BY KEMI OMOLOLU-OLUNLOYO
OPEN LETTER TO EVERY UNIVERSITY STUDENT IN NIGERIA: If you are a
Nigerian University student today in this country, you are a CERTIFIED
Mumu and Moronic lazy dumbass. It is because of you that your lecturers
can form illegal unions and associations they name ASUU and take away
your livelihood.
It is because of you that they can be negotiating billions from a
dumbass President who used to be a
Monday, October 21, 2013
Fashola, Tinubu, Jakande, Others Honour Departed APC Chieftain, Alhaji Odunsi
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Saturday joined former Governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and first civilian Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande to pay their last respects to
Finally, Angelo Dumps Beverly For Longtime Girlfriend
This may be the end of the road to the love affair between South African Big Brother The Chase Housemate,Angelo Collins and his Nigerian counterpart, Beverly Osu as it seems Angelo has gone back to his longtime girlfriend, Candis Arends.
Candice, who once told anyone that cared that Angelo was only using Beverly in the House and would come back to her at the right time, has been posting pictures of herself and Angelo on her Twitter handle, describing their new found love, and telling the whole world that she has got her man back from the clutches of the Bev.
In one picture, she is seen sitting on Angelo’s laps and posting words like; “It’s an AC (Angelo Collins) and CA (Candice Arends) things.”
So who is laughing last?
Read the tweets and see pictures after this cut.
Candice, who once told anyone that cared that Angelo was only using Beverly in the House and would come back to her at the right time, has been posting pictures of herself and Angelo on her Twitter handle, describing their new found love, and telling the whole world that she has got her man back from the clutches of the Bev.
In one picture, she is seen sitting on Angelo’s laps and posting words like; “It’s an AC (Angelo Collins) and CA (Candice Arends) things.”
So who is laughing last?
Read the tweets and see pictures after this cut.
U.S.$1.6 Million Bullet-Proof Cars - They Are Pool Vehicles - NCAA
As criticisms trails the acquisition of $1.6 million BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the agency's director general, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, has said the vehicles are in the organisation's pool which are used to convey important dignitaries.
At a press conference in Abuja and in a statement made available to journalists by Joe Obi, media assistant to aviation minister, NCAA said the vehicle are also used to carry Princess Stella Oduah and other foreign visitors of the agency.
Akinkuotu said: "The cars are operational vehicles used in the varied operations of the NCAA. Transporting the minister and aviation-related foreign dignitaries is part of this operation. First and foremost, we make haste to state that aviation is a global industry and the NCAA, the regulator of the industry in Nigeria very often plays host to dignitaries from international civil aviation bodies like ICAO, IATA, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), African Airlines Association (AFRAA), African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the Bangjul Accord Group (BAG), Civil Air Navigation Service Organisations (CANSO), Airport Council International (ACI), amongst several others.
"It is internationally customary to convey our minister and these visiting foreign dignitaries in security vehicles whenever they are in Nigeria. It must be noted that during such visitations, the security of members of the delegations is the sole responsibility of the host country. The vehicles are therefore in the pool of the NCAA for these special assignments and are available at NCAA office and can be shown to you," he said.
During the question and answer session, Akinkuotu said that he was not aware of how the two armoured BMW cars for the minister were bought.
He said that the process for the purchase of the vehicles was made before he became the DGof NCAA, but agreed that the transaction followed due process.
According to documents on the online news site saharareporters.com the invoices on the purchase and delivery of the cars were made in June and August 2013. Akinkuotu became the DG of NCAA on Thursday, March 14, 2013 after Harold Demuren was sacked the previous day.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that Demuren was not disposed to the purchase of the vehicles when the idea was mooted and this did not go well with some of his superiors. The NCAA DG said that it was not the first time the agency bought such vehicles for its operational uses, but failed to say how many they were and their cost.
He said that since Coscharis Motors had the sole right to import and sell such BMW vehicles in Nigeria, he had no power to tell the company how much to sell its products. NCAA spent N255, 150, 000 (1,593,687.31) to buy them.
Also yesterday, Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, threatened to head for the court if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) failed to investigate the transaction.
Falana in a petition to the EFCC urged the commission to investigate the alleged crime by the minister and her cohorts in NCAA.
At a press conference in Abuja and in a statement made available to journalists by Joe Obi, media assistant to aviation minister, NCAA said the vehicle are also used to carry Princess Stella Oduah and other foreign visitors of the agency.
