Ijaw Leader To FG: Don't Use Force On Pro-Biafra Protesters

Prominent Ijaw leader and National Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Comrade Joseph Evah, has advised the federal government not to use force on pro-Biafran protesters.

Evah made the appeal in Lagos this weekend, noting that the use of force would not only be counter-productive but also escalate the crisis, Daily Sun reports.

He said: ”I implore the Federal Government not to contemplate the use of force against Biafran protesters.

The use of force will aggravate the problem.

”I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt dialogue approach.

It is within the ambit of the constitutional rights of people to protest and demonstrate.

”What these protesters are doing is not illegal as long as they are not violent or take up arms against the state.

But it is better to solve the problem now through dialogue before it worsens.

It is better to jaw-jaw than to war-
war.”

Expatiating on why he wants the federal government to explore the dialogue option, Evah said: ”The use of force will never work.

Force can’t work.

”It is not the solution because history has shown that at the end of the day, it is dialogue that is embraced as tool of resolution in many crises.

”Look at the agitations by the people of Niger- Delta over issues relating to environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration.

”Initially when the Abacha government murdered late Ken Saro- Wiwa, they thought by doing that they would be able to suppress the people, but the reverse was the case as the agitations became more pronounced, and later became violent with the militants taking to the creeks before the later former President Umaru Ya’adua’s administration called for dialogue.

“As for the Boko Haram, it started in a little way, but instead of the government of the day to explore the dialogue option, it failed to do so, and
the problem became monstrous.

”Let our leaders be good students of history, they should not listen to bad advisers.

The Biafraprotesters have some grievances; why not dialogue with their leaders to find a solution to the problem? Federal government should be careful about how the case is handled.”

It will be recalled that pro-Biafra supporters has been carrying out processions in Rivers, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Delta states.

Meanwhile, eight persons including a female, involved in pro-Biafra protest that grounded the streets of Port Harcourt were recently arraigned by the police before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
In a related development, the Nigerian army has warned agitators clamouring for the state of Biafra that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.

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Ijaw Leader To FG: Don't Use Force On Pro-Biafra Protesters

Prominent Ijaw leader and National Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Comrade Joseph Evah, has advised the federal government not to use force on pro-Biafran protesters.

Evah made the appeal in Lagos this weekend, noting that the use of force would not only be counter-productive but also escalate the crisis, Daily Sun reports.

He said: ”I implore the Federal Government not to contemplate the use of force against Biafran protesters.

The use of force will aggravate the problem.

”I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt dialogue approach.

It is within the ambit of the constitutional rights of people to protest and demonstrate.

”What these protesters are doing is not illegal as long as they are not violent or take up arms against the state.

But it is better to solve the problem now through dialogue before it worsens.

It is better to jaw-jaw than to war-
war.”

Expatiating on why he wants the federal government to explore the dialogue option, Evah said: ”The use of force will never work.

Force can’t work.

”It is not the solution because history has shown that at the end of the day, it is dialogue that is embraced as tool of resolution in many crises.

”Look at the agitations by the people of Niger- Delta over issues relating to environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration.

”Initially when the Abacha government murdered late Ken Saro- Wiwa, they thought by doing that they would be able to suppress the people, but the reverse was the case as the agitations became more pronounced, and later became violent with the militants taking to the creeks before the later former President Umaru Ya’adua’s administration called for dialogue.

“As for the Boko Haram, it started in a little way, but instead of the government of the day to explore the dialogue option, it failed to do so, and
the problem became monstrous.

”Let our leaders be good students of history, they should not listen to bad advisers.

The Biafraprotesters have some grievances; why not dialogue with their leaders to find a solution to the problem? Federal government should be careful about how the case is handled.”

It will be recalled that pro-Biafra supporters has been carrying out processions in Rivers, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Delta states.

Meanwhile, eight persons including a female, involved in pro-Biafra protest that grounded the streets of Port Harcourt were recently arraigned by the police before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
In a related development, the Nigerian army has warned agitators clamouring for the state of Biafra that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.

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REVEALED: How Much Buhari's Minister's Earn Yearly

The Punch reports that the current remuneration packages approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), is
guided by the Remuneration Act of 2007.

In June 2015, the RMAFC set in motion the process for the downward review of the existing salaries and allowances of political, public and judicial office holders.

The review became imperative following dwindling government revenues caused by falling prices in the
international oil market.

