Peace Corps Bill: NASS.May Override Presidency

Most members of the National Assembly are planning to override President Muhammadu Buhari's powers to pass the Peace Corps bill.

Last week, President Buhari had informed the National Assembly via a letter, that he was withholding his assent on the bill due to paucity of funds and duplication of duties.

But Nigerian federal lawmakers apparently see things differently and they will this week take a daring step to challenge the president according to the report. Sources quoted in the report say the lawmakers would take decisive action to override Buhari’s rejection of the Nigerian Peace Corps bill, which they laboured to pass last year and transmitted to the presidency before the end of 21017.

One of the lawmakers quoted in the report under the condition of anonymity, said the leadership of the National Assembly were disappointed by the decision of the executive to jettison the bill, which the lawmakers consider as a ‘priority’ to boost their political mileage in the forthcoming election.

The leaders of the National Assembly will have no choice but the go with majority opinions in both chambers. Source: Twitter

The lawmaker pointed out that the NPC bill meant a lot to members of the legislature given the number of their constituents they had already ‘secured employment forms for’with a lot of money.

The official said they had the number required by law to overturn Buhari’s rejection of the bill and make it an act of the Parliament as was the case with the Niger Delta Development Commission in 2000 when the then president Olusegun Obasanjo withheld assent to the bill.

His words: “I can tell you that the NPC bill is like a referendum on most of the lawmakers in Nigeria and we will prove to the presidency that this bill cannot be thrown away just like that. If we fail to make it to become law and give legal backing to the Nigerian Peace Corps, most of our members would have unwittingly dug their political graves in many states of the country.”

Another lawmaker from the northeast revealed that the leadership of the National Assembly had already mobilised support from both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to prepare for the showdown with the presidency.

However, when contacted, the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Abdulrazaq Namdas, played down on the move to counter President Buhari on the rejected bill, saying that they were studying the bill. He went on to say it was only after studying the president’s rejection letter that the National Assembly would take necessary action.

“It is after we have exhaustively scanned through Buhari’s letter rejecting the bill that we can take a definite action on the matter," Namdas said.

Similarly, the spokesman for the Senate, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, vowed the Senate would do what the constitution specifies once the president refuses assent to the Peace Corps bill.

His words: “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for what should be done if a bill has been passed by the National Assembly, transmitted to the president for assent and he fails to do that. I think that was what was done on the issue of the NDDC Bill for example.

“So in this case, as much as many of us are aligned to the need to have the Peace Corps and we believe that it will add to provide another layer of our security system it should be allowed.

“Remember the bill says that the agency is not going to be part of the interior ministry but that of youths and it is designed actually to help to support the youths in so many ways through engagements, volunteerism and many other things.

“For me, the Peace Corps as a very good thing; it is not new to Nigeria but it is happening in many other countries and that was why we approved it in the first place.”

Meanwhile, the council of commandants and Board of Trustees of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) have called on President Buhari to reevaluate and reconsider his decision to withhold his assent to the Peace Corps bill.

They made the call at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, March 2, arguing that there was no security agency in Nigeria that was currently undertaking the functions ascribe to Peace Corps in the said bill.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, the national commandant, Dr Dickson Akoh said the bill does not conflict with that of the functions of any existing security agency in the country.

Herdsmen, Farmers Clashes: Buhari Visit Taraba State

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the number of persons killed in herdsmen and farmers clashes and other violent attacks in Mambilla plateau, Sardauna local government area of Taraba state, is more than those killed in Zamfara and Benue states combined.

Speaking in Jalingo on Monday, March 5, during a meeting between the Fulani and Man bills ethnic groups, Buhari said "he has a way of gathering his own information on all the crises and killings in the country.”

President, who said he was in the state to condole with the government and those who lost their loved ones, described attacks and shedding of blood as unfortunate.

Herdsmen-farmers clashes: Buhari condoles with Governor Ishaku, says more people killed in the state than Benue, Zamfara

He said peace and security were not the responsibility of the government alone but a collective one.

He appealed to all to ensure that justice is done to all the people at all times, adding that the perpetrators of the heinous acts would be identified and punished.

