiding something.Most people cannot remember the lies they told previously in the exact way they told it so when you pick up inconsistencies.you should be be on the alert.

Phone goes off while with him and he rushes out to take the calls
This is a big one
I had a friend whose husband would do this.He will jump out of bed and run off to answer phone calls,always speaking in very low tones and switches to yes and no and e he when she comes close,be warned. If he shuts off a ringing phone and starts texting continually afterwards.That is a sign not to be missed.he is telling lying to you or his wife about his location and probably apologizing for his absence. The frequency of the occurrences ought to set off a light bulb in your head.

You hardly ever get him when you call he does most of the calling
Another good sign.There are certain times of the day,most people you know are home and relaxing at home.If you cannot get the man to answer his phone at those times or he prefers to text only,you should wonder why that is the case.There could be another woman and he is having his family time.

He never takes you to his house
IMHO this is perhaps the most important sign.You don’t know his house,he discourages you and gives reasons you cannot visit.He prefers to come to your place or see you anywhere buy his house,there is a woman there.No ifs or buts.If you doubt mega unannounced and see if he won’t deny knowing who you are.

He calls only at specific times
Similar to the third point but not the same
If he only calls during work hours or at certain specific times,he may be married.those are his only freetimes.

Conversations end abruptly
Of course it will.Once in a while his woman may walk in and he has to leave and tell you there was a bad network.The bad network was mama bomboi

He insists on avoiding certain locations or avoids public appearances with you entirely
Of course he doesn’t want to take you to where he may run into people who know him and if he is the very careful type,he will avoid outings entirely.
Find a restaurant near where he lives and tell him you really want to go there next time he wants to take you out and watch his reaction.

Check for a ring mark on his finger
Some married men like my husband doesn’t wear a ring so no ring is not a sign a man is single,however there are many married men who do wear rings but will take it out to meet women.
If you wear a ring on your finger long enough,you can’t run away from a distinct ring mark on your finger.look out for a ring mark on his ring finger or a sign of him covering that finger.

He disappoints at obvious times he should be around
Your birthday,valentines day,public holidays.Times you expect him to be there but instead comes up with excuses upon excuses.He was probably tied up with family affairs and in as much as he would have wanted to be there but he couldn’t.There are some he cannot explain away.

A gut feeling that something is not right
People have instincts,more so women,if you have this nagging feeling that you are being played, don’t shake it off,you probably are

Culled

16 players arrive in Super Eagles camp for 2017 AFCON qualifier against Chad

Super Eagles

No fewer than 16 Super Eagles players on Thursday arrived camp in preparation for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Chad.

The encounter, scheduled to take place in Kaduna on June 13, is the Eagles first qualifying match for the tournament.

The team had failed to qualify for the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea, won by Cote d’ Ivoire.

Tony Ibitoye, the Super Eagles Media Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the 16 players would be joined by 12 others at weekend.

Ibitoye named Chibuzor Okonkwo, Chidiebere Eze, Rabiu Ali, Ezekiel Mba, Mfon Udoh and Esosa Igbinosa as those who had arrived.

He said that Chinedu Udoji, the Captain of Enyimba Intl. FC of Aba, was also among the players that had arrived the team’s camp in Abuja ahead of the encounter scheduled for Kaduna.


“Some of the players have league matches on Friday and are expected to join others on Saturday’’, he said.

Ibitoye also told NAN that the team would begin its training at the National Stadium, Abuja on Friday with the 16 players already in camp.

NAN reports that the team’s Head Coach Stephen Keshi, and his assistants – Ike Shorunmu and Salisu Yusuf, as well as other backroom staff, are already in camp.


Credit: NAN

There is no magic wand to make our economy better overnight – Oyegun

EXTRAORDINARY TIMES REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS

Being the text of an address of welcome by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, at a two-day retreat for all APC Senators-elect at the Ibeto Hotel in Abuja on Saturday, May 23rd 2015

Extraordinary Times Require Extraordinary Actions

Extraordinary Times Require Extraordinary Actions
Being the text of an address of welcome by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, at a two-day retreat for all APC Senators-elect at the Ibeto Hotel in Abuja on Saturday, May 23rd 2015
Protocols
Let me formally welcome our party’s torchbearers in the upper chamber of the incoming 8th National Assembly to this retreat.
This is the first formal interaction between our Senators-elect and the leadership of our party, since the conclusion of the 2015 General Elections.
While I congratulate all of you on your elections, I must quickly add that I don’t envy you. This is because you are being called to service at one of the most challenging periods in the history of our nation.

