Ekiti Governor, Fayemi approves 180 days maternity leave
By Bukola Olasànmi
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has extended maternity leave for female workers in the state public service from three months to 180 days.
This, Fayemi, said is tandem with the administration’s determination to key into global best practices that will improve the quality of lives of the citizens.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi said the new policy, which takes effect from February 1, 2020 is aimed at improving maternal health and encourage nursing mothers to observe the six months exclusive breast feeding campaign of the United Nations Intervention Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
He pointed out that the six months exclusive breast feeding campaign is aimed at reducing to the barest minimum, infant and maternal mortality rate as well as facilitates work life balance for female workers in the state.
The governor added that his government will continue to show strong political will towards ensuring gender inclusiveness, noting this policy is one of many other frameworks in place aimed at promoting the rights of women and children
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I lost husband, daughter in one year says Farida Waziri
By Bukola Olasanmi
A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri, on Tuesday said that she lost her husband and daughter within one year when in service as the head of the commission but did not receive condolences from her predecessors.
She also said there were assassination attempts on her but was never deterred in the fight against graft.
The ex-EFCC chair said these in her speech during the public presentation of her memoir, “One Step Ahead-Life As A Spy, Detective And Anti-Graft Czar”, in Abuja.
She said, “Along the way, there were assassination attempts, face-off with cranks and officials in foreign lands, thrust and parry with criminals and personal tragedies of losing loved ones, particularly husband and daughter within one year for which my predecessors did not express their condolences.
“Lastly, my personal reason for the book. I had been so grossly maligned not many people knew who the real Farida Waziri is. Fabrications from malicious quarters had created a distorted perception of my persona.
“When you read One Step Ahead, it will be easy to see the lies of the past for what they are. I have no doubt that after reading the book, you will be able to separate facts from fiction and let go of those mythologies.
“So, here today, we are going to unveil the true picture of Farida Waziri.
“It is the story of a young girl’s journey through life, from being a Catholic girl to a Muslim; from being born of a Tiv family in Benue State to becoming a matriarch in Tangale family from Gombe; from a police officer who was the best recruit in 1967 to becoming Assistant Inspector General of Police, who also became a lawyer.
“Today, I am rendering my account by presenting my mosaic experience – as Special Branch operative, as pioneer head of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), as a detective at CID, as commissioner of police, as former chair of EFCC, as wife of Nigeria’s ambassador to Turkey, and as a lawyer that sat through one of the stormy moments of this country and witnessed first-hand behind-the-scene parody of justice that was the aftermath of the so-called 1995 coup.
“I have recreated vignettes. These include my interactions with the late President Umar Yar’Adua. Myths and mythologies about Nigeria’s endemic corruption are due to the chameleonic forms of the scourge. I had the privilege to dissect the problem from the vantage position of being at the helm of SFU and EFCC and I have simplified the anatomy of fraud and public office corruption in Nigeria.”
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Committee reveals how ex-Governor Yari bought 110 exotic cars for wives, friends
By Bukola Olasanmi
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar purchased 110 exotic cars for his wives, friends, and appointees, the committee set up by Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle to verify contracts awarded by the preceding administration has uncovered.
The State Projects Verification Committee was set up by the incumbent Governor Muhammad Matawalle to, among others, investigate state of contracts from 2011 to 2019, whether there was any form of over inflation; and the level of payments.
The committee had six months to submit its report. Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Ahmad Abubakar Gusau while presenting an interim report of the findings said over 1500 vehicles were bought at a total cost of N8billion, representing 66% of the vehicles purchased by the State Government between 2011 to 2019, which however have not been accounted for.