New packages prepared by the committee have been recently ratified at a retreat held for commissioners of the agency.

However, the new packages are still have to be presented to the Federal Executive Council, which has the responsibility to present it to the National Assembly as a bill for enactment as an Act of Parliament.

Speaking with journalists on Saturday, November 14, Elias Mbam, the chairman of RMAFC, noted that the new packages would soon be made
public, adding that the work was “going through a process of editing.”

Meanwhile, presidency sources revealed that the new ministers will be paid in accordance with the existing statute because the reviewed package
was not yet ready.

According to the current package, Babatunde Fashola, the minister of power, works and housing, Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transport, Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, and other senior ministers will get N4,052,800 as housing allowance.

Each of the ministers is also entitled to N6,079,200 as furniture allowance, which is paid once in four years.

If any of the ministers desires, he or she is also entitled to N8,105,600 as motor vehicle allowance. However, the motor vehicle allowance is a loan repayable by the end of the tenure of the minister.

The annual basic salary of substantive minister is N2,026,400 (N168,866:66 per month).

At the end of each month, each minister will receive a motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N1, 519,800 (annual value).

Each of the senior ministers is entitled to a payment of N1,519,800 for domestic staff, N911,880 annually – for entertainment, N607,920 – for utilities, N405,280 – for monitoring, N303,960 – for periodicals.

The summation of these annual allowances is N13,374, 240 for each minister excluding the optional vehicle allowance.

Meanwhile, each of the ministers of state is entitled to N3, 915,160 housing allowance and N5,872,740 as furniture allowance.

Like their senior counterparts, the state
ministers are also entitled to a vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N1, 468,185(annual value).

Each of the state ministers is entitled to
N880,911 annually for entertainment, N587,274– for utilities, N293,637 – for newspapers.

The federal government is expected to pay the 13 junior ministers no less than N163,765,316 yearly.

Pic: President Buhari and Minister's

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Fayose Attacks Buhari, Obasanjo, And APC

Outspoken Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said he would not celebrate or praise the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressive Congress’ (APC) federal
government.

Buhari is not God, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state says Fayose who belongs to the erstwhile ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
said Buhari is not God but Nigeria’s leader for a period of time.

He said this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, shortly after the state House of Assembly professed him as the ‘leader’ of the opposition party.

“I will tell them the truth. Opposition helps government of the day, helps Nigerians, to keep them on track. Opposition helps to check dictatorship, opposition helps to check oppression.

My being here as governor, my voice today will remain by the grace of God.

“I’m not like somebody going underground for reasons of harassment; it is only shameful that
the government of the day is after shadows.

You want to be in power, you are in power; you have charged virtually all PDP governors to court, are we saying no APC governor is corrupt in this country? But for me, I’m not
going into that; I’m not going to descend into that arena.

”For everything I say, I say it in good
conscience. When I was criticising the
President before he became President of Nigeria, they thought I will be quiet after.

Tomorrow, if I find him wanting, I will tell him.

The President is not God, he’s only leader of our country for a period of time,” Fayose was quoted by Vanguard newspaper.

Fayose said he is not interested in vying for any bigger political position:
“Even this one that I am serving as governor, it is the will of God for me.

There is nothing to vie for.” The governor also took a swipe at former
president Olusegun Obasanjo whom he
accused of seeking relevance with the Buhari government.

“The likes of Obasanjo were looming larger than life at that time, where are they now? They are at Ota; they are begging for relevance now.

They go to the villa everyday to beg for
ministerial nominees. I was watching him in the papers, whether he was prostrating for Buhari or he was exchanging compliments, I don’t
know. I can’t explain it.

At certain times, you must know when to switch off; you must know when to turn off and you must know when to
go to bed.

“For me, whether they call me leader of
opposition or not, whether they call me Ayo Fayose, I’m not even chairman of PDP governors’ forum and I’m not desperate for anything, but you can’t take away my voice. You can throw away my word but you can’t throw me away.

“I remain resolute, I stand by the common man of this country. Tomorrow, Nigerians will appreciate me. It is in turbulent times that we
know the strength of character of a man – in turbulent times like this – and it is shame on PDP leaders decamping because of relevance.

They should keep their relevance; whatever we do – good or bad – will live after us,” he opined.

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Customs Boss Denies Sacking Officers, Meet Stakeholders

The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col Hameed Ali, has denied sacking 400 officers in the ongoing restructuring of the service.

