For the First Time, Ex US Presidents, Obama, Bush and Clinton Appear Together at Presidents Cup (Photos)

For the first time, three former U.S. Presidents are on-site for the Presidents Cup golf tournament in New Jersey, and it was just as cool as we imagined it would be.

Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton attend the trophy presentation on September 28, 2017 in New Jersey. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

 

Former US Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton kicked off the Presidents Cup golf tournament in New Jersey on Thursday - the first time three former presidents attended the biennial tournament.

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Jeff Babineau @GolfweekBabz

First tee. Today's Big Three.

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Their appearance together follows a joint effort by the five living former presidents to support hurricane relief efforts.

 

The Presidents Cup, which runs through Sunday, features American golfers playing against an international team in a series of 30 matches. Obama, Bush and Clinton participated in the opening ceremony at the first tee to mark the beginning of the matches, which are taking place at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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Selfies with the President(s).

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Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama appeared in a video Sept. 8 to ask Americans to respond to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey. Their effort was expanded later to include relief for areas affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

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When you can take a selfie with three US Presidents, you do it!!

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N4.9billion Fraud: How Fani-Kayode Paid Me N30m - Witness Makes New Revelation

A witness in the N4.9billion fraud case against Femi Fani-Kayode has opened up on how he received N300 million from the man.

Femi Fani-Kayode in court

 

At today’s sitting, Olusegun, who is the first prosecution witness, told the court that he was contracted to print posters and flyers for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organization of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general election.

 

The witness also told the court he was awarded the contract based on a referral from a man simply identified as Adedayo, who introduced him to one Aderemi Ajidahun, a member of former President Jonathan campaign organization headed by Fani-Kayode.

 

Olusegun further told the court that he was later introduced to one Oke who paid him the sum of N30m in two installments of N6million and N24million for the job.

 

While cross-examining the Witness, counsel to Fani-Kayode, Norrisson Quakers, SAN, told the court that PW1 wrote two statements, one in the EFCC office and another to the court, which he said were contradictory.

 

Though Quaker sought to tender in evidence one of the statements written by the PW1, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, objected to its admissibility .

 

The prosecution counsel insisted that Quakers must “emphatically and specifically point out the contradictions in the two statements in accordance with the provisions of the law and also draw the attention of the witness to those contradictions in the two statements before they can be admitted in evidence.”

 

Oyedepo, therefore, urged the court to discountenance the argument of the counsel to Fani Kayode.

 

Also, the second prosecution witness, PW2, Teslim Ajuwon, an employee of Zenith Bank Plc., told the court how he received a letter from EFCC requesting for the account opening documentation, certificate of identification and statement of account of Joint Trust Dimension Limited.

 

Ajuwon, who works as Compliance Officer with the bank, told the court that he later sent the documents duly signed by him to the EFCC as requested.

 

However, when the prosecution counsel sought to tender the documents in evidence, counsel to the defendants objected to their admissibility.

 

Counsel to the first defendant, Ferdinand Obi, SAN, told the court the documents were not in his possession and that he would want to address the court from the documents.

 

He further told the court that the documents were purportedly printed from Zenith Bank Plc and that they were neither signed nor dated.

 

“This is not in conformity with the provision of Evidence Act, 2011,” he added.

 

He, therefore, urged the court to reject the documents and mark them as rejected.

 

After much arguments between counsel,  the prosecution withdrew the documents.

 

Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to November 20, 21 and 22, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Nigerian Lawmakers Could Override Buhari If... - Reps Speaker, Dogara Opens Up

While speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the speaker of the Federal House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, spoke out on why the lawmakers could override President Buhari if he vetoes Peace Corps bill.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara

 

Nigerian legislators could override President Muhammadu Buhari if he vetoes the Nigerian Peace Corps bill which seeks to make the private organisation an agency of government, Speaker Yakubu Dogara said on Tuesday.

 

In an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, the speaker said the National Assembly believes the Peace Corps will bolster Nigeria’s current security and law enforcement capabilities.

 

If the president “doesn’t assent for whatever reason” to the Peace Corps Bill, “we are at liberty to recall it back to parliament and muster the two-thirds in the House and Senate and pass in spite of Mr. President’s veto,” Mr. Dogara said.