He said the vehicles were procured through the office of the then Secretary to the State Government (SSG) without any accounting officer because only the SSG and former Governor Abdulaziz Yari were awarding contracts, since the Permanent Secretaries were sidelined. “In the course of our duty we were shocked to identify a disconnect between the SSG and the office of the Head of Service. The SSG office was only romancing with office of the Executive Governor and billions of tax payers money were recklessly spent by the two mighty offices,” the committee said. On school feeding program in the state, the committee said “The number of the students being fed were over- inflated, thus allowing the fraudulent officials to illegally siphon N7 billion every year. This is because in the students feeding affair in the state, professionals and God-fearing individuals were removed and the programme was handed to a cabal who grossly over-inflated the number of students that were being fed. “For instance, we were at the Government Senior Secondary School, Dansadau where we were told that 700 students were being fed in that boarding school every day, but we were shocked to find out that the very day we visited the school only 50 students were available to collect their food.” He said in the course of borehole construction in the state, two companies were over paid with N63 million and recommended that such money be returned to government coffers, adding that it is the same case in Zamfara Agency for Poverty Alleviation. The committee then recommended that a total of N9.7 billion be returned to the State Government and those involved brought to justice. Responding, Governor Matawalle promised to implement the report to the latter.
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‘My father left over 40 kids’, says Reps leader with four wives, 27 children
By Toby Prince
The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, has insinuated that he is following his father’s lead when condemned for showing off his four wives and 27 children on the floor of the chamber.
According to him, his father, who died in 2019 at 86, was survived by 40 children, one of whom was a four-year-old.
Ado-Doguwa was among the six new members who were sworn in after winning reruns declared by courts.
The ceremony had become dramatic when Ado-Doguwa had spent about one hour to thank the leadership and members of the House, the All Progressives Congress and his four wives and 27 children, some of whom were in the chamber.
Speaking with the leadership of the House Press Corps, Ado-Doguwa said, “My father left behind over 40 kids. He died only last year. Among the children he left, one of them is less than four years old.
“As far as I’m concerned, as a Muslim, it is not I who caters for them, God caters for everyone, He only uses human beings as agents. And I’m glad that God is using me as His agent to feed my entire family, to train them and take them to good schools which I’m doing
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IRAN MUST GO PROTEST
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP TAKES PROTEST AGAINST IRAN, AI AND IMN TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONALS OFFICE IN ABUJA
Alleged N525bn graft: Step down from your offices, APGA tells Theodore Orji, son
By Toby Prince
The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has called on a former governor of the state, Chief Theodore Orji, and his son, Chinedum, to step down from their legislative duties and face their matters with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.
The party was reacting to a report on the EFCC investigation of the former governor and his son.
The report, which was published, on Sunday, showed that the former governor and his son allegedly looted funds belonging to Abia State to the tune of over N500 billion.
The former Governor is the senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District while his son is the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly.
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Ebere Uzoukwa, and Ferdinand Ekeoma, Media Assistant to Dr Alex Otti, APGA stated that “the duo have lost the moral right to represent the people of Abia, much more preside over other legislators”.
“This is without prejudice to their right to be heard in court, should they choose to defend the weighty allegations.
“We understand that millions of Abians in particular and Nigerians, in general, have been expressing shock, disbelief, and anger over the report due to the magnitude of looting, and therefore join Abians in solidarity at this moment of sadness and sobriety,” the statement added
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Iran Must Go: Protest enters day 2 as Nigerians insist IMN, AI, others undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty must leave
For the second day on the spin, Nigerians took to the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, demanding the expulsion of Iranians, Amnesty International and others fingered to be destabilising the country.
After Monday’s peaceful rally to the Iranian Embassy, led by the Concerned Citizens Coalition (CCC), these Nigerians, on Tuesday, took its displeasure to Amnesty International’s office.
In a statement by Convener, Mohammed Shuaibu, the group said it is time for A.I to leave as it has overtime acted against the nation’s interest.
According to Mr Shuaibu, Amnesty International entered a strategic pact with the Iranian government to provide protection for Islamic Movement in Nigeria and other militant groups.
