Buhari swears in SGF,NSA,SSA

President Muhammadu Buhari  (center)congratulate the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr. David Lawal (right) while Vice President  Yemi Osinbajo looks on during the swearing –in Ceremony at the Banquet Hall of the Presidenbtial Villa , Abuja. 

• Appointments not based on ethnic consideration, but merit, say Lawal, Oshiomhole
• President will not sideline any section, Oyegun assures

President Muhammadu Buhari monday swore in the new Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, who was appointed last Thursday.

The president also inaugurated the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

The event took place at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr. Buhari has come under fire for appointing mostly people from Nigeria’s northern region, to top positions.

Criticisms grew last week after the appointment of Mr. Lawal and five others, with only one of the nominees from the south.

The appointments followed a pattern that has seen at least 75 per cent of top government officials, from the north.

The presidency has denied any sectional agenda, and has assured that no part of the country will be marginalised in subsequent appointments.

Mr. Buhari did not comment on the controversy on Monday after swearing in the new officials. He did not give any remarks.

But speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the SGF, Mr. Lawal, said they were not appointed because of their places of origin.

“We did not have to pass examination to get appointed into these positions,” he said. “(It was) not because of our tribes, or our faiths, or our political groups that we were considered worthy for these positions.

“If it is such, I am sure none of us would have been considered worthy of these appointments. We appreciate the president and we appreciate God that he has blessed us with these privileged appointments,” Mr. Lawal said.

Still determined to douse the tension that followed the perceived marginalization of a section of the country in the recent appointments, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will balance the federal appointments across all the geopolitical regions.

Oyegun defended the president over the recent appointments saying that such appointments made so far are his personal staff.

The APC national chairman  urged the aggrieved persons to calm down and wait for the next round of appointments to be made.

Speaking on  yesterday in Abuja at the national secretariat of the APC when he received in audience a group known as the Muhammadu Buhari Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group, led by its national coordinator, Hon. Usman Ibrahim.

Oyegun believed that there is a lot of fight back from the people who want to draw back the nation under the Buhari administration.

Speaking on the concern generated by the appointments, Oyegun said: "There have been a lot of unfortunate misinformation and uproar against appointments at this stage. We have two sets of appointments that have  taken place. One set are the personal privilege of Mr. President, as far as his personal staff are concerned. The other set has to do with a few important and strategic persons that are going to help him either in the fight against corruption or the fight against insurgency in the North-east of our country, but this is not where to play the political balancing game. These are serious and the president has the right to appoint those he has confidence in because these are the areas where he has made promises to Nigerians.

"But we have thousands of political appointments and he has just made a few appointments while thousands are still waiting. The balancing must happen when the political appointment are being made. But we must not at this particular point in time with the few appointments say that one must be from the North, one must be from the South or from the east not at this very early stage.

"So, one must make that clear at this stage. Nobody, no leader can disadvantage any part of this nation. That will not happen”, Oyegun assured.

On the anti-corruption feat of President Buhari’s government, he said: "If a particular group has ruled for 16 years, then who is guilty of corruption?

"And all the fight, witch hunting are neither here nor there. What is important is that those who have skeletons in their cupboards are the ones who have something to fear. If you do not have any skeleton in the cupboard you go to sleep and sleep very sound but of course if you have you will pretend and try to divert attention," he said.

Also in defence of the president’s appointments, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has said the recent appointments of his Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Comptroller General of Customs and Presidential Liaison Officers to the National Assembly.

Oshiomhole were based on merit and not political sentiments or ethnic considerations.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, the governor said Nigerian nation had come to a point where the best hands to confront the peculiarity of the problems should be used.

He stated that Nigerians should not descend to the level of geopolitical balancing, adding that there was need to employ unusual methods to solve an unusual problem.