 

Mr. Dogara, however, said any action to be taken by the lawmakers would be determined by Mr. Buhari’s reaction to the bill, already passed by each of the chambers of the National Assembly.

 

The National Assembly’s passage of the Peace Corps Bill despite strong opposition from existing government agencies has set the group on a collision course with the police, State Security Service and the Nigerian Army.

 

On February 28, the Nigerian Army, police and the SSS in a coordinated mission stormed the Peace Corps’ head office in Abuja, arresting its founder, Dickson Akoh, and other national leaders while shutting the facility down.

 

The next day, the police paraded Mr. Akoh and his officials, 49 in total, and accused them of running an outlawed organisation with intent to perpetrate fraud and jeopardise national security.

 

The police said a 2013 “official gazette” of the Nigerian government “dissolved and proscribed illegal security outfits” which included the Peace Corps.

 

Mr. Akoh, who heads the Peace Corps as its national commandant, and his officials were later released, but their office remained shut nationwide.

 

He was, however, rearrested on March 19, and has remained in police custody ever since.

 

But the Speaker said the parliament will not be distracted by the antics of existing security agencies, adding that the country cannot spend too much on security.

“We cannot overspend on the issue of protecting the lives and the properties of our citizens, we cannot,” he said.

 

‘A PRIDE OF THE SOCIETY’

 

Mr. Dogara said the police and other security agencies were acting in a manner similar to how they treated the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in the run up to its adoption by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

 

The Head of Service of the Federation, Independent National Electoral Commission, National Security Adviser, Ministry of Interior and the Federal Ministry of Health joined other security agencies to kick against passage of the Peace Corps bill in the National Assembly last year, citing issues from lack of sufficient funds to duplication of duties.

 

Most of them opposed establishment of the NSCDC, and its founder, Ade Abolurin, was arrested on numerous occasions.

 

Today, Mr. Dogara said, the NSCDC has become a force for good in the country, perhaps even more than the police.

“That was the same argument when the Civil Defence Bill was before the House, that it could not be funded, that they were divulging some of the powers of the police to the Civil Defence— that it would never work.

“At the end of the day all these were surmounted and now we have the Civil Defence that in some cases some citizens have said that they are more dependable than the conventional police.

“I see them everywhere I travel to and they have become a pride of the society,” Mr. Dogara said.

 

Source: Premium Times

Senator Ndume's Suspension, a Warning That Buhari Can Be Impeached - Nigerians React to Senate's Action

Some Nigerians have applauded the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume, some simply think it's wrong, while some say it's a warning to the presidency indicating that Buhari can be impeached. Here are some of the interesting comments.

Senator Ali Ndume

 

We had reported earlier that the Nigerian Senate suspended its former leader, Ali Ndume, who had asked for investigation of allegations of importing a bullet proof Range Rover with fake documents involving Senate President Bukola Saraki and that of perjury involving Dino Melaye.

 

The lawmakers reached the decision on Wednesday after the resolution to uphold the recommendation of the committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

 

Ndume was subsequently suspended for six months, instead of one year originally recommended by the Ethics committee.

 

As the news emerged online, Nigerians took to their social media to air their views and react on the latest drama which emanated from the National Assembly.

 

Below are few comments we culled from Twitter;

 

Game Up for Magu as DSS Submits 12 Hard Pieces of Evidence Against Him

This might be the end for it as the Department of State Security Service has submitted 12 hard pieces of evidence indicting Ibrahim Magu.

Acting EFCC Chairaman, Ibrahim Magu

 

This might be all that is needed for Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu to throw in the towel as the the Department of State Services, DSS has submitted twelve hard pieces of evidence indicting him in some shady deals.

 

The report by the DSS described Magu as a fraudulent officer and a perennial offender who would never change. According to Punch, the report was signed by one Folasade Bello on behalf of the Director-General of the DSS, was in response to a letter sent to the DSS by the AGF dated December 19, 2016 with reference number, HAGF/DSS/2016/Vol 1/7.

 

The DSS also attached the 12 documents as evidence against Magu who was rejected by the Senate last week based on the damning security report.

 

The report revealed that Magu while serving on the presidential arms procurement probe panel befriended a fellow member of the panel, Air Commodore Mohammed Umar (retd.).

