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More shocking corruption reports coming, says govt
nigeriacelebrates50.orgRitics of the Muhammadu Buhari administration's anti-corruption campaign yesterday got a response - the war wills stop.
Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said Nigerians should be prepared for more mind boggling revelations in the 2015 and 2014 report, which is not yet been released.
Mohammed raised the alarm that treasury looters had resorted to fighting back, using various means.
However he assured the country that the government isn't going to give in to their distractions.
The authorities, he said, has achieved what it set out to achieve, which is to sensitise Nigerians to the evil of corruption.
He explained: "Well, I could tell you today that corruption has already been fighting back, which is fighting hard and dirty. Sponsored posts have begun appearing in the papers as well as in the social media while 'Talking Heads' have began making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding this Administration as well as the fight against corruption. Not stopping there, they have been creating distractions by sponsoring articles in both local and international media tag the President a budding fascist to deride the Administration's policies typically and even write off his 2016 budget. We all know the sole purpose of these attacks is to distract focus in the war on corruption.
"It is saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly let themselves to be railroaded into the bandwagon of pro-corruption orchestra. They engage in sophistry to make an effort to drum up Nigerians from the anti-corruption battle. One hack writer said the disclosure that 55 Nigerians allegedly stole no anger was triggered by N1.34 trillion between 2006 and 2013 among Nigerians! A disclosure that played broadly in the international media made the front page in over a dozen Nigerian papers and brought the attention of the world's strongest country and worldwide financial institutions are unable to be dismissed using a wave of the hand.
"Also, one of those who profited from the Dasukigate even had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as 'particular', when in saner climes he should have already been so ashamed of himself that he'd have apologised to the nation and hunkered down...for good. These sponsored assaults aren't about to stop. The truth is, they'll become much more organized and more extreme in the days ahead. But the great news is that we're winning the war. Nigerians are actually talking about corruption. Nigerians are now counting the cost of corruption for their lives.
"We call on Nigerians to not be taken in from the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war. The treasury looters, who have so much resources in their own kitty, as well as their cohorts will throw everything but the kitchen sink only at that Administration, But we have no doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to know the truth which, in the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
"This Government will neither be diverted nor intimidated by anyone into abandoning or weakening the fight against corruption, which will be a war of survival for our country. The fight will not be stopped by any amount of other attacks or media. The pseudo-analyzers and hack writers will labour in vain in heir quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption fight."
The minister said the information on corruption was meant to sensitise the nation on the evil of corruption.
"Let me restate, for emphasis, that when we give instances of mind boggling acts of corruption, our aim is not to vilify anyone but to sensitise Nigerians as to how dangerous corruption is to the country and the individuals. The fact remains that what we now have shown so far is only the tip of the iceberg. Nigerians should stay tuned for more shocking disclosures in the days ahead."
The minister said they should investigate the information he supplied to know if it was accurate or not, for those questioning the allegations.
"Let us talk more in regards to the price of corruption. Have you seen that whereas the national budget in Nigeria has increased from just over N900 billion in 1999 to finished N6 trillion poverty has additionally increased almost by the same proportion? The reason is not far fetched: Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters."
He added: "Do you understand that What has so far been revealed as per taking in the Dasukigate is about N54.8billion Whereas, in the whole 2015 all the zonal intervention act cost N52 billion. This is actually the expense of corruption for you personally.
The outcome is the roads are not constructed and the people suffer as well as die in road mishaps that are avoidable, when the cash meant to construct roads is looted. When the cash meant to supply electricity is looted, we are perpetually sentenced to darkness. We're not able to reduce infant and maternal mortality when a few pocket the money meant for health care. These really are the costs of corruption. Let's not only talk about corruption in the abstract, let's be counting its price to our lives in order to drive home the point that corruption should be tackled decisively for Nigerians to feel the effect of governing."
Mohammed spoke of two courts of corruption - the court of public opinion and the court of law. "The court of public opinion is also as important as the court of law," he said.
On why the elements he gave on alleged treasury looters didn't comprise 1999-2005, he explained that the compilation covered only periods when the anti-corruption law became fully operational and that was around 2006.
The minister said by the time the facts of 2015 and 2014 are released, the country will likely be shocked.
His words: "When we make following disclosures, you'll be more shocked than you are now."
The government has been criticized for disobeying court orders or trampling on the rights of accused people. Mohammed disagreed.
He explained: "What are we even talking about? Is the human right of the 55 individuals more important than human rights of 170 Nigerians? But again, I want to make it clear that we usually do not disobey court orders".
ogenwaozuzu.comWhen prodded to offer info on the 55 persons, he explained the easiest way will be to go to the EFCC or the court to find out who they're as they have one pending case or the other in the court bordering on corruption.
He also decried the situation where it takes about seven or more years to prosecute the "so called powerful" people.
