INEC Chairman: Buhari has shown he is sectional leader - Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the appointments  of yet another northerner, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a vindication of his position that "President Mohammadu Buhari is a sectional leader,who sees himself mainly as leader of the Hausa/Fulani, and not that of the entire people of Nigeria." The governor, who said he had expected that the new INEC Chairman will be chosen from one of the three Southern geo-political  zones, especially the South Western part of the country being the only zone yet to produce chairman of the nation's electoral umpire, posited that; "Nigeria has entered a one chance bus and it remains to be seen who will save the country from its sectional President." Reacting to the appointment of Prof Yakubu as the new INEC chairman, Governor Fayose said, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka that even the Yoruba leaders who promoted and made the Buhari's Presidency possible had been short-changed. The governor asked; "Shouldn't he have considered someone from either South-East, South-South or South-West  as Chairman of the Electoral Commission now that we have a President from the North? "For reasons of perception, equity and fairness, don't we have credible people from the Southern part of Nigeria that can conduct credible elections as INEC Chairman? Or do we assume that the 2019 elections have already been won and lost by the appointment of this Hausa/Fulani professor as INEC chairman? Or isn't it regrettable that even in 2015, it is only in PDP controlled States that elections are being upturned?" He said he was worried  that  the  three arms of government;  namely Executive,  Legislative and Judiciary were being headed by northerners, leaving the  three zones in the  Southern part of the country with nothing. Speaking further, Governor Fayose said; "When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the President, he never appointed a Yoruba man as INEC chairman. Dr Goodluck Jonathan too did not appoint an Ijaw man as INEC Chairman. "Former President Shehu Shagari too did not appoint a Hausa man like himself as Chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO). Rather, he appointed late Justice Victor Ovie Whisky. "During the Ibrahim Babangida and San Abacha regimes, no Hausa/Fulani man was appointed as Chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria and General Abdulsalami Abubakar who established the current INEC did not also appoint his fellow Hausa man as chairman. "How then can we have a President from the North and at the same time have INEC Chairman from the Hausa/Fulani Northern Nigeria? "Obviously, what is being witnessed is more like a situation where it appears the President is more interested in having someone malleable to him than serving the interest of Nigeria and its people." Governor Fayose, who described the hurried appointment of the INEC boss as a vindication of his earlier stand that the appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari as INEC Acting Chairperson was illegal, said all processes leading to the conduct of the Kogi and Bayelsa States governorship election must start afresh. "It should be recalled that l raised the alarm on the legality of INEC under an Acting Chairman or Chairperson as there was no provision for INEC Acting Chairmanship position in the Constitution of Nigeria. "I did say in a statement issued on August 9, 2105 that any action taken by INEC with Mrs Zakari as its head will amount to illegality and I urged President Mohammadu Buhari to avoid plunging Nigeria into an avoidable legal quagmire by rescinding immediately, the illegal appointment of Mrs Zakari as INEC Acting Chairperson. "However, the president chose to wait until decisions were taken by INEC on Kogi and Bayelsa States governorship elections and one begins to wonder how INEC will wriggle itself out of the legal quagmire it has been plunged into by the President's refusal to heed to the voice of reason," the governor said.#

Fayose employs physically-challenged

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, on Tuesday gave automatic employment to 10 physically-challenged persons in the state, just as 35 wheelchairs were provided for them. The governor also said the state government would take over the treatment and upkeep of a five-year-old Olumide Enoch who suffers from palsy. The governor announced the gestures during an interactive session he had with the physically-challenged persons at the Governor's Office as part of activities to mark his first year in office. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said the employment opportunities would cut across different categories of people. Those to benefit from the employment are those with sight challenges, the albinos, the deaf and dumb among others. The governor also said the 10 persons should include six male and four female. One of the beneficiaries of the employment opportunities, Miss Ibitoye Helen, said she graduated from the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti in 2012 with a second class degree in English and Literary Studies and had been finding it difficult to make ends meet. "My parents are old and they live in Ilupeju-Ekiti and after they have suffered to send me to school, I have become a burden to them. Words have failed me to really expressed my appreciation to Governor Ayo Fayose. He has given me a lifeline and I pray that God will uphold him and grant him more successes in life," she said. Mrs Olumide, the mother of Enoch, said the family had drained all its resources in taking care of the boy. "You can see that I am shaking. This is a big support that I cannot fully appreciate with words. What the governor has done is like helping my family to survive. I pray that God will take our dear governor to higher level and be with him and his family," she said. The President, Physically-Challenged Persons Association, Ekiti State, Mr Ojo Peters, said what the governor did was unprecedented in the history of the state. "We have had governors in the past and we have not seen this type of concern for people's welfare like this. Truly, Governor Ayo Fayose is a kind man and a lover of the downtrodden. Some governors would have gone on a lavish celebration and not mind people like us," he noted. In his speech, Fayose challenged wealthy individuals and corporate bodies to come to the aid of such people. "Despite their limitations, they are human beings like us. We must not shun them. I want to express love to you as we mark the first anniversary of my government. The only thing we can do is to give you support. You voted for me and I am assuring you that I will appreciate you," he said. The governor said homes and special schools for the people would also be adequately taken care of.

