National Assembly to pass bill on whistle blowing soon–Rep

Rep. Abiodun Olasupo (APC- Iseyin/Iwajowa/Kajola/Itesiwaju Federal Constituency) says the bill on whistle blowing  is at an advanced stage of being passed by the National Assembly.

 

Olasupo also said the National Assembly was  working hard to ensure that all enabling laws   protect the identity of whistle blowers and strengthen  the principle.

The federal lawmaker spoke in Iseyin during a  routine tour of his constituency to inaugurate projects and brief constituents. “You should not be surprised that all the measures used in the anti-corruption crusade today were developed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. “The Jonathan administration developed the policies  of whistle blowing, Bank Verification Number (BVN), Treasury Single Account (TSA) but lacked  the political will to implement them. “You can see that the implementation by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is bringing the desired results,’’ he stated.
 
Reacting to the N125 billion National Assembly Budget for 2017, he said  that the budget was only N10 billion above that of 2016. The lawmaker stated that the increment in the budget was not limited to the National Assembly alone, but also  affected the State House, Judiciary, Nigeria Customs Service  and other parastatal agencies. “When the 2017 Appropriation Bill  is signed into law by the president or Acting President, it would be accessible to all and you will see that it was increased across board. “When you look into the budget and do the analysis properly, I am sure you will believe that the National Assembly is one of the most poorly funded arms of this government. “For the first time in the history of the nation, the eighth National Assembly made the details of the  budget public and you will see a budget of economic recovery. “The old, present and future National Assembly members should know that legislatures the world over cannot win popularity contest when it comes to budgeting,’’ he said.

Appraising the implementation of  the 2016 budget, Olasupo said  it was the first time the budget of the country passed the threshold of N1 trillion in terms of capital expenditure. He said that apart from this, funds were judiciously used inspite of  the nation’s low income. The lawmaker also said  that it was  the first time in a long while  that there  was a budget of less than 30 percent capital expenditure and over 60 percent recurrent expenditure. “This is a very good development for the nation and I am sure that by the time the 2017 budget is fully implemented, we would be a little over 40  percent in terms of capital expenditure. “When Buhari came on board, he said that he was looking forward to seeing more of the budget going for capital expenditure and lower recurrent expenditure,’’ he said.

Olasupo, however, dismissed the speculations that  there was a face-off between the executive and the National Assembly. “It might look like we are antagonising each other but that is what we are meant to be doing. It is out of this  that we put many things in the right shape. “The separation of power principle entrenched in the constitution encourages checks and balances. “What the people are seeing is democracy in action. This will not affect the development of the nation. “ Nigerians should not be afraid, we are doing what the law empowers us to do,’’ he said. The lawmaker, however, promised not to relent in giving the  quality representation required of him in the National Assembly. (NAN)

Biafra: What ‘Hausa/Fulani soldiers did to our women in Abia – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has condemned the alleged “barbaric” and “unprofessional conduct” of the Nigerian Army located in Ohafia against women of the group during its conference held in Abiriba, Abia State.

IPOB claimed that, some soldiers stormed the venue of a meeting held by the women in 20 Hilux vans and without “provocation started beating, arresting and tearing the women’s clothes off their bodies.” The action of the soldiers, IPOB alleged resulted in some of them being “stripped naked before they were taken to their barracks.” 

The pro-Biafra group, in a statement by its spokesperson, EMMA Powerful said the “primitive approach to civil policing adopted by the Hausa/Fulani dominated Islamic army was a mockery to Nigeria.”

IPOB claimed that, “Food, clothing and accessories belonging to some of the women were seized by the mostly Northern Hausa Fulani soldiers and taken to the Ohafia barracks in Abia State.”

Wondering why such action could be meted out on women, the group called on Queen Elizabeth II of England, Theresa May the British Prime Minister, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and other human right organisation to condemn such.

