#ButDidYou?? No one can prove I stole Rivers State money – Rotimi Amaechi

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has denied allegations that he embezzled money meant for the development of Rivers state when he was governor. Amaechi said this while speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on corruption organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja today July 28th.

“If you had followed the Rivers State government when I was governor, we were the first state to introduce the Public Procurement Law in the country. The state cabinet used to call the Director General of Public Procurement in the state as an alternative governor, that they wanted an amendment to that law. The reason they wanted amendment is that he (DG) refused to increase the threshold to one hundred million naira, per ministry, instead he reduced it to 10 million naira. I had a battle with him (DG BPE) and the world bank who insisted that we should not go for an amendment but should persuade him to increase the threshold. I remember the cabinet tried to go to court against him and I remember that he was also trying to go to court against Commissioners. In fact, the procurement DG wrote a memo that I felt was very incriminating requesting that since the law requires the governor to take any commissioner who doesn’t comply with the public procurement law to court, I should please take the commissioner of education to court for not complying… Everybody in the cabinet felt that he was an alternative governor, they felt that he was slowing the process,” he said.

#Yaaaay!! Hilary Clinton makes history as she accepts the Democratic Presidential Nomination

Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination on Thursday at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to run as a US Presidential candidate. Making history as the first woman to be nominated for Presidency from a major US political party.
Accepting the nomination, she said:
"I will be a president for Democrats, Republicans, independents, for the struggling, the striving and the successful. For those who vote for me and those who don't."
She said her Republican rival, Donald Trump, was esupremely unqualified for the White House. She added:

#Gbam: Obanikoro's aide narrates how he transported N1.2bn to Fayose in Ekiti state

An aide of former Minister for State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Lt. Commander A. O. Adewale, yesterday told EFCC operatives how on the orders of Obanikoro, himself and other staff members of Obanikoro, transported N1.2 billion to Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose in 2014.

The N1.2 billion is part of the N4.745 billion allegedly paid into Obanikoro’s company, Sylva Mcnamara by the Office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

According to The Nation, Adewale said they started the trip with the money from Obanikoro's Parkview estate home in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Bauchi governor alleges his predecessor, Isa Yuguda, withdrew N1bn in one day

Bauchi state governor, Abubakar Mohammed, has accused his predecessor, Isa Yuguda, of withdrawing N1 billion in one day from one of the state's account with multiples of N10 million cheques. Speaking at a news conference in Abuja yesterday July 27th, Mohammed said this was discovered by a probe panel he constituted to look into the Financial records of Yuguda's administration.

He says the report of the panel will be submitted to him in the coming weeks.

Why I attended the peace meeting with Rotimi Amaechi- Nyesom Wike

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday disclosed why he attended a peace meeting with the former governor of the state now Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi which was brokered by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and Director General of the Department of State Security, Musa Daura. Speaking at the Rivers West Senatorial District Rally in Degema, Wike said he was at the meeting because he loves peace and wants the state to move forward

#WeWaiting: Buhari's presidency will energise the economy - VP Osinbajo

The N500B Social Investment programmes of the Buhari presidency is a means to energize the economy and deal with issues of poverty in the country, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Speaking today while receiving a delegation of the Muslim Lawyers Association at the Presidential Villa, Prof. Osinbajo said the social investment programmes would train people, create jobs, feed school children from homegrown farming and grant soft loans to traders, artisans and market women.

Obasanjo says recent budget padding allegations affirms his statement that NASS is filled with rogues and armed robbers

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who in 2012 described the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly as institutions filled with rogues and armed robbers, yesterday said the recent budget padding allegations and counter allegations emanating from the House of Representatives, proves that his statement was right. Speaking to state house correspondents after his meeting with President Buhari yesterday July 25th, Obasanjo said;

#ExpandCapacity: Building HABITS

1.       We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle #ExpandCapacity

2.       Your habits play an important role in your life. Having good habits will lead you to an effective life. #ExpandCapacity

3.       Having bad habits, on the other hand, will lead you to failures. So it’s essential that you build good habits. #ExpandCapacity

4.       Scott Adams once said that “Losers have goals and winners have systems.” But what systems do you need to have? #ExpandCapacity

5.       I believe that one of them is a habit-building system. The reason? Because good habits don’t happen automatically. #ExpandCapacity

6.       The fact is: we tend to choose the easy way. We tend to follow the path of least resistance. I have seen this time and again in my life

7.       Writing,for instance,doesn’t come easily for me.If I didn’t have a system 4 doing it,weeks could pass by without me writing.