Akinkuotu said: "The cars are operational vehicles used in the varied operations of the NCAA. Transporting the minister and aviation-related foreign dignitaries is part of this operation. First and foremost, we make haste to state that aviation is a global industry and the NCAA, the regulator of the industry in Nigeria very often plays host to dignitaries from international civil aviation bodies like ICAO, IATA, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), African Airlines Association (AFRAA), African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the Bangjul Accord Group (BAG), Civil Air Navigation Service Organisations (CANSO), Airport Council International (ACI), amongst several others.
"It is internationally customary to convey our minister and these visiting foreign dignitaries in security vehicles whenever they are in Nigeria. It must be noted that during such visitations, the security of members of the delegations is the sole responsibility of the host country. The vehicles are therefore in the pool of the NCAA for these special assignments and are available at NCAA office and can be shown to you," he said.
During the question and answer session, Akinkuotu said that he was not aware of how the two armoured BMW cars for the minister were bought.
He said that the process for the purchase of the vehicles was made before he became the DGof NCAA, but agreed that the transaction followed due process.
According to documents on the online news site saharareporters.com the invoices on the purchase and delivery of the cars were made in June and August 2013. Akinkuotu became the DG of NCAA on Thursday, March 14, 2013 after Harold Demuren was sacked the previous day.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that Demuren was not disposed to the purchase of the vehicles when the idea was mooted and this did not go well with some of his superiors. The NCAA DG said that it was not the first time the agency bought such vehicles for its operational uses, but failed to say how many they were and their cost.
He said that since Coscharis Motors had the sole right to import and sell such BMW vehicles in Nigeria, he had no power to tell the company how much to sell its products. NCAA spent N255, 150, 000 (1,593,687.31) to buy them.
Also yesterday, Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, threatened to head for the court if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) failed to investigate the transaction.
Falana in a petition to the EFCC urged the commission to investigate the alleged crime by the minister and her cohorts in NCAA.
Aviation Ministry Declares War On Staff Who Allegedly Leaked Info On Stella Oduah's N255 Million Cars
Nigeria's Aviation Ministry has decided to go after its official(s) that allegedly leaked the information on the purchase of two armoured vehicles for the minister, Stella Oduah.
This was stated by Folayele Akinkuotu, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, at a press conference at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Akinkuotu during a question and answer session, after his speech, said Nicholas Edwards, a staff of the ministry who allegedly leaked the information to journalists, was now on the run. He also condemned the leak that exposed the purchase of the two armoured cars for N255 million.
He said he was "shell-shocked" that government information regarding the procurement of the two vehicles was obtained illegally and transmitted to the public medium in an "illegal manner".
"How you obtain information and how you put it in the public purview can actually be criminal," he said.
The aviation boss said the agency has issued a circular to all the staff, reminding them of the "confidentiality" of certain aspects of their work.
The circular read by the director-general in part said: "By the nature of our work and statutory provisions, certain levels of documents, processes and information are required for the successful day-to-day operation.
"For instance, the Civil Aviation Act makes specific provisions with respect to our obligation for confidentiality and restricted access to certain information that we procure in the conduct of our statutory functions."
Mr. Akinkuotu, who earlier, during his speech, said the agency was probing the source of the leaks, expressed concern that there might be other confidential information that had been obtained from the agency illegally.
"It is not fair for someone to obtain information illegally and we must accept that this is not the way to do it."
Mr. Akinkuotu alleged that Mr. Edwards might have committed an act of illegality in getting the information.
"If somebody breaks into someone's office, makes copies of important document; tell me is the breaking act not criminal," he said during the question and answer session.
Due process was followed
The aviation boss also claimed that the purchase of the two armoured vehicles followed due process.
According to Mr. Akinkuotu, the agency has taken delivery of the vehicles.
He told journalists that the vehicles were available at NCAA office for the media to see, adding that it was not the first time the agency had procured such "high security vehicles".
The director-general, however, did not disclose other such vehicles in the agency's pool of cars and the cost of procurement when journalists asked her to mention more of such vehicles in the agency.
He said that the purchase of the "operational vehicles" was duly captured in the 2013 appropriation of the agency.
"The cars are operational vehicles used in the varied operations of the NCAA, transporting the minister and aviation-related foreign dignitaries are part of this operation.
"It is internationally customary to convey our minister and these visiting dignitaries in security vehicles whenever they are in Nigeria. "It must be noted that during such visitations, the security of members of delegations is the sole responsibility of the host country," he said.
The minister has come under attack by Nigerians and civil society organisations with many calling for her sack.
