Nigeria’s sovereignty is negotiable – Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lent his voice to the growing calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation, saying the sovereignty of the nation is negotiable.

Speaking during a visit to PUNCH Place, the corporate headquarters of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Kilometre 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, on Tuesday, Soyinka said decentralisation of the nation would ensure healthy rivalry among the component units.

The laureate said it was wrong for previous administrations in the country to say that Nigeria’s sovereignty was non-negotiable, submitting that the position was antithetical to development.

Soyinka added, “I am on the side of those who say we must do everything to avoid disintegration. That language I understand. I don’t understand (ex-President Olusegun) Obasanjo’s language. I don’t understand (President Muhammadu) Buhari’s language and all their predecessors, saying the sovereignty of this nation is non-negotiable. It’s bloody well negotiable and we had better negotiate it. We better negotiate it, not even at meetings, not at conferences, but everyday in our conduct towards one another.

Power Sector Illegally Sold, Fashola Says

The Federal Government and labour agreed yesterday that the power sector was illegally privatised but they differed on how to redress the “illegality.”

Labour leaders are demanding for the cancellation of the sale and reversal of 45 percent increase in tariff effected in February.

However, the government said though it agreed the deal was fraudulent there were legal issues that might make it impossible to reverse the sale.

Speaking at a Senate public hearing on the electricity tariff yesterday, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said government’s interests were illegitimately sold to some private businesses.

The Sons Of Futa Jalon (Part 1) By Femi Fani-Kayode

“The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future”- Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of the Sokoto Caliphate and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Parrot Newspaper, 12th October, 1960, recalled by Tribune, 13th November, 2002.

These are interesting words from the most reverred, prominent and powerful Fulani leader in the history of modern Nigeria. The Saurdana's world-view, vision and intentions are well-encapsulated here and they are self-evident. They need no further explanation or analysis. 

To add to the Saurdana's contribution and to butress his point,  in August 2001 President Muhammadu Buhari, a proud and ascetic Fulani man whose mass appeal, popularity and following has reached cult-like proportions amongst the working class Fulani population in Nigeria said the following: "God-willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of sharia throughout the federation". 

Has anything really changed in Nigeria under President Buhari?

Shaibu Stephen Ojate 

By Shaibu Stephen Ojate

The Nigerian political atmosphere has been clouded with all manner of praises and commendations on President Buhari’s fight against corruption and also his resolves to bring corrupt public officials to book.

Many have adjudged President Buhari’s administration as one good thing that has happened in the history of Nigeria. These pundits posited that even if this is the only thing President Buhari could do in his four years term in office, they would be very grateful and applaud him. They have consistently maintained that President Buhari is the only President in the history of Nigeria who has taken anti-corruption fight to a higher level.

Also, the opposition on their part maintained that President Buhari’s fight against corruption is selective adding that he was just after his perceived enemies rather than make it encompassing.

To Nigeria's new Minister of Power, Works And Housing

Article written by Endsng's Perry Brimah. Read below...

Dear Minister Babatunde Fashola, 

As do the rest of the country, I congratulate you on your recent appointment as Nigeria's Minister of Power, Works and Housing. I wish you the best and hope pray and plan to support you to bring out the best for Nigeria and Nigerians whom you pledge and are appointed to serve. It is because we are lagging behind by decades that I write you in all urgency. 

We have no time to waste. There are just a few matters I will like to press. I am certain you have the capacity to deliver; I just wish to emphasize and stress what we need delivered.

Nigeria Has Always Been For The Rich

PDP says, Fielding Jonathan for presidential poll an error

 The Peoples Democratic Party has asked Nigerians to forgive the party for its inability to meet their yearnings in the past 16 years.

 The party also said that fielding former President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP candidate for the 2015 Presidential election was an error. It added that the party was aware that Nigerians were angry with it because of some actions it took when it was in power.

 The PDP said it was ready to mend fences and this was why it was organising a national conference where all issues affecting the former ruling party would be discussed.

 The Chairman, National Planning Committee of the conference, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

 Dokpesi, a chieftain of the party from Edo State, was flanked at the briefing by members of the planning committee of the conference.

Blame Obasanjo for Yar’Adua, Jonathan’s failure – Pastor Bakare

 The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, spoke to Punch correspondents BAYO AKINLOYE and TOBI AWORINDEabout President Muhammadu Buhari’s list of ministerial nominees, among other issues.

What do you think about President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees so far and what input did you have in the selection process?

 We all waited for President Buhari’s list to come out. We have seen it and we trust God for the best as regards these people he (Buhari) chose by himself after due consultation with the Vice President (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo) and the party (the All Progressives Congress). We trust that as some of them had performed well in time past (in areas) that we can point to, they would had the grace to also do extraordinarily well for the citizens of Nigeria.