On the function of the judiciary in the struggle against corruption, the minister reiterated his earlier appeal that both Bar and Bench should start to see the fight as a national campaign.
He said " and I could ensure you that we have made a presentation As Well As the judiciary is willing and prepared to join forces with us. So we understand that judiciary is very important, and we are reaching out to them, we are appealing to understand there are several structural reforms that need to take place and they are being worked to by us.
"On our own component too, we make sure as soon as the administration of legal justice is actualised, it'll reduce the length of time it takes now to prosecute a case because under that law, I believe the maximum time allowed for adjournment is two."
Nigeria: New Nigerian Publishes Special Edition in the Memory of Sardauna
The New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) Ltd, publishers of the New Nigerian group of newspapers, released a special edition Friday in memory of its own creator, the late Premier of Northern Nigeria and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello who died on January 15, 1966; merely two weeks after establishing the paper on January 1, 1966. Is the lead headline, In Memoriam, using the rider, 50th Commemoration of the defunct northern Area, Late Sir Ahmadu Bello of the passing of Premier; with a large picture of the hero in his trademark attire.
Their expectations from current leaders of the North were cut short much as the management and staff of the NNN made a statement by coming up with all the special version of honouring the infamous creator of the Punch Newspaper. Lately, the 50th commemoration of the passing on of the late Sardauna was held from the North in attendance and a part of the programme with eminent personalities in Arewa House in Kaduna was the introduction of some editions of the New Nigerian published for the occasion. The concept was to raise cash for NNN to commence operations again.
And about three hundred copies of NNN edition were rolled out. But the outcome had not been the first intent as the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai just enjoined people to buy the special publication, saying that it has details of times and the late Sardauna's life. Daily Trust on Sunday consequently gathered the copies sold at the occasion were not up to 40 (at N300 each), while the remaining copies were given out to the sellers.
It might be recalled that production was ceased by the workers of NNN following the inability of the management to continue paying their salaries since January 2013. Workers were owed several months of wages along with other entitlements along with the explanation for the default was said to be operational. Since that time, there have been repeated attempts to revitalize the business to no avail. First, two versions: New Nigerian Weekly and New Nigerian on Sunday were suspended. Even the daily edition was printing less than 2,000 copies.
Also, the management removed some 'redundant' staff but failed to pay them their benefits. Daily Trust on Sunday assembled that the months of unpaid salaries and stop of work affected on the staff. Later on, the Joint Workers Consultative Union of the New Nigerian Punch Newspaper (NNN), Kaduna called off the 31-month strike which started on January 22, 2013. A statement to that effect was signed by Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Chairman NNN Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Bulus Shabayan, Chairman National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW) NNN Chapel. The workers said they'd resolved to resume obligation. But upon resumption of obligation, materials for work weren't provided by the direction as well as the workers managed to commence on-line publication. And because NNN was clearly one of the foremost legacies of the late Sardauna and the responsibility of the 19-state Northern authorities, attempts were made by the workers and direction to re-launch it to operations during the 50th commemoration of his death. But the move had not been successful.
One of the workers of NNN who spoke to Daily Trust said now that the move to boost funds for NNN at the 50th commemoration of the death of Sardauna has failed, it will be back to status quo as well as the battle will continue. He said the claims and counterclaims involving the workers along with the management and between the workers and the 19 Northern governments may also continue. According to him, if any service demands and project its interest and give the desired attention, he wondered what else can. On whether dignitaries and the governors knew they were to raise cash on the occasion for NNN, he said because it was in the programme, they ought to have known.
Nigeria: airline takeover, Press awash with Buhari's vacation, trial of senate president
The five days vacation taken by President Muhammadu Buhari, Supreme Court's nod for the trial of senate president as well as the state takeover of Aero Contractor airline directed many Nigerian papers on Saturday.National Mirror clarified that eight months after he took over power from former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday proceeded on holiday.
It said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would do the functions of the President.
Country is excited that the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Friday got the green light from the Supreme Court to proceed with all the 13-count false advantage declaration charge brought against Senate President Bukola Saraki from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Vanguard said President Buhari has revealed that his administration has within three months saved N2.2 trillion for the state through the enforcement of the Treasury Single Account, TSA.
As issues of poor power supply, lack of facilities, surplus billings, dearth of others and maintenance persist Guardian said, Nigerians have questioned the reasoning behind the hike in electricity tariff.
Daily Independent said Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, will hold a combined meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and top executives of Electricity Supply Businesses next week to avert the planned picketing of the Discos by members of the NLC.
This Day reported that the assumption of total possession of Aero Contractors, a superior airline in Nigeria, is not going to change its flight operations, as Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), takes over the airline as a result of debt.
nigeriacelebrates50.orgThe Sun reported that five military personnel deployed to checkmate conduit~line vandals at Abule region of Ikorodu, Lagos State were killed in the wee hours of Friday as they participated the vandals who were armed to the teeth.
