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many sectors in Nigeria, more especially tourism have remained dormant and untapped due to so many factors that have affected our econom...
Friday, 13 May 2016
Thursday, 12 May 2016
Read what Malam Nasir El-Rufai said in one of his Interviews with Vanguard news paper on January, 08, 2012.
"If another government was in power, let us assume General Buhari was the President of Nigeria, he would not withdraw the subsidy. He will fix the problem. He will audit who is taking the money in the subsidy, who is paying what, how the money multiply three times in one year and fish out the thieves and deal with them".
The journalist asked Elrufai the following question and read what he said.
"So, why do you think Jonathan lacks the political will to deal with them?
Because they financed his election. But Buhari would have sorted that out. That is the first thing to do. Now, while you are paying the subsidy, even one quarter of what you are paying is a lot. General Buhari's administration would have ensured that within 12 months all the refineries are working at full capacity. His administration would have built the fourth refinery that will bring our domestic production to the point that we don't need to import a single drop of petrol. And once we can produce our petrol from our own crude oil, at out own cost, we can sell it at any price we like. That is what Buhari's government would have done. Nigerians made a very big mistake for not electing Buhari, and they are learning every day. Many people have told me that they voted for Jonathan and they are regretting it now.
He continued, "There is no question of Buhari withdrawing subsidy because he has been Petroleum Minister, Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and so on.
Tinubu: Fuel price hike is necessary pain
Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has appealed to Nigerians to take the difficulties that might arise as a result of the new pump price of fuel as a sacrifice for a better future.
In a statement issued by his media office, the two-term governor of Lagos state, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking “a bold step”, telling Nigerians that “this pain is necessary”.
He said the new development will clear the rot in the petroleum sector, and push out “fake businessmen who became true billionaires over night”.
“We all want fuel at a cheaper price under the subsidy, we got the right price but not the fuel,” the statement read.
“This change will mean higher fuel costs in generally. I would be lying if I said this will cause no pain or dislocation. However, it will rational supply and end the hidden buy substantial costs associated with long waits and delays for fuel. The days and hours of waiting for fuel will be a thing of the past.
“As originally envisioned, the subsidy formed a basic part of the social contract between the people and their government. It was a benefit all were to enjoy. Yet, because past governments were not for and of the people, the true meaning and objective of the subsidy policy became lost. Over the years, the operation of the measure was distorted to where it no longer functioned for the benefit of the masses but for the undue enrichment of a small club of businessmen, some legitimate in their work, some not.
“Instead of remaining a positive aspect of the social contract, the subsidy was transformed into an opaque haven of intrigue and malfeasance. It was turned into a shadowy process from which the unscrupulous extracted large sums of money without providing the services and products duly paid for. Fake businessmen became true billionaires over night as if by supernatural force. They paraded themselves as such.
“To allow this unfairness to continue would have been a breach of the promise made by this government to the people. While we all have an emotional and sympathetic attachment to the ideals upon which the subsidy was founded.”
Tinubu said allowing the situation to remain the same would have translated to a breach of the agreement which the ruling party had with Nigerians in the electioneering period.
He confessed that even though he would have ordinarily preferred that the sector was sanitised and not totally liberalised, he believed that the current government took a decision that serves the people best.
“This administration entered office with a mandate of CHANGE. The government could not forever sit back and allow this dire inequity to continue less it forfeit the essence of its mandate,” he said.
“I wish we could have sanitised the subsidy regime and thus continue it, but I believe that President Buhari is removing it not for the austere purpose of saving money but for the nobler purpose of putting those same funds to fairer, more equitable use in order that government might better serve those of us who are truly in need.
“While this may not be perfect, it is a much better deal than the one the subsidy offered us.”