Speaking earlier, the Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku, thanked the president for the visit and assured that the administration would do everything possible to ensure that peace was maintained in the state.

The governor also assured the president that the traditional institutions and leaders of Sardauna local government would be mobilised to wobrk together to ensure the take-off of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in the area.

In the president ‘s entourage were service chiefs, ministers of information, defence and women affairs as well as some members of the National Assembly from Taraba.

President Muhammadu Buhari arrived at Jalingo, the capital of Taraba as part of his attempt to carry out on-the-spot assessment of the security situations in the state.

The president arrived in the state on Monday, March 5 and was received by Governor Darius Ishaku of the state.

NNPC raises alarm on proliferation of fuel stations in border towns

The NNPC has raised an alarm on the proliferation of fuel stations in communities with international land and coastal borders across the country.

According to the corporation, the development has energized unprecedented cross-border smuggling of petrol to neighboring countries, making it difficult to sanitize the fuel supply and distribution matrix in the country.

Leading a top Management team of the corporation on a visit to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, revealed that detailed study conducted by NNPC indicated strong correlation between the presence of the frontier stations and the activities of fuel smuggling syndicates.

Dr Baru speaking to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) during the visit. Photo credit: NNPC

He said that the activities of the smugglers had led to recent observed abnormal surge in the evacuation of petrol from less than 35 million litres per day to more than 60 milion litres per day which is in sharp contrast with established national consumption pattern.

Providing a detailed presentation of the findings, the NNPC GMD informed that 16 states, having amongst them 61 local government areas with border communities, account for 2,201 registered fuel stations.

The fuel tank, he noted, had a combined capacity of 144, 998, 700 (one hundred and forty four million, nine hundred and ninety eight thousand and seven hundred) litres of petrol.

Dr. Baru explained that because of the obvious differential in petrol price between Nigeria and other neighboring countries, it had become lucrative for the smugglers to use the frontier stations as a veritable conduit for the smuggling of products across the border, saying this had resulted in a thriving market for Nigerian petrol in all the neighouring countries of Niger Republic, Benin Republic, Cameroun, Chad and Togo and even Ghana which has no direct borders with Nigeria.

“’NNPC is concerned that continued cross-border smuggling of petrol will deny Nigerians the benefit of the Federal Government’s benevolence of keeping a fix retail price of N145 per litre despite the increase in PMS open market price above N171 per litre,’’ he said.

He noted that based on the heightened petrol consumption rate of 50 million litre per day, the corporation was incurring an under-recovery of N774 million every day.

On his part, the Customs boss thanked NNPC GMD for the elaborate data he provided on the fuel supply situation, noting that this would enable the service fashion out the appropriate architecture to combat the menace.

He called on the authorities to tackle the issue of price differentials which is the underlying motivation for smuggling activities.

Meanwhile, the NNPC and the Kogi state government have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a fuel-ethanol processing plant that would produce 84 million litres of bio-fuel per year.

Speaking during the signing of the MoU on Monday, February 27, in Abuja, Dr Baru said the project would yield a cane mill and a raw and refined sugar plant of 126,000 tonnes annually.

He stated that the Bagasse co-generation plant would also generate 64 megawatts of power, stressing that the plant would include a carbon dioxide recovery and bottling plant with capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year.

Southern Young Leaders Sets ahead of 2019 elections

 leaders from southern Nigeria have made a strong call for a more sustainable strategy for democratic inclusion of young people in the country's current political process and structure ahead of the 2019 general election.

The call was part of the resolution reached at the “Southern young leaders conference for economic and political consciousness” conference held in Enugu over this weekend.

The conference was attended by over one thousand young leaders from across Southern Nigeria.

The young leaders vowed to critically mobilize ahead of 2019 elections. Photo credit: New Telegraph

The conference annexed the great economic potentials and political gaps/challenges in southern Nigeria, with a view of bringing about a more sustainable strategy for democratic inclusion of young people in the regions that make up the south of the country.

In a communique issued at the end of the conference, the young leaders agreed that there is a need for young leaders and all youth organizations within southern Nigeria to mobilize, synergize and come together in order to achieve a collective future.

