N12m National Conference Allowance Is Scandalous, Totally Unacceptable – Bishop Kukah

Bishop Hassan Kukah

The Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has described the N12 million allowances for the delegates to the National Conference as scandalous and unacceptable.
He was speaking exclusively to Saharareporters at the Nigeria Summit 2014 in Lagos, where he noted that the National Conference is being held at a time of great anxiety, a time of frustration, a time of great polarity, a time of ideological disorders.
“The writing of a new constitution should not be a decision of gathering 400 or 500 people and if you must gather them there’s absolutely nowhere in the world where you can talk about gathering people that otherwise ought to be ready to make a patriotic commitment and sacrifice and you say you are giving people N12 million,” he said, expressing the hope that the report is not true.
He recalled that when he served as the Secretary of the National Political Reform Conference every member received N20,000 per month.  “I am not talking about whether it was enough or not, that is not the issue, but I know the sacrifices that people had to make because this is about our country.”
He noted that the opposition party says that the decision to take 12 million is a political decision and that people are making political statements and that there was going to be a lot of grandstanding, but at what expense.
He further observed that many people may see the success of the conference as a Jonathan thing and its failure, on the other hand, as a way of weakening the President.
On the security situation, he recalled a report the other day that 130 people have died in his part of the country, and that the numbers continues to rise by the day in other parts of the country.
On the rise of the Boko Haram insurgency, Bishop Kukay said, “The real source of this crisis if you remember it’s that after the killing of Yusuf people went to court and they say the court awarded 100 billion to both families and people who lost their lives and lost thousands.  The government didn’t react to that; what happens is that when you think about what you could amid the debris.”
In that regard, he said, “People who have lost loved ones with no government interventions all you are doing is just recruiting more members for Boko Haram for the future.”
Saharareporters

This Nigerian Government Is Inherently Wicked And Innately Evil By Ayo Oyalowo

The government is so out of control. It is so bloated and infested with fraud and deceit and corruption and abuse of power. – Ted Nugent


