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.

The Senate, CCT and the politics of Saraki’s trial By Reuben Abati

The present Senate serving the Nigerian people runs the risk of being remembered as the worst since 1999.  Public Relations Consultants and media officials of this particular Senate have done their part flooding both the print and the online media with details of how productive the Bukola Saraki-led Senate has been, and they have been quite aggressive in telling us about 30 important Bills which when passed, will change the face of Nigeria and deliver change.

The Senate according to one report has considered over 125 bills, debated over 48 motions, and passed three bills. But nobody is apparently impressed. During the Jonathan administration, the Senate was the better regarded of the two legislative chambers. While members of the House of Representatives in the Seventh Assembly behaved as if they were a band of students’ unionists, the then Red Chamber projected an image of maturity and temperance, even if it was also self-serving! With the 8th Assembly, the House of Representatives, apart from the shameful resort to physical combat over the distribution of “juicy” committees in November 2015, has shown itself to be better organized than the present Senate. The critical difference is that of leadership. It is one of management. It is a matter of weight and politics. 

Nigeria's ex-defence chief raided staff salary funds

Nigeria's former chief of defence staff bought property including a $5.5 million mansion with air force money, passing off his fraudulent withdrawals as staff salaries, a court heard Wednesday.

Retired air chief marshal Alex Badeh is on trial at a federal high court in Abuja, accused of diverting 3.97 billion naira ($19.8 million, 18 million euros) for his own use.

The 59-year-old, arrested as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign by President Muhammadu Buhari, denies 10 counts of fraud, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

The finance director under Badeh when he was chief of air staff at the time of the alleged offences in 2013 said he exchanged 558.2 million naira for dollars every month on his boss' instructions.

The money was part of some four billion naira set aside for monthly salaries for air force personnel, retired air commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau told the court in evidence.

Fani Kayode reacts to call for EFCC to arrest and probe Jonathan

Nigeria's former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the call to probe former president Goodluck Jonathan.

He condemned calls for the EFCC to arrest and probe former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him Jonathan had done nothing to warrant being arrested and that those calling for his arrest and interrogation should understand the implications of doing so.

GEJ denies making statement on the state of the nation

As shared by the former President. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 

The Made In Nigeria Campaign by Reuben Abati

There has been renewed talk lately about the need for Nigerians to patronize locally made goods, (someone should have added… and services!). Championed by Senator Ben Murray Bruce, and supported by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar and a large crowd of online campaigners, so much ink, saliva, and emotions have been invested in this old, and perhaps boring story.

Senator Bruce, who goes by the moniker “the Commonsense Senator” even introduced a hashtag #BuyNaijaToGrowtheNaira. He hasn’t quite explained the connection, but with the exchange rate melting down and the Naira yo-yoing, everyone including our neighbourhood electrician, and his friend, the battery charger, have both become experts on the fortunes of the national currency. Senator Saraki has promised that the Public Procurement Act will be amended by the 8th National Assembly to make it mandatory for the government to patronize locally made goods. Minister Aisha Abubakar has proposed a “Patronise Naija Products Campaign.”

Ekiti Election: Aluko Presents Evidence, Claiming The Election Was Rigged During His Interview on Channels Television.

Mr Tope-Aluko, A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State is insisting that the Ekiti State governorship election was rigged, tendering evidences on how some areas were blocked in the state during the election.

On Politics Today on Sunday, Mr Tope Aluko gave a breakdown of how the election was rigged in favour of the PDP governorship candidate, now Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Explaining a process he alleged was used in rigging the election, he said: “Before the Primaries, we had this believe that because Jonathan was coming out for second term and because we are going to be the first election in the south-west, at a meeting, we told him (former President Goodluck Jonathan) that north-east, north-west and north-central may not be too sure for him because the Hausas are clamouring for presidency and that you now have south-east and south-south, you must manage the south-west”.

$2.1bn arms fraud: I will testify against Dasuki and others at ICC- Senator Ndume

Senate Majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume says he is willing to testify against former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and all those indicted in the $2.1billion arms deal at the International Criminal Court, ICC. Ndume said this in an interview with Daily Trust, while applauding the efforts of human rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, who says he will be approaching ICC to try all those indicted in the fraud with charges of War crimes.

I am going to suffer because I have no place to lay my head - Fr. Mbaka

Enugu Catholic priest, and founder, Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has said he is going to suffer in his new parish.

Mbaka made the statement after he was moved from the Christ the King Parish, G.R.A, in Enugu metropolis, where he served as parish priest for over 20 years, to Our Lady Parish, in Emene, a suburb of the Coal City.