They also agreed that “southern governors must come together irrespective of their political affiliations to redefine and rejuvenate economic integration in southern Nigeria.”

Speakers at the event include Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon Luke Onofiok and Bayelsa politician, Moses Siasia. Photo credit: New Telegraph

“The Southern Young Leaders have decided to arise and strengthen the relationship with Rex Tillerson, the United States Secretary of State, who served in southern Nigeria during his days at Exxon Mobile and understands the challenges faced by the region,” the communique said.

“All young leaders from southern Nigeria are hereby put on notice that mobilization would cut across higher institutions, religious establishments, women groups, youth advocacy groups for the collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) and participation in the 2019 election,” the communique informed.

Irresponsible attitude of some young people currently occupying political positions of leadership in southern Nigeria was equally condemned at the conference and further urged the electorates to be more wary of the kind of young leaders they vote for in future elections.

The Southern Young Leaders also collectively agreed to support a mass movement for a new Nigeria, come 2019.

The conference had several speakers including the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon Luke Onofiok; former Bayelsa state governorship candidate and chairman of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, Moses Siasia; immediate past president of Ijaw youth council, Udengs Eradiri amongst others.

Attendance at the conference cut across representatives of all ethnic groups, political divides, state representatives, traditional leaders, religious leaders, student union leaders and young political aspirants from across southern Nigeria.

Nigeria's southern region consists of three sub-regions namely: southeast, southwest and the south-south.

Meanwhile, the chairman, House of Representatives committee on youth development, Honourable Segun Adekola, has accused the federal government of relegating Nigerian youths to the background.

Honourable Adekola made the remarks when a delegation from Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday, February 21, at the National Assembly.

He lamented that for the past three years, nothing tangible has been budget for youth development by the federal government.

Drop hate speech bill - International media organisation advises Nigeria Senate

An international media organisation, International Press Centre (IPC), has advised the Nigerian Senate against going ahead with the passage of a bill now before it which prescribes death sentence for Nigerians found guilty of ‘hate speech.’

Sahara Reporters stated that this was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the organisation, Lanre Arogundade.

The media group warned that if passed, the bill would crush the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the constitution of the country.

Arogundade further advised that national assembly to convene a meeting with stakeholders to determine what particularly could be regarded as hate speech.

The statement read in part: “A draconian law that hallmarks dictatorship cannot be the solution to hate speech in a democratic society. What the country needs today is engagement by multiple stakeholders to determine what actually constitutes hate speech and agree on effective measures for dealing with such.”

Arogundade added if the bill is passed into law, it would gravely pose a threat to freedom of expression as well of freedom of the press and safety of journalists in the country.

He said that though hate speech is discouraged, prescribing death penalty for it is not a welcome idea.

“Much as we do not welcome hate speech, we do not also welcome a law that would gag citizens and deny the public the right to know,” he said.

Previously three civil society groups, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also described the hate speech bill as draconian.

The president of the CDHR, Malachy Ugwummadu, said: “I think there have been very desperate and sinister moves on the part of the Senate, hiding under the cloak of a nebulous term such as hate speech, to whittle down and undermine the fundamental rights of Nigerians. The first challenge about that bill is to know who defines hate speech. Is it the senators or the people?

“Also, there are still bodies of legislation on defamation, slander and libel which carry their own punishments and penalties, but not the death penalty. They, more often than not, attract payment of damages. The Senate must not tamper with this arrangement. We recommend that the bill on capital punishment be abolished.”

Imo police command parades fake lawyer that Won Many Cases

The Imo state police command on Saturday, March 3, paraded 35-year-old Beatrice Nnamuoh for illegally practising law.

Nnamuoh, who hails from Iyiawu village in Onitsha, Anambra state, had practised law for five years and won many cases.

The exhibits recovered from the fake lawyer included a lawyer’s gown, wig, collaret and letterhead, among others.

Confessing to the crime, Nnamuoh said: “I studied sociology but I have worked with many lawyers. It was in the process that I learnt many things about law. Aside, I am very intelligent. I do everything that comes my way very well.

“I love the law profession. I sought admission four times but couldn’t get in because of lack of money. To help myself, I decided to go into it illegally. I have been doing it and succeeding in many cases I handled better than real lawyers.”

