100 Days: Official corruption down by 50 percent – Garba Shehu

By Bashir Adefaka
Mallam Garba Shehu, one-time President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), is Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity. In this interview, Shehu gives reasons Nigerians should eschew sentiments about the administrative style of his principal as, according to him, Buhari will not be judged after four years based on ethnic or religious benchmarks but on performance. He, however, says appointments will go round according to the Constitution as the President is a law and order person. He also speaks on Buhari’s 100 days in office, corruption, the economy, etc. Excerpts:

Garba Shehu

Nigerians are divided in their reactions to President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments which many people described as pro-North. How are these decisions expected to take Nigeria to achieving the set goals?
President Buhari is President with responsibility for the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is not a sectional leader. Appointments will be made one step at a time. Others are still coming and it will even run like that throughout the four years of the mandate of the administration. What people should have on this matter is patience. Those who feel they have not been reached will definitely be reached. A government that has a lifespan of four years should not be judged by its action on day one. No. It should be that by the time the President says, ‘Now, I have finished my appointments’, they should be able to look at it and pass judgment as to whether he was fair to all sections of the country or not.
The Constitution of the country protects every part in terms of representation, in terms of clear guidelines as to Federal Character, in terms of representation to give a sense of belonging to everybody.
President Muhammadu Buhari is a law and order person. He is a Constitution-oriented person. He will not fail Nigerians and he will do what is right. We think that much of the anger that is coming is emotional and premature because there are thousands of appointments that can come. And then on the aggregate, people will look at it and judge.
Let me give you an example. When former President Goodluck Jonathan took over, in the first 50 appointments he made, the South -West was not represented. There was a document widely circulated; and even translated into Yoruba and was being aired on local radio stations in the South West and people were being told, “This is not your government. This is what they are doing.”
In the appointments President Buhari has made so far, people should, first and foremost, take consolation in the fact that those he found in the offices, he was not in a hurry to fire them quickly just because he felt he did not appoint them. This is the first time we are witnessing this kind of attitude to governance in Nigeria. This country has a spoilt system by which a new government will fire everybody in office so that they could bring in their own people. President Buhari is doing his own on a case-by-case basis insisting that whoever is there for the good of the country and is adding value to the nation, it would be unfair to carelessly fire him. And this is essential because four years down the line, when Nigerians come to assess what nature of governance President Buhari has given to this nation, the record of success will not be measured by the number of ethnically or religiously based appointments he made. He will be
measured by how many jobs he has created, how much of the prevailing corruption in the country he has curtailed, how much of the infrastructure including power and roads he has fixed and how secured we are because he will be asked whether he has eliminated Boko Haram. These are the things the judgment of his administration will be based upon and on these he is not wavering. He has given 100 percent attention to all of them and people who are kind to him should give him the environment that he needs in order to do more.

How is the President taking the public outcry against his anti-corruption campaign, considering the fact that one of the cardinal reasons he was voted into office was to fight corruption before it kills Nigeria?
Well, it must be disappointing not being appreciated but, beyond all of that, President Buhari is not the gallery kind of politician, who wants to get applause by being populist in his actions. He is looking at the bigger national interest and he believes that he is making a huge sacrifice.
Given all of the service he had rendered to this country, assuming things were going right for the nation, he would have been happier enjoying his rest somewhere. But he ran to be (civilian) President of this country three times and didn’t make it until the fourth time when Nigerians felt it was the right time for him to come and govern them. Things have changed since then. If he had come in 2003, I would say things were bad. Now, things are rotten so much so that there is far more work to do than there were in 2003. So, he is making a huge sacrifice to bring back the nation to the point of sanity and clean all the mess. Yes, corruption is a cancer that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the nation. Without it being addressed, there will not be development in the country. Foreign investments will not come, better life will not come into Nigeria, education will not run well, economy will be shackled, undermined and
infrastructure will not work well.
Look at what is happening with electric power. As I speak to you now, there are so many parts of the country that are enjoying 24-hour power supply. Some,16 hours, some 20 hours daily. Not many people thought this was possible until it came under President Buhari. And people will be shocked to learn that this government has not started to pump money into this thing, yet, it has started to work.

