Dr. Kudi Ladipo, Yabatech Rector, Is New Chairman Of COFER

The Rector Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Kudi Ladipo, has been unanimously elected Chairman of Committee of Federal Polytechnic Rectors (COFER) at its meeting held Thursday January 21, 2016 at the liaison office of National Board of Technical Education in Abuja.

Other members of the executive are Dr T.T Akande, Rector Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, Vice Chairman; Dr. S.M Musa, Rector Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Treasurer.

In his valedictory message the out-going chairman, Dr.M.O. Olatinwo, thanked all members for their unalloyed support and cooperation during his tenure. He noted that if not for their immense support and invaluable suggestions, it would have been difficult to record all the achievements witnessed under his leadership. He wished the new executives success in their bid to take the committee to greater heights.

The Rector Kaduna polytechnic, Dr. M.B Ibrahim on behalf of the entire members of COFER, commended the out-going chairman and other executives for their high sense of commitment to the affairs of the body.

In her acceptance speech the new chairman, Dr. (Mrs) Kudi Ladipo, an enterprising woman of remarkable vision, thanked her colleagues for the confidence reposed in her. She promised to re-position the Committee for greater visibility and relevance to the technological advancement of Nigeria, and solicited the support and co-operation of her colleagues in this regard.  

We Are In Full Support Of The Appointment Of Mrs. Ibim Seminitari - Niger Delta People's Movement

COMMUNIQUE REACHED BY THE NIGER DELTA PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT AT THE END OF IT'S MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, 22nd JANUARY 2016.

RE: NDDC, Reverse Seminitari's Appointment, PMB Advised.

We have observed, over time, attempts by various supposed pro-Niger Delta groups to get President Muhammadu Buhari reverse his recent appointment of Mrs. Seminitari's as the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Most of these groups, we have noticed, had no existence before now and are likely phantom groups existing only in the imaginary land with one man running it from the comfort of his bedroom for the purpose of what are now known as stomach infrastructure.

As a true Niger Deltan group who doesn't concern itself with frivolities, we would have ordinary ignored this trend. However, keeping quiet would be tantamount to leaving members of the public in perpetual ignorance, especially in the face of the recent release from a group which identified itself as the International Institute of Humanitarian and Environmental Law. Where it alleged, albeit ignorantly, that the President contravened some laws in Mrs. Ibim Seminitari's appointment.

In its arguments, the group quoted Sections 3 , 4 and 5 of the NDDC Act. It also referred to Section 5 (1)(a) & (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended. For the purpose of clarity, we wish to produce these provisions word for word:

Sections 2,3, 4 and 5 of the NDDC Act ;

2.    (1)    There is hereby established for the Commission a governing Board (in this Act referred to as "the Board"), which shall consist of-

(a) A Chairman;

(b) One person who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area to represent each of the following member States, that is,

(i)  Abia State,

(ii) Akwa-lbom State,

(iii) Bayelsa State,

(iv) Cross River State,

(v)  Delta State,

(vi) Edo State,

(vii) Imo State,

(viii) Ondo State, and

(ix) Rivers State;

(c)  Three persons to represent non-Oil mineral producing States provided that such membership should be drawn from the remaining geo-political zones which are not represented in the Commission;

(d) One representative of Oil producing companies in the Niger- Delta nominated by the Oil producing companies;

(e)  One person to represent the Federal Ministry of Finance;

(f)   One person to represent Federal Ministry of Environment

(g)  The managing Director of the Commission

(h)   Two executive Directors

(2)   The Chairman and other members-of the Board shall-

(a)  Be appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, in consultation with the House of Representatives.

(b)  Be persons of proven integrity and ability.

(3)   The members of the Board referred to in paragraph (a - f) of sub-section (1) of this section shall be part-time members

(4)   The supplementary provisions set out in the Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the proceedings of the Board and the other matters contained therein.

3.    (1) Subject to the provisions of section 4 of this Act a member of the   Board, other than an ex-officio member, shall hold office for a term of          4 years at the first instance and may be re-appointed for a further       term of 4 years and no more

          (2)  A member of the Board other than ex-officio member, may resign         his appointment by notice, in writing under his hand addressed to the   President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, which resignation    shall take effect only upon receipt by the President, Commander-in-        Chief.

4.  The office of the Chairman shall rotate amongst the member states of the Commission in the following alphabetical order.

