Obasanjo advises FG , regrets not privatising NNPC

Privatise maritime agencies, Obasanjo tells FG

Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the privatization of the maritime institutions in the country.
He made this call at a two-day maritime stakeholder’s conference hosted by the Ministry of Transportation and its agencies, in Lagos on Monday.
He said, “The institutions that are important in the country which have not worked, we have to make them work. We can use the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas company as a model.

“We should look into these areas and think outside of the box. Until the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency became a place where people steal money, nobody knew much about it. Now everybody wants to work there. Look at the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron and the Nigeria Ports Authority which we tried to privatise. These are institutions we can make to work.”

Obasanjo expressed regrets over media reports concerning the mismanagement of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in the last few years.
He said, “I was instrumental to the reform and establishment of the NNPC from Nigerian National Oil Corporation. Had I known that it would have been mismanaged, I would have done something better. I would have privatized it and put it on the stock exchange.

“NLNG didn’t go the way of NNPC because of the way it was organised. 51 per cent is owned by private investors both foreign and indigenous while 49 per cent is owned by government. In fact NLNG has been making money ever since the initial capital investment. From three trains we are going to seven trains.”
Obasanjo recalled that some of the reasons why the Nigerian National Shipping Line failed. He said the agency failed because of lack of commitment and professionalism, and corruption.

“Whatever we deliberate on in this conference, we don’t need another NNSL or agency like the Nigerian Airways. Our experiences with such were heartbreaking,” he added.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in his speech, said that plans were on-going for the re-establishment of a National Shipping Line. He described the absence of a national carrier as a mockery of the country’s status as the largest economic in Africa.

He said, “If we are to build a sustainable maritime industry in Nigeria, then public private partnership in my view is a credible option for building the necessary collaboration that will enable Nigeria take advantage of its enormous potentials.”

Amaechi called for the re-examination of the implementation guidelines of the Cabotage Act, with the aim of enhancing indigenous participation in ship building and ship acquisition.

He added, “Nigeria cannot hope to become a regional and global maritime power without first been able to dominate its inland maritime trade. All stakeholders must rise above personal aggrandizement to establish national consensus that will impose Nigeria’s supremacy as a regional hub.”


Other dignitaries also present at the conference include the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Director General of NIMASA, Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Danladi Ibrahim and the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

BOMB SCARE. ..FLIGHT GROUNDED IN NORWAY

A Ryanair flight from Norway to Manchester was evacuated before take-off due to “suspicious behaviour” of two passengers, police have said.
Sky News reports that Norwegian police spokesman, Anders Stroemsaether, told public broadcaster NRK that the incident at Rygge airport, near Oslo, happened during boarding when the two passengers were overheard arguing in an airport toilet.

He said other passengers heard the word “bomb” being used and told the captain as they boarded the aircraft.
The captain informed police who evacuated the plane and took the two passengers in for questioning.

A bomb squad searched the aircraft but found nothing suspicious.
Police said on Twitter that the two passengers were discharged after being interviewed.

“After questioning of witnesses and those brought in, the police have concluded that the situation is a result of a misunderstanding,” police said.
Ryanair put on a replacement flight from Rygge to Manchester at midnight on Sunday.

The incident came just hours after a fake bomb was found at Manchester United’s football stadium, prompting police to call off a Premier League match.
Police later said it was a training device that was left inside the stadium following an earlier security exercise.

Mobilization of Batch A,Stream B not feasible. ...NYSC DG

Paucity of funds’ll frustrate corpers’ mobilisation – NYSC DG

The National Youth Service Corps cannot raise enough funds to mobilise corps members for the mandatory national youth service, The PUNCH has gathered.
Findings by our correspondent showed that graduates to be mobilsed by the NYSC would have to wait for some weeks, following the inability of the NYSC to raise enough funds.

The Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Sulyman Kazaure, who stated this in Abuja on Monday, attributed the reason to the unavailability of funds arising from the N13bn shortfall in the agency’s 2016 budget.
Kazaure, who addressed the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, said the affected prospective corps members were those in the Batch A, Stream 2.
The graduates were supposed to be mobilised into the 37 orientation camps across the country this Friday.

The NYSC DG said, “As of today (Monday), the required money for the exercise has not been provided by the Federal Government, despite a series of efforts made to that effect through letters over the past (few) weeks by the NYSC.”

