Missing budget: PDP wants NASS commence impeachment of Buhari, Wants Finance, Budget Ministers and CBN Governor to Quit

Read the press statement from PDP below;

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party Pdp rose from a meeting Thursday charging the National Assembly to commence impeachment of President Muhammedu Buhari for the various constitutional breaches especially the submission of two version of the 2006 budget.

The party said the National Assembly should thoroughly investigate the shameful act, including  the distortion and banding of  figures to accomadate their personal interest and ensure that appropriate sanctions is meted to whoever has a hand in the dubious action that has brought embarrassment to the legislative body.

The party also asked the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning to resign having failed to provide the much needed capacity in the management of the nation's economy resulting in the embarrassing crashing of the nation's currency to as low as N305 to a dollar.

Also the party asked the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria CBN to resign for plunging the country's currency policy into chaos an action that thrown investors into total confusion.
The party admonished the government to stop pretending that it knows what to do when feelers from the seat of power shows clearly that Nigerians by voting for APC have just discovered they boarded a once chance bus.

"We sympathizes with Nigerians who are seriously undergoing terrible hardship because of the now obvious inept leadership of APC despite the promise of one Naira to a dollar.
"What hope can a government that allows its currency to break a 43 year old record crashing to over N300 to one dollar offer and yet does not show it has clear focus of what to do.
The party said that APC government rather than address very grievous  national issues created by its lack of capacity to govern  has  instead resorted to violation of peoples rights in the name of fighting corruption.

They noted in particular the continued detention of its Spokesperson Chief Olisa Metuh for nearly 10 days in clear breach of his fundamental Human rights and reiterates its earlier call on the anti graft body to release him unconditionally with immediate effect.

Finally, the party called on all lovers of democracy especially the international community to note the fact that rule of law and respect for citizens rights, essential ingredients of civil liberty have taken flight in Nigeria under President Buhari's watch.
Signed

Prince Uche Secondus

Acting National a Chairman

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Ben Murray Bruce reminds Buhari to congratulate Seriake Dickson

As tweeted by Senator Ben Murray Bruce.

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Queen Rania Visited 10 Downing Street, London

Queen Rania of Jordan urged David Cameron to find a 'new approach' in dealing with refugees running for their lives from ISIS and Bashar al-Assad's forces on the 8th of January 2016. Jordan and the United Kingdom enjoy a close relationship with Jordan following a pro-Western foreign policy.

The Queen urged the Prime Minister and other leaders to take 'bolder measures' to deal with the crisis, which has seen displaced Syrians flee to neighbouring countries, including Jordan.

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Read Seun Kuti's reaction to IMF boss visiting Nigeria

IMF boss, Christine Lagarde, arrived in Nigeria on the 4th of January 2016 for talks with President Buhari over Nigerian economy.

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Nigeria is too small for Igbo - Adamu Ciroma

Mallam Adamu Ciroma

Mallam Adamu Ciroma, journalist, administrator, politician, former minister of different portfolios and erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is one of Nigeria's leading statesmen.

Ciroma, who was third in the 1978 presidential primaries of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, subsequently turned out to become a close confidant of President Shehu Shagari and served as minister in the Second Republic. He was also a close confidant of President Olusegun Obasanjo in the Fourth Republic and a rallying figure in the northern opposition to the 2011 presidential bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. Ciroma has largely kept out of the public eye despite the active participation of his wife, Hayiya Maryam Ciroma in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In this interview with Vanguard, he speaks on issues in his party, the PDP, the polity and among others. Excerpts:

You have been quiet for long on issues. Why?

There is no issue and I don't have to talk to the media or anybody.

As a founding father of the PDP, a lot of things went wrong and the party lost after 16 years in government. What do you think really happened?

You are a reporter and you have been following events more than me. Some of the things which caused the downfall of the party, have already been reported by you, and some of them were the cause of controversy in the party, for example about the presidential candidate where he comes from.

Do you also agree that there were also issues of lack of respect, lack of internal democracy in the party?

Everything about Nigerian politics and the formation of PDP and the management of affairs during the PDP period are known by you and indeed by everybody and everyone is even tired of them.

