FAAN- NUP URGES FG TO PROBE MINISTER OVER SPENDINGS ON NIGERIA AIR

By Lateef Lawal 

Federal Government has been called upon to probe the financial commitment of the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to the suspended Nigeria Air project. 

The call was made by the duo of the national Chairman and Secretary of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Rasaki Ope and Comrade Emeka Njoku. 

 They were reacting to the recent indefinite suspension of the Nigeria Air project by the government a fortnight ago. The action of the government, they said was a vindication of their stance since last year to the effect that the Minister has not been transparent from the beginning on the way he had been handling the national carrier project. 

 For example, they noted that the Minister ought to have caused the publication for interested technical partners in the relevant government journal and national newspapers calling for interested bidders, adding that:"Such biddings, to ensure transparency ought to have opened at a forum where observers would be invited to witness the opening of bids that would eventually lead to a winner, who would eventually be chosen as technical partner(s)"

They opined "that it is the duty of the technical partner and the private investors in the project that will then chart the direction and form the new national carrier will take, since Sirika told Nigerians that the venture will be privately driven and that the Federal Government will not be spending a kobo in floating the new national carrier." 

They said it was a surprise when the same Minister made a sudden turn around early this year to say that government would be taking 5% amounting to $300million and the remaining 95% by investors. 

 Comrade Ope and Comrade Emeka also queried :" What is the business of the Minister, representing the government as minority share holder in dictating the pace for the majority share holders and spending millions on designing the logo and embarked on a jamboree to unveil the logo, not in Nigeria but in far away Farnborough, UK? 

 They said it was due to the lack of transparency on the part of the Minister from the beginning that informed their opposition and more so, workers of the liquidated Nigeria Airways have not been paid their retirement benefits fifteen years after while many have died and the Minister wanted to be " dancing on the graves of the dead in lieu of the Nigeria Air project. It is sad". 

 All these, they noted must have informed government's decision to suspend the take off of Nigeria Air in December,2018 as planned by the Minister. 

 On approval for the release of 50% of Nigeria Airways retirees by President Mohammadu Buhari as announced by the Finance Minister, they commended the move, but noted that they have heard about approvals severally, and that until affected retirees received the cash before :" we can shout hallelujah. "

 

INEC Declares Oyetola, APC Winner Of Osun Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the Osun State governorship election.

According to the final tally of results in the very close and contentious election announced early Friday, local time, Oyetola polled 255, 505 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 255, 023 votes. The difference between them is just 482 votes.

 Thursday’s supplementary poll in some parts of the state saw Oyetola, who entered the rerun with a deficit of about 350 votes behind Adeleke, who was looking to cause an upset, coasting home following his endorsement by Iyiola Omisore, the candidate of the SDP.

The PDP had earlier described the supplementary poll as a sham and asked that its candidate be declared winner.

OSUN ELECTION: INEC justified by Law

The immediate-past Second Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, has applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on its declaration of the Osun State governorship election as inconclusive. Ubani speaking to Punch said INEC was justified in law to declare the election inconclusive. Ubani said: “Since the difference in the number of votes between the two leading candidates of the PDP and the APC was less than the cumulative number of registered voters in the units where votes were cancelled, INEC, by law, has the power to declare the election inconclusive. “In the Osun election, the leading candidate had 353 votes more than the APC candidate. “The figure is less than the over 3,000 registered voters in the units where the election was cancelled. “But whether or not the votes were justifiably cancelled is another question.”

INEC declares Osun gubernatorial election inconclusive

.....Announces Sept,27,2018 date for re-run.

The Osun State Governorship election has been declared inconclusive by INEC.

This is because the number of votes cancelled is significantly higher than the margin between the two leading parties, PDP and APC. 

 After the final results, Ademola Adeleke of the PDP polled 254, 698 votes, leading Gboyega Oyetola of the APC by just 353 votes, whereas 3,498 votes were cancelled. 

Political observers had earlier projected a runoff following results sampled from exit polls. 

The two leading parties only will participate in the re-run in seven polling booths to decide who among the two parties clinches the governorship seat said INEC.

BOKO HARAM KILLS FEMALE KIDNAPPED RED CROSS WORKER

A female aid worker abducted in Nigeria's troubled northeast region has been killed, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Monday.

Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, 25, was kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram militants in March this year alongside two other ICRC aid workers during an attack on a military facility.

At least three Nigerian aid workers were killed and three others were injured in the attack.

Related Article: 3 aid workers killed, 3 hurt, 1 feared abducted in northeast Nigeria, UN says

The ICRC condemned the killing and said it was "devastated" by the news.