The Nigerian government as led by President Goodluck Jonathan is extremely wicked and inhuman. This terrible character trait is consistently manifested in several forms. From a lukewarm and an “I don’t give a damn attitude” to bloody harvests of untimely mass deaths in the North Eastern part of the country, to massive looting and hemorrhaging of the treasury by various individuals serving in this government, it has been one sad tale of woe for poor citizens of Nigeria to another. This government doesn’t care about Nigerians and it is showing it in various ways and manners.
Two days before the jamboree dubbed “Centenary Celebration”, 59 Nigerian children were slaughtered in a callous and barbaric fashion by bloodthirsty demons of Boko Haram. The president of Nigeria meanwhile led a jamboree of dancing and drinking in Abuja, in the guise of centenary celebration. No thoughts were spared as to what agony the families of those children were going through. As I write, almost a month after, the president is yet to acknowledge; let alone visit/commiserate with families who lost their children. Indeed he doesn’t give a damn, does he?
Just recently, it came to light that over $20billion had been stolen from the State run oil corporation, the NNPC, through connivance with the minister of petroleum. But up until today, not one person has been suspended; neither is there any serious effort made to unearth what went wrong. The president rather surreptitiously suspended the man who alerted the nation to such crude and naked rape of the public treasury. And to divert the attention of Nigerians, the government and her cohorts created a severe artificial fuel scarcity situation which is still on, two months after. By so doing, Nigerians were kept busy and engaged so that the noise generated by the stealing of public funds by the Jonathan appointed officials will be drowned. But is this the right way to treat the citizens?
In India, the Jamnagar Refinery was commissioned in 36 months, housing the world’s largest refining complex with an aggregate refining capacity of 1.24 million barrels (197,000 m3) of oil per day, more than any other single location in the world. The total cost was around $10billion.
The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, located in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, China. The Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity (22,500 MW). This dam was constructed at the cost of $22.5billion.
Nigeria on the other hand imports refined fuel. Nigeria is the ONLY OPEC member country that wholly imports refined PMS for domestic use. In 15 years of PDP misrule, rather than fix local refineries and if possible build more, the federal government led by the PDP handed fuel importation licenses to their friends and cronies to continue to cheat poor Nigerians and make them suffer in the midst of plenty.
Imagine if the NNPC and the minister of petroleum had not stolen $20 billion, we could have built enough refineries to refine crude for domestic use and even export some. Nigeria would have made more money that way, but why should they do that when they could steal and buy exotic homes in Vienna and other places or buy private jets?
Imagine if they hadn’t stolen that $20billion, like China, we could have fixed our power problems. But why should they fix it when their friends are the ones importing diesel and generators? The clowns running Nigeria don’t care about Nigerians in general. All that matter to them is to steal more and get richer. Any wonder they deliberately destroyed the educational system? They’d rather send their children to schools abroad while ensuring the children of other Nigerians are barely educated to distinguish between right and wrong. The plan is to keep a large number of barely educated goons at home to serve their own children in the future. And their plan is working. If you doubt me, read the comment section after this write up. Some barely literate youths will be paid a pittance to engage in mudslinging and vitriolic abuse of the writer and others who are not afflicted by their apparent Stockholm Syndrome.
Few days ago, the minister of petroleum, was bold enough to declare that subsidy MUST be removed from PMS as the government can no longer sustain it. IMPUNITY of the highest order! Meanwhile she promised Nigerians that she will ensure a Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of all the four refineries in Nigeria within 9 months. That was in January 2012. Maybe 9 months means something else to her. Billions were spent by her ministry, yet we continue to import PMS and NOBODY is asking her any questions.
Meanwhile, the AIT writes on the report on the House of Reps investigation to Minister Diezani thus: “The petroleum minister Alison is allegedly committing the sum of N130million monthly to the minister’s Challenger 850 aircraft and in two years has expended about 3.12 billion naira towards the upkeep of the private jet used solely for her personal needs and those of her family. Till date, the lease of the aircraft is said to have gulped about 10billion naira. Huge sums have said to have been used to fly the leased jet all over the world for leisure… all allegedly from public funds.”
According to the motion mover, Samuel Adejare: “This has been going on for two years and a lot of money has been committed–N10 billion. When I read this on the pages of that paper, that was on the 9th of march, what happened about one weekend ago where youths of this country gathered to look for 4,500 jobs, came to mind. Somebody serving this government is wasting that amount of money to hire a plane”.
That is the same woman who wants poor Nigerians on N18,000 monthly wage to pay more for petroleum products. Sadly, nothing will come out of the so called investigation as we all know she’s a co-president and Jonathan cannot fire her because they are in cahoots; illegally milking Nigerians while asking the poor, about 120 million of whom earn less than $2 daily, to cooperate with government and sacrifice by paying more for fuel.
The Nigerian government as currently constituted is led by inept, unconscionable and wicked individuals who have all failed to grasp the simple notion of patriotism and nationhood. They live in obscene opulence using public funds, while impoverishing Nigerians daily with their ill thought out actions and inaction.
As I write, another N20billion has been reported missing from the police pension fund. Add that to the initial N151billion allegedly stolen by Maina, who incidentally is still roaming free, from the same police pension fund.
Yet our “humble” president still believes corruption is overrated in Nigeria? Well, Mr. Jonathan may be right. Corruption is not much of a problem as the impunity displayed by the president and those whom he surrounds himself with. Stealing in this government is free for all. Their creed seems to be: “steal as much as possible so that you can guarantee a slap on the wrist as punishment”. Indeed only a fool steals millions in Nigeria because a small thief ends up in prison while the big ones get national honours and are now the Jonathanian branded “elder statesmen”, most of whom were also nominated by our “amiable” president to represent “us” at the national conference and chart a course for our future. What a future that is turning out to be!
The same impunity was at work on Saturday 15th March, 2014. when the NIS out of wickedness and unbridled greed invited over 500,000 applicants for an interview, knowing that the slots available were a mere 4,000. But they went ahead, collected the sum of N1000 from each applicant made up of mostly unemployed or underemployed youths. In their usual ill-preparedness, there was a stampede that killed about 19 young Nigerians. It is a week today, yet not one official or the greedy minister, Abba Moro has been fired. Governor Christie of New Jersey, in Jan 2014, fired his top aides who orchestrated a mere traffic jam. But here in Nigeria, President Jonathan merely warned a minister who killed 19 Nigerians out of criminal negligence. You be the judge.
While impunity and wickedness characterize the present government, they will do well to pay heed to James Madison and I quote: “Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.” The danger now is that when power is abused, it leads to chaos and chaos is such that may sweep the abusers away.
In conclusion, Nigerians are no fools and if subsidy in PMS is no longer sustainable, then those in authority must not only tell us the ill of subsidy, but they also must tell us why we cannot REFINE fuel for domestic use and even export refined PMS. If Singapore, a small nation without crude oil, has 3 excellent refineries in good condition and even exports PMS to Nigeria, then we have no excuse to continue to import PMS for domestic/local consumption.
Sadly, those at the helm of affairs in Nigeria are a greedy lot without shame; neither are their various policies made with altruism. Their belly is the god they worship. But as the saying goes “one day go be one day, monkey go go market…”