What makes a nation #FantasticallyCorrupt
By Amadi Temple
1. A president lies to the public about his assets and also breached his promise to make it public and his supportes hail and defend him
2. A President goes to National Assembly to present a#BudgetOfCorruption and his party hailed
3. President GMB budgets 3.5B for renovation of Aso Rock barely 5 months after earlier renovation
4. A president admits he submitted a #BudgetOfCorruption and no body is facing trial for it.
5. ICT Ministry budgeted 1Billion for office furniture under #Budget2016presented by Buhari.
6. Our National Budget under GMB was padded, stolen, missing, and no details since after passage
7. An Ex Governor stole over N70B from a failed mono rail, GMB rewarded him with Ministerial post
8. A president's wife is reported to have engaged in forex round tripping but the case has been swept under the carpet
9. A minister budgeted 795 million to update a website and he is still walking free
10. A budget was found to be fradulently padded with almost 2 trillion, it was taking back for correction and brought back with only 15 billion removed. The fraud is untouched
11. The Central Bank and FRSC employs the children and relatives of the president and his party men through the back door and offer masquerade dressing jobs to the common man (including their supporters)
These and more are what makes a nation #FantasticallyCorrupt
PHOTOSPEAK Biafrans And Shi'ites Protesting At Anti-Corruption Summit, London
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have embacked on a peaceful protest in front of the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, which has Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance.
They are protesting for illegal incarceration of their leader Nnamdi Kanu, and also for Biafran 'freedon'.
However the Islamic groupt - Shiites are also protesting for release of their leader, Sheik Zakzaky, whose whereabout is unknown after many months of being taken by Nigerians soldiers, after a clash with shia group that resulted in loss of hundreds of lives on the shia side.
Other groups like the Tamil of Sri Lanka could also be seen holding placards demanding the whereabout of Tamil children.
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FG presents details of 2016 budget
ISIS kills Christians for refusing to convert to Islam in sickening video (photos)
ISIS, the world's most dangerous Terrorist group released a sickening video where they gruesomely killed Ethiopian Christians for refusing to convert to Christianity according to reports by Express UK.
Ethiopian Christians in the video can be seen dressed in orange jumpsuits with dozens of masked terrorists standing behind them by the beach side.
The 29-minute video, which has been brought down by Youtube, shows the jihadis separate the Christians into two groups on a beach in Libya before shooting and cutting off the heads of about 16 Christians after they refused converting to Islam.
ISIS say the Christians did not pay a compulsory religious ISIS tax and were left with one option - to convert or be killed.
ISIS in the video also referred to the men as "followers of the cross from the enemy Ethiopian Church".
Source: Express.co.uk
Everton sack Roberto Martinez
Everton FC have relieved Roberto Martinez of his duties as the club’s manager following a 3-0 loss to Sunderland on Wednesday.
Everton have been able to pick only four points in the English Premier League (EPL) since March.
Martinez, who had three years remaining on his contract, led the club to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup this season.
“Their poor league form, however, proved his undoing and he leaves after nearly three years at the club,” said Sky Sports news.
A “Martinez out” banner was visible at the Stadium of Light, even prior to kick-off, and has been seen in recent weeks at home matches.
Some fans held a protest against the Spaniard following the 2-1 victory over Bournemouth on April 30.
Another protest has been fixed outside St George’s Hall, where Everton will be holding their end-of-season awards dinner on Thursday.
The dismissed coach was appointed as David Moyes’ successor in June 2013, and guided Everton to their best Premier League points tally – 72 – and a fifth-place finish in his first season in charge.
Martinez smashed the club’s transfer record with the £28m signing of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea in the summer of 2014, but failed to build on the success of his debut campaign at the club, finishing in 11th.
The 2015-16 season has been another disappointing campaign for Martinez and Everton, who have won only five times at Goodison Park.
Everton currently sit at 12th spot and, with only one match remaining, they are guaranteed to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for a second successive year.
Niger Delta Avengers writes to congratulate their strike teams and promimse more strikes and destructions
From the high command of the Niger Delta Avengers we congratulating all strike teams of the Avengers without taking any innocent life or that of the Nigeria military we were able to shut down 50% of crude production.
We have been seeing a lot on the media about us. Some are asking, “Who are you avenging?” some calling us empty heads, ex-agitators have been condemning us on daily basis. Our criticizer from other part of the country, we don’t have any thing to tell you because you clearly don’t know how life is in the region.