 

Umar was later arrested and charged by the DSS sometimes last year for alleged money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.

 

According to the DSS, Umar said in his confessional statement that his company furnished Magu’s official residence in upscale Maitama.

 

It reads in part, “This is a copy of the confessional statement of the confessional statement of Air Commodore Mohammed Umar (retd.), a suspect hitherto detained and currently being prosecuted by the service.

“The statement confirms his ownership of Valcour SA Nigeria Limited, a company awarded the contract of securing and furnishing an official residence for Ibrahim Magu by the FCTA. Investigations revealed that this was facilitated after Magu was earlier shown the residence by one Uche Aleka, a close business associate of Umar who was introduced to Magu by the former.”

 

The security service said when Umar’s house was searched by operatives, several top secret documents, which emanated from the EFCC were found at his residence, evidence that Magu was providing him with sensitive information.

 

It added, “This is a copy of progress report with reference number SH/COS/24/A/7277 dated 25th May, 2016 on NNPC/NLG Brass Investments Accounts in Nigeria commercial banks from Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, to the acting Chairman of the EFCC chairman. The letter is an official/classified document of the EFCC, which was duly received by the commission as indicated by the stamp on the document. However, it was recovered at Umar’s residence.”

 

The DSS alleged that Magu allegedly used his position to settle personal scores with his perceived opponents.

 

It concludes, “It has exposed Magu as a fraudulent officer and betrays the high confidence reposed in him by the President.”

 

The DSS had in December given a damning verdict in a memo sent to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN when the AGF requested additional information and documents from the DSS over allegations contained in the Service’s security report on Magu to the Senate.

 

Attached to the DSS memo signed by one Folashade Bello on behalf of the Director General of the service were 12 annexures to back its findings on Magu.

 

The controversial memo by the DSS made available by Saturday Sun reads: “An officer appointed as Ag. Chairman of EFCC should by all means be one of impeccable credentials, with proven integrity and capacity to lead the nation’s fight against graft in high and low places.

 

"Thus far, it is evident from Magu’s antecedents that he is by no means that kind of officer. His relationship with Umar Mohammed, which involved disclosure of very sensitive and classified official documents in his possession shows lack of professionalism and assails his integrity.

“Moreso, for an officer who was indicted and nearly dismissed six (6) years ago, to be involved in similar circumstances again, it is clear that Magu is a perennial offender and cannot change.

“Also worthy of note is the fact that Magu exhibited a total lack of judgment where it mattered most. He accepted to move into a tastefully furnished accommodation without any scrutiny of how it was furnished. This is curious and speaks volumes of his personality.

“The recovery of sensitive and classified documents from the residence of Umar further underlays his close affinity to Magu and an apparent penchant for sabotaging official processes and administrative protocols, just to further the latter’s personal material and pecuniary agenda.

“Such mutually beneficial relationships as with Umar, who by his confession, approaches ‘clients’ for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns is unprecedented and very damning for an anti-graft top official. It has exposed Magu as a fraudulent officer and betrays the high confidence reposed in him by Mr. President.

“A further demonstration of Magu’s questionable credibility as an untainted anti-corruption official is his failed bid to settle personal scores with one Stanley Inye Lawson by placing him on Security Watch Action. It was however, discovered that Lawson was actually working in the interest of the Federal Government and the action was subsequently expunged.

“This reinforces the view that Magu may continue to exploit his official position if confirmed as EFCC Chairman, and indulge in other unprofessional and criminal conducts for personal aggrandizement contrary to his oath of office.”

Release Nnamdi Kanu for National Reconciliation - Gov. Okorocha Appeals to Buhari

The Chairman of APC Governors Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

Buhari & Okorocha

 

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Friday, said there is need for Nigerians to unite against all odds and happenings in the country, even as he pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in the spirit of national reconciliation.

 

According to a Facebook page, Imoliaison Abuja, who reported the story online, the APC Governor appealed to Buhari to release the embattled IPOB leader saying that Nnamdi Kanu's actions should be seen as youthful exuberance.

 

He disclosed this after receiving VP Osinbajo in Owerri.

 

Below is how the story was reported on social media;

 

****************************************

NATIONAL RECONCILATION - Governor Okorocha Calls For The Release of Kanu.