While handing over to his successor on Saturday, Mbaka said, “I know we are going to suffer, between now and few months to come, I am going to suffer.

“I am going to suffer because I have no place to lay my head; I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the (Adoration) Ministry’s assets.

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.

GEJ to hold world press conference in Switzerland on January 27th

Former President Goodluck Jonathan will hold a world press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday January 27th as part of activities planned by a group of diplomats to host him in the country. According to a statement by the executive director of the Geneva Press Club, Guy Mettan, Jonathan will be hosted to a dinner at Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva, on the same day.

The statement adds that the two major issues that Jonathan will address are: security and civil peace in Nigeria and West Africa, in addition to improvement of health and education of children in the continent. Only accredited United Nations correspondents and Swiss journalists are expected to attend the conference.

Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu apologises to President Buhari, Jonathan, Igbo elders

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile in his radio broadcasts.

Kanu, who has been charged along with two others by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of treason and other ancillary offences, said he intended to write a private letter to Buhari to express his apology to the President.

He also apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for “some uncomplimentary things” he said about them.

Former President Jonathan was a guest at the Presidential Precinct in Virginia USA where he gave a talk on Democratic leadership. Jonathan who conceded victory to Pres. Buhari after the presidential election, spent nearly a week, Nov. 8-13, at Precinct, having discussions with academic, government and business leaders and sharing his experiences with local experts. More pics after the cut...

The Trent Names Goodluck Jonathan As Person Of The Year 2015

One of Nigeria's most influential online newspapers, The Trent has named former President Goodluck Jonathan Person of the Year 2015.

"We are delighted to launch our Person of the Year Award with such a deserving statesman," the newspaper's, President and Executive Editor, Ms. Aziza Uko told journalists in Lagos, Monday. "This marks our second anniversary and our Editorial Board decided to launch this award to celebrate the best among us, to present to the country, especially, the young generation, real symbols of hope."

Arms deal 'I was acting on Jonathan’s instructions' - Dasuki says

Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki who is being investigated in the current $2.1bn arms deal scandal, allegedly said that he handed N10 billion he withdrew from CBN to the former President Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa & Aide-de-Camp on Jonathan's instruction. 

According to The Nation, Dasuki stated this while defending himself in a statement of Witness /Accused Person which has been filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of his arraignment soon. The statement reads;

I delivered $47 million in 11 suitcases to Dasuki – Ex-director

More shocking revelations have come on how huge cash estimated at $2billion meant for arms purchase was allegedly diverted by key government officials and politicians during the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Presidency.

A former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, said $47million was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 11 suit cases.

He said he suspected that the cash might have been given to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He, however, said as a civil servant, he was innocent because he only carried out instructions from the ex-National Security Adviser, Mr. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki.

Buhari's trips are not as frivolous as Jonathan's - Sen. Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate and serves as the deputy Chairman of the Senate committee on Foreign Affairs, has described as necessary the various foreign trips President Buhari has made since assuming office in May 29th. According to Sani, Buhari's trips outside Nigeria have not been as "Frivolous" as those of Former President Goodluck Jonathan. Sani said this in an interview with Leadership newspaper.

EFCC arrests former minister of state for Finance during GEJ's administration

A former Minister of state under former President Jonathan's administration, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, has been arrested and is being interrogated by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of receiving money running into Billions of Naira which he cannot account for while he was in office.

The large sums of money were allegedly transferred to him between December 2014 and May 2015. A source at EFCC said the former Minister who was picked up by 4pm today, is being interrogated for allegedly receiving some huge amount of money from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, who is being investigated over a two billion dollars arms deal.

The source said some of the monies allegedly traced to Bashir's account include N1.2 billion Naira paid to him by the office of the NSA through a company and for unclear reasons. He is also allegedl to have received N775 million from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for unclear reasons. He is also alleged to have received another N1.275 billion from a conglomerate, Stallion Group, during the last presidential election campaign.

Photo of GEJ carrying his grand daughter

Former President Jonathan pictured above carrying his granddaughter from his adopted daughter Faith and her husband, Godswill Edward. Photo of  Mama Peace after the cut...

PDP did not make a mistake fielding Jonathn, FFK says

Former spokesperson of the PDP Presidential campaign, Olufemi Olu-Kayode aka FFK says PDP did not make a mistake fielding former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate during the last election. FFK tweeted this in reaction to a statement credited to Raymond Dokpesi, saying that PDP erred in making Jonathan its presidential candidate in the last presidential election.