While urging the security agencies to act fast, the Concerned Citizens advised A.I to “take their loot from Iran to other gullible countries where they can act as they wish.”
Failure to do so, however, the CCC added that Nigerians would indeed hold it responsible should there be a resurgence of violent and criminal activities in the country.
Read full address below:
We come in peace as Concerned Citizens of Nigeria in Nigeria under the umbrella of The Concerned Citizens Coalition with an overarching objective to promote the ideals of good governance and a strong and viable Nigeria through the instrument of advocacy.
We are gathered here in accordance with this mandate to protect the interest of Nigeria against those individuals and organizations that are conspiring to truncate our nascent democracy and ultimately set Nigeria on the path of disintegration.
We have stated in numerous forums that indeed, some organizations in Nigeria are acting against our interest by masquerading under acclaimed international organizations working in the interest of the enthronement of peace, while in truth, they are nothing but agents some foreign countries that do not want the progress of Nigeria.
We boldly wish to state that Amnesty International (AI) and its operations in Nigeria have indeed been a source of concerned for most Nigerians in the sense that they have constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of progress in Nigeria through their often unsubstantiated reports and releases tuned to set Nigeria on the path of disintegration.
That Amnesty International has continued to remain in Nigeria is a great disservice to us as a people and as a country due to the multiple pieces of evidence that indicate that it is indeed working for vested interest and, as such, lost its credibility in all ramifications.
The Concerned Citizens Coalition is not oblivious of the recently hatched plot by the Government of Iran to cause chaos in Nigeria through the sponsorship of proxy groups and organizations to undertake ventures that are inimical to the interest of Nigeria and also injurious to our nascent democracy.
We wish to state that the Government of Iran has indeed committed a colossal sum of monies in this regard, and some of the beneficiaries are Amnesty International, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and other proxy groups that are springing up in various parts of the country under different curious nomenclatures.
We are indeed aware that Amnesty International has entered a strategic pact with the Government of Iran to provide protection for the IMN and other militant groups that have been established for the sole purpose of causing mayhem in the country.
This fact is undeniably inimical to the peace and stability of Nigeria, and there is no moral justification for such a dubious organization to continue to operate in Nigeria under whatever guise.
This is also aside from the numerous ways Amnesty International has attempted to cause crisis in Nigeria through its propagandist reports tailored to suit their paymasters. This position was what gave rise to the calls for the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria in times past, and it seems they cannot desist from their dubious intention against the Nigerian state.
Amnesty International, in times past have castigated the Nigerian government and attempted to instigate the people to pick up arms against the government but for the intervention of discerning Nigerians who saw through the gimmick and rebuked Amnesty International. We wish to state that enough is enough for Amnesty International as Nigerians would take none of its despicable opposition to the growth and development of Nigeria.
That Nigerians decided to tow on the side of caution is not an indication of weakness, but a display of the true Nigerian spirit that is abounding in love and tolerance. But this time around, we have decided to take the bull by the horns by demanding that Amnesty International must leave Nigeria as a matter of urgency and national concern.
Amnesty International represents everything that is against the interest of Nigeria in the sense that their contribution to the buoyancy of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group in North-East Nigeria is legendary through concocted and fictions reports that makes a mockery of human rights evaluations and compliance.
Their tact support for militant groups like the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Indigenous People of Biafra have also been phenomenal in the sense that it is sufficing to state that they are a part of these organization through the spread of propaganda aimed at causing a distraction and undermining the efforts of Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and other forms of criminality in Nigeria. They have, through their actions, been painting the Nigerian government as incapable and carrying out acts that violate human rights, whereas the reverse has been the case.
We cannot continue to keep quiet to this anomaly if we are indeed desirous of seeing Nigeria remain united and prosperous as a country. The time to act is indeed now.
