The campaign organisation of Prince Dayo Adeyeye, a Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince
Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) has decried the incessant attack on PDP
members by agents of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government in
the State, saying; “Anarchy looms in Ekiti State if the attack
continues.”
PAAM, which described this week’s prevention of former Governor
Ayodele Fayose from holding political meetings at Oye, Ilawe and Ikere
by Fayemi’s agents as an act of barbarism and cowardice said well
meaning Nigerians should warn the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of
the dire consequences of his political intolerance.
In a release issued today, PAAM Director General, Hon. Bisi Kolawole
said it was become glaring that Fayemi and his party were out to silence
opposition in Ekiti State, adding that; “their anti-democratic and evil
plan will not work because it has never worked anywhere.”
PAAM said in the release; “Thrice this week, agents of Governor
Kayode Fayemi prevented former Governor Ayodele Fayose from holding
political meeting in Ekiti State. First in Oye, which turned bloody,
then Ilawe and later in Ikere. That of Ilawe was personally supervised
by Fayemi’s Chief of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu, who led armed thugs and
policemen to Ilawe to disrupt the meeting.
“It should be noted that on several occasions, lawful gatherings of
PDP members were disrupted by armed thugs supported by policemen from
the government house.
“One of such gatherings was the youth event held at a popular hotel
along Ikere road, Ado-Ekiti, which was disrupted by thugs led by
Fayemi’s Special Assistant on Internal Security, Mr. Deji Adesokan
(Jaruu). Most ridiculously, earth moving equipment were used to
barricade the hotel’s entrance to prevent people from gaining entrance.
“Another was the killing of PDP Chairman for Osun ward, Chief Ade
Awolumate in broad daylight and the brutalisation of several other
people, including a pregnant woman by thugs led by this same Deji
Adesokan.
“All these acts of political intolerance are hallmark of tyrannical
governments, which Fayemi’s government has turned to and time has come
for him to be called to order before Ekiti State is thrown into chaos.
“Should this barbaric acts of Fayemi and his evil agents be allowed
to continue, we fear that it will get to a point that members and
supporters of our party will be forced to react.
“The police and other security agencies are therefore urged to stop
looking the other way while Fayemi and his men unleash terror on Ekiti
people, especially our party supporters. The security agencies should
also bear it in mind that they will take the blame for breakdown of law
and order in Ekiti State if they did not call Fayemi and his agents of
violence to order now.”
LibertyReport
Friday, 2 November 2012
Disagreements as Ribadu Committee Submits Report
By Ben Agande
But Jonathan who appeared embarrassed by the altercation however urged Nigerians not to be distracted by the small disagreement but to focus on the subject matter of the committee which is the sanitisation of the Petroleum Sector for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.
He urged any member of the Ribadu Committee who had a contrary opinion from those expressed in the report to submit his opinion to him (President Jonathan) through his chief of staff or the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Trouble started when Mallam Ribadu submitted his report where he recommended a stricter regulation of the sector, especially as regards collection of revenue from oil companies.
He said: “Mr president, the recommendation of our task force will strengthen institutions responsible for the management of petroleum institution, increase revenue accruing to the federal government of Nigeria.
“Mr. President our assignment is essentially to enhance government revenue in proving transparency and accountability and help you to fight corruption in this industry. Therefore in the course of the assignment, our work was extensive, our findings details and our recommendations far reaching in these various issues covered in our terms of reference.”
From left: President Jonathan, Minister of Petroleum Deziani Allison-Maduake, Mr. Dotun Suleiman, Chairman, Special Task Forces on Governance and Control; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman Petroleum Revenue Special Tsks Force and Alternate Chairman, Refineries Special Task Force, Alhaji Yusuf Alli during the presentation of reports of the Petroleum Special Tasks Forces at the Presidential Villa, Abuja , Friday.
On the recommendation of the committee, Mallam Ribadu said to increase government revenue from this industry, “the government will need to put in place a coherent financing solution that allows government to fund it’s obligation under the joint venture contract. Funding Government obligation will unlock additional capital from our JV partners which will overtime increase government revenue from the proportionate additional balance of crude oil revenues, royalties on the entire production and taxes on taxable incomes”
He added: “Funding Government obligation will unlock additional capital from our JV partners which will overtime increase government revenue from the proportionate additional balance of crude oil revenues, royalties on the entire production and taxes on taxable incomes.
No sooner had he finished his submission, when Mr Orosanye, who was a Permanent Secretary at the State House and former Head of Civil Service of the Federation raised objections on what he said was the ‘flawed process” adopted by the committee in arriving at its report.
His position was corroborated by another member of the committee, Mr Bernard Otti who dissociated himself from the report because according to him, members did not see the report before it was submitted to the president.