 

Addressing the Press after receiving the Vice President who is on his way to Abia State for the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum today, Governor Okorocha advocated, in the spirit of reconciliation, that the Federal Government should release Nnamdi Kanu.

 

Okorocha opined that his activities should be seen as youthful exuberance.

“What he is agitating for, is what others are agitating for too.  But he used the wrong language and insulted leaders including myself. But this is the time for National Reconciliation.”

 

How Awolowo Saved Nigeria from Breaking Up During the Civil War - Gen. Yakubu Gowon

Former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon has revealed how late sage, Obafemi Awolowo saved Nigeria from breaking up during the civil war that lasted between 1967-1970.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon

 

While speaking at this year’s edition of the Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture and post humous birthday, former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, on Monday, paid glowing tribute to late Obafemi Awolowo for working hard to save Nigeria from breaking up during the civil war (1967-1970).

 

Gowon who spoke at the event organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation in Lagos, said he worked with the late political sage at a very difficult period of war in the country and, together, they successfully turned the situation around.  

“Awolowo teamed up with us and helped keep Nigeria together without borrowing a kobo during the war. He and the team of elders, who were in my government at the time, advised us, and we took a decision that was in the best interest of Nigeria,” he said.

 

Gowon also denied saying the country had so much money, but didn’t know what to do with it, a statement that had been attributed to him for many years.

 

Also speaking at the event, a former Commonwealth Secretary General, Emeka Anyaoku, said the founding fathers of Nigeria would have been disappointed by what he described as the disrespect to the judiciary by the Federal Government.  

 

Anyaoku, who is also the chairman, Selection Committee, Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, said the country is heading towards the wrong direction because of the actions of the government.

 

“I wonder how Nigeria’s founding fathers, like Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello, would feel with the present situation in the country. They would be disappointed that instead of having viable federating units, we have weaker and non viable units with an all powerful government at the centre, which stifles competition and growth. They would also be disappointed that the Federal Government disrespects the judiciary and disobeys court orders; our fathers would be disappointed with the direction the country is headed. I, therefore, urge those who are involved in government to emulate the likes of Awolowo and Azikiwe,” he said.

 

He also said the selection committee considered several names submitted to it for the award of “Price for Leadership”, but regretted that none of them met the criteria which would have been universally acclaimed to approximate what Awolowo represented in his lifetime.

“The last two recipients, Wole Soyinka and Thabo Mbeki qualified for the award because they possess the qualities which are great integrity, impressive capacity, consistency in convictions, impeccable patriotism, love of country without considering personal sacrifice involved,” Anyaoku said.

 

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who was a guest of honor, said despite having died over 30 years ago, Awolowo’s spirit was still living with us.

“He was a leader and was not temperamental. A leader is someone who can take criticisms and not one who is temperamental. We should not live our lives based on riches, but should be more interested in how we touch the lives of those around us,” the monarch said.

Prominent PDP Member Arrested and Detained in Kogi Government House

A popular Peoples Democratic Party member in Kogi state, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed has been detained at the Government House, Kogi.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello

 

A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, was arrested and detained on Friday in the Kogi State Government House, Punch reports.

 

Mohammed was reportedly detained by CSP Mohammed Sani Mohammed, Commanding Officer 37 Mopol Lokoja, because he criticised Governor Yahaya Bello.

 

Human Rights Activist and Legal Practitioner, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), said the man is still being detained and he has reported the matter to the relevant police authorities.

 

Details later.

BIAFRA - Nnamdi Kanu Defeats Federal Government in ECOWAS Court

Members of the indigenous People of Biafra are in jubilant mood following the latest victory by Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government.

IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu

 

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has defeated the Federal Government at the ECOWAS court today.

 

The ECOWAS court sitting in Abuja today dismissed the application filed by the federal government asking that the suit filed by the Nnamdi Kanu be quashed.

 

According to Channels TV, the suit by the IPOB leader is seeking his unconditional release and 800 million U.S dollars in damages.

 

The Federal Government in its application had asked the court to dismiss the case because it is a subject matter before the Federal High Court and the Appeal court and as such, it constitutes an abuse of court process.

 

Presiding judge, Justice Micah Wright-Williams, in his ruling, however dismissed the application for lacking in merit, because according to him, the ECOWAS court has the jurisdiction to hear cases of infringement of human rights.