Sacked Chairman of House of Reps appropriation committee releases more details of the alleged budget padding by Dogara, others

The last has certainly not been heard in the ongoing fight between sacked chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abulmumin Jibrin and the leadership of the House. 

In a statement he released last night, Jibrin gave a detailed account of how speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and some other principal officers of the House of Representatives allegedly hijacked the budget consideration process so as to pad it. In this statement, Jibrin alleged that Dogara an the house leadership had resorted to using some elements of the Nigeria police to kidnap, harass, blackmail and intimidate him into silence. Read his statement below...

 

MY ALLEGATIONS ARE AGAINST THE QUARTET OF SPEAKER YAKUBU DOGARA, DEPUTY SPEAKER YUSUF LASUN, HOUSE WHIP ALHASSAN DOGUWA AND MINORITY LEADER LEO OGOR NOT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS AN INSTITUTION AS MR SPEAKER DESPERATELY WANTS HONOURABLE MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BELIEVE.

#TrueThat: FG should stop the payment of salaries and allowances to former governors who are in the senate- Femi Falana

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, in a lecture he delivered yesterday at the investiture of Mr. Dele Ojogbede as President of Rotary Club, Ikoyi in Lagos, said, it is illegal for former governors, who have been placed on life pension in their states, to also earn salaries in the National Assembly. He also said that lawmakers should not be paid their full salaries and allowances if they don't sit for the mandatory 181 days before going on a seven-month recess.
Falana counselled the Federal Government on what to do with those undermining the anti-corruption war.
In regards to former governors in the Senate, Falana said:

#gbam: 'Why Babangida overthrew my government 31 years ago' - Buhari

President Buhari in a yet to be released interview with The Interview magazine, revealed he was removed from office 31 years ago because he was planning to purge the military of corruption.

In the interview, President Buhari said senior military leaders, led by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Aliyu Gusau, removed him in August 1985, to save themselves from his wrath.

He challenged Babangida and Gusau to tell Nigerians the truth on why they carried out the coup against him.

Stop the cheap blackmail- Dogara tells sacked chairman of appropriation committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has released a statement reacting to allegations of budget padding leveled against him by dismissed chairman of the committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin who was removed from office on Wednesday July 20th. Jibrin had in a statement he released yesterday July 21st, alleged that himself and Dogara and other leaders in the house began to have problems when he refused their proposition to pad the 2016 budget.

He also alleged that he also fell out with Dogara and others after he opposed the immunity bill for the leadership of the National Assembly. A statement by the spokesperson for the house, Abdulrazak Namdas, dismissed Jibrin’s claims and asked him to stop the cheap blackmail. Read the full statement below

#YouThinkWeCare: Saraki denies joining PDP

 

Senate President Bukola Saraki has released a statement denying claims in some quarters that he has joined the PDP. Saraki briefly attended a PDP caucus meeting in the senate yesterday July 20th. Many believed his attendance was a move to join the opposition party. In a statement released by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, Saraki denied the claim. Read the statement below

#BeforeNko: Nigeria is technically in recession- Minister of Finance

Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun appeared before the senate today to talk about the state of the Nigerian Economy. According to her, Nigeria is technically in recession but it will be a short one: 

"Technically if you go into two states of negative growth, you are in recession but I don't think we should dwell on definitions. I think we should dwell on where we are going. We will come out of it and it will be a very short one because the policies that we have will ensure we don't go further into it"she said

Read some other things she said at the senate after the cut.

#Really???: Corruption allegations leveled against me are politically motivated- FFK says

Former Spokesperson of the PDP Presidential campaign and ex Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, says the N4.9 billion corruption allegations levelled against him that forced him to be in EFCC custody for over two months, were politically motivated. Speaking in an interview with Channels TV yesterday July 20th, Fani-Kayode said:

“I have done absolutely nothing wrong and neither have any of my co-accused. I saw this coming the day we lost the elections and it was announced that the other side had won. We all saw this coming.  

