Not-too-young-to-run: Benjamin Kalu hails Buhari, tells Nigerian Youths what to do

Chief Barrister Benjamin O. Kalu, has commended Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law.

This is even as he told the Nigerian youths what next to do as they have been officially included in the nation’s politics, which age is no longer a limit.

In an article written by the Philanthropist, the Chairman BENDE EXPORT/IMPORT – and the House of Representative aspirant for Bende South Federal Constituency, Barr. Kalu said youths have no reasons to lament since they now have the power to contest any political position in Nigeria.

The article titled; ‘NOT-TOO-YOUNG-TO-RUN: BUHARI, THE YOUTH FRIENDLY PRESIDENT,‘ reads below;

“I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for his demonstration of love for the youths and the future of Nigeria, by accenting to the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill.

“Considering Jessica Stillman’s leadership management model in support of the young managers, President Buhari and the National Assembly by this act has opened a new horizon for the national governance that will be more welcoming to change, inspiring, receptive to feedbacks, dedicated to continuous improvement of capacity, result oriented and with the ability to have a stretched goals in their plans. What a trophy for the country and especially the youths even before the FIFA World Cup?

“Before you take the words of critics to the bank against the youths and their “ political leadership inexperience “ negative narrative, it has been proven that the above listed traits have helped them make up their inadequacies and the plethora of examples abound among great nations that believed and handed over their countries to the youths.

“Dedicating this paragraph to a little international political history will reveal as follows;
That at 39, Emmanuel Macron was sworn in to lead France, Viktohblaq Orban for Hungary in 1998 at age 35, Charles Michell of Belgium at 38 in 2014 as Prime minister, Juris Ratas of Estonia at 38 in 2016, Volodymys Groysman of Ukraine in 2016 at 38, after 150 years, in 2015, at 40, Alexis Tsipras became the Prime minister of Greece, closer home in North Africa, Tunisia for the first time after their independence in 1956 swore in Youssef Chahed at age 40 as Prime minister.

“At 43, Justin Trudeau in 2015 emerged as the Prime minister. Andrzej Duda at 43 in 2015 was elected by Poland, Georgia had Giorgi Margveksashvili as president in 2013 at age 44, in 2011 Kosovo was for Atitete Jahjsga at 36, Italy for Matteo Renzi at 39 in 2014, at 43, David Cameron in 2010 led The Great Britain.

“Let’s not forget the head of the Spanish Government in 1982, Felipe Gonzalez at age 40, in 1988, Tony Blair led Britain at 43 years old. In Pakistan it was Bhutto Benazir at age 35, Laurent Fabius was 37 in 1984 when he also led France.

“The USA was not in this era of young dynamic leaders, while President Roosevelt led at age 42, John F. Kennedy was 43 years when he was the President.

“The latest is Sabastian Kurz who on the 18th of December,2017 at age 31 became the Chancellor of Austria.

“Though tempted to mention young leaders of non democratic regimes , I will not fall for it because the youths of this country are asking to participate in the leadership found in democratic governance.

“Majority of the names found on this list above made their country proud, the current ones are breaking boundaries for their nations and am sure the youths of Nigeria will not fail Nigeria.

“The proclamation of the president today convinced us as a nation that never again shall we have a president as old as him after his second tenure. Having opened the door for the youths to govern, he will no longer be accused of been unconnected with the youths.

“President Buhari will remain the oldest president the country ever had who ushered in a new era for the coming generations.

“What the former PDP government feared to accent to, he has boldly and happily celebrated for the youths. The youths now know which administration has positioned them better beyond words of the opposition, who were not courageous enough to allow a stake for the youths in the national leadership pie.

“The challenge is now for the youths to prove themselves with not just desiring to lead, but with the preparation, capacity, readiness and character adequate to showcase their ingenuity,intelligence, patriotism, focus, courage, self discipline, dedication, patience among other attributes needed for political leadership.

“The youths must therefore synergise and work in unison, using their large population and global exposure as a gateway to government with solutions tailored to address issues that have been on the front burner for national growth.

“The Not-Too-Young-To-Run law couldn’t have come at a better time than now that the nation is experiencing a renewed youth political consciousness and the needed patriotic spirit to make Nigeria great again.