To our criticizers from the region we want you to know you are all cowards and afraid to stand for your people.
To ex-agitators of the likes of Tompolo, We know why you people are after us. Our agitation is more civilize than yours the Niger Delta Avengers is more concern with people of Niger Delta unlike you (ex-agitations) that were into kidnapping, killing of Nigeria soldiers, sea pirates, vessel and tanker hijacking. But we were able to carry out all our operations without killing a fly. We have sophisticated arms far better than what you use to have during your kidnapping days.
After the amnesty Programme you (ex-agitators) has been enjoying patronize from the government and royalty from multinational oil companies. While we (Avengers) have been strategizing on how the voice of the Niger Deltans can be heard. we are fighting a radical fight without taking any life.
Lets make it clear, to you our elder brothers (ex-agitators) that we are not begging you to join this agitation. We are young, educated, well traveled and most of us were educated in east Europe but don’t worry when we achieved our goal (sovereign state of Niger Delta) then you people will be proud of us. In as much as we respect you as our elder brothers (ex-agitators) please don’t dare to stand on our way because if you do we will crash you.
To the citizens of the Niger Delta who share same idea with us we thank you all. Just know that no amount of criticism within and outside the region can stop us.
For the record the Niger Delta Avengers is enjoying the blame game going around.
To the Nigeria military the Niger Delta avengers is among you. And we know all your plans so we will always ten steps ahead of you. In our meeting comprising all heads of the strike teams, which was held in Bayelsa. The Niger Delta Avengers high Command comes to the conclusion that, if the military harass or invade any community in the region then you (Nigeria military) will get a feel of the Avengers.
If you smart or intelligent enough you will look inward not outside. We know when you are vulnerable but not take our calmness for granted.
To our brothers from Easterner Nigeria, whom have been condemning and calling us names. The simple fact you are living comfortable doesn’t mean we like you.
The Commander of Strike team 9 of the Niger Delta Avengers is from Eastern Nigeria so no body should limit this struggle to the Ijaws of the Niger Delta only. The leader of the strike team 6 that blew up chevron valve platform is Itsekiri. The Commander of our elite team strike team one is from Akwa Ibom.
So if you are calling us empty heads just know you brothers are part of Niger Delta Avengers as well. Avengers is different from former agitators who limited the struggle to just the Ijaws
To international Oil Companies, this is just the beginning and you have not seen anything yet. We will make you suffer as you have been made the people of Niger deltans suffered over the years from environmental degradation, and environment pollution.
To the President of Nigeria Buhari, we are sure you have not been to the creeks of the Niger delta before and 90% of your cabinets does not know how the region looks like. You think the Niger delta region is full of animals, who are going to frustrate your government. Your government that is not following rule of law, unlawful detention of innocent people just likes of Nnamdi Kanu. All he wanted was to let his people go. Nnamdi kanu didn’t carry any arm against this country but was incarcerated. We want you to know that’s no civilize President will behaves this way. If that is how you devised to run the country we will prefer you do that in the northern region.
When couples are tired of living together to make peace they go their separate ways. That is what Nnamdi kanu and the Niger deltans are asking.
You always say you fought for the unity of this country during the civil war. You haven’t been to the Niger delta, how can you know what the people are facing I believe your Vice will tell how the region is suffering and under developed when he visited the Forcados Terminal. That is if he ever looks out of his helicopter window.
1. Apo Well was award to Sapetro Oil owned by Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma .Apo field is capable of producing 300,000 barrels per day and crude reserve of 500 million barrels.
2. OML 110 Obe oil field own by Alhaji Mai Daribe, Cavendish Petroleum with an estimated 500 million barrel of crude oil that worth $50 billion dollars after tax.
3. Akpo condensate field was awarded to Sapetro Oil owned by Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma. This field worth $100 billions of dollars.
4. OML 112 and OML 117 were awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company owned by Colonel Sanni Bello. Son inlaw to former Head of State. Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar. Its worth $150 Dollars after tax.
5. OML 115 also known as Oldwok field and Ebok field was awarded to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi. Inlaw to former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida the two fields worth $200 billion Dollars.