Shame on You! Nigerians Blast Governor El Rufai for Defending Controversial 'Fulani' Tweet

Angry Nigerians came for the head of Governor Nasir El-Rufai for daring to justify his controversial and inciting tweet he made in 2012.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State

 

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has been lambasted for daring to defend the controversial and inciting tweet in 2012 in which he said that any person, soldier or not, that kills a Fulani person, takes a debt that is repayable in 100 years.

 

El-Rufai who was a guest at the Social Media Week in Lagos yesterday had maintained that his tweet was never a threat but rather a call that helped avert a major crisis.

 

“People are making reference to what I tweeted in 2012. What did I tweet? I tweeted that any person, soldier or not, that kills a Fulani, takes a debt that will be repayable in 100 years. It is a statement of fact. It is not a threat. It is not an incitement to violence and there is a context to it. In 2012, the General Officer commanding of 5 divison of the Nigerian Army in Jos, gave an instruction that it behooves on the governor of Plateau state to wipe out two Fulani settlements just outside Jos on the suspicion that they have weapons. This was reported by the governor of Plateau state and the commander gave the order and I heard about it.

 

"I called and said please don’t do that. Go and surround the place and search for weapons. But that was not the objective. The Objective was to remove them from the settlement because they are settlers and people that think that that land is their ancestral land, want to take the land. It is not because they had weapons. Now I know the nature of the normadic Fulanis.

 

 

"My great great grand parents used to be such people. If you kill any of them unlawfully, they organise to take revenge no matter how long it takes. Now for me, the danger is that if the Nigerian Army goes and wipes out a Fulani settlement, any person wearing a Nigerian Army uniform in 14 West African countries is at risk because these Fulanis may have relations in Mali, Ghana, Serria Leone, Guinea, and word would go round that the Nigerian Army has created genocide against the Fulanis and anywhere you see a person wearing a Nigerian Army Uniform, is a target for retaliation and I warned the commander that this will happen.

 

"He did not listen and that is why I put it on the record so that when it starts happening, nobody would say he was not warned. Ultimately because of that tweet, the commander retracted his plan and they went and surrounded the settlement and searched for weapons and found none. To me, what I did averted a potential disaster but that is being put as if I tweeted something inciting anyone. If you don’t believe what I tweeted, go and do what the army wanted to do and see the consequences,” el-Rufai said

 

Following el-Rufai's defence of his earlier tweet, Nigerians on social media came out calling the governor all types of unprintable names. They claim that el-Rufai's tweet was capable of inciting violence and cauing his Fulani people to harbour hatred against other tribes.

 

See comments below:

 

Acting President, Osinbajo Finally Visits Southern Kaduna

Professor Yemi Osinbajo has paid a courtesy visit to the turbulent Southern Kaduna where over 200 Christians have been reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

 

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

 

The acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Friday visited Southern Kaduna in respect of the incessant killings in the region.

 

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity Laola Akande, Osibanjo visited Southern Kaduna after inspecting the Kaduna airport and train station ahead of the closure of the Abuja airport.

 

Osibanjo was in company of the Minister For Transport Rotimi Amaechi, Lai Mohammed- Minister of Information and Culture and Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai.

 

Osibanjo will be meeting with community and religious leaders from Southern Kaduna alongside Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

 

The meeting with Southern Kaduna leaders included Christian Association of Nigeria, JNI, Meyeti Allah representatives held at the Kaduna State Exco Chambers.

The Only Way President Buhari Could Be Impeached - Senator Tsauri Reveals

A senator and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri has said President Buhari will face impeachment if this fact is confirmed.

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

President Muhammadu Buhari faces impeachment if it is confirmed that he is incapacitated. This was revealed by a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District between 2003 and 2017, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri.

 

In an interview with Daily Sun, Tsauri noted that “The constitution says that if the President is certified incapacitated, he can be impeached whether he decides to resign or not.”

 

According to him, it does not matter how long the president stays out of the country as far as he transmitted power to the Vice President.

 

However, he could still be impeached on one ground - if it is confirmed that he cannot perform his function as the president anymore and is incapacitated.

 

He said, “The constitution is there and it clarifies it. If the President leaves the country for anything, he transmits power to the Vice President and Buhari did that and met all the conditions.