He told newsmen that he was rather holding meetings with stakeholders to strategise on how to achieve better service delivery in the country.

” I am not aware of any sacking; you are just telling me; I don’t know,” he said.

Ali said that the essence of his visit to some stakeholders was to create a common platform that would drive the mandate and enable the service to achieve its set goals by the federal
government.

He said that there is need for Nigeria to focus more on export than import, adding that Nigeria could not grow if the nation continue to import goods and services.

Ali said there was need to review policies so as to focus on how to regenerate exportation.

The customs boss noted that 99 percent of NCS business was clearing of imports and only little was being exported.

“Anytime we import, we are spending money out to somebody. We are growing somebody else industry; we should look at the policy in order to
grow our economy.

“Therefore, if we want to grow our economy, we have to put more emphasis on exportation than importation.

“We are doing restructuring; I have mandate. Given to me by Mr President to reform, structure and to raise revenues.

And in the course of restructuring, a lot of things will have to happen and the visit is one of them,” Ali said.

Ali visited the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) where he called for assistance from the institution to enable customs build its capacity and train officers to handle procurement based on the Established Act.

“We are here because procurement is one area that needs no mistake; I can afford to make mistake in some areas but there are two areas that I dare not make mistake, accounting and
procurement.

“I realise that we in customs have some deficiency when it comes to capacity to be able to handle procurement.

We want to get it right this time and the only way we can get it right is to come and learn from BPP.

“We are here to discuss with you to know how best we can further strengthen the synergy and also to have your support; so we can together drive the set objectives of this administration,” he added.

Responding, the Director-General, BPP, Emake Eze, said that 350 officers from various agencies of the federation would undergo two weeks certification conversion course starting from
Tuesday.

Eze said that the essence of the course was to train the procurement officers to be well established as professionals.

He advised the service to always recruit applicants with some qualification on procurement so that they can grow on the line.

Eze added that this would help the service to build a better department to handle its procurement activities.

“We have about 350 officers across the
federation that applied for conversion and the officers were screened and only 168 was approved to undertake the course.

“I will like to appeal that in line with government circular, customs should get a separate department to be fully responsible for procurement.

“I am happy about your commitment to do the right thing because that is what drives any nation.” he said.

The BPP boss presented a legal framework guiding the operations of public expenditure in Nigeria to the comptroller general of customs as
a tool to enhance the service in the area of procurement.

The customs boss also visited the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, National Automotive Council
and others.

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Official: Mama Taraba Emerges Nigeria's First Female Governor

Reports credited to Vanguard have it that Aisha Alhassan has been declared winner of the April 11 governorship election in Taraba state, thus making her Nigeria’s first female governor.

This was after a Taraba state governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Aisha Jummai Alhassan has emerged as Nigeria’s first female governor
According to Vanguard, the tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar declared Alhassan, popularly referred to as Mama Taraba as the bonafide winner of the election.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is also among the ministerial nominees who were screened and confirmed by the
Nigerian senate.

Reliable sources in Taraba have also confirmed the report to Naij.com. This means President Muhammadu Buhari will have to shop for a replacement for the minister-designate in the coming days.

This further quells reports which made rounds that Alhassan’s nomination by the president may have been a way of compensating her from losing out at the polls earlier this year.

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EFCC To Prosecute Ex Gov Gabriel Suswam For Alleged N3.1 Billion Money Laundering

Barring any last minute change of plan, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will formally arraign a former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam before an Abuja Court tomorrow, November 4.

The anti-graft agency had on Monday October 2, filed a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1billion at a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Mr. Suswam and his former Finance Commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia, are alleged to have diverted proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.

The offence, the EFCC says, is punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended in 2012.

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FG Set To Pay Civil Servants' October Salaries After Initial Delay

The federal government of Nigeria has stated that it will commence the payment of civil servants’ October salaries soon.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (oAGF) revealed that the salaries are
already being processed.

Mrs Kenechukwu, the head of the oAGF’s press and public relations, informed NAN that the technical issues associated to the payment of the civil servants’ salaries for October are now
been sorted out.

She said: “I have spoken to the Director of Funds and the Director, IPPIS and I can authoritatively tell you that all technical issues have been sorted out and there is money to effect the payment.

“So everything is on course and I can assure you that salaries are already being processed and people will start getting alert from today.”

