Audu’s death nearly crippled Amosun’s party for HID Awolowo-By Daud Olatunji

The expectation was high following the boasting of Ogun State government that all the governors across the country as well as Presidency would be at Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu venue of one of the programmes specially designed and lined up for the funeral of the late HID Awolowo.
Amosun had reportedly insisted on holding a special programme single-handedly funded by his government where all the governors and President Muhammadu Buhari were proposed to be drawn to the venue to pay their last respects.

Abubakar Audu

The Secretary to the State Government,Taiwo Adeoluwa while addressing newsmen on the final burial rites of HID Awolowo had boasted that President Muhammadu Buhari and 35 governors had been invited for the final burial rites of the late matriarch of Awolowo, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu  Awolowo .
According to Adeoluwa, the State government had invited all 35 state governors and secretaries to state government to join it in the special fanfare organised for the celebration of the late matriarch at Sagamu International Stadium on November 23. Adeoluwa revealed that the day was set aside for the people of the state to celebrate and honour the departed Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland.
But, on that day, the programme which was billed to start by 12 pm and end 4 pm started without the presence of either the Presidency or the governors. Only nine of them sent their representatives to the programme.
The only saving grace for the governor  was the short stay  by the Minister of Solid Minerals , Kayode Fayemi and former national Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande while, the governor heaved a sigh of relief following the full attendance by the Head of the defunct interim national government, Chief Earnest Adegunle Shonekan.
Vanguard gathered that, though, few governors, especially his colleagues from the neighbouring states would have honoured his invitation, but the sudden death of the governorship candidate of their party, APC, Prince Audu Abubakar was said to have stopped them .
Abubakar, who died shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared the election inconclusive prompted the stakeholders in APC to hold emergency meetings on how to solve the political logjam. Unexpectedly, the VIP seats at the venue were subsequently occupied by other people who ordinarily might not have been allowed in the state box and it’s surroundings.
The children and grand children as well as great grand children attended. Vanguard gathered that wife of Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo refused to speak for Presidency and she reportedly insisted that she came as a grand child of the deceased. She was also reportedly asked to speak as wife of Vice President which she reportedly refused and spoke as ‘just a child in the Awolowo family.’
The situation at the venue showed that, the programme was poorly attended especially by very prominent personalities invited.
Vanguard gathered that apart from the governors that were being expected, other important personalities include former President Olusegun Obasanjo , former governor Gbenga Daniel and royal fathers such as the Awujale of Ijebuland and Akarigbo of Remoland were conspicuously absent.
An unconfirmed report had it that, some of the governors did not honour Amosun’s invitation due to not -too-cordial relationship between him and his colleagues. Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government had named the Plainfields Estate, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta and the yet-to-be completed government-owned Model School in Ikenne after the late Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.
The estate and the model school named after the late matriarch are part of the projects embarked upon by the current administration in the state in the past four years. Amosun in his keynote address at the programme tagged “Ogun Celebrates HID Awolowo” said that naming the two projects after the late matriarch was part of the moves to immortalise her.
The governor said that the two projects named after her would preserve the memories of the late matriarch of the Awolowo family. “The state Exco met today and we agreed we’ll name some projects after mama; the ones that will be lasting,” Amosun said. He described the late Mama Awolowo as a rare gem who played a vital role in the stability of the Awolowo family and Yorubaland.
Earlier, prominent Nigerians had paid glowing tributes to the late matriarch. Those who paid tributes include; head of the defunct interim national government, Chief Ernest Shonekan who said: “She was  a great pillar of support to her husband, especially during his political travails,” Shonekan said.
A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo noted that Yoruba land and Nigeria at large would miss her greatly.
Militaryadministrator
Also, the former military administrator of Ekiti State, General Adetunji Olurin (retd) said that the free education policy initiated by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1955 enabled poor Nigerians to have access to basic education. Olurin however noted that the support and backing given the late sage by his wife, HID Awolowo contributed greatly to the success of his programmes.
He further described her as “a strong housewife, a diligent supporter of her husband. Our mama was a very strong-hearted woman; very dedicated to the society and her community.” In her response, the eldest child of the late matriarch, Reverend Omotola Oyediran commended the Ogun State Government for organizing the programme and thanked Nigerians from all walks of life for attending it.
Oyediran assured Nigerians that the family left behind by Mama HID Awolowo would not disappoint Nigerians. “I don’t know what to say because really this is awesome. This is exactly what mama wanted. You have all demonstrated to us that you appreciate what mama and papa meant to Nigeria. We’ll not disappoint Nigeria.”
The event was spiced up by Juju maestro, Chief Ebenezer Obey, Fuji musicians, Adewale Ayuba and Sefiu Alao as well as gospel singer Tope Alabi among others.