Kazaure lamented that the request letters to get the operational funds for the mobilisation were forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Finance, and the Presidency before the expiration of the orientation camp for Batch A, Stream 2  corps members  without any favorable response.
He said, “We are presently at a loss in the NYSC now as there is no money for us to mobilise thousands of prospective corps members  in the Batch A, Stream 2 to  camp this Friday as earlier planned despite efforts made by us to get things done in that direction several weeks ago.

“The problem staring us in the face arose from the N13bn shortfall we had in the 2016 budget estimate. The agency made a strong request for its provision during the budget defence about three months ago.”
Kazaure, however, expressed the hope that a last-minute intervention might be made by the Presidency.

He explained that the Chief of Staff to the President had invited the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to see him over the matter.
The Chairman of the senate committee, Senator Obinna Ogba, also expressed concerns over the problem but assured the DG of their intervention as he informed him that an urgent meeting by the committee, the NYSC, the ministries of finance and budget, would be convened during the week for a quick solution to the problem.

Ogba said, “We have listened to you and we are also disturbed by the problem at hand as regards the paucity of funds for the mobilisation of prospective corps members.

“An urgent meeting by us, your establishment and the ministries of finance and budget and national planning would surely be called, possibly before this week runs out because the NYSC is not something to joke with.
“Even if it is through urgent supplementary budget provisions, the problem must be quickly tackled by the Federal Government.”

Prof Obiaraeri N.O Ph.D (Law), FHRI, FCAI, KJWBarrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Political Adviser to the Executive Governor of Imo State, Nigeria.

                                             PDP-An Old Man Behaving Badly?

There is no gainsaying the fact that PDP is the oldest political party in Nigeria having come into existence between 1998/99. PDP was in power at the centre and in majority of the states in Nigeria from 1999 till 2015. This is an unbroken period of sixteen years. A good number of current politicians in Nigeria have had one stint or romance with PDP in its heydays. Needless to say that many left its membership for the simple reason that PDP politics is killing, predictably undemocratic, oppressive and corrupt.

Back in time, PDP prided itself as the only party that has not changed its name, logo or flag until the advent of the political Tsunami of 2015 that swept it away from the Villa and in most States of the federation. Today, PDP is in miserable opposition, perhaps as a spoilt child that has always had goodies and did not know lack until things went awry. It is not out of sync to say that PDP  is in political coma having not played opposition politics before and worse still, it is most unwilling to imbibe the ideals of democratic politics by accepting that power truly belongs to the people and not to a few rough necks or a cabal.

The current reality is that the confused PDP is in danger of extinction unless it changes its poor political character and behaviour. It is highly doubtful if a leopard can change its spots. Recent events in PDP National and many of its State branches arising from its congresses and leadership tussles clearly buttress that PDP and its fast depleting members have not learnt anything from their 2015 debacle and are oblivious of their sacred duty to Nigerians as a leading opposition party.

PDP has failed itself and Nigerians because the APC, as the party in government, needs to be put on the hot seat to deliver on its electoral promises to Nigerians. This can only be done by a vibrant and robust opposition party or parties. Unfortunately for Nigerians, PDP is in coma and may never survive its self-inflicted terminal disease.

For those who do not know, opposition politics is the beauty of democracy. Alas, a party in opposition must strive to be democratic and rule of law compliant. An opposition party that cannot obey its constitution and guarantee a level playing field for its members to compete for power is bereft of or lacks the moral high ground to criticise the party in power.

It is untrue and with due respect idiotic, as a few ignorantly argue,that shortchanging the democratic process and rule of law is the internal affairs of a political party. A political party is not a secret cult or society. A political party duly registered by INEC by the powers exclusively donated to it in that behalf under the 1999 Constitution as amended is a public body and must respect the Constitution and Electoral laws in the conduct of its affairs. This is where PDP leaders and its membership get it all wrong. Vulgar impunity, lawlessness, unbriddled corruption, imposition, disregard for popular majority rule, lack of internal party democracy is the rule rather than exception in PDP politics at all levels. 

Owing to rougish politics, today, countless number of factions and groups exist in PDP National and State branches. Why must this be so? Yet, a few disgruntled PDP members shamelessly want discerning members of the public to view it as "internal family affair" for which reason nobody except PDP members should comment or feel concerned about it.  What a great pity. What a charade. Democracy is an open book!

A noisy elderly neighbour who is always fighting and bullying his wife and subjecting his children to indignity and public disgrace is a big public nuisance and disaster waiting to happen. There is nothing internal about PDP's persistent  failure, refusal or neglect to obey settled democratic ethos and nuances and thereby heating up the polity. With PDP, power does not belong to the people. In PDP, power is all about cash and carry. This is wrong and must stop!