Donald Trump reacts to Ted Cruz' refusal to endorse him at the Republic National Convention

The pledge Donald Trump is talking about, was the pledge all Republican presidential candidates signed at the beginning of the Primaries where they promised they'd support anyone who won the Republican presidential nomination. 

Alleged sexual misconduct: Minister of Foreign Affairs reportedly supports legal action against the US, says allegation is weak

Alleged sexual misconduct: Minister of Foreign Affairs reportedly supports legal action against the US, says allegation is weak

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, says the allegation of sexual misconduct against the three lawmakers, Samuel Ikon, Mohammed Gololo and Gbillah Mark is weak and supports legal action by the accused lawmakers. This is according to TVC's senior correspondent, Sumner Shagari Sambo. The US outgoing ambassador, James Entwistle, has failed to appear before the panel on two occasions to provide video evidence indicting the accused lawmakers. .  

Wawu: Nuhu Ribadu Returns to APC

Nuhu Ribadu,  former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ribadu accepted the call of Adamawa State chapter of the party seeking his return, along with a former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Marcus Gundiri, and their supporters.
The presidency and APC leaders had earlier reached out to him.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, ex-Governor Murtala Nyako, are prominent among those who spoke to Ribadu to rejoin the APC.

Photo of the day! What can be so FUNNY??

The president and his vice pictured sharing a laugh. This was taken yesterday at the Formal Handing over of RIO 2016 Olympic Games delegation which held at the state house Abuja.  

Photo of the day! What can be so FUNNY??

The president and his vice pictured sharing a laugh. This was taken yesterday at the Formal Handing over of RIO 2016 Olympic Games delegation which held at the state house Abuja.  

#SayGod: Idris is a big liar, I didn't steal police vehicles - ex-IGP Arase

A former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase on Monday in Abuja described as lies the allegation by his successor,Ibrahim Idris that he took away 24 police vehicles. According to him, Idris should cross check his handover notes which contains every information needed by his successor on vehicles bought by the police.

The ex-IGP in a statement issued from London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom, where he went for his son's graduation. also denied getting any letter from Idris since he has been out of the country.

According to him, all vehicles bought by the police under him were distributed to the state commands and other appropriate units of the Nigeria Police Force. The statement reads:

#YouSay?: I remain loyal to APC, says Bukola Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday restated his loyalty to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). Saraki also reiterated his belief that the President Buhari's government will redeem its electoral promises made during the 2015 general elections.

The Senate President spoke at the 10th Abuja Housing Show where top government officials and prominent stakeholders in the housing sector brainstormed on the theme: “Expanding Access To Affordable Housing In Africa.”

Acknowledging the presence of the APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso who earlier kick-started discussions at the summit, Saraki assured that the APC government is unwaveringly committed to the social welfare of the people while re-affirming his unalloyed loyalty to the party.

#AhhhhNaLie: Donald Trump also plagiarized Barack Obama?

Donald Trump tweeted his today, President Barack Obama tweeted his many years ago. Guess Barack and Michelle Obama are the Trumps role models...lol 

#ExpandCapacity EXPANDING YOUR PERSONAL CAPACITY

1.       One year from now, I don’t want to be the same person as I am today. I want to grow. I want to become better and better. #ExpandCapacity

2.       One way to do that, I realize, is by expanding my personal capacity. #ExpandCapacity

3.       If you consciously decide to expand your capacity, you will become a different person in the future.  #ExpandCapacity

4.       Here are eight tips to expand your personal capacity #ExpandCapacity

5.       TAKE A NEW CHALLENGE #ExpandCapacity

6.       Expanding capacity is like weight lifting. If u are able to lift 100 pounds bt keep lifting dat all the time,ur capacity won’t increase

7.       You need to move to the next level and lift something heavier. It will feel difficult at first, but over time it will become easy

#OnPoint: Prof. Femi Odekunle's thoughts on Corruption

#Ahhhhh: Acting IGP alleges his predecessor, Solomon Arase, took 24 police cars with him as he left office

 

Acting Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, has alleged that his predecessor, Solomon Arase, went away with 24 vehicles including two bullet proof BMW 7 series, as he left office. According to Vanguard, Idris disclosed this while speaking with reporters in Abuja.