6. OML 215 was awarded and operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited owned by one Alhali Saleh Mohammed Gambo. The field worth $100 billion Dollars after tax.
7. OML 108 awarded to Express Petroleum Company owned by Alhaji Aminu Dantata. This field worth $128 billion Dollars.
8. OML 113 was allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Limited owned by Alhaji W. I. Folawiyo. Net worth is $150 billion Dollars.
9. Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero cousin to the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanisu, owns ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal oil fields. It worth $110 billion Dollars.
10. Inter is owned by Atiku Abubakar, Yara dua and Ado Bayero has a substantial stakes in the oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
11. AMNI International Petroleum Company owns OML 112 and OML 117. Former Minister of Petroleum and OPEC Chairman Rilwanu Lukman has major stakes in AMNI International Petroleum Company.
12. OML 67 is operated Afren Plc. Rilwanu lukman also has a major stakes and the field worth $180 billion Dollars.
13. OPL 245 is awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas owned by Dan Etete. Former President Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abukbakar all has major shares. It worth $50 billion Dollars.
14. OPL 289 and OPL 233 was awarded to Cleanwater Consortium, the two fields worth $200 billion Dollars. Former Governor Peter Odili of River State, Obasanjo and Sultan of Sokoto has major Stakes.
15. OPL 288 was awarded to focus Energy Senator Andy Uba, Obasanjo, and Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma are the major stakeholders. The field worth $70 billion Dollars.
16. OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited owned by Emeka Offor. The field worth $100 billion Dollars.
17. Mike adenuga’s Conoil controls and operates Six (6) oil blocs and exports about 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily. These 6 oil bloc worth $500 billion Dollars.
From our analysis above, 90% oil blocs are allocated to individuals from northern Nigeria and some confused elements from the region are calling the Niger Delta Avengers names, some are calling us criminals. Our question to these groups of individuals calling us names are; where were you when all these atrocities were happening to the people of the Niger Delta? IT’S A PITY.
To owners and operators of these oil blocs in our region the Niger Delta Avengers is giving you two weeks ultimatum to shut down your operations and evacuates your staff. If at the end of the ultimatum and you still operating. We will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So just shut down your operations and leave.
There is rumor that oil has been discovered in the North East. How will you feel if this found oil is been managed by Niger Deltans. We are very sure the Niger deltans wont even have 2% oil bloc if oil is really found in the Northeast. If you didn’t shut down we will shut your stations permanently for you.
To all International Oil Companies, Indigenous Oil Companies and Contractors if anyone called saying there members of Avengers please not listen or take them serious because our ideology and belief is far from that.
Once again on behalf of all the commanders of the avengers strike teams we congratulate our loyal and gallant soldiers who put human life before their targets. On behalf of the Niger Delta people we said congratulation as we have cripple the Nigeria economy by 50% by the grace of God we will make it 100% if our demands are not met soon.
By October 2016 we will display our Currency, Flag, Passport, our ruling Council and our Territory to the world.
To the United Nations, we are not asking for much but to free the people of the Niger Delta from environmental pollution, slavery, and oppression. We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger delta to a tourism heaven, a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will make health care system accessible by everyone. With Niger delta still under the country Nigeria we can’t make it possible. So we are calling on the Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General United Nations and all Heads of the government of the five Permanent Security Council members to come to the aid of Niger delta people. We are calling on world leaders to come to the Niger delta to see the atrocities committed by the Nigeria government
Long Live the Niger delta Avengers.
Long Live the Niger Delta.