“The government of APC believes in the youths and expects them by this singular act of the president, to join hands with his administration in moving our nation forward.

“I wish the youths the strength of character in politics. Go get your PVC, join a Political party and actively participate to be relevant.

BENJAMIN OKEZIE KALU Esq.

Igbos Will Show Gratitude To Buhari In 2019 With Their Votes – Tony Momoh

Prince Tony Momoh, a former Minister of Information and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), is one of the national leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In this interview, he spoke with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI in Abuja on the three years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and other issues.

Some Excerpts below:

President Buhari on Tuesday May 29 marked three years in office as president. He was elected on a four-year mandate which will elapse in 2019. Do you think three years is enough to assess his performance?

Even one day is enough. But one thing people should know is that three or four years is not enough in total consideration of your efforts to assess what you can do in any polity.

But even if you spend one day, it is enough depending on which areas you are looking at. If you are looking at the area of tenure, one day tenure means you are there for one day.

In one day, the person may just had breakfast or dinner or held a few meetings with security people.

Why do you think Obasanjo is too critical of those who succeeded him in office unlike what obtains in the United States where you hardly see former presidents criticising the incumbents despite political differences?

PDP Lists Ways President Buhari Crippled Nigeria’s Economy

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has listed ways President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly crippled Nigeria’s economy.

The party was reacting to President Buhari’s claim that he inherited a bad economy when he took over power in 2015.

President Buhari, while receiving the Sierra Leone President, Julius Bio at the Presidential Villa yesterday, said he inherited similar economic challenges as a newly installed leader.

But reacting to this, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, refuted the claim.

He told Punch, “With all due respect, President Buhari inherited the fastest growing economy in Africa when he took over from the PDP administration in 2015.

“He came to power without a clear cut economic policy; his administration mismanaged the economy and threw up the recession we suffered.

“At the earliest turn of his administration, he embarked on the de-marketing of our nation; he embarked on a foreign exchange policy which pursued a multiplicity of exchange rates which led to foreign investors leaving in their numbers.”

BREAKING: Biafra Day: IPOB secretariat disowns sit-at-home order

The National Secretariat of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has distanced itself from the recent order asking Igbos to sit-at-home on May 30.

IPOB had urged Igbos to observe the directive for the remembrance of the defunct Biafra.

It had claimed that the day represents an enduring epitaph that recalls many great feats, struggles and tribulations.

Reacting, however, Anayo Mbakwe, called on Igbos to disregard the order and go about their business on the said date.

Mbakwe, who is Director, Strategic Communication in a statement on Tuesday, affirmed that the statement emanating from the Mazi Chika Edoziem-led faction should be discountenanced and disregarded in its totality.

He said the order did not have he blessing of its supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently at large.

He said, “We received with utter shock and amazement, the laughable buzzing news both in the traditional and social media, signed and circulated by one Mazi Chika Edoziem, purportedly claiming to be Head, Directorate of State of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

“The National Secretariat of IPOB in Nigeria wish to state clearly and in unmistaken terms that the said press statement emanating from Mazi Chika Edoziem should be discountenanced and disregarded in its totality. We strongly condemn it, as dubious, treacherous, unacceptable, illegal and a mockery of the grandeur ideology of our Supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose aspirations and target is to achieve a peaceful and rancor-free independent Biafran state.

“Please permit us to put it on record that our secession struggles are henceforth not anchored on coerciveness, violence, breach of public peace, deaths and such allied criminal acts. Those conversant with the new inclination of our Leader, Mazi Kanu, would have known that we have adopted a persuasive and non-violent diction and approach to our separatism agitations.

“Therefore, Mazi Chika Edoziem and his co-travellers are imposters and strangers in our midst who have always sabotaged and exploited the activities of IPOB for personal gains. The faction has again dubiously usurped IPOB’s platform to cause confusion, in order to extort and dupe unsuspecting members of the public, especially Southeasterners’ in the pretension of Remembrance Day for Biafran fallen heroes and Heroines of the Nigerian civil strife of 1967-70, by issuing the illegal sit-at-home order.

“For the avoidance of doubt now and in the future, may we plead the understanding of Nigerians on these in-house betrayers. We wish to document that any genuine and authentic press statement, media or publicity engagement of the public from IPOB’s national secretariat on such a serious issue, which is duly authorized, with the stamp and seal of our Supreme Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released to the public and signed by Mazi Emma Powerful, IPOB’s media and publicity secretary.