(a) Abia State;

(b) Akwa-Ibom State;

(c)  Bayelsa State;

(d)  Cross-River State;

(e)  Delta State;

(f)   Edo State;

(g)  Imo State;

(h)  Ondo State; and

(i)   Rivers State,

5.    (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this Act, a person shall cease to hold office as a member of the Board if-

(a) He becomes bankrupt, suspends payment or compounds with his creditors; or

(b)  He is convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty or fraud, or

(c)   He becomes of unsound mind, or incapable of carrying out his duties; or

(d)  He is guilty of a serious misconduct in relation to his duties; or

(e)  In the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he is disqualified or suspended, other than at his own request, from practising his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority made in respect of that member: or

(f)  He resigns his appointment by a letter addressed to the President, Commander- in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

(3)   Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor, so however, that the successor shall represent the same interest and shall be appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces subject to the confirmation of the Senate in consultation with the House of representatives.

They particularly hinged their argument on subsection 3 of Section 5. They interpreted the 'interest' in the context as meaning state of origin. And claimed that the next Chairman of the Board is supposed to come from Akwa Ibom State so as to finish the tenure for that State, rather than Rivers State in the light of that provision.  While their first interpretation may have some iota of truth in it. Their application of it is completely misleading and put a question mark on their acclaimed status of being a pro-legal body.

First, a holistic read of Section 5 will reveal that the section specifically addresses the issue of membership and not Chairmanship. Section 2(2) referred to Chairman and members separately. It then means that their argument, if it will hold water, can only have bearing where a member is to be replaced and not the Chairman.  Secondly, the provision is applicable to appointments in a substantive board and not one in an acting capacity.

We therefore urge Mr. President to ignore these detractors and attention seekers. The progressive minded people of the Niger Delta are in full support of the appointment of Mrs. Ibim Seminitari, which contravened no law. In fact, we are surprised at the pace of work and utmost zeal on her part. The Commission for the first time, since its creation, is serving the purpose for which it was created.

Dame Ibifuro Thompson Tatua

For: Niger Delta People's Movement

Bayelsa Election: Soldiers Arrest Ballot Box Snatching Suspects

Some persons suspected to be agents of one of the political parties involved in Saturday’s supplementary governorship election in Bayelsa State have been arrested for allegedly snatching a ballot box.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suspects were arrested by soldiers at Otuokpoti Unit 1, Ward 2, Ogbia Local Government Area, where the box was allegedly snatched. The suspects were said to have forcefully carried the ballot box while polling was ongoing at the units.

The incident caused pandemonium at the unit, but after the suspects were taken away, accreditation and voting resumed. An Independent National Electoral Commission official in the ward, who did not want to be named, confirmed that security reinforcement had been sent to the area and that election would continue. 

A member of the security team in the ward said the suspects would be taken to Yenagoa, the state capital, while investigation would be carried out on the incident. However, Police in the state said they were yet to receive report on the incident. 

The spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said it was possible that such incident occurred in the polling area, but that the command had not received report on it. 

Butswat, however, told NAN that the situation was calm in most polling units where the election was being conducted. NAN reports that the supplementary election in the state is holding in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and in 101 polling units in other parts of the state where the December 5, 2015 governorship poll was cancelled due to violence. According to Butswat, reports from the units indicate that all is calm. 

He said: “The command has done necessary deployments to all polling units. “In most units, accreditation and voting have commenced and it has been peaceful so far. “Our men are on ground and are on top of the situation.” 

[NAN]

BAYELSA ELECTION UPDATE: Heavy Shooting In Ekeremor Local Government

#BayelsaDecides Update: Heavy Shooting on in Ekeremor town, Ekeremor LG. Security already overtaken by Armed thugs thereby leading to stoppage of election in the town. Also in Amassoma Grammar School, in Southern Ijaw local government, there has been a standoff between members of the Joint Task Force JTF and political thugs who attempted to hijack materials meant for some units in the ward. Four of the armed thugs now arrested and their operational vehicle seized.
ALERT: URGENT INFORMATION. SOUTHERN IJAW WARD 4. UNIT 24 UNIT 25 UNIT 26 UNIT 27 UNIT 28 UNIT 29 ALL IN SOUTHERN IJAW WARD 4 HAS BEEN HIJACKED BY APC THUGS.