Then what did he do to make it so?
It is the body language of the President and doing the right thing so that all the laziness and sabotage in that sector took flight. We now have far more generated power than we had ever generated in this country. It is not to say that it is adequate for 170 million people but, given the narrowness of the distribution, the power that is being generated today is far more than what the system of generation can handle. So, that poses the next challenge, that is, to expand and renew generation per grid and then make more power to be distributed. So that with the national grid system, if they call Abuja and say, ‘We have more power for you’, they will be glad and say, ‘Oh, pump it’, so that they will give it to people for them to enjoy.
So, we are getting somewhere and the President promised during the campaign period that if he was voted into office, from the day he was sworn in, official corruption would go down by 50 percent.
Voluntarily, people relinquished 50 percent of the corruption that prevailed in the country and that is what has happened.

A member of the House of Representatives recently alerted over a particular distribution company covering his constituency in Oyo State, and its territory extends to Abeokuta, Ijoko, Ota areas of Ogun State, how they are making epileptic power the order of the day whereas other Nigerians are enjoying. Don’t you think things like this will sabotage President Buhari’s effort on power if nothing is done to really check these DISCOs?
They have their own system. Under the system put in place by the National Council on Privatization, distribution companies are supposed to be fined for even taking light thereby not allowing the people to access the power that is allocated to them from the national grid. I want to believe that such penalty will be meted out to them for failing in discharging their duties to the people once found to be so.

The Central Bank of Nigeria reportedly said the economy was at this state because there were no fiscal directions….?
(Cuts in) Nobody will tell you that there is no fiscal direction. President Buhari knows where he is going. Look at what is happening in the country with oil, in terms of failed price, which has come down from $120 to $43 per barrel and the prediction is that, it may even fall further. With sanctions on Iran being gradually removed, by the time Iran resume their place in the oil market, they will pump more oil and the price will still come down, coupled with the fact that this country has a record of unprecedented oil theft that President Buhari is trying to curtail and eliminate eventually. Therefore, the earnings of the country are down and a responsible government must do whatever it can in order to reduce the wastage of foreign exchange. Government is trying to manage that.
Look at the issue of importation of rice; billions of US dollars expended on this, on a commodity that is locally growable and is available. Seven states have already taken the challenge under this government and they are saying, ‘We can provide Nigeria with rice to export beyond our capacity to consume’. But there are other things that are so frivolous and annoying just like where Nigerians buy tooth pick from China. So, what they (CBN) are saying is, ‘Manufacturers or somebody setting up industry or a productive venture, going overseas on medical, school fees and all of that, don’t even go to the parallel market. Come to the CBN, we will give you forex. But if it is frivolous items that they have listed and advertised, no, go elsewhere and source your foreign exchange’. And that is why even when oil price has gone down, our foreign reserve has risen.

But in its own assessment, the main opposition party, PDP, said the economy had worsened under the Buhari’s 90, 100 days administration. How do you react to that?
It depends on their judgment about assessing an economy. May be they are talking about their personal economy that it is worse than it used to be. They ran an economy in which they put government money on the table and shared it. This is what President Buhari has stopped.
Nigerians should be patient with Mr. President. By the time he addresses the nation on the recoveries that are being made in the oil sector, in the national security sector that has come under probe now; of procurement of weapons and this Air Force jet that crashed killing pilots of the Nigerian Armed Forces! …because people bought equipment that were left unattended to, you see, by the time President Buhari will address the nation on all these, a day will come when people in the street will ask, ‘Are you PDP?’ and you will reply, ‘No, I am not PDP’. Yes. And it will be so because of the shame to answer the name of PDP.
So, the economy of the PDP is under threat. The economy of the Nigerian nation is being revived.

What could you really point to of this government’s achievements in the last 100 days?
It is too early to assess the government or any government in terms of its failure or success in 100 days. But 100 days are sufficient enough to know and understand a leader and his government on where they stand on issues of the day; where they are coming from and where they are going. So, there is enough on the table for Nigerians to see and understand President Buhari, where he is going to and he has given clear indications as to where he stands on issues of the day.
He would not steal money and would not allow others to steal. He would reinstate our international relations, which had been mismanaged. America, Europe, even our neighbors, now we are friends with everybody. President Buhari would be business friendly. Foreign investments will come because he is bent on creating a secured environment. He is going to defeat terrorism. He has given three months’ timeline to the service commanders and they have accepted the challenge. They are saying, ‘Mr. President, we can even do it in shorter period of time’. They are doing it and it is ongoing. So, infrastructure is being revived. We just talked about power now which industry is happy about. And the thing then is to continue to expand the generation and distribution of power and this is there in the APC manifesto of more than 20,000 megawatts in four years. We hope that we will get there.
There is going to be massive transformation of agriculture and mining, because those are where the jobs are, so that all these young people will be cleared off the streets by the jobs in agriculture and mining unless they are not willing. Already we are enjoying dividends of peace. Neighborhoods are becoming safer. People are sleeping nicely and dreaming sweet dreams because security is getting better. More of these will come. So, President Muhammadu Buhari has given indication and I think, by-and-large, 90 percent or more of Nigerians are happy and are identifying with the direction he is going.
There would be a few people, as I said, especially PDP, who are not happy. How will they be happy? Governor Adams Oshiomhole said somebody stole $6 billion. That person will be a fool if he doesn’t bring out one billion, two billion (Naira) to go and compromise public opinion and try to corrupt the judiciary with that kind of money. So, we expect attacks would come. These are people who pay for Buhari to be attacked, but he would not be deterred because he is determined to remain on course.

