Thursday 15 November 2018

Saheed Jimoh Alatise Is Competent, Easily Accessible, Trustworthy And Will Represent His People Effectively. - Ben Duntoye



The people of Igbomina/ Ekiti in Kwara south have vowed to resist any attempt by the Information minister, Lai Mohammed to foist on them foreign politicians  from Lagos as their political leaders.

A former commissioner for Information in Kwara state and youth leader of international repute, Comrade Ben Duntoye said the people of the area voiced out their resolve during the campaign tour of the area by the stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) ahead of the Saturday's bye - election to fill the vacant seat of Irepodun/ Oke- Ero/Ekiti/ Isin federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Duntoye posited that the people of the area  are enlightened and can't fall for cheap to cosmetic politicians and their Lagos sponsors.

He said the Igbomina/ Ekiti people are special breeds who could not be entised with monetary inducement.

He said the minister of Information was fully aware of this fact and long cherished virtue of the Igbomina/ Ekiti people but was only trying to please his sponsors so that he can retain his current job.

The grassroot politician added that the All Progressives Party(APC) rented crowd at its rally in Omu- Aran will not have any effect on the outcome of the bye- election which he said PDP will win convincingly.

"Majority of APC stalwarts and supporters that attended the rally were imported from Ilorin and neighbouring states. This rented crowd will not alter the outcome of the election which the PDP is sure to win as our people have resolved not to be subservient to Lagos politicians with expansionist ambition.

"Bringing in chopper  to Omu- Aran is not enough. They can even go ahead to bring Boeing aeroplane. 

Our people have totally rejected the agenda of selling us to Lagos politicians,"he declared.

Duntoye enjoined the  people of the area not to be intimidated by high presence of security operatives but troop out en masse to vote for the candidate of the PDP on Saturday.

Our people have rejected those who play politics of hatred, who have never made impact in the lives of the people in the 42 wards of our Federal Constituency.Thugery will not work and will be totally rejected by our people.

"Security  operatives should ensure fairness and orderliness. They must protect everyone. One man one vote. Our votes must count," Duntoye posited.

He said that the PDP candidate in the election, Saheed Jimoh Alatise is competent, easily accessible, trustworthy and will represent his people effectively in the lower chamber of the national assembly.

Friday 9 November 2018

Group Hails Amb. Abduljalil Suleiman Transparency In DCTA



The Transparency Advocacy For Development Initiative and Allied Civil Society Groups has commended the Director General of Directorate for Technical Cooperation in Africa, Amb. Abduljalil Suleiman  for bringing Transparency to the agency activities since he took over as Director General. 

The group President, Amb. Yomi David made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. 

Excerpt is the full statement from the Group;