Now even the new government that has not been formed yet properly has not settled yet, has not done anything yet, why do you want to confuse us again about the PDP period? You know everything about PDP period; you know everything they are doing even now. I don't want to be in the press because you have come to ask me questions.

How can we get to the end of the Boko Haram insurgency?

The President has asked the military to bring the insurgency to an end by the end of December, this is official, everybody has heard of it and everybody is praying for the success of the president and everybody wants to help. So we pray that what the President said comes true and we hope that this nation will be able to have peace.

Was setting a time line for it really feasible?

I am not a military personnel, I am not a member of the police force.

Worries about foreign exchange

I am not a member of any of the security agencies; so I am not the one to answer that question.

How would you assess the government of President Muhammadu Buhari?

I have just told you that the government that was elected after the elections has not yet been properly established; ministers have just been named and approved by the Senate, the ministers are still familiarizing themselves with their ministries; so it is too early to ask what they have done or how they are doing it.

In fact, a lot of the worries people have now, is about the economy and the foreign exchange and things of that nature. It is now for the president to look at what the people are saying and deal with the problems of which they are throwing up and it is his duty to do that.

How will you assess  the present economic team of Mr President and his economic blueprint? And if you are to proffer an economic advice, what would you recommend?

You go and ask Udo Udoma and the Minister of Finance to explain to you their positions on things as they have outlined their programme to the President. I am not governor of the CBN now; I have not been the governor of the CBN for a long time.

Even, I was the minister of finance a long time ago. So all I know is that people are worried about foreign exchange, about financial transactions, about banking and I know that the government knows about these problems; though I expect the government to deal with them.

Nigerians will want to share in your experience on how you succeeded as finance minister and as CBN governor.

I did not have the same problem with the present government. I am old fashioned. Our view was that finance must deal with funding government activities, paying government workers, paying for economic development and once you put an item in the budget, you may consider it already done because government must find the resources to do them; in fact they will not put anything in the budget if they cannot find the resources to do them.

So our own way of doing things was old fashioned and when we say things you know, they will be done. But the present government is just settling in. I don't know their plans.

Part of their plans is to deregulate the price of petroleum which could see the price go up in future. Is there hope?

Udo Udoma laid out his views of what is likely going to happen to the economy. The Minister of Finance has said she expected there should be a lot of hard times next year.

Alleged arms deals

But I am sure that from now on, they are trying to ensure that only good things happen, that the problems they are afraid of will be avoided and I am sure that they are going to do their best.

Are you worried by the revelations on the alleged misuse of the security funds raised against the former National Security Adviser, Col. Samo Dasuki?

The issue of the alleged arms deals involving the former National Security Adviser is just something which is unfolding and you know that the matter is in court, the EFCC is trying to prosecute some of those involved and you can see the complication in public affairs where something begins with security adviser and ends up with the distribution of money at party level for the campaign.

So we are still in the middle of these things, we don't know how it is going to end. You just for the time being take note that people are being arrested, some are being tried and some denying receiving money from the security adviser. So the issues are going to clarify themselves in due course when EFCC has finished trying those who are accused.

Col. Sambo Dasuki mentioned that some party leaders were involved and they used it as campaign funds for the party, was it right and during your time did it happen that money maybe from the NSA or so, will be directed to the party?

Anything in politics, no matter how you deal with it secretly, eventually becomes public, eventually people will get to know about it. What didn't get exposed didn't happen.

So the issues they are having now are issues that have happened. It didn't happen before and that was why it was not exposed. And I don't know the details of what they did.

The PDP recently organized a national conference supposedly to heal wounds? Did they get it right?

You know it more than myself, you were there, you reported the thing. I was not there, they said I would be there, but I was not there. Did they not say I would be there?

Why didn't you attend?

I was not there because I wasn't clear in my own mind what they were trying to do.

Meaning they didn't come to explain, they didn't visit you?

They visited me, they explained, but I was not convinced.

Immediately after the election, two prominent PDP leaders resigned their positions in the party Adamu Muazu and the next day the chairman BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, what is your take on this?

