Jonathan Vs Buhari: Ayo Adebanjo’s Gamble By Yemi Adefulu

Ayo Adebanjo: political apostasy?

I read the interview of Chief Ayo Adebanjo published in The PUNCH edition of Friday, March 20, 2015 on why he will not forgive Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) because of the latter’s persecution of the Unity Party of Nigeria leaders as military head of state. While one must concede the Chief’s right to hold his view, the public is entitled to its own reaction to such views on a matter of public interest.

By now my views on Buhari and the need for national reconciliation are well known from my previous article on the issue. This is a time for the nation to move on. This nation is greater than each of us. Those who refuse to put the past and the present in proper perspective will surely lose the future. In the same vein, those who hold to the past will forfeit the future. The past is only important for the lesson it teaches the future.

I surely can lay claim to knowing the Chief dating back nearly 40 years to the days of the Committee of Friends which metamorphosed into the UPN under the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Adebanjo is a good man, one of the surviving grandees of Nigerian politics. Socially, he is a type of “king of the boys” and loves young people. He was one of our leaders in the UPN and the contemporary of the likes of the late Chief Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Onabanjo and Alhaji Lateef Jakande. He is a general of many wars and a combatant in peace and in war. He was one of the foot soldiers and relics of the old Action Group and the treasonable felony saga. He was once a fugitive in Ghana as a guest of the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah when he was wanted in Nigeria. He has his scars to show for his struggles and you have to respect him as an old warlord. He was extremely loyal to the late Chief Awolowo.

In many ways, he is a blessed man. The trouble with our papa though is that he sometimes holds his strong views too strongly. He can be fastidious, unbending and extremist. The trouble with extremists is that they can be so conscientiously wrong. He still wants to lay claim to being a purist of the Obafemi Awolowo school of politics.

But as he has aged, one is sometimes embarrassed by the company of political renegades in which he is found and in which he obviously feels very comfortable which is totally at variance with his vaunted claim to principles. At the age of close to 90, hardly the age for the political militancy, he still wants to be in the forefront of political struggle. He lives in denial because whether he accepts it or not, a large measure of atrophy has set in even for a man who still looks quite well. It is not strength for an “agbalagba” (respected elder) to be found doing certain things. There is a time to step back. Success without a successor is failure.

His claim to being the champion of the late UPN governors is laughable because many of the direct descendants of the friends whose cause he claims to be supporting have moved on and are ardent supporters of Buhari. His excuse that he does not belong to the same party as the children of those friends of his is, with all due respect, specious. Is bitterness and unforgiving spirit on the manifesto of his party, the Social Democratic Party? Similarly, even the direct victims of the detention of the period such as Audu Ogbe and my humble self and many others have forgiven Buhari in the interest of the nation. The Chief’s attitude is that of a person who is more Catholic than the Pope. If he had been tried and jailed, what would he have done? You would have thought that if we younger ones were being so severely bitter, it is an old man like Chief Adebanjo that will plead for reason, restraint and logic.

I am aware that even though he did not refer to any personal experience of his under Buhari in the interview, the Chief did have a short spell of detention himself under the instrumentality of Oladipo Diya who was Buhari’s draconian military governor of Ogun State. When my cabinet colleagues and I in the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo cabinet were mercilessly marched to the Abeokuta prison, we met the Chief there in the company of the late Dr. Tai Solarin.

The Chief had been detained because he was the immediate past Chairman of the Ogun State Agro Services Corporation in the government of Onabanjo. Solarin was only a UPN sympathiser, who held no office. But shortly after, the two of them were released, I guess, to make room for those of us who had just arrived for a long stay. As is the way of old men, the Chief, without knowing it, may still be nursing that injury even as short-lived as it was compared to my own relatively long incarceration.

But to hold on to past prejudice tenaciously and declare eternal hatred is most unfortunate particularly for an old man approaching 90 whose main concern now should be the future of the country, his inheritance and meeting his God as a Christian. He surely does not need this. The Chief will recall that the late Chief Awolowo went out of his way to reconcile with some of the people who played active roles in his persecution and in his being sent to jail. The critics of Awo had said he did not forgive. So, the Chief went out to prove them wrong. Chief Adebanjo has always been very proud of his association with Chief Awolowo and justifiably so. But on this occasion he has, conveniently, chosen to forget the Awolowo example because he has become an apologist for President Goodluck Jonathan. The odious record of the Jonathan administration with unbridled corruption, wanton waste, fiscal indiscipline, poor leadership in every sphere, unemployment of graduates standing at 80 per cent, poverty hovering over the land, a decimation of the naira and the economy, a total lack of accountability, loss of 400,000 barrels of petroleum per day, the gratuitous abuse of fuel subsidies etc should offend an ordinary man let alone a nationalist. Haba! These are issues which will make Chief Awolowo to turn in his grave. But for Chief, these count for nothing! Jonathan cannot be wrong!

Furthermore, how can the Chief and his compatriots claim to be speaking for the Yoruba people in the circumstances of today? In the four years of his Presidency, President Jonathan treated the Yoruba with contempt and has totally decimated them under his administration and denied them of their rights. Of the first 20 positions in this government, he didn’t find any of the over 40 million Yoruba appointable. By whatever criteria-merit, numerical strength, contribution to the national purse in every sphere, this is not just an insult, it is robbery and the height of ingratitude. Jonathan is obviously not a student of history.