TRANSPARENCY ADVOCACY FOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND ALLIED CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS COMMEND THE STEADY STRIDES OF PROGRESS, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND DUE PROCESS MEASURES AT WORK IN THE DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL COOPERATION IN AFRICA
As a mother Organization of several frontline Civil Society Groups championing the cause for transparency, accountability and due process, we have maintained a constant watch on Public Service Institutions and Public servants particularly the appointees of our corruption averse President Muhammadu Buhari. We have maintained uninterrupted vigil in monitoring and assessing the performance of key Agencies of government particularly those identified critical to accelerating Nigeria’s economic rejuvenation.    
In an era of rapid globalization and at such a time that Nigeria seeks to make progress in her quest for economic diversification to ensure wealth generation, job creation and overall national development vis-à-vis reasserting regional leadership, one Agency that readily comes to mind as key and relevant in this quest is the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa. This much informed the decision of our Organization to beam the lens of scrutiny on the Agency. After due assessment, we cannot but come to terms with the evident fact that the Agency has been effectively repositioned under the dexterous and innovative leadership of her present Director General – Amb. AbdulJalil Suleiman – whose sole and singular pursuit is to make DTCA core of generation and transfer of technology that can measure up to the best global standards.
Our findings further revealed that transparency, accountability, fairness, due process have become the credo and watchword at DTCA. The fact that the Director General of DTCA – Amb. Abduljalil Suleiman –  has chosen to follow strictly and diligently in the footsteps of Mr. President is one factor that remains commendable and should be emulated by other Chief Executives of government Agencies. We have also keenly observed that Amb. Suleiman eschews all forms of corruption, ineptitude, lack of due process and all forms of maladministration. Thus the Agency has been properly repositioned under his adroit leadership to meet the vision and establishing mandate thereof. The Agency is no longer viewed as a mere administrative platform but has been stabilized to beam her efforts on technology development exchange and transfer, building a new breed of workforce that can aptly guarantee accelerated national and regional productivity.
Having identified the huge prospects, the Agency has in terms of economic diversification, jobs creation and overall national development, the current DTCA leadership immediately set out working assiduously to ensure that all possible vista for building local technology are explored and revved-up. The determined effort being made by DTCA to boost technology exchange and transfer is a sure masterstroke that will reverse capital flight and loss of forex as this will save the nation billions of dollars annually lost to importation of technology based goods and services. We therefore invite Nigerians to reach in for their latent innovative potentials and take advantage of this expanded window opened by DTCA for jobs creation, economic empowerment and overall self-actualization. Citizen involvement in innovative technology development is a strong catalyst for generating new jobs and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa under the Headship of Amb. Suleiman has opened a vista of opportunity that can be maximally explored by all.
Perhaps the Team spirit at work in DTCA alongside the detribalized nature of the current Director General could be adduced as one among several other reasons for the rapid rate of progress being made at the Agency in this short spate of time. Strict compliance to Federal Character, reward for hardwork, high premium on merit and fairness to all have been the hallmarks of administration in DTCA. Public Office holders ought to imbibe this aspect of governance that enhances national unity. Furthermore, prudence and shrewd management of resources have also taken the front burner as the limited resources of the Agency are effectively managed to achieve the best possible results. One such testament financial prudence was the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund which was adjudged a resounding success by all critical stakeholders with the input of minimal government funds. The commendations showered on the Director General and his Team resulting in the confirmation of his appointment is a positive indicator that an effective monitoring, evaluation and commendation mechanism has been emplaced by the Buhari led government.
The balanced manner in which the Director General has been able to tackle the crisis that rocked the Agency prior to his appointment is another laudable feat. It is on record that the Director General has explored all possible vistas to ensure that the aggrieved individuals and unions find respite.  
At this juncture, we must commend President Muhammadu for seeking Nigeria’s best brains from all parts of the world and bringing them together to head critical Agencies of our economy that can engineer economic growth and add value to Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification. The confirmation of Amb. Abduljalil Suleiman’s appointment is one such practical manifestation and his impeccable achievements stand as an incontrovertible proof.
We call on other Chief Executive Officers of government Agencies and Public servants to borrow a leaf from the administrative lifestyle of Amb. Suleiman and ensure the mandate of their respective Organizations are attained to the utmost. It is also imperative that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies strengthen their partnership with DTCA in the aspect of technology development, exchange and transfer.
We strongly believe that with these transparency measures and multifaceted partnerships emplaced by the Director General of DTCA, the Agency will ignite the long awaited technology revolution and the potentials of Nigerian youth will be translated to national productivity for the good of all. We invite the concerned public and the relevant bodies to support and partner with DTCA in the areas of innovative technology, jobs creation, e-governance framework, and IOTs as Nigeria Marches on to occupy her prime place in the global technology world.
God bless Nigeria!!!  

Amb. Yomi David                                                 
Executive Director

NEMA Clarifies Alleged Reps Indictment



The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said it is shocked to hear about some of the findings and conclusions presented by the House of Representatives committee on Emergency and Preparedness Response

The agency in a statement by its spokesman, Sani Datti said it is therefore, important to clear the air on some of the allegations raised by the Committee because they did not reflect the facts and documents placed before it by NEMA.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives committee on Emergency and Preparedness Response had accused the Agency of violation of public trust

But Datti said the agency will continue to maintain its open-door policy and assured all relevant stakeholders of their readiness to make further clarifications on the issues raised for the benefit of the Nigerian public and the anti-corruption mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

He said there was need to offer clarification on the allegations raised by the House committee, to ensure that Nigerians are not misled.