The statement reads, “The barbaric and wholly undemocratic conduct of the Nigeria Army must be condemned by all civilised people and nations. The primitive approach to civil policing adopted by the Hausa Fulani dominated Islamic army in Nigeria makes a mockery of common sense and decency. “Is it the duty of an army to be going about stripping women naked for no justifiable reason? 

The Nigerian Police also joined them in the manhandling, humiliation and molestation of our mothers whose only crime is to identify with the cause of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. “We further gathered from an eye witness account present at the conference venue that some of the women who were arrested by the Nigerian Army were totally naked without anything on their body.

“This is the highest form of criminal brutality against Biafrans by Hausa Fulani dominated Nigeria security apparatus. When will this crime against humanity and unprofessional conduct of the Nigerian Army stop. “We are therefore calling on the women organizations around the globe to condemn and take this abuse of Biafra women by the Nigerian Army to the rest of the world.

“We also call on Queen Elizabeth II of England, Theresa May the British Prime Minister, Angela Merkel the German Chancellor, and other notable women including human rights organisations across the world to protect the rights of Biafran women from the hands of these primitive vandals known as the Nigerian Army.”

Source: Daily Post.

ABIA GUBER: “I’m glad you’re ready to work with me” – Ikpeazu replies Ogah

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu​,​ has welcomed​ the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant, Uchechukwu Ogah,​ to work with him. This is contained in a letter he personally signed on Friday ​and sent to Ogah. 

​Recall that Ikpeazu's election was affirmed by the Supreme Cout ​last Friday. A five-man bench of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, unanimously upheld Ikpeazu’s election ​as Abia State Governor​after dismissing Ogah’s appeal for lack of merit. ​In his reaction, Ogah said he had accepted the verdict and urged all the people of the state to support Ikpeazu as governor of the state.

The statement read, “On the 12th of May 2017, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave their final verdict over my case with Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State. Even though a painful verdict, but as someone that believes in the rule of law and the judiciary, I have accepted the decision of the apex court in good faith. “As the legal battle comes to an end with the Supreme Court’s declaration, I’m exceedingly happy today that in the course of this struggle, I never resorted to self-help nor encouraged my supporters to indulge in any form of violence either in my State or elsewhere. “May I especially thank my teeming supporters for standing by me all through this journey and may I also use this golden opportunity to congratulate His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia State and urge all Abians to join hands in supporting the Governor in order to move our dear state forward.”

​In his letter, Ikpeazu said thanked Ogah for extending hand of friendship.
​
​Full letter below​

May 19, 2017

Dr. Sampson Uche Ogar, OON.

My dear brother,

RE: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE

I write to personally acknowledge the message of congratulations sent to us by your good​ ​self following the final judicial imprimatur given to my mandate by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday, May 12, 2017 as the lawfully nominated and duly elected Governor of Abia State.

First, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that in my administration, the title HIS EXCELLENCY, as used in your letter is not applicable. This is a policy statement that has been in place since my inauguration, please.

As was widely reported in the media, as soon as the Supreme Court delivered their judgment, I immediately issued a statement wherein I urged all parties to sheath their swords and put the interest of our dear fledging state above narrow and personal political interests.

I also made it clear that I have, in the interest of our dear state, put the episode of the long drawn litigation behind me and extended warm invitations to everyone, irrespective of differences in political ideologies, to join hands with me to move the state forward.

I note with delight that you have accepted that invitation.

Please recall that in my two meetings with you before this time, I clearly made the point that at this stage of our development, our state needs all her citizens to join hands together and contribute to her growth and development.

Please rest assured of my commitment to work with everyone on this new path of progress and unity.

Kindly accept, Dear Dr. Ogar, my continued assurances of the highest consideration.

Yours in the service of our state,

Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Phd
Governor of Abia State

Senate probes DSS recruitment

The Senate is investigating alleged lopsided recruitment of personnel by the DepartaChairman Tijjani Kaura said yesterday. Senator Kaura, who spoke during plenary, drew the attention of his colleagues to reports alleging lopsidedness in the recruitment. He said his committee was concerned about the reports and decided to look into the matter to ensure that justice was done to all zones of the country.