Reports say Mrs. Oduah compelled the NCAA, an agency under her supervision, in a presumed case of corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office, to procure the cars for her with public funds.
Documents show that the transaction to procure the cars started last June.
In a letter dated August 13, 2013, J.D Nkemakolam, the former Acting Managing Director of the NCAA, sent a letter to the Managing Director of Coscharis Motors asking the company to deliver two BMW 760 armoured vehicles to the agency based on a pro-forma invoice dated June 25, 2013 at the cost of N127, 575,000 ($796,846.21) each.
The total amount for the two black BMW Li HSS vehicles, with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044 respectively, was N255,150,000, or $1,593,687.31
This was stated by Folayele Akinkuotu, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, at a press conference at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Akinkuotu during a question and answer session, after his speech, said Nicholas Edwards, a staff of the ministry who allegedly leaked the information to journalists, was now on the run. He also condemned the leak that exposed the purchase of the two armoured cars for N255 million.
He said he was "shell-shocked" that government information regarding the procurement of the two vehicles was obtained illegally and transmitted to the public medium in an "illegal manner".
"How you obtain information and how you put it in the public purview can actually be criminal," he said.
The aviation boss said the agency has issued a circular to all the staff, reminding them of the "confidentiality" of certain aspects of their work.
The circular read by the director-general in part said: "By the nature of our work and statutory provisions, certain levels of documents, processes and information are required for the successful day-to-day operation.
"For instance, the Civil Aviation Act makes specific provisions with respect to our obligation for confidentiality and restricted access to certain information that we procure in the conduct of our statutory functions."
Mr. Akinkuotu, who earlier, during his speech, said the agency was probing the source of the leaks, expressed concern that there might be other confidential information that had been obtained from the agency illegally.
"It is not fair for someone to obtain information illegally and we must accept that this is not the way to do it."
Mr. Akinkuotu alleged that Mr. Edwards might have committed an act of illegality in getting the information.
"If somebody breaks into someone's office, makes copies of important document; tell me is the breaking act not criminal," he said during the question and answer session.
Due process was followed
The aviation boss also claimed that the purchase of the two armoured vehicles followed due process.
According to Mr. Akinkuotu, the agency has taken delivery of the vehicles.
He told journalists that the vehicles were available at NCAA office for the media to see, adding that it was not the first time the agency had procured such "high security vehicles".
The director-general, however, did not disclose other such vehicles in the agency's pool of cars and the cost of procurement when journalists asked her to mention more of such vehicles in the agency.
He said that the purchase of the "operational vehicles" was duly captured in the 2013 appropriation of the agency.
"The cars are operational vehicles used in the varied operations of the NCAA, transporting the minister and aviation-related foreign dignitaries are part of this operation.
"It is internationally customary to convey our minister and these visiting dignitaries in security vehicles whenever they are in Nigeria. "It must be noted that during such visitations, the security of members of delegations is the sole responsibility of the host country," he said.
The minister has come under attack by Nigerians and civil society organisations with many calling for her sack.
Reports say Mrs. Oduah compelled the NCAA, an agency under her supervision, in a presumed case of corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office, to procure the cars for her with public funds.
Documents show that the transaction to procure the cars started last June.
In a letter dated August 13, 2013, J.D Nkemakolam, the former Acting Managing Director of the NCAA, sent a letter to the Managing Director of Coscharis Motors asking the company to deliver two BMW 760 armoured vehicles to the agency based on a pro-forma invoice dated June 25, 2013 at the cost of N127, 575,000 ($796,846.21) each.
The total amount for the two black BMW Li HSS vehicles, with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044 respectively, was N255,150,000, or $1,593,687.31
Jonathan Considers Soft Landing for Aviation Minister
President Goodluck Jonathan may redeploy the Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah over the controversial bullet proof cars purchased for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Although the call from a critical segment of the public is for her removal from cabinet for allegedly allowing her personal interests to override national interest, a highly placed presidential source told LEADERSHIP last night that "the minister might be given a soft landing treatment".
Oduah has been at the centre of a controversy over bullet proof cars worth $1.6m (N255m), purchased for her by an agency under her watch at a time when the last air disaster just occurred, the second since her appointment as the minister.
The situation is further compounded by discordant tunes from the NCAA and her spokesman, who gave different accounts of the reason for the purchase of the cars.
Human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and Dino Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives have been in the forefront of a campaign asking for her sack.
But, speaking under the condition of anonymity, on the grounds that he was not authorised to speak on the matter, a government official who commended the media and the human rights community, explained that the greatest sanction Oduah could be given was her redeployment from the ministry instead of outright removal.