I will not. Adamu Muazu is alive and well, the former chairman of BoT is alive and well.

Winning and losing

It is more interesting to get them to talk than to ask me a retired person to talk about things which happened when I was not there.

Some people are still saying that PDP will bounce back. Do you think so?

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Otti: APGA chieftain hails judgment, says party’ll win in more states

Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka

IGBO leader, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has applauded the Appeal Court judgment, which declared candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alex Otti, as winner of Abia State governorship election held on April 11 and April 25, 2015. Ezeonwuka described the judg­ment as a true reflection of the people's votes and a New Year blessing for the state.

The Governorship Election Appeal Tribunal sitting in Owerri, Imo State nullified the election of Abia Gov­ernor, Okezie Ikpeazu and declared Dr. Otti of APGA, winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elec­tions.

The five-member panel, headed by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, annulled the election on grounds of substantial non-compliance with the electoral law.

Ezeonwuka, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of APGA said with the victory, Abia was reborn and added that the emergence of an APGA governor marked the beginning of freedom of democracy and good gover­nance that the people of the state had yearned for.

Reacting to Governor Ikpeazu's decision to drag the case to Supreme Court, he added, "as Ogirisi Igbo, I am bold enough to predict and express the hope that the Supreme Court will uphold the judgment of the Appeal Court.

"Personally, as Ogirisi Igbo, I am vindicated because I predicted that Otti will win the election and liberate Abia from the shackles of PDP and he won as the Appeal Court has rightly declared."

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Nnamdi Kanu Apologises To Pres. Buhari, Jonathan And Igbo Elders

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile during one of his programmes on his radio station on August 1st this year. Kanu tendered the apology for his comment against Buhari, Jonathan and others in a statement which he made to the DSS on October 23rd.

The statement in part reads

"Reference to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile is regrettable and uncalled for and for that, I unreservedly apologise and will be doing so in a private letter to the President. Before PMB (President Buhari) there was the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. I also said uncomplimentary things about him and Igbo elders as well, which I now recognise should not have happened because it is un-African to be rude or insolent to elders. All I was trying to do is to draw attention to the problems afflicting society and something done about them."‎.

He says he is however not apologetic on his stand for the actualization of the Biafran state. Kanu who is standing trial for treason and five other offenses, was arrested on October 14th this year. He was recently charged to court by the ‎federal government.

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Ex-Russian agent claims Putin planted the jet bomb bomb that killed 224 Russians

A former Russian agent has come up with a bizzare theory about the bomb laden Russian plane which killed  224 Russians in Egypt was planted by Russian Prime Minister himself Valdimir Putin.Boris Karpichkov, a former spy with the KGB (later renamed the FSB) who now lives under a new identity with his wife and family at a secret location in England after fleeing here in fear for his life.

His sensational claim at first seems unbelievable. For he maintains it was the Kremlin, not ISIS, that deliberately blew the plane out of the sky.

And he says Putin cynically authorised the tragedy not only to obtain worldwide sympathy at a time when Russia was being treated as a pariah because of its aggression towards Ukraine, but also to gain support for its ostensible belligerence against ISIS, which Putin would use as a cover to attack rebel groups in Syria who were sworn enemies of his ally President al-Assad.The major claims his information comes from a general lieutenant in GRU (one of Russia's numerous military intelligence wings).

This man told him, he says, that around the time of the plane's crash, Putin had been expressing his concerns to Kremlin allies about 'possible losses of political influence' in Syria and the Middle East. Putin, he went on, was worried about the fate of his traditional ally in the region, President al-Assad, given the West's support for rebel groups trying to depose him.

A plan was allegedly hatched by officials within GRU to reverse Russia's declining influence in the region and - as Major Karpichkov claims he was told by a senior source - to 'kill two rabbits with one bullet'.

The aim was to get 'at least silent international approval' for massive military operations against Assad's enemies under the guise of a campaign against the IS terrorists blamed for bombing the Russian passenger jet; and to bolster Russia's multi-billion-pound weapons business with the Middle East.

