Sunday 23 August 2015
Oshiomhole & wife at Femi Adeshina & Garba Shehu's NGE Honour
Ex-Leaders will Protect Jonathan from Buhari's Probe — Kukah
You have expressed your concerns about Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign. In specific terms, what are your grievances?
President Buhari has not told anyone how his anti-corruption war will be
fought. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are
Obasanjo’s vehicles. The last vehicle Gen. Buhari used was the Military
Tribunals, whose consequences we know. For now, the President has said
he will fight corruption but the strategies are not clear yet. So, I do
not know how and why people have already started speaking of (an)
anti-corruption campaign.Personally, I have not expressed concerns beyond the fact that due process is important and must define how we go. I am still convinced that we do not need to hear so much lamentation because the case has already been made.
It is quite sad that the media has deliberately continued to distort
this issue of probe. I do not know where the media got and started
spreading this baseless rumour about our committee, for example,
pleading on behalf of former President Jonathan not to be probed. Since
he left government, I have neither spoken with nor seen ex-President
Jonathan until we met him on Tuesday (penultimate week). In our
discussion with him, he stated clearly that he was not against any probe
but he was pained by what seemed to be like acts of victimisation and
persecution. Jonathan is a former President and if he needs shelter, his
brother former presidents are there and alive. And they are in a better
position to protect the office of a former president with the
architecture of respect and integrity. We must be careful not to play
into the hands of those dictators who, for fear of persecution and
humiliation, have decided to cling on to power at all cost and at the
risk of destroying their people.
Should President Buhari just forget about the stolen monies kept in places and move on?
How can he or anyone forget? But first, where are the places where the monies are? Identifying the location is the first step. The problem is, these monies are stolen and they are not necessarily lost. The challenge is to find those who will help us find them. But finding them is just the beginning of the problem. The real problem is getting the loot back because it — the loot — is sustaining banks, corporations, businesses, industries and careers abroad or in the safe havens and these people (countries) will fight back with everything. You think these banks will just wire this loots to you just like that? They have more lawyers, better lawyers than our entire country. It is almost 20 years now and we still have not seen the Abacha loot. All we hear are stories, since (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo’s time. I am just pointing out difficulties and not discouraging anyone; but there are choices to make. The President has only four years; he has to decide on how he will conserve his energies and which battles to fight, when and how. Our people love drama, but theatre has only a passing use for us now. He does not have a Supreme Military Council of Generals to throw people into jail. He has a National Assembly to deal with and there are still lingering problems with that august body. The President needs help in clearing the debris and banana peels ahead.
Should monies only be recovered and the looters be left unpunished?
I was with the Oputa Panel and I have also studied some part of the justice system as it concerns issues of human rights, reconciliation and justice. We can put all the people we want in jails but what will that do? We can even kill them, but then, what next? The African mind is not so much tuned to punitive justice but we tend to focus more on integrative and restorative justice. The theft has denied us development. So, Buhari can and should learn from ex-President Obasanjo who got back so much of the loots after he came in without any noise. I recall him saying that even pastors helped to bring back loots from repentant parishioners. I believe the President, using the intelligence resources available, should consider surprise as the most vital tool in this fight. My worry has not been about not probing as some of my critics falsely think. I have been saying ‘think, plan and execute.’ If you make so much noise, vital evidence, data and files will be destroyed by collaborators in the civil service or the relevant offices. The President has not named his team in this battle yet and he needs to court whistleblowers and wean them from the looters who may still have control over them. We must all know that loyalties have not changed yet.
Should President Buhari just forget about the stolen monies kept in places and move on?
