Obj Berates Buhari on the appointment of Nigeria's security chiefs.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government ignored federal character in the appointment of the Nigeria's security chiefs.

Punch reports that he also berated the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission for failing to check the excesses of the president in the uneven distribution of public offices.

Dr.Obasanjo said this on Thursday, February 1, at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oke Ilewo area of Abeokuta, shortly after the Coalition for Nigeria Movement was inaugurated in Ogun state, and he was registered as a member of the movement.

The former President, who was flanked by a former military administrator of old Ondo state, Gen. Ekundayo Opaleye and a former minister of state for defence, Dupe Adelaja, said the ethos of nation building through eoven distribution of public offices had been abused.

He said: “Let me emphasise important areas, programmes, priorities or processes for improved attention. To start with, we seem to have taken nation building for granted. Nation building must be given continued attention to give every citizen a feeling of belonging and a stake in his or her country.

“For instance, the Federal Character principle, as espoused in our constitution, was to guide the leadership to search for competent holders of major offices to be distributed within the entire nation, and avoid concentration in a few ethnic hands or geographical places, as we currently have in the leadership of our security apparatus.

“To avoid such non-integrative situation, we have the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission, both institutions which must raise the alarm or call for correction of actions by the executive that violates the spirit of our constitution.”

Obasanjo’s registration came almost 24 hours after the CNM was inaugurated in Abuja.

He arrived the venue at exactly 12.44pm in company with dignitaries sdgincluding former governors of Cross River and Osun states, Donald Duke and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The former president, while justifying the need for the CNM, argued that if all the instruments the country had used in the quest for nation building and governance since independence had failed, it was imperative to try new ways.

He said: “If what we have tried in the past has not taken us to the Promised Land, we have to try something else and something else is this grassroots popular movement built from the bottom-up to lead us, I hope and pray, to the Promised Land.”

He, however, warned that if the movement “decides to transform itself and go into partisan politics, I will cease to be a member.”

Obasanjo further said the spate of violence, and other forms of criminality had not received sufficient proactive ameliorative responses through transformational leadership.

He said the youth and women would be carried along, as “they must be part and parcel of governance in this country.”

Benue crisis:Military Approach may fail Bafarawa tells FG.

Former Sokoto governor Attahiru Bafarawa has advised both the Benue and federal governments to evolve a political solution to end the violence instead of trading blames.

“What is required to end the crisis is a workable solution that would be acceptable to all sides; trying to establish who is right or wrong is not what matters now,” Bafarawa said on Friday, February 2, in Makurdi, when rhe paid a condolence visit to Governor Samuel Ortom.

He opined that a military approach to tackling the crisis would not solve the problem.

“A military approach will not solve the problem; the solution to it is political. We need to involve the traditional institution. This problem is not only a Benue problem, it is a national problem and we all need to come together to solve it.

“It is a problem we can solve with a sincere and open approach. We cannot afford the luxury of trading blames,” he said.

He recalled the role played by former Benue governor George Akume in stabilizing the northern part of the country during its challenging moments, and called for unity among Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or political leaning.

Bafarawa blamed the killings on migrant herders, and declared that they were not Fulani herdsmen.

“The Fulani herdsmen that we know carry sticks to guide their cattle and not Ak 47 Riffles; these migrants speak strange languages. They are not Fulani people.

“We must come together to fish out the people that are perpetrating these crimes against our people,” he said.

He appealed to the governor to protect both Tiv and Fulani people living in Benue, and prayed for the repose of those killed in the violence.

Bafarawa donated N10 million to the families of the deceased.

Ortom, in his response, commended Bafarawa for condoling with the Benue people and also proffering solutions to the crisis.

“Your visit is a demonstration of love and friendliness,” he said.

He said that the attacks on Benue were strange, and blamed them on the influx of foreign nationals who had taken advantage of the country’s porous borders to smuggle arms into it.