Col. Mudoch Agbinibo
Buhari and osibanjo said removal of subsidy is senseless and evil in 2011
is easier to criticize when one is seating on the fence. the aggressive and wicked opposition mounted on the govt of former president Jonathan left many questions unanswered. Jonathan govt introduced alot of policies that would have help rebuild this nation, but the opposition in govt now did everything possible to destroy it in all front.
lets look at this issue of subsidy. in a sane society where everything work who could have opposed the subsidy removal of 2011? seeing how many billions we were spending on this monster called subsidy alone, an amount capable of revitalising our moribund educational sector, an amount capable of stopping capital flight in our health sector. or reviving our dead industries. but the opposition was not interested, instead they conspired with the real thieves, oil marketers and roll out drums to the street in protest against a beautiful policy that would have put us on a clear economic revival. those you expected to be patriotic elites came out hard to kick against it including the present president. there reason was the govt of the day should rebuild or operate a functioning refineries before removing subsidy.
today they struggle to pay salaries and every other sector have remained dormant, nothing is working under this govt of CHANGE.
can you imagine that this same govt that fought against subsidy removal will be the same, trying to smuggle it in through back door.
here are what APC and buhari said in 2011, infact buhari said there is nothing like subsidy. Nigerians should start asking hard questions,
questions like what is APC led govt doing diffirently from previous govts?
Wednesday, 11 May 2016
We shall resist this increase
The Nigerian Labour Congress on Wednesday said it would resist the federal government’s scrapping of fuel subsidy and increase of petrol price to about N145 per litre.
“The unilateral increase in prices of petroleum products today by government represents the height of insensitivity and impunity and shall be resisted by the Nigeria Labour Congress and its civil society allies,” the congress said, through a statement by its General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson.
The statement added, “With the imposition on the citizenry of criminal and unjustifiable electricity tariff and resultant darkness and other economic challenges brought on by the devaluation of the Naira and spiraling inflation, the least one had expected at this point in time was another policy measure that would further make life more miserable for the ordinary Nigerian
“The latest increase is the most audacious and cruel in the history of product price increase as It represents not only about 80 per cent increase but it is tied to the black market exchange rate.
“Further more, the process through which government arrived at this is both illogical and illegal as the board of the PPPRA is not duly constituted. In our previous statements and communiques, we had stressed the need for reconstituting the boards of NNPC and PPPRA and wean both away from the overbearing influence of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who has assumed the role of a Sole Administrator.
“The allusion to the fact that the this increase was arrived at after due consultation with stake holders is not only ridiculous and fallacious, it goes to show that the brief meeting held today during which government was advised shelve the idea until at least it meets with the appropriate organs of the Congress was in bad faith.
“Accordingly, we urge the government to revert the prices to what they were. We would want to put everybody on notice that we shall resist this criminal increase with every means legitimate.
“Already an emergency NEC meeting has been scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2016 to decide on the next line of action. Meanwhile, our affiliates, state councils and civil society allies are requested to commence mobilization immediately.”
Why fuel price became necessary
Why labour is kicking, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) was explaining why the deregulation of the downstream sector and the hike in fuel price was inevitable.
Acting Executive Secretary of the agency, Sotonye Iyoyo, said the new price, which reflected a hike by about 67.6 per cent from the previous N86.50 per litre, was to help marketers overcome difficulties they were facing in fuel importation.
The N86.50 was the official fixed price by government under the now defunct subsidy regime.
Under the subsidy regime, the government paid the difference between the landing cost of fuel, including the marketers’ and distributors’ margins, and the fixed retail price to enable fuel to be sold at N86 per litre at NNPC-owned mega stations, and N86.50 per litre in other filling stations.
With the take-off of the deregulation policy, the federal government has formally removed subsidy from the PPPRA pricing template.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, who announced the policy change, said deregulation was introduced in order to increase and stabilize the supply of petroleum products in the country.
Mr. Kachikwu said any Nigerian entity with the right capacity was now free to import and market fuel in the country, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by PPPRA.
“All oil marketers will be allowed to import PMS (premium motor spirit) on the basis of FOREX (foreign exchange) procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.
The PPPRA, the government agency responsible for moderating petroleum product pricing in the petroleum industry, explained that the review of the fuel price became necessary in view of the difficulties petroleum products marketers usually encounter in sourcing for FOREX.
“This review became imperative in the face of extreme difficulties faced by petroleum product importers in sourcing foreign exchange,” the executive secretary said in Abuja.