Culled from Vanguard

SunTrust Bank, Only Bank To Get CBN’s Licence Since 2001’-Kingsley Alu

The SunTrust Nigeria Limited has now become the only bank in Nigeria to be granted fresh licence to operate as a commercial bank with regional authorisation since 2001. This is after meeting very stringent conditions set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Managing director and chief executive officer of the bank, Muhammad Jibrin Barde, who dropped this hint in a statement issued in Abuja, described the latest feat as remarkable, adding that the approval given on September 17 came one year and two months after application.
“This is indeed a remarkable feat as ours is the only fresh licence to be issued by the CBN since 2001.
“Our journey as a bank since 2009 details the courageous decisions and heroic self-sacrifice of all the people that made SunTrust assent possible,” he said.
He assured that in the years to come, the developments at the new bank would have far-reaching influence in the banking sector specifically and the nation in general.
He further disclosed that the bank would be formally unveiled to the public during the first quarter of 2016.
The latest approval by the CBN brings to 23, the number of commercial banks in the country.

Culled Leadership

Mum shares heartbreaking last picture of toddler before she was raped and murdered by stepmother- By Natalie Evans

Lily Furneaux-Wolfenberger, aged 2, was sexually assaulted and repeatedly smashed into the floor by Renee King because she threw a tantrum

Treasured memory: The last picture taken of little Lily

A mum has shared the heartbreaking last picture she took of her daughter before she was sexually assaulted and murdered by her stepmother.
Lauren Furneaux posted the picture of two-year-old Lily, sitting by a Christmas tree, on Facebook.
With it she shared the horrific story of the toddler's death to raise awareness of child abuse five years on from the tragedy.
Lauren had handed Lily over to her father, Jeff Wolfenberger, 29, to spend time with him and his partner, Renee King, 28.

She had only been parted from her daughter for a few hours when she received a call from Wolfenberger telling her Lily was in hospital after King had 'fallen on her in the shower'.
It later transpired that King had sexually assaulted the child with an object and repeatedly slammed her head into the floor when she threw a tantrum and soiled her underwear.

Lauren describes with heartbreaking detail the moment she learned her daughter was dead and the horrific abuse she had suffered.
She wrote: "When we arrived at the ER... her "father" was standing outside smoking as I opened the door.
"My knees gave out and I couldn't stand. I asked him if she was ok and he said no. I asked him if she was alive and he said no.
"My world came crashing down at that moment."

She continued: "We went home that night and sat in the car. How do you go back into a house that the one person who made it a home is never coming back?
"How do you go on when all your hopes and dreams are taken away? It was just supposed to be 33 hours, not a lifetime.
"To this day I hate when my parents go anywhere far away because I'm scared something is going to happen.
"To this day I can't go in that isle of Walmart. To this day I can't wake up on November 20th and not replay every horrific moment.
"I miss you Lily to infinity and beyond always and forever and I will never stop fighting for you."
King was found guilty of raping and murdering Lily following a trial in February 2012 and jailed for life.

