#Gbam: 7 things Nigeria stands to gain from President Buhari’s trip to China

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction over his visit to the People’s Republic of China, which he says has yielded investments for Nigeria in excess of $6 billion.

The visit is said to have birthed several agreements and positives in the different sectors of Nigerian economy, including power, solid minerals, agriculture, housing and rail transportation.

According to a statement issued by the Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), some of the agreements and impacts of the Presidents visit to China are:

#StillOnThisMatter: How we perfected rigging Ekiti state election inside hotel- Tope Aluko

Former PDP Secretary in Ekiti state, Tope Aluko, has shared more insight into how himself and others allegedly manipulated the state's June 21st 2014 governorship election in favor of Fayose. In an interview with ADABA 88.9 FM yesterday April 14th which was monitored by The Nation, Aluko said they perfected the plan to rig the election inside a hotel.

He said on the day of the election, sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), such as ballot papers and result sheets, were delivered to PDP chieftains to allow for the manipulation of the poll long before the first ballot was cast.

He alleged that the electoral materials were delivered through Akure Airport and taken to a hotel owned by Fayose’s Chief of Staff Dipo Anisulowo in Are-Ekiti, where the alleged manipulation was carried out.

#Lobatan: Saraki loses bid to stop his CCT trial

Senate President Bukola Saraki this morning lost his bid to stop CCT from going on with his trial. Justice Abdul Kafarati of the federal high court, Abuja, dismissed Saraki's Fundamental Human rights suit challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to try him over alleged false declaration of assets while he was Governor of Kwara state.

Justice Kafarati dismissed Saraki’s suit stating it lacked in merit.

“It appears to me all that the applicant is trying to do is to stop his criminal trial at CCT. The CCT is a competent court to try the criminal matters,” he held.

This court cannot interfere with the case at the tribunal which has power to try cases. It is not appropriate for the applicant to approach this court. This case is hereby dismissed.”the judge said

#ThatsMyMama: Oby Ezekwesili reacts to Senates proposed amendment of CCT Act

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has reacted to the senate's proposed amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal act. The senate yesterday passed the 2nd reading of the CCT amendment bill which according to them, will remove the Tribunal from the office of the Presidency and make it more independent.

#Really:: Okonjo-Iweala says she didn't indict the Jonathan administration

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has debunked reports attributed to her in regards to how lack of political will of Goodluck Jonathan's administration negatively affected the country's savings. Below is a statement issued on Friday by her Media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu:

"Some recent media reports have distorted comments made by former Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala regarding how lack of political will negatively impacted national savings over the past few years.

#SeeThisOne: $2bn Loan: Fayose writes Chinese Govt, seeks loan’s stoppage

Read the press statement below...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has written to the Chinese government, seeking the stoppage of the $2 billion loan being sought by the federal government of Nigeria, saying that “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.”

#Gbam: There was no political will to save Nigeria’s resources under Jonathan's govt – Okonjo-Iweala

Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday said that there was no political will to save Nigeria's resources under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Okonjo-Iweala who said this while speaking on “inequality, growth and resilience,” at George Washington University, said Nigeria was able to save $22 billion under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which saved the country in 2008, from global economic meltdown.

#WeKnowThatAlready: If the past government had acted immediately, our Chibok girls would have been found- Dogara

According to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, if the past government had acted immediately the Chibok girls were kidnapped, its most likely they would have returned home by now. Dogara said this in a series of tweets this morning...

#Chai!!: Buhari Scores Low On Economy, Others, See Poll Rating

President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval rating has slipped further from 32.8% in February to 31.2% in March, amid worsening economic crisis and crippling fuel scarcity, according to a new poll.

The monthly poll by Governance Advancement Initiative for Nigeria, GAIN, says more Nigerians again scored Mr. Buhari low on his administration’s handling of the economy, power and fuel shortage.

It is the second time the president’s rating dropped since GAIN in December started monthly tracking of performance of governments at all levels in Nigeria.

In earlier months, the poll found that majority of respondents did not blame President Buhari for Nigeria’s economic troubles. They blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan instead.

In January, the president’s approval rating stood at 63.4%.

The trend however shifted significantly in February as the nation’s economic crisis bit harder.

In March, which is the latest result, the poll said more Nigerians continued to blame Mr. Buhari— not Mr. Jonathan— for the nation’s economic woes.

The falling rating was primarily due to petroleum scarcity, bad economy, power outage, and broken campaign promises, said the poll.

“A crippling fuel scarcity continued to affect individuals and business across the country, and had a concomitant effect on transportation and business costs,” said Malcolm Fabiyi, one of the poll’s coordinators, who previously served as a visiting professor at the Lagos Business School.

The president scored low on economy, power, and rule of law.

Credit: PremiumTimes

#Gbam: Inside details of how Saraki’s trial is stalling 2016 Budget

Senators loyal to Senate President Bukola Saraki are using the 2016 Budget row to negotiate a soft-landing for the former Kwara State Governor, who is facing trial for false declarations of assets at the Code for Conduct Tribunal (CCB).

Investigations by Ripples revealed that his loyalists under the aegis of Like Mind Senators met last night at his official residence to take serious positions on the controversy.

President Muhammadu Buhari had refused assent to the Budget after Ministers identified the document had been returned “highly mutilated”.

The President, who is on a week-long trip to China, it was learnt, was told by the Economic Team headed by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo not to sign the Budget presented by the National Assembly last Thursday.