“The designation, office of Head, Directorate of State of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra as flaunted by Mazi Chika Edoziem in the said public statement does not exist in our organizational organogram. He is simply and plainly, a renegade, cheat, an impostor and a criminal who has prepared his armed hooligans’ and miscreants to violently invade the Southeast on May 30, 2018, to kill, maim, loot and abduct scores of our kith and kin in demand for ransom to enrich themselves.

“The statement does not originate from us and it is a betrayal of the cause, our Supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has placed his life on the line these past years. We cannot allow the glaring attempts by selfish and frenzied individuals in our midst to truncate or jeopardize the Biafran cause or derail IPOB’s focus in pursuing the interest of Igbo nation on the secession struggles.

“We remember with much sadness that the same Mazi Edoziem’s faction has clandestinely and consistently worked with the Federal Government to sabotage, undermine and truncate this noble agenda of IPOB. They were the conniving shadows with our “enemies” which led to the forceful invasion of Kanu’s village in order to scar and put permanent fear in the minds of even our diehard loyalists of the struggle.

“All of us know what transpired thereafter and there is no room to allow these same antagonists humiliate our Supreme Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for the second time. We completely reject any attempt by our enemies to re-enact that inglorious saga and we are prepared to fight it conclusively. They are incompetent to either stab us on the back or ride on our backs to the inglorious fame they are seeking.

“We therefore, request security agents to immediately apprehend, interrogate and possibly arraign Mazi Chike Edoziem in court on charges of imposition and acts of treason against the Nigerian state.

“We urge all Ndigbo in the Southeast or domiciled anywhere in Nigeria to go about their normal activities tomorrow, May 30, 2018 without the fear of harassment or molestations. The sit-at-home order grounds the economy of Igbo nation and does not in any way develop us a people.”

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command says its attention has been drawn reports that over 2,000 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are set to hit streets and roads of Onitsha in Anambra State for their sit-at-home order on Tuesday May 30.

The command declared that the agitators will be dealt with, warning that under no circumstance should any person or group stop others from moving about.

Muhammad Buhari says he'll sign 'Not Too Young to Run' bill in a few days

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that he will sign the 'Not Too Young to Run' bill into law in a matter of days.

The President stated this on Tuesday, May 29, in his Democracy Day address.

"In a few days I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ Bill," he said.

Buhari also vowed to make sure the killers and sponsors of the ongoing farmers-herders crisis are prosecuted.

He said, "The unfortunate incidences of kidnappings, herdsmen and farmers clashes in several communities which have led to high number of fatalities and loss of properties across the country is being addressed and the identified culprits and their sponsors shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.

"All the three tiers of government are presently engaged with communities and religious organizations to restore peaceful co-existence among Nigerians."




The President added that his administration is "boosting the capacity of security agencies" so that the lives and properties of Nigerians can be effectively protected.

"This administration is pained over the grievous loss of lives and properties occasioned by the carnage of insurgency and other forms of criminality in the country.

"I wish to assure Nigerians that we will not rest until all criminal elements and their sponsors are brought to justice. Government is boosting the capacity of our security agencies through recruitment of more personnel, training and procurement of modern equipment, enhancement of intelligence gathering as well as boosting their morale in the face of daunting challenges."
Anti-corruption war

On the anti-corruption crusade, Buhari said his administration is more determined and that the fight against corrupt practices and the perpetrators will be intensified.

"Three years into this administration, Nigerians and the international community have begun to applaud our policies and determination to fight corruption.

"We are more than ever before determined to win this war, however hard the road is. I therefore appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support us in this fight", the President said.

ALSO READ: President Buhari Has Fulfilled Campaign Promises’- Lai Mohammed

He listed the Treasury Single Account (TSA), whistleblowing policy and voluntary asset and income declaration scheme (VAIDS) as some of his administration's initiatives to tackle corruption.

We Are Unstoppable – Says IPOB members, as they protests in Aba

Few days to mark the remembrance of the Biafran fallen heroes and Heroines, the members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, today, 28th May, 2018 – storms the street of Aba in protest.