This was all summarised in a dossier compiled by the former KGB spy: 'In order to accomplish all these aims and to get Western consent to fighting Islamic State (which was, essentially, official support for keeping the Assad regime in power), the Kremlin desperately needed the kind of justification which would generate worldwide attention and full international sympathy and approval for military action.'The file states that Russian intelligence 'geniuses' in GRU outlined a plan to Putin and his closest aides to bomb a Russian airliner and blame it on Islamic extremists 'to initiate enormous international hate towards ISIS and to create international sympathy to act on its own without any limits or reservations (for military action).'

A specialist in 'wet-jobs' and other forms of espionage was despatched to Sharm el-Sheikh, where hundreds of thousands of Russians holiday each year to escape the cold. Posing as a fighter who was recuperating in the Red Sea after serving in Ukraine, the agent befriended a young Russian woman staying in the resort, and began a holiday romance.

When the woman was due to leave for St Petersburg, the Russian agent gave her a 'present' - asking her to deliver it to his parents at home in Russia - and escorted her through the notoriously lax security at Sharm el-Sheikh airport before she boarded the doomed Metrojet flight in the early hours of the morning.

The gift, says Major Karpichkov, was a bomb and the detonator used to ignite the explosives was known as an EHV-7, which is produced exclusively for special forces soldiers. The device itself looked like a piece of plumbing tube, which is primed to explode by an electrolyte 'bath' slowly corroding a metallic wire, which detonates the bomb once it is broken.

The explosive material was - sources add - cyclonite, an enormously powerful substitute for TNT.

It has been suggested that the bomb was most likely placed under the seat 30A or 31A. Plane records show that seat 30A was occupied by Nadezhda Bashakova, 77, from Volkhov in St Petersburg region, travelling with her daughter Margarita Simanova, 43, who sat in 30B. In seat 31A was Maria Ivleva, 15, also from St Petersburg region. Could this young woman have been be the unwitting carrier of the bomb? She was with her mother Marina Ivleva, 44, who occupied seat 31B. My sources say the bomb carrier was older, and sitting nearby.

Daily Mail

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Buhari received British Secretary of State for Defence

President Buhari earlier today met with the British Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon at the state house Abuja. See more photos below;

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If Buhari doesn’t perform, stone us - APC chieftain, Tony Momoh says

A chieftain of APC and former Minister of Information, Tony Momoh, says Nigerians should stone him and his party members if President Buhari fails to deliver on his electoral promises. He said this in an interview with Leadership newspaper.

"You have heard the President said he is the one that Nigerians voted for and he is responsible to them not to me or you. He is not owned by anybody.

He was there between 1983 and 1985, he has experienced it, he is the only one who came since independence to be President of Nigeria and succeeded. No other one, Tafawa Balewa wanted to be a broadcaster, he became Prime Minister, Alhaji Shehu Shagari wanted to become a Senator, he became President; Olusegun Obasanjo was in prison praying to be released, at the end of the day he became president, Late Yar 'Adua wanted to retire to lecture in Ahmadu Bello University, he became President; Jonathan was taken from Bayelsa to Abuja and made Vice President and them later became Acting President and President.

Buhari went into politics and wanted to be President in 2003, he failed, 2007 he failed and 2015 he succeeded. Do you think that this type of person will be rushed into doing things he don't believe will make Nigerians grow? I can assure you No.

There are three steps in Buhari's scheme, S+S=P that is the equation. S is for security, he will secure Nigeria, the other S is for stability, he will stabilise Nigeria through infrastructural development and the outcome of security and stability is Prosperity and Nigeria will prosper. At the end of the day, if Buhari doesn't perform, stone us because he is going to perform" he said.

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Buhari sacks NDDC Chairman, appoints former Rivers Information commissioner as acting chair

President Buhari has fired the chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC Basey Dan Abia and appointed Ibim Seminitari who served as commissioner of information in Rivers state during Rotimi Amaechi's administration, as acting chair.

