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HEADLINES, NEWS

Buhari Replies Wife Over BBC Interview, Says She Belongs To My Kitchen

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the interview his wife granted to the BBC where she made scathing remarks concerning the president’s decision in government.

Aisha Buhari had in an interview with BBC’s Naziru Mikailu, said she may not back her husband at the next election unless he shakes up his government.

She further declared that Buhari “does not know”most of the top officials he has appointed, and that the government had been hijacked by some persons deciding presidential appointments.

“The president does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years,” she said people adding that those who do not share the vision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were now appointed to top posts.

“Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position.”

But reacting to the First Lady’s comment, Buhari who is on a three-day visit to Germany laughed off his wife’s comments about him, saying, “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room.”

His comments to reporters in Germany prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel, standing at his side, to give him a short glare and then laugh.

In his comments to reporters, Buhari also said he hopes his wife will remember that he ran for president three times before succeeding on the fourth effort. “So I claim superior knowledge over her and the rest of the opposition, because in the end I have succeeded. It’s not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties or to participate in the government.”

Buhari, who was briefly a military dictator in the 1980s, was elected in his fourth run at the presidency in 2015 on the back of a coalition that includes former foes and opportunists who abandoned the former governing party of defeated President Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari has not said whether he will run again in 2019.

“He is yet to tell me, but I have decided as his wife that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again,” Aisha Buhari said.

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HEADLINES, NEWS

Twist As Patience Jonathan Says Funds In Her Accounts Belongs To Her Late Mother

A twist has occurred in the alleged slush accounts traced to the former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, with claims by her counsel that two of the accounts belonged to her late mother, Madam Charity Fyneface Oba.

The counsel, Mr. Charles Ogboli,  also admitted that only three of the five accounts in dispute could be traced to the ex-First Lady and her mum.

But there were indications yesterday that some senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a meeting on Thursday, where they vowed to back the former First Lady in her suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of about $19.8 million in her accounts.

At press time, it was gathered that Mrs. Jonathan was in Abuja where she was strategising on how to win her case.

The ex-First Lady’s counsel spoke on the Channels Television discussion programme, Sunrise.

The defence of the First Lady has also gone viral on YouTube to underscore her readiness for a fight to the finish with EFCC.

Ogboli is however the third lawyer in three weeks to speak on behalf of Mrs. Jonathan.

Ogboli said:  “That is not true. The First Lady did not hold five accounts. They are three accounts. The First Lady was  the signatory of one account and the mother was a signatory to the other two accounts.

“These accounts were not on a company’s name; it is on a personal data name of the First Lady. If you check, the BVN showed clearly on a personal name.

“And if you go through the BVN, it shows that it is her personal account; it is not connected with the companies facing trial.

“The First Lady was never privy to the companies standing trial. The money that is in the account ($5 million) should be left to the First Lady.”

Responding to a question, Ogboli added: “I am explaining on behalf of the First Lady that this is what transpired.”

He maintained that the former  First Lady had protested between 2013 and 2014 against the  use of unknown companies to open accounts for her by the former Senior Special Assistant (Domestic / Household and Social Events to the former President), Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel.

He said: “What I am trying to say is that the domestic servant, Dudafa, who was asked to open accounts, went ahead to use a company’s  account which the First Lady discovered and said I am not part of this.

“She said ‘I am not a director of this company, neither am I a shareholder. I did not present any certificate of incorporation, I didn’t ask them to open any  account using a company or companies’. The discovery was made between 2013 and 2014 and immediately she kicked against it.

“ So, you don’t link her with the company that she does not know anything about.”

As at press time, some PDP Senators had resolved to rally round Mrs. Jonathan in her battle with the EFCC.

A source said: “Some PDP Senators have been meeting on a daily basis on how to give support to Mrs. Jonathan. They even met on Thursday and the battle will involve a bit of propaganda too.

“At the appropriate time, we will reveal the identities of the affected  senators based on intelligence report. The corrupt will always protect their own.