Oyalowo tweets via @Ayourb
Saharareporters

FG Earmarks $1bn to Fight Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism

 President Goodluck Jonathan

•  Rate of decline of Nigeria's crude oil production put at 20%

By Jaiyeola Andrews and Chineme Okafor
   
President Goodluck Jonathan has announced that the federal government has set aside $1 billion for the implementation of a comprehensive programme to curb crude oil theft, vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure and the apprehension and prosecution of crude oil thieves.

This came as the Vice-President of Shell Upstream International, Mr. Markus Droll, has disclosed that the declining rate of crude oil production of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources may be as high as 15 to 20 per cent.

Jonathan spoke at The Hague at separate meetings with the Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte, and the Chief Executive Officer of Shell International, Mr. Ben van Beurden.

He disclosed that a technical committee had already been set up to look into all aspects of the implementation of the programme.

According to the president, it would include further action to enhance the security of pipelines and other oil industry infrastructure, resolve community-related issues, boost youth empowerment in oil-producing areas and enhance the commitment of oil companies in the discharge of their corporate social responsibilities.

Jonathan stressed that the fresh onslaught against oil theft planned by his administration would require maximum cooperation of the international community, especially countries like the Netherlands which are major stakeholders in the global oil industry.

“Oil theft is an aspect of global terrorism, which has become a big industry on its own. It has become a major threat to the Nigerian economy and we need to work with all stakeholders to curb it. The thieves must be traced, apprehended and prosecuted,” Jonathan said.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Rutte, assured Jonathan of the commitment of the Netherlands to the concerted action against crude oil theft and global terrorism.

Rutte noted that Jonathan’s visit affirmed the strong ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands, assuring the president of the willingness of the European country to collaborate more with Nigeria on environmental and security issues, particularly in the Niger Delta.

He commended Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting regional security in West Africa, and welcomed the signing of an agreement on immigration between both countries as well as the strong trade relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

“The president's visit is an open testimony of the strong ties between Nigeria and Netherlands. Nigeria is Netherlands’ main trading partner in Africa and the Netherlands is the second biggest European investor in Nigeria,” the prime minister said.

In his comments on Nigeria's hydrocarbon resources, Droll said replacing such natural production decline rates in the industry require more funds than are currently available but that the peculiar high cost operational environment of Nigeria had compounded the situation.

But the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) blamed the high cost of oil and gas projects and the shortfalls in funds needed to complete ongoing projects in the sector on the international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the country.

While speaking on the growth strategy for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry vis-à-vis driving exploration and boosting reserves at the just concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas conference and exhibition in Abuja, Droll explained that oil and gas companies in Nigeria would have to look for innovative ways to inject additional capital to replenish declining production.

He said: “As I have touched on the issue of funding, let me continue on that theme. Our belief is that for Nigeria to fulfill its oil and gas potential, more funding is required by the industry than we have seen in recent years.

“We are in a high cost environment and in order to collectively climb towards significantly higher production levels, we do need to find better ways to fund development. Decline rates in the industry can be as high as 15-20 per cent, and you will appreciate that to simply replace natural production decline rates require much of the funding than is currently available.”
Droll in his call for creative funding mechanisms stated: “I would therefore urge all players in the industry to keep looking for innovative ways to inject additional capital. And as important as delivering higher funding levels, is the ability to ensure predictable multi-year funding.”

NNPC however blamed the high cost of oil and gas projects packaged by the foreign firms for being responsible for the funding shortfalls that had stalled many of the projects initiated in the sector.

The corporation also said that it had set in motion measures to sanction new projects in the sector, including two major deepwater oil field developments owned by Shell and Total.

It noted that both projects might be reviewed if they incurred cost overruns.
“Apart from oil theft and pipeline vandalism, another major challenge for the Nigerian oil industry is the high cost of production. Costs are unnecessarily built up for projects and this is what is referred to as the funding gap,” the immediate past Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of NNPC, Abiye Membere, said at the conference.