Mrs. Iyoyo, who also announced the second quarter price modulation framework, which debuted on January 1, 2016, said it was aimed at ensuring a ‘fit-for-all’ approach in the interest of the Nigerian consumers, marketers and the economy.
She said the new framework approved a new price band for PMS at a maximum of N145 per litre in other filling stations, while NNPC retail stations would sell at a lower price.
To meet the country’s consumption demand, the PPPRA official said fuel importers would henceforth be permitted to source for foreign exchange from secondary sources outside the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s rate of N197 and N199 to the dollar.
Mrs. Iyoyo, who said the agency was conscious of the difficulties Nigerians were facing in the last few months, explained that the PPPRA would continue to modulate pricing in accordance with prevailing market dynamics to ensure fair value to all.
Meanwhile, shortly before the formal announcement, there were long queues at filling stations in Abuja and environs as anxious motorists tried frantically to buy fuel at the price of N86.50 pending when the filing stations would adjust their pumps to reflect the new price.
source premum times
Driver Caught Having S*x With Friend's Wife says she forced me to do.
According to reports, the taxi driver identified as Patrick Chanda usually drives his friend's wife to work on a daily basis. He said he was forced to have s*x with her because she failed to pay him for service rendered. His words below;
"After taking her for work in the morning, she told me that she will give me money later in the afternoon after she comes back from work. I agreed because that is the nature of our work. She later called me around 7.30pm to pick her up from Chilanga were she said she had traveled for work and i agreed".The woman's husband did not find the "joke" funny, he pounced on the driver who is also his friend -beating him mercilessly....
"After picking her up i drove to Lusaka Hellen Kaunda area were she resides and I demanded that she pay me my money i have worked for, Instead she complained that she didn't have money and told me to sleep with her. I tried to insist to just give me my money, but she removed her underwear and squeezed me, It was at this stage when i got carried away and slept with her just in my car" he lamented.
source
Doctors remove 18 inches cassava from a man who was using it as sex toy
A 55-year-old Costa Rican man almost died from anal injuries after an 18-inch cassava that he was using as an anal sex toy got stuck inside him. Fortunately, he was saved after doctors at San Juan de Dios Hospital in San Jose managed to remove the cassava.
According to reports, the man had carved the long and broad cassava into a phallic shape, wrapped it in two condoms and proceeded to use it.
Unfortunately, one of the condoms burst, and it got stuck in his anal cavity. This put the man at risk of perforating his intestines and suffering from other infections.
Wendy Williams says Rihanna is a girl guys only have fun with....
During a segment of her show,wile discussing the possibility of Rihanna being in a relationship with Drake,she said
‘I think that Rihanna, at this point of her life is a holla back girl,‘‘A holla back girl is a girl that guys have fun with, with no intentions of bringing to mom,‘Wendy further explained to her excited audience, ‘I believe she’s a holla back girl… and there’s nothing wrong with that at her particular age but I just want you to know that if she’s serious with any one coz no one could be serious with her because she is a holla back girl.’Not cool.She needs to tone it down .....
YOUWIN: Awardees Protest Non-payment Of Tranches At Ministry Of Finance
YOUWIN: Awardees protest non-payment at Ministry of FinanceBy Samson Atekojo Usman
Awardees of YOUWIN programme in the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday protested at the the Federal Ministry of Finance, demanding that they should be paid their grant having trained and engaged some youths in their various businesses as well as fulfilled all processes.
The awardees, in their numbers, claimed that the inability of the last administration to pay them was due to an alleged missing N5.05 billion counterpart funding which the World Bank released to the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Spokesperson of the group, Engr. Jonathan Ango, who spoke to DAILY POST at the Ministry of Finance, stated that the payment to beneficiaries was split in three ranches, but few beneficiaries were selected in first and second tranches and payed peanuts as if to suggest that the programme was successful.
“You see the World Bank did released over N5.05billion as part of its counterpart funds, but the Secretariat would call few beneficiaries and less than 10% in the first and second ranges, and we later got to discovered that the money has been embezzled and that was why we were no longer comfortable,” Angola alleged.
“The programme was captured in 2012 up to 2015 budget of the Federal Ministry of Finance, so where were those funds?” he asked.
