Bala Mohammed, five others eye PDP chair

There are indications that a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, and five others are warming up to square it up for the vacant position of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Others who are jostling for the job are Prof. Ahmed Alkali, a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, former Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil and PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Jalo Abdullahi.

According to reports, some governors are pushing for ex-Governor, Sule Lamido and ex-Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.

The chances of both Lamido and Shema may be hanging in the balance, as prominent members of the party, including some members of the Board of Trustees, BOT, are insisting that the Northeast should retain the position.

There are however indications that former President, Goodluck Jonathan, who is expected to play a prominent role in the choice of who becomes chairman, favours young elements leading the party.

The party is awaiting the date of a mini-National Convention to elect the chairman.

A source in party said: “Most leaders and members are uncomfortable that we have an Acting National Chairman.

“Already, six candidates appear to be interested in leading the party. While four of the candidates are from the Northeast, two others from the Northwest (ex-Governors Lamido and Shema) are being recommended by some governors and leaders of the party.

“We are not sure whether or not the former governors are interested in leading the party.”

Senator Abaribe exposes how Anyim got N1.4bn for computer software

A senator representing Abia South Senatorial district, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe has highlighted how poor budgeting has been hampering the nation’s growth over the years, concluding that the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan committed huge inconsistencies in budgetary processes and duplication of subheads which accounted for poor implementation.

Abaribe, in buttressing his argument, cited the approval of N1.4 billion by Jonathan’s administration for the acquisition of computer software for the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, then occupied by a former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, between 2012 and 2015.

Abaribe disclosed this in Benin City, the Edo State capital, while delivering the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

He spoke on the topic “Our Country, our budget: A critical analysis of Nigeria’s budgeting system”, adding that the office of the SGF had N1.223 billion as welfare package, with N580 million voted for subscription to bodies in the 2015 budget.

He said: “A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years indicates that in 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition, yet the sub head appeared again, gulping N100 million while the sum of N580 million was budgeted for the same expenditure.

“I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that office for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715 million for subscription to professional bodies and N580 million for computer software acquisition.

“Computer software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) seeking to pillage the treasury.

“Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer software acquisition. In 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100 million. Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it.

“What is this computer software that a particular office acquire every year? Which privately-owned company acquires computer software to the tune of N100 million – and more – every year?

“If you check the budget for every MDA of the Federal Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and consumables year in year out”, Abaribe said.

Nigeria: FiveThings to Know About New DG Budget Office

In His Ongoing Clean — In his on-going cleanup exercise of the civil service, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday sacked the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Bright Okogu, replacing him with Aliyu Yahaya Gusau.

Here are five things to know about the new DG

His State of Origin

Aliyu Yahaya Gusau (AYG) hails from Zamfara State.

Last position held

Until his appointment, Gusau was the Director, Fiscal Policy, Budget Monitoring and Evaluation of the Budget Office of the Federation.

Alma mater

He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Major role as ex-Director of Fiscal Policy Department Fiscal Policy, Budget Monitoring and Evaluation

Of the six operational departments in which the Budget Office is structured, namely- Revenue, Expenditure, Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, Fiscal Policy, Administration and Supplies, as well as Finance and Accounts, Gusau oversaw operations in two which were Fiscal Policy and Budget Monitoring and Evaluation.

As former Director, Fiscal Policy, Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, the Zamfara-born public servant oversaw the formulation of Government's fiscal policy on the required adjustments and changes in taxation, revenue and expenditure for purposes of economic growth, stabilisation and equity. Oversaw Evaluation and reporting on the impact of fiscal policy on the economy. Oversaw Review of fiscal developments in the economy, trends and patterns of taxation, revenue, expenditure, budget balance, borrowing, among others.

Buhari's US visit in July

Aliyu Yahaya Gusau was among the 32-man entourage that joined President Buhari in his official visit to the United States last month. Meanwhile, his appointment is for a term of four years and renewable for another four years.

Military intercepts 150,000 liters of illegally refined petroleum products in N/D

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has put in place a joint operation of the Army and Air Force to combat incidences of cattle rustling in the Kamuku Forest in the North-west parts of the country.

 

The operation which has so far routed out daredevil cattle thieves from the forest and recovered large herds of cows is expected to be sustained until the forbidden forest is freed of criminals and criminal activities.

A statement issued by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Col Rabe Abubakar said the need to establish the joint operation became necessary owing to the activities of criminals, miscreants and barefaced common thugs that have taken over the forest and constituting themselves into a nuisance to Nigerians living in the area.

Abubakar said; “In the course of this operation, a significant number of rustlers have been routed and large number of stolen cattle recovered. The ongoing operation will be sustained.”
Similarly, the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta has intercepted a large barge conveying about 150,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products.

Abubakar said the JTF boat was on routine patrol when it accosted the barge on illegal mission at Frado Oil Company Tank Farm at Oghara in Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to him; “The captain of the barge and the crew members are already in custody and are helping security agencies in the investigation.”

