Buhari deserves unalloyed cooperation, support- Jonathan

President Buhari 

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday urged Nigerians to cooperate, support and show understanding in all situations to the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for the progress of the country.

Mr. Jonathan, who made the call at the Presidential inaugural dinner in Abuja, said the incoming administration deserved the support because Nigerians irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds belong to “one strong family”.

He said for the country to make steady progress, Nigerians must all work together at all levels regardless of the outcome of the 2015 general elections.

He, therefore, called on the incoming Mr. Buhari’s administration to pursue programmes and policies meant to promote national unity and rapid development of the country.

The president described the emergence of Akinwumi Adesina as President of African Development Bank (AfDB) as a well deserved parting gift to him.

He, therefore, thanked all African leaders for making it possible for Nigeria to preside over the bank for the first time since its inception.

In her remarks at the occasion, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, assured the Nigeria’s President-elect, Muhammadu Bahari, of the Union’s support.

Ms. Zuma, who also congratulated President Jonathan for his statesmanship during and after the election, described him as a “statesman not in age but in status’’.

“Nigerians, you did us proud because if things go well in Nigeria they will go well in our continent,” she said.

In his goodwill message, the President of the ECOWAS commission, Kadré Ouédraogo, thanked the people and government of Nigeria for ensuring peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.

He described the exercise as Nigeria’s greatest contribution to ECOWAS.

Mr. Ouédraogo also commended Nigeria’s effort in tackling the spread of Ebola virus across the sub-region as well as the political crises in Guinea Bissau, Mali and other ECOWAS countries.

At the event, the Vice-President elect, Yemi Osinbajo, was conferred with the medal of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger by President Jonathan.

Credit: NAN

Only 7 female senators in 8th National Assembly

Only seven out of the 109 senators who will serve in the 8th National Assembly are women, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Four of the female senators were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while three are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP senators-elect are Stella Oduah (Anambra North), Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central), Rose Oko (Cross River North) and Fatimat Raji-Rasaki (Ekiti Central).

Those elected on APC platform are Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and Binta Garba (Adamawa North) and Monsurat Jumoke Sunmonu (Oyo Central), who is the current speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

An examination of the list of the female senators-elect showed that all of them, except Senator Tinubu, are new members of the Red Chamber.

The number of female senators who will serve in the 8th assembly is 12.5 per cent less from the eight that are in the outgoing 7th assembly.

Statistics on the number of senators-elect for the 8th assembly revealed that 79 senators or 72 per cent are new while 30 senators or 28 per cent are old members returning for different terms in the upper chamber.

According to the statistics, APC with 61 senators or 56 per cent of the total number of senators will enjoy simple majority control in the chamber as against 44 per cent or 48 senators it has in the outgoing 7th Assembly.

The reverse is the case for PDP, which lost its majority status in the Upper Chamber with 48 senators-elect as against 61 senators in the outgoing 7th assembly.

Credit: NAN

Nigerian professionals more in Europe than in Nigeria – EU

The European Union says there are more Nigerian professionals in Europe than there are in Nigeria, warning that the development can be detrimental to the development of the country.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Michel Arrion, disclosed this at a conference on National Migration Policy Thematic Areas, organised by UN International Organisation for Migration in Abuja.

Mr. Arrion explained that EU welcomed migration as long as it was legal, adding that “it enhances the movement of factors of production, particularly labour, especially in Europe.”

“Migration is good,” Mr. Arrion said. “We (Europe) like migration as long as it is legal. We need migration for various reasons. Movement of factors of production is a good thing and labour moving freely is a very good thing.

“In Europe and in other western countries, we have this specific issue of aging population. So we need fresh blood in our countries but we have to be careful sometimes about brain drain. As you know, there are more PhD holders from Nigerian origin in Europe or in America than in Nigeria.

“There are more Nigerian doctors and nurses in Europe and in America than in Nigeria. So, let’s be careful with that. It is good to attract the best people but not to the detriment of the development of your country.”