When do we have our ministers?
The ministers will come.

Expectedly, corruption is fighting back!

    Mike Ikhariale

 

Mike Ikhariale

No one should habour the illusion that the hydra-headed demon of corruption would simply be scared away from our shores just by the fact of the presidential inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, a man who has made the fight against corruption a personal vow. To do so would simply be under-rating a mammoth and ferociously diabolic system. The danger, which corruption poses, is further reinforced by the fact that it has stayed long enough with us to know much about our strengths and limitations.

It has, over the years, built the requisite force, wealth, influence, guile and temerity with which to resist whatever is thrown at it. Its loyal army is very large and active and its recruitment process expansive: from the unpatriotic taxman, who makes illicit ‘deals’ with tax evaders, to the detriment of the treasury, to the policeman, who openly extorts money from road users and the judge, who accepts money to subvert the course of justice, through to the political ‘big man’, who diverts chunks of the national budget into his private account, all are at the service of Corruption Incorporated.

So, the election of Muhammadu Buhari on the basis of his pledge to rid the nation of the evil of corruption, may have only just secured for Nigerians, the first victory out of a series of inevitable battles remaining; thus pitting the corrupt ancient regime against the new political order. In the larger war theatre, the more organised forces of corruption are doing everything they can in order to roll back on whatever gains that the inchoate anti-corruption social alliance has made. At its disposal are the elements of ethnicity, religion, distractive legalism and the anti-progressive sophistry of a pseudo right-wing. It is therefore, not yet Uhuru on the anti-corruption front.

Corruption has even tried to reset the agenda for the battle in ways that would tactically disable those fighting it. That is why it began its resistance by trying to dictate ‘when’ and ‘where’ the fight should begin: 2007, 1999, 1966, or even from the colonial era of Lord Lugard! They started shouting about an imaginary ‘100-day’ performance card instead of telling us how much of their loots that they have returned during the period. By so doing, they hope to deflect attention from the substantive issues of their guilt to the procedural elements of their trial. They have even introduced the puerile elements of ethnicity and religion into the fray as if their thefts were committed on behalf of any tribe, group or religion. They are asking PMB to leave them and face other issues, forgetting that until corruption is tamed, there is no meaningful way forward.

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They even hired an amorphous ‘Peace Committee’ to blackmail the government out of focus without thinking of any counterpart ‘Justice Committee’ to assuage the rights of the victim population. How could anyone be calling for ‘peace’ when he deeply loathes ‘justice’ himself? A regime that prides itself in producing several billionaires at the expense of the majority poor of the country must have another meaning for social justice.

All over the world, responsible governments seek to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor; not so for the People Democratic Party, which turned itself into a hatchery for illicit billionaires. Whereas, the Constitution of Nigeria directs that the economic system shall “not be operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of a few individuals”, Olisa Metuh(PDP National Publicity Secretary), on the contrary, is shamelessly calling us to roll out the drums for the party for creating the largest band of billionaires in their 16 years of locust-like reign. Incredible!

If we must deal with corruption decisively and within the parameters of the Rule of Law and commonsense, we have to do more than merely attacking it on the surface because these people are callous. That is why we argued some weeks ago that an Integrity Plan should be instituted by President Buhari as a way to strengthen the war against corruption. If it didn’t make sense then, unfolding events have now made it crystal clear.

We now know that corruption is a serious violation of our human rights as it denies majority of the citizens the material benefits of the commonwealth. People wonder why so many refugee-seeking migrants are taking risky voyages to Europe these days. They are from countries where wars and other social strife resulted from the unbridled corruption of the elite. If we do not resist corruption today in Nigeria, sooner or later, we may someday also find ourselves inside those rickety boats heading to Europe or elsewhere.