If he is too young to know that it was the Yoruba, led by Awo, who fought for the emancipation of the ljaw and other minorities pan-Nigeria, and that Chief Awolowo, it was, who first predicted an Ijaw presidency in Nigeria, he must, at least, remember how the Yoruba stood by him and were the first to endorse his candidacy. While Edwin K. Clark was deceiving him, Prof. Tam David-West once reminded Jonathan that it was former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who made him President not the Ijaw. Jonathan told us that much too when we visited him in the Villa. Unfortunately, Jonathan does not honour his promises just as he does not listen to good advice and does not show gratitude.

During the said visit, he made several promises to a large Ogun Peoples Democratic Party leaders’ delegation, of which l was a part, and which held meetings with him over two days at the Presidential Villa some four years ago. Although he made several promises, he did not keep any of them. This was when nine legislators held sway against 15 legislators, including the Speaker in Ogun State under Governor Gbenga Daniel. The Chief, an avowed democrat, was never uncomfortable with this situation in his home state but looked the other way. It was a sordid act of the oppression of the majority by the minority. But the bitter pill was that our President, who assured us that Nigeria not being a “banana republic “(his words) would never allow this to happen, forgot his promise as soon as it was made. He never gave the 15 legislators the security support they needed to do their work. The minority held sway to the end. No wonder the same odious saga is repeating itself in Ekiti State today with seven legislators in charge making laws, passing budgets and approving the appointment of commissioners while 15, including the Speaker have been emasculated. Jonathan as leader of the nation has acquiesced in iniquity and lawlessness and led the way to the turning of Nigeria into a banana republic.

Anyone who believes that Jonathan will restructure the Nigerian federation will believe anything. From what we know, the President’s word is not his bond. One would have thought that the Chief and his comrades are too politically astute to fall for such a gambit. First, he cannot do it all by himself alone, by decree. Constitution amendment is the responsibility of the National Assembly and would have to be done by negotiation of the nationalities. That is the way of politics. In six years, he has not even succeeded in getting the Petroleum Industry Bill passed. Secondly, to hold on to one issue, as the Chief and his compatriots have done, when the life of the nation is at stake is, at best, unthinkable and an illusion. Chief Awolowo would have looked at the balance sheet in taking a position and it would have been clear to him that a dead nation cannot be re-structured. He would have felt most uncomfortable in the company of lawless people like Tompolo, Asari Dokubo, Gani Adams and their ilk. The Chief Awo that l had the honour to know closely, would not have felt comfortable with the real Jonathan, who we now know is a leader who stands for nothing.

May I conclude by saying that even the blind know that the current struggle is for the life and soul of the Nigerian nation pure and simple. As Senator Adolph Wabara once said, this is a situation in which everyone must bear his father’s name. With all respect to the Chief, he and our other respected leaders have turned away their attention while the country burnt. They have strenuously, though unconvincingly, sought a good reason for dining with the devil. The Chief has, for reasons best known to him, become comfortable with bad governance the way Awo never was.

They surely needed a good reason for their marriage of convenience and for ending in the same bed with the PDP which they, still pretend to abhor but in whose warm embrace they have ended. To now say, as they deceptively argue, that they are supporting Jonathan and not the PDP is doublespeak and disingenuous.

They didn’t learn this in the Awo school of politics which was firmly and famously founded on principles and not on crass opportunism. This is what Shakespeare called “motive hunting of a motiveless malignity.” Like every marriage of convenience, the end of this misadventure will be total humiliation and disappointment. I hate to tell him this but his credibility is at stake in this election. It is not the kind of fight a man takes up in his old age because the chance for redemption is extremely limited. The Yoruba have never suffered fools gladly and their memory is not short. In a few days, it will be clear to all that the Yoruba people did not fall for the contraption and inglorious adventure of the Social Democratic Party and its leaders.

Adefulu MFR, a lawyer, wrote in from Lagos

Culled from PMNEWS

Singer Anny, NDDC Partner For Peace

In a unique synergy, popular Gospel artiste, Anny, and the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, have partnered to further push the message of peace across the country and even outside the shores of Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Anny said she was moved to act when she saw that the peaceful cities and environment where she was born and grew up had become unlivable and unsafe for the people and what better thing for her to do that than through her music. And hence she recorded a song, Peace Around the World, in order to carry her message across more effectively.

The song which was produced by Dr Frabz has an all-star cast featuring Sammie Okposo, Onos, Essence, Lamboginny, Charles Granville, Jaywon, Sultan, Ibitayo Jeje, Sabina and Henrisoul. The video was shot in Lagos by Frizzle and Bizzle.

“The song was is not just about me, I needed to bring in people from different areas and different religions in Nigeria. I brought in artistes; my friends and colleagues with similar visions with me, from different ethnic groups to lend their voices to my message of peace in Nigeria and around the world,” Anny said.

The pretty singer’s idea later caught the interest of NDDC which later bought into the peace message of the song and its video and agreed to help project it to the people.

Ibitayo Abosede, Head of Corporate Development, NDDC, reiterated the commission’s commitment to the progress and development of the country no matter the area.

Abosede noted that NDDC was willing to support any person or group with an idea or project that would help foster peace and love among the people.

Anny added that there was a line-up of activities including visits to prisons, a road walk in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Kano, and outreaches to ghettos.

Why Darey Postponed His ‘Love Like A Movie 3′

•Darey ‘Art’ Alade

The uncertain political climate has forced Nigerian singer Darey ‘Art’ Alade to announce the postponement of his long-awaited Love Like A Movie concert from 4 April as planned to a later date.

The mind-blowing risqué event was to enter year three on 14 February, but faced a postponement because of earlier planned presidential election in Nigeria.