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GEJ's administration responsible for the lingering fuel scarcity - Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information Lai Mohammed says that the last administration is responsible for the lingering Fuel scarcity currently being experienced Nationwide. He said Nigerians are paying for the sins of the last administration. He said this while addressing state house correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting today December 21st.

"One of the reasons for the fuel scarcity was the inability of the last government to make adequate provision for fuel subsidy. We do face some other logistic problems but majorly, we are paying for the sins of the last administration.

What I will be telling Nigerians is that what we met on ground is such that we are paying for the sins of the last administration. I am being very serious. You remember that about two weeks ago, we had to go to the National Assembly for a supplementary budget of N674 billion. Of that figure, N522billion was for arrears of fuel subsidy which was incurred as far back as August last year. The solution is what you have seen us doing. The first thing we have done now is to make sure that unlike before when the marketers used to import the major percentage of the fuel. NNPC has been involved in importation, because some of the marketers had stopped importing for a couple of months.

If you see any fuel anywhere today, it is imported by the NNPC. We also inherited the vandalisation of the pipelines which has made it impossible for us to even transport the fuel. In tanks today we have 14 days reserve and off tank we have 10 days reserve. The issue is not non-availability of the product it is the distribution, because of pipelines that have been vandalised and the gridlock in Lagos. It takes about five days for anybody to take fuel with tanker in Lagos. As at two days ago this matter has been resolved. The Mosinmi pipeline has been secured and it has lead to the improvement in the distribution, "he said.

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Donald Trump wants all Muslims to be banned from travelling to the United States!

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wants the United States to ban entry to all Muslims, calling for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." In a statement released by his campaign team today, the republican front runner said,

Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.

When asked which Muslims would be banned from entering, Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowki said, "the ban applies to everyone."

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Buhari presides over FEC meeting, approves N6 trillion expenditure for 2016

President Buhari today presided over the Federal Executive Council meeting and approved N6 trillion expenditure for 2016 Budget under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.‎ According to him, an oil price of $38 per barrel of crude oil and 2.2 million production barrels per day were projected in the framework.

"At today's Council, the Council approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF which sets out the policies of government over the next years. It sets out the fundamental economic underpinning of the budget. The highlights are as follows: we project and we are working with $38 crude oil price, we consider that to be very conservative but because of the uncertainty, we felt that we should start with a conservative crude oil price."he said

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Bayelsa: Nigeria under Buhari is becoming a shame - Fayose

Press statement from Ekiti State Governor..

Mr. Ayodele Fayose has raised the alarm that Nigeria under President Buhari was fast becoming a shame, describing the failed attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the Bayelsa State governorship election as clear invitation to anarchy. The governor, who said it was shameful that the two elections conducted by INEC under Buhari's kinsman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu were inconclusive, called on all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to rise up in condemnation of the APC government's plot to destroy democracy in the country.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose who said everything under Buhari was becoming inconclusive, added that; "If in three days, INEC could not conduct credible election in Bayelsa State of just eight local governments, one wonders what will happen during the general elections in 2019.

The simple reality is that INEC under this Buhari's kinsman, Prof Yakubu, who is fast becoming the classical example of incompetence cannot guarantee free and fair elections in this country." He saluted the courage of the people of Bayelsa State, describing them as "worthy heroes of democracy that stood their ground against agents of darkness that were prepared to short-change them by imposing a governor they do not want on them."

Governor Fayose also congratulated the Bayelsa State Governor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Seriake Dickson for having the people of Bayelsa behind him, adding that "the people of Bayelsa have shown that their power is more than that of the Abuja political oppressors."

He urged the governor and Bayelsa people not to lose their guard, saying; "Now that they have failed in their bid to use one local government to rig themselves to power, they will surely go back to their evil drawing board to plan fresh assaults.

"Therefore, Bayelsa people must henceforth sleep with their two eyes opened because the APC thieves come not only to steal, but to kill and that can be seen in the way and manner they murdered over 20 people just because they wanted power at all cost."

While warning on the consequences of destruction of the legacy of free, fair and credible electoral process bequeathed on Nigeria by Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Fayose said; "Nigerians, especially we in Ekiti State are already taking a cue from the Kogi and Bayelsa States experience and are getting prepared for future elections."