Culled from The Mirror

Alleged $2bn fraud: FG asks court to revoke Dasuki’s bail-By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Federal Government, yesterday, asked the Abuja ‎Division of the Federal High Court to revoke the bail it granted the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd.
The government, in an application it filed pursuant to section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, sought for an order ‎committing the former NSA to prison pending his trial.

Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki (R), speaks with his lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at the federal high court in Abuja, on September 1, 2015. Nigerian prosecutors on September 1, 2015 slapped a charge of unlawful possession of arms against Dasuki. Dasuki was arraigned on a “one-count charge of being in possession of firearms without licence,” Prosecutor Mohammed Diri told the federal high court in Abuja. AFP PHOTO

‎‎It will be recalled that though Dasuki was on September 1, granted bail by the high court on self recognition, however, trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi, on November 13, while granting the defendant leave to travel abroad for medical treatment, varied his bail condition. Justice Adeniyi ordered the erstwhile NSA to produce a surety that must be ready to face prosecution should he (Dasuki), go into hiding after his medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
The court further directed the release of his hitherto seized traveling documents, ‎ saying Dasuki should return same to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation of the high court within 72 hours of his return from the three weeks medical trip.
‎
‎It was the order that the government yesterday asked the court to vacate by revoking the bail that was granted to the defendant.
Meantime, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, yesterday, failed to honour the summon that was issued for him to appear before court to explain why Dasuki has remained under house arrest despite the leave granted for him to travel for medical treatment.
Though Justice Adeniyi specifically ordered the AGF to appear before him yesterday,‎ however, the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, announced appearance on his behalf.
Diri told the court that he was eminently qualified to represent the AGF in the matter, contending that no contempt proceeding is pending ‎against the AGF.
‎
‎The DPP rather queried the continued absence of Dasuki in court, even as he urged the court to order his appearance at the next adjourned date.
The position of the DPP infuriated Dasuki’s lawyers led by Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, ‎who accused the AGF of having little regard for the court.
Daudu insisted that the AGF ought to have shown respect to the court by obeying the summon on him, noting that the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun, had at the last adjourned date, entered ‎an undertaking that the AGF would be in court yesterday.
Meantime, while agreeing with Dasuki’s lawyers that the AGF ought to have appeared in court yesterday, Justice Adeniyi, fixed November 26 to determine the merit of FG’s application for bail revocation.
On why the bail should be revoked, FG, yesterday, told the court that Dasuki is undergoing investigation by the committee auditing procurement of arms/equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence Sector from 2007 to date.
It said that an interim report of the committee showed that over $2 billion was allegedly embezzled and that Dasuki’s presence is required to assist in further investigation.
“That there is a federal government directive for the arrest of all those indicted by the report, including the defendant (Dasuki) and that the ongoing investigation which borders on money laundering against the defendant has not been concluded and there is fear that investigation might be tempered with on account of foreign visit by the respondent before the completion of investigation”, Diri stated in the application.
He added also that the ailment for which permission was given to Dasuki to travel to the United Kingdom for treatment can be properly treated in the National Hospital, Abuja and other teaching hospital in Nigeria.
Besides, FG, told the court ‎that there is an intelligence report that Dasuki has concluded plans to take the advantage of the court order releasing his International Passport to escape justice and tamper with ongoing investigations.
‎
Daudu objected to the application, contending‎ that FG could not pray the court for such relief when it has refused to obey a subsisting order of the court.‎
Daudu argued that the federal government should not be granted any indulgence by the court until it stops the siege to Dasuki’s home.
‎
In a fundamental right enforcement application he filed before the court, Dasuki who is facing a five-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering and his alleged illegal possession of firearms, ‎wants and order directing FG and operatives of the DSS‎ to vacate his house located at 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro with immediate effect.

Culled from Vanguard

Abubakar Audu Dies on the Cusp of Victory

APC guber candidate Abubakar Audu

•APC, Badaru, Fayose, supporters mourn

•Former governor to be buried today

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Atabor Julius in Lokoja, Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Dutse

Instead of jubilation, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Kogi governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu, were thrown into mourning following the sudden death of the former governor who had fought for 12 years to return to the famed Lugard House as the governor of the state.