“The event is now being pushed back again because of the political climate and the uncertainties that made it difficult to plan. I’m pretty disappointed myself. But LLAM will no longer hold on 4 April. I truly apologise on behalf of the entire Livespot team,” Darey said.

He said a new date will be communicated in the coming weeks.

“Everyone is asking us what’s happening. All I can assure is that we will do it and do it big again. And it will be worth the wait,” he added.

SB Live Set To Drop Mixtape 3

Fast-rising singer, SB Live has concluded plans for the recording of his third mixtape.

SB Live

According to the young talented musician and songwriter, he has concluded pre-production with his band and will hit studio anytime soon for the recording of the new mixtape to be released in the middle of the year.

“With the success of my previous mixtapes, I’ve been challenged to raise the standard for my new mixtape. But my fans and music lovers should expect something great. The new work will be a little bit different as it will be a combination of feel good music loaded with messages,” said SB Live.

The Ogun State native who has built a fan base that cuts across musical tastes and demographics, said like his previous recordings, the new work would also be a mix of Juju, R&B, hip-hop and Afro beat.

With the mastery of several genres of music, SB Live has also introduced his own unique style and composition into his mixtapes.

In his debut, the singer included his hit song They Call Me SB, while the sophomore has another hit track, Omo Mama E, with an accompany video directed by YK of iFocus Picture.  Speaking of his other future plans, the singer disclosed that he will also be releasing the Omo Mama E remix featuring Orezi, while another fresh song featuring rap star, Reminisce is also in the offing.

Aside being a recording artist, SB Live, born Seun Bankole in the 1980s, is also an eclectic live band artiste. He has to his credit numerous performances at top grade events and weekly gigs at clubs in Nigeria and abroad.

‘Could Nigeria Be Heading For Economic Crisis?’ Forbes Analyses

Tonye Cole looks up to the heavens in mock prayer. “We can’t go back,” he says. “I can’t think of anyone who would say ‘we prefer it the way it was.’ We’ve come too far forward.”

Cole, a Nigerian businessman who has run Sahara Group, an energy and power group since 1996, is heavily invested in his home country. Over the last few years, his company has pumped millions into building power stations and transmission infrastructure, taking advantage of a rare period of economic liberalisation.

The dismantling of the power monopolies is one of the few unsullied triumphs of Goodluck Jonathan’s government, snapping decades of underinvestment and raising hopes among the public and business community that the acute electricity shortages that undermine growth in Africa’s biggest economy.

The fact that even that reform is being questioned shows how dimly Nigeria’s star has waned in recent months, as political turmoil, security failures and short-sighted economic planning weigh on domestic and international confidence.

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission announced that the elections – previously scheduled for February 14 – would be held back by six weeks, ostensibly to allow voters to register in the states currently gripped by a Boko Haram insurgency that has lasted six years and killed tens of thousands.

Boko Haram — which is trying to establish an independent state, run on its own interpretation of Shariah law, in the north of Nigeria — had threatened to disrupt the elections, and has shown no compunction over attacking civilian targets.

The Nigerian army had precious few successes in the field against the insurgents until recently, when a multinational force from Chad and Cameroon – alongside, reportedly, a few South African mercenaries – entered the fray. Before that,, who have routinely overrun major towns and, at times, captured materiel from government forces. Analysts are sceptical that the insurgency will be any more under control by the end of March.

“It is obvious that the fight against Boko Haram is not going to happen cleanly in six weeks,” says Sebastien Spio-Garbrah, chief frontier markets analyst at risk consultancy Damina Advisors.

Supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan’s opponent, Muhammadu Buhari, have cried foul, claiming that the delay is a ploy to give the incumbent more time to skew the voting in his favour.

The race was always likely to be close, and Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party, which has won every election since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, had seemed to be losing ground to Buhari. High profile concerns about security and corruption, in particular, have undermined the PDP’s credibility.

Insiders fear that the military — which retains a significant role in public life in Nigeria — is in part behind the delay, and that its leaders have thrown their lot behind Jonathan in order to protect their financial interests.

Buhari, himself a former general, has promised a forensic audit of the Nigerian military’s expenditures, should he become president.

Nigeria’s constitution dictates that presidential candidates must win a majority of the popular vote and 25 percent of the vote in two-thirds of the states — an attempt to ensure that the victor must have a national mandate in a country which has longstanding religious and cultural divides. With the insurgency still raging, the election is unlikely to end with a landslide, and a close result is likely to lead to disputes.

“The problem is that I can’t see it producing a result that everyone agrees with,” Spio-Garbrah says.
“The postponement, while there were good reasons for it, it has poisoned the well. Even if Jonathan were to win, he would have a tainted mandate, because there would be a sense that he delayed the election to gain more advantage.”

Control Risks, a political consultancy, warned earlier in March that regardless of the result, political violence is likely.

The political crisis comes against a nightmarish economic backdrop for Nigeria. With upwards of 70% of the country’s government revenues derived from the oil and gas business, public sector spending will have to be cut dramatically following the global slump in prices.

In March, the government shifted the benchmark price oil in its budget down to $53 per barrel, down from $65. Capital expenditure will need to be cut, as will subsidies on fuel.

The currency, the naira, has been battered as a result. The Central Bank of Nigeria runs a dirty float, using oil funds to maintain a target rate of between N160-176 to the dollar. Trying to keep that peg in place has cost the country dearly. On just one day in February — Friday 13 — the CBN sold more than $400m to support the currency. Ultimately that has failed, with the naira stabilising at close to N200 to the dollar. On the black market, that is often higher, at around N214 to the dollar.