The protesters who barricaded many streets in Aba with placards and flags, where chanting that the Nigerian security agencies can’t stop the restoration of Biafra.

Check out the photos below:

JAMB Remitted Only N52M To The Federal Government In 40 Years’ – Registrar, Is’haq Oloyede

Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has lamented how corruption ate deep into the agency such that it was only able to remit to the treasury N52million in about 40 years.

Oloyede, however, changed the narrative when he took over in 2016. Oloyede said he generated N9 billion for the board and remitted N 7.8 billion to the Federal Government in 2017. The JAMB registrar said this while delivering a lecture at a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Sunday in Osogbo.

He said Nigerians should join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption to bring about a better society. He said there is an urgent need for government at all levels to improve the quality of education in the country. The colloquium had as theme: “Functional Education as a Tool For National Development and Gateway To Freedom.’’ Oloyede said that there was the need for government to place less emphasis on certificates and encourage abilities among the students.

“Destroying a nation does not require the use of an atomic bomb or the use of long-range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examination by students. The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation, but functional education will guarantee freedom and national development,” he said.

Oloyede also said that corruption was militating against functional education in the country. Oloyede also said that quality education must be functional, multipurpose and adaptable to every situation.

“Education concerns the training of individuals to acquire the right attitudes that make them socially responsible,’’ he said. He also called for equality in education to allow children of the less privileged to access quality higher education in the country.

Those Troubling Nigeria Are Bastards’- This Methodist Prelate Speaks

The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rev. Samuel Uche, has said those who are troublers of Nigeria are bastards.

He said this while delivering the homily at an Interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja to commemorate the 2018 Democracy Day.

According to him, Obasanjo told him about a Yoruba proverb that meant that a family could only know peace if there were no bastards.

“All those who are troublers of Nigeria are bastards. A family only knows peace where there are no bastards.

“No holy book encourages war or hostility. Why then do we have hatred, malice and intolerance?

“I blame religious leaders of different faiths who collect money. They are wicked, malicious, and satanic,” he said referencing Obasanjo’s comments.

He added that although he had only one vote, he could influence at least two million voters from his denomination and many other Christians.

While saying impunity would no longer be allowed in the country, Uche said he was ready to take the bullet while fighting the menace.

Uche urged the Federal Government to review the bogus salaries and allowances of those in authority downwards, saying they could not continue to be enjoying while the people were suffering.

He enjoined them to allow the little national cake to go round so that everybody could have a bite.

The clergyman warned the ruling party against clamping down on members of the opposition parties just as he advised the opposition members to avoid crying wolf where there was none.

He warned all stakeholders against heating up the polity, saying the nation needed peace.

He also described the calls for the breaking of the country as nonsensical, adding that those behind such calls were ignorant.

The cleric said Nigerians must learn to live together in peace.

Uche also called on the Federal Government to revisit the report of the 2014 National Conference with a view to picking the recommendations that would be useful to the nation.

He advised the government to stop apportioning blame and pointing fingers, saying it was a waste of time.

He supported the call for the establishment of special courts for urgent trial of corruption cases.

According to the clergyman, Nigeria personifies the biblical Job at this time because the country’s problems and challenges are many.

He said the nation’s past heroes meant well for Nigeria and they worked for the nation’s progress.

Uche, however, said the present-day politicians acted with impunity because they had not learnt their lessons.

He described 90 per cent of such politicians as chameleonic, asking them to change.

His words: “There should be no fear in politics. Let people be allowed to vote and let their votes count.

“We will work against all those who plan to manipulate elections; we will never allow that. And let me tell you that if they fire their bullet, it will not penetrate because God is with us. The God of Elijah and Elisha is our God.

“We will no longer allow impunity to reign in this country. I don’t belong to any political party but I can influence at least two million Methodists in Nigeria. I can also influence other Christians.

“We will never vote in anybody that is lazy; anybody that is wicked, anybody that is a religious bigot can never smell any office in this land. Those who mean well for Nigeria, God will preserve them. Those who are planning to hurt Nigeria, God will annihilate them.

“So, let us come together to build a nation where there is peace, love, harmony, tolerance, concord and synergy.” will not vote for wicked and lazy politicians, who are religious bigots in the 2019 elections.

“As we celebrate Democracy Day on Tuesday and as we remember our children today, I want to advise that we should avoid do-or-die politics.