That is why we are now proposing an Ethical Revolution that is founded upon strong personal and institutional integrity platforms. Accordingly, we ask for a National Integrity Action Plan that would offer an institutional Ombudsman-type oversight and enforcement of a new national ethical order. I must say about this idea, that we are not re-inventing the wheel. Other countries with sordid histories of corruption and ineptitude in the past have already applied it and they benefited immensely.

Take the case of the United Arab Emirate. Leading by example, visibly austere and prudential in their governance, citizens and foreigners alike have all keyed into it and, today, the Emirate has changed from being once an unlivable arid desert to an oasis of affluence and general happiness. The same can also be said of most of the successful Asian countries with Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew as locus classicus – the existence of national integrity mechanism wherein corruption is fought as a communal war.

This suggestion cannot be dismissed as theoretical or impracticable. It works. For any nation to succeed, she must have certain values that it cannot compromise on. No doubt, Nigerians are good people; they just need a leader, who will demonstrate to them that it pays to be honest and trustworthy while reducing on the incentives for corruption by firmly and judiciously punishing infractions instead of tolerating them or looking the other way.

There is nothing impossible about integrity as a systemic matter. At the individual level integrity is the quality of being honest and upright, characteristics which are based on universally noble values such as being honest, truthful, trustworthy, accountable etc. With respect to public officials, it is simply carrying out the trust and responsibilities bestowed upon them in line with public interest. They are not allowed to misuse their power for their self-interest, or for the interest of their families or relatives. Should a conflict of interest occur, public interest overrides personal interest. With an exemplary leader at the helm, there will be maximum commitment by his followers to this integrity call.

The Itse Sagay-led Advisory Committee on Corruption is a step in the right direction as it offers the nation the immediate opportunity to define the parameters of the battle against those who have plundered the nation. More than that, we still need to institute and deepen a national culture that is able to proactively tackle the all-pervading disposition to corruption from a much deeper moral and psychological perspective than with mere prosecutorial post-mortems or sensational media exposure. It would no longer be possible for those who looted our commonwealth to unapologetically claim that they have saved us from poverty by improperly making themselves billionaires.

The war against corruption is one that Nigeria must fight and win. Expectedly, corruption will fight back. We must therefore be vigilant. The most potent weapon in the fight against corruption is a population that is sufficiently educated about the need to eliminate the scourge as a way of life.

Copyright PUNCH.

Buhari cabinet: Govs Senators, Reps, lose power to pick nominees

 By: Yusuf Alli   

 

• Buhari may reject governors’ list
Contrary to what obtained in the last 16 years, state governors appeared to have lost influence to make input into the appointment of ministers.
The governors, especially those elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have found it difficult to penetrate President Muhammadu Buhari to pick their nominees as ministers.
Also, some Senators, who are godfathers in their states, might be unable to install their stooges as ministers.
In deference to the principle of Separation of Powers, there were indications that Buhari may not accept imposition of nominees on him by some leaders of the National Assembly.
But the jostle for ministerial ticket is assuming a hot race in Kwara, Sokoto, Gombe, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, and Bauchi,
Investigation by our correspondent showed that apart from deference to party supremacy, President Buhari has largely been his own man in appointing members of his cabinet.
It was learnt that although some governors had attempted to recommend some nominees, the president is insisting on merit.
The same dilemma is confronting some influential Senators and leaders of the House of Representatives.
According to findings, Buhari is sticking to the principle of separation of powers instead of throwing the ministerial nomination open.
The discipline being employed by the president in choosing his cabinet members accounted for the delay in appointing commissioners in some states.
It was gathered that the governors prefer to compensate their loyalists, who may be schemed out of ministerial slots, as commissioners.
A reliable source said: “Unlike in the past, most governors are stranded this because the president will not ask them to nominate ministers. Some of them attempted to make recommendations but did not succeed.
“In fact, the same game is playing out with influential Senators who have found it difficult to lobby for their candidates as ministerial nominees.
“Buhari is trying to be his own man as far as the choice of ministers is concerned. The only thing he reckons with is party supremacy. He also wants to adhere to constitutional provision on the appointment of ministers.
“The governors could not have their way because Buhari has refused to ask for any office slot or favour from any governor, including his own governor, Aminu Masari of Katsina State.”
As at press time, investigation confirmed that the jostle for ministerial slot is keen in Kwara, Sokoto, Gombe, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Niger, Delta, Edo, Kogi, and Adamawa.
Some godfathers in the affected states were said to be panicking because of recent political developments in the country, especially in the National Assembly.
Another source said: “Those who have no respect for party supremacy cannot recommend or nominate ministers. Respect begets respect.
“This is why the president is looking for credible hands whom they cannot disqualify under a flimsy excuse or the other.”
THE NATION had exclusively reported that the president is on the final lap of consultations with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was learnt that the president has met with some leaders of the party on the shape of his cabinet, those who may be on board and what he intends to do.
But he is yet to unveil his list of cabinet members to the leadership of the party.
It was unclear if the President will reduce the size of the cabinet from 42 to 36 or a lower figure.
Section 147(1-3) directs the President to appoint at least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended.
The section reads: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.
“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.
“Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:
“Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