#SAVESOUTHERNIJAW #BAYELSAELECTION #BAYELSADECIDES

Bayelsa Election: Military Should Serve As A Back Up To The Police - National Frontiers

............#SaveSouthernIjaw Sit-Out Advocacy Enters Day 5

Nations have fought wars just to protect their rights to votes and for their votes to count. The hallmark of civil liberties is democratic governance. No constructive and collective measure to uphold the thrust of democracy can reasonably be termed as extreme or illegitimate. The very essence of democracy are civil liberties and majority rule in their comprehensive ramifications. The denial or suppression of one legitimate right, or the crux of democratic governance, which is the very will of the people especially in the face of unrestrained compromises of institutional safeguards, is enough impetus to use every conceivable effort to correct the anomaly by upholding the ethos of democracy, accentuating the critical pathos for social reengineering and instigating the sustenance of the defining logos by which social equilibrium is framed and dependent. Silence about the contempt of cherished values is consent that endorses the ultimate penalty; and it shall be psychotic for the mass of the afflicted not to collectively forbid such within the body politic of any retrogressive society. On December 5th 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducted the Governorship election in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The events of that day particularly in the Southern Ijaw Local government area of the State, showed the desperation of some persons to violate democratic tenets and ultimately, the rights and dignity of the people of the Local government, particularly the Women and Young people. People were killed, injured and eventually prevented from casting the ballot, during the election, thereby prompting INEC to announce a rescheduled date of January 9th 2016, for the governorship election, in the Southern Ijaw local government area of the State. As stakeholders in the electoral process and ultimately, Pro-Democracy campaigners, the National Frontiers, on Monday 4th January 2016, began sit-out advocacy to demand the de-militarization of the electoral process in Southern Ijaw and the protection of the rights of the people of Southern Ijaw, particularly the Women and young people against further harassment by Security agents and their civilian collaborators. Today being the 5th day of the Sit-Out advocacy, which has held at the Abuja Unity Fountain since it began, Our group wishes to restate our opposition to the use of the Military in carrying out the basic security during elections in Bayelsa State tomorrow and that they should rather serve as back up to the police and other para-military organs who are statutorily empowered to manage security during elections. We are also demanding that everyone arrested for electoral violence during the last governorship election in Bayelsa and other elections should be immeidtately prosecuted irrespective of their status. The government must criminalize rigging and electoral violence as a way of safeguarding our democracy. The will of the people must be allowed to prevail and INEC must resist every external pressure seeking to use the commisision to manipulate the outcome of the elections in Southern Ijaw local government and future elections in Nigeria. We restate that election is not war and not a do or die affair. #SaveSouthernIjaw

Olisa Metuh Can't Resign - Deji Adeyanju

The Director, New Media of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Deji Adeyanju has distanced the party from the position of an online group, PDP National Youth Frontiers (PDNYF), stressing that the group is sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to carry out a hatchet job.

PDNYF has called for the resignation of Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP who is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of corruption.

"Our constitution guarantees that everyone alleged of any crime or offence is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty. The internet group’s call for Chief Metuh’s resignation is a hatchet job which I believe the group was paid to do by some elements in APC. You will all recall that Chief Metuh had hinted in the past that certain people have been commissioned to tarnish his name and image at all cost; I am convinced that the so called PDPNYF is one of such groups. 

I cannot understand why anyone will assume Chief Metuh has committed any crime just because of the fact that he is under investigation by the EFCC. Is it a crime that former president Goodluck Jonathan called Olisa Metuh to carry out an assignment for him and paid him for such a job? Is it a crime that Olisa Metuh carried out such an assignment and reported back to the former president? Is it a crime to be alleged of a crime? 

Are people now guilty in Nigeria until they can prove they are innocent? Why will Olisa Metuh resign his position when he is innocent?" Adeyanju said.

He maintained that the group is not recognised by the leadership of the paty and does not represent the interest of the youth in the party.

Who Is Afraid of Ibim?

Mrs. Ibim 

A non government organization, Swift Youth Alliance has challenged the Rivers State PDP to publish the details of the N82m wasted on a three-hour dinner organized for Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. The group said the target of the PDP is not Rotimi Amaechi but Mrs. Ibim who has been appointed acting Managing Director of the NDDC which the PDP sees as a big threat in winning Rivers State Governorship re-run election; pending the Supreme Court judgment.

Below is the full text of the organization”

  

Re: N82m Wasted On A Three-Hour Dinner Organized For Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, By Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Through The Ministry Of Information And Communication

The attention of Swift Youth Alliance has been drawn to the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, statement expressing grave concern over “monumental looting and misappropriation of public funds by officials of the Amaechi administration in the State”.

We know that this false allegation is targeted at discrediting the good image of Mrs. Ibim, the acting Managing Director of NDDC.

Similar false allegation was laid against Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi during his Ministerial screening.