'I am reasonably satisfied with Buhari so far' - Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he is reasonably satisfied with the administration of the Buhari led government so far. He said this in an interview with Premiumtimes after his visit to President Buhari on September 8th. "I am reasonably satisfied with his performance so far, and I can’t see any reason that will make me raise any alarm at this time" he said

Cabinet: President Buhari consults Obasanjo over team

 There were strong indications that the recent audience between President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo centred on national issues, especially the choice of ministers.

 It was gathered that Buhari opened up to Obasanjo on the criteria for choosing his ministers.

 It was learnt that the president said he was thinking of trying “new hands” instead of recycling the same old ones.

 But findings confirmed that the president may send the list of ministers to the National Assembly in batches because of the likely merger of some ministries, departments and agencies.

 The first batch is likely to meet the September deadline set by the president.

Presidency says, President Buhari won’t interfere in the probe of Obasanjo by the Senate

 President Muhammadu Buhari won’t meddle in the probes of past President Olusegun Obasanjo and the boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Lamorde, because of his respect for the principle of separation of powers, the Nigerian presidency has said.

 A senate committee probing the power sector has revealed how trillions of Naira was pumped into the power sector under Obasanjo without commensurate megawatt at the grid.

 Specifically, the permanent secretary in the ministry of power, Godknows Igali, had last Monday told the Senate ad-hoc committee probing the sector that N2.7trillion had been spent on the power sector since 1999.

More photos of Obasanjo with Buhari at the state house yesterday

The former president visited President Buhari at the state house earlier today.

See more photos below...

Senate begins probe of Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, others over mismanagement of power funds

Today, the Senate will begin an inquest into alleged mismanagement of funds appropriated to the power sector from the Olusegun Obasanjo civilian administration to date. In a statement by the Clerk of Senate ad hoc Committee on Power, Cletus Ojabo, yesterday, the power sector probe will be in the form of investigative hearing/interactive session.

According to Ojabo,  the investigation would centre on funds appropriated for the power sector since 1999 and the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

He said:

Age limit disqualified me from youth corps – Obasanjo

Former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said he would have loved to participate in the National Youth Service Corps, but was disqualified because of his age. Obasanjo who graduated from National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN with a degree in Theology, said;

”Somebody wrote me a letter when he got to know that I have graduated from NOUN, he wanted me to do national youth service, but unfortunately for him there is age limit.”

The former President was decorated as Grand  Patron of NOUN Alumni Association at a meeting with the executives of the NOUN Alumni Association, led by Mr Phil Colman, President and Mr Ayeni Olutope, Southwest Vice-President at his Hilltop residence, in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo, in his remarks said the establishment of  NOUN, has presented a unique opportunity for Nigerians to have access to higher education in the country.

Buhari, Obasanjo And The Umpteen Thieves

By Isidore Emeka Uzoatu 

The Nigeria story tells like a fairytale. Right from how the territory was acquired and recovered to how its name was coined and by whom, one cannot but be astounded by the many twists and twirls it has meandered en route to who-knows-where. Mention must be made of the amalgamation of its North and South, the centenary of which was marked last year under leadership of GEJ. Independence was to come some forty-six years later, followed hot on the heels by a thirty-month civil war. 

O yes, by this time in 1967, the secessionist enclave of Biafra was neck deep in trouble for daring to sunder what God had used Lord Frederick Lugard to put together in 1914. While the weighted battles raged, many an unverifiable tale was told about transpirations at the war fronts. Among these was how the poet Christopher Okigbo was killed while fighting on the rebel side. According to the apocryphal anecdote, he was felled by an exploding grenade hauled by either him or a colleague that had rebound off a palm trunk, thus having him – as he would have put it in a veritable fable – hoist with his own petards. The truth remains that the victim neither participated in the war nor wrote any line of poetry thenceforth. As for the war, it neither paused nor waned on its account. It waged on as though nothing happened, spawning heroes with abandon. 

Nobody Is Good In The Eyes Of Obasanjo - Osoba

Why addressing a group of journalists on Saturday in Lagos, a former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba reacted to former president Obasanjo’s claim on Chief Obafemi Awolowo saying he was never the leader of the Yrouba but was only elected leader by his supporters. According to Osoba, the statement did not come as a surprise because nobody is good in the eyes of Obasanjo. Hear him;

“I would not like to judge Chief Obasanjo because as I am trying to put the facts straight, I don’t want to join him in condemnation of individuals. I respect him for his own strong points and weaknesses. But one thing I disagree with him is his condemnation of virtually everybody and even those around 

him.