Democracy is all about the people having a democratic mindset. A politician must stand prepared to accept and defend the truism that power belongs to the people. The absence of good leadership and development in Nigeria can be located at the door steps of lack of internal party democracy which throws up weak and tepid leaders. There is no opportunity for independent candidacy in Nigeria. This means that only political parties can sponsor candidates in an election. Therefore, political justice and internal party democracy is the irreducible minimum in party politics in Nigeria whether from the ruling or opposition party.

In conclusion therefore, we opine strongly that-

(a) PDP may not change its name, logo or flag.

(b) PDP must not change its motto- Power belongs to the People because power truly and verily belongs to the people in a democracy such as Nigeria.

(c) PDP must change its characteristic  politics of corruption, vulgar impunity, lack of internal democracy  and unbridled lawlessness.

An old man must not behave badly.

Prof Obiaraeri N.O Ph.D (Law), FHRI, FCAI, KJW

Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Political Adviser to the Executive Governor of Imo State, Nigeria.

IMO STATE :EDUCATION TRUST FUND LAUNCHED NY OKOROCHA

Rochas causes a revolution in the education sector

-Sets up education trust fund committee

Determined to leave a lasting legacy in the education sector, aware that nothing better defines what we are and what we will become than the education of our children, and worried that subsequent administrations in the state might reverse or indeed jettison his flagship free education policy, the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, recently inaugurated a 13-man Education Trust Fund Committee in the state.

The Committee, headed by Engineer Emma Ezeonyeasi, has the onerous responsibility of ensuring the sustainability of the free education programme beyond 2019, when the governor is expected to leave office. By this singular act, the governor hopes to institutionalise the policy in the over-all interest of the state.

Governor Okorocha's decision to embrace free education, which his predecessors had said was not possible was informed by his realisation that the life chances of a child are limited if denied the opportunity of being educated, since in today's world, education determines not just which students will succeed but also which nations will thrive in a world united in the pursuit of freedom in enterprise. This unquestionable love for the less privileged and unwavering commitment to his campaign promise to Imo people is aptly captured when he said, 'as governor, I am poised to see that the free education programme is sustained in the state beyond 2019. There is no greater gift you can give to a child than education. Education remains the pivot upon which the wheel of every success in life rotates. We must do everything as a people to keep the free education programme alive'

The mere fact that Governor Okorocha is thinking beyond his exit from Douglas House in 2019 in the over-all interest of the less privileged in the state is not only demonstrative of his humane and humanitarian disposition, but goes a long way to situate him as the most forward looking, foresighted, futuristic and genuinely patriotic politician the state has ever produced. There is therefore no doubt that the governor has consistently and continuously demonstrated competence, intelligence, vision and mission in the governance of the state since the last five years in office.

That Owelle has clearly shown that he deeply cares about education is definitely not in doubt, for, his commitment to spend more time, more energy and more effort on education is second to none, while the leadership he is providing in getting personally involved in the implementation of the free education policy is outstanding. It is therefore indubitable that his indefatigable determination and leadership have been the driving force in the realization of this noble programme.

Encouraged by his innate desire to offer succour to the down trodden, his 'can do spirit', the determination to eradicate crime, create hope and opportunities across the state, the need to dispel the darkness of illiteracy with the enlightenment that sound and well-rounded education provides, and the successes recorded in the old Western region under the leadership of the late Obafemi Awolowo, Governor Okorocha developed an effective and robust education policy and supported its absolute implementation across the three tiers of primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Thus, Owelle has been able to achieve sustained high performance in the execution of his free education policy to the envy of his detractors.

As a leading light in the crusade to prepare our children for the exciting future that looms ahead, Governor Okorocha truly appreciates the fact that our greatest resource as a people lies within us; our intelligence, ingenuity and the capacity of the human mind. For him, 'the lives of our children born and yet unborn are very important. So this is the time to secure the future of our children and children yet unborn by saving for their education. Every child must go to school and education must be made free so that the children of the poorest can go to school as we don't know where the person who may change the face of the state or the nation will come from'.

Consequently, upon his emergence as the Governor of the state in 2011, Owelle quickly realised that the days of the status quo were over; that the time for all the reports, white papers, studies and surveys about what was wrong in our educational system was past. The time for too much talk was over. The state had to move forward and remain competitive in this era and in the future; there was no more need to convene panels to report on the obvious.It was therefore time for us to accept the responsibility of educating everyone among us, regardless of background or disability. It was time for action; the action of putting our children and the future of the state first.