We challenged the PDP to publish the full details of the so called “N82m wasted on a three-hour dinner organized for Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, through the Ministry of Information and Communication”.

On the call by the PDP to “caution against diverting the fund’s of the NDDC meant for the development of oil devastated communities in the region into funding the APC re-run Governorship Election in Bayelsa State, and re-run of some State and National Assembly elections of the All Progressives Congress, APC.” The PDP should know that Mrs. Ibim is not a dictator like Wike that spends money without approval of the House of Assembly. Mrs. Ibim will operate the account of the NDDC with transparency which she is well known for.

The call by the PDP on the “relevant authorities to be on alert and to check the flow of funds from the Commission thoroughly during the period she may be in charge” is uncalled for!

We understand that Mrs. Ibim is seen as a threat to the victory of the PDP in Rivers State and they will go all the length to discredit and blackmail her so as to not be confirmed by the Senate as the Managing Director of the NDDC.

Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi scaled through by silencing his enemies at the Senate; Mrs. Ibim enemies will also be silenced during her screening at the Senate.

Kelvin Adegbenga

National Coordinator,

Swift Youth Alliance,

08054328498

Militants Causing Mayhem In Peremabiri Community, Bayelsa With The Assistance Of Nigerian Navy

Reports reaching Reporters reveals that one Paul Eris also known as Ogunboss is terrorizing the people of Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area with the assistance of men of the Nigerian Navy.  

Residents have fled the community and some have taken refuge in the forest in fear of the sporadic shootings.

This is coming ahead of the guber re-run in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area between Governor Seriake dickson of the Peoples’ Democratic Party and Timipre Sylva of the All Progressive Congress.  

Ogunboss is said to be a close ally of the APC guber candidate Sylva popularly known to Ogunboss as “RThunder” and to members of his cult the Supreme Vikings Confraternity.

The people are calling on the Federal Government to intercede and protect lives and properties ahead of the elections. Elections are to hold on Saturday 9th January, 2016.

[Reports Afrique]

Senate Urges CBN to Relax Forex Policy

The Nigerian Senate has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to relax its strict Foreign Exchange policy as it is doing more harm to the economy than good.

Senate President Bukola Saraki during a meeting with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Christine Lagarde said small businesses especially, are being made to suffer unnecessarily.

He called on the apex bank to introduce a more flexible foreign exchange regime and reduce the present restrictions on the autonomous market which does not allow business men to bring in foreign exchange or utilise what they have in their accounts.

The Senate President had equally canvass a similar view at a private meeting with CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele  during which he implored him to consider the effects of the present forex regime on small businesses which are dying  following evaporating crude oil revenue.

Saraki also told Lagarde that  "The IMF should support our CBN to bring in low interest loans to SMEs. We need to encourage entrepreneurs and make most of our new graduates job creators rather than job seekers. This is an area where we need the financial support and technical assistance of the IMF."

He explained that his office has received numerous complaints from small business owners, complaining that their businesses are being threatened by the huge bottlenecks now involved in doing business.

"As legislators, we play an important role in making our people understand IMF's advice, policy trade-offs, consultations and other engagements, so that ownership, transparency and accountability are brought to bear on economic policy choices.

"The Nigerian legislature strongly believes that having a collaborative working relationship with the Executive Branch of government brings development closer to the people.

"Since the advent of the new administration, we have worked closely to stabilize the economy and steady the fiscal environment. This, we have indeed demonstrated by the speedy passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work (MTEF) and recently in the postponement of our recess in order to receive President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

"The purpose of our Legislative Agenda is to enable us focus our lawmaking in areas that will help create jobs, expand our infrastructure base and make our economy work for the benefit and happiness of the majority of our people. 

"Pivotal to the attainment of this overarching objective is the state of the Nigerian business environment. In collaboration with major stakeholders, the 8th Senate is presently signing a memorandum of understanding on Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for Better Business Environment Project, a National Assembly business and investment roundtable initiative, with developmental organizations", the Senate President said.

The Senate President used the occasion to call on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure that in reacting to recent developments in the economy, it does not devalue the Naira for the mere sake of devaluation.

Release Or Charge Our Son To Court – Metuh Family

The Metuh family - the Obi-Ezeani-Nnewi- has noted with grave concern the continued incarceration of our Diokpa and spokesperson of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olisa Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) since his arrest Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Whereas the charges for which Chief Metuh is being detained for over 48 hours now have not been formally made known to the family and the general public, we have noted some sensational publications in a section of the media claiming that our son collected the sum of N1.4 billion from the arms deal cash and has been collecting N4 million monthly as from the Office of the former National Security Adviser.