Corruption war: Nigerians reject immunity for Senate President, Speaker

Mixed reactions have trailed the proposal by the national assembly to grant immunity to its presiding officers‎ with many Nigerians describing the move as unnecessary and Ill timed. The minority leader of the House of Representatives Hon. Leo Ogor was quoted as saying that the national assembly was proposing to amend the constitution to grant immunity to the presiding officers as well as the head of the judiciary as enjoyed by the president  and his vice and governors and their deputy. But speaking with our reporter in Abuja, respondents said the move was not borne out of altruism. According to a lawyer, Barrister Manasseh Ejiofor, the proposal was uncalled for and smacks "legislative rascalism‎" "Why are they bringing up the issue of immunity now? Whose interest are they serving? There are so many issues for the national assembly to address the least of which is the issue of immunity for its presiding officers. They should concentrate on making laws for the benefit of Nigerians and not their selfish selves. "For instance, why can't the national amend some of our laws that are obviously regain and needs to be brought in tune with modern realities. Granting immunity to the presiding officers of the National Assembly is the least problem that we have now. It is being done in bad faith" he said. Another respondent, a senior civil servant who does not want to be named because of his status said the proposed amendment was just to protect the selfish interest of the assembly members. "It is surprising that of all the laws that need amendments, the national assembly is contemplating granting immunity to its presiding officers. Nigerians elected them to make laws for the general well being of Nigerians and not a few members of the National Assembly. Nigerians should resist this move because it is not borne out of altruism" he said. Another lawyer, Barrister Samuel Oloruntoba in his reaction said the move is to divert attention from the searchlight being beamed on the leadership of the National Assembly. "Why have they not amended our laws to make it more difficult for civil servants to steal money? Why have they not made laws to make it more difficult for the kidnappers to operate freely. This proposed amendment is nothing but a self serving move and should be rejected by Nigerians " he noted. But a former members of the House of Representatives in his reaction said the amendment was necessary in order to shield the legislature from unnecessary interference from the executive. "If the amendment scales through, it will strengthen the legislature against unnecessary interference from the executive and guarantee the independence of the legislature. Our democracy is still work in progress so we need such a law to make the institution stronger" the former lawmaker who does not want to be named said. #

Olokun festival will boost tourism development, cultural integration –Adams

Adams said this on Sunday in Lagos at a news conference organised to announce programmes earmarked for the 13th edition of the festival.

Adams, who is also the initiator of Olokun Festival,said that the ceremony was mainly to showcase the cultural values and tradition of the Yoruba.

The coordinator said the celebration had provided an opportunity for prominent people and dignitaries to come to Nigeria from every part of the world.

"Tourists and adventurers annually come from across the globe to Nigeria to witness and see for themselves the beauty inherent in the Yoruba culture.

"The reason for celebrating Olokun festival annually is borne out of our desire to project the Yoruba culture to the world.

"As a foremost institution poised to promote the Yoruba culture, Olokun Festival Foundation, under my leadership, is determined to set the pace for cultural integration and tourism development in Nigeria.

"Nigeria is a blessed nation, but we can only make lasting impact on the world if we appreciate our culture and make our tourist sites attractive to the world," Adams said.

He noted that the celebration was an avenue for people to see the beauty of the Yoruba's abandoned culture and "how we can regain our lost glory through the festival".

He assured that 2015 Olokun celebration would give the best pastime for participants at home as well as others from other parts of the world.

"It is my belief that as we roll out the drums to celebrate this year's Olokun festival, it will open a new chapter of progress in the annals of this country.

"It will also create a window of opportunities for Nigerians who share the same dream of a great nation as we do," Adams Said

Presidency confirms arrest of former oil minister in London

The presidency  on Monday confirmed the arrest in London of former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke on suspicion of bribery and money laundering.

"Nigeria is aware of the arrest of the former petroleum minister in London on money laundering charges," presidential spokesman Garba Shehu told AFP.

"The government has been informed and the DSS (Department of State Services) is collaborating with the relevant security agencies in the UK to handle the matter," he said.

Britain's National Crime Agency said on its website on Friday it had detained five people on suspicion of bribery and money laundering but did not disclose the identities of the suspects.

"All five people arrested were released on conditional bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas," a statement said.

"The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption act, and transferred to the NCA earlier this year."

Media reports quoted unnamed family members of Alison-Madueke as confirming her arrest.

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) refused to confirm the arrest but was reported to have sealed her home in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

Alison-Madueke, 59, was oil minister under former president Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 until earlier this year when he was defeated in elections by Muhammadu Buhari.

She was the first woman oil minister in Nigeria — Africa's largest producer — and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC.

Alison-Madueke has previously been accused of large-scale fraud in the management of the country's multi-billion-dollar oil wealth but denied any wrong-doing.

In February 2014, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, claimed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit $20 billion in revenue.

Sanusi was later removed from his post by Jonathan, who disputed the figures involved, in a move many saw as politically motivated.

Buhari, who last week announced he would take personal charge of the oil ministry, has begun a purge of the NNPC, ordering a review of its finances and sacking the entire board.