“The President is out of the country on sick leave and he did what the constitution says he should do. We do not need to bother ourselves about how long the President stays outside the country as long as he transmitted power to the next in command.

“That is why you do not even call him Vice President now, you call him Acting President.

“But the certification of that incapacitation has to be done by his executive council. If the executive council certifies that the President can no longer perform the functions of a president, which means he is incapacitated.”

Nigerian Acting President, Osinbajo Redeploys Two Top Permanent Secretaries, See Their New Portfolios

As President Muhammadu Buhari continues his vacation in the United Kingdom, his vice, Prof. Osinbajo Osinbajo, has approved the execution of a shake-up in the Federal Government.

Yemi Osinbajo

 

The Federal Government on Friday in Abuja, redeployed two federal permanent secretaries to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Environment respectively.

 

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo approved the redeployment in a statement signed by Haruna Imrana, Director Communications Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

 

He said that Shehu Ahmed, who was the permanent secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, has been redeployed to Ministry of Environment.

 

He also said that Bukar Hassan, who was the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Environment, is now in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

According to him, Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, has directed that the process of handing over and taking over should be completed on or before Friday, March 10.

 

-NAN

Tension in the House of Reps as Members Fight Over Buhari's Health Status

Members of the House of Representatives were left in a pensive mood following clash that occurred in the House over Buhari's health status.

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

Tempers boiled in the House of Representatives after members engaged in a heated exchange of words on Tuesday over the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

The lawmakers, it was gathered quarreled over the use of the word “sickness” in referring to Buhari or explaining his reason for being away from the country to the United Kingdom since January 19.

 

The argument started as some of the member argued whether to say Buhari was sick or just abroad on 'medical vacation'

 

Punch reported that it was the House Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who started the argument when he tried to stop the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, from describing the President as a sick man.

 

The two members from the All Progressives Congress could not control themselves over the matter. According to Punch, Ado-Doguwa was contributing and opposing a motion seeking to investigate the alleged harassment of members of ‘Kwankwasia’ followers, a political group loyal to former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

 

He had stated that the motion, which was moved by a fellow Kano lawmaker, Mr. Aliyu Madaki, was “basesless” because the Kwankwasia group was known for moving around the state and inciting people against the political leadership.

 

Ado-Doguwa observed that the country was already under tension owing to the absence of Buhari and could not afford any “partisan” activities that could lead to insecurity.

 

He added that the group was already campaigning for the 2019 presidential elections in a volatile place like Kano.

 

“Our beloved President is sick abroad.

“These partisan activities are completely unnecessary and baseless. The police must do their work of protecting lives and property anywhere in the country.”

 

At the end of it all, the "House resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to invite the IG of Police & Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf to ascertain the reasons for the undue harassment and intimidation of Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kano State loyal to the Kwankwanssiyya Movement, in order to avert a breakdown of law and order in Kano State, and report back to the House within three (3) weeks for further legislative action. Other infringements across the country, such as in FCT and Rivers, should also be investigated."

See the Airplane Biafra Legend, Odimegwu Ojukwu Used in Fleeing to Ivory Coast After the Civil War (Photos)

The plane in which the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra, Odimegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu used to flee Nigeria to Ivory coast after the civil war, has been captured on camera...

 

Nigerian business magnate and senator representing Bayelsa East, Benedict Murray-Bruce, has taken to his Twitter page to share the photos of the airplane which legendary Igbo leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu used to flee Nigeria to Ivory coast after the civil war. 

 

Chief Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician who served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966 and the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970. 

 

Ben Bruce posing with the aircraft

 

The founder of Silverbird Group, Ben Bruce who posted the photos, wrote; "This is the plane Ojukwu left Nigeria with and fled to Ivory coast after the civil war. Nigeria should fix this plane & send to a museum."

 

More Trouble for Senate President, Bukola Saraki as FG Increases Charges Against Him...See Details

The Senate President Bukola Saraki has been served new charges in the ongoing false asset declaration case brought against him.

Senate President Bukola Saraki

 

The Federal Government on Wednesday increased charges against the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT over alleged false asset declaration.

 

Saraki is currently facing a 16-count charge for false asset declaration before the Danladi Umar-led tribunal sitting in Abuja. The Federal Government had in 2016 amended the charges from 13-counts to 16.