This has caused huge problems for companies who have borrowed in dollars but earn their revenues in naira.

Speaking privately, a number of senior Nigerian bankers and businesspeople say they are hoping for the best — but preparing for disaster. In the oil sector, executives say they have gone into survival mode, and several previous darlings of international investors have come close to the wall.

The government has had to slash billions in capital expenditure to try to plug the hole in its budget — meaning that there have been precious few pre-election giveaways, but equally slowing efforts to diversify and rebalance the economy by building infrastructure and encouraging import substitution.

With a new government taking up a weak or disputed mandate, an economy in need of reform, a moribund oil sector and stress in the banking sector, it is hard to find many positives in Nigeria’s immediate economic future. Cole, however, thinks the surprises will be to the upside.

“The international community, from an economic perspective, often reads Nigeria wrong,” he says. “The bottom line is that people have always underestimated the Nigerian economy and they have always underestimated the Nigerian people.

“When you ask Nigerian businesses, people who are invested in Nigeria today, who are going through an economic blip during this political transition, most of them are certain that they will overcome whatever is going on. It’s a readjustment of reality. Life continues.”

Dokpesi’s Dirty Secrets: How He Creamed N8billion Off Nigerian Govt.

Here are the dirty deals of Raymond Dokpesi and why he is rabidly supporting President Goodluck Jonathan

High Chief Raymond Dokpesi by all standards is a very popular man. With no fewer than seven wives and many girlfriends, he is also the darling of many ladies. His media company, DAAR Communications, is also a household name. With its Raypower and AIT, radio and television stations, DAAR has revolutionalised the broadcast media industry with quality content and programming.

But just as the saying goes ‘that behind every successful business, there is a tale’ Dokpesi’s case is not an exception. The tales of this Ezomo of Weppa Wanno Kingdom are however not all about hard work and perseverance but also of fraud and deceit. Dokpesi’s numerous fraudulent schemes reached the summit in 2009 when Nigeria hosted the Under 17 Junior World Cup. Daar Communications was granted the broadcast right for the tournament by the Federation of International Football Associations. But in an intriguing plot, Dokpesi approached then President Umaru Yar’Adua demanding payment for broadcasting the football tournament. In an invoice sent to the central government entitled, DAAR-FIFA HOST BROADCASTER BUDGET, Dokpesi demanded N5billion to defray the company’s cost.

•Dokpesi: Has many secret deals

Since the Federal Government did not enter into any contract with Dokpesi and DAAR on the tournament, a perplexed Yar’Adua asked for briefing from his aides. According to a report by Saharareporters in August 2010, the director-general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission advised government not to accede to the ‘bogus request’, more because the technical facilities DAAR was going to use for the broadcast, belonged to the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, owned by the Federal Government. There were also reports by several committees, which recommended the non-payment of the bill.

Yar’Adua thus stoutly declined payment, despite the intervention of his vice-president, Goodluck Jonathan, who then chaired the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the tournament. Even when AIT blackmailed the LOC that it would not broadcast the final of the game and demanded a reduced amount of N3.5billion, to enable it pay creditors such as MTN that provided some Internet links, government refused to budge. The reduced amount followed the advice of a presidential committee on Harmonisation and Negotiation headed by Patrick Ekeji, the director-general of the National Sports Commission. It was set up by Jonathan’s LOC. But Yar’Adua stuck to his guns, as he saw no sense in paying for a service the government did not ask for in the first instance.

Yar’Adua died in April 2010 and Dokpesi wormed his way into the heart of Goodluck Jonathan, his successor. This chummy relationship did not come easy. Dokpesi was part of the Pastor Bakare’s inspired Save Nigeria Group that mobilised public support for Jonathan, in the succession crisis that came in the wake of Yar’Adua’s grave illness and eventual death. But after Jonathan became the president and he still did not pay AIT’s N3.5 billion bill, Dokpesi abandoned Jonathan and embraced former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, to work as the director-general of his campaign. Babangida wanted to challenge Jonathan for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party.

•Ya’Ardua: Did not pay DAAR Communications for a job not executed

When Babangida’s campaign collapsed, Dokpesi ran back again to Jonathan, using the platform of the South-South Leadership Forum. He was desperate at this time to curry Jonathan’s affection, not just for money but his survival. When bombs were detonated at the Eagle Square, Abuja, during the 1 October, 2010 independence anniversary, killing and wounding scores of people, Dokpesi was indicted and arrested by security agencies. They accused him of having links with the leader of MEND, Henry Okah who is currently serving a jail term in a South African prison.

A rattled Dokpesi quickly retraced his steps and began series of reconciliatory moves with President Jonathan. This medium learnt that as part of the peace deal, Dokpesi pledged to make his station available for the pursuit of Jonathan’s political goals, making his stations available as the publicity arm of the Jonathan presidency, doing it with even greater fervour than the NTA and Radio Nigeria. As he wormed his way back into Jonathan’s heart, he presented again in 2011, the bill government had rejected to honour in the past. Inexplicably, the pruned down N3.5billion bogus bill, had ballooned to N8.047 billion.

Speaking on the issue in an interview granted to Kayode Ogundamisi and published in Sahara Reporters on October 18, 2010, Chief Edwin Clark branded Dokpesi as a cheat and dishonest person. Chief Clark was quoted in the interview: “They (federal government) are not owing him any money. He is a cheat. The Federal Government has set up a committee; they’ve looked into that case. It was NTA that covered the event”. The presidency simply ignored the observation of Chief Clark and decided to pay the fraudulent claim.