A World Bank Consultant attached to YOUWIN Secretariat, who identified himself as Femi, told the protesters that the delay was caused by BVN, assuring them that the authorities were on top of the situation.
He declined comment on the missing World Bank Counterpart Fund and asked journalists to wait for the appropriate person to come and clarify issues.
Meanwhile, all efforts by our correspondent to speak with the Permanent Secretary or Director in charge of YOUWIN programme as at press time proved abortive even after waiting for two hours.
Gowon To Pro-biafran Agitators: You’re Ignorant Of History, Emulate Zik.
LAGOS — FORMER Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd), yesterday berated those agitating for the sovereign state of Biafra, reminding them of the unifying role the late first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, played during the civil war, despite hailing from the secessionist side.
He particularly fumed that the youths, who are in the vanguard of the clamour, are ignorant of Nigeria’s history, noting that Igbo youths at the end of the civil war prayed never to experience the kind of suffering occasioned by the war.
Gowon, who said this in the light of the agitation by the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, noted that what Nigeria needed now is the right political perspective and not self-determination sentiments.
The former leader said these in Lagos at the public presentation of a book entitled: Zik: Testimonies To A Great African, which was edited by Mr. Henry Onukwuba to mark the 20th anniversary of the demise of the late first President of Nigeria, Dr Azikiwe.
At the event which was attended by Senate President; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, represented by Dr. Okorie Uchenna; Lagos State governor, represented by Alhaji Abdulhakeem; First Republic politician, Mazi Mbazulike Amaechi; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Prof Pat Utomi and Dr. Augustine Obiora, among others, Gowon said Nigeria needs leaders, who would priortize the country’s unity like Azikiwe.
How Zik worked to preserve Nigeria’s unity, Gowon in his capacity as chairman of the event, also explained how the late President, who was the Owelle of Onitsha, passionately worked to preserve Nigeria’s unity during the Biafran secession, irrespective of the fact that he (Zik) was instrumental to the diplomatic recognition of the then Biafran Republic by some countries.
Speakers at the event were also unanimous in their calls on the need to place Nigeria’s unity above personal interests, as Azikiwe did.
Gowon said: “I am particularly touched by the reason the author of the book wrote it at this point of our national history. Now that the revised edition of the book is being presented at a time our youths seem to have forgotten our recent history and the labour of our heroes past, this, for me, is commendable.
“I think the point that he is making here is seen as the recent hype of the pro-Biafran spirit. I remember visiting the East Central State at the time, from Enugu, Nsukka, Owerri, Umuahia, Abakaliki and then to Onitsha and being met by children at that time who welcomed us so sincerely and they addressed me to say you are our leaders, we pray that no Nigerian child should one day suffer what they went through during that civil war.
“Such call should make any Nigerian leader to provide for their children and make them loyal to their country. That touched me so dearly to think of the suffering that these children went through. What can I say to them? I am sorry for the things that they went through. It is not by design that these things happened and so, I want to assure you that we will do our best for the future.
Nigerians never learned from history “Unfortunately, it seems as if we Nigerians never learned from history. How many children suffer today throughout the country? Honestly, something has to be done by Nigerians and I think that is one of the reasons this call by these young people trying to say they want to fight again should be discouraged.
“Do they realize what it takes? If I have anything to do with Nigeria, as I have said, I will implore all of you to really bring peace to bear by correcting the young people if they are going astray. At this time, therefore, I think the youths seem to have forgotten our chequered history and labour of our heroes past.
“I can assure you that anything that has to do with Zik, is something that all of us must join hands and celebrate. Celebrating involves his life-time and his service to Nigeria.
“Nnamdi Azikiwe was one of Nigeria’s greatest statesmen and a true son of Africa. Today’s event can, therefore, very well be described as the extension of the unending celebration of a great man.”
In his remarks, the author of the book, Mr. Henry Onukwuba, said: “Today, 20 years after, I wonder how Zik will be feeling in his grave. I wonder if Zik will not feel betrayed and abandoned by a nation he gave so much to.”
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