 

Counsel to the government, Rotimi Jacobs at the resumed trial today announced the decision to amend the charges, saying the motion has been served on all parties involved.

 

The amended charges were confirmed by the defence team who stated that they have been served by the prosecution. Counsel to Saraki, Kanu Agabi, also informed the tribunal that his client will want to enter plea for the fresh charges.

 

While proceeding with the case, the third prosecuting counsel in the case, Samuel Madujemu who is the Chief Administration Officer at CCB, today told the tribunal that Saraki upon assuming office as Kwara state governor, made his first assets declaration on September 16th 2003.

 

According to Madujemu, a joint investigative team involving the CCB, Federal Ministry of Justice and the EFCC, discovered that Saraki falsely declared his assets that year. 

"After we discovered that there were some discrepancies, we commenced further investigations into the matter. One of the discrepancies we discovered had to do with false declaration and none declaration of some assets and some liabilities.”

 

The witness told the tribunal that Saraki under-declared some assets he acquired in 2006. For instance, he told the tribunal that Saraki declared two properties he bought in Lagos and left out two others. While reading from one of the assets declaration forms marked as exhibit-3, Madujemu said:

 

“My lord what I see here is No17a and 17b Mc Donald Street Ikoyi which the defendant acquired with a bank loan in 2006. No 15a and 15b Mc Donald Ikoyi which he also acquired in 2006 was not included in the assets he declared.”

How Obasanjo Mobilized IBB, Dangote Against Buhari's Presidential Ambition - Pastor Tunde Bakare

The General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly has opened up how former President Olusegun Obasanjo mobilised ex-Military Head of State against President Muhammadu Buhari's Presidential election in 2011.

Buhari & Bakare

 

While addressing his congregation at the church’s headquarters in Ogba, Lagos State, the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, disclosed how former President, Olusegun Obasanjo mobilised ex-Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote against President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential election in 2011.

 

Recall that both Bakare and Buhari contested respectively for the office of the Vice President and President in 2011 under the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), but eventually lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

The influential cleric disclosed that Obasanjo made the move because he wanted Buhari to replace him (Bakare) with ex-Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala as his running mate, adding that despite the threat, Buhari rejected Obasanjo’s choice of Okonjo-Iweala.

 

Bakare said he got to know of Obasanjo’s threat through Nasir El-Rufai, who is the current Governor of Kaduna State, the day he was expected to submit his form.

 

He said, “The day I signed that paper was the last day of submission. I carried the candidacy paper with me, but I didn’t fill. The final day, Nasir el-Rufai (current governor of Kaduna) came to my room, and said Chief Obasanjo summoned him, that if he could appoint Okonjo-Iweala and drop Bakare, he (Obasanjo) will support Buhari.

“I was so glad, I was totally relieved, I took the nomination paper and I said ‘let us go to General Buhari’s room’. He took us to his bedroom, only three of us there.

“I said Nasir el-Rufai has just come to tell me good news, President Obasanjo has spoken to IBB, has also spoken to Dangote, they will now support you if you can only substitute Ngozi Iweala and let me go.

“I said, sir, there are five reasons why you must yield to this, and he kept on looking at me… Look, many of you don’t know this man… For the ability to keep calm in the midst of storm and not say anything… to hold your peace, I need some Fulani blood.

“I said five reasons why you must embrace this: ‘1. Ngozi Iweala is Delta Igbo; you have solved the problem of south-south and south-east. 2. She’s a Christian, faith balance. 3. She is a woman, gender balance. 4. She is a former minister of finance and external affairs, it is called experience, and currently, her position in the World Bank gives her global exposure, any of this five, I don’t have’.

“He looked at me, and said did Obasanjo meet with you or Nasir? I said honourable minister (el-Rufai), you speak, and he repeated all the things I’ve said. And he (Buhari) asked him, what do you think he (Obasanjo) is up to? He said ‘you know our boss, there is something up his sleeve’.

“Then he turned to me, and said Pastor Bakare I told you I have prayed my own prayer the way I know how to, and I chose you, if you don’t want, give me the form, I would look for somebody else.

“It was then Nasir said, egbon, sign it. In that room, I signed it, and Nasir seconded it. I left the place and it was as if a burden lifted.”