•Jonathan: Paid Dokpesi for job not well done

That was, however, the beginning of an intricate web of illicit financial transactions involving Dokpesi, the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Finance and some private sector bankers. On the strength of the president’s promise, Dokpesi approached First Bank to open an account in the name of DAAR Communications at the Asokoro branch in Abuja. Contrary to the law, Dokpesi was and remains the sole signatory to the account even though as a company quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, its accounts should be operated through the Director of Finance and one or two other signatories. The Asokoro account was later closed, but a new one also in the name of DAAR Communication was opened at the Maitama branch.

Precisely on the 27 January 2012, the fraudulent fund of N8, 047,275, 290. 99 (eight billion, forty seven million, two hundred and seventy five thousand, two hundred and ninety naira, ninety nine kobo) was paid into the account with number 2017679134. In a letter dated 28 January 2012 and signed by both the Business and Relationship officers of the bank, Susan Abuh and Bukola Adeojo, the Maitama First Bank branch management acknowledged the payment. The acknowledgment letter reads: “ We write to inform you that we received the sum of Eight Billion Forty Seven Million Two Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand and Ninety Nine kobo only, (N8, 047, 275, 290, 99) into the above stated account domiciled with us in Maitama office on 27 January, 2012. This letter serves to bring to your knowledge that the said amount has been credited into DAAR Communications Plc account…” With the connivance of the bank, Dokpesi continued to run the account alone, contrary to extant financial regulations for quoted companies.

Surprisingly, even after receiving such a humongous amount of money purportedly on behalf of DAAR Communications, Dokpesi never thought of paying dividends to shareholders, who have not been paid any dividends since the company became PLC about seven years ago. Rather, the money was drawn down almost to zero, within three months. Payments were made into Dokpesi’s personal domiciliary account with number 2017451925. At a point, this account contained over a million dollars. Part of the money also went in form of thousands of dollars into Dokpesi’s VISA Gold Account number 3071078978.

Fidelity Bank that had taken DAAR to court and had gotten judgement to take over the company’s assets for debt calculated at N7.5 billion was paid N4.2 billion on 14 February. Part of the money was also used to open Letters of Credit (LCs) for DAAR, ostensibly to buy equipment for the broadcasting outfit. All his wives and mistresses were also well accommodated on the account, with amounts ranging from N2.5 million to N5 million. The National Broadcasting Commission was also paid N400 million from the account on 31 January. On 1 February, the construction company, Dantata Sawoe also got N400 million, possibly in connection with the multi-billion mansion of the media mogul, now completed in Abuja. By 3 April 2012, the balance on the account was below N60, 000.

Chief Dokpesi however longed for new funds to swell the account all over again. Relying on the same documents used to fraudulently collect the N8.04 billion as authorised by President Jonathan, he mischievously tried to dupe the Federal Government by collecting the same money twice. This medium learnt that Dokpesi’s attempt to collect double payment for the same project involved an intricate web of bribes to unscrupulous officials in the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the office of the Accountant General and even the presidential villa.

Anticipating that the attempt to collect the second fraudulent payment for a ‘phantom job’ he had already been paid for would succeed, Dokpesi even agreed on a sharing formula with some people in the Villa, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice and the CBN. His banker friend and confidante was to handle the distribution via series of blank First Bank transfer forms already signed down by Dokpesi. For instance, the sum of N2 billion was to have been transferred to an account of B.T OIL & GAS NIG. LTD with account number 2020605922 domiciled in the First Bank, Aminu Kano branch, Abuja.

Still in anticipation of receiving this money, Dokpesi, through DAAR Investment and Holding Company, applied to First Bank, Maitama Branch, for a facility of N160 million. The bank refused the request on the grounds that it had no information on the receivable to be discounted which is said to be related to the contract executed since 2009. “Parent Company has a bad loan which N95 million was written off the bank’s books. The rule is that such amount should be paid back if customer is to enjoy another facility with the bank; Not a fair risk and no easily available fall back position for the bank”, the bank said.

Dokpesi’s long expectation was however dashed when a vigilant official at the CBN revealed that the money being demanded had been paid before and the whole process was terminated.

Another alleged audacious fraudulent venture by Dokpesi was his alleged plot to hack into account number 60959146 with SORT CODE 201334, belonging to one Dr Haggai I. Ali with Barclays Bank, Queens Road Branch, and Bristol, UK. Papers stumbled upon by TheNEWS, showed that it was an elaborate scheme to defraud the bank as well as Barclays Bank of UK to the tune of 800,000,000 Euro. The transaction was to have been conducted through Deutsche Frankfurt, Dubai and the money to be received through DAAR Investment and Holding Company with account number 1000086988.

A letter to First Bank personally signed by Dokpesi and dated 15 April, 2013, had requested the bank to “issue a letter in favour of Messrs CIGALE FINANCE SA, 5 RUE AUNIR, NOGENT SUR MARINE 94130, FRANCE”. The letter claimed that DAAR Investment and Holding Company was arranging funds to the tune of 800,000,000 Euro in two tranches of 300,000,000 Euro and 500,000,000 Euro “for the funding of DAAR Communications Plc expansion programme as well as other investment projects in the Nigerian economy”. He concluded the letter thus: “Messrs Cigale Finance SA have requested us to obtain a letter from our bank confirming its willingness to receive the funds into our account and disburse same in accordance with provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which is attached for your perusal”.