According to the governor, “The level of decay in the country at present requires very seasoned hands and incorruptible Nigerians that would help to translate the All Progressive Change (APC) agenda of change for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“We must not reduce governance to political patronage of bread and butter.  The Comrade Governor congratulates the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Comptroller General of Customs, all of whom he had had very close relationship with and whose credentials stand tall among their compeers.

“If we must make a huge difference in the lives of Nigerians, things must be done differently. We cannot continue to apply same template in the recruitment of persons and expect different results.

“The new appointees are Nigerians who have served the country in different capacities before now and deserved every bit of our cooperation and support to make them excel in their new jobs.”

APC post-election summit: Oyegun,Oshiomole,Ameachi, others storm Calabar.

The ancient city of Calabar in Cross River State will host the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South South geo-political zone for a post-election summit.

Party leaders expected at the summit slated for September 5, include the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; former Rivers State military administrator, Group Capt. Sam Ewang (retd) and some  other former governors from the zone.

Also to attend are all former and serving National Assembly members from the zone and state party chairmen of the party.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the zonal chairman of the party, Mr. Bassey Ita, said the event, which is scheduled to hold at Gomays Conference Centre in the state capital, would review the party’s victory at the last general elections and plan towards repositioning the zone under the present administration.

The APC summit will also discuss the probe instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in Rivers State led by governor Nyesom Wike and come out with a common position.

The statement read in part: “The meeting is expected to take far- reaching decisions that will further strengthen the party to take a holistic lead in the zone as well as throw its weight behind the federal government’s resolve to fix the peculiar problems of the zone.”

Apart from the statement, a source close to the party in Calabar stated that the summit would also use the opportunity provided by the meeting to streamline appointments and present same to the president.

A source, who did not want his name in print, said unless party chieftains in the zone come together to press for juicy positions in subsequent appointments to be made by President Muhammadu Buhari, it might lose them to other zones.

The source pointed to the latest appointments made by the President in which Oyegun and Amaechi were missing either as Secretary to the Government of the Federation or Chief of Staff to the President.

Reliable sources hinted that the summit would likely receive some defectors to the party.

Bayelsa Guber 2015: Timi Alaibe, 7 others pick APC nomination forms.

The former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Ndutimi Alaibe, and seven other people were yesterday, confirmed to have procured expression of interest and nomination forms from the national secretariat for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in the state.

Checks by Daily Sun revealed that the APC leader in the state and former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, has also paid for the expression of interest and nomination forms, but he had not picked them from the national secretariat.

Others who were said to have picked the forms to contest the party’s governorship primaries in the state, include a former member of the House of Representatives, Warman Ogoriba, the former PDP chairman in the state, Col. Sam Inokoba; former Commissioner for Housing, Autin Ogiowon, a former commissioner for Local Government, Chief Godknows Powell, and former Chief of Staff to Governor Seriake Dickson, Chief Dikivie Ikhiogha, former chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Council, Christopher Enai, and the immediate past senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial district, Senator Clever Ikhisikpo.

A reliable source said Alaibe’s forms were procured by party elders and stakeholders from the State under the aegis of Bayelsa Change Project.

The source said: “This afternoon, some elders picked up the nomination form for presentation to Chief Ndutimi Alaibe at the APC national secretariat. The group of over 48 persons, was led by Senator John Brambaifa. Others include, Chief Alex Ekiotenne, Hon (Dr) Stella Dorgu and High Chief O’Lord Michael Bassuo.”

Also speaking, Hon. Patterson Ogon,  who confirmed that the elders were led by Senator  Brambaifa, said the group commended the APC national leadership for organizing a hitch-free process for the selection of candidates and assured that the people of Bayelsa State were poised for change.

Why am still single - KOKO master D'Banj explains to inner room.

D’banj

Ladies simply love D’banj and that is not a lie. The Koko Master, as he is fondly called, has not lacked female attention especially since he came into limelight some years back.

