TheNewsGuru

Tag: Politicians

  • I don’t need your money, Obiano tells politicians sending contributions for mum’s burial

    I don’t need your money, Obiano tells politicians sending contributions for mum’s burial

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has said he did not place any financial request to anyone for the burial of his late mother insisting that whoever intends making such donations should send such to a foundation in honour of the matriarch.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Late Madam Christiana Obiano died on Friday, June 2nd at the age of 90 years after a brief illness. She will be buried on Thursday, July 20 in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor said this in a press release signed by the Commissioner for Information, Communication and Strategy in the state, Mr Tony Nnacheta. He however advised those who are bent on making donations to the burial to rather donate such monies to a foundation in honour of the matriarch.

    The release also stated that rather than place condolence messages in the media, friends and supporters should consider donating such money to the Christy Obiano Foundation for the poor, in fulfillment of her last wish.

    Born into the Azodo Manafa family of Eziagulu village in Aguleri, Mrs Christiana Obiano embraced Christianity at a very young age and grew up to become one of the major pillars in her local parish of the Catholic Church.

    Mrs Obiano was famous for her generosity and accommodating disposition which earned her several nicknames including names like Mother-of-the-poor.”

    She was married to late Philip Onuorah Obiano. The marriage is blessed with four children, namely Willie, Cyril, Queen and Evaristus.

    Her husband passed away in November 1978 at the age of 57.

    She assumed control of the family which she supported with the proceeds from her business of selling fish at the Ose-Okwuodu Market in Onitsha.

  • Politicians using ill-gotten wealth to fund Arewa, Igbo agitations – Magu

    The acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has identified corruption as the root cause of separatist agitations and militancy in the country.

    The spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that Mr. Magu made the remarks at the opening session of a two-day Electronic and Social Media Review and Training Conference held at the EFCC Academy in Abuja on Thursday.

    Magu was quoted as saying “people would not be engaging in needless agitations if the country was corruption-free.”

    The EFCC boss also said that Nigeria’s unity was one that could not be compromised, and urged participants at the conference to step up public sensitisation on the ills of corruption.

    He said, “we can change the negative perception of this country. I urge you all to be committed in this fight using your various platforms.

    “The root cause of the hate speeches by the Arewa and Igbo youths is corruption. Some people are actually funding them.

    “The looters of our common wealth are the ones responsible for the woes bedevilling Nigeria. We must do everything possible to secure the unity of this country.

    “People who don’t deserve anything are taking everything and if there is no common consensus to halt the trend, the future of our children yet unborn will be mortgaged.’’

    Mr. Magu urged the participants to take a critical look at the social media platforms of EFCC and come up with suggestions on how to make them better.

    In a presentation, Joe Abah, the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Service Reforms, commended the EFCC, describing it as the leading anti-graft agency in Nigeria.

    Mr. Abbah said “EFCC deserves a lot of credit. You are doing a great job. Your work is what we all need you to do but many of us don’t want you to do the work.

    “EFCC is clearly charting a new path for social media engagement for the anti-graft agencies looking at its statistics on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, and Instagram.”

    He stressed the need for all anti-graft agencies to constantly compare notes to improve information sharing and synergy across the social media.

    A blogger, Japheth Omojuwa, who spoke on “Digital Media in Nigeria”, said “one could not deny the great works and achievements of the EFCC.”

    Omojuwa said the EFCC Twitter handle “was strong”, rating it as the twitter handle of the year 2017.

    He further shed light on how the new media could be used to make the job of corruption fight more effective.

    He said, “social media pages should be domiciled in your website, which is the headquarters of your activities in the commission.

    “You need to start creating visual contents.”

    He warned that the commission should be wary of hackers, saying he had noticed that the EFCC had many fake Facebook accounts.

    While noting that this could be damaging to the image of the commission, the blogger advised that Facebook should be contacted to block the fake accounts.

    Lauretta Onochie, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, urged Nigerians to join the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration in tackling the “hydra-headed monster called corruption.

    “Corruption has been a hindrance in the wheel of progress of the country. We need to stand up against corruption.

    “Let us live as patriots of our nation. I plead with every Nigerian to support the nation and the EFCC in the anti-corruption war. Let us all come together and kill corruption.”

    The conference was an initiative of the Public Affairs Directorate of the EFCC, the first social and electronic media programme review by the agency.

    The initiative was part of the commission’s efforts to enhance its communication strategies and channels used in engaging the public in the fight against corruption.