He further stated: “No single project in this country has been awarded by the IOCs and completed on scheduled and on cost.”

Membere said in the bid to rein in cost, the topside for the Shell-operated Bonga Southwest deep water project and Total's Egina deep offshore field must be done in-country or the companies risk sanctions.

Apart from the funding challenges, the multinational oil firms also blamed the mounting insecurity, bureaucratic bottlenecks and the continued uncertainty in Nigeria's oil industry, as being responsible for the high cost of projects in the country.

“The sheer hassle of moving projects through in this environment is overwhelming. The contracting process is too cumbersome and does not make for efficient project costs,” the Chairman of Shell companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, said, adding that “security issues are also driving up costs”.

The Managing Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), Mark Ward, also said: “There is a need for reforms to solve the fundamental issues of the inefficiency in the system. We are looking up to NNPC our senior partner to help solve the issue of how to provide low cost projects.”

ThisDay

Confab, a waste of public funds – Buhari

 by John Alechenu

   

 

Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)
| credits: nairaland.com

A former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday described the ongoing national conference as a waste of public funds.

He said   at the opening of the inaugural edition of the PGF Progressive Governors-Legislative-Civil Society Roundtable in Abuja, that the huge amount being spent on the entire process, should have been put to better use.

Buhari, an All Progressives Congress national leader,  argued that  what the conference was trying to  achieve was what the National Assembly was in a better position to do.

He  said, “What I say about the conference is a personal view. What the conference is doing is the duty of the National Assembly.

“The elite should  have call  themselves together and ask the National Assembly to sponsor a bill for some amendments to the constitution.

“I do not think that at this time when government  is  finding it difficult to pay salaries of workers, it can afford about N7bn to waste on a conference.”

Also at the event,  Senator Bukola Saraki    said the current administration needed to be more transparent in the management of  the nation’s funds.

He explained that the lack of transparency was partly responsible for the impunity of the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government.

Saraki said, it was only in Nigeria that a President could afford to commit an impeachable offence by spending huge  public  revenue outside appropriation without consequences.

He argued that the money being spent  on the   national conference was not contained in the 2014 budget.

“I told my colleagues that it might probably be coming from the missing $20bn.” Saraki, a former Kwara State governor and APC leader added.

He also noted that the controversial subsidy regime posed  a great danger to the economy itself.

The lawmaker said,  “Let us not allow anybody to deceive us; the problem is not the subsidy but it’s management.

“The country does not use more 35 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) while a look at cost profile shows a huge difference that indicates that we cannot  consume more 35 million litres.”

According to him, an efficient petrol subsidy management can solve most of the problems being experienced in the  country.

The  Director General of the PGF, Salisu Lukeman, said concerns over institutionalised corruption  informed the forum’s   decision to liaise with  APC  members  in  the National Assembly to do something to keep the fight against  graft  in the front burner.

Lukeman explained that the outcome of the interface  would  form the basis of new strategies to fight corruption.

Also,  the  Deputy Minority Leader of  the Senate, Senator Abu Ibrahim, said the round table was the first of its kind in the country.

He said  that APC members in the National Assembly  would  try to push through the resolutions at the round table in the National Assembly.

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajamila, said the party had once again taken   up topics that are germane to  national development.

He explained that the party, through  roundtable, had made it very clear that good governance was its priority.