Audu, THISDAY gathered, fell ill Saturday evening complaining of stomach pain after making it to his polling unit on the day of the election, before retiring to his country home for treatment.
However, he never left his bedroom once he got home and was said to have started coughing up blood before giving up the ghost on Sunday around 9 am, several hours before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the result of the governorship election inconclusive.

A source said he would be buried today in keeping with Islamic rites.

His sudden demise cast a pall of panic and uncertainty in the state with residents wondering what will be the final outcome of the election.

In Lokoja, the state capital, people were seen in groups discussing his passing in low tones while at Audu’s country home in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area of the state, people were seen cursing the announcement of the inconclusive election which they wrongly thought was responsible for his demise.

“Haba! Is this what they have done to our son who meant everything to us. Well as Muslims, we give Allah the glory; he knows all,” wept an elderly woman who was difficult to console.
Also at his residence at the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Lokoja, sympathisers besieged the residence to confirm Audu’s passing.

Similarly, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, said the party was not in a position to speak on the election, as it was in a state of mourning over the sudden death of its governorship candidate.

Oyegun, who spoke to THISDAY last night on the phone, said the party would address the media today after the burial rites of the late politician might have been concluded.

“We are still in a state of mourning, we can only speak tomorrow (Monday),” he said.
In his reaction, Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, paid condolences to Audu's family.

The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Malam Bello Zaki, also condoled with the entire people of Kogi State, all supporters of APC in the country and the entire nation over the loss of the candidate.

The governor described his death as a great loss not only to the people of Kogi, but to the entire nation in general.

Abubakar prayed that Allah Almighty grants him eternal rest and give his family and the entire Muslim ummah the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Similarly, his counterpart in Ekiti State, Governnor Ayodele Fayose, described the sudden death of the former Kogi State governor and APC governorship candidate as tragic and a signal to Nigerian politicians to serve well when the opportunity beckons.

A statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, described Audu as a consummate politician, who served meritoriously while in the saddle as Kogi governor.
Fayose commiserated with Kogi State and the deceased’s family and prayed to Allah to give them the fortitude to bear the monumental loss. The governor also described the death as tragic and very unfortunate.

“Prince Audu was a brother, father and a wonderful political leader who had at one time served his state and people meritoriously.

“The sudden passing of Audu has further confirmed that life is vane and we would only be remembered by what we did,” he said.

Before the news of his death became public, INEC had declared the governorship election in Kogi inconclusive due to the large number of votes that were voided in some parts of the state.
The decision by INEC came shortly after it declared the results of the election in which Audu led the incumbent governor, Capt. Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by 41,353 votes and was coasting home to victory by a slim majority.

However this was not to be, as INEC’s cancellation of votes at many polling units amounting to 49,953 votes were considered significant enough to render the whole exercise inconclusive, because they exceeded the margin of 41,353 between the two leading candidates.

According to the results announced at the Kogi State headquarters of INEC, Audu led in 16 out of the 21 local government areas of the state.

Audu had secured a total of 240,867 votes while Wada got 199,514 in the tightly contested governorship poll adjudged by local and international observers as relatively peaceful.

Addressing journalists after two hours of consultations, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha, declared the election inconclusive.

Kucha said based on the calculations for the cancelled votes of 49,953, they were enough to render the governorship poll inconclusive.

He said that the commission would decide on a date for a supplementary election at polling units or wards in 19 local government areas where votes were voided.

“Whenever the margin of difference between the two leading candidates is not in excess of the total number of registered voters in the polling units where elections are cancelled, the returning officer will decline the declaration of the winner until another poll is conducted and the results completed into a new form EC8E for declaration.

