Buhari Finally Breaks NNPC, Goes After Secret Oil Blocs

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally revealed what will be the fate of the "corrupt" Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He is dividing in into two successor entities under his administration.

The President, who stated this in an interview with selected journalists, explained that the decision would form one of the key steps of his reform of the country’s oil and gas sector.

He said, “I am reforming the oil and gas sector, breaking up the NNPC into two parts – the first will become an independent regulator for the sector, while the second will act as an investment vehicle for the country.”

The NNPC is considered a cesspool of corruption and fraud signposted by the non-remission of revenues from oil sale to the Federation Account. Hence, one of the first reform moves by All Progressives Congress–led administration is expected to start at the NNPC.

There had been insinuations that Buhari would unbundle the NNPC into four companies but the President, during in the interview before leaving US, said rather than breaking the NNPC into four companies, it would be divided into two – regulator and investment vehicle.

While one of the successor companies will be an independent regulator, the President said the second would operate as an investment vehicle for the country.

Buhari also said there would be a new bid round for oil blocks in the country, adding that he favours transparent auction process.

“I will also end political control of the awarding of drilling and exploration rights [of oil blocs] by introducing a system of independent, transparent auctioning for licences,” the President said.

Buhari, as part of the ongoing reform of several strata of the country, said “Corruption is one of the top three issues facing Nigeria, along with insecurity and unemployment. We must act to kill corruption or corruption will kill Nigeria. I am determined to lead that fight.

“My government is already taking several steps to cut out the cancer of corruption that has been eating away at the state for so long.

“We are reorganising the existing plethora of anti-corruption bodies into single powerful agency that will have the focus, power and budget to clamp down on corruption at the federal and state levels.”

Tinubu behind Saraki’s Wife EFCC Ordeal —Senator

A former Vice-Chairman and member, Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Senator Joseph Waku, has accused the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, of masterminding the petition that let to the summoning of the wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki, by the EFCC.

According to the controversial former Senator, the decision was followed by a promise to help secure a second term for the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.

But Tinubu said Waku should not be taken seriously, as he's broke and needed money from Saraki.

Waku, in a statement sent to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, alleged that Tinubu is using his personal relationship with the EFCC Chairman “to embarrass and torment fellow party members” as unfortunate.

Waku claimed that his findings showed that Tinubu personally gave the petition to Lamorde under the guise that he was submitting it on behalf of the APC leadership to punish Saraki for working against the party’s leadership on the choice of National Assembly leaders.

He said, “I have chosen to speak out on this issue and make my findings on this issue known to the public. After days of painstaking enquiries, I discovered that both Tinubu and Lamorde maintain a mutually beneficial relationship since the days of Lamorde as the EFCC Director of Operations and based in Lagos between 2003 and 2007, when Tinubu was equally the Governor of Lagos.

“I also discovered from my findings in EFCC that the so-called petition against Mrs. Saraki was personally given to Lamorde by Tinubu under the guise that he was submitting the petition on behalf of the APC leadership to punish Saraki for working against the party’s leadership on the choice of National Assembly leaders. This was followed by a promise to help secure a second term for Lamorde as EFCC chairman.”

The controversial politician, who once called for coup few years after the return of democracy, claimed EFCC “is again being dragged into the political arena to settle political scores like some years ago.”

But when PUNCH contacted Tinubu’s Media Adviser, Sunday Dare, he said, “No one should pay Senator Waku any attention. We know when he is broke and needs a quick fix.”

“What he has said is fit for the trash. No one should dignify Waku’s tales by moonlight with any attention or ever take him serious. For any serious individual with a reputation to protect, Waku is a very poor hire. Waku is an individual with no shred of reputation and a political pariah in his home state.

“Tinubu does not run or dictate to the EFCC. And like countless others, Tinubu had also been investigated by the EFCC several times in the past. Tinubu has no hand in the travails of anyone because he is right now very busy, working with others of like minds on how the APC political agenda can set sail as quickly as possible. That is the urgency of now and not the tantrums of the likes of Waku.”