On 30 April 2013, First Bank wrote Cigale Finance SA accepting the offer and confirming that DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited was one of its well-known customers. Part of the letter reads: “We further pledge that we will abide strictly by the terms of the MOU duly executed by both parties,” First Bank wrote.

It was, however, discovered that all the documents cited by DAAR Investment as regards the purported 500,000,000 Euro investment were fake. The Memorandum of Understanding between DAAR Investment and Cigale Finance SA was a complete ruse. One of those who signed the MOU on behalf of DAAR Investment, Godfrey Usifoh, was also discovered to have falsely claimed to be a banker. Usifoh was indeed a staff of DAAR Communications and an aide of Dokpesi. Upon further enquiries by First Bank, Deutsche Bank confirmed that there was no transaction of that magnitude which was to come in two tranches of 300,000,000 Euro and 500,000,000 Euro in their coffers. The bank also called its Maitama branch to warn that it was an attempted fraud.

But life goes on for the Agenebode-born media chief. At the moment, his media organs remain the biggest megaphones for the Goodluck Jonathan campaign; turning them to mount baseless muckraking, hate campaigns against leaders of the opposition. The AIT, oblivious of its middle name as ‘independent’, has become the willing tool of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, showing libelous and hate documentaries against General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Some media stakeholders said Dokpesi’s media empire is only performing a service to President Jonathan and the PDP, having been paid close to $50 million by the President’s campaign.

However, when TheNEWS contacted Dokpesi for his reaction, he asked his aides to handle the matter. They asked that we wait till the following day. We delayed production for almost 16 hours, after which they asked us to go ahead that they would respond this week.

Culled from TheNEWS

Culled from TheNEWS

Kehinde Oshadipe Celebrates Her Late Twin Sister

Kehinde Oshadipe, the twin sister of the late Taiwo Oshadipe of the Oshadipe Twins has released a tribute song for her late twin sister, Taiwo, who died on 3 October 2014 after a brief illness.

Titled My Reflection and produced by ace producer, Wole Oni, the emotion laden track describes the ordeal of losing a loved one who holds a special place in one’s heart.

•The Oshadipe Twins

Kehinde describes Taiwo as her reflection indeed, the only close friend she had known all her life and someone who was always sincerely validating or debunking her choices.

“Taiwo showed love to everyone that crossed her path and would go to any length to bring smile upon someone’s face. Her sudden passage has created a huge vacuum in our musical career but I am resolute to live the dreams we both shared,” she said.

She admits this to be a huge task but she expressed hope in God that she will be strengthened to take the brand Oshadipe Twins to greater heights.

Kehinde expressed gratitude to veteran and contemporary artistes, media houses and the general public for their condolences and outpouring of love during the gloomy days.

She said living the Oshadipe Twins dream is paramount to her and assured their fans of good quality music from her in due course.

I’d Have Turned A Criminal Says Patoranking:

•Patoranking

Rave Dancehall act, Patoranking has revealed that save for music, he would have turned a criminal.

The fast rising music star threw the bombshell early this week at a media parley organised by the MTV Base at their Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos office..

According to him, music took him out of slum and saved him from becoming a miscreant.

“The slum is not a place that gives many options. There, it was either you make it the right way or the crime way but I chose music and it has worked for me,” he said.

Patoranking, however, expressed his appreciation to MTV Base for making him the Artiste of the Month and for helping him secure the partnership deal with international reggae music label, VP Records, which he describes as one of the high points of his musical career.

“As many of you know, VP Records is one of the biggest record labels in New York so being signed under that label is a big deal for me which is why I am grateful to MTV Base,” he said.

On his debut album, the young singer disclosed that plans are in place to ensure he release an album later this year and also wishes to feature international reggae artistes like Beenieman and Sean Paul.

“There are plans for the album to be released soon, hopefully, later in the year,” he added.

Colette Otusheso, Head of Marketing and Communications, VIMN Africa, added that the reason behind the parley is to create an avenue for journalists to meet with and get to understand music artistes better.

“With MTV Base Artiste of the Month, we provide a platform for some of our favourite artistes to get up, close and personal with fans and the media and this month we are excited about the talented reggae musician, Patoranking being our artiste of the month,” she said.

The 25-year-old act rose to limelight in 2013 following his hit single Alubarika, featuring Timaya.

He has since gone ahead to release other popular tracks including Girlie O featuring Tiwa Savage, which was listed on the MTV Base Official Naija Top Ten Hottest Videos Of The Year.

Patoranking also featured in Seyi Shay’s hit song Murda.

Singer Lami Phillips Rakes Over Attack By GEJ’s Security Details

R&B singer, Lami Phillips is furious. The sexy singer is angry over the deflation of tyres of her car and others by some overzealous President Goodluck Jonathan’s security details during a cordon of environs around Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos during the interactive session between the president and some entertainers at the Eko Hotels & Suites on Sunday.

The singer, who was attending a beauty product launch at another venue close to Eko Hotels where Mr. President was with showbiz people, took to the Twitter and Instagram early this week to register her displeasure and lashed out at the president.

“So President Jonathan was passing Eko Hotel & all cars parked on the road had tyres deflated, including mine. Awesome move before elections,” she wrote on Twitter.

But her anti-Jonathan tweet later attracted some comments which made her to explain what really transpired in a lengthy message on her Instagram feed.

•Lami Phillips

Her words: “Yesterday (Monday) I put out this tweet and since then it has become an issue. I shouldn’t have to explain myself as it is my twitter space and opinion but clearly freedom of speech is something we still have to negotiate on this side of the world.