The Presidency had on Monday, issued a statement, signed by the Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, explaining that there were technical issues causing the delay of the payment.

This is already been sorted out as revealed by the accountant general, and the civil servants will have to start smiling to the bank in the coming weeks.

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REVEALED: NIGERIA DOES NOT HAVE A MINISTRY FOR ALL MINISTERS-PMBB

After receiving the list of screened minister from the senate president , Dr Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated his earlier statement that some ministers will be without portfolios.

According to Vanguard, the president made this disclosure after receiving the list earlier today at the presidential villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari exchanged a warm handshake with senate president, Bukola Saraki after receiving the list of screened ministers from the latter on Tuesday, November
3, 2015.

The president had spoken about the possibility of some ministers who had been screened, to be without portfolios because Nigeria cannot afford to pay all of them.

In a rather contradictory statement, the senior special adviser to the president on media, Garba Shehu, stated in a recent interview, that the ministers would not all have full control.

President Buhari has however, insisted that there would be no jobs for some screened ministerial nominees, because although the constitution
stipulates 36 ministers, the available ministries were not up to that number.

He said: “I thank you the President of the Senate for the work of the Senate leadership in our strive to follow the constitutional provision that states that the President should submit the
names of those he wants to form the cabinet.

“If I can remember, there must be a member from each of the 36 states. That was why I limited the number of my nominees to that number, 36.

“The Senate worked extremely hard and they have passed all the nominees.

I think there is some enthusiasm in some parts of the Presidency today that portfolios are to be given to the 36.

“The constitution certainly said there must be one member of the cabinet from all the states but the constitution did not say I must have 36
ministries.

“I will explain the details. Because of the economic imperative, to have a lot of ministers, substantive ministers, let me put it that way, whatever somebody speculated in some of today’s new papers, I think that the economy as I have seen it now since my sitting here for the last four months, that we are so much battered.

Although some people are saying I am giving bad publicity and scaring away investors.

“Any investor who is interested in investing in Nigeria will seem to know more about the economy more than ourselves. So when I come and tell the truth about the position of the economy of the country, I am going out looking for investors.

“But I am confirming to them that we are truthful, that we need them to come and help us help ourselves by getting in industries, manufacturing and services.

They know our needs.

The economy of human resources, I believe will make them eventually come and help us.

“Mr. Senate President, I thank you very much for leading the Senate to do this hard work technically within record time.

I assure you that we will follow the constitution and all the 36 will be sitting in the cabinet as the constitution
stipulates.”

Meanwhile, the presidency has denied reports that the list of screened ministers and their portfolios, which has been making rounds in the social media, were from the presidency.

Presidential aide, Femi Adesina, said that the list has not been formally assigned, adding that the president would allocate the portfolios when he
is ready to swear-in the ministers.

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NNPC: Buhari set to replace Kachikwu, shortlists three Northerners.

President Muhammadu Buhari will later this month replace the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

DAILY POST gathered that Buhari has already picked out three persons, including Deputy Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Isa Mohammed Inuwa. Inuwa was Group General Manager, Corporate Services in NNPC before he joined NLNG.

The race to succeed Kachikwu, former Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon-Mobil (Africa), began after Buhari sent his name as a ministerial nominee to the Senate.

Kachikwu, who has been cleared, is expected to emerge as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, a ministry Buhari has announced he will keenly supervise. Kachikwu beat two others – Inuwa and General Manager, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa – to emerge as NNPC GMD in August, replacing Dr. Joseph Dawha.

With the elevation of Kachikwu, Buhari has reportedly added one more name to contest with Inuwa and Musa for the top job.

The trio are all northerners. This is not unexpected as Kachikwu will be a minister of state from Delta State in Southern part of the country.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has been mandated to review the profiles of the three nominees and make a recommendation to the president.

Kachikwu, industry players, say has done well in his short time in office. Part of his achievements are monthly publication of NNPC sales, public opening of bid tenders in a bid to ensure transparency, reducing the corporation’s directorates from eight to five to improve efficiency and reduce cost of running the organisation.

Two weeks ago, Kachikwu met with the President of Ghana, John Mahama in Kumasi, Ghana, to reach a deal on the outstanding debts owed Nigeria by the Volta River Authority (VRA) for gas supplied.

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Senate Excludes Amaechi From Nominees For Screening On Tuesday

The national Assembly again excluded former Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi from today’s ministerial screening.