How can he or anyone forget? But first, where are the places where the monies are? Identifying the location is the first step. The problem is, these monies are stolen and they are not necessarily lost. The challenge is to find those who will help us find them. But finding them is just the beginning of the problem. The real problem is getting the loot back because it — the loot — is sustaining banks, corporations, businesses, industries and careers abroad or in the safe havens and these people (countries) will fight back with everything. You think these banks will just wire this loots to you just like that? They have more lawyers, better lawyers than our entire country. It is almost 20 years now and we still have not seen the Abacha loot. All we hear are stories, since (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo’s time. I am just pointing out difficulties and not discouraging anyone; but there are choices to make. The President has only four years; he has to decide on how he will conserve his energies and which battles to fight, when and how. Our people love drama, but theatre has only a passing use for us now. He does not have a Supreme Military Council of Generals to throw people into jail. He has a National Assembly to deal with and there are still lingering problems with that august body. The President needs help in clearing the debris and banana peels ahead.
Should monies only be recovered and the looters be left unpunished?
I was with the Oputa Panel and I have also studied some part of the justice system as it concerns issues of human rights, reconciliation and justice. We can put all the people we want in jails but what will that do? We can even kill them, but then, what next? The African mind is not so much tuned to punitive justice but we tend to focus more on integrative and restorative justice. The theft has denied us development. So, Buhari can and should learn from ex-President Obasanjo who got back so much of the loots after he came in without any noise. I recall him saying that even pastors helped to bring back loots from repentant parishioners. I believe the President, using the intelligence resources available, should consider surprise as the most vital tool in this fight. My worry has not been about not probing as some of my critics falsely think. I have been saying ‘think, plan and execute.’ If you make so much noise, vital evidence, data and files will be destroyed by collaborators in the civil service or the relevant offices. The President has not named his team in this battle yet and he needs to court whistleblowers and wean them from the looters who may still have control over them. We must all know that loyalties have not changed yet.
- This is an abridged version of a chat Father Mathew Kukah had with Punch recently.
Bukola Saraki’s Associates Beg President Buhari
Some loyalists of Senate President Bukola Saraki are beating a retreat
in the lingering cold war with the All Progressives Congress (APC)
hierarchy over the leadership crisis in the Red Chambers.
They have already reached out to President Muhammadu Buhari for the purpose of reconciling with him and, by extension, the party leadership.
However, the Saraki loyalists were said to have left the first meeting with Buhari “uncomfortable” on account of his body language.
Saraki and his loyalists had defied the party by rejecting its candidates for principal positions in the Senate.
They shunned the June 9 meeting convened by the APC to resolve the matter and teamed up with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to elect their own candidates including Saraki as Senate President and PDP’s Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy.
It was gathered that House of Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s compliance with the APC’s directive on the choice of principal officers in the House was largely responsible for the change of heart by Saraki and his supporters having being put under pressure as a arrogant fellow by Dogara’s move.
It was gathered that the Saraki’s loyalists and strategists meeting took place at the Presidential Villa a few days ago. It was shielded from reporters for what a source described as “avoiding media backlash on the fresh peace process.”
The “peace team”, according to sources, was led by Senate Leader Ali Ndume.
Those present were Senators Adamu Aliero, Danjuma Goje, Kabiru Gaya and Abdullahi Adamu.
Two of the Senators admitted last night that they were at the meeting.
According to SR, the Senators were disturbed that all is not well between the Senate and the Presidency.
So far, President Buhari is said to have refused to meet and discuss policy issues with Saraki, causing more anxiety for loyalists of the Senate President.
They have already reached out to President Muhammadu Buhari for the purpose of reconciling with him and, by extension, the party leadership.
However, the Saraki loyalists were said to have left the first meeting with Buhari “uncomfortable” on account of his body language.
Saraki and his loyalists had defied the party by rejecting its candidates for principal positions in the Senate.
They shunned the June 9 meeting convened by the APC to resolve the matter and teamed up with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to elect their own candidates including Saraki as Senate President and PDP’s Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy.
It was gathered that House of Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s compliance with the APC’s directive on the choice of principal officers in the House was largely responsible for the change of heart by Saraki and his supporters having being put under pressure as a arrogant fellow by Dogara’s move.
It was gathered that the Saraki’s loyalists and strategists meeting took place at the Presidential Villa a few days ago. It was shielded from reporters for what a source described as “avoiding media backlash on the fresh peace process.”