     

  • Politicians sponsor thugs, prostitutes, non-Muslims on Hajj – MURIC

    …Says states, federal governments should stop sponsorship of Hajj pilgrims

    Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an NGO, has advised the federal and state governments to stop sponsoring Muslims on hajj as it would be counterproductive on the long run.

    The MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, said that Muslim Ummah should determine their destiny by taking care of their hajj fare.

    “Every intending pilgrim must be compelled to pay a particular amount to the coffers of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) before they leave for hajj.

    “Those going for ‘Umrah’ should pay something higher. As we round up, we reaffirm our belief that it is time to correct misconceptions about hajj among Muslims.

    “Hajj is once in a life time; but we ignore this principle and rush to Saudi Arabia almost every year. ‘Umrah’ (lesser hajj) is not compulsory but we force it on ourselves as an annual ritual.

    “We must open a new leaf. Gone are the days when anything goes. We must do what is right at all times.

    “ Politicians have hijacked it. They sponsor political thugs, hoodlums, riffraffs, mistresses and prostitutes, who may not even be Muslims.

    “This category of ‘pilgrims’ become recalcitrant in Saudi Arabia. Some members of the National Assembly seize those privileges meant for hajj officials. This practice should cease forthwith.

    “We are poised to monitor the procedure with the aim of identifying NASS members who engage in this immodest behaviour. Enough is enough.’’

    The director said that allegations of suspicion and distrust against National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) were products of misinformation.

    “Our investigations reveal that 98 per cent of the services rendered by NAHCON in Saudi Arabia are determined in U.S. dollars.

    “Although 2016 official exchange rate was N197, recession and the attendant fall of the naira forced 2017 official exchange rate to N305.

    “Whereas a pilgrim needed just 4,003 dollars in 2016, his need in 2017 has risen to 4,805 dollars; if we multiply 4,805 dollars by N305, what we will get is N1,465,525 (approximately N1.5m).

    “This is why NAHCON has pegged the 2017 hajj fare at N1.5 million. Further investigation has also revealed that air ticket from the North is 1,600 dollars while that of the South is 1,700 dollars.

    “The cost of accommodation in Makkah is 933 dollars while that of Medina is 430 dollars. These are easily verifiable.

    “MURIC opposes further subsidy for hajj this year for three reasons. Firstly, the Federal Government has already subsidised 2017 hajj because the official exchange rate is N368 whereas government allowed N305.

    “Pilgrims would have had to pay N1,768,240 (approximately N1.8 million) at the prevailing bank rate of N368 per dollar, if Federal Government had not subsidised at all.”

    Akintola urged Muslim Ummah to have it at the back of their minds that the country is in recession.

    He said they must be prepared to make sacrifices as government could not afford to play the prodigal son at a time like this.

    “About N34 billion would be needed to subsidise if pilgrims were to enjoy the 2016 rate of N197 per dollar but this cannot be rationalised in the face of the current recession.

    “MURIC is, therefore, constrained to tell the 2017 intending pilgrims in particular and all Muslim faithful in general that hajj is for Muslims who have the means.

    “This means hajj is not mandatory on those who do not have the money to perform it but it becomes compulsory once a Muslim has the means.

    “Does a Muslim who has the money to perform hajj need government’s subsidy or sponsorship? The answer is capital ‘NO’.

    “However, subsidies and outright sponsorship of citizens on hajj may be rationalised in an Islamic Republic but Nigeria is not one.”

    Akintola noted that Nigeria is among countries with the largest number of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia every year.

    According to him, Nigeria accounted for 76,000 of the more than two million Muslims from 183 countries who performed hajj in 2016.

    “But how many out of this number contribute anything to the growth, development and welfare of the Ummah back home?’’ he queried.

  • Stop campaigning for 2019 elections, Saraki warns politicians

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has warned politicians in the country to henceforth stop their subtle campaigns for the 2019 elections.

    The Senate President noted that it was insensitive of elected political office holders to abandon serious issues of serving their constituents and preoccupy themselves with the 2019 elections.

    Saraki noted that 2019 was still a long period for serious-minded politicians to concentrate their energy on to the detriment of good governance.

    He admitted that elected public office holders had not met some of the expectations of Nigerians, adding that they should rather be committed to rendering services and fulfilling their electoral promises.

    The Senate President stated this on Sunday during an interactive session with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    Saraki stated, “The year 2019 is a long way. Any serious-minded politician, who is interested in his people, should not be talking about 2019, especially if we want to be honest with ourselves; some of the expectations of our people have not been met. I think it will be insensitive if we have left that and we are now talking about 2019. We need to work hard to make sure that we meet those expectations.