APC members 

Unparalleled commitment, uncommon patriotism, unprecedented hard work and indeed a reservoir of your innermost strength will be required, as our party takes the centre stage in the next few days and begins to implement its programmes for the benefit of the long suffering people.
Make no mistake about it, the days ahead will be tough, and this is not crying wolf.
From the first day of this government, a total of 4.1 trillion Naira will be required for sundry expenses, including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at federal and state levels and debt servicing, just to mention a few.
Put this against the background of the falling oil prices, the unprecedented 60-billion-dollar debt which the outgoing government has left for the incoming one, the largely depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA), the 60 billion dollars that have been lost in the last four years to crude oil theft (and which are perhaps still being lost as we speak), the need to rapidly create jobs for our teeming army of unemployed youths, enhance the security of the citizenry and improve the economy, and you will begin to understand the enormity of the challenges ahead.
This is not a lamentation forum, but still, we must tell ourselves the truth about the state of the nation, and the expectations of our people.
In fact, to a number of our compatriots, by May 30th, a day after the swearing of our President-elect, all the streets in Nigeria will be air conditioned while electricity will become stable and fuel scarcity will be a thing of the past.
Yes, we will get there, but it won’t happen overnight.
You, our Senators-elect, will be called upon to take extraordinary actions to address the extraordinary challenges that confront our nation.
The incoming President, more than anyone else, needs the support and cooperation of the 8th National Assembly to fulfill his campaign promise to Nigerians.
You may be required to pass important bills at very short notices. This will not be unprecedented but will require a buy-in to the programmes of the President and the Party and a willingness to work with him and the party for the benefit of all Nigerians. The demands on you will be tasking, but you are up to the task!
Fortunately we have the numbers, even though we believe that a bipartisan effort – to which we are open – will be a better deal
And there is good news! You, our Senators-elect, share in the dreams of the President and our party to make our country great again.
May I also remind you that all eyes will be on our party – and by extension on all of you – to see if our government will walk its talk in terms of running a lean and effective government, one that eschews waste, corruption and indiscipline, and one that will harness the nation’s human, material and natural resources for the well being of the people.
Finally, let me end on a note of caution.
There is no magic wand to make our economy better overnight. Against the realities on the ground, some of which I listed earlier, reviving our economy will be a long and tortuous process. Bold decisions will need to be taken, and this can only be possible if there is a synergy among our party, the National Assembly and the President. We know you will not fail us, and you will not fail Nigerians.
Well, the 1921 Nobel Laureate for Physics, Dr. Albert Einstein, must have had a moment like this in mind, while responding to a question.
He was asked: “Dr. Einstein, why is it that when the mind of man has stretched so far as to discover the structure of the atom, we have been unable to devise the political means to keep the atom from destroying us?”
His answer: “That is simple, my friend. It is because politics is more difficult than physics.”
Now that you know the nobility of the calling in which you have found yourselves, I am sure you will not hesitate to show that politicians too can solve problems!
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/there-is-no-magic-wand-to-make-our-economy-better-overniBeing the text of an address of welcome by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, at a two-day retreat for all APC Senators-elect at the Ibeto Hotel in Abuja on Saturday, May 23rd 2015

Protocols

Let me formally welcome our party’s torchbearers in the upper chamber of the incoming 8th National Assembly to this retreat.

This is the first formal interaction between our Senators-elect and the leadership of our party, since the conclusion of the 2015 General Elections.

While I congratulate all of you on your elections, I must quickly add that I don’t envy you. This is because you are being called to service at one of the most challenging periods in the history of our nation.

APC members 

Unparalleled commitment, uncommon patriotism, unprecedented hard work and indeed a reservoir of your innermost strength will be required, as our party takes the centre stage in the next few days and begins to implement its programmes for the benefit of the long suffering people.

Make no mistake about it, the days ahead will be tough, and this is not crying wolf.

From the first day of this government, a total of 4.1 trillion Naira will be required for sundry expenses, including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at federal and state levels and debt servicing, just to mention a few.

Put this against the background of the falling oil prices, the unprecedented 60-billion-dollar debt which the outgoing government has left for the incoming one, the largely depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA), the 60 billion dollars that have been lost in the last four years to crude oil theft (and which are perhaps still being lost as we speak), the need to rapidly create jobs for our teeming army of unemployed youths, enhance the security of the citizenry and improve the economy, and you will begin to understand the enormity of the challenges ahead.

This is not a lamentation forum, but still, we must tell ourselves the truth about the state of the nation, and the expectations of our people.

In fact, to a number of our compatriots, by May 30th, a day after the swearing of our President-elect, all the streets in Nigeria will be air conditioned while electricity will become stable and fuel scarcity will be a thing of the past.

Yes, we will get there, but it won’t happen overnight.

You, our Senators-elect, will be called upon to take extraordinary actions to address the extraordinary challenges that confront our nation.

The incoming President, more than anyone else, needs the support and cooperation of the 8th National Assembly to fulfill his campaign promise to Nigerians.

You may be required to pass important bills at very short notices. This will not be unprecedented but will require a buy-in to the programmes of the President and the Party and a willingness to work with him and the party for the benefit of all Nigerians. The demands on you will be tasking, but you are up to the task!

Fortunately we have the numbers, even though we believe that a bipartisan effort – to which we are open – will be a better deal

And there is good news! You, our Senators-elect, share in the dreams of the President and our party to make our country great again.

May I also remind you that all eyes will be on our party – and by extension on all of you – to see if our government will walk its talk in terms of running a lean and effective government, one that eschews waste, corruption and indiscipline, and one that will harness the nation’s human, material and natural resources for the well being of the people.

Finally, let me end on a note of caution.

There is no magic wand to make our economy better overnight. Against the realities on the ground, some of which I listed earlier, reviving our economy will be a long and tortuous process. Bold decisions will need to be taken, and this can only be possible if there is a synergy among our party, the National Assembly and the President. We know you will not fail us, and you will not fail Nigerians.

Well, the 1921 Nobel Laureate for Physics, Dr. Albert Einstein, must have had a moment like this in mind, while responding to a question.

He was asked: “Dr. Einstein, why is it that when the mind of man has stretched so far as to discover the structure of the atom, we have been unable to devise the political means to keep the atom from destroying us?”

His answer: “That is simple, my friend. It is because politics is more difficult than physics.”

Now that you know the nobility of the calling in which you have found yourselves, I am sure you will not hesitate to show that politicians too can solve problems!

Credit: Vanguard