“I was a guest at Maison Fahrenheit (along Adetokunbo Ademola Street) for an event. I had decided to drive myself and have an easy Sunday. On getting to the location the officials there in some uniform asked that I park on the road along with at least 20 other cars. The cars were parked properly and there was room for thoroughfare.

“At some point I asked my assistant to get something from my car. She got there to find policemen who claimed to be security details for the president ordering that all tyres should be deflated. She pleaded with them at which point they threatened bodily harm. All the cars on that side of the road were deflated. As far as I know there was no sign saying ‘no parking’. There was no announcement that any government official would be in town and therefore certain areas were out of bounds. I have been to several events at Eko Hotel and more in that area and that space has always been used for parking. This is the only incident that may indicate that perhaps when government officials are in town it is illegal. I still haven’t gotten clarity on that because I asked.

“Before I formed an opinion I asked myself what the deflation of the tyres solved. Had the cars been towed over claims that they were illegally parked with proof, I surely would be quiet. Had the cars been blocking the road I would be quiet. I pride myself in being a good obedient Nigerian citizen. After all when we go to other countries we obey their laws. My issue here is there was no clarity on what law was broken or what we did to deserve that.

“I wondered for a second what would have happened had I been alone unaware of the situation. Where would I have gotten help last night? How unsafe would it be at that time to seek help?” she asked.

Of course, Lami was not alone in that ugly situation. According to her, a man whose wife was pregnant came out of another building to find his tyres also deflated.

“There are several others too. We should not live in fear. We should live in freedom. If they were empowered to do this it is wrong,” the singer noted.

P.M.NEWS Entertainment Café gathered that many guests including those who attended the interactive session with the president too were utterly shocked to find their cars’ tyres deflated at that very late hours, some as late as past midnight.

Culled from P.M.NEWS

The Jonathan Administration And Its 50 Shades Of Lies By Karo Orovboni

If there is one thing Nigerians are now accustomed to, it is the numerous lies and half-truth that have been told by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. It is no longer strange to hear officials of this administration lie to Nigerians. It is so common place that they now do it at will. This has inevitably come at a cost; there is massive distrust between the government and its citizens. 

Well, here are the 50 shades of lies told by the Jonathan-led administration.

1. Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) are not responsible for the October 1st, 2010 Eagles Square bombing.

2. I will complete rehabilitation of all refineries by March 2013.

3. Palliatives have been created to reduce effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

4. We have made plans to construct 6 modular refineries.

5. The First Lady is not ill; she only went to Germany to rest.

6. Nigerians are happy with the power situation in the country.

7. We are generating more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity.

8. We have killed Boko Haram Leader, Shekau.

9. We have rescued all but 8 of the abducted Chibok girls.

10. We have fixed 25,000km of roads in Nigeria.

11. We are fighting corruption head on.

12. The Nigerian troops tactically maneuvered to Cameroon.

13. We have the vaccines for Ebola.

14. We have eradicated queues from petrol stations.

15. Federal Government created 1.2 million jobs for Nigerians from mining.

16. We have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book.

17. We have fixed Ore-Shagamu road.

18. We funded the multi-million-naira dam in Malete, Kwara state.

19. President Jonathan has delivered on his promises on power (electricity).

20. We have reduced poverty rate by 50 percent.

21. President Jonathan brought Facebook to Nigeria.

22. The erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, could be responsible for the increase in tempo of Boko Haram activities.

23. The Jonathan administration executed the dualization of Benin-Warri road.

24. Okpella Water Scheme project in Edo state has been completed.

25. Soldiers never flogged innocent Nigerians on the street under the Jonathan Administration.

26. The Jonathan administration has reduced maternal mortality rate by 50 per cent.

27. President Jonathan does not interfere with other arms of the government.

28. No Nigerian territory has been taken over by Boko Haram

29. In terms of road infrastructure, no government has done more than this government.

30. No government has intervened in agriculture more than this government.

31. The Jonathan administration has done more in the petroleum sector than any other administration in the Nigeria.

32. The rail system collapsed in this country around 1983/1984, the Jonathan administration is bringing it back.

33. We now live in a Nigeria where elections are so transparent.

34. President Jonathan brought lasting peace to Nigeria.

35. All airports in Nigeria have been remodeled.

36. We did not militarize Ekiti election.

37. Bring Back Our Girls Protesters prevented the Chibok parents from seeing the President.

38. No money was given to the parents of the abducted Chibok girls when they visited President Jonathan.

39. Bring Back Our Girls group is a franchise; they have bank account.

40. We have agreed a cease-fire deal with Boko Haram.

41. Chibok girls will be released on Monday, 20th of October 2014.

42. There is no report of mutiny in Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri.

43. I never said I would not seek a second term in office.

44. There was no massacre in Baga village.

45. Henry Okah was contracted to kill me.

46. The money Jim Nwobodo stole was not enough to buy a Peugeot [car].

47. I did not dance in Kano after the first Nyanya bombing.

48. We have recorded more convictions in this administration than any other administration.

49. The Ekiti rigging tape is a fabrication.

50. The military has killed Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, at least three times.

Culled from Saharareporters

UNIPORT Hides Details Of President Jonathan’s Doctorate Degree

The University of Port Harcourt has declined a Freedom of Information, FOI, request for the doctorate degree records of President Goodluck Jonathan.