The governor recalled the traditional ties between the Tiv and the Fulani, and wondered why the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), was opposed to the anti-open grazing law enacted to check farmers/herdsmen clashes.

“It is sad that in spite of the several legal options opened to those aggrieved by any government decision, the group chose to instigate crises through various utterances.

“The enactment of the law is the only solution to the persistent herdsmen/farmers crisis; we must all embrace it.

“The anti-open grazing law is intended to protect both the farmers and the herdsmen from attack; with land shrinking everyday and population increasing, the only way to do animal husbandry is to ranch,” he said.

He agreed that the problem between farmers and herdsmen was a national problem and called on the federal government to “act fast to save the country”.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris during his meeting with a Senate committee on Friday, suggested that states with anti-grazing law be ordered to suspend the law until ranches can be provided for herdsmen.

Idris reportedly blamed the clashes between herdsmen and farmers on the anti-grazing law when he appeared in front of the senate on Friday.

The IGP however claimed that 100 people have been arrested in connection with the killings in Benue state and suspects have been charged to court.

2019 election: Buhari ready to give up power for progress of Nigeria – Gov. El-Rufai

Jan 30, 2018 8:10 AM

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is ready to give up power for Nigeria to move forward.

He also maintained that no politician currently in the country can defeat President Buhari in election.

The governor also spoke on the recent report on restructuring which the All Progressive Congress, APC, committee headed by him, submitted to the party.

El-Rufai in an interview on Channels Television, said, “I do not have any doubt in my mind that we are going to win the next elections; not only in the centre but we are going to preserve our 24 states, and even more.

“We are not saying this foolishly; this is scientific. We are monitoring the pulse of Nigerians, not the pulse of a section of Nigerians and I am confident that we are going to win the 2019 elections.

“We know the pulse of the nation, we know where we are losing support, we know where we are gaining support; I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to win the 2019 elections.

“There are two pulses of Nigerians – there is the pulse of the Nigerian elites which is the noise that you hear in the media, the social media and so on; then there is the pulse of the people.

“If you remember how many people came out to welcome President Buhari in Kano, then you will know that there are two Nigerias.”

Asked how the President received the proposals by his committee, El-Rufai added, “He was excited. He was very pleased, and he said he fully supports what we have done and that he is looking forward to the party officially transmitting it to him for his necessary action.

“President Buhari is not concerned about his personal power; he is concerned about Nigeria making progress.

“If giving up power will make Nigeria progress, he will give all of it up. Not just part of it, but all of it. This is the real Buhari that many people don’t know. It is the most comprehensive review of this subject matter ever in Nigeria’s history.

“APC’s true federalism committee differs from other confabs in at least two ways; first, previous confabs were conclaves of the elite. The government picks who goes there, they decide who participates, and it is mostly old people with a sprinkle of a few women. Our committee opened the space for everyone.

“More than one-third of the membership of our committee were women. More than a quarter of the membership were young people, below the age of 40. It was a very broad range of consultation. Many opposition figures have expressed support for the report. We have proposed more than 20 alterations to the constitution. Everything we did is in the best interest of Nigeria.

“So, this is the first time that a platform has been given to young people and women and those that are vulnerable to give their voices to what shape of the federation they want to see.

“Because old people like me, 50, 60, 70 cannot define the future for Nigerian youth below the age of 40. What young women and our people see is completely different from what old people see.”

PMB.Appoints New CBN.Deputy Governor

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Edward Adamu as the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(1) (2) of CBN Establishment Act 2007.

The appointment was contained in a letter dated January 26, 2018, to the Senate president, Bukola Saraki,

Spokesman of the president, Femi Adesina, who confirmed the appointment in a statement today February 1, said it was subject to the confirmation of the senate.

The presidential aide noted that Adamu, from Gombe state, replaces Sulaiman Barau, from Zaria, Kaduna state, who retired in December, 2017.

"The nominee, who has spent 25 years in the CBN, was appointed in 2012 as Director of Strategy.