Our demand is simple and in the best interest of the generality of Nigerians. Amnesty International must leave Nigeria, for we cannot afford the luxury of harboring organizations that are in bed with terrorist networks around the world. We cannot also afford to allow the blood monies received by Amnesty International from Iran to infiltrate the nook and cranny of Nigeria as the result would be the spread of violence of unimaginable proportion.
Nigerians are more united more than ever in this resolve to see to the closure of the offices of Amnesty International in Nigeria, and it is our firm belief that the relevant authorities in Nigeria would act in the best interest of Nigeria in this regard.
Nigerians are not fools. We have tolerated enough and have consequently decided to act to save our beloved country from imminent collapse by the threat posed by Amnesty International and their cronies.
We advise them to take their loot from Iran to other gullible countries where they can act as they wish. But not Nigeria. They can go for all we care as there is no business with light and darkness.
We consequently give a charge to the relevant authorities to act fast in the light of the abounding pieces of evidence of the shameful acts of Amnesty International against Nigeria. Our security agencies must investigate their operations in Nigeria in the past five years, which would include sources of funding to avoid such anomaly in the future.
We wish to sound a note of warning to Amnesty International that pending their departure from Nigeria; Nigerians would indeed hold it responsible should there be a resurgence of violent and criminal activities in Nigeria.
A word is indeed enough for the wise. Nigerians are watching, and the world is indeed watching.
Why I sacked Farida Waziri as EFCC boss – Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan says his sacking of former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farida Waziri, was in the interest of the country.
Jonathan was reacting to a statement by Waziri in her book, ‘Farida Waziri: One Step Ahead’ in which she alleged that the former president removed her as EFCC chairman because she was going after ”oil thieves”.
In a statement issued on Monday by Ikechukwu Eze, his spokesman, the former president said Waziri’s removal was not personal and that he had retained her when he assumed office despite international call for her sacking.
”We read media reports credited to the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, in which she claimed in her new book that she was removed from office by ex-President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, because of her probe of some oil racketeers,” the statement read.
”We thought we had dealt with this matter, after promptly debunking similar statements she made in the past. In 2017 when she claimed that she lost her job because she ‘refused to back down from the probe of one of the masterminds of the fuel subsidy scam’, we quickly refuted and clarified the claim for the records, and even challenged her to name the individual or company in question.
”We had expected that a book from Mrs Farida, coming years after the claim was first made, should have towed the path of honour by telling the truth for the benefit of history. Unfortunately, that still didn’t happen.
”It will be recalled that after assuming office as President on May 6, 2010, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan decided to retain Mrs. Waziri, who was appointed by his predecessor, late President Umaru Yar’Adua, as the head of the elite anti-crime agency. Despite obvious disenchantment from many Nigerians and mounting international pressure against Mrs. Waziri’s continued stay in office, the former President stood by her, in line with his conviction that every public officer should first be given the opportunity to deliver on his or her mandate.
”It must be pointed out that former President Jonathan had no personal issues with Mrs. Waziri. The former President had to eventually let her go in the national interest. Her removal therefore has a lot to do with reasons relating to Nigeria’s interest and global standing which details Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is obliged to keep as state secret in our common national interest. It is very important to note that when dealing with the interest of the nation and the performance of the functions of a public office, a determined leader cannot prioritise the interest of an individual.
”It therefore bears repeating here that Mrs Waziri’s removal as chairperson of EFCC had absolutely nothing to do with her purported refusal to desist from probing any oil individual. This claim sounds rather superficial and contradicts available evidence of the then government’s genuine efforts to combat oil subsidy racketeering. It is noteworthy that throughout President Jonathan’s tenure, he made practical efforts to combat the alleged oil cabals, including directing the stoppage of further payment of fuel subsidy claims to oil importers, and the setting up of the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede-led committee which had high level representation from all the intelligence agencies including the EFCC, with a mandate to thoroughly investigate the scandals in the industry. The choice of Aig-Aigboje, a man widely acclaimed for his dependability, as leader of the committee, was a clear demonstration that the President had no personal interest in the matter.”
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