See How This Babe Caused Wahala With Her Stuff

Someone say some guys around focused on the lady's big ikebe to the extent that one of the male waiter also struggled to peep the massive load. Ladies, package well so u don't attract loose men. Lol!

Kenya rejects US gay rights agenda, what Obama said about it today

Kenya is an anti-gay country. Below is what President Obama said when asked during a press conference this afternoon in Nairobi what he thinks about gay rights in Kenya.

"The US believes in the principle of treating people equally under the law and that they are deserving of equal protection under the law.and that the state should not discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation and I say that recognizing that there may be people that have different religious or cultural beliefs but the issue is how does the state operate relative to people. You can look at the history of people around the world. When you start treating people differently not because of the harm they are doing to anybody but because they are different, that's the path whereby freedom is beginning to erode.
If somebody is a law abiding citizen who is going about their business and not breaking any law and obeying the traffic signs and doing all the things good citizens are supposed to do and not harming anybody, the idea they are treated differently based on who they love is wrong. Full stop."he said

Below is Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta's response on the issue

"The fact of the matter is Kenya and US share so many values, democracy, entrepreneurship, family values. These are things we share but there are some things we do not share. Our culture our societies don't accept. Its very difficult for us to be able to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept. This is why I repeatedly say that for Kenyans today, the issue of gayrights is really a non issue. We want to focus on other areas that are day to day living for our people. Our health issues as we have discussed with president Obama. These are critical. Issues of inclusivity of women, a key section of society that is normally left out of the mainstream of economic development. What we can do in terms of infrastructure, Education, Roads, Power and Entrepreneurship. Maybe once like you have overcome some of these challenges we can begin to look at new once but the fact remains that this issue is not one that is in the foremost minds of Kenyans and that is the fact"he said

Argentinian politician praised after a photo of her breastfeeding her daughter during a parliamentary session went viral

Victoria Donda Perez's eight-month-old daughter was hungry while she was attending a meeting in Argentine National Congress earlier this month so she whipped out her breasts and fed her in the full glare of everyone. She is being hailed as a role-model for women and the picture had further opened up a conversation on public breastfeeding. What do you think? How many women would do same? Some women said that they would rather go into the car or restroom to breastfeed their children.  

Gbajabiamila’s former loyalists accept Dogara’s offer in zoning

Some former loyalists of former Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, loyalists group, on Saturday declared support for the House of Representatives Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.

The lawmakers claimed that it was better to place the interest of the country ahead of all other considerations and accept the positions of the principal officers of the House as proposed by Dogara.

 

Gbajabiamila who has the backing of the Loyalists Group, had for long insisted that the office of Majority Leader must be zoned to the South-West and be held by him.

 

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Members of the group who attended a joint news briefing in Abuja with the Speaker’s group were Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (Kano State); Mr. Mohammed Monguno (Borno State); and Mr. Pally Iriase (Edo State).

 

The APC leadership, in a June 23 letter to Dogara, had recommended to zone the majority leader to the South-West; deputy leader to North-West; chief whip to North-East and the deputy whip to South-South.

 

However, the Speaker opposed it, citing alleged violation of federal character principle, and instead, proposed to zone the majority leader to the North-West.

 

Dogara also zoned the deputy leader to the North-Central; chief whip to the South-South; and deputy whip to the South-East.

 

By the Speaker’s proposal, Ado-Doguwa will now become the majority leader, while a lawmaker from Kogi State, Mr. Buba Jibrin, will become the deputy leader.

Mr. Pally Iriase from Edo State, will become the chief whip, while the position of deputy whip which goes to the South-East will be occupied by Mr. Chike Okafor.

 

Ado-Doguwa, Monguno and Iriase were all Gbajabiamila’s men, but had made a U-turn to back Dogara.

They are now members of a new group, “Equity Forum.”

 

Dogara is set to name the principal officers on Tuesday when the House would have reconvened from its current four-week break.

 

Speaking on behalf of the loyalists group, Iriase claimed that their change of mind was due to the realisation that members had to comply with Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution, which dealt with federal character.