"I have been monitoring the media reports on the bullet proof cars bought by the NCAA. In the first instance, it was wrong of her to fall into such a trap. This is what the senators call 'banana peels'. Look at the timing. We are still mourning those who died in the last plane crash, the second under the woman's watch. And with the cost of the two cars when the National Assembly and the NNPC are still fighting over the Federation Account proceeds. All these are her problems.
"But let me tell you the bitter truth, despite the deafening call for her sack, that minister might be given a soft landing treatment, not because of who she is, but because of what she has done in the past, especially the role she played during the last fuel pump price crisis. That woman hijacked the Information Ministry and that of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and educated Nigerians over why the sector must be deregulated. So the worst thing that could happen to her is to be redeployed from that ministry.
"Don't forget that Oduah played a tremendous role in the election of Jonathan in 2011 through the Neighbour-2-Neighbour campaign group," the official said.
Oduah's problems began when an online news medium, SaharaReporters broke the news that the Aviation Ministry had purchased two bullet proof cars and that they were delivered to the minister in August.
It reported that documents in its possession showed that the transaction for the purchase of the two BMW cars started in June, but the request for the delivery and payment for them was fast tracked between August 13 and 15, 2013.
Her media assistant, Mr Joe Obi rose up to the occasion, claiming that the cars were purchased because her life was in danger as a result of her reforms in the ministry. But the NCAA later contradicted him in its response over the matter. According to the director general of the agency, Mr Akinkuotu, the cars were in its possession and are used to "convey the minister and visiting foreign dignitaries."
The National Assembly has shown interest in the matter. The two chambers will investigate the saga with a view to verifying when the cars were purchased and if due process was followed and especially, if the purchase was in this year's Appropriation Act.
Although the call from a critical segment of the public is for her removal from cabinet for allegedly allowing her personal interests to override national interest, a highly placed presidential source told LEADERSHIP last night that "the minister might be given a soft landing treatment".
Oduah has been at the centre of a controversy over bullet proof cars worth $1.6m (N255m), purchased for her by an agency under her watch at a time when the last air disaster just occurred, the second since her appointment as the minister.
The situation is further compounded by discordant tunes from the NCAA and her spokesman, who gave different accounts of the reason for the purchase of the cars.
Human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and Dino Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives have been in the forefront of a campaign asking for her sack.
But, speaking under the condition of anonymity, on the grounds that he was not authorised to speak on the matter, a government official who commended the media and the human rights community, explained that the greatest sanction Oduah could be given was her redeployment from the ministry instead of outright removal.
"I have been monitoring the media reports on the bullet proof cars bought by the NCAA. In the first instance, it was wrong of her to fall into such a trap. This is what the senators call 'banana peels'. Look at the timing. We are still mourning those who died in the last plane crash, the second under the woman's watch. And with the cost of the two cars when the National Assembly and the NNPC are still fighting over the Federation Account proceeds. All these are her problems.
"But let me tell you the bitter truth, despite the deafening call for her sack, that minister might be given a soft landing treatment, not because of who she is, but because of what she has done in the past, especially the role she played during the last fuel pump price crisis. That woman hijacked the Information Ministry and that of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and educated Nigerians over why the sector must be deregulated. So the worst thing that could happen to her is to be redeployed from that ministry.
"Don't forget that Oduah played a tremendous role in the election of Jonathan in 2011 through the Neighbour-2-Neighbour campaign group," the official said.
Oduah's problems began when an online news medium, SaharaReporters broke the news that the Aviation Ministry had purchased two bullet proof cars and that they were delivered to the minister in August.
It reported that documents in its possession showed that the transaction for the purchase of the two BMW cars started in June, but the request for the delivery and payment for them was fast tracked between August 13 and 15, 2013.
Her media assistant, Mr Joe Obi rose up to the occasion, claiming that the cars were purchased because her life was in danger as a result of her reforms in the ministry. But the NCAA later contradicted him in its response over the matter. According to the director general of the agency, Mr Akinkuotu, the cars were in its possession and are used to "convey the minister and visiting foreign dignitaries."
The National Assembly has shown interest in the matter. The two chambers will investigate the saga with a view to verifying when the cars were purchased and if due process was followed and especially, if the purchase was in this year's Appropriation Act.
Tension in House of Reps As Jonathan's Loyalists List Peace Terms for Tambuwal
Trouble appears imminent in the House of Representatives, as members get set to resume from vacation tomorrow.