“He became Director, Human Resources in 2016, from where he was nominated as Deputy Governor,"Adesina stated.

Breaking: Senate celebrates as court affirms power to reject Magu

The Senate has said it has been vindicated on the rejection of the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Senate committee on media and public affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, who briefed journalists in Abuja today
February 1, announced that a Federal High Court had ruled that the upper chamber of the National Assembly had the powers to confirm or reject his appointment.

Senator Sabi-Abdullahi made a copy of the ruling available to journalists.

The Senate’s spokesperson said: “We are pleased with this judgment and we want to salute Nigeria’s judiciary for always rising up to the occasion to protect our democracy and deepen our democratic processes.”

The Senate had rejected Magu’s appointment bases on a report by the Department of State Services which disqualified him.

The lawmakers had also placed an embargo on confirmation of appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari which required legislative approval, to protest against Presidency’s position that some appointments did not require Senate’s approval.

Sabi-Abdullahi stated that the embargo would remain until Magu is replace.
Meanwhile.Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, January 29, said it is important that African leaders support Nigeria’s president in his war against corruption, Channels TV reports.

Magu at the 30th AU summit in Addis Ababa told journalists that African leaders must therefore support President Buhari in his task as the champion of AU’s fight against corruption for successful anti-corruption war.

FG may ban open drug market - Minister of health

The federal government says it will shut down all open drug markets this year to curb unwholesome drug distribution system.

The minister of health, Isaac Adewole, disclosed this in a statement issued after a ground breaking ceremony of the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Abia, The News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Adewole, in the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Wednesday, January 31, frowned at the chaotic drug distribution system in the country thereby endangering the lives of the populace.

He noted that the closure of all open drug markets would immediately kick start full implementation of the CWC component of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG).

The minister, who identified unsatisfactory drug distribution system as one of the challenges in the use of medicine in the country, however said that this has led to poor product handling.

Adewole added that it has also led to difficulty in product tracking for statistical purposes, circulation of substandard products, difficulty in audit trail and destruction of professional practice.

According to him, the ministry issued the NDDG in 2013 in its bid to reverse the ugly trend of unsatisfactory drug distribution system.

The statement also quoted the Registrar of PCN, Mr Elijah Mohammed, describing the CWC as one of the concepts of NDDG to cater for or accommodate open drug marketers.

Mohammed, who identified open drug market as the hub of major drug supply and major drug problem in the country, noted that the measure would assist in sanitising drug distribution system in the country.

The registrar said that the federal government, being sensitive to the yearnings of Nigerians, provided the CWC as an alternative to those in the open drug market instead of pushing them out.

According to him, the CWC will provide effective regulatory activities and ensure good pharmaceutical service delivery in the country.

It would have control over the efficacy of drugs coming into Nigeria and being made available for consumption for Nigerians, he said.

Mohammed described CWC as a purpose built infrastructure that would cater for storage condition, practice environment, security and also in terms of regulatory activities, among others.

“There are some drugs that need to be stored within a specific temperature and CWCs has such warehouses constructed for them unlike the open drug market where everything is lumped under the sun and in stores that have no windows, among others.

“Definitely the quality and efficacy of those drugs are maintained, which is the purpose,” said the registrar.

Mohammed listed the four major open drug markets of concern to the federal government as Idumota Drug market, Lagos; Onitsha overhead bridge, Anambra; Ariaria market, Aba, Abia; and Sabon Gari market, Kano state.

According to him, those centres will boost economy, help ensure product tracking, build confidence in products in the country and increase patronage.

He emphasised that the Abia CWC would accommodate all the owners of medicine shops in Aba and in other clustered areas in the state, when fully developed.

“It is my belief that the speedy development of the coordinated wholesale centre will go a long way in sanitising the drug distribution system in the state and to a large extend the entire nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the federal government is preparing to include members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the national health insurance scheme.

Proposed Coalition for Nigeria launches in Abuja

The coalition is being launched at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Obasanjo, had, in a letter, called for the formation of the movement.