“Applying the provisions of the general guidelines therefore, the number of registered voters in the polling units where results were cancelled or not held was in excess, consequently this election is therefore declared inconclusive and I so hold that the election is inconclusive,” he said.

Prince Audu was born in 1947 and was twice the governor of Kogi State. His first tenure was from January 1992 until November 1993 and the second from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003. He is also currently seeking re-election on the platform of Nigeria's ruling party, the APC.

Audu was born to the family of his Royal Highness, the late Pa Audu Oyidi, the Orego Atta of Igalaland and the paramount ruler of Ogbonicha-Alloma.

He started his education at the then N.A. Junior Primary School, Alloma, and later N.A Senior School Ankpa, from where he proceeded to Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He later attended Jos Commercial College where he obtained both his GCE O and A levels.

After a stint as a bank worker, Audu later proceeded to London from 1975 to 1978 where he studied banking and personnel management, obtaining professional qualifications as a certified secretary and fellow of the Association of International Accountants of London. He also held the fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria.

Audu’s banking career lasted for 25 years, much of which he spent with First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), formerly Standard Bank. At FirstBank, he served in various capacities at management level until 1991.

He also made history as the bank’s first training officer of African descent and also as one of the first black senior management staff of Standard Bank in London and New York.

In 1991, he was appointed Executive Director of FSB International Bank Plc.

His journey into public service began in 1986 when he was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in the Old Benue State. He served in this capacity until 1988 when the cabinet was dissolved. He then returned to FirstBank as a General Manager.

In August 1991, Kogi State was created from parts of the old Benue and Kwara States. This coincided with one of Nigeria’s dalliances with democracy, and Audu, one of those who had advocated the creation of the state and a notable indigene of the state, was invited to contest for the governorship election.

He contested on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and won the election held in November 1991. He was subsequently sworn in as the first executive governor of Kogi State in January 1992. However, his stint was cut short by the General Sani Abacha junta in 1994.

At the outset of the Fourth Republic in 1998, Audu, on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), was elected again and was sworn in on May 29, 1999 as the second executive governor of the state.

Audu sought re-election in the 2003 gubernatorial election but lost. In 2007, when election bells rang again, he went to the polls, and was again defeated by the then incumbent, Ibrahim Idris.

He took the matter to the Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified that election, and ordered fresh elections. Again, Audu contested against Idris but was defeated.

In 2012, Audu again contested against a new comer to the field, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, but was defeated for the third time.

When Audu left office in 2003, he was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with alleged corruption. The case was still in court at the time of his death.
In response to allegations of corruption while he was governor, he was quoted as stating that Kogi received less than N400 million as monthly allocation, and that it would have been impossible to embezzle the N12 billion EFCC claimed he had misappropriated. He also described the EFCC case as being politically motivated.

Audu again emerged as the candidate of the APC at the August 28th Kogi primary. Subsequently, he announced James Abiodun Faleke, a legislator, as his running mate.
He suddenly passed on as the results of the election were being collated.

Culled from Thisday

Face-off: How Obiano mismanaged my N75bn savings —Obi- By Anozie Egole & Enyim Enyim

Obi and ObianoFormer governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has reacted to Governor Willie Obiano’s recent allegation that the N75 billion savings handed over to him (Obiano) by Obi, in March 2014, were far less than the actual figure, accusing the current governor of distortion of facts and gross finan­ cial mismanagement.
At a recent press conference in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Obiano had dismissed Obi’s claims as “half-truths” pointing out that the former governor left the state with a heavy debt overhang of N106.2 billion when his tenure expired on March 17, 2014.Obiano had wondered how Obi could have given Ndi Anambra a rosy picture of the assets he left behind without showing them the liabilities he incurred.
The governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solomon Osi­ ta Chukwulobelu, held that out of the N185.1bn, the Obi adminis­ tration could only pay the sum of N78.9bn when it handed over power in March last year, bringing the total liabilities to N106.2bn.
But Obi, who opened up yester­ day, in a statement made available to the press by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem, decried how Obiano squandered the hardearned savings in foreign currency which would have gone a long way in sustaining the development of the State.The statement entitled, “We Need a Public Debate on the N75 billion Peter Obi Left,” provided details and listed the areas the money was frittered away to include N5 billion ap­ proved by the present administration for the celebration of the first 100 days in office, the N1 billion monthly security vote, hundreds of billions spent for 2014 Christmas decoration and buying of horses and the N40 million to mount the gates at the Government’s Lodge.