However, two other members of the committee, Sumaila Zubair, who is the acting secretary of the Committee and Ignatius Adegunle rejected the submission of Orosanye and Oti, saying they never took part in the meetings of the committee.
According to Orosanye, “I want to say to you Mr. President that the process that has been followed is flawed and the report that has just been submitted to the honourable Minister is the immediate reaction to the President’s directive that the report be submitted.
“The last time this committee met was in early July when the draft report was to be considered and I raised certain pertinent issues. It was agreed and suggested and accepted at that meeting that a small group be put together to review, modify and return to the report drafting committee before presenting to the whole house. That did not happen. No matter how good the efforts that have been put into this exercise, as long as the process is flawed and that report is one that cannot be implemented.
“When Mr. President gave the directed that the report be submitted today, we should have been man enough to say, it is not feasible. When I came in, I asked the secretary, where is the signature page? He said the chairman is to sign for all of us. I said certainly, I have not authorized anybody to sign on my behalf.
I don’t know what the report contains. Therefore, in my view, I do not think the report should be accepted at this time, I challenge any member of this committee to take me on.”
“It is unfortunate that the point has been missed on the process issue. We agreed that the committee be brought to a committee of the whole. That was not done. Some of the figures that were in the draft report were un-reconciled figures and I did say in that meeting that we have institutions responsible for this figures and therefore you should work with these institutions. I do not know whether DPR and FIRS are here. These are the people who should be talking about these figures and there were statements that were subjective.
“What I am saying is that the President has said come and submit the report, so what, if we are not ready, we are not ready. When I say so what, the President has spoken, we should be man enough to tell the President that we are not ready. That is the reason why you are handing over a report that is not process driven” he said.
Saharareporters
Anti-Corruption Activist Provides Photos Of Mansion Built For Minister Orubebe In Abuja
By SaharaReporters, New York
Mr. Dino stated that a construction company Setraco built and delivered the new mansion to Mr. Orubebe in less than six months after the company benefitted from contracts to build part of the East-West highway in the Delta region.
The photos taken by the group shows a mansion located on Minister's Hill area, Mabushi Abuja. Dino told Saharareporters that the offices of the group was burgled by unknown person after it revealed that Mr. Orubebe was involved in other scams totalling N29 billion in ficticious contracts.
Retired General Mamman Shuwa shot dead in Maiduguri
Gunmen shot dead a retired general and a northern elder statesman, Mamman Shuwa, on Friday in Maidugri, the Borno state capital.
He was reportedly shot around 11:30am.
Eye witnesses said the Retired General was shot multiple times in front of his house at lower Gwange area.
Mr. Shuwa was one of few residents of the area who were still in their houses. Most of the residents deserted their homes after the JTF reportedly went on rampage about two weeks ago when an Improvised Explosive Device planted on their route exploded and killed a lieutenant and six soldiers.
Soldiers reportedly burnt many houses and fired indiscriminately leading to the dead of several civilians.
A source from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital said Mr. Shuwa died at the hospital after he was rushed there. The deceased will be buried by 4:00pm today.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
The JTF spokesperson, Sagir Musa, is currently unreachable as his phone is busy.
PremiumTimes
PhD, MBA holders among 13,000 applicants for 1,000 Dangote driving jobs
Dangote
Chairman of the company and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote revealed this on Thursday in Abuja at a World Bank Youth Forum.
The forum organized by the Coordinator, Rotimi Olawale and headed by the World Bank Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, was set up to engage the government, business men and women in order to share business ideas and development that can impact positively on Nigeria and Africa.
During a chat with the participants, Aliko Dangote encouraged them to be hardworking, prudent and re-invest in business rather than spend profits.
The GCON holder who shared how he nurtured the Dangote group from a small business in 1978 to one of the largest conglomerates in Africa added that the group’s vision was “to become the largest company in Africa, amongst the top 100 countries in the world and to be worth up to $75 billion by 2017.”
He explained that only 1000 drivers were needed and that the idea behind recruiting graduates was to eventually make them self dependent.
Dangote said the drivers get trip allowances on each trip along with their salaries and that they will own the trucks at no interests or repayments after accomplishing 300, 000 kilometres.
On his philanthropy and farming investment, the magnate said, “It is not always about money but how do I always give back to the community? And agriculture is the best business to help give back”
“Food isn’t cheap, so the earlier we start looking at it as a business, the better”.
The Dangote Group is presently involved in Sugar, Rice and palm oil farming, a venture its Chairman disclosed will create additional 150, 000 jobs within the next 5 years.
Dangote advised the youths and business owners that the key factors to success are focus, determination and integrity.
DailyPost
Lawan-Otedola Gate: Report To Be Submitted Soon…Committee May Exonerate Lawan
The report, we gathered, might exonerate the beleaguered soft spoken lawmaker, who was also suspended as the chairman, House Committee on Education.