The DHQ therefore stressed the resolve of the military to guarantee safety of lives and property of Nigerians adding that it will continue to work hard to fight all maritime crimes such as piracy, bunkering and operation of illegal refinery to a halt and also to prevent the prevailing economic saboteur from doing further damage to Nigeria’s economy.

The Defence Headquarters therefore warns the perpetrators of all form of illegalities in the Nation’s maritime domain and those engaging in cattle rustling across the country to desist from such acts before the long arms of the law will catch up with them.

It reassured peace loving Nigerians to go about their normal and legitimate businesses without fear of harassment or molestation saying the military and other security agencies are there to protect their rights and freedom.

Abubakar said various military operations across the country are against criminals and enemies of the nation.

I stepped down for El-Rufai because I was told Buhari endorsed him – Shehu Sani

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has revealed that he dropped his ambition to become the Kaduna State governor after party chieftains prevailed on him to step down for Mallam Nasir El-Rufai because he was President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice candidate.

While insisting that his present rift with the governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai, is purely ideological, Sani told Leadership that: “I never intended to contest for the Senate; I wanted to contest for the governorship and I opened offices in Zaria, Kaduna and Kafanchan, and later there was pressure on me that I should step down. Politicians came to meet me; that I should step down and allow el-Rufai to contest because they said he was the favourite of the president.

“I pulled back and said I wanted to contest for the Senate, but there was a sitting senator, General Saleh, and I had to evict him during the primary election. And I told them in black and white that I didn’t have money to give any delegate, and if they feel OK with my principles, then let them vote for me, but if my principles are not right for them, let them go and vote for the same person (that was occupying the seat); and they voted for me and I removed an incumbent senator. So I didn’t contest against a vacuum.”

The Activist-turned lawmaker stated that at the time he got the Senate ticket, there were two major candidates in the Kaduna gubernatorial race, el-Rufai and Isa Ashiru, and all the two had their senatorial candidates; el-Rufai was with General Saleh and Isa Ashiru was with Sani Suleiman, and one other Sadiq.

His words, “I did not have any gubernatorial candidate as far as I was concerned, and I now thrashed the candidate of el-Rufai and Isa Ashiru. The el-Rufai that won the gubernatorial ticket in Kaduna won it with 1,000 and something votes and I won one senatorial zone with 920 votes. In three senatorial zone he got 1,600; I alone got 920 votes.

“If I had contested the governorship, there was no way that I wouldn’t have emerged; it’s not possible. So I sacrificed that and I contested the Senate and I won. Reports going on in the media is on the surface.”

While clarifying that the Kaduna State governor and he were different on the ideological front, Sani remarked that the recent directive of the governor, in which he directed that beggars should leave the state, if not properly managed, would lead to an implosion in Kaduna.

He argued that the right conservative political divide, to which the governor belonged, created the socio-economic rot that produced the beggars and the destitute in the society, adding that its own solution to it, unfortunately, was to clear them from the streets and portray a semblance of sanity and normalcy.

“There is a clear idea logical difference between el-Rufai and me. He is of the right ultra conservative while I come from the left of the political divide. The right conservative political divide created the socio-economic rot that produced the beggars and dregs in the society; their own solution to it is to clear them from the streets and portray a semblance of sanity and normalcy.”

He further explained that one cannot solve a socio-economic problem by hiding it under the cupboard.

“My position is that the beggars, the unemployed who have been parading our streets, were byproducts of the socio-economic problem which people what propagated his (e-Rufai’s) own kind of ideology created in the society, and in order to address such problems, you first of all address the social iniquities that produced them.

“Has he provided capital for those beggars to start some useful things to do? He has not. Have you given them accommodation where to stay? No, he has not; and then the hawkers on the street, did you give them an alternative on what to do and where to go?

“All they want is to pack them and put them in a truck and send them somewhere. Come to Kaduna and see if that has worked: the beggars are back to the streets; the hawkers are there; all those things you want to clear are there and it’s not working. We fundamentally differ on that”.

Speaking on the Kaduna governor’s demolition of houses, he said: “We came in and met a people who had been impoverished, destroyed and dehydrated by a ruling party for 16 years. We came in because these poor people voted for us. Most of the elite, on Election Day, didn’t even come out. They (the poor) voted us into power. They were given money by the PDP in Kaduna but they refused. The women were given fabrics, soap and rice; they refused and voted us into power.

“Now if you are an experienced and sensible administrator – and you promised education, power and health, jobs, skill acquisition for youths – how can you as an intelligent man say the first priority is demolition of houses; and all these houses were given by the previous government. Now all of them have gone to court and have gotten injunction.