He had argued that the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party were incapable of repositioning Nigeria, having lost the confidence of the electorate.

Premium Times reports that Obasanjo, who just bagged a PhD degree was not present at the launch in Abuja.

Though Cheif Olusegun Obasanjo was not present at the launch,two former PDP governors, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun state and Donald Duke of Cross River, were, however, said to be in attendance

Oyinlola who said the movement is not yet a political party, noted that, with time and agreement with other stake holders, it could eventually upgrade into a political party.

“We’re not a political party, at least, for now,” he said.

“We recognise the facts that by the dictates of the constitution, you can only contest on the platform of a political party.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM) had commenced a drive to welcome new coalitions, groups, and others to its Third Force initiative just as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s own version of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) is to be launched.
 The NIM’s deputy director-general (media and publicity bureau), Mallam Naseer Kura, said his group is ready to welcome new members and groups. In a statement, Kura reportedly said events in recent times had shown the swift and positive response of Nigerians to the philosophy and message of the movement.

“This is underscored by the recent, historic statement by a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, whose clarion call on like-minded Nigerians from different states and regions of the federation, different religious beliefs and backgrounds, groups of Nigerians from different professional and sectorial leanings should come together to create an environment for the realisation of the citizens’ potentials and aspirations.

Ex Super Eagles star Femi Opabunmi cries out for help

Born on March 3, 1985, Femi Opabunmi is a former Super Eagles striker who featured at the 2002 FIFA World Cup thereby becoming the third youngest player ever to have played in the World Cup.

But 16 years after representing his country at the FIFA World Cup championship in Korea/Japan, the player whose performances then caught the attention of clubs like Manchester United and Lyon is currently battling for survival in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Opabunmi exclusively told NAIJ.comthat he is currently at home in Ibadan with no major means of livelihood and to feed his family has become a serious problem for him since he lost one of his eyes.

While narrating his ordeal, Femi Opabunmi explained that he lost his fortune in efforts to revive his right eye, but till the moment of this article, Opabumni can no longer see with one of his eyes.

Ex Super Eagles star Femi Opabunmi cries out for help (photo: Goal)

He has now begged football lovers around the world to come and assist him for him not to die in his current unfortunate condition.

''I lost my right eye when I was in France, and since the year 2008, I have been struggling going from one place to another as I was in serious pain.

''The fear was for me not to lose the second eye, and I eventually lost all the money I made in football while trying to help my condition.

''The doctors told me that they can't really figure out what the problem was with my eye, and the pain almost took my life.

''As I am speaking with you now, I am down with no or limited hope to survive, and with a wife and three children, it becomes more difficult for me.

''There is no money, no work to do and no help from anyone except Osazie Odemwingie, Seyi Olofinjana and even Taiwo Awoniyi,'' Femi Opabunmi exclusively revealed to NAIJ.com.

Ex Super Eagles star Femi Opabunmi cries out for help

Recently, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick announced that the NFF will help former Super Eagles midfielder Wilson Oruma who was said to have lost his fortune to fake pastors.

NAIJ.com then asked Femi Opabunmi if he has been contacted by any member of the NFF, but he said no one has contacted him and therefore begged the football house to help him.

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''It is unfortunate that I am in this condition which could happen to anyone regardless of your wealth, I lost millions on my eyes, and if I had not, I will be fine by now with my family.

''I am not saying that my life is the responsibility of the NFF because they never owed me when I was playing for the National team, but I want to beg them and all football lovers in Nigeria to help me as life is currently hot for me to live in. I can do any job as far as I will be getting money to feed myself and my family,'' Opabunmi added.

Opabunmi started his football career in 2001 at Shooting Stars of Ibadaan, and it was his superb goal-scoring ability that paved way for him to be included in the Super Eagles squad that went to 2002 World Cup.

The former Chamois Niortais of France striker made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2002 against Kenya scoring the second goal in their 3-0 win.