The House in June had directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe the allegation that Lawan and the scribe of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emalano, collected $620,000 in three tranches from Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Mr. Femi Otedola, as part payment to remove his company’s name from the list of marketers that collected foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without importing petroleum products.
The $620,000 was meant to be part payment for the $3 million bribe Lawan had allegedly demanded from the oil chief to delist his company.
A member of the Ethics and Privileges Committee, Hon. Afam Ogene, told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the report had been ready for weeks.
Ogene, who also doubles as the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, said it would be submitted to the House as soon as the legislative chamber resumed from its current recess.
Although Ogene declined to give further insight into the recommendations of the committee, a source revealed that the report might give Lawan a clean bill of health.
InformationNigeria.org
About turn: PM News apologises to Oyo First Lady
Two days ago, Lagos tabloid PM News reported that the wife of the Oyo Governor, Abiola Ajimobi had been arrested by London’s Metropolitan Police for money laundering.
The state’s government pushed back immediately – and threatened the publication with a law-suit, while denying the story in its entirety.
In addition, the first lady, Florence Ajimobi, told journalists that she has “never” had an encouncer with the Met police.
Apparently, she was right, as this apology by PM News below shows:
A statement from the Management
Mrs Florence Ajimobi, wife of the Oyo state Governor, returned to Nigeria Wednesday morning from the United Kingdom.
She literally walked into a maelstrom, triggered by reports online that she was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police.
Understandably, she devoted her press conference at the Murtala Muhammed Airport to debunk the reports.
Just like Mrs. Ajimobi, pmnewsnigeria.com has had to cope with a turbulence of its own as reactions poured forth over its online report that appeared to give a seal of authenticity to earlier reports by some bloggers that Mrs. Ajimobi was arrested by the Metro Police in the UK.
Reports about the purported arrest had gone viral since the weekend. On Tuesday, pmnewsnigeria.com, sought to tear through the web and ascertain the truth by first of all visiting the site of the organization and checking its data base for any mention of “Mrs Ajimobi”.
Its search drew blank. It also similarly searched for her name on the website of Her Majesty’s Customs Service. Again, the search turned up nothing. These efforts were reflected in the story.
Still trying to dig the truth, pmnewsnigeria.com sent an e-mail to the London Metropolitan Police, asking the organisation to confirm or deny whether the woman was ever arrested.
It was a familiar path in investigative journalism that the company behind pmnewsnigeria.com had trodden so many times before, one of which was over the certificate forgery and age claims of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
After about one hour, pmnewsnigeria.com got a response from the Metropolitan Police, that said at the bottom of its query: “Confirmation: Yes”. In another part of the response, MET said: “Thank you for your email. I am sorry, we are unable to disclose any information to you under the Data Protection Act.” It was signed by “The Email Office, Lambeth CCC, Metropolitan Police.”
Pmnewsnigeria.com wrote its report about the ‘confirmation of the arrest’ based on this response.
At the point of writing the report, the pmnewsnigeria.com team, interpreted the MET’s “Confirmation : Yes”, as a confirmation of the question they had asked, viz: “We are trying to confirm whether the story(about Mrs. Ajimobi) is true and whether the MET is planning to press a charge”.
Was this where the team went wrong?
Events thereafter appeared to suggest that the e-mail response was a mere auto-response, its standard, robotized and programmed answer to all enquiries.
The team was misled by it and had acted on it innocently.
Since then, the Oyo state government, acting on behalf of Mrs Ajimobi has vehemently denied the report and also threatened to sue the website.
Since then, the attorney-general of Oyo state has made another contact with the same London Metropolitan Police and got one-liner response from a Mr. Rob Singh of the Press Bureau of Metropolitan Police, Scotland Yard: “Re your press query. I am afraid we have no knowledge.”
On our part, we have carried out further checks. And we have found nothing to justify the pmnewsnigeria.com story. Several reporters within the organization have also mailed the Metro Police, separately, asking the same question that pmnewsnigeria.com had asked in an earlier e-mail.
They all got the same response, with a note at the bottom of the mail saying: “Confirmation: Yes”.
This further confirmed pmnewsnigeria.com belief that it has been a victim of a computer game.
In line, with journalistic best practices, management wants to formally disassociate pmnewsnigeria.com with the content of this story and apologise to Mrs Ajimobi and all our readers for this reportorial error.
One salient point that we want to make, as management, is that pmnewsnigeria.com did not deliberately go out of its way to seek to malign Mrs Ajimobi or bring her into public opprobrium. Its story was not also the product of any political machination.
The quest for the truth in the public interest is this website’s duty. It is what the site pursued in the case of Mrs. Ajimobi.
YNaija.com
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