The “peace team”, according to sources, was led by Senate Leader Ali Ndume.
Those present were Senators Adamu Aliero, Danjuma Goje, Kabiru Gaya and Abdullahi Adamu.
Two of the Senators admitted last night that they were at the meeting.
According to SR, the Senators were disturbed that all is not well between the Senate and the Presidency.
So far, President Buhari is said to have refused to meet and discuss policy issues with Saraki, causing more anxiety for loyalists of the Senate President.
Masquerades arrested for stealing N57,000 from trader in Enugu
A police source said policemen moved to the scene when the victim, Mr. Chinonso Ezewaji, reported the matter to Nsukka Police Area command and the two men were arrested...
"The escorts of the masquerade however ran away. There were eight masquerades. They blocked the Nsukka/Obollo-Afor road and harassed people. The two arrested masquerades however denied collecting the N57,000 from Ezewaji but claimed they know the person who collected the money from the victim. When we searched one of the arrested masquerade, we saw Indian hemp in his pocket,” the police source said.
When
contacted, Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr.
Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the incident, saying investigation had
commenced on the matter. He
urged communities to regulate and monitor those who wear masquerade
costumes, adding that some of them used the opportunity to harass,
intimidate and rob innocent members of the public.
“The
Police are not against the people practising their tradition and
culture but community leaders must know the character of people they
allow to wear costumes of masquerade in the name of culture. A
masquerade has no right to mount road block on busy highways where
motorists, motorcyclists and other road users move on daily basis. The
police have commenced investigation and will get to the root of this
matter as issues of masquerade disturbing people have become a recurring
decimal,” Amarizu said.
The victim, Ezewaji, a trader, who deals on clothing materials, told the News Agency of Nigeria he was on his way from Nsukka to Obollo-Afor to see his mother when the masquerade stopped the motorcycle he was riding on.
“They beat me, searched me and collected N57,000. When
they left, I ran into the bush and when I discovered they have gone
some distance, I came out and went to the police to report"he said
The two masquerades identified themselves as Kenchukwu Eze, a carpenter, and Ejiofor Eze, a brick-layer. They, however, denied the allegation that they stole money from Ezewaji They claimed that their colleague, Chima Mamah, stole the money. Eze,
however, admitted that the police saw Indian hemp in his pocket, saying
it was the leftover of what they smoked before coming out.
“If the police release me, I will not wear masquerade costume, nor smoke Indian hemp again,” he pleaded.
Photos from today's suicide bombing in Kismayo, Somalia
The attacked was launched as soldiers were lining up for training. See more photos after the cut...
Dr Dre's album sales plummets following public apology for abusing women in the past
According to Hits Daily Double 'Compton' only sold 42,732 copies this week down from 286,000 copies in its first week. Compton is Dre's first album in 15 years.
Photos from the traffic robbery at Oshodi on Friday
Unbelievable and like a movie to me I was attacked yesterday at oshodi before the LASTMA office by after 7pm, I just passed the Total filling station on the right when suddenly a guy came up to my car and was telling me to wind down. Well of course I didn't and the next thing the glass of the door was broken. My phone and money was taken from me, I was left in shock and later started shouting for help but instead the people in the cars and buses around were telling me to calm down. I was terrified Linda. Please Linda use this recognition you have earned to help advocate for security on Lagos roads especially in the mornings when people are going to work and evenings when they are returning back from work. This social problem has become a daily thing and like a norm. I trying hard to get the pictures of this sad incident away from my mind.
Sen. Saraki reaches out to former Gov Bola Tinubu
Multiple sources say that despite his public show of defiance, the
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has started reaching out to some of the
aggrieved leaders of the APC.
Saraki is one of the gladiators in the clash of egos and wills that
followed the Senate leadership election on June 9 and subsequent
appointment of principal officers.
A report in a national daily on Saturday also said the emissaries apologised to the President for the individual roles they played in the crisis.
It has been widely reported that Buhari has refused all entreaties to host the Senate President at the Presidential Villa since the controversial election in the senate. The President had also said the leadership of the senate should tow the party line.