“There should be no fear in politics. Let people be allowed to vote and let their votes count.

“We will work against all those who plan to manipulate elections; we will never allow that. And let me tell you that if they fire their bullet, it will not penetrate because God is with us. The God of Elijah and Elisha is our God.

“We will no longer allow impunity to reign in this country. I don’t belong to any political party but I can influence at least two million Methodists in Nigeria. I can also influence other Christians.

“We will never vote in anybody that is lazy; anybody that is wicked, anybody that is a religious bigot can never smell any office in this land. Those who mean well for Nigeria, God will preserve them. Those who are planning to hurt Nigeria, God will annihilate them.

“So, let us come together to build a nation where there is peace, love, harmony, tolerance, concord and synergy.

“Our leaders have failed to provide good leadership. They can’t organise simple primaries. There is in-fighting. What a shame! We need peace before we can build a nation of our dream. We need tolerance, forgiveness and forbearance.

“Hawking is evidence that all is not well with our country. Many young people are deprived and that is why I call on the government with all due respect to review the bogus salaries and allowances of those in authorities because they are squandering our money.

“They engage in bogus spending leaving us to suffer; this must stop. We must allow our little cake to go round so that each one can have a bite.

“Our government should ensure something is done about our porous borders in order to checkmate the incidence of migration of miscreants, irresponsible cannibals and wicked people into our country.

Despite all the ills, Uche said he saw hope for the country if only Nigerians could agree that the amalgamation of 1914 was a divine one.

In his remarks at the service, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo warned Nigerians to resist the temptation of asking to be returned to the era of the past characterised by corruption and ethnic conflicts.

He said the current national challenges that were making some Nigerians to call for a return to the pre-2015 era were designed by God to strengthen them.

He explained that when God put individuals or nations on a journey to destiny, He did not tell them the challenges inherent in the trip, lest they would refuse to embark on it.

Quoting extensively from Exodus 14: 10 to 15, the Vice-President likened Nigeria’s current challenges to the children of Israel wilderness’ journey that was tough, difficult and fearful.

He said like some Israelites did at a point, Nigerians might be faced with the temptation of wondering why they were not left to remain in the captivity of the past.

Osinbajo said his message for Nigerians at such critical point in the nation’s history was for them to go forward and refuse to turn back because “the challenges they see today won’t be seen again.”

He said, “As it was with the journey of the Israelites, so it is in the journey of nation-building and development. Our nation is not different. We are on a journey from the past.

“There have been times where the journey is somewhat tough, difficult and even fearful.

“We looked behind us, we see the armies of the past: the armies of division which led to civil war where many of us died; the armies of religious strife that refused to leave us; the armies of corruption and graft; those who want us to remain in the captivity of ethnic and religious conflicts, these are the armies of the past.

“But ahead of us, we also see the Red Sea – bloody conflicts and the doom sayers saying the future will be worse than the past.

“And then the people say, ‘Why did you take us from where we were?’ The same people who cried in anguish to the Lord, now say, ‘You should have left us in the past, you should have left us; we didn’t know you were taking us out of captivity to kill us in the wilderness.’

“And like Moses, the leadership say, ‘What shall we do, oh Lord? We didn’t expect that this will be a journey to destruction.’ Then God said to Moses, God speaks to the leadership of Nigeria, ‘Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel, tell the children of Nigeria, go forward, go forward, don’t turn back.’

“Moses, inspired by God, said to the children of Israel to go forward. He also said, ‘Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians you see today, you shall see no more forever. He will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.’

“So, I say to you brethren in Christ and to you my fellow country men and women, let us go forward, let us not look back.

“The armies of the enemy that are today threatening to kill and maim and the colours of poverty and injustice, you shall see no more forever.

“God will fight for us and we shall hold our peace. We must move forward, we are a people of prophesy. God has said concerning this nation that he is building a nation where all men and all tribes and faith will dwell in love and peace, a nation where our people will have ample opportunities for productivity and reward. The promises of God are assured and certain.

“2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us that all the promises of God are yea and amen to the glory of God to us. All the promises of God to us are yes and amen in Jesus Christ for you and I.

“This is the future that we are heading and we are already going steadily, surely in that direction.”