We have confronted our son with this allegations and he assured us that they are completely false.

However, he acknowledged that in the course of his duties as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the then leader of the party and President of the country directed him to carry out some urgent national assignment relating to his office, which the former President duly funded and which he duly carried out to the satisfaction of the former President.

The family therefore views the publications bandying the figure of N1.4 billion and alleged collection of N4 million stipend from the Office of the NSA as deliberate blackmail aimed at inflaming public sentiments against our son.

Our biggest concern for now is the health and safety of our son, who even before his arrest has alerted the nation about various threats to his life, a stance that is not unconnected to his position as the spokesperson of the opposition. Our position is more so as he has refused to eat following fears of intentions to poison him in detention.

In view of the above therefore, we DEMAND that the EFCC immediately release our son, Chief Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) from detention or charge him to court.

Signed:

Chief Gilbert Metuh,

for and on behalf of The Obi-Ezeani- Nnewi

Stars dazzle in the movie: SHARED

After the last successful outing with the Award winning movie ZYRA, film director, Douglas Enogieru and content creator cum Chief Executive of Icons and Legends Communications Limited, Desmond Utomwen are out with another blockbuster flick titled: SHARED.

The movie, which depicts a complicated but thrilling story of fate, passion and love, is presented in an intriguing, emotional and suspense filled narration. It has among the casts: Fiona Garba, Leo B Okwese, Esther Michaels, Anita Utomwen, Okwese Og-Obas and Adesuwa Osuyi (making her official Acting debut) all dazzling in their artistic interpretation of the roles.

The new film produced by Desmond Utomwen for Icons & Legends Communications Limited and directed by Douglas Enogieru was shot in the country’s capital of Abuja. On hand to deliver a classy picture quality is renowned cinematographer: Shalom Chiki Uyi Enabulele, while the screenplay was done by Benjamin Bitrus Gbamanayi with Leo B Okwese bringing in a Midas touch in editing/visual effects. 

In the words the producer: ‘one bad egg spoils the rest, a good one truly nourishes’. And so it was in the life of Nzefili Daniels a young man, who on the line of duty got entangled with a sour taste and twisted emotion with Osarugue Douglas. In the mix is a grandmother living up to the responsibility of educating her grandchild on the complicated world of men.

With the teaser of the movie recently released and also available on YouTube via the link: https://youtu.be/VO9yBM8I-kg?list=PLT1seGWzBZswXVWs833vP9qRnmJV7eLr0 enjoying massive viewership, the director expressed optimism that the movie, like their past efforts, would rake in more awards at the film festivals around the world.

Buhari Administration: Reincarnation Of Nazism.

By Jide Wolimoh

The rate at which tyranny is championing Democracy in this country is alarming. One is obliged to ask about who will end up in the peril that is brought about by this tyranny. Posterity is definitely not going to be fair with tyrant, but the populace that condones tyrannicalness takes the largest part of the blame, because, the only path of justice against tyranny is to speak out as a dissident.

Adolf Hitler did likewise in Germany, he wanted to subdue the world, especially, anybody that shares different opinion from Nazism, the same path this present administration is toeing, we all know what ended the Nazist man of history, Bunker death! But it did not only stop there, Germany was nowhere to be found for some decades in the world politics.

Can someone tell Nigerian tyrant to be fair not only to the present, but also to the futurity. The uncanny charges against fellow Nigerians is getting bothersome, the world is yarning for the emancipation of Nnadi Kanu who was already freed by competent court of law, Sambo Dasuki was likewise granted bail, but Federal Government denied him of his constitutional right, Dokpesi and others have become victims of this tyranny.

Lest we go to far into this dictatorship, Nigerians should fight to win back the rule of law that was once thriving in this country. The unguarded witch hunting of Peoples Democratic Party's Spokesperson is the least and nefarious of this vicious movement. As usual, Federal Government wanted to silent all the oppositions who were constitutionally recognised. Olisah Metuh of PDP is a critic that is passionate about the young thriving Democracy in Nigeria, he is meticulously challenging the hegemony and insincerity of the party at the helms of affair, instead of them listening to the plight of Nigerians, Federal Government ordered its opposition witch hunting arm, known as EFCC to harass him. You don't need to be a PDP member to support Justice.

Just like a philosopher said, silence at the scene of injustice is tantamount to criminality. Nigerians regardless of our affiliations need to stand tall and demand for Justice. When Adolf Hitler tyrannically led Germany, many were scared and people refused to speak out, we all remember that not only Hitler suffered the ill fate, Germans in their entirety suffered a huge defeat cum carnage.