Iriase added,

“Let Nigerians know that the crisis in the House has been resolved.

“Based on the letter the speaker wrote to the APC, under Section 13 of the constitution, he is to ensure compliance with Section 14 (3) of the constitution.

“We have, therefore, accepted the Speaker’s proposal on the equitable distribution of the principal positions.

“The majority of APC members in the loyalists group have accepted these positions for the sake of promoting equity.”

According to Iriase, the loyalists group won a major victory over Dogara for being able to produce the majority leader, deputy leader and chief whip.

Ado-Doguwa also spoke at the session, saying he backed the position of the group as explained by Iriase.

He said:

“We reached a point that we just agreed that the interest of the whole nation supersedes any other.

“Where we are now is okay for us as a group and we must sheathe our swords and move on,” he added.

On his part, Monguno looked weighed down when he said that by agreeing to team up with the Speaker, he knew he had become one of the biggest losers.

Monguno had wanted to be the Seaker, but stepped down for Gbajabiamila. He also contested the post of deputy leader and lost to the current occupant, Mr. Yusuf Lasun.

The APC later proposed him to be the chief whip but he also agreed to swap the position with Iriase, who was initially nominated as deputy whip by the party.

His case worsened when Dogara’s proposal excluded his zone, North-East, from the four contested principal offices.

“Ordinary, I should have been the last person to be part of this meeting, considering the fact that, all along, I have been the one making the sacrifice.

“Ultimately, I have become the loser in all of this. But, for the interest of the nation and the House, I have accepted to work with this arrangement,” Monguno stated.

The spokesman of the House Dogara, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, had also confirmed that the new development signalled the end of the crisis.

Jibrin promised that the loyalists group, particularly Gbajabiamila and Monguno, would be adequately compensated in the distribution of key committees in the days ahead.

He said,

“We have commenced collection of signatures which has reached advanced stage to affirm the Dogara formula.

“All other interests, including those excluded from the principal officers, specifically, Gbajabiamila and Mongunu, will be duly accommodated with commensurate responsibility to serve.

“Since the Speaker has about 200 positions to share out, many members will have the opportunity to serve the country.”

 

 

Punch

More photos from singer Duncan Mighty's wedding

Duncan marriedhis girlfriend Vivien in Port Harcourt today. More pics after the cut...

Photos from actors Mimi Orjiekwe & Charles Pius's wedding...

Actress Mimi Orjiekwe got married traditionally to fellow actor, Charles Pius on July 18th. See some pics from their big day. Mike Ezuronye and others graced the event. More after the cut...

VP Osinbajo says there was no bomb threat to his home

 

Earlier this evening, there were reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had told members of the National Economic Council that intelligence reports indicates that Boko Haram were planning to attack his home. The VP has denied making this statement. What he said is contained in a statement signed by Laolu Akande, Snr Special Assistant-Media&Publicity to Osinbajo

Media reports that there was a plan by terrorists to bomb the house of the Vice President is completely false with no iota of truth. An unendorsed press briefing note circulated today by some officials of the National Planning Commission contains a flat-out wrong claim.
That part of the note should read The Vice President disclosed- security reports that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents.… to dump refuse laden with bombs in the houses of VIPs in the Northeast. The note erroneously said “in the house of the Vice President. During the NEC meeting earlier today, the Vice President had mentioned intelligence reports which suggested that the terrorists have recruited people such as "BABA BOOLA who are known to usually go about picking things from the dust bins. The plan is to use the "BABA BOOLA" people to plant bombs in houses of VIPs, offices and government installations in the Northeast. Please take note of the correction, and ignore such media reports claiming plans to bomb the VP’s house. Those reports are unfounded and utterly baseless" the statement read

Oh wow! Giant Monkey shot dead in Ogun State today (photos)

A LIB reader sent in these photos. This giant Monkey was killed in his area in Oru, Ago Iwoye, in Ogun state this morning. The Monkey had been in town since yesterday, eating peoples life stock. It was shot in the head today. See more photos after the cut...