Two APC officials yesterday shed light on Saraki’s last two attempts to reach out to the APC national leader. They said that one attempt occurred three weeks ago while the other took place on Thursday in Abuja.
Another source said the last attempt took place during the week when the APC senators, who met with the President at the behest of Saraki, also tried to get across to Tinubu. A source close to Tinubu said while the former Lagos governor was aware of the move, his position on the matter had not changed.
The source stated that Saraki needed a long-term strategy to pacify the aggrieved party leaders, adding that the Senate President’s is perceived as haughty by some of these leaders.
Punch
The Senate President had earlier visited former President Olusegun
Obasanjo to help him beg President Muhammadu Buhari. He also reportedly
met with the Emir of Kano and Lamido Sanusi, on the same thing.
Last week, he sent Senate Leader Ali Ndume, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Senator
Adamu Aliero, Senator Danjuma Goje, and Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on his
behalf Saraki who all met with President Buhari and sought
forgiveness on behalf of the Senate President for acting contrary to the
dictates of the party.
A report in a national daily on Saturday also said the emissaries apologised to the President for the individual roles they played in the crisis.
However, sources in the party said on Saturday that the emissaries also
had a brief meeting with the party’s national leader and former Governor
of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu.
Many within the party see the crisis as a battle of wills with Buhari,
Tinubu and some party leaders on one side of the ring and the Senate
President and his backers on the other side. One of the prominent APC
leaders that is believed to have backed Saraki is former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar.
But sources told our correspondent that Saraki, of recent, had made
strenuous efforts to meet and appeal to Tinubu to sheathe his sword.
Saraki’s olive branch to Tinubu may mark a turning point in the crisis
as the Senate President, before now, had insisted that he would not
‘beg’ the APC leader.
But the sources added that Saraki might have changed his position when
all his efforts to get President Buhari to forgive him for his defiance
to the party and move on.
It has been widely reported that Buhari has refused all entreaties to host the Senate President at the Presidential Villa since the controversial election in the senate. The President had also said the leadership of the senate should tow the party line.
Two APC officials yesterday shed light on Saraki’s last two attempts to reach out to the APC national leader. They said that one attempt occurred three weeks ago while the other took place on Thursday in Abuja.
“Three weeks ago he tried to get across to Tinubu through one of his aides. Of course, the aide couldn’t have arranged the meeting. Tinubu’s disposition to the matter is well known,” the source said.
The APC national leader, sources said, had told some of Saraki’s
emissaries in the past that the senate leadership should toe the party
line.
Another source said the last attempt took place during the week when the APC senators, who met with the President at the behest of Saraki, also tried to get across to Tinubu. A source close to Tinubu said while the former Lagos governor was aware of the move, his position on the matter had not changed.
The source stated that Saraki needed a long-term strategy to pacify the aggrieved party leaders, adding that the Senate President’s is perceived as haughty by some of these leaders.
“It is a surprise that he is reaching out to Tinubu. Saraki has no respect for Tinubu. He is contemptuous of him. During meetings he refers to him contemptuously as “Bola”. In fact there was a time that Tinubu wanted to explain a point to him and he shut him up,” the source said.
“Tinubu’s take is that the senate should toe the party line. It is not a personal problem at all. If it were a personal problem, the President won’t be reacting the same way.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Lai Mohammed said on Saturday that the APC believes in party supremacy.
Punch
Photos from Ubi Franklin & Lilian Esoro's Wedding Introduction...
Some photos from Triple MG CEO, Ubi Franklin and actress Lilian Esoro's
wedding introduction which held today August 22nd. Lilian took to
Instagram to make an official announcement & wrote, ' #Officially a
#Mrs
# i'll be flooding #Your #Timeline in a bit. #cant keep calm. #Love you
forever and a day more #Booooo. #God bless our #Union. To all our
friends n fam that came out to show us love and support words fall #us.
God bless you all from the depth of our heart #We say thank you!!'
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