    “The economy is already moving in the right direction, which is why we are addressing the issue of security, which is good. We are fighting corruption; we need to do more in that area. By the time we work tremendously over the next one year, I think we will be in a place where we can beat our chest and say we have done well.”

    Saraki added that though financial autonomy for local government areas might be approved during the ongoing constitutional review, it would be more desirable for the LGAs to be adequately funded to address their statutory responsibilities.

    According to him, the current allocations to the local governments in the country are not adequate to meet their needs.

    He said it might be desirable to reduce the burdens of the councils such as education, which he said would be better handled by the state government.

    Saraki stated that without the support of state governments, about 95 per cent of local governments in the country would not be able to pay salaries, talk less of providing infrastructure.

    He said, “The finances are not just there. All the 36 states cannot be doing something wrong. I do not think there is a place where the revenues of the LGs can meet their expenditure, despite that they still have responsibilities like primary education.

    “We need to review that. Maybe we will go back and look at whether state governments should truly take over primary education, because the arm of government that cannot even meet administrative expenses, you now put on it a very important sector as education.

    “There must be something structurally wrong with it and we need to put our heads together and take decisions on the way forward. Maybe we need to review what kind of responsibilities they have.”

  • Stop fighting over politicians, they have ways of reconciling – Oba Akiolu advises supporters

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has advised Nigerians in support of one politician or the other to stop creating enemies because of them (the politicians) saying they have ways of settling their disputes without the knowledge of the supporters.

    The Oba maintained that in politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy.

    A statement on Tuesday said Akiolu spoke during the 60th birthday of Mrs. Folashade Ashafa, the wife of the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Gbenga Ashafa.

    The statement said the event, which held at the Grand View, Magodo, Lagos, was attended by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola; Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; a former Minister of Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Otun Are Demola Seriki; Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Ehinlokun; and Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, among others.

    The statement reads: “His Imperial Majesty said while people would take sides with politicians and develop enmity and grudges for supporters of rival parties, the politicians never take their differences personal and always know how to reconcile behind closed doors.

    “He, therefore, advised all Nigerians to learn how to allow politicians settle their differences without interference or unnecessary sensationalisation of issues.

    “Oba Akiolu spoke glowingly of the woman and her husband, saying Senator Gbenga Ashafa could only have achieved much because he had a good wife who gave him peace and kept the home front solid.”

  • Stay clear of politics, Buratai warns officers associating with politicians

    The Chief Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has warned officers and soldiers of the army to steer clear of politics or have themselves to blame.

    Buratai rather advised personnel, who were interested in politics, “to resign their commission or apply for voluntary discharge forthwith.”

    Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the army spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday that the warning followed information received by Buratai that “some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons.”

    “On the basis of that, the army chief, has warned such persons to desist from these acts.

    “He also reminded them that Nigerian army is a thorough professional, disciplined, loyal and apolitical institution that has clear constitutional roles and responsibilities.

    “Any officer or soldier of Nigerian Army found to be hobnobbing with such elements or engaged in unprofessional conducts such as politicking would have himself or herself to blame.”

    Usman further quoted Buratai as restating that the Nigerian army would remain apolitical and respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

     

     

     

    NAN

     

  • May Day: N18,000 not enough to feed politician’s dogs – Sani

    May Day: N18,000 not enough to feed politician’s dogs – Sani

    …Advocates for N150,000 minimum wage

    The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani has said the N18,000 minimum wage is an insult on Nigerian workers as it is not even enough to feed dogs in the house of a typical Nigerian politician.

    He therefore advocated for N150,000 minimum wage in order to meet with the current economic realities.

    Sani said this on Monday when he entered at the workers’ day celebration in Abuja.

    Sani said that the Nigerian workers deserved to live better as the country was rich enough to comfortably pay them well.

    According to him, “When you say N56,00, or N60,000, sometimes all these things are tied to our foreign exchange. Nigerian workers should have not less than $300 per month and that will be between N140,000 and N150,000.

    “I would be one of those that would push it forward. Nigeria has the resources to do that. The amount of money that is being used to maintain and sustain political office holders, the amount of money being wasted on corruption, the amount of money being stolen both known and unknown are monumental to the point that we cannot tell ourselves that such a country that pride itself as a giant of Africa will be paying less than $20 in the name of minimum wage.