UNIPORT LetterIn a response to the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, a Rivers State-based civil society organization, the university said a request for President Jonathan’s academic records did not fall within the provisions of the FOI law. “The Management of the University has carefully considered your request vis-a-vis the FOI Act,” the university stated in their letter dated 26th February, 2015, and signed by Eric Loveday Osuo Abonemi, the institution’s Legal Officer.

“It is my instructions to inform you that your request does not come within the relevant provisions of the FOI Act for its practicability or for the University to provide such details as requested.

“Details of the Ph.D Degree of President Goodluck Jonathan in the University of Port Harcourt cannot therefore be made available to you.”

The Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law had filed an FOI request, three weeks ago, to the university seeking relevant details of Mr. Jonathan’s doctorate qualifications.

The letter requested the following information relating to the president’s doctorate qualification, citing the provisions of Sections 2 and 4 of the FOI Act, 2011:
1. The title of the president’s doctorate dissertation
2. Year of registration as a doctorate candidate
3. Name of his doctorate supervisor(s)
4. Name of his external examiner(s)
5. Comments/reports of the external examiner of the dissertation/thesis
6. Photocopy of the dissertation/thesis
7. Date of graduation from the university

The organization said it was willing to bear any cost the university might incur in making photocopies of the requested documents and for posting them.
President Jonathan was admitted into the Department of Zoology (now renamed Animal and Environmental Biology), University of Port Harcourt, in 1977, where he graduated with Second Class Honours (Upper Division).

In 1985, Mr. Jonathan obtained a Master of Science degree in Hydrobiology and Fisheries, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Zoology 10 years later.
Both degrees were also from the University of Port Harcourt.

Lately, Mr. Jonathan’s academic qualifications have come under increased scrutiny ahead of the forthcoming general elections. Critics have accused the president of failing to complete his doctorate programme. In a response to an enquiry by Punch Newspaper in January, the university dismissed such claims as having “neither legs nor grounds to stand on”.

The university had also told any person or organization seeking additional information on Mr. Jonathan’s qualifications to contact the school authorities.
“We have absolutely nothing to hide as an institution that has a statutory mandate to advance the frontiers of knowledge,” William Wodi, the university’s Deputy Registrar (Information), had told the newspaper.

It is unclear why the university declined to release Mr. Jonathan’s academic qualifications to the civil society organization after giving that commitment.

Jiti Ogunye, a Lagos-based lawyer, said the president’s academic records ought to be freely available in the university and not be “opaque or hidden”.

“The FOI is applicable to the academic records of a public officer whose academic records are being requested by a Nigerian citizen or a nongovernmental organization duly registered in Nigeria with a view to promoting accountability and transparency in government,” Mr. Ogunye said.

“The academic records of the president are not the medical records of the president in which case a medical officer can say the FOI is exempted, or the records between a lawyer and his client which are covered by the confidentiality rule.”

WHAT THE FOI ACT SAYS
According to Section 14(1) of the FOI ACT, subject to subsection (2), a public institution must deny an application for information that contains personal information and information exempted under this subsection includes:
(a) files and personal information maintained with respect to clients, patients, residents, students, or other individuals receiving social, medical, educational, vocation, financial, supervisory or custodial care or services directly or indirectly from public institutions;…
(2) A public institution shall disclose any information that contains personal information if –
(a) the individual to whom it relates consents to the disclosure; or
(b) the information is publicly available
(3) Where disclosure of any information referred to in this section would be in the public interest, and if the public interest in the disclosure of such information clearly outweighs the protection of the privacy of the individual to whom such information relates, the public institution to whom request for disclosure is made shall disclose such information subject to Section 14(2) of this Act.
Mr. Ogunye said that an institution might attempt to hide under Section 14(1)(a) to decline disclosure of information.
“My argument is, this information is publicly available and ought to be disclosed. The president has said he obtained his Ph.D in that institution, so it’s publicly available,” Mr. Ogunye said.
“So why will an institution refuse to disclose an information that is publicly available? The university has acted wrongly and can be compelled by the suit of the non-governmental organization concerned to disclose the information.”

Culled from Premium Times

Akinrinade, Mimiko Hold Parallel Yoruba Leaders’ Summit

As the battle to win the hearts of the people of Southwest continues ahead of the general elections, two separate fora to mobilise the Yoruba people for the coming elections have been fixed for Thursday, 19 March in Ikeja, Lagos and Ibadan, Oyo state.

In Lagos, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and the Southwest Coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation will lead his Yoruba supporters to drum up support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Lagos summit tagged: ‘Tomorrow Begins Today, Grand Finale of the Post National Conference’, will hold at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, and is expected to be attended by Afenifere chieftains, leaders of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC and other Yoruba leaders sympathetic to the re-election of Jonathan for a second term on 28 March.

Also, in Ibadan, a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and former Chief of General Staff, Retired Lieutenant-General Alani Akinrinade, has scheduled a summit of Yoruba people for Thursday to chart a course for the tribe.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko

The Ibadan summit which is being organised by the Yoruba Assembly of which Akinrinade is the convener, takes place at the Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan.

The theme of the summit is: ‘Yoruba People: Our Aspirations and Minimum Demands From The Central Government of Nigeria.’

Expected at the summit are Yoruba Obas and Leaders of Thought, Yoruba sub-ethnic groups in Nigeria, Yoruba Professionals and vocational groups, Yoruba industrialists, retired Yoruba military and judicial officers, former and current state governors of Southwest states and former and serving members of both the national and state assemblies, among others.

The two separate gatherings have lend credence to the popular perception in the country that the battle for the country’s presidential election will be decided in the southwest.

Culled from P.M.NEWS