In his remarks, the Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Abubakar Sulaiman, said Nigeria was grappling with a wide range of migration issues.

He said, “Nigeria as the most populous country on the continent grapples with a wide range of migration issues, from internal migration to massive intra and inter-regional migration.

“Migration of highly skilled and unskilled labour workforce, trafficking in persons, Diaspora engagement and remittances amongst others, have shaped the current migratory trends and dominated contemporary migration discourse.”

Represented by Bassey Akpanyung, the secretary of NPC, Mr. Sulaiman pledged Nigeria’s commitment toward migration issues.

He said the Federal Government’s commitment in this regard had been demonstrated by the endorsement of the National Labour Migration Policy and the National Migration Policy.

The minister said the policy recognised the challenges of migration in Nigeria, especially relating to smuggling and trafficking in persons and irregular migration.

According to him, it addresses the benefits of migration and considers ways of maximising opportunities to use the huge remittance flows from the Diaspora.

Mr. Sulaiman said the policy would also engage the skills, entrepreneurship, transnational transactions and ideas of the Diaspora.

Credit: NAN

Court stops NERC from increasing electricity tariff

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday restrained the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission from implementing the new electricity tariff which was to take effect from June 1.

The judge, Mohammed Idris, gave the order, in a ruling on an ex-parte application filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi.

Mr. Idris restrained the NERC and the electricity distribution companies from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Mr. Adebiyi, who argued the ex-parte application, had urged the court to restrain the NERC and the electricity distribution companies from implementing such plans to avoid further hardship and unjustifiable tariff increment on Nigerians.

The chairman of NERC, Sam Amadi, had, at a news conference in Abuja, announced plans by the Commission to implement the upward review in electricity tariff from June 1.

However, Mr. Idris, after entertaining arguments from Mr. Adebiyi, ordered the NERC to maintain the status quo of the substantive suit till the hearing of the suit.

The judge ordered that the motion and other processes in the suit be served on the NERC.

Mr. Idris also granted leave to the applicant to serve the originating summons, the affidavit in support, list of exhibits and the written address on the defendant in Abuja, which is outside Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court.

The judge also adjourned the suit to June 11 for hearing.

Mr. Adebiyi, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining the NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply at least for 18 hours in a day in most communities in the country.

He also wanted an order restraining the NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters not until “the meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption and not a flat-rate of service not rendered or power not used.”

He also wanted the service charge on pre-paid meters not to be enforced until there is visible efficient and reliable power supply like those of foreign countries where the idea of service charge was borrowed.

Mr. Adebiyi is also asking for an order of the court mandating the NERC to do the needful and generate more power to meet the electricity use of Nigerians.

He added that the needful should include and not limited to a multiple long-term financing approach, sourced from the banks, capital market, insurance and other sectors of finance to power the sector.

The lawyer is also asking the court to mandate the NERC to make available to all Nigerians, within a reasonable time of maximum of two years, pre-paid meters as a way to stop the throat-cutting indiscriminate estimated bills and which must be devoid of the arbitrary service charge, but only chargeable on power consumed.

In an affidavit in support of the suit personally deposed to by the applicant, the lawyer lamented that despite the motto and mission of NERC which were expressly stated as “keeping the light on and to meet the needs of Nigeria for safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity”.

He said that most communities in Nigeria do not get more than 30 minutes of electricity supply, while the remaining 23 hours and 30 minutes were always without light and in total darkness.

 Credit: NAN

Soldiers harass, detain Punch reporter taking pictures of Jonathan’s home

President Jonathan

The spokesperson of the Joint Task Force in Bayelsa state, Isa Ado, a lieutenant colonel, has confirmed the arrest and subsequent handing over of a Punch reporter, Simon Utebor, to the police.