One hundred days ago

          

When President Muhammadu Buhari, after his swearing-in, on May 29, allowed himself up to September to name his ministerial cabinet, he couldn’t have reckoned that the seeming adequate time would pass so swiftly to open him to very critical scrutiny by both supporters and political opponents on how far he had gone in meeting their expectations. Supporters, in opting for Buhari in the presidential elections, believed he would provide a fresh political/administrative atmosphere, in contrast to the record of the previous 16 years while critics contemptuously dismissed all such optimism. To worsen matters for Buhari, the public expectations/pessimism (of supporters and critics respectively) within the conventional first 100 days (ending tomorrow), coincided with the September undertaking within which to name his ministers, Unless those ministers have been named by now, Buhari has up till the last day of the month to keep his undertaking, as he did not specify a particular date. But such an excuse or even undue delay henceforth, will subject the Buhari administration to further ridicule, both in Nigeria and abroad. Meanwhile, pro and anti-Buhari groups are, as expected, engaged in polemical fisticuffs on his performance so far
Either way, the better objective verdict must be related to what President Buhari inherited and promised the nation as a newly elected head of government on May 29, 2015. 1. Widespread goodwill at home and abroad. 2.Perception of Nigerians and the entire international community that the scale of corruption in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. 3. A feeling of omnibus marginalisation of northerners and indifference by south westerners even if such existed. The only point of note was the opportunistic exploitation of that dissatisfaction by discredited and politically irrelevant elements parading as representatives of Yoruba under the banner of a remnant Afenifere. 4. Free looting of national treasury by financial criminals purportedly claiming subsidy for fuel not supplied at all in many cases. 5. A rampaging Boko Haram insurgency, which forced the closure of Maiduguri International Airport for over a year. 6.Virtual collapse of nationwide power supply throughout the previous five years. 7. A poorly equipped Nigerian army facing and deserting a better-equipped insurgents. 8. Unpaid arrears of monthly salaries of federal and state civil servants. 9. Promise of battling corruption among public office holders and civil servants. 10. Routing of the Boko Haram assault on the nation. 11. National debt of trillions of naira owed to contractors.
Largely, international goodwill brought President Buhari to office last May and it is to his credit that he still retains that distinction for Nigeria. Substantially, the country is no longer viewed by foreign governments and businessmen as swimming in corruption. That is a feat attained within three months. Rather than a professional gimmick of foreign public relations consultants, that image change for Nigeria is due to Buhari’s firm leadership in containing the vermins in the public and private sectors as well as their foreign collaborators. Even on the highly debated issue of human rights, given his military background, Muhammadu Buhari is emerging unduly liberal. A good example was his weak submission that he would abide by any leadership(s) produced by the national leadership. Confronted with fallout of his liberal disposition, the same Buhari had to tactfully clip the wings of his National Assembly dissidents, who, after tasting the first blood, became insatiable. The prospects at that stage were that the National Assembly APC rebels, would eventually commence ruling the man at Aso Rock.
Rather sadly, President Buhari’s almost unlimited goodwill on the local scene, which followed him to office three months ago, has diminished. It should be a matter for concern that a man like former Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa now reminds us that we have a President of Nigeria who must ensure he does not deteriorate to president of northern Nigeria. There is an irony in this development. The controversy should not be sourced to only the appointments made, as the timing and manner. For example, for all the criticisms made, it is remarkable that, traditional critics have not described the appointees by President Buhari as “mediocrities.” The only reason for that is the sound education background of these fellows.
Mr. Babachir Lawal, the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation is a law post-graduate of Oxbridge (Oxford/Cambridge) as well as Warwick Universities. Such distinctions do not come better even though the easiest counter-submission is that any other part of the country (specifically South) could also produce men of distinction. Still, the criticism should be at a different aspect of the appointments. What was so important or more compelling for these latest appointments than the release of the list of the ministerial nominees? What is holding up ordinary release of list of ministers? If such a list had been simultaneously released with the recent appointment of virtually personal staff of President Buhari, there, definitely, would not have been any uproar or such might make much impact since ministers, statutorily, must comprise appointees from all parts of the country.
What is more, whenever the list of ministers is released for screening by National Assembly, the time may be only for the members to proceed on sallah holidays. For at least a fortnight if not longer? That will stretch to October before the commencement of the screening proper. To last how long? Conservatively, we may run into the first six months of the administration with another possible six months for the new ministers to effectively grasp their new job. In that situation, the longest serving minister may be for barely three years. If President Buhari strictly adheres to the public impression that he would serve for only one term, it must still be his interest that his party (would) win the 2019 race. Unfortunately, the anti-PDP coalition, which won APC the presidency only six months, no longer exists. South South and south East are now reflecting that, perhaps, they were correct in their voting preferences at the last presidential elections. After the elections, widespread reports indicated that South East thereby lost the Senate presidency. Hence the general speculation that South East would be compensated with the post of Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Nothing was done to dispel that speculation, only to be shattered all round,
On its part, South West is back to its old survival tactics of “siddon look” to nurse its wound. However, must South East, South South and South West (entire South) not retire into sober reflection on their political pattern of self-destruction? Each of the three was, along with the three northern zones, in contention for the post recently filled. But the three states, which lost were victims of regicide. In Rivers State, ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi was subjected to judicial probe of his tenure by his political enemy, Nyesom Wike. In Lagos, new helmsman, Akinwunmi Ambode, for yet-to-be-stated reasons, intermittently released costs of some projects while his predecessor, Babatunde Fasola, was in office. In Imo, the battle for the South East zonal leadership of APC was the deciding factor. Hence, whatever the feelings of the people, Governor Rochas Okorocha openly supported President Buhari on the new appointments.
Still on the credit side, theft of public fund through legalised fraud called fuel subsidy has been substantially reduced. Indeed, there is no more display of loose money. Federal and state civil servants now collect monthly salaries as and when due after collecting their accumulated arrears hitherto owed them. The magic was sequel to instant and firm streamlining of financial regulation, affirming only a single Federation Account for any revenue accruable to Federal Government. Not left out are unpaid poor Nigerian soldiers at the war front, who have had that situation reversed. The army is now well equipped and has contained the Boko Haram insurgents. Maiduguri International Airport, forced to be closed almost two years ago by the superior firepower of Boko Haram, has been re-opened.
Most significantly, within the last 100 days, President Buhari gave order to the entire armed forces leadership to rout out the Boko Haram within a stipulated time of three months. The import of that directive was recently affirmed by one service chief, who said: “It is an order from the Commander-in-Chief and we must carry it out.” Days or at most weeks more for Boko Haram?