Attempt to overpower rule of law must be challenge by every well meaning Nigerians, we should all endeavour to stand in solidarity with Olisha Metuh, this political persecution is far from being healthy for our young Democracy. Nigeria's potential makes her a leader of a continent, we should stand for fairness so that we would all not be ridiculed.

If you stand for Olisah Metuh, you stand for fairness, If you stand for Fairness, you stand for Justice, if you stand for Justice, you stand for a prosperous Nigeria. With Olisa Metuh I stand.

Jide Wolimoh National Youth Leader Aspirant of PDP from Lagos State

Amaechi Denies Spending N82m On Dinner For Soyinka, Dares Wike To Go To Court

A former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has debunked allegations by the state government that he misappropriated the sum of N82 million to organise a dinner for Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.

In a statement by the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Media Office, Wednesday, Mr. Amaechi warned Mr. Wike “and the coterie of court-jesters and attention-seekers” in his administration to desist from peddling falsehood.

Mr. Amaechi, who is the current Minister of Transportation, also warned against making false allegations and criminalizing legitimate government transactions in a bid to smear his reputation.

The statement urged Mr. Wike to go to court if he had any case of fraud or misappropriation of state funds against him instead of “this silly distractions”.

He said the latest allegation by the state government was aimed at distracting the people from Mr. Wike’s “massive electoral fraud” during the last elections.

“Wike must stop this silly distraction. Rivers people are not interested in his lies and witch-hunt. Rather, Rivers people want to know what will happen to their children that he stopped and cancelled the funding of their scholarships abroad.

“Rivers people want to know why is the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), an agency set up by law no longer functioning under Wike?

“Why instead of quality education, a standard set by his predecessor, under Wike, grasses and weeds have taken over the beautiful schools built by Amaechi?

“Rivers people want to know why the standard health facilities and services put in place by the Amaechi administration are rotting away, not this petty rambling.

“Rivers people want to know why the Wike government does not care about the security of their lives and properties, as violence and criminals have taken over.

“Rivers people want to know why it feels as if there is no government in Rivers State, and this is in spite of the billions of naira that has accrued to the Wike administration and the tens of billions of naira borrowed,” he alleged.

The statement warned Mr. Wike against dragging the names of globally respected persons such as Mr. Soyinka into his “unbridled, unashamed and ill-advised attack of his former boss and benefactor”.

Why Sapele People Rejected APC

Politicians and political office holders in Sapele on Wednesday warned All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly Election in Sapele Constituency, Chief Felix Anirah against provocative statements.

Rising from a meeting in Elume, the leaders accused Anirah of engaging in a fruitless campaign against Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya.

Reminding the people to be careful of power-hungry politicians and those working against the interest of the constituency, the leaders praised Igbuya for injecting best practice into government and translating the actual wants of the people into the vision and mission of the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

“Igbuya is devoting his energies and resources to solving problems in Delta State. He is working so hard to make life meaningful to the good people of Sapele” the leaders said in a statement signed by the Chairman of Politicians and Political Office Holders in Sapele (PPOHIS), Mr. Oghene -Ochuko Abeke.

The leaders, who dismissed Anirah as somebody not on ground at home, described his views as a display of outright malice and envy against Igbuya.

“If the election is repeated tomorrow, Anirah would get fewer votes than what he got in the April 11 election.”

They noted that there was no basis for Out-of-Court Settlement.

“The outcome of the two judgments only reflected the resounding victory of Igbuya at the polls.

There was a little hope around Anirah’s candidacy. Indeed, he was rejected by the people because of his abysmal performance as chairman of Sapele Local Government” the statement said.

“Igbuya met more voters, knocked on more doors and campaigned harder.

The people voted for Igbuya. He is doing well as Speaker of the Sixth Assembly” the leaders said.

The leaders advised the speaker to disregard the recent criticism of him by Anirah.

“Felix Anirah is a clueless, visionless, reckless and feckless politician”.

Stressing that Anirah and his associates do not mean well for Sapele Constituency, the leaders urged Igbuya to keep up the good works.

“Sapele people at home and abroad must condemn the evil machinations of Anirah, his highly contagious anointing to lie and the satanic grace to mislead the people”.

The leaders also thanked the people for the confidence reposed on Igbuya.

“We thank the good and peace loving people of Sapele who have refused to be hoodwinked by the tissues of lies and propaganda being woven and dished out by Anirah” the statement said.