The acting police chief also alleged that some of the retired Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police (DIG) also went away with many police cars. The acting said;

#Epeleoo: We are still bitter over Ekweremadu's emergence as deputy Senate president- APC Chairman says

APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, says his party is still bitter that a PDP member, Ike Ekweremadu emerged as the deputy senate President. Speaking in an interview with Channels TV yesterday July 17th, Odigie-Oyegun said

"If there is something that happens contrary to our interest, of course we will be bitter. I am bitter. The party is bitter. We won a hard fought election We are putting together the best contingent we have to tackle the problems of this nation and then you are confronted with a sore top in the middle of an APC leadership. Its not right. It's just not right"he said

On the alleged plot to impeach President Buhari, Oyegun says

#Chai: See table showing President Buhari's appointments by regions

The table was shared by Channels TV. A table showing the security chief appointments after the cut..

#Really: Not all appointments are subject to Federal Character- Femi Adesina

 

Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says not all appointments made by President Buhari are expected to be subjected to Federal character policy. Speaking in an interview with Channels TV, Adesina said other factors are to be taken into consideration when making political appointments.

"It is not all appointments that must be subject to Federal character. There are some like Minister for instance the constitution says each state must produce and that has been satisfied and there are some that are not necessarily subject to Federal character.
There is a lot of spread but although it maybe more in some places. Appointments is an ongoing thing. It is a process and it continues One thing you can say about this government is that it listens to feedbacks"he said

#Lobatan: Wait, Is this President Buhari you talking about???

Under the article, this is what BBC wrote; "Kibarkingmad and Olushambles debate Nigeria's president's trip to London last month - reportedly to to be treated for an ear infection - after he had promised to end "medical tourism". You can read here

How bill to restrict employment of foreign nationals in Nigeria will be of benefit - Femi Gbajabiamila

My question is "Who owns the Jobs/Company??"

Majority Leader of Nigeria's 8th House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila is proposing a law that will restrict foreigners from securing employment in fields where a Nigerian is qualified. 

This proposed law which will address the growing unemployment in the country and be of big benefit to Nigerians, has already scaled second reading some days ago.. However some controversy came with it, as people who don't understand it's benefit criticized him for proposing such a bill. He took to his official Twitter handle to clarify things and shed some light on the law - for better understanding. 

#Gbam: Obanikoro releases statement on the "arrest" of his wife by DSS

 

Former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has released a statement reacting to reports that his wife, was questioned by officials of the Department of State Security. According to the former Minister, contrary to media reports, his wife was invited and not arrested. Read the statement below

“We are saddened by the fact that the media was awash with false and conflicting information about the invitation of Senator Obanikoro’s wife. Ordinarily, we considered ignoring these concocted lies but for the sake of discerning and right thinking public, hence the need to straighten matters.

#Continueooo: Femi Fani Kayode's first tweet after release

#Doctor Musiliu Obanikoro advises Femi Fani Kayode to get a medical check up done

Former Minister of State for Defence and Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro welcomed Femi Fani Kayode who was just released from detention and advised him to get a thorough medical examination done to be on the safe side. 

#Gbam! Federal High Court in Abuja dismisses bail application filed by Iyiola Omisore

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the bail application filed by former Osun state deputy governor, Iyiola Omisore. EFCC operatives arrested him in Abuja on July 3rd and he has been in their custody since then. Omisore who is being prosecuted over N1.3billion he allegedly got from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, had filed an application for bail but it was dismissed by a Federal High Court Judge for lack of competence.

#LikeReally: Those accusing us of not having economic plan are ignorant – Lai Mohammed

Seriously like really??? What is this man saying?? Anywayz let us watch.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that those who are accusing the Federal government of not having an economic plan are ignorant of government workings. Speaking after a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria Sadanobu Kusaoke in Abuja today July 14th, Lai Mohammed said...

#Gbam: DSS arrests Obanikoro’s wife over alleged N4.745b arms fraud

Yesterday, DSS security agents arrested Hajiya Morufat Obanikoro, the wife of former Minister of Defence Musiliu Obanikoro’s wife following intelligence reports received from the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). She was arrested over the current investigation on her husband, who is wanted for questioning over the N4.745billion funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) which was reportedly traced to Obanikoro and some other persons.