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) is awaiting the response of the DSS to its query on the same matter, according to its chairman Dr. Shettima Abba. The dust raised by the recruitment by the DSS has refused to settle.

Katsina State where Director General of DSS Lawal Daura hails from, was reported to have received 51 slots which is more than the combined 42 slots of all the states in the South South. The total number of recruit is 479. Lagos State got seven slots, Akwa Ibom State five slots, Kano 25 slots while Kaduna 24 slots, Edo six, Bauchi 23.

Kaura said: “I wish to inform the Senate that the Committee on Federal Character is looking critically into the reports of slanted recruitment in the Department of State Services to ensure that justice is done in line with the constitution and the Federal Character Act. “We have received similar complaints from other areas which we are also looking into to ensure fairness and equity.” Senate President Bukola Saraki  noted that since Kaura came under personal explanation there would not be any debate of the issue raised.

SOURCE: The Nation

Politicians under security watch over Buratai’s alarm

Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai warned officers against politics to save the nation’s democracy. The alarm is believed to have followed an intelligence report that some politicians, who were uncomfortable with the health of President Muhammadu Buhari, were infiltrating the military. There were no details of such infiltration in the statement, which warned officers not  to hobnob with politicians.

The recent postings in the Army may have been part of the measures put in place to protect the nation’s democracy against shocks and threats, a source said. Buratai also cautioned the unnamed politicians, who are said to have been placed under surveillance by security agencies, not to influence soldiers. According to the source, who spoke in confidence, Gen. Buratai was disturbed that the ongoing professionalisation of the military might suffer a major setback if politicians were allowed to “infiltrate the system”.

The source said: “What Buratai did was a pre-emptive move by the military authorities as a result of intelligence report that some politicians were out to infiltrate the Armed Forces. “The COAS decided to cry out following intelligence on the attitude of some politicians who were uncomfortable with the anxiety over the health of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Gen. Buratai’s warning to officers was to protect democracy, stress that the Armed Forces must subjugate themselves to civilian authority, pledge the military’s loyalty to the Presidency and caution politicians that officers cannot be used for political mischief, the source said. He pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media. The army chief’s  suspicion of the infiltration of the military is believed to have been fuelled by the crisis in Cote D’Ivoire.

Nigeria has condemned the mutiny in Cote D’Ivoire. “But Gen. Buratai has used his statement to reassure Nigerians and the international community that the military will not meddle in politics. This alarm has paid off, with the United Kingdom and pro-democracy groups giving their backing to the present administration. “And his alert has worked because all the reactions have shown that Nigerians will not accept the return of the military to power,” the source said.

Responding to a question, the source added: “I think the relevant security agencies have placed some of the suspected politicians on surveillance.” Another source said Gen. Buratai gave the warning to douse tension in the Army over recent postings. “These rumours started from the last military posting. There were many strategic appointments which some people felt went to the close confidants of the Army leadership.

“There were allegations that some trusted officers were put in areas of influence because of the backlash of the health of the President. “But we have found out that those grumbling had no case because Buratai as a soldier’s soldier does not have any favourite. He places professionalism above ethnic or religious consideration. His goal is to keep the military united.”

Source: The Nation

Boko Haram traps starving people in Nigeria, UN warns

Two million people are teetering on the brink of famine in northeastern Nigeria but efforts to reach some are being thwarted by Boko Haram jihadists, the UN’s food agency said Thursday. More than 20 million people across Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, are in areas hit by drought and are experiencing famine or are at high risk of famine in “the biggest crisis we have seen in the past 50 years”, said Denise Brown, emergency coordinator for the UN’s World Food Programme. 

“While they are all in difficulty, northeastern Nigeria is one that has got under our skin at WFP,” she added. Around 1.8 million people in the area are classified “as being on the edge of the (famine) cliff”, she said, and WFP is managing to provide support of some sort to 1.2 million of them — though it desperately needs more funds. “But there are several hundred thousand people who are up in three areas in Nigeria on the borders with Niger and Chad that we just can’t get to because of the active conflict,” she said, putting the figure at around 600,000 people.