He has been linked with not just a few babes, including actress, Genevieve Nnaji; Jennifer Obayuwana, daughter of Polo boss, John Obayuwana; billonaire’s daughter, Adama Ndimi and South African diva, Bonang Matheba. But then, none of them has been able to ‘tame’ the 35-year old ‘white lion’, as he calls himself.

In a chat with Inner room,the Koko Master revealed he had wanted to get married at the age of 30 but he has yet to do so five years after.

“While growing up, there were some goals I set for myself and at 35; I have accomplished most of 
them. Sadly, I have not accomplished the primary goals. The main one is marriage. By now, I thought I would have been married. I had always thought I would have a child before the age of 30. That fantasy did not become a reality because I wanted to strengthen my brand. I wanted to be sure that I 
was on the right path career-wise because as a kid, you need to crawl before you can walk and eventually run. I wanted to be sure I surpass all boundaries and reach a certain stage where I can easily balance my work and family. That is the main reason why I am not married.”

He however said that he is proud of his other achievements as they have surpassed his widest imaginations.

“Apart from marriage, one other thing I desire to have is the Grammy but that is already in the pipeline and it would be acquired soon. I didn’t know I would meet Kanye West while I was dreaming big as a child. But I dreamt that I would go places and people would hear my song all over the world. I also dreamt that Caucasians would dance to my music. I dreamt I would top music charts across the world and all that has happened. I have dreamt of performing in front of thousands of people on a global stage and I have achieved that. For all these I am grateful to God.

Alleged Forgery of senate standing orders: Saraki,Ekweremadu shun court.

Saraki and Ekweremadu

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, as well as other Senate officials on Monday shunned a scheduled hearing in a suit seeking their removal from office.

The removal of Saraki and the other principal officers is being sought on the grounds of alleged forgery of the Senate 
Standing Orders 2015 used for the conduct of their elections shortly after the proclamation of the 8th Senate on June 9.

Plaintiffs in the suit, which is before the Federal High Court in Abuja, are Senators Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuni, all supporters of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate presidency eventually won by Saraki.

The six defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015, are Saraki, Ekweremadu, the National Assembly and the Clerks of both the National Assembly and the Senate.

None of the defendants was represented by their lawyers when the matter came up on Monday before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, to whom the case was re-assigned after he took over from Justice Gabriel Kolawole as the vacation judge of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

While delivering a ruling during Monday’s proceedings, Justice Ademola noted that the choice of Monday for the hearing of the plaintiffs’ motion on notice seeking an order restraining the Senate from going ahead to constitute its standing and ad hoc committees was with the consent of lawyers to the parties to the suit.

However, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Chief Mamman Osuman (SAN), withdrew the motion on notice during the proceedings, saying the essence of the application had been overtaken by event with some 
of the committees already constituted.

Justice Ademola, while striking out the motion on notice in a short ruling, noted that the application contained the same set of prayers that were in the plaintiffs’ ex parte application earlier dismissed by Justice Kolawole.

The plaintiffs had anchored their suit on the use of alleged illegitimate and unconstitutional Senate Standing Orders 2015 to conduct the election of the current leadership of the Senate on June 9.

The plaintiffs alleged that the Senate Standing Orders 2015 was “contrived” from the amendment of the 2011 version of the Orders without following its (the 2011 edition’s) relevant provisions and those of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They argued that the said amendment was in breach of the “prescriptive procedures” stipulated by the extant provisions of section 60 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Rule 110(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended).

They therefore contended that the election of the current leadership of the Senate and other proceedings based on the unconstitutional Orders was null and void.

The senators are seeking, among other prayers, the declaration of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as null and void for being a product of an alleged illegitimate and unconstitutional amendment of the 2011 version of the standing orders.

They also want the court to nullify the amended order as well as the election of Saraki as the Senate President and that of Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President, for being products of the alleged illegal orders.

Lateness: civil servants prostrate for Fayose.