#Adupe: There is no plan to impeach Buhari –Nigerian Senate

The Senate, yesterday, denied speculations of a plot to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that it was only a rumour. Members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, refused to speak on the alleged impeachment threats with its National chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi, saying it was a situation embedded within the legislature.
The United Peoples Party, UPP, led by Chief Chekwas Okorie described any impeachment plot as satanic and subversive. The Senate in a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi read:

#OnPoint: Presidency responds to a tweet that Pres. Buhari copied GEJ in wearing a military outfit

 

Deji Adeyanju who is the director of the PDP's new media, took to twitter to write that President Buhari copied former President Jonathan in wearing a military outfit during a visit to troops. The Digital Strategy and Engagement Unit in President Buhari's office replied his tweet. See their reply after the cut...

#SeriousMatter: Senators from Lagos state release statement condemning Dino Melaye's verbal attack on Remi Tinubu

Senator Gbenga Ashafa who represents Lagos East in the Senate has issued a statement on behalf of Senators representing Lagos state in the senate, condemning in strong terms the use of abusive words on Senator Oluremi Tinubu by Senator Dino Melaye during the senate's plenary on Tuesday July 12th. In the statement, the Senators from Lagos state said they will resist any act of intimidation on the wife of the APC National leader, Senator Remi Tinubu. The statement in part reads;

We can't guarantee the implementation of constituency projects in the 2016 budget- SGF says

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, yesterday told members of the senate committee on Appropriations, Finance and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions that the 2016 budget will not be accommodating constituency projects usually carried out by National Assembly members.

Babachir was summoned by the senate to explain a statement he made in a recent interview that constituency projects may not be funded by the 2016 budget. The Minister told members of the senate that he stands by his comment.

#Gbam!: Theresa May officially appointed UK's second female Prime Minster by the Queen

Theresa May has been officially sworn in as Britain's new Prime Minister this evening after meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace. She becomes Britain's second female premier, following in the footsteps of fellow Tory, Margaret Thatcher. As is traditional for new Prime Ministers, she was also clapped in to Downing Street by staff and aides. More photos after the cut...

Speaking outside Number 10 after being officially appointed, the new Prime Minister, 59, promised to build a better Britain that works for more than the "privileged few" as she arrived at her new Downing Street home.

#IfIhear: Nigerians yearning for the return of PDP-Wike

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, says Nigerians are yearning for the former ruling party, PDP to return to power. Wike said this while speaking during a solidarity visit the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) Worldwide, paid him at the government house yesterday July 13th.

“It is obvious that Nigerians are yearning for the return of the PDP. No amount of intimidation will change the support of the people for the PDP. Nigerians are wiser now”he said

#Gbam: 'I do not desire to humiliate or disgrace anybody but I must recover stolen funds'- Pres. Buhari

President Buhari says it is not the desire of his administration to humiliate or disgrace anybody but that the recovery of stolen funds must be undertaken so that such funds can be put into collective public use. He said this during his speech at the commissioning of some projects in Zamfara state yesterday July 13th.

#SayWetin: Photo-APC Lawmakers pay a solidarity visit to Sen. Remi Tinubu

After Dino Melaye's alleged threat to beat Senator Remi Tinubu, wife of former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of political party APC, Bola Tinubu, some APC Lawmakers on Wednesday payed a solidarity visit to her. Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters.

#Hmmmmmm: Sentors loyal to Bukola Saraki allegedly threaten to impeach President Buhari

Senators said to be loyal to Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu, have reportedly threatened to impeach President Buhari over their trial for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules 2015. 

According to a report by The Nation, the Pro-Saraki senators at the senate's plenary yesterday made their position known after the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, David Umar, gave a feedback on the last meeting they were supposed to have with the Attorney General of the Federation and Chief Justice of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who failed to honor their invitation. The Pro-Saraki senators felt it was a slap on their faces.

 
Senators Isa Misau, Dino Melaye, Jibrin Barau and Monsurat Sunmonu condemned the attitude of the AGF, stating that his action shows that “the Presidency is fighting the Senate with the disrespect for the chamber by the AGF”. 

A source quoted Senator Misau as saying: “The Executive should toe the path of dialogue or else the Senate will go for the jugular.”