Others include N35 million spent to mount the gate at the Government’s House, change of roof at the Government House which gulped N700 million, change of all the tiles in the Government House to pale granite at N150 million, procurement of dining table at N25 mil­ lion, seats at N50 million, gold bed from the United States at N30 million and another gold bed for the governor’s wife at N25 million.
Giving a further breakdown on how Obiano successfully deplet­ed the N75 billion savings within a short period of time, Obienyem said N40 million was spent on imported kitchen cabinet from the United States, N150 million for musical sets for Aguleri, acquisition and relocation of all lands around the governor’s compound at Aguleri, as well as the increase in Commissioners and Special Advisers pay to over N400,000 monthly as against N190,000 Obi’s administration paid.
Other areas the savings was mismanaged include the increase in salary of Senior Special Assistants from N160,000 to N300,000.
According to the former governor, Obiano had also used more vehicles in less than two years than what his predecessor used in eight years, with the present Secretary to the State Government (SSG) using three Prado SUVs and two Toyota Hilux cars; the Chief of Staff two Prado SUVs and two Toyota Hilux cars and the Principal Secretary using two Prado SUVs and one pickup car.
While saying that there is noth­ing wrong in government borrowing money to meet its genuine demands, Obienyem dismissed the claim that the Obi administration left debts on contracts executed.
His words: “They said that Obi left N106.2 billion (wrong figure) over hangon contractual debts alone. I challenge them to publish the schedule of the debts and the companies being owed.
“As at the time Obi left office, he paid for all the certificates generated on contracts awarded. Certificates are generated on the basis of work completed. Are they saying Obi ought to pay for contracts yet to be done? The same man saying this awarded 35 fresh roads within his first year in office at the total cost of over N81 billion out of which he has paid N10 billion.
“On the other hand, Obi awarded roads totalling N93 billion in his last year in office and paid a total of over N51 billion on those roads before leaving office. Most of those roads were used to campaign for him during electioneering on the premise of continuity,” the statement said.
On the claim by the present administration that it met only N9 billion cash in the treasury Obienyem said: “  It is shocking to note that the Anambra State government said they only met 9 billion cash in the treasury. The point is that Obi left 37 Billion Naira in the treasury. We have the statements of accounts from the banks as at March 17th, 2014.    Let me illustrate using a few examples. Fidelity Bank and the money in the account as at 17th  March, 2017: account Name:    Ministry of Works, No: 5030005514, N2,403,862,359.89; account Name:    Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport,    No: 5030025545,    N2,029,706,380.45; account Name:    Local Govt    Community Development, account No: 5030042391, N1,734,069,061.09; account Name:    Government    Account, 5030047097, N3,048,355,196.
Diamond Bank: Account Name:    Anambra State Subsidy Account, account No: 0026290200,    amount  N5,126,258,908.72;  account name: UBE Matching Grant    Account, No: 0031151473, amount    N2,101,864,766.68;  account name: Anambra State Joint Local Govt, No: 0022404540; amount  N3,276,354,490.46.
First Bank:    Name of Account: EF/IGR Consolidated Account, no is 2018779464, amount is N2,139,951,400.00. Enterprise Bank, account name is Govt House, Awka, Account no is 1400036138 and Amount is 1,928,596,191.25.      The total is N23,789,018,751 (Twenty-Three Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Seven Million, eighteen hundred, Seven hundred and fifty One kobo.”
“It is pertinent to note that two years have gone and Anambra State government is still debating what was left or not, even when other governors that inherited huge debts, unpaid salaries and repayable loans and bonds have all taken off.
“In Obi’s first six months in office, he had already saved enormous money for the state before he was illegally impeached” he added.
Furthermore, according to Obienyem, “As a matter of fact, during his inauguration, Gov. Obiano listed many projects he would undertake, some of which are building an air­ port, building three power stations, among others.
“He started three flyovers at the initial cost of N5 billion that was later varied to N15 billion. They diverted the money meant for the road, from Amansea to Amawbia round­ about to three flyovers. The contractor doing those flyovers is owed over N7 billion.
“He also started the construction of three roads to the airport simultaneously. Are these not enough reasons to convince Anambra peo­ ple on the need to borrow rather than bring Mr. Peter Obi into it?”
Show evidence you left N75bn -APGA
But the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has dared the formergovernor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, to produce evidence that he handed over N75bn to his success, Dr Willie Obiano as he claimed in his handover note 18 months ago.
Speaking to reporters in Awka, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Ifeatu Obiokoye, said the party and Governor Obiano decided to keep mute for such a long time because they wanted peace to reign, more so when Obi was still a member of APGA family.
He said there was no doubt ab-initio that both the uninformed and informed minds knew that the controversial N75bn was not existing any where.
“I believe Governor Willie Obiano was being cautious by coming up with the truth now which, if he had done before now, would have embarrassed his predecessor.
‘’What is clear is that even in the handover note the liabilities were not clearly spelt out.
“The other aspect was other monies that was not in liquid cash but in liabilities. What do we now do with the truth as revealed by Governor Obiano.
‘’I would say that it is time for all of us to seriously look at the financial position of the state in the light of the global recession that is also affecting the country,” he said.
Stating that the revenue currently accrued to the state was 48% less than what it used to get three years ago, Obiokoye charged the people of the state to find ways of raising internally generated revenue, IGR,  to enable government meet up recurrent and capital expenditures.
While condemning the bloated civil service with more than 6,000 staff by Obi at the terminal days of his administration, Obiokoye praised Obiano for being able to pay workers on 25th of every month and pensioners as at when due.
Obiokoye, who described Obi’s reaction to the N75bn saga as pitiable, said it became necessary the governor told the people of the state the truth because the opposition championed by Obi had been and was still playing politics with the issue to drag the image of Obiano to the mud.