Jonathan told me & Obasanjo he never wanted to be Vice-President - Donald Duke

   

Former governor of Cross River state Donald Duke says former President Jonathan told him and former president Obasanjo he never wanted to be the Vice president of Nigeria when he was selected to be the running mate to late President Umaru Yar'Adua for the 2007 general election. Donald Duke said this in an interview with news magazine, The Interviewer

"You don’t give authority to an unwilling person, particularly in a country like Nigeria. Umaru never wanted to be president. He was dealing with his health issues and wanted to retire and go lecture in a university. He was really offered an appointment at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. Jonathan, on the other hand, had just been re-elected to be governor of Bayelsa and when he was picked, he was not so pleased. He said to Obasanjo and me, ‘I don’t want this job". 

Buhari Begins Total Probe Of Jonathan’s Govt

ABUJA — A total probe of the administration run by immediate past president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is underway as the National Economic Council, NEC, Ad-hoc Committee on the Management of Excess Crude Account Proceeds and Accruals into the Federation Account, headed by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, is to hire two international forensic audit firms to probe revenue that accrued into the Federation Account and how it was spent under former Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President.

Mr. Oshiomhole told journalists at the end of the first meeting of the committee in Abuja, yesterday that the auditors would cover the period January 1, 2010 to June 1, 2015.

It put paid to calls by the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, that Buhari should extend his 

probe to the administrations of Jonathan’s predecessors, Alh. Umaru Yar’ Adua.and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Already, some revenue generating agencies have been invited to brief the committee which will take detailed briefings from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the Federal Government that deal directly with revenue.

See How General Obasanjo Unwinds...

 

The old man dropped the last seed in a hole on the Ayo board and slapped his palm against his thigh with glee – he had just scored a vital point in the game.

According to Yorupedia, Ayo is a Yoruba game “played in a carved wooden box, containing twelve holes (six holes on each side), and forty-eight Ayo seeds (four seeds in each hole).

“Two individuals take turn to play this game, which runs anti clockwise.

“The first player begins by moving seeds from his right hand side to the opponent’s side. If the seed-movement terminates in a hole with three or less Ayo seeds, this player picks up the seeds, and 

seeds from preceding holes, if any.

“Players take turn until the seeds are exhausted. The player with upper hand is called Ọta, and the weak or the losing player is called Ope. Spectators’ comments on the direction of the game add colour to the game.

“If a player records three straight wins, he becomes a champion (Ọta), the loser (Ope) quits; a new player takes over. Ayo game requires deep thought, and good strategy to move seeds with the ultimate aim to win. Ayo, a relaxation game is played by menfolk; the meeting point is usually under a big tree with shade or restaurant.”

Jonathan raised fuel subsidy from N300bn to N1.9trn – Amaechi

Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, has accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of increasing the country’s subsidy claim from N300 billion to N1.9trillion all by himself during his administration.

He said:  

“The fuel subsidy was N300 billion under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and it remained the same under late President  Yar’Adua. Within 6 months under President Jonathan, the fuel subsidy rose from N300 billion to N1.9 trillion. Yet, Jonathan wanted more money for fuel subsidy.

“Is it that the country now doubled its population or bought more machines or started manufacturing? As chairman of Governors Forum, I was in a position  to get my share of the N1.9 trillion but I chose the part of honesty and truth, you cannot catch me being dishonest.

“There was a time I walked into a meeting with the president (Goodluck Jonathan)  and at the meeting, the argument was that they wanted more money for oil subsidy. As the chairman of Governors Forum, I stood my ground and told the president I was not going to support that.

The Okonjo-Iweala who worked for me is different from the Okonjo -Iweala who worked for Jonathan – Obasanjo

   

In a fresh interview with Premium Times, former President Obasanjo said the Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who worked in his administration as Minister of Finance and later resigned is different from the one who worked in the Jonathan-led administration. Really, Baba? Lol. Excerpt from the interview below

"Take Ngozi (Okonjo-Iweala), who worked for me. And who worked competently for me. Because I know Ngozi’s weaknesses, but I know her strong points. Her strong point is technical competence. But Ngozi needs to be led and to be supervised. Now will you comment on Ngozi who worked for me as the same Ngozi who worked for Jonathan? Will you? But it’s the same person"

PT: At what point do you think she derailed if I may use that word?

Obasanjo: No.

PT: Is it at the point that you changed her – because you removed her as finance minister. Was it at that point that she began to derail?

Obasanjo: She derailed because….when Jonathan even said he wanted her, I said ‘I hope you can manage her.’ And Ngozi herself sent me a text (and) I told her times have changed.

PT: But why did you change her? She was managing the economy very well for you. Why did you now remove her suddenly?

Obasanjo: I wrote it in that my book.