Boko Haram launched an uprising in northeastern Nigeria in 2009 and began eyeing border areas in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon. The conflict in the area of Lake Chad has left 20,000 people dead since then. “We’ve seen hundreds of thousands of people displaced from border areas in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, and millions from Nigeria. The epicentre may be northeastern Nigeria but it’s become a very big regional challenge,” Brown said. 

The World Food Programme said it needed $230 million (207 million euros) between now and October to stave off a famine in Nigeria. Brown admitted the Rome-based food agency had not been prepared for a crisis on this scale there. “It’s a middle-income country, it’s the richest country in Africa. We didn’t think we’d have to apply our emergency capabilities here”. “The first time we went up there was a year ago. We were not prepared for the level of human suffering that we saw,” she said. It was local communities, “some of the poorest people on the planet”, that worked as “first responders” when the crisis hit.

The agency’s famine-prevention programme targets as standard all children from six to 23 months, making sure they are screened with the help of UNICEF and given special food. But in Nigeria it was not just babies and toddlers at risk. “When we saw the level of malnutrition in older children, we expanded that to all children under five-years old, but because of the lack of resources we’ve had to scale it back again,” she said. The cut to food aid also comes as the country hits the “lean season”, a period of the year when families naturally have less to eat.

Source: Guardian

Anenih’s Son Slumps, Dies At Lagos Lawn Tennis Club

Eugene Anenih, son of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftain, Chief Tony Anenih, reportedly slumped and died at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday. According to information available to Independent, Eugene was playing table tennis when he suddenly slumped and was reportedly taken to St. Nicholas Hospital where he was confirmed dead. 

Eugene who, recently lost his mother, was until his death, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nova Finance & Securities Limited. He was formerly the Head of Corporate Finance and Treasury Operations at A and Hatman Ltd before moving on to Nova Finance & Securities Limited as Chief Executive Officer. He was an authorised dealing clerk of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. 

Eugene holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Benin. An alumus of the Harvard Business School, he also attended several courses in capital market internationally including Capital Equity Appraisals Suite Courses with the New York Institute of Finance.

Source: Independent

“If Uwazurike Got It Right, I Won’t Be Leading IPOB” – Kanu

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has said that he would not be in the struggle if Chief Ralph Uwazuruike had done the right thing. Kanu said he would not have loved to be in the forefront of the struggle, as he likes giving support, but Uwazuruike’s inability to coordinate the struggle the right way, led to his being active in the struggle.

Kanu stated this  in a chat with our correspondent in his father’s palace at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia state. Speaking on the reason Governors of the South East have not joined the struggle, Kanu said South East Governors were afraid of losing their positions and political relevance in the area.

He said that was why the Governors and their likes in the zone were not supporting the Biafra struggle. He said the fear being entertained by such people were neither here nor there because the Biafra republic would be founded on the principle of justice, equity and fairness.

He said “I don’t know why they are just afraid. Biafra will be a home for all people who agree with our values. ” If you are from Sokoto you can be a Biafran if you believe in our value system of equity, justice and fairness. “I don’t even intend to be the head of Biafra republic in the end. I don’t like to always lead. I want to be led so that I can proffer solutions.

” If Uwazuruike had done well, I won’t be doing what I’m doing today. I’m into this struggle because of leadership vacuum. I’m into this fight because my people are suffering; they are being denied of their rights and privileges. ” Nothing will stop this fight. And I must assure you we are almost there. Biafra is almost here with us.

Asked whether he agreed with the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu that Biafra should  be a thing of the mind and not a geographical space, Kanu said Biafra had a geographical location and that the people of Biafra were known and defined.

” The only difference is that if you are good and believe in our value system, and you are from Sokoto or Kano, you are can be a Biafran. It will be a place for good things for good people. He said those who were distancing themselves from the Biafra struggle would regret it. “If you don’t join , you will be irrelevant in the end because the Biafra Republic is sure”.

Source: 247reports