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Buhari dissociates self from social media bill, say's he's committed to free speech

President Buhari has made it clear to Senators that he will not assent to the Social Media Bill being pushed forward by the senate. President Buhari made his position known through his Senior Special Assistant to Media and publicity Shehu Garba. He said the principle of the bill was inconsistent with democratic ideals of free speech enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, stressing that he had sworn while coming into office to uphold the dictates of the constitution.

"He is not averse to lawful regulation, so long as that is done within the ambit of the constitution which he swore to uphold. The President won't assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria", Garba said.

He further explained that without free speech, elected representatives won't be able to‎ have a good connection with their electorates

"As a key component of democratic principles are so emotionally attached to free speech that they would defend it with all their might", he said.

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Femi Fani-Kayode Slams Emir Of Kano, Lamido Sanusi Over His Interview

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said in an interview that Nigeria was losing about 1 billion dollars a month during the tenure of former President, Goodluck Jonathan. The monarch was quoted as saying; "In Nigeria, there is no accountability at all and that is why I think Nigeria's corruption is worse than corruption in most parts of the world. It is the worst type of corruption. It's stealing. Frankly I think a billion dollars under Jonathan a month was about what we were losing."

A former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has taken to his Facebook page to slam the Emir. See his message below;

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My father never bid for arms contract during Jonathan's govt - Dokpesi's son

Raymond Dokpesi Jnr, the son of embattled chairman of DAAR group, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has released a statement distancing his father from the controversial $2.1 billion arms deal scandal.

According to a statement released titled "The Continued Detention of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi by The EFCC on Allegations of Money Laundering" which was signed by him, he said his father was only contracted to develop a Multi Media Strategic Development Support Project to promote and project the achievements and highlight the challenges of former president Jonathan's government. He says in the statement that his father is not a contractor with the Ministry of Defence and does not supply arms. The full text of the statement below;

THE CONTINUED DETENTION OF HIGH CHIEF RAYMOND DOKPESI BY THE EFCC ON ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING

1. It has become very imperative that following an article published in the Nation Newspaper and reprinted in other online and social media, that we provide more clarification on the current detention without trial of Dr. Raymond Dokpesi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in Abuja over allegations of Criminal Conspiracy and Money Laundering.

2. In the first place there is no iota of truth whatsoever that Dr. Dokpesi had a hand in any transaction with the former National Security Adviser regarding the purchase of arms, locally or internationally. This falsehood has become commonplace as his detention is constantly being associated with what has generally become known by the media as the $2.1 Billion US Dollars Arms Deal Scandal.

3. We will like to make it abundantly clear that Dr. Dokpesi's DAAR INVESTMENT & HOLDINGS COMPANY LTD, initiated a proposal to the Presidency of Former President Goodluck Jonathan proposing a Multi Media Strategic Development Support Project to promote and project the achievements and highlight the challenges of his government whilst demystifying false information gleefully circulated by the propaganda machinery of the then opposition party.

4. The proposal was submitted to the Former President in person by Dr. Dokpesi and his team in the presence of the Former Vice President and the Former National Security Adviser at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. We must further emphasize that the proposal had absolutely nothing to do with the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), nor the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

5. We understand that this proposal was thoroughly studied, approved and paid for by the Presidency through the office of the National Security Adviser which to the best of our knowledge has multiple budgetary sub-heads including for the promotion and propagation of information to sustain and stabilize the government and its administration.

6. We are still at a loss as to why a Federal Government that claims to have been popularly elected only about six months ago, will embark on a wide scale propaganda, misinformation and brazen falsehood just to achieve its objective of decimating its perceived political opponents and supporters of the previous government's administration.

7. High Chief Raymond Dokpesi remains a law abiding and consummate patriot who has served his fatherland to the best of his ability with Zeal, Zest and oftentimes a very infectious sense of patriotism.