“You didn’t clear a fallow land between Kaduna and Zaria and say, ‘All of you, this is a place for you and take this as compensation, and all of you should move there. Abuja of 2007 is not the same with Kaduna of 2015. In Abuja, you were dealing with rich and powerful people who had many houses and money. When you see a man with a house in Kaduna, it may be his last pension which he devoted to it”.

Nigeria: Boko Haram - Red Cross Appeals for More Assistance

The Cameroon Red Cross has honoured some institutions and individual donors for their generosity towards the vulnerable displaced populations of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North Region. In a "thank you" ceremony organised at the movement's headquarter in Yaounde yesterday August 19, 2015, the President of Cameroon Red Cross, William AurélienEtekiMboumoua, urged the donors and other goodwill persons and institutions to continue with their generosity towards the vulnerable.

what will you do?

TAKE TIME TO READ. It's worth reading it. Trust me :)

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does satan come from ?

Student : From … GOD …

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theater became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)


Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you’ll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won’t you?

Forward this to increase their knowledge … or FAITH.

By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.

APC blasts Bode George

Lagos - The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State has asked the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Chairman, Bode George, to keep quiet and continue to lick his wounds, following the colossal defeat his party suffered at both the national and state level in the just concluded federal elections.

The party in a press statement issued on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, noted that George like the Lagos PDP Chairman, Tunji Shelle, has just woken up from a chronic hallucination after suffering a choking and devastating defeat in the hands of APC.

“Bode George is yet to come to terms that it is all over for PDP in Nigeria and Lagos.

He is yet to believe that Lagos APC has forcefully retired him from active politics for ever in Nigeria and Lagos State,” APC said in the statement.

“Why is Bode George finding it difficult to believe that the game is over for him in Nigerian politics talk less of Lagos State?

Who will tell Bode George that nobody takes him serious again in matters of Nigerian politics?

Who will persuade Chief Bode George to quit politics now in his own interest?”

“What is giving Bode George the courage to believe that President Buhari will probe Asiwaju Bola Atmed Tinubu and former governor Babatunde Fashola, who are the real drivers of change in Nigeria because a Bode George said so?

How can a jail bird who plundered and looted the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and who just got pardoned the other day because of 2015 elections forget easily that he is part of the problem of Nigeria and not part of the solution?

Did Bode George know that his case at NPA and the fraudulent amnesty granted by the former President may be revisited?”

“How can we forget that George imposed Jimi Agbaje on Lagos PDP and caused a big crisis at Oregun Lagos where the Party conducted its primaries?

How can we forget that Bode George kept the funds meant for his party campaigns in Lagos knowing fully well that there is no road to where he is going?

How can we forget that it was this same Bode George that initiated the political brigandage and ethnic politics we saw in Lagos that nearly caused xenophobic attacks?”

“How can an old man who armed thugs all over Lagos with an instruction to kill if necessary in order to steal Lagos be the one that will tell President Buhari what to do?

Did Bode George know that President has full knowledge of his dubious activities in Lagos during the campaigns? he quizzed.

“Bode George spoke about the cost of projects in Lagos, but the question is this: what does a hut builder know about Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge?

What does this carpenter know about gold? What does this failed politician know about good governance and service delivery?” he asked.

John Mikel Obi: Midfielder available for Nigeria, says agent

Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi is still available for Nigeria duty despite not being involved since November, according to the player's representative John Shittu.

New Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh said he omitted Mikel from his first squad because the player was uncontactable.

However, Shittu told BBC Sport: "Mikel will never turn his back on Nigeria.

"He loves playing for his country and this is just a miscommunication between coach and player."

On Thursday, Oliseh explained to local media in Abuja why Mikel was not part of his plans for next month's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Tanzania .

"I was in England early this month and I put a call through to Mikel. I called him four times, the phone kept ringing. I sent him a text message, I got no response," Oliseh revealed.

"I called his Chelsea team-mate and compatriot [Victor] Moses and we met after the Community Shield.

"I didn't hear from Mikel to acknowledge my calls or text until I travelled back home [on 6 August].

"But after our training [on 19 August] I saw a missed call [from Mikel] on my phone so at the moment I really don't know what the situation is now."

Shittu insists Mikel has not been deliberately evasive.

"Mikel sincerely missed the calls and wasn't sure who called. Once he realised who it was he made efforts to reach Sunday Oliseh but could not speak to him." he said.

"It's unfortunate that a miscommunication is being blown out of proportion in the media.

"Efforts are being made to sort things out amicably because Mikel is dedicated to Nigeria.

"For the sake of the country, everyone should support the coach and the players selected instead of focussing on other things that could affect the preparation."

Oliseh's predecessors Berti Vogts, Samson Siasia and Stephen Keshi also experienced difficulties with Mikel, who has been criticised for appearing to show indifference and a lack of respect.

Mikel, who made his debut for Nigeria against Libya in August 2005, has scored four goals for his country in 64 appearances.

source from BBC