“Some of these senators  are even the ones bankrolling a part of this  battle between the former First Lady and the EFCC.”

A report of the EFCC investigative team had implicated the former First Lady.

The report of the investigative team said in part: “Based on the investigation so far carried out, it has revealed that the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts used by Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan  has a cumulative balance of $14,029.881.79 which has been swept Post No Debit Card category.

“Again, her personal account, different from the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts, bears the balance of $5,841,426.17.

“Considering the above stated findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act,  Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the aforementioned suspects.”

The EFCC claimed that all the funds traced to Patience Jonathan’s accounts were proceeds of gratification.

The report said: “The intelligence revealed that Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel fraudulently received various sums of money, being proceeds of gratification and retained same on behalf of the then First Family and for himself .”

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NEWS

Weapons Found In My House Belongs To NSA Office – Dasuki

The Federal High Court in Abuja today was told that the weapons found in the Asokoro residence of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Muhammadu Sambo Dasuki (retd.), barely 48 hours after he left Office in 2015 belong to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The weapons were said to be for the use of the Security Details attached to him as the National Security Adviser (NSA) for protection purposes.

These were contained in Dasuki’s statement made to the operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) tendered and admitted as exhibit by Justice Adeniyi Ademola in the ongoing trial of Dasuki on charges of unlawful possession of arms.

A prosecution witness, Mr. Samuel Ogbu who is an operative of DSS indicated this when he was asked to read in the open court the statement made by Dasuki during his interrogation by DSS before he was charged to court.

Under cross examination by counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), the witness said that Dasuki in his statement confirmed that the weapons were for the ONSA and for the protection of the NSA.

The witness also said that Dasuki claimed in his written statement that the weapons were to be returned to the ONSA by the security details at the end of the day.

Ogwu who was asked by Dasuki’s lawyer to read a portion of the statement of the defendant to the open court admitted that Dasuki in the first paragraph of his statement made it clear that the weapons belong to the ONSA and not his personal belonging.

The witness further said he could not remember the date Dasuki left office as NSA but, however, insisted that the interrogation was conducted after he had left office.

Answering another question, the witness, who claimed to have spent 34 years in the service admitted that the NSA is entitled to security details as the coordinator of activities for all security agencies in the country.

The operative claimed that the DSS did not issued the weapon to the former NSA but admitted he would not know whether the weapons were issued to Dasuki by the military authority.

Also under cross examination, the witness admitted that he had never being to the armory of the Nigerian Army, Airforce, Navy, Police, National Intelligence Agency and DMI and would not know whether the weapons found in Dasuki’s house were issued to him by any of the agencies.

“I am aware that the Office of the NSA coordinates the activities of all security agencies in this country; comprising Police, Army, Air force, Navy, DSS, and DMI among others and my evidence in this trial relates only to what happens in the DSS.”

Earlier in his evidence in Chief, the witness had claimed that the house of Dasuki was searched based on intelligence report and that some weapons including powerful rifles were recovered.

He said that as a follow-up to the recovery, he was invited to participate in the interrogation of Dasuki to know the ownership of the weapons and for what purposes they were meant in the house.

The witness claimed that the interrogation was freely conducted and fully recorded with electronic gadgets and that Dasuki’s statement was also recorded when it was being made voluntarily.

Led in evidence by the counsel to the Federal, Government, Chief Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), the witness said that the DSS decided to interrogate the ex-NSA on the weapons because of their sophistication.

The witness added that ordinarily, such weapons were not usually issued to ordinary individuals because of their capacities and that licence were not usually issued to individuals to purchase or carry them.

Ogwu told the court that parts of the guns, Tavor Assault Rifles were imported into the country by the Federal Government following the crises of the insurgency, especially Boko Haram so as to enable the country’s security personnel to have an edge over terrorists.