The bone of contention is that the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, must support President Goodluck Jonathan wholeheartedly or be ready to give way for a core loyalist to take over the proceedings of the House.
The Presidency and Tambuwal have not been on the same page since he was accused of romancing with the opposition when he granted audience to the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Abubakar Baraje, last month.
Although supporters of the President in the House moved against what many saw as 'an open' endorsement of the group by the Speaker, there are allegations that a major plot is being hatched to remove Tambuwal from the exalted post.
Worried by the sharp division in the House arising from the Baraje and G7 governors' visit and the controversy generated, Tambuwal is said to have set up a 'small peace committee' to pacify aggrieved members and restore confidence in the leadership.
However, a source close to the peace committee told Vanguard that members had been more divided than before as a result of differences among those loyal to Tambuwal and the President.
It was learnt that when the two groups met to make peace, the pro-Jonathan lawmakers shocked Tambuwal's loyalists by coming up with three stringent conditions, which the Tambuwal group rejected.
The anti-Tambuwal lawmakers in the House are reported to have asked Tambuwal to allow for an independent auditing of the amount of money so far released to him since he took over as Speaker in 2011.
The pro-Jonathan group also asked Tambuwal to steer clear of the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis and allow the police to re-open the state legislature for business.
The group also demanded that Tambuwal should explain why members of the 7th Assembly were being paid a paltry N27 million per quarter as against the N45 million that their 6th Assembly counterparts were getting under the Dimeji Bankole leadership.
They argued that they have been cheated by the leadership which reduced their pay when the Federal Government had not reduced the statutory N150 billion being paid to the National Assembly yearly.
However, a staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan in the House of Representatives, Mr Uzo Azubuike, has said that neither the President nor the Speaker is under any impeachment threat.
Azubuike, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petition, told Vanguard exclusively that the main aim of the President's loyalists in the House was to strengthen peace and unity as well as ensure that the PDP, which is the majority party, takes its rightful position in major decisions-making.
The Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency Representative said that as people, who believe in the unity and development of Nigeria, they had already floated a group within the PDP members known as "Unity Forum" to work for the advancement of the cause of Nigeria.
Asked if all the PDP members in the House of Representatives were members of the forum, Azuibuike said that at least most of the members of the party were involved in it but did not elaborate.
The bone of contention is that the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, must support President Goodluck Jonathan wholeheartedly or be ready to give way for a core loyalist to take over the proceedings of the House.
The Presidency and Tambuwal have not been on the same page since he was accused of romancing with the opposition when he granted audience to the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Abubakar Baraje, last month.
Although supporters of the President in the House moved against what many saw as 'an open' endorsement of the group by the Speaker, there are allegations that a major plot is being hatched to remove Tambuwal from the exalted post.
Worried by the sharp division in the House arising from the Baraje and G7 governors' visit and the controversy generated, Tambuwal is said to have set up a 'small peace committee' to pacify aggrieved members and restore confidence in the leadership.
However, a source close to the peace committee told Vanguard that members had been more divided than before as a result of differences among those loyal to Tambuwal and the President.
It was learnt that when the two groups met to make peace, the pro-Jonathan lawmakers shocked Tambuwal's loyalists by coming up with three stringent conditions, which the Tambuwal group rejected.
The anti-Tambuwal lawmakers in the House are reported to have asked Tambuwal to allow for an independent auditing of the amount of money so far released to him since he took over as Speaker in 2011.
The pro-Jonathan group also asked Tambuwal to steer clear of the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis and allow the police to re-open the state legislature for business.
The group also demanded that Tambuwal should explain why members of the 7th Assembly were being paid a paltry N27 million per quarter as against the N45 million that their 6th Assembly counterparts were getting under the Dimeji Bankole leadership.
They argued that they have been cheated by the leadership which reduced their pay when the Federal Government had not reduced the statutory N150 billion being paid to the National Assembly yearly.
However, a staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan in the House of Representatives, Mr Uzo Azubuike, has said that neither the President nor the Speaker is under any impeachment threat.
Azubuike, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petition, told Vanguard exclusively that the main aim of the President's loyalists in the House was to strengthen peace and unity as well as ensure that the PDP, which is the majority party, takes its rightful position in major decisions-making.
The Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency Representative said that as people, who believe in the unity and development of Nigeria, they had already floated a group within the PDP members known as "Unity Forum" to work for the advancement of the cause of Nigeria.
Asked if all the PDP members in the House of Representatives were members of the forum, Azuibuike said that at least most of the members of the party were involved in it but did not elaborate.
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