Read full statement of clarification:
On the Port Clearance and Transportation of Emergency Food Assistance by Chinese Government, the Federal Government received a total of 6,779MT of Rice for IDPs in the North East as donation by the Chinese Government. This amounted to 271 containers, which arrived Apapa Ports between June and October 2017.
The processes of securing duty exemption, waivers and other related issues took several months, but the total quantity was subsequently cleared from the Apapa Port, transported and delivered to NEMA warehouses in the North East. It was thereafter distributed to the IDPs in the States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. Documents on the transaction, including distribution to the IDPs were made available to the Committee.
The correct total value of the rice is about N2.25 Billion (50 Million Chinese Yuan) and the amount spent on clearing, demurrage and storage was about N450 Million, not the N800 Million as alleged by the Committee.
On EFCC Investigation of the suspended staff of NEMA, the suspension of the Six (6) NEMA officers was a decision of Its Governing Council based on the Interim Report of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which indicted them for financial misappropriation. The suspension was in line with Public Service Rules and the extant Guidelines on Appointment, Promotion and Discipline.
On the approval of N1.6 billion granted by the Federal Government for the Procurement and Delivery of Relief Items to 16 States affected by Flood in 2017, due process was observed in the procurement of the relief items and all items meant for the 16 states were received and acknowledged by respective State Governments. Documents evidencing the acknowledgement of the items were made available to the House Committee.
On the Federal Government Emergency Food Intervention in the North East (EFINE), EFINE was a project implemented by a Presidential Committee comprising of relevant Ministries and Agencies of Government in response to the threat of hunger and starvation in the North Ease as reported by the agencies of Government on the ground, which was corroborated by the United Nations in April 2017. All approvals were secured in accordance with due process, while the Committee and the UN World Food Programme worked collaboratively in the sourcing and distribution of the food items. The originating memorandum on the project was submitted by NEMA on 2 June 2017 for Presidential approval. All suppliers in EFINE were selected following due process. Copies of all relevant documents in respect of the project were made available to the House Committee.
On the evacuation of Nigerians from Libya, the evacuation of stranded Nigerians from Libya was a multi-agency operation, which was undertaken jointly with all relevant stakeholders: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Department of State Security, NAPTIP, National Commission for Refugees, relevant State Governments, etc. Two Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty (2,130) Nigerians were evacuated in the operation.

Thursday 1 November 2018

Shi'ites: 22 CSOs, NGOs Call For Immediate Proscription of Islamic Sect



...warn politicians against using group for selfish reasons

The federal government of Nigeria has been asked to proscribe the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi'ites without any further delay.

Over 22 bodies, compromising Civil Society organizations and Non-governmental organizations, which made the appeal on Thursday, said the call became imperative following the recent clashes between security agencies on lawful duty and the group where lives were lost and many injured.


The coalition also warned politicians against hijacking the group for selfish reason ahead of the 2019 general elections .

A statement jointly signed by the bodies, called on the United Nations and all relevant supranational bodies to warn those behind the IMN, who are domiciled in Iran to stop sponsoring terrorism on Nigeria soil. 

The groups also declared that failure of the Federal Government to act within the next 72 hours will force them to stage a mass protest in Abuja in few days to press home their demands, insisting that the group has become a threat to national security and citizens going about their peaceful life in the country. 


Comrade (Patriot) Adodo Solomon, Convener of the Assembly who spokeo behalf of 22 others warned that activities of the IMn must be curtailed before it snowball into hardened extremism and terrorism beyond Boko Haram.
According to him, another worrisome dimension is the revelation that members of the opposition in Nigeria have hijacked the activities of the IMN to destabilize the peace that citizens are currently enjoying. 

The statement reads below.

"On Saturday October 27, 2018 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) clashed with military personnel in Zuba, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The official statement from the military indicated members of the group had attempted to obstruct a military convoy transporting weapons with a view to snatching the consignment. 

"IMN’ official position was that its members were on a trek to storm Abuja with one million members to demand the release of their leader, Mr. Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky.

"The confrontation with the military continued on Sunday October 28, 2018 along the Kubwa Express Way as the IMN members again attempted to storm the nation’s capital. They attacked security personnel, which in turn necessitated the security personnel to take defensive steps.

"IMN issued a statement afterwards to malign the personnel they had attacked by lying that they overheard a conversation about “orders from above” for maximum force to be deployed against their members.

"Monday October 29, 2018 was rendered violent by IMN members, who surfaced this time around in the Karu/Nyanyan/Mararaba axis with the same goal of attempting to overwhelm Abuja in their numbers to carry out violent protests under the guise of demanding the release of El-Zakyzaky.

"This act of criminality forced hardworking Nigerians to trek long distances to get to their homes while children in the affected vicinity have been traumatized by the ringing of gunshots.

"On Tuesday October 30, 2018, IMN members breached the streets housing strategic government institutions and obstructed the free flow of traffic. This was done ostensibly to trigger a faceoff with security agencies but they were disappointed as their mischief is well known. In their determination to provoke security agencies, the IMN members set ablaze a police vehicle in Wuse 2 where they openly attacked security agents and other citizens randomly.

"Previous demonstrations or protests by IMN members were equally violent. There are enough video clips and pictures on the internet of these people attacking security and military personnel. As is the case now, some of these members carry weapons while a large number of them deploy projectiles of various forms that have left several persons hospitalized with life changing injuries.

"Another thing that stands out in the IMN violence is the destruction targeted at public and private property. In the last few days under consideration, they willfully destroyed cars belonging to law abiding Nigerians while also destroying vehicles belonging to law enforcement agents and the military.