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HEADLINES, NEWS

#PanamaPapers: Documents Show Saraki Owns Hidden Offshore Assets He Claimed Belongs To His Wife’s Family

Toyin, the wife of the President of the Nigerian Senate, is a mere business front for her husband, fresh documents retrieved by PREMIUM TIMES from the massive Mossack Fonseca database have shown.According to the new documents, the assets in Toyin’s name in tax havens are actually held in trust for Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s third most powerful official.PREMIUM TIMES had reported on Monday that Mr. Saraki failed to disclose four assets found to be in his wife’s name offshore, in violation of Nigeria’s code of conduct law.That revelation came to light following the leak of a trove of internal data from the Panama-based offshore-provider,  Mossack Fonseca, obtained by the German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with PREMIUM TIMES and over 100 other media partners in 82 countries.

In his response to that publication, Mr. Saraki said the controversial assets belonged to the estate of his wife’s rich and famous family, and that the law did not mandate him to declare such a category of assets.

But PREMIUM TIMES has now found that the assets neither belong to Toyin nor to her family’s estate. They are clearly Mr. Saraki’s.

Sandon Development Limited and Number 8 Whittaker Street

One of the companies in Mrs. Saraki’s name in Seychelles Island is Sandon Development Limited, a vehicle used in acquiring property on 8 Whittaker Street, Belgravia, London, in 2012.  Another shareholder listed for that company is Babatunde Morakinyo, a long-term personal aide, and friend of Mr. Saraki.

However, fresh evidence has shown that Mrs. Saraki and Mr. Morakinyo were mere fronts, nominee directors holding assets in trust for the Senate president.

According to one of the documents in our possession, in April 2012, while still Kwara governor, Mr. Saraki, describing himself as landlord of 8 Whittaker Street, London and 70 Bourne Street, London, executed a deed granting his tenants licence to alter the premises of the properties.

Part three of the deed read, “This license is supplemental. The reversion immediately expectant on the determination of the lease is now vested in the landlord.

“The unexpired residue of the No. 70 (Bourne Street) lease is still vested in Dr. Saraki and the unexpired residue of the number 8 (Whittaker Street) lease is now vested in the companies.”

The deed was “signed, sealed and delivered” by Mr. Saraki on behalf of himself, Sandon Development Limited and Renocon Property Development Limited.

Recall that it was from Renocon that Mrs. Saraki, posing as the owner of Sandon, purportedly bought Number 8 Whittaker Street in July 2011.

But it is now clear that both companies actually belong to Mr. Saraki, and that he only used a company owned by him to buy a property from another of his companies.

His wife, Toyin, fronted for him in the purported transaction, and it is not clear why the Senate president acted that way.

Girol Properties Ltd and Toyin the nominee director

Girol Properties Ltd was registered on August 25, 2004 (a year after Mrs. Saraki’s husband became governor of Nigeria’s north-central state of Kwara) in the British Virgin Island (BVI).

Company documents show that Mrs. Saraki owns 25,000 numbers of shares with a par value of US$ 1,00 each, and was appointed the first and only director of the company.

Mrs. Saraki however, in a letter to ICIJ, through her lawyers, denies ever owning any shareholding in Girol Properties.

But we have now retrieved a document linking her firmly to the firm, as well as another handwritten document suggesting that Mrs Saraki was known within Mossack Fonseca as just a nominee director and not the beneficial owner of the company.

Toyin Saraki’s GirolPremium TimesToyin Saraki’s Girol documentPremium Times

Landfield Ltd versus the voice of Toyin Saraki and the hand of Bukola Saraki

Landfield International Developments Ltd., a company, registered in the British Virgin Islands on April 8, 2014, had Mrs. Saraki as sole shareholder.

But it is now clear she was a mere front, as Mr. Saraki has since discreetly taken over the company using Longmeadow Holdings Limited, another shell company registered in Jersey.

To effect the take-over, a board meeting of Landfield purportedly held on January 28, 2015, where it was agreed that the company be sold to Mr. Saraki for over three million pounds.

The minute of that meeting, retrieved from the company’s file, as contained in the Mossack

Fonseca database reads in part,

“3. BUSINESS OF