"We are devastated by the murder of our colleague Saifura," said Eloi Fillion, head of ICRC delegation in Abuja.

"Saifura moved to Rann to selflessly help those in need. Our thoughts are with her family and other loved ones at this incredibly difficult time," he added.

The ICRC said it will not comment on the "motives or the details" surrounding the nurse's death, and called for the immediate release of the two aid workers still held by the group.

"We urge those still holding our colleague Hauwa and Alice: release these women. Like Saifura, they are not part of the fight. They are a midwife and a nurse. They are daughters, a wife, and a mother -- women with families that depend on them," said Fillion.

"Their families and friends miss them dearly and will not give up the hope of seeing them again soon. There is no ideology or religious law that could justify doing any harm to them," he added.

Khorsa was working in the UNICEF clinic in Rann with internally displaced people in a remote town outside Maiduguri, in Nigeria's troubled north east region.

Her death comes as a local publication reported it had obtained a video that showed the aid worker being shot by the militants.

In the video, the insurgents alleged the Nigerian government ignored messages and audios it had sent showing that the aid workers were still alive, according to the report.

Related Article: UK MP joins protest to free kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirl

The report also stated that the kidnappers threatened to kill the two remaining health workers and kidnapped schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, who remains in Boko Haram camp because she reportedly refused to denounce her Christian faith.

Around 3,000 aid workers, most of them Nigerian nationals, work in Nigeria's northeast.

Boko Haram fighters who have waged a decade-long war in the region regularly attack such camps with gunmen and suicide bombers.

EFCC places outgoing Governor Fayose on watchlist to stall his allege plan to flee

.....EFCC accuses Fayose of Abuse of Office, Money Laundering, Theft and Corruption

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has place the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose on its watchlist.

In a correspondence dated 12,September, 2018 and personally signed by the acting Executive Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and sent to all security agencies, especially those manning the Airports, Land and Sea borders titled:

"Request for watch listing of persons, case of Conspiracy, Abuse of Office, Official Corruption, Theft and Money Laundering" said:

"The under listed suspected is under investigation in connection with the above mentioned offences and there is reasonable suspicion suggesting that he may likely leave the country either through the land borders, Airports or Sea ports in order to evade investigation. Hence, you are kindly requested to watchlist and arrest him.

" You are further requested to contact the Commission through the following numbers- 08038951468 and 08129133260 in the event of the arrest". 

The letter gave his name as- Ayodele Fayose Peter and current residence as Ekiti State Government House, date of birth-15,November,1960 and his passport number-A05804492.

Minister of Finance resigns

....appoints Minister of State, Budget & Planning, Zainab Ahmed to oversee the Ministry of Finance

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun(Mrs) has tendered her letter of resignation and the President, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday (Friday) accepted her resignation.

The President thanked the Minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits, a statement by the President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina said.

Adeosun in her letter of resignation said she resigned after she got information that the presidential investigation into her NYSC certificate proved that it was a forgery.

Adesina also Buhari approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today.

The statement also reproduced Adeosun’s letter of resignation in full.

See below:

14th September, 2018
His Excellency
Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House
Aso Villa
Abuja.

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty. 

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport.  I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me.  Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding. 

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018. 

Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians. 

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of  advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I  appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes

Kemi Adeosun (Mrs).

Lagos Luxury Lifestyle Summit Announces 2018 Speakers

  … As Lagos state government endorses summit 

 Management of the Luxury Lifestyle Summit has announced renowned speakers for the 2018 edition of the summit scheduled to hold on the 26th October in Lagos. 

Earlier, Lagos State Government endorses the summit as the host city and as published in the Lagos tourism calendar of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. 

 The Lagos Luxury Summit as endorsed by the Lagos State Government will have Foluso Phillips, Executive Chairman of Phillips Consulting and erstwhile Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group as the lead speaker to deliver the topic; Growing the Lagos luxury sector: opportunities and challenges. F

Foluso Phillips has got a phenomenal experience in the luxury sector coupled with his organization’s extensive research report on the luxury industry in Lagos state, his speech promises to be an eye-opener to the numerous opportunities abound in Lagos State and beyond. 

Funke Osae-Brown, Partner of The Lagos Luxury Lifestyle Summit and Publisher of The Luxury Reporter announced that the 2018 edition of the summit is unique because it is expanded beyond Nigeria with a specific look at the Kenya and South African luxury markets. 

In this vein, Michael Mwai, the CEO, Luxuria Lifestyle East Africa, will be speaking on the Africa luxury experience: The Kenya experience. Nwai’s passion for the luxury industry in Africa is rare with a distinctive speciality in connecting luxury brands to consumers on the continent and to opportunities in the sector.  