They also enjoined Deltans to join hands with Governor Okowa to strengthen the pillars of good governance.

Bayelsa Governorship: We Will Win, Says Sylva

Ahead of the Saturday, 9 January 2016 supplementary governorship election in Bayelsa State, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress and former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, has expressed confidence that he would sweep the poll. Sylva stated this on Wednesday at a crowded press conference held at the headquarters of the Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation in Yenagoa. He said APC was poised to win the 5 December 2015 governorship election, when, according to him, it was substantially, illegally, and unilaterally cancelled by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Baritor Kpaigh, and declared inconclusive.

The APC candidate said the cancellation was procured by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson. In spite of this, he said the APC was willing and ready to participate in the rescheduled 9 January 2016 supplementary election.

“We won before. If not for the cancellation of the Southern Ijaw results, we had won the election very clearly. But, of course, we in the APC still believe that the cancellation of the Southern Ijaw results was procured by the PDP,” Sylva stated.

He said the APC was sure to win the poll because the exercise would take place in the party’s strongholds.

The press conference was held in reaction to Dickson’s vituperations two days before, when he accused APC and Sylva of violence.

Sylva said, “I am a man of peace. I have never been involved in violence. I am the author of the peace project not only in Bayelsa, but in the whole of the Niger Delta. I brought peace to the Niger Delta through the initiative of the amnesty programme, when militancy was at its peak in the region. Everybody knows this.

“Throughout my tenure in government, I was never involved in violence.

“Dickson has shown so much desperation, even when he says he is winning. He says there were killings, but he has not shown anybody any evidence of a dead body. Only Dickson knows about the violence he is talking about.

“Yes, there was violence during the elections, but this violence was perpetrated by Dickson and the PDP. I was, myself, attacked at Odioma on the eve of the election on my way to my hometown, Okpoama in Brass Local Government. The home of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who is also the director-general of my campaign organisation, was attacked. It took the JTF to rescue him. My supporters were attacked in Sagbama, they were attacked in Nembe. All these violence were perpetrated by PDP; APC could not have attacked its members.

“Governor Dickson has been the author of violence. I have evidence of extra-judicial killings under his watch. I can give names of victims. He went on to accuse me of political violence when he is the author of political violence and intolerance.

“Governor Dickson is crying so loud and yet he is the aggressor.”

To buttress his point, Sylva showed journalists at the press briefing the brutality visited on one of his agents in Dickson's native Sagbama Local Government Area, Lucky Youbogha, who had a bandaged broken arm supported with splints.

Sylva also ridiculed Dickson’s insinuations about federal might.

The APC candidate said, “Dickson talks about federal might, but this federal might exists only in the head of Mr. Dickson. He is aware that the police outfit attached to him, Operation Doo Akpo was used to snatch ballot boxes and intimidate voters in his favour.

“Dickson claims to be the ‘winner’, yet he is complaining more than the ‘loser’.

“In a free and fair election, I will beat Governor Dickson any day. The PDP and Dickson are not prepared for elections in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. It is very clear. Anything that happens in Southern Ijaw local government, the blame should be put on Dickson.

“Dickson looks like a warmonger. He is a warmonger governor; he is a very violent human being.”

Sylva stated that Dickson's lead at the 5 and 6 December 2015 elections were “procured by violence,” stressing that every Bayelsan knows he would defeat Dickson in a free and fair poll.

The APC candidate called on the security agencies to watch Dickson ahead of the 9 January election, as he was planning to unleash militants on the state to cause violence and manipulate the voting process.

According to Sylva, “Because the PDP government knows that the APC is set to upturn such unfair means and win our strongholds, they have started making false claims. Because the PDP government is on his way out, they have put together a plot to perpetuate violence in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

“The antecedents of the PDP candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson, have shown that his desperate accusations against the APC are actually a plot in motion.”

Sylva explained Dickson’s violent disposition to the electoral process as a function of the way he came into office in 2012 through open violence and crude manipulation funded and supervised by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“He knows how he became governor with impunity. And he is thinking the APC will deploy the same might under President Buhari. The APC government cannot do that,” Sylva stated regarding Dickson.

Sylva expressed confidence in the new leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, saying that leadership is credible. But he said INEC in Bayelsa State was constituted by the PDP and structured in a way to deliver only the PDP, stressing that the INEC in Bayelsa needs to be restructured.

Saraki to IMF: Support Nigeria's Policies, Spread Our Message of Change to the World

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki today urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support Nigeria's  economic policies and help to spread the message to the international community that the new government in the country is committed to fiscal discipline. 