Nigeria: Government signs U.S.$237 million World Bank electricity deal

Abuja — To underscore commitment to the on going reform in the power sector, the Federal Government yesterday announced that it has completed the signing of the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantees (PRGs) in support of the 450 megawatts Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant (IPP).
The deal was concluded on Friday, August 21, 2015. Parties to the agreement included the Federal Government represented by the Ministry of Finance and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET); the World Bank in its role as the provider of the guarantees; the project sponsors represented by Azura Power West Africa Ltd (Azura); and various lenders represented by JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank; and Siemens Bank.
The execution of these World Bank Guarantees comes on the back of the release, earlier this month, of the Federal Government Solicitor General's Legal Opinion confirming the validity of the Put-Call Option Agreement that was signed last year by the Federal Government, NBET and Azura Power.
The Guarantees comprise a Debt Mobilisation Guarantee (capped at USD $117 million) and a Liquidity Guarantee (capped at USD $120 million).
The combined value of these Guarantees serves to leverage a total investment in the Azura power plant of more than $900 million made by a set of 20 international banks and equity finance institutions drawn from nine different countries.
The Azura-Edo IPP, which is located on the outskirts of Benin City, comprises an open cycle gas turbine power station; a short transmission line connecting the power plant to a local substation and a short underground gas pipeline connecting the power plant to the country's main gas-supply.
The first phase of the plant, which is targeted to come on stream in 2018, is forecast to create over 1,000 jobs during its construction and operation.
The Azura project played a path-breaking role by helping to set the contractual framework for the development of other, large-scale IPPs, several of which will also benefit from the World Bank's PRG programme.
Thus, last Friday's execution of the Azura PRG Agreements represents a major milestone in the evolution of the Nigerian electricity market and provides an exemplary illustration of the commitment shown by the President Muhammadu Buhari - led administration to accelerating investment in the country's power sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said: "This landmark development confirms the Buhari administration's commitment to the continuation of the power sector reforms which is anchored on attracting private sector investments, and establishing and supporting institutions that are critical to the reforms.
The Federal Government will continue to strengthen NBET, NERC and the Transmission company in furtherance of the reforms. I want to thank the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his personal leadership leading to the conclusion of these agreements.
I also wish to express my gratitude to our sister agencies especially the Ministries of Finance and Justice for their support and the World Bank for its partnership.
I commend NBET for a job well done." He stressed that the NBET also known as the Bulk Trader, was established as a special purpose vehicle for carrying out, under licence from NERC, the bulk purchase and resale function contemplated by the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Actor (EPSRA).
He added that NBET has a robust capitalisation from the Federal Government of Nigeria and is the Federal Government's anchor agent for World Bank and African Development Bank guarantees within the power sector.
NBET purchases electricity from the generating companies through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and sells to the distribution companies through vesting contracts.
Source: allafrica.com

GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S SPEECH TO APC DELEGATES AT THE CONVENTION 2014.

The former Head of the State General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is one of five persons aspiring for the Presidential ticket at the 3rd National Convention of All Progressives Congress (APC). In his speech at the APC’s presidential primary Buhari said that what Nigeria needs is change. Read what else he promised Nigerians:


“My Dear Delegates,
As you gather for our convention, please remember that history, change and the hopes of Nigeria are there with you. They are there to ask you to perform according to your best judgment and patriotic conscience. I also ask you to do the same.
We seek a new Nigeria. It starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard bearer for our progressive party, APC.