Other speakers include Modupe Ogunlesi, the CEO of Adam and Eve Homeware who has been in the luxury retail space for 20 years and counting. 

She will speak on luxury retail in Lagos: The making of homegrown luxury brand while Bola Allison, who has been a Jewellery for 15 years will speak on The next phase of luxury in Lagos: expectations and challenges. 

 The Lagos Luxury Summit will also feature a panel discussion to further engage professionals and experts in the luxury sector Tope Ogbeni-Awe, Partner of The Lagos Luxury Lifestyle Summit and Chief Service Officer, Topcomm PR has called on brands to take advantage of the summit to showcase their products as spaces are limited. 

 A Golf Tournament to engage professionals and corporate brands is in the pipeline for the second day of the summit.

Saraki’s ambition almost ruined APC, says Adams Oshiomhole

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that he has been vindicated about his comments that Senate president Bukola Saraki left the ruling party because of his personal ambition and not because he had the interest of the nation at heart. 

According to The Nation, Oshiomhole said that Saraki’s personal ambition almost destroyed the APC, pointing out that it was a good thing that the Senate President has moved on. 

It was gathered that the Oshiomhole who met with APC leaders from Kwara state said the declaration of the Senate president to contest the presidential ticket on the platform of the People’s Demoholeratic Party (PDP) has vindicated him and charged APC members in Kwara state to jettison their personal ambitions and work towards ending the reign of Saraki in Kwara politics.

Chief press secretary to Oshiomhole, Simon Ebegbulem quote the APC Chairman as saying: “When I was saying that all these defections are not about APC but the personal ambition of these people, they took hired writers to say I was being too hard. But Saraki’s declaration has vindicated me. 

“Thank God he has moved on because his inordinate ambition was almost destroying our party but he has failed. These are not principled politicians but bread and butter politicians who can go extra miles to pursue their selfish ambition and never think about the well-being of Nigerians. 

“As things stand today, APC remains the darling of the Nigeria people. Because PDP was the vomit of yesterday, our people will not chew it back today, not under three and half years. People have not forgotten and people will never forget. 

In fact, what a senior palace chief in Nigeria said, he said this generation of Nigerians will not forgive the PDP in a hurry. Even to say you want to forgive you must do reparation. “The damage they did to our economy, the damage they did to our electoral process, even the culture of rigging was institutionalized by them. They introduced do or die politics. They are the ones buying weapons for young people to go into thuggery while their own children are schooling abroad. They introduced all these vices”. 

He said that reclaiming Kwara state from the grip of Saraki is a task that must be done, and asked APC leaders to ensure they conclude the election of executives from the wards to the state this weekend. 

His words: “The last time I spoke with the minister he told me we have accomplished 80 or 85%, that for me is not good enough because we don’t have more time. So this week we must achieve hundred percent by whatever means. If you can’t do it, we have to help you get it done. 

“The two deputy national chairmen working with the National Organizing Secretary and the northcentral vice chairman constitute a committee to complete whatever is left. It will not exceed Sunday this week. 

“I also want to appeal very strongly, that at this hour, we don’t want a situation where because of what is happening in Kwara, people who ordinarily will be quite happy to be a strong pillar of support, everybody want to be a governor, everybody wants to be a senator or in the House of Reps. 

“Our party is a party of change and we want to discourage people from putting their personal interest over and above the interest of the people of Kwara state. I am able to say under the leadership of the minister, he has repeatedly said it that his interest is not for him to contest for the governorship of Kwara state or any elective office. I don’t think it can be more selfless than that. 

“I am very impressed with the enthusiasm of the people of Kwara state. They are experiencing a new dawn, a new sense of freedom and a sense of ownership of the APC where we are trying to do bottom up rather than top down.

 “Where we have politics of inclusion, no godfather, everybody matters. Now I superintend over the liquidation of godfathers in Edo state, now I will not be here and allow and support the emergence of a new godfather. 

“When we vanquished the godfathers we created a level playing field for equal opportunity to participate and that is what I think we have achieved so far and we need to take full advantage of that to do what need to be done for us to get on with the job of organizing, mobilizing. “I believe all of us, the APC leadership, we are anxious to come to Kwara state, to interface with the great people of Kwara state, beyond llorin to other major cities in Kwara. 

“Let them know and carry the message of change and use the broom to sweep away the past, including the thorn umbrella. The task of sweeping away the past and rebuilding a new Kwara is a task that must be done.

 “That should give you the energy, the incentive and the appropriate spirit to work together so that victory will be ours, not for our own good but for the good of the great people of Kwara state who have been oppressed for such a long long time. Like they say there can be many days for the thief but one day for the owner”.