Mr. Utebor was arrested by soldiers for attempting to take pictures of President Goodluck Jonathan’s private home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Mr. Ado said the JTF Commander in the state has ordered for the release of Mr. Utebor.
However, Mr. Utebor told PREMIUM TIMES via phone he was yet to regain his freedom.

“I have been transferred to the State CID, and I have written a statement on the incident and we are still waiting for the police authorities,” Mr. Utebor said.

Some soldiers deployed to protect President Goodluck Jonathan’s private residence in Otuoke, Bayelsa state, on Thursday had harassed and detained Mr. Utebor, for attempting to take pictures of the president’s house.

Mr. Utebor was arrested by soldiers from the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta and handed over to the police at Otuoke Police Station.

Mr. Utebor was reportedly accosted by soldiers on guard duty while taking photographs of on-going work on the palatial residence constructed while the president was in office.

Artisans were seen putting finishing touches to the premises consisting of multiple blocks of two storey buildings.

Mr. Jonathan is expected to be received on Friday by the Bayelsa Government at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre at 3p.m. and later in his Otuoke country home by his kinsmen.

Earlier efforts to speak with the Punch correspondent were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was switched off.

When initially contacted the spokesperson of the Joint Task Force, Mr. Ado, had said he was out of station on official assignment but however, pledged to investigate the report and respond as soon as possible.

 Credit: Premium Times

El-Rufai’s inauguration ends abruptly as youth attack Emir, Chief Judge

Nasir El-Rufai

The inauguration of Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State ended abruptly on Friday after angry youth pelted some prominent indigenes of the state, including the revered Emir of Zaria, Shehu Idris, and the state chief judge, Taminu Zailani, at the venue of the inauguration.

The rampaging youth accused them of colluding with the previous administration of Governor Ramalan Yero to plunder the resources of the state.

They specifically demanded the dethronement of the Emir who in the ensuing pandemonium that enveloped the venue of the inauguration was rescued and smuggled out of the venue by his palace guards.

A senator-elect, Shehu Sani, used his car to smuggle the chief judge out of the venue. He then drove him to his home in the Riga Chikun area of Kaduna.

Mr. El-Rufai could not review the parade mounted by the police as some youth pelted dignitaries with water in sachets, stones and other objects in the pavilion.

This prompted security agents to fire tear gas into the crowd at the Murtala Square, Kaduna.

Some dignitaries in the pavilion included the Emir of Zazzau, Shehu Idris, and other traditional rulers in the State.

The incident occurred when the new governor had concluded his address and was about to mount an open van to review the parade mounted by the police.

While the crowds were dispersed by the police, dignitaries remained seated, but the occasion ended abruptly without the governor reviewing the parade.

The Murtala Square was filled to capacity.

Credit: NAN

How Mu’azu escaped EFCC’s prosecution plot

Adamu Muazu

Contrary to the health reason cited as basis for his resignation as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, actually quit his job to avoid prosecution for corrupt practices. A source told New Telegraph yesterday that the presidency had perfected plans to make the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reopen Mu’azu’s file for prosecution before he suddenly travelled abroad. Mu’azu has a pending case with the EFCC bordering on the alleged mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N19.8 billion when he was governor of Bauchi State between 1999 and 2007.

It was learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan bowed to pressure from some of his aides to allow EFCC prosecute Mu’azu following his resistance to resign after he led the party to its first humiliating defeat in 16 years. Jonathan was said to have advised Mu’azu to toe the path of honour and quit as national chairman after the PDP lost its ruling status in the general elections to the All Progressives Congress (APC). But the former governor was said to have declined the president’s request. Mu’azu was accused by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation of sabotaging Jonathan’s re-election by working for the opposition.

It was learnt that when Mu’azu got the hint that the hawks in the presidency were bent on humiliating him with the corruption case and in the face of growing calls by governors and PDP stakeholders for the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC), he travelled to Singapore, on the excuse that he was going for medical treatment. On Wednesday May 20, Mu’azu resigned while abroad.