Personal ambition does not drive me in this regard. I seek to be the next president of our beloved nation because I believe I have something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple crises. Insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low. Time is past due that we work together to lift Nigeria up. I am ready to lead Nigeria to its rightful future.
READ ALSO: Why Buhari Would Be A Good President
I have always served Nigeria to the best of my ability. I have always tried to give more to the nation than it has given me. This is the principle of service that has guided my public life. Thus, I am not a rich person. I can’t give you a fistful of dollars or naira to purchase your support. Even if I could, I would not do so. The fate of this nation is not up for sale.
What I will give you, and this nation is all of my strength, commitment, sweat and toil in the service of the people. What I can give you is my all.
The PDP has been in power much too long for the little good it has done. For the past six years, Nigeria has walked backwards carrying the weight of PDP’s incompetence on its shoulders.
Due to its broken leadership, Nigeria has been afflicted by a strange illness. We are a great nation riddled by endless crises. Instead of resolving problems, this government multiplies and manufactures them.
PDP cannot stand before us and say things have gotten better under its direction. It has only gotten worse and it’s now time for change.
PDP’s government may say that it needs more time – that what we need now is continuity – but we do not.
 What we need now is change!
I know what it takes to achieve real change – I have led our nation before – in times almost as unhappy as these.
I know that to solve our problems we need real leadership, not warm words and empty promises. A leader needs integrity and strength – and an unbending commitment to do what is right.
I know that leaders must not just mouth words about change – they must embody it in their lives and their values.
My love for Nigeria is writ large across my heart and I have spent a lifetime in the service of its people.
READ ALSO: Why Buhari Is Not Good For Presidential Seat
Through a long career trying to build a better country for my fellow Nigerians in offices both high and low I have always tried to place my country before myself.
While some who have occupied those same positions have grown mysteriously rich, I still live on my army pension. I own no foreign bank accounts, I own no companies profiting from government contracts.
Why then do I seek office, if not for myself? While others might prefer to stay at home watching their grandchildren grow and live the battle to others I still see injustices that need to be righted and I still dream of a New Nigeria.
I am what you see before you – a simple man who believes in serving both God and his country. A man who is impatient for change, who loves Nigeria and seeks to serve it once again.
When I last led this nation I launched a War against Indiscipline – today, I pledge a Battle for Hope.
A battle against the dark forces of corruption and despair that have held our nation hostage to their greed for too long.
We simply cannot afford four more years of PDP’s corruption and the corrosive cynicism that it has bred.
The time for hope, the time for belief, is now.
 You cannot trust the corrupt to end corruption.
 You cannot trust the selfish and self interested to rule in the best interests of the people.
You cannot trust those who believe hope is a tool of government rather than a human right to plant the seed of belief.
Let’s be clear. This is not a time for continuity. Failure does not deserve continuity. Incompetence does not deserve continuity.
It deserves change; that is what the nation deserves and that is what we will bring.
Make no mistake – as is always the case for those who seek to bring change, it will not come easy.
 And today I ask for your votes and support as I make these five pledges to the nation:
I will honestly govern Nigeria in accord with the constitution and rule of law.
I will bring all resources necessary to end poverty through ending corruption, promoting broadly-shared economic growth, investing in our country and creating jobs.
I will tolerate no religious, regional, ethnic or gender bias.
READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathan Picks Sambo As His Running Mate
I will return Nigeria to a position of international respect through active and wise foreign policy.
 I will select the best Nigerians for posts in my government.
I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I want to democratically govern it with your help. I seek a Nigeria where Christians and Muslims may practice their faiths in peace and security; a Nigeria that is just and where corruption no longer trespasses into our institutions and national behavior and a Nigeria where our diversity could be used for our national prosperity.
Nigeria is our home. Let us now turn it into the great nation we know it can and should be.
I thank you all
General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR”

GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S NINE POINT AGENDA

Thursday, 16 October 2014

 FORMER head of state General Muhammadu Buhari has come up with a nine-point plan to salvage Nigeria which he said will serve as his blueprint if elected to the presidency kind of similar to President Goodluck Jonathan's Transformation Agenda.

Published yesterday at Eagle Square Abuja where General Buhari launched his 2015 presidential election campaign, the agenda was portrayed as the solution to end the ongoing rot in the country. With the declaration, General Buhari is now an official candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket and will be standing when the party holds its primaries.

Attracting a large turnout of supporters and associates including several senior party officials, the declaration appeared to have the backing of the APC hierarchy. Although party leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was absent, his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and many other senators from the southwest were present.

Four APC governors including Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Rotimi Amaechi of  Rivers State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Tanko al-Makura of Nasarawa State were present.  Among senior party officials at the venue were the national vice chairman, northeast, Pastor David Lawal and the APC national secretary Mai Mala.

Senate minority leader and former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume led the National Assembly delegation that included several senators and members of the House of Representatives. Also in attendance was the younger brother of late President Umaru Yar‘Adua, Col Abdulaziz Yar‘Adua and a former member of the House of Representatives and Zilani Ibrahim.

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s declaration earlier on in the day was more serene but a source in his campaign said he chose not to invite party officials and governors in order not to compromise them. General Buhari’s declaration served as an opportunity for several governorship and senatorial aspirants from hoping to ride on his coattails to showcase their aspirations.

General Buhari's nine-point agenda included:

*Protection of lives and property
*Pursuing economic policies for shared prosperity and immediate attention on youth employment
*Quality education for development, modernity and social mobility
*Agricultural productivity for taking millions out of poverty and ensuring food security.
*Reviving industries to generate employment and “make things” not just to remain hawkers of other peoples’ goods
*Developing solid minerals exploitation which will substantially attract employment and revenue for government
*Restoring honour and integrity to public service by keeping the best and attracting the best.
*Tackling corruption which has become blatant and widespread. The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption. Nigeria is a country where stealing is not corruption
*Respecting the constitutional separation of powers among the executive, legislature and judiciary and respecting the rights of citizens

Former Bayelsa State governor Timpre Sylva, said: “Buhari is not in this race for himself. He is in this race because of us, the younger people.

"We are very happy that he has decided to come out of retirement to help us stabilise this country so that you and I, the younger ones can carry on with the development of this great nation. And people even say General Buhari is too old, to them, I will only quote the words of the former president of America, late President Ronald Regan who said we are not going to make age an issue in this campaign because we do not want to be accused of taking advantage of the inexperience of our opponent.”

Former People's Democratic Party chairman Audu Ogbeh, who introduced the aspirant said that General Buhari was not the religious bigot that he has been sometimes depicted to be by political rivals. Noting General Buhari’s links with many Christians, Dr Ogbeh described those who made such claims as enemies of Nigeria who did not mind dividing Nigeria along religious lines.