It was gathered that only three nominees would be appearing before the lawmakers today for screening.

However, there are reports that there is confusion in the Senate at the first version of the Order Paper had 8 ministerial nominees including Rotimi Amaechi, but was quickly replaced with another one without his name.

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Council Of State Approves President’s Nomination Of New INEC Chairman, 5 National Commissioners

President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Professor Mahmud Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

Professor yakubu’s nomination and those of five other national electoral commissioners, which have been approved by the council of state, are tobe forwarded to the national assembly for confirmation.

The decision was taken after Thursday’s council of state meeting held at the state house, Abuja.

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SENATE CONFIRMS NEW INEC CHAIRMAN

The newly confirmed INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu says it is imperative to consider electronic voting in Nigeria.

He says Nigeria must learn from the experience of other countries.

Mahmood was speaking during his screening and confirmation along with five others by the senate.

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PDP SENATORS SPEAKS ON AMEACHI CONFIRMATION.

Shortly before the senate adjourned plenary with the confirmation of former governor Rotimi Amaechi, the PDP senate caucus spoke with newsmen on their opinion.

The minority leader, senator Godswill Akpabio said Amaechi confirmation violated the standing rules of the senate.

The protesting PDP senators did not state the nature of the case in court but insisted that the confirmation is capable of creating a rift in the senate.

Our correspondent reports that Amaechi is not facing any corruption related prosecution but he went to court to challenge the veracity of the inquiry set up by the rivers state government.

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"Nigeria And Other African Countries Must Work Harder To Achieve Greater Political Stability And Security" - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari declared Thursday in New Delhi that Nigeria and other African countries must work harder to achieve greater political stability and security before they can enjoy the full benefits of
partnership arrangements such as the India- Africa forum.

Addressing the plenary session of the 3rd summit of the forum, president Buhari said that to attract the massive investment in-flows which they need to overcome the challenges of unemployment and wealth creation, Nigeria and other African countries
must also establish policy environments that guarantee the sanctity of contracts on the basis of the rule of law.

The president told the gathering that since its inception in may this year, his administration has been working with determination to establish these preconditions for rapid socio-economic development and re-focus
governance on the real needs of ordinary Nigerians.

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Aisha Buhari Urges State Governors To Establish Children’s Parliament.

The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called on state governors to establish children’s parliament with a view to build the capacity of the youths in leadership position.

She made the call on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of the 4th Assembly of FCT Children Parliament.

Buhari, who was represented at the occasion by Mrs Alayingi Sylva, wife of the former governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, stressed the need to establish children’s parliament in
the 36 states.

She said that the parliament would provide a platform for the children to participate in national development and prepare them as future leaders.

She added that it would give a voice to the youths and inculcate in children the value of dialogue and collective participation that would equip them for leadership roles.

She congratulated the executive members of FCT children’s parliament for their victory at the April elections in which more than 90 schools in the six area council participated.

"This is a clear demonstration that our
children have embraced the path to
democracy which inevitably has been a
course for governance.

"No doubt, your political consciousness will be raised and eventually offer you the opportunity of being valued members of our society and future leaders of this great
country.

"I appeal to you to respect the rule and
process of operating children’s parliament through which you can realise your dream,'' she said.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, FCT administration, Mr John Chukwu, said the parliament was aimed at providing the children with a forum to participate in affairs
affecting their country.

Represented by Mallam Salisu Kallamu, the Director, Administration and Finance in the FCT, Chukwu described the children's parliament as training ground for prospective
political leaders.

He said that the parliament came into
existence in Nigeria with the passage of the Child Rights Act 2003, which was a product of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child.

In his remarks Mr Oralgrandeur Nwaka, Speaker, FCT Children’s Parliament, pledged to discharge his duties in accordance with the rules of law.

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INEC clears 42 candidates for the Kogi, Bayelsa Governorship polls

The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), says it has cleared 42 candidates for the forthcoming governorship polls in Kogi and Bayelsa.

The Kogi election is billed for Nov. 21, while the Bayelsa poll comes up on and Dec. 5.

The commission’s bulletin issued on Monday in Abuja, stated that the list of cleared candidates were published by INEC and signed by Farouk Usman the commission’s acting Secretary.

According to the bulletin, 22 candidates with their running mate from 22 registered political parties would contest the poll in Kogi.