Hence, the action Governor set out to revolutionize the education sector. Starting with communicating the need and vision for the reform in the sector, and through the different actors, engaged parents and leaders from education, the community, business and philanthropy, in order to improve education effectiveness.

Accordingly, he declared free and compulsory education in primary and secondary schools. And, pained by the hardship of the burden of high school fees in tertiary institutions in the state on parents, being that his predecessor had increased tuition to a staggering 150, 000naira per session before his exit from Douglas House, the Governor quickly reversed the policy and declared free education at all levels in the state for all Imo indigenes. He however later extended the gesture to non-indigenes studying in any of the state-owned institutions.

The over-all intention of the free education policy of the government is to adequately prepare our children for career training and eventually jobs that provide enough income for self-sustenance. Also, the policy would help to reduce ignorance, a critical draw back to democratic growth by putting the citizens in the position to impact positively on policy development, civic life and governance. While past administrations in the state preferred the seemingly safer but ultimately less robust laissez affaire education policy, leading to failure to achieve hoped-for-outcomes, and therefore making schooling less attractive and unpopular among our youth, who saw other means of livelihood, especially crime as more rewarding, the government of Governor Rochas Okorocha is focused, committed and determined to bring about a paradigm shift in the education sector.

In other to strengthen the state owned university, Imo state university, the Governor caused the accreditation of the Faculty of Engineering and Nursing Science, while clearing the arrears of 138m naira owed academic and non- academic staff of the institution as a result of the CONTISS/CONUAS salary structure agreed to between the union and the Federal government. In addition, Governor Okorocha increased the state subvention to the institution from a meagre 57.56m naira to a whopping 100m naira monthly. Similar transformations also occurred in all other state-owned tertiary institutions.

The Governor also embarked on wide sweeping reforms and transformation that have resulted in total systemic and structural changes in the states' education system through improving the quality of learning. He also undertook the construction of new schools and the total reconstruction of existing ones, provided the necessary facilities like uniforms, chairs, tables, sandals etc. to pupils. Determined to key into the 21st century notion of schooling with hi-tech connectivity and application, the government embarked on the provision of computers to secondary schools, establishment of E-libraries and ICT centres in various schools across the state. For instance, the governor recently commissioned a state of the art ICT laboratory at Girls' Secondary School, Ikenegbu, Owerri.

Unarguably, Owelle has demonstrated that he clearly understands the strategic importance of having teachers, particularly at the primary and secondary levels, who are adequately prepared for the expectation of the needs of their students. This, he has done through a concerted action programme with the State Ministry of Education, which focuses on policies aimed at building effectiveness of educators through preparation programme and other forms of short in-service training. In addition, the Ministry of Education has been relentless in conducting assessments and other forms of interventions aimed at improving low-performing schools.

It is indeed remarkable that all of these have been in spite of the fact that the state revenue has remained highly constrained by the present economic recession, which has resulted in reduced spending on education in most states at a time of increasing students' enrolment and expectations. However, Governor Okorocha has remained focused on ensuring that the sector is well provided for. This, he has been able to achieve through a well-articulated and efficient allocation of the state's education resources. As a result of all the efforts and initiatives of the government in the sector, the standard of learning has greatly improved and the results are there for everyone to see. For instance, this year's JAMB registration figures indicated that Imo state registered the highest number of candidates – 102, 277 out of a total of 1, 589,175 candidates nation-wide, with Osun state coming a distant 2nd with only 83, 060 candidates.

Also, according to the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs.Getrude Oduka, Imo state came first in this year's (2016) JAMB examination. In addition, the state came 3rd in the West African School Certificate Examinations (WAEC). These are no mean achievements and are a proof that the governments' huge investments in education are paying off handsomely. Thus, the establishment of the Education Trust Fund by the Governor is another testimony to his commitment to continue to offer our children the opportunity to acquire quality education at no cost as well as equip them to serve the state and country.

There is therefore no doubt that Governor Okorocha has immensely demonstrated imaginative, creative problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration. Through this and his administration's forward looking education policy which has further been strengthened by the establishment of the Education Trust Fund, the governor aims at sustaining his brain-child (free education) beyond his tenure in 2019. This definitely will make Imo state to continue to remain a leader and a force to reckon with in education in the country.

War against Criminals :Deputy Governor, Imo State leads onslaught...