    “N18,000 or N20,000 minimum wage is an insult to Nigerian workers because it cannot sustain even a dog or security man in the house of a politician.

    “So, as far as I am concerned, I believe the only way to be fair and just is not just to peg it but rather make it a government policy. Public and private working places should maintain that especially you journalists that have no salary.

    “I think there should be a law that should peg a minimum wage and take it to the dollar and that will be the best way which workers will be able to sustain themselves and their family.”

  • Politicians strategizing for Buhari’s job should forget it, he’ll contest again in 2019 – El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said some politicians taking undue advantage of the president’s ailing health to plan on how to take over his job should forget it as the president’s health is likely to improve before 2019.

    Speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday, El-Rufai said the President’s ill health has made some politicians to feel he would not run for a second term.

    El-Rufai noted that the belief has led to confusion in the country as politicians are now jostling for Buhari’s job ahead of the 2019 elections.

    According to the governor, “Because of the feeling that the president may not run for a second term, people are already gearing up. Some politicians want President Buhari’s job because of his ill health

    “All of us are getting distracted by the coterie of ambitious presidential aspirants that are trying to kick-start the political process ahead of the normal timeline.

    “Many of us that campaigned vigorously for him in 2015 are hoping that his health will improve and stabilize and that he will run again in 2019.

    “We need the policy continuity and the stability in the political environment for the country to make progress.”

  • Stop visiting Buhari, he needs rest, Fayose tells politicians

    Stop visiting Buhari, he needs rest, Fayose tells politicians

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said politicians visiting President Muhammadu Buhari in London should desist from the act and allow the president to attend to his health issues.

    Fayose also said he remained a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP loyal to Ahmed Makarfi-led faction despite the Court of Appeal judgment declaring Alimodu Sheriff as the National Chairman.

    Fayose revealed this on Saturday in a monitored programme aired simultaneously on Ekiti owned television and radio stations.

    In his words: “We are not going anywhere. The matter has been appealed. In elections, three things are important: party, candidate and people. We have the people. The power of the people is greater than the machinations of the people working against us.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fayose, while praying for sound health for the president, said his desire for a better Nigeria accounted for why he had been criticising the Federal Government when things were not done the right way.

    ‎He explained that he had stopped criticising the president since he travelled abroad for medical attention because anyone could fall sick and the president should be allowed to enjoy his rest.

    “I don’t have any problem with the president; the only problem I have is with his handlers. They will say something today and say another tomorrow. Anybody can fall sick.

    “I have not been criticising the president because he is sick. When he comes back and he is not doing the right thing, we will continue to criticise him,” he said.

    Describing the visits by some All Progressives Congress, APC chieftains to the president as a make-belief and too much of eye service, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum said it would not have been necessary if the people knew the truth from the onset.

    The governor spoke further: “It is God that gives power to whoever He wills. As humans, we can fall sick. But people should allow him to rest.

    “Some people are visiting him to convince people that he is well; that is a make-belief and too much of eye-service.”

    “So many women are in pains today because some husbands had become terrors at home. We must consciously promote women, show love to them and assist them.”

  • 2019 Elections: Melaye talks tough, says politicians above 70 shouldn’t be in power

    2019 Elections: Melaye talks tough, says politicians above 70 shouldn’t be in power

     

    The Senator Representing Kogi West Senatorial District, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dino Melaye has stated that it is wrong for politicians above 70 years to be in leadership position in a country where vibrant and energetic youths abound.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari contested the 2015 presidential elections on the platform of the APC at the age of 72.

    Melaye noted that this was happening because the Nigerian youths had not really taken their stand.

    According to him, 2019 should be the time for the youths to chase out those he labeled as “old cargoes” from power.

    Addressing the youths, weekend, in Abuja at a dinner and lecture organised by the Nigerian Youths Parliament, the senator added that youths constituted over 60 percent of the electorates, which he said can be used by them to determine who emerges as leader in the country at whatever level.

    Melaye said if the youths must weed out the old politicians successfully, it has become imperative for them to come out and participate fully in politics and take their rightful positions up to the leadership level.

    He warned the youths to stop wasting their youthful energy on non- productive ventures, but instead, engage in productive ones such as politics, economics and social activities by harnessing their potentials effectively.

    “You must picture the future you want to feature in. You need to develop your capacity.

    “There is no way someone in his 70s can still be in a leadership position in the Nigerian polity if you the youths are effectively involved and in charge,” Melaye said.