Civil servants prostrate for Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose ... on Monday

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has asked the state Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, to take appropriate disciplinary action against 31 civil servants who resumed late to work on Monday.

The governor gave the directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to the state secretariat on Monday.

Fayose, who arrived at the place around 7.45am caught many of the workers who arrived after the official resumption time of 8a.m unawares.

Many of the workers rushed to work on learning about the unscheduled visit of the governor to the place while the 31 were unlucky to beat the governor.

As soon as the governor arrived at the place, he ordered that the gate should be locked at 8am.

The governor, who expressed displeasure at the attitude of some workers in the state, said such an act of indiscipline must be stopped.

He ordered his aides and the Head of Service to take down the names of the affected workers and that stern disciplinary action must be taken against them.

Several of the female workers knelt down while the men prostrated for the governor begging him to save their job.

But Fayose said, “If a labourer is worth his wages, the employer also is worth his services. I have warned workers in the state repeatedly about coming late to work or taking their jobs with laxity. Despite the paucity of funds, we have been regularly paying workers’ salaries.

“If workers are paid regularly, the workers too must justify our efforts and work for the money they earn. There are many people out there searching for jobs. I want to take the workers by surprise and I will visit a lot of places. This will be a continuous exercise. Those that are not disciplined and not ready to key in to our policy of taking the state to a greater height will be shown the way out,” he said.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, told our correspondent that the governor had earlier appealed to the workers to show commitment to the service.

“For long he (the governor) has been warning them against idleness and lateness. He had sent the HOS to them to change their way. The governor was on a fact-finding mission to know if the workers had heeded his advice,” he said.

Adelusi added that the governor planned to pay unscheduled visits to the local governments any moment from now.

He said, “It would be a continuous exercise. The governor wants the Ekiti State Civil Service to be a model for others.”

When contacted for his reaction at 1.33pm, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ade Adesanmi, promised to call back after five minutes.

However, he did not pick the calls placed to his telephone again between 4:30pm and 4.32pm.

Buhari is a northern president - Says Gov Fayose.

Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said the steps taken by President Muhammadu Buhari since he took over on May 29 are tainted with ethnic colouration.

The governor, who said the retired general was operating as a “president of northern Nigeria only” said, “appointments made by Buhari so far negated the principle of federal character.”

Fayose, according to a statement issued on Monday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said it was wrong for the President to have made 31 major appointments with only seven coming from the South.

“Under Buhari, are people from southern Nigeria only meant to be hounded and harassed by anti-corruption agencies and the Department of State Services while those from the North are meant to enjoy Federal Government’s juicy appointments?” he asked.

Apart from lopsided appointments made by the President, the governor said he was worried that the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway had slowed down while work had stopped on Lokoja-Abuja road.

These roads, he said, “are the major roads linking the southern part of Nigeria with the North.”

“Also, we have been told by the Federal Government that the Second Niger Bridge project has been suspended and one is now beginning to remember how Buhari cancelled the Lagos Metroline Project in 1985 at a loss of over $78m (then) to the Lagos tax payers.”

Fayose maintained that Nigeria could only move forward if there was equity and fairness, saying those who made the country’s constitution and enshrined the principle of federal character in it were mindful of the ethnic diversity of the country.

But the Presidency appealed to Nigerians to ignore Fayose.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said appeal to ethnic and regional arithmetic would not give back to the Peoples Democratic Party what it lost at the poll.

He said, “Let me say at this stage that mere appeal to ethnic and regional arithmetic will not give back to the PDP what they lost. They seem to be making a dangerous calculation with their recent outbursts.

“The mere appeal to sectional and religious will not give the party its lost relevance or electability. Nigerians are smarter than Fayose thinks.

“The governor’s outbursts are intended to be a trigger for a clash between communities in areas where deliberate attempts had in the past also been made by the PDP to stoke ethnic and religious fault-lines.

“Our appeal to Nigerians is that they should ignore these tantrums. President Buhari is a healer not a divider.”