Punch

Aregbesola

by: John Ofikhenua

•APC fixes Osun primary for April 12
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola said yesterday that Nigeria may not survive another period of misrule by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He urged Nigerians to work towards replacing the ruling party at the centre.
Aregbesola spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja after submitting his nomination form for the August 9 governorship election.
He said: “Politicians, particularly in our type of society, can celebrate any political power, but not just any politician. We are politicians with passion for the people and zeal for change. It is the combination of those two things that informed commitment to give Nigeria a rebirth. Going through the years of the PDP’s bad management of our nation, it is the duty of patriots to work assiduously for their replacement. I do not think our nation can survive another period of misrule by the PDP.”
Telling the APC National Deputy Chairman, Aminu Masari; National Organising Secretary Senator Osita Ozinaso and others the achievements of his administration, Aregbesola that he wants a second term in office to complete the work he has started.
He said: “To continue the good work we started in November, 2010, we decided to seek re-election. We have obtained the nomination form and I am joyfully here to seek the nomination of the party to again run for the governorship position in Osun.”
Aregbesola said his administration has almost completed 10-kilometre roads in each local government and is “processing 1,000 kilometres of roads that are 70 per cent completed”.
He said his administration met a destroyed healthcare sector and is rehabilitating nine hospitals.
The governor said he set up a social security scheme for the elderly, which gives stipends to the aged monthly; created jobs for youths and serve nutritious free meals to about 300,000 pupils daily.
He said: “Due to good governance, we have removed fear from the state. I ask the inept PDP that was there for 90 months to tell us what it did for the people. The only thing that is left is the memory of mis-governance.”
Masari said APC is the panacea to Nigeria’s problems, adding: “With the type of governors we have, we have demonstrated good leadership.”
The former House of Representatives Speaker, who said he just rose from a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, assured parties that the 2015 election would be free and fair.
He expressed optimism that the APC would win the presidential and other elections.
Ozinaso said: “Ward congresses in Osun will hold on March 29. The local government congresses will hold on April 1 and the state congress April 5. The primary will hold on April 12.”
He said the party would be fair to all aspirants at the primary.
TheNation

Financial council to quiz Sanusi, Alade, Lemo, Moghalu, Akingbola, 10 others

Sanusi Lamido

by: Collins Nweze

The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) will tomorrow and Thursday question the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; CBN Acting Governor, Dr. Sarah Alade; former CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo; CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu; and former Managing Director/CEO of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.
Also to be questioned are the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms Evelyn Oputu; CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Mr. Babatunde Dayo; Mr. Gabriel Okpeh and Mr. Ezekiel Ejedele.
Also to appear before the FRC hearing panel are the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Security, Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Mr. Ehi’ E Okoyomon; Alhaji Ahmed Barmali; Mr. Igho Dafinone; the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede; and his successor, Mr. Herbert Wigwe.
While Sanusi, Aalde, Lemo and six others are expected to appear at the interrogation to be held at the FRC head office in Lagos on Thursday at 11 am, Akingbola, Aig-Imoukuede, Wigwe and three others are to appear at the same time tomorrow.
The FRC said in a newspaper advert published yesterday that it is investigating the activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012. The investigation, the council said, includes related matters arising from transactions and events, which impacted on the 2011 and 2012 from earlier years and have implications for later periods.
“We wish to inform the under-listed persons that the FRC is investigating the activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012. This investigation includes related matters arising from transactions and events, which impacted on 2011 and 2012 from earlier years and have implications for later periods,” the report said.
The FRC management said letters had been sent to the concerned persons before the current invitation to hearing.
Sanusi was suspended on February 20 by President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged financial recklessness. That was after he said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit $20 billion oil revenue to the Federation Account. He has denied any wrongdoing.
 TheNation

Gbemi Saraki Tears Kwara PDP Apart

What both the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, thought they have gained by removing Bolaji Abdulahi, the immediate past Minister of Sport is now tearing PDP in Kwara State apart. The new ruling party in the Harmony state, All Progressive Congress, (APC), is now enjoying a temporary relief just as the replacement for Abdulahi in the federal cabinet has removed the fragile peace recorded in PDP in the state. The oneness displaced some weeks ago when the President visited Kwara State was certainly a ruse as; leadership of the party has broken into factions a situation that is making it difficult for Aso Rock to find a replacement for the former minister in the state. According to information gathered by News of The People, many of the elders and leaders in PDP do not want Senator Gbemi Saraki to be appointed as minister, but she has the support of the National leadership of the party and that of the Presidency.
It was alleged that some angry members threatened that they will decamp to APC if Senator Gbemi Saraki is approved as a minister from Kwara. One of the loyalists of other contenders who craved anonymity said, “if Gbemi emerges as a minister, she will automatically assume the leadership position of PDP against the interest of my political leader. Her appointment would amount to a perpetuation of Saraki dynasty which we in the PDP are believed to be waging war against”.
Other top PDP contenders for the plum job are Muinat Shagaya, Yinka Aluko, Sulyman Ajadi, Prof. Shuaib Abduraheem, Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Bio Ibrahim, Yinka Alabi, John Dara, Lola Ashiru etc. If the rumour going around is anything to go by, is only a matter of days before Gbemi’s name will be sent to the Senate for confirmation, it will then mean that the structures of APC and that of PDP will effectively be under the control of the Sarakis.

NewsOfThePeople