Twenty (20) candidates with their running mate from 20 registered political parties were cleared to contest the Bayelsa poll.

Abubakar Audu and his running mate James Faleke, are the flagbears of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi while Capt. Idris Wada and his running mate Abayomi Awoniyi would fly the PDP flag.

According to the bulletin, incumbent Gov. Seriake Dickson of the PDP and his running mate, Rear Adm Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd) were cleared for the Bayelsa election.

Former governor Timipre Sylva and his
running mate Wilberforce Igiri would fly the APC flag.

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Saraki hands Ministerial list to Buhari.

The Senate president Bukola Saraki has visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock presidential villa in Abuja on November 3, Tuesday.

President Buhari finally received the formal report of the screening of ministerial nominees that ended last week.

Saraki arrived for the meeting scheduled for 3pm around 2.55pm and was escorted into one of the halls inside Buhari’s office.

He was accompanied by the president’s two senior special assistants on legislative matters,
Ita Enang (Senate) and Suleiman Kawu (House of Representatives).

President Buhari was also joined by some of his assistants comprising the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; and the special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

The meeting commenced with Buhari’s arrival at about 3.01pm. After the ceremonial presentation of the list to the president, all security and political aides excused the two leaders who met behind closed-doors before coming out for group photographs.

The Nigerian Senate has concluded the
screening of ministerial nominees sent to it by President Buhari last week when the leader of the nation was in India.

Buhari is likely to inaugurate his cabinet tomorrow, November, 4.

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Buhari must test OBJ's residency –Shettima 0

Yerima Shettima, President, Arewa Youth Consultative discussion has said that for President Muhammadu Buhari's hostile to debasement battle to be viable, he must test past organizations starting from 1999. In this meeting, he additionally asked the President to receive the report from the past PRONACO gathering, saying that the nation has a ton to profit by it.

President Buhari has been blamed for favoring the north in his arrangements, particularly with the development of his kitchen cupboard. Do you concur?

All things considered, it gives a few of us a great deal of concern in light of the fact that a few of us accept emphatically that Nigeria ought to start things out before some other thing. Then again, we must welcome the way that we have grow up that we now run a nation with the look of a country regardless of the possibility that we not a country yet. Be that as it may, we should likewise be seen to proactively be working towards turning into a country. For us to move as a country, each segment of the nation must be conveyed along. We must be seen to do equity to all. We must be seen to apply the guideline of value with the goal that we can accomplish that nationhood. Be that as it may, with the late incident, a few of us have our reservation. I feel that whoever is in charge of issues must be seen to show nationalistic intuition in whatever he does. You shouldn't recognize just with your specific tribe or area of the nation. You are requested that consider everyone as an individual from the nation. To that degree we must be seen to do it right. Genuinely a few of us from the north truly sympathize with individuals who felt that they are being minimized. We accept unequivocally that to construct a country you need to convey everyone along.

The President said his administration will battle debasement, however it appears what we have seen is trial in the media. What is your position?

Past simply announcing the plan by this new government, it must be seen to be imminent keeping in mind the end goal to be not quite the same as the past governments. To do that, it must open up and battle whosoever it is, not minding whether the individual is in their political fold. In the event that the legislature can't do a reversal to the military time, it must return to from 1999 Obasanjo organization till date. We can do it comprehensively if the administration means well. Be that as it may, some are not happy if the test is confined to the last organization. No, surely whoever claimed that has skeleton in his cabinet. No one is against any test yet the test must not be specific. Any endeavor to make it particular may crumple the legislature. I have issue with the vast majority of these characters who are fomenters of this change. They are a piece of this supposed defilement we are discussing. The supposed performing artists today in our political scene are the same individuals who plundered the national treasury. They have all of a sudden rushed to another political gathering and they have ended up holy people overnight. In this way, if the administration neglects to test everyone then we are going to keep running into inconvenience. Take a gander at the Parastatals, different state governments and the sort of obligations the past governors abandoned. I give a sample of Lagos, Kano, and some different spots, the sort of incomes that accumulated to them and the sort of cash the governors are charged to have amassed. A percentage of the recipients of Obasanjo government, any semblance of Amaechi, El Rufai, and so forth, are in government today. From no place they get to be operators of progress. At the point when did they atone? Thus, the administration must be seen to be definitive and non-particular in taking care of this issue.