                         Deputy Governor,
               Prince Eze Madumere MFR

The people of Okigwe Zone today heaved a sigh of relief, thinking the rescue government of Imo State for coming to their aid. This was as result of the joint operation carried out by Imo State Government led by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere MFR and  the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command  at the notorious den of criminals popularly known as Senegalese. This criminal haven is a place where illegal and unlawful  activities like  prostitution, Drug peddling and other social vices rein supreme.

Taking them by surprise, the combined Team where able to arrest suspects numbering over one hundred from this single operation .

The Deputy Governor was accompanied by other high ranking members of RESCUE GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE.

Among those who accompanied Prince Madumere were the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim, Commissioner for Public Safety and Public Untilities, Hon. Hon. Rodeny Ajaelu, T. C Chairman of Okigwe LGA,  Hon. Sunny Chiadi, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo and the good people of Okigwe who were happy with the development.

Speaking with one of the residents in Okigwe who gave his name as Emeka Williams,  he said the place has continually made the people live in fear due to the criminal activities that go on in the place. He revealed that this has been the case for the past twenty years. He hailed Governor Okorocha for finally showing political will to eject and prosecute those behind all manner of crimes within the City  of Okigwe.

Photos :::Below

DAVID CAMERON MAKES U-TURN ON STATEMENT AGAINST NIGERIA

ThisDay - British Prime Minister David Cameronwednesday attempted to reverse his unguarded remark about Nigeria and Afghanistan, two countries which on Tuesday, he, described as “fantasticallycorrupt”, when he was briefing Queen Elizabeth II on the ongoing anti-corruption summit being hosted by the United Kingdom.

While briefing Members of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons wednesday, the British PM said Nigeria and Afghanistan had taken “remarkable steps forward” on corruption, reported the BBC.

The PM said the countries’ leaders were “battling hard” to tackle the problem.

His attempt at a mea culpa came after Buhari, who arrived London on Tuesday evening for the summit, said Cameron’s gaffe was not reflective of his administration’s fight against corruption.

However, when asked yesterday by journalists at the pre-anti-corruption conference in London if Nigeria was “fantastically corrupt”, Buhari candidly replied, “Yes”, adding that corruption in Nigeria was endemic, but his government was committed to fighting it.

He went on to state that he was not going to demand an apology from Britain or Cameron, making it abundantly clear that he was more interested in the return of Nigeria’s assets held in British banks.

“I am not going to be demanding any apology from anybody. What I will be demanding is the return of assets. I have already mentioned how Britain led and how disgraceful one of Nigeria’s executives (former Bayelsa Governor, the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha) was. He had to dress like a woman to leave Britain and left behind his bank account and fixed assets which Britain is not prepared to hand over to us.

“This is what I am asking for. What will I do with an apology? I need something tangible,” he said.

Also in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour wednesday, Buhari refused to be defensive over Cameron’s statement, saying: “Well he said what he knows about both countries. He did not say what he said to the press, it was a private conversation.”

In its reaction, the Afghan embassy in London said tackling corruption was one of President Ashraf Ghani’s top priorities and “bold” action had been taken.

“We have made important progress in fighting systematic corruption in major national procurement contracts and are making progress on addressing institutional issues as well as issues related to impunity… therefore calling Afghanistan in that way is unfair,” the embassy said.

According to the BBC, Cameron was asked about his comments on Nigeria and Afghanistan during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, where he jokingly checked if his microphone was working, refering to “tips on diplomacy” and said he had made “many unforced errors” in the past 24 hours.

Answering a question from Tory backbencher Philip Davies, who asked why UK aid was being given to countries that the PM sees as corrupt, in his reply, Cameron praised the action taken by Afghanistan and Nigeria and warned that cutting off aid could “come back to haunt us here”.

He also defended the action by his own government, including initiatives on overseas tax havens and measures to make sure “plundered money from African countries can’t be hidden in London”.

In the footage showing Cameron’s comments on Tuesday, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby intervened to say: “But this particular president is not corrupt… he’s trying very hard,” before Speaker John Bercow said: “They are coming at their own expense, one assumes?”

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the PM had been “merely stating a fact” in his comments, and ex-London mayor Boris Johnson said people would “find it refreshing he was speaking his mind”.

Downing Street said the presidents of Nigeria and Afghanistan had “acknowledged the scale of the corruption challenge they face in their countries”

.

But Labour MPs said a Tory government “hosting an anti-corruption summit was like putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop”.

“The government is refusing to take meaningful action to close Britain’s constellation of tax havens, which together constitute the largest financial secrecy network in the world,” said Shadow International Development Secretary Diane Abbott.