8. For the avoidance of doubt, Dr Dokpesi has never applied nor bidded for a contract for the purchase of arms. Nor has he ever been registered with the Ministry of Defence for the similar objective of engaging in the supply of Arms for the Government. Unfolding events will soon prove irrefutably and unlike what fictious stories are being fed to the media as published by The Nation Newspaper on Friday 4th December 2015.

9. We urge the Buhari-led APC Government to rigorously investigate all political and economic crimes thoroughly before embarking on a media trial and sentencing even before the law courts of Nigeria have an opportunity to adjudicate.

10. Our democracy must grow on all fronts but more so under the rule of law which remains the bedrock of any democratic system.

Signed

Raymond Dokpesi Jnr.
For the Dokpesi family

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'Call reckless Governor Oshiomole to order' - Okonjo-Iweala tells Buhari

Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has called on the Buhari-led government to caution Edo state governor Adams Oshiomole over his remarks about her person. Okonjo-Iweala said this while reacting to Oshiomole's interview with Leadership newspapers published today where he said the former Minister ought to be prosecuted in connection with the $2.1 billion arms deal probe. Okonjo-Iweala's reaction is contained in a statement signed by her media aide, Paul Nwabuiwku below...

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has requested the Federal Government to call Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole to order over the Governor's recent efforts to link her name to the alleged $2.1 billion arms issue.

The Minister stressed that she has absolutely nothing to do with the issue.

She stated that it is an abuse of public office, the judicial process and her human rights for Governor Oshiomhole whom she stopped from taking a highly suspicious N15 billion loan to make false allegations against her while hiding behind the constitutional immunity granted state governors.

As recently confirmed by the Debt Management Office, professional analysis showed that Oshiomhole's loan request which was based on using low interest World Bank loan to offset high interest commercial loans would have left Edo state with a heavy debt burden and the the state would have found it very difficult to pay back.

She said that it is unconscionable for the Governor to embark on a campaign of lies against her because she thwarted his dubious loan request.

She described the Governor's unsubstantiated allegations as a cynical personalization of the anti-corruption campaign to achieve ignoble objectives.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala therefore put Oshiomhole and his ilk on notice that she has briefed her lawyers and that she is ready to explore all legal means, local and international, to defend her name against corrupt and compromised persons.

It has become a pattern of behavior that each time Dr. Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala is internationally recognized, Governor Oshiomole and his cohorts embark on a cynical and devious ploy of trying to pull her down locally. Just last night, December 1st, Dr Okonjo-Iweala was honored at a high profile event attended by Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton. Dr Okonjo Iweala was honored alongside Michael Bloomberg, Bill and Melinda Gates and Mo Ibrahim for their contributions to global development and humanity.

Gov Oshiomole and his cohorts should realize that their ill-motivated attempts to taint Dr Okonjo Iweala's reputation will never succeed!

Paul Nwabuikwu
Media Adviser to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

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This Is What President Buhari Must Do To Convince Nigerians About His Anti-Graft War

Yusuf Maitama Sule
President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to do more than his anti-graft war in order to salvage the present situation of Nigeria and convince the citizens, Daily Post reports.

This was the submission Maitama Sule, a former federal commissioner of Public Complaints who has observed that Nigerians are expecting more from Buhari than they got from his government while he was a military Head of State from 1983 to 1985.

Sule, who was in active service in 1976, counseled President Buhari that his current anti-corruption war must be seen to be yielding positive impacts because Nigerians have high hopes in his administration.

The former commissioner who made this disclosure at the 8th annual forum of the laureates of the Nigerian National Order of Merit on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 in Abuja said: "When Buhari was the military Head of State, he was able to do three or four things. He was able instill discipline in the society.

"He was able to fight corruption, among other things. But this time around, we expect Muhammadu Buhari to do more than that. He did it before; he can do it now and even more."

He added also that, "If anything goes wrong, it is the leadership. If our leaders are corrupt, if they are immodest or indisciplined, so will their followers be. But I have hope. With the present administration, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel."

While also advocating the emergence of a ministry of national guidance, Sule informed that responsibility of the ministry would be to ensure all necessary reorientation programmes for Nigerians, educate local and international citizens on the customs and traditions in the country and project the nation's image in the best light globally.

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