''Furthermore, there is a pattern of these IMN members aiming their protests to spill into commercial areas, which gives us the sense that there could be a deliberate ploy to overrun businesses with the intention to loot and pillage.

"In the space of a few weeks, IMN is on the verge of adding Abuja to the list of countries that are not safe for international travel and investment. If they succeed in doing this or if we collectively permit it, then they would have assisted Iran in destroying Nigeria without invading us.

"It is of note that Kaduna State Government had outlawed the IMN as a militarized extremist group that is a clear danger to the society. This decision on the part of Kaduna state government followed the due process established by law and recognized by the constitution, including a Judicial Commission of Inquiry that indicted the IMN.

"Our groups have followed the interventions being made in this matter with keen interest and a large dose of concern chiefly because few organizations and individuals have been objective enough to condemn the acts of terrorism being committed by IMN. What has been dominant is people that are faulting an assumed state high handed response to curtail the destruction being unleashed by the extremists. 

"We recognize that some people that think they are being objective have in reality been manipulated by IMN propaganda, which was designed and developed offshore to be ruthlessly efficient. 

""The regime of fear, intimidation and sheer brigandage run by IMN in Zaria, Kaduna state before they were dislodged is well known across the country and it is not one that should be repeated in any other part of the world and certainly not in Abuja that is the unifying location for Nigerians.

"We therefore caution the appropriate military and security agencies that they have limited time to contain the lawlessness of IMN and take steps to make its members desist from fomenting forthwith. The demanded actions will include identifying the cell leaders that are coordinating these attacks on Nigerians and those with the duty of protecting them.

"Where the authorities fail to rein in the IMN we have no other option than to come out in full to demonstrate that it is not only IMN that has the monopoly to protest. We shall meet the extremist group on the street member for member until they learn to respect the secularity of Nigeria and the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution over dubious sectarian creeds. 

"We strongly advise that the Federal Government wakes up to its responsibility and proscribes the lawlessness terrorist organization that IMN has proven itself to be.  The hate speech by the organization must be curtailed immediately.  Failure for the Federal Government to act within the next 72 hours will force the CSOs in this coalition to stage a mass protest in Abuja on Monday next week. 

"The United Nations and all relevant supranational bodies are urged to warn the sponsors of IMN who are domiciled in Iran to stop sponsoring terrorism on Nigeria soil. If its sponsors believe that the poison that the group is spewing on the streets is good then they should give termless visas and one way flight tickets to the youths they have radicalized to come and take up practice in Iran."

2019: CSO Rates Buhari Above Atiku, other Challengers, Give Reasons


As preparations heat up ahead of the 2019 general elections, Nigerians have been warned to be wary of candidates who would draw the nation back to dark age.

The New Initiative For Credible Leadership (NICreL), which gave the warning, said having carefully analysed those gunning for the office of the president, it observed that most of the aspirants were chasing personal interest.

The group said from its findings and observations, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, remains the best option to pilot the affairs of the entity called Nigeria for another four years after his first tenure in 2019.

Reverend Samson Onwu, Executive Director of group, why addressing the press on Thursday, noted that other presidential candidates such as Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oby Ezekwesili, Donald Duke, were only chasing personal interest.

Onwu also cited some of the monumental achievements of the Buhari-led government to include; increase in foreign reserve, completion of abandons projects  as well improved security system.

The group's director, therefore, urged Nigerians to support the Buhari/Osinbajo mandate so perfect the real change the country deserves.

The statement reads in full.

As the 2019 general elections draw near. Different personalities have indicated intent and readiness to contest the next presidential elections. This is very normal and healthy for any thriving democracy. A robust participation is one of the signs of a healthy democracy.

We at the New Initiative For Credible Leadership (NICreL) consider The forth coming elections as very important one for the country. Various individuals have emerged as flag bearers for the different parties- Atiku Abubakar for the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP), Oby Ezekwisili for the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Donald Duke for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Muhammadu  Buhari for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a number of other contestants.

Having appraised all the candidates and carefully analyzed their different abilities vis a vis their various stints at public office, we at the New Initiative for Credible Leadership have reached the conclusion that NONE of them is a better option than President Buhari, judging by antecedents, performance and character. To appreciate this view, it is important that we take a look at where we were as a nation in 2015 and where we are now; by this, we will undoubtedly appreciate the progress made so far in our evolution as a nation.

We have heard a lot of propaganda here and there on the state of the nation and how that life was better under the PDP government than now. Nothing could be further from the truth than that statement.