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the Church had a role to play for the good of the nation to manifest.

“The Church has a responsibility that Nigeria sees the light,” he said.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, took the only lesson for the service from Job 14:7-9.

The service featured a short drama, special renditions by the Christian Association of Nigeria’s mass choir, and pupils of the School for the Blind, Abuja as well as intercessory prayers for Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, the Legislature, Judiciary and the Church.

Dignitaries who attended the service included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen; and the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, among others.

President Buhari Has Fulfilled Campaign Promises’- Lai Mohammed

Minister of information, Lai Mohammed has insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled all his campaign promises with ‘unprecedented accomplishments’ within three years of his administration.

Speaking yesterday, in Lagos, where he outlined the achievements of the administration, he said contrary to critics, who claim the government had nothing to show for its three years of existence, the Buhari administration had ‘performed beyond expectations’.

He said: “This administration has kept its social contract with the Nigerian people by delivering on its campaign promises. We are putting our nation on the path of sustainable growth and development, diversifying our economy like never before, tackling corruption at its very core and devising creative measures to secure lives and property.

“After just three years, Nigeria is rising again like a phoenix from the ashes of years of massive looting of the national treasury, mis-governance and fallen oil prices. In just three years, the Buhari administration has taken power generation to an all-time high of 7,000 mega watts, from the 2,690 which we inherited. It has moved Nigeriacloser to self-sufficiency in rice more than any administration before it; it is just two years away from meeting its target production of six million metric tonnes of milled rice to meet Nigeria’s consumption.

“This administration is feeding 8.2 million pupils in 45,394 schools in 24 states, employing 87,261 cooks in the process. It has been paying conditional cash transfer of N5,000 monthly to 297,973 poorest and most vulnerable households. It is turning around the nation’s infrastructure fortunes, including power, roads and rail, thanks to the unprecedented N2.7 trillion that has been spent on infrastructure. All four components of the N-POWER programme are now up and running, benefiting nine million people directly.

“On May 29, 2015, Boko Haram was squarely in charge of a territory the size of Lebanon, occupying 24 local governments, collecting taxes, deposing and installing emirs and hoisting its flag; corruption levels in our society was at an all-time high and the economy was in the doldrums, but, this administration has retaken every inch of Nigeria’s territory from insurgents, flushed them out of their safe havens and put them on the run.

“The economy is back on the path of growth, after the recession of 2016/17. Inflation has fallen for 15 consecutive months, from 18.7 percent to 12.5 percent as of April 2018. External reserves of $48 billion are the highest in five years, and more than double the $23 billion we met in 2015. The total value of capital imported in the quarter stood at $6,303.63 billion, which is a year-on-year increase of 594.03 percent, and a 17.11 percent growth over the figure reported in the previous quarter.

“Tax revenue increased to N1.17 trillion in the first quarter of 2018, a 51 percent increase on the first quarter of 2017 figure and 14 moribund fertiliser blending plants have been revitalised, so far, under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI); with a total capacity of 2.3 million metric tonnes of fertiliser. The contribution of solid minerals to the Federation Account rose five-fold from N700 million in 2015 to N3.5 billion in 2017.

“The administration launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), a medium-term economic plan, in April 2017, to chart a course for the economy over the next four years (2017–2020).”

Nothing Will Happen If Buhari Prosecutes Obasanjo Over $16bn Power Project – Sagay

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), in this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, speaks on the three years of the Muhammadu Buhari administration and other issues of national importance.

President Buhari will be marking three years in office tomorrow as president. He was elected on a four-year mandate which will elapse in 2019. Do you think three years is enough to assess his performance?

No, I don’t think three years are enough to assess his performance but I think in these three years, sufficient achievements have been recorded by this government by which it can be judged.

Three years won’t be a complete picture but there is substantial evidence for one to make an assessment.

So, if you are to assess him on the three cardinal programmes of his administration namely war against corruption, revamping the economy and tackling insecurity, how will you rate him in these areas?

I think he has been largely successful under very difficult circumstances. Let us take the issue of corruption in which I think he has scored an excellent grade.

In other words, given the circumstances of the country and the hostility plus resistance of the elites who are behind the looting of the nation’s treasury, I will rate his achievement as excellent. If you look at recovery of assets by this administration, it is unprecedented anywhere in the world; assets recovery from every angle such as Abacha loot, loot under the Goodluck Jonathan government and so on.