She said she regretted her actions and pleaded for mercy.

According to the state commissioner of police, Chris Ezike, the suspect was arrested at Orlu after defrauding unsuspecting members of the public of over N342,000.

He said: “She defrauded unsuspecting members of the public with the pretence of selling auctioned vehicles to them, having posed as a lawyer.

"Nnamuoh also confessed to have forged the letterhead bearing Basil C. Okereke of Seat of Wisdom Chambers, No. 10 Orlu/Amakohia Road. A search conducted at her residence led to the recovery of the above exhibits.”

Meanwhile the suspected fake lawyer who had been parading himself as Barrister Chris Elisha and had been practicing for the past fifteen years was arrested by the Nigeria police.

The alleged imposter was arrested on February 6, at Ojo magistrate court where he appeared on behalf of an accused person but found it difficult to move a motion for the variation of the bail condition of his client.

Our source said the alleged imposter’s predicament was noticed by one Barrister Nnamdi Samuel Nwafor who challenged his qualification.

2019 lmo Guber Race:Okorocha Son-in-law Causes Division

Son-in-law to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, Uche Nwosu, has reportedly declared to run for the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.

Nwosu's declaration took place at his country home in Eziama Obire, Nkwerre local government area of Imo state.

The governorship aspirant, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state cannot be under the control of just one man, while the Imo deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere, reportedly insisted that he would contest for the governorship position.

Okorocha had earlier stated that he would be contesting for Imo West senatorial district while his son in-law would be contesting for governorship in 2019.

Speaking with supporters at his Destiny Foundation office, Owerri, Senator Araraume said: “No one man owns the party. The party belongs to all of you. And whatever will happen in Imo state, will be decided by you.

“There is no one man, no matter who the person is that owns this party. This party belongs to all of us. You must work hard to ensure that this party is strong in your area. There is no any other party that will win Imo state. Our President will be voted again to continue from 2019. So, no one man will decide what will happen in Imo.

“When they were moving around telling people that they will change our elected executives and I told them that nobody can change our elected executives. That is not democracy, we are not in the period of dictatorship. We have long passed that, it is now history."

Meanwhile the speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Dr Acho Ihim, denied the claim that the state lawmakers endorsed Governor Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as the next governor of the state by 2019.

Ezediaro, the house committee chairman on petroleum, representing Oguta state constituency, had earlier claimed that the House had endorsed Nwosu, who is also the chief of staff to the governor, as the best person to succeed Okorocha in 2019.

A head 2019 General Election- Sultan of Sokoto Sends Message to Nigerians

The Sultan of Sokoto and president general of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Nigerians to go get their voter’s card ready to elect leaders of their choice in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

According to the sultan, people can only have a say in what the leaders do, only by getting their voter’s card.

Speaking on Saturday, March 3, during the closing ceremony of the 32nd National Qur’anic Recitation competition organized by Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and hosted by the Katsina state, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar said: “It is only through your voter’s card that you can challenge your leaders and also have a say in what they do.”

Also speaking, the governor of Katsina state, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, faulted the Almajiranci system. He said it has no basis in Islam.

“The practice of the Almajirai is far from being a reflection of Islamic ideals. The Almajirai are erroneously linked to Islamic education. Aged between four and 15 years, the Almajirai are engaged more in seeking sustenance for themselves than in learning the Qur’an. They are exposed, exploited and abused and many of them become involved in crimes. Islam does not encourage begging,” Governor Masari said.

Amina Aliyu Mohd from Borno state and Amiru Yunus Guru from Bauchi state emerged as the overall winners in the competition which had about 250 reciters. They were awarded with brand new cars, Hajj seats and other cash donations.

Gombe state will be hosting the the 33rd edition of the competition slated for next year.

Earlier the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) decried the lack of commitment by Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs). The Kogi state chapter of the association said it is worrisome that about eight million Nigerians are yet to collect their PVCsfrom many collection centres across Nigeria.

The CAN chairman of the state chapter, Bishop John Ibenu, there is need for Independent National Electoral Commission to step up sensitisation campaign and enlightenment for the people.