By May 2015 23 states out of 36 states were owing several months of salary arrears. By May 2015 some federal government agencies owed up to two months in salaries. The insecurity in the country was so pronounced that it was basically the major issue in the presidential campaign of that year. 14 local governments about the size of Belgium were already under Boko Haram control with flags hoisted as their territory. Boko haram attacks were common occurrences, even as near as the federal Capital Abuja.

The foreign reserves dwindled tremendously. From a whopping $48b in 2007 to as low as $29b dollars in 2015. This is despite the fact that oil sold at unprecedented high prices, sometimes even as high as $147 per barrel yet there was no savings rather it was a depletion of the existing saving. That was the kind of economy and government that was handed over to the Buhari administration.

Abandoned projects littered everywhere, not surprising. You cannot be looting and be doing projects at the same time. You either use the money to work for the people or loot the money. We all know what the preferences of the PDP government was, they preferred the looting, and hence the several abandoned projects.

This is just but a few of the decay and rot handed over to the Buhari administration. The question is: what did they do with it? The answer? They got down to work immediately.
According to records from the Debt management office, the Buhari administration has extended more than 1.9trillion Naira to State governments to enable them meet their salary and pension obligations. The support came in the form of Budget support facility, Paris Club Refunds, Infrastructure Loans, Loan restructuring for facilities with commercial banks. All of these are unprecedented.

The trend under the former PDP government was to deny states their entitlements, owe them and in many instances short change them. President Buhari out of his compassion for workers insisted on this interventions not because he wanted to please some governors but because he was concerned about the plight of workers and pensioners. This singular Acton was one of the major things that got us out of a recession.

President Buhari approved the sum of 54 billion Naira to clear pension arrears from 2014 to date. This may look like little things but to the pensioner who has missed his pension for several months this is a huge intervention and there are millions of them across the country that benefited from this intervention.

Despite the sudden plunge in oil prices to as low as $26 per barrel at some point. The Buhari government has invested massively in infrastructure across the country like no other government before it. In the 2016 and 2017 budget alone the Federal government released a total of 2.7 trillion Naira for capital expenditure alone. This is unprecedented in the history of this country. This massive investment has made it possible for work to resume on several stalled projects across the country. Rail projects hitherto abandoned are now being completed in record time, power projects, and numerous road projects across the country.

Despite the low oil prices, The Buhari government has done excellently well with the nation’s resources. It has increased the savings of the country by doubling the external reserve in a very short time from a meager $29 billion in 2015 to over $47 billion. These are facts that can be checked.

The Buhari government has invested over 500b Naira on different Social intervention programs across the country, this is unprecedented in the history of the country. At the moment there are over 8.2m pupils being fed every school day? There are also about 500,000 graduates being paid 30,000 Naira every month. Over 1 million poorest of the poor receiving conditional cash transfer of 5,000 Naira monthly. Hundreds of thousands of traders getting soft loans of 10,000 Naira, plus so many numerous programs across the country. This is simply put a people’s government.

Insecurity has reduced drastically. Boko Haram no longer holds any territory in the country. Except for some pockets of soft target attacks the group is already too decimated to carry out large scale attacks as they use to do in the past. The military has been re invigorated for improved performance. Required equipment is now made available to the troops.

The anti-corruption war has witness unprecedented recoveries from those who looted the treasury. The whistle blower policy has helped expose and recovered looted funds. The implementation of the TSA system by the Buhari administration has helped greatly to reduce leakages in government revenue.

We would have preferred to ignore some of those showing up now to send us back to the biblical Egypt that we have left.  It is just a bit hard to forget so soon the role played by former vice President Atiku Abubakar in the selling off of our national assets to those who rather than turn them around as promised, plunder them and left them desolate. It is hard to ignore how he transmuted from a public servant to a studiously rich man.

You can accuse President Buhari of anything But not vested interest. The same cannot be said of Atiku Abubakar. We have moved far beyond that stage now. Haven enjoyed a President that will always put the interest of the people first. It will not make any sense to now return those who used every opportunity they had to serve the people as an avenue to enrich themselves.

Madam Oby EZekwisili, though quite energetic, can also be calamitous in her approach to issues. We won’t forget so soon how her policy summersaults as Minister of Education then almost bastardized the Unity School system in the country. Her short temper and rigid view of issues, may just not be the best for a country with so much diversity.

All said and done we cannot see any good reason why a working formula will be dropped for one that is known to be ineffective. The Buhari administration in the last three years has done far more than some people did in 16 years with far less than they had to play around with then

It is obvious that amongst those genuinely against the reelection of President Buhari are also looters who have been denied access to the treasury plus those who benefited from the past plunder. We at the NICreL have however decided to go forward and not backward any more. Our support and vote goes to President Buhari in the 2019 election because of the tangible things we have seen.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.