Saraki while receiving a delegation of the Fund led by the Managing Director, Ms.Christine Lagarde said the new government also has a supportive legislature which is devoted to enacting legislation that will create a conducive atmosphere for business to thrive.         

He said that at this critical period when the economy is affected by the oil price, what Nigeria requires from international institutions like the IMF is solid backing for its policies aimed at diversifying and modernising the economy, creating more jobs, rebuilding the national infrastructure and attracting foreign direct investments.        

He assured the IMF team  that there is a bi-partisan commitment of all members of the federal legislature on the need to "work closely with the Executive arm in addressing the challenges facing the economy...(particularly) the need to partner with the executive through legislation that gives confidence to investors that the era of policy uncertainty is gone". 

The Senate President added: "That is why the focus of our Legislative Agenda is to give priority to laws that will provide a more conducive business environment, reduce the cost of doing business, make dispute resolution very easy, end impunity and reduce corruption in the system",. 

He assured the visitors that part of the support the legislature aimed to give to the economic recovery effort of the present administration is to "make laws that will block identified legal loopholes that have resulted in revenue leakages; expand the tax base; improve oversight systems; expose corruption and provide better legal frameworks to entrench the rule of law and end impunity".    

The Senate President used the occasion to call on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure that in reacting to recent developments in the economy; it does not devalue the Naira for the mere sake of devaluation.

Rather, he called on the apex bank to introduce a more flexible foreign exchange regime and reduce the present restrictions on the autonomous market which does not allow business men to bring in foreign exchange or utilise what they have in their accounts.

"The IMF should support our CBN to bring in low interest loans to SMEs. We need to encourage entrepreneurs and make most of our new graduates job creators rather than job seekers. This is an area where we need the financial support and technical assistance of the IMF", he said.

Lagarde, in her reaction, said Nigeria can still achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth despite dwindling oil revenue by ensuring fiscal discipline, eliminating corruption and investing in infrastructure like roads, power, healthcare and affordable housing.

She said that government at all levels in the country need to act with resilience, resolve and restraint in order to overcome the present economic challenges.

 "I see an immediate priority—a fundamental change in the way government operates. What do I mean by that? The new reality of low oil prices and low oil revenues means that the fiscal challenge facing government is no longer about how to divide the proceeds of Nigeria’s oil wealth, but what needs to be done so that Nigeria can deliver to its people the public services they deserve—be it in education, health or infrastructure.

"This means that hard decisions will need to be taken on revenue, expenditure, debt, and investment going forward. My policy refrain is this:

"Act with resolve—by stepping up revenue mobilization. The first step is to broaden the tax base and reduce leakages by improving compliance and enhancing collection efficiency. At the same time, public finances can be bolstered further to meet the huge expenditure needs. For example, the current VAT rate is among the lowest in the world and well below the rates in other ECOWAS members—so some increase should be considered.

"Build resilience—by making careful decisions on borrowing. Nigeria’s debt is relatively low at about 12 percent of GDP. But it weighs heavily on the public purse. Already, about 35 kobo of every naira collected by the federal government is used to service outstanding public debt.

"Exercise restraint—by focusing on the quality and efficiency of every naira spent. This is critically important. As more people pay taxes there will, rightly, be increasing pressure to demonstrate that those tax payments are producing improvements in public service delivery.

"Corruption not only corrodes public trust, but it also destroys confidence and diminishes the potential for strong economic growth. At the global level, it is estimated that the cost of corruption is equivalent to more than 5 percent of world GDP, with over US$ 1 trillion paid in bribes each year.

"Here in Nigeria, important initiatives to discourage graft are underway and should be applauded. Let me highlight the publication of monthly data on the finances and operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. 

"This provides information on a key sector, building confidence in transparency, and improving accountability of oil revenues, for the benefit of all Nigerians. Much more can—and needs to be—done. Fighting corruption is a multi-year, multi-generational struggle that must be won," she said.

She said she was positive that Nigeria possesses the capacity and resilience to overcome its present economic challenges and grow a sustainable and inclusive economy.

Lagarde added: "Today your nation has embarked on a new journey. Nigeria is looking ahead, while drawing strength from its assets—the richness and diversity of its culture, the ingenuity of its people, and the belief in a better future.

"Today, policymakers have the opportunity to address near-term vulnerabilities and medium-term challenges—with resolve, resilience, and restraint. Today the 'Giant of Africa' is walking with a spring in her step—inspiring others in the region and across the world," she said.