It amazes me that Nigerians pretend that they are not aware of these things. If you ask them,what has Buhari achieved in the fight against corruption?.

The response you will get is ‘he has achieved very little in the area of corruption’. In fact, that is a blatant lie.

He has achieved a tremendous lot. We have had activities on the part of EFCC and ICPC which is totally unprecedented because of the political commitment of this government in the anti-corruption war. What people fail to appreciate is the level of resistance, the fighting back by these very powerful oligarchs who are using our resources which they stole to fight us back.

It is these resources they use in paying their lawyers, bribing judges and creating all sorts of obstacles.

Look at the case of Olisa Metuh. Look at the resistance with all the drama to having the trial concluded. Someone was told sit where he was but he said no, he must go to the dock and halfway to the dock, he suddenly dropped pretending to have collapsed. As a result of that, his counsel insists at any cost that the case should be adjourned again.

So, this government is going through fearful obstruction in the fight against corruption. That is why it has decided to concentrate on recovery of assets because we have discovered that if you deny these looters of their assets, it is even worse than sentencing to imprisonment because it robs them of all the gains of their looting.

If you recover these loots from them, all they have planned to do with the loot will be lost and you see them developing high blood pressure and all sorts of things which could be worse than imprisonment. If they could go to prison for a time and retain the loot, they will choose that because they will come and enjoy the loot once they are released.

Also, what people seem to forget is the difficulty of conviction because of the lapses of the Nigerian constitution which places the burden of proof not only on the prosecution but also proof beyond reasonable doubt.

It is extremely difficult particularly when you have lawyers who are determined to frustrate and stall cases. We forget too that the names of these people have been published. The loot that they have stolen have been stated, the whole country is aware of who they are and they have lost their reputation and respect in the society. That is a punishment that could be worse than imprisonment.

So, on this issue of anti-corruption war, this government has passed it in flying colours. We have been engaged in training of judges, prosecutors, training in drafting of charges, interacting with professionals to see how they in their own spheres can cut corruption short especially those in the fields of Accountancy, Law etc. So, I will class the achievement in this area as first class.

When we come to the area of security, we have a major problem. If it was limited to Boko Haram alone, I will also have given this administration an A.But these herdsmen attack has been so horrendous; totally devastating that it has affected the image of the government. There is no question about that.

Even those of us who are in total support of this administration are disturbed by the way these herdsmen appear to have gotten away with their terrorism. However, I am relieved and encouraged by the fact that the government has now made it the priority in their security activity.

They have deployed forces to the affected areas massively and these people are now being fished out, arrested and killed. They now know that they cannot continue with their impunity. One can say the government reaction has been slow but to me it is not. What has happened is that they did not put in enough action against the herdsmen.

They actually put in effort but it was inadequate and there was an incremental level from stage to stage. Now we have a very anti-herdsmen force dealing with them in all the places they are operating such as Benue, Nassarawa, Taraba, Kaduna and others.

The herdsmen now know that they can no longer act with impunity, get away with it and come back the next day as if Nigeria is a killing field.

I am also happy that the federal government has provided a substantial sum of money for those communities to be rehabilitated and brought back to the standard they were living before so they can continue with their lifestyles and farming without fear of attack.

President Buhari and former president Olusegun Obasanjo last week engaged in war of words over the $16bn Power project. Will your body advise the president on whether it should be probed or not?

Yes, when the time comes certainly we will do that. It is an issue that we didn’t really think about in my committee. The anti-corruption agencies are the ones who have all the facts, names and figures.

So, we will leave them to use their initiative but if this issue becomes political issue as it is being turn into, it may be necessary to get the facts and take the necessary action. If anybody wants to make capital of politics by running down this government which in my view is the most upright government we have had since a part of the Murtala Mohammed government, then this government may have to show that it is a government of principle and one which has the will to suppress corruption and those who challenge it may face the music.

Former South African president, Jacob Zuma is currently trial for his actions in office. Do you think Obasanjo is sacred cow that cannot be prosecuted?