As indicated by Balarabe Musa, previous legislative head of old Kaduna, the general population presentation of benefits by the President demonstrated that he was never a poor man. What is your take?

He was never. Anyone who thought PMB was a poor man was tricking himself. For a man to have procured properties over N11billion is no more a poor man.

Did you say N11billion?

All things considered, from what we listened, they said on the off chance that you include everything, not the money alone, what he has is near 11billion. Along these lines, on the off chance that he has up to that, it implies he is not a poor man. He is an exceptionally agreeable man. I feel he was just making quip when he said amid crusade that he didn't host cash to purchase his get-together's presidential shape then. Something else, what amount of was the structure for some individual who now says he has N30million in his record?

Numerous still trust that the national gathering report if appropriately executed would assist Nigeria with leaving the forested areas. Be that as it may, it appears this administration is not intrigued by actualizing it considering his party's position amid the meeting. What is your own position?

To me it looks exceptionally uncommon that another government will acquire and execute that sort of report unless it is the illusion of your creative ability. Yet, again I have my own reservation concerning the confab itself in light of the fact that a few of us were absolutely against the confab. The determination of delegates was not done appropriately, and in a confab where certain regions are said to be 'no-go zones', then you ought to anticipate that it will be one of those gatherings previously. So instead of that I would have anticipated that the administration then would search for the more true blue gatherings we have had in the past like the PRONACO Conference. Individuals from different groups, more than 300 ethnic nationalities sat down intentionally to examine under the administration of the late Chief Anthony Enahoro with no impact of any legislature at all. Every one of us arrived and the vast majority never trusted that that sort of gathering would go back and forth easily without individuals passing on or Nigeria breaking. In any case, toward the day's end we dealt with the procedure from 2005-2006 and turned out with a draft constitution. Along these lines, to me I think the PRONACO Report is far wealthier or real than the Jonathan gathering.

Around 500 days after the snatching of the Chibok young ladies, we are yet to discover them. Do regardless we have trust?

I question on the off chance that despite everything we have trust on the grounds that you have a circumstance where America, France and different nations have accompany their innovations but couldn't distinguish where more than 200 individuals are. Furthermore, one ought not envision that those young ladies are simply held prisoner some place..

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Constitution Review: How Adoke abandoned corrections –Ekweremadu 1

Representative President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has uncovered how previous Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, left the last sacred change process.

Talking as visitor speaker at the 2015 Law Faculty Public Lecture of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Ekweremadu revealed that taking after the refusal of the National Assembly to consent to Adoke's solicitation to cancel the change looking to discrete the workplace of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney General, the previous Attorney General misdirected the prompt past president, Goodluck Jonathan into pulling back his consent after he had at first consented to it.

Ekweremadu who talked on the subject: "The legislative issues of constitution audit in multi-ethnic social orders" faulted implanted ethno-sectional hobbies and contemplations as major hindrances to Nigeria's journey for a more adequate constitution. He lamented that basic corrections, which ought to have extended Nigeria's law based experience, fortify value and equity and raise national improvement had died at the sacred places of shared suspicion and restricted tip top's hobbies took on the appearance of ethno-sectional hobbies.

Ekweremadu who was the executive of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution lamented that whatever abandoned the last constitution change procedure did as such construct simply in light of restricted ethno-sectional hobby, not on national hobby.

As indicated by him: "It was dependably assembled that previous President Goodluck Jonathan to be sure added his mark to the Alteration Bill exhibited to him and had, in this manner consented to the Bill. On the other hand, the previous Attorney General of the Federation who was against consenting to the Bill along these lines induced him to veto it. The Presidency kept in touch with the National Assembly expressing obviously that it was giving back the Bill, yet the Bill did not go with the letter. This provoked the National Assembly to request the arrival of the first Bill sent to the President for consent in light of his claimed veto, yet the Presidency declined this solicitation, apparently on the grounds that there would have been no chance to get of concealing the certainty of the marking of the first Alteration bill by the President."

Representative Ekweremadu likewise said it was time the country grasped the truth that the South-east merits an extra state for the purpose of value in the appropriation of assets and opportunities.

Prior in his appreciated location, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku said the college energizes open addresses of such sort composed by the Faculty of Law with a perspective to widening and developing learning and in addition questioning topical national issues. He said that fashioning a constitution for multi-ethnic nations like Nigeria is a seriously emotive matter posturing overwhelming difficulties

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