Culled from Vanguard

$2bn arms deal: I’m ready for trial –Dasuki -By Akeeb Alarape

FORMER National Secu­rity Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, dismissed graft allegations in the procure­ment of arms and equip­ment for the Armed Forces
Dasuki insisted in a state­ment yesterday he acted in national interest in the award of arm procurement contracts while in office.
Dasuki was indicted by the presidential probe committee, which looked into the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector. He was accused of awarding fictitious con­tracts worth N271.8 billion.
But, yesterday, Dasuki, who has been in a legal tan­go with the Department of State Services (DSS) over the seizure of his travel­ling documents, insisted he was not a thief or treasury looter.
According to him, he was just a ‘clearing house’ for contracts approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan on the request of the Armed Forces and the Defence sector.
“I have a lot to tell Ni­gerians but in the interim, they should not believe some of the allegations as the gospel truth. The good thing is that some of the key actors in the present administration were part of the past process being vi­ciously challenged.
“As for my tenure as the nation’s NSA, I acted in the interest of the nation and with utmost fear of God. I did not use the office for any self-serving agenda,” Dasuki stated.
He faulted the claim by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Ad­esina that he awarded con­tracts between March 2012 and March 2015, saying he was not yet the NSA as at March 2012. Dasuki added he was appointed on June 22, 2012.
He also picked holes in the findings of the probe committee, which he said never invited him to hear his side of the allegations.
“There were no fictitious contracts; contract sums were not diverted and the relevant services in writing acknowledged delivery of equipment…” he said.

Culled from The Sun