Heavens will not fall if Obasanjo is prosecuted and jailed if found guilty. In my opinion, this government has a very kind disposition towards former presidents out of respect. The government doesn’t want to create the impression whereby a former president who is the image of the country is being brought to trial. It will look a sorry sigh

But no one should challenge this government and then compel it too establish that those who are talking are not the best and they allowed a lot of dirt under them for which they are not being prosecuted.

Why do you think Obasanjo is too critical of those who succeeded him in office unlike what obtains in the United States where you hardly see former presidents criticising the incumbents despite political differences?

Why even go to the United States? Let’s look into Nigeria. How many times has Yakubu Gowon under whom Obasanjo served as a military officer criticise anybody? I am sure when he has anything to say he will go quietly.

How many times has Abdulsalami Abubakar criticised anybody? Even Ibrahim Babangida was quiet before, respecting himself until Obasanjo started pushing and egging him to speak. You could see it wasn’t natural with Babangida coming out to attack a successor. So, this is an Obasanjo ego trip.

He has to be the President-General forever. He is always envious of anyone who came in after him. He has to interfere to be relevant and you must allow him preside over the presidency otherwise there will be no peace.

He didn’t allow Yar’Adua to rest; he didn’t allow Jonathan to rest now it is the turn of Buhari.

I think this tendency of putting your hands in the eyes of those who succeeded you really has to be stopped. His shenanigans has to be stopped. He went to Afenifere, a group he has had nothing to do with for years for support.

He has to formed some artificial party ADC and all sorts of ridiculous associations thinking he can destabilise this government when he was allowed a free reign as president. He got two terms and then wanted a Third Term.

Nobody killed him for it even though that attempt failed woefully. So, I think Obasanjo should allow Nigeria to rest. He should give Nigeria peace. He should just go to his house and leave us alone. We have had enough of him

Don’t Come Out On May 30”- IYM Warn Igbos

The Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, has urged people of the South East to adhere to the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on May 30, 2018.

May 30 has been set aside by IPOB as a day to remember Igbos that died during the Biafran war.

Commenting on the sit-at-home order, IYM said apart from honouring the dead and heroes of the Nigerian/Biafra civil war, remaining indoors would also enable people of the South East to reminisce over their journey in the country they have found themselves.

Founder of IYM and Deputy Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, in a statement said, “I am grateful to God that the section of the Igbo elite who for varied reasons were afraid to identify openly with the restructuring gale that has been blowing across the country for over two decades (since the Abacha days), have finally found the courage to stand up and be counted. To God be the glory.

Credit goes to leaders like Prof Ben Nwabueze and The Patriots, who sustained the restructuring struggle for decades. We must also remain grateful to the great Ide, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who, actually, is the father of the six regional structures.

“It does not matter that these people woke up to the truth very late; their ceremony at Awka shows that they have eventually become converted to the truth.

“We must thank God for that and pray that their conversion is real. We must also help them sustain the tempo until Nigeria is returned to the regional format that saw rapid development in the First Republic. Returning Nigeria to the 1963 constitution remains the only way out of the impasse the country has found itself in.

“I would like to use this opportunity to plead with our people to remain indoors on May 30th. It’s the only way we honour our dead and reminisce on our journey in the country we find ourselves.

“Finally, we restate, that the only kind of restructuring that will save Nigeria is a return to the 1963 constitution, built on true fiscal federalism and regional autonomy.

“Any attempt by the oppressor to retain the 36 states as federating units and also sustain the unjust 774 local government areas while claiming that devolving some powers and duties to the states equals to restructuring, will be resisted. Only a return to the 1963 constitution will be acceptable.”

APC Crisis: Saraki Speaks On Attending nPDP Meeting

President of the Nigerian Senate and a leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Bukola Saraki, has reacted to his inclusion in the list of aggrieved members of the party that attended the meeting organized by the New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP.

Former nPDP Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje yesterday released a statement where he named the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and other APC top shots as having met to take a final decision on their involvements with the ruling party.

Part of Baraje’s statement said, “The meeting was well attended by members of the nPDP including serving and former Governors, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and other aggrieved APC stakeholders

However, Saraki who spoke to Punch through his Special Adviser on Media, Yusuph Olaniyonu denied attending such meeting, adding that he was not even aware of it.

He said, “I don’t know anything about that meeting. We learnt that Baraje issued a statement in which he made the claim. Ask him to speak more on his claims.”