“Mu’azu has no health challenge. He resigned to wade off the onslaught the presidency was bent on launching against him. Mu’azu has business interests in Singapore. As I’m speaking with you, he shuttles between Singapore and Malaysia where he manages his business interests. “The presidency felt the former PDP national chairman sabotaged the re-election bid of President Jonathan. So, they are after him.

The plan was to re-open his file with the EFCC which had been put at abeyance because of his cosy relationship with President Jonathan. So, the man is in Singapore to save his name,” an associate of the former governor told New Telegraph. The source stated that Mu’azu would return in June after the exit of Jonathan on Friday. The petition against Mu’azu had prompted the anti-graft agency to invite the former governor for investigation and he was billed to appear before EFCC operatives in Abuja in July 2008. Rather than honour the invitation, Mu’azu travelled to the United Kingdom on the pretence that he was attending the graduation of his daughter. After the event, Mu’azu relocated to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. He was in Dubai on self-exile for two years.

As soon as Jonathan became president in 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Mu’azu returned to Nigeria in September 2010. On his return, EFCC in October 2010 maintained that the former governor still has a case to answer. “We wish to state emphatically that ex-Governor Adamu Mu’azu is still being investigated and as such could not have been cleared of graft allegations against him.

“The former governor who until recently has been out of the country is still expected to honour an invitation to be interviewed by a team of operatives investigating the case against him,” EFCC’s spokesperson at the time, Femi Babafemi, had said. But the anti-graft agency never presses any case against the former governor despite his failure to honour the invitation.

Jonathan and Mu’azu enjoyed bosom relationship when the president was deputy governor of Bayelsa State. New Telegraph learnt that in the heat of the political crisis in Bayelsa State when the Olusegun Obasanjo administration moved against the then Governor Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, Mu’azu accommodated Jonathan at the Yankari Games Resort in Bauchi and provided a shield for him. Jonathan left Bauchi shortly after the Bayelsa State House of Assembly impeached Alamieyeseigha to become the governor of the oil-rich state. The relationship between the president and Mu’azu helped the former governor to be appointed as PDP national chairman in January 2014 following the ouster of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

As soon as Mu’azu became the PDP national chairman, the corruption petition against him became an issue. But the PDP described the purported investigation of Mu’azu as part of a plot to distract its national chairman from his “determination and commitment to rebuild and reposition the PDP as the pre-eminent party in Nigeria.” PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who on January 26, 2014 defended Mu’azu, de-scribed the fraud allegation against him as political persecution. He added that based on the judgement of the Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Mohammed Ibrahim Zango, who quashed the White Paper that indicted Mu’azu by the administration of his successor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, the former PDP chair had been cleared of all allegations as contained in the White Paper.

Meanwhile, respite has come for members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) as the president has failed to press for their resignation after Monday’s meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). There have been calls for the remaining members of NWC to resign after Mu’azu quit.

It was expected that Jonathan would call for the resignation of the PDP national leadership at the Monday’s meeting. But a source at the meeting said the president was cautious in his approach to the issue and would not like the NWC members to be stampeded into tendering their resignation letters like Chief Tony Anenih was made to resign as BoT chairman. At the Monday meeting a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, emerged as an interim successor to Anenih.

The former minister of defence was unanimously selected at the meeting of the BoT members presided over by Jonathan. A former Customs officer, Mohammed served as a Commissioner, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission in 1999, and later as Minister of Communication in 2001 under the Olusegun Obasanjo government. Haliru became the National Vice Chairman of the PDP, North-West Zone and later the deputy national chairman of the party and acting national chairman in 2010.

PDP acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, while welcoming the selection of Mohammed as the acting BoT chair, said he was adequately equipped to steer the ship of the BoT in the quest to rebuild and reposition the party. Secondus in a statement yesterday by Metuh, said the NWC would work hand-in-hand with the trustees and other key stakeholders in stabilising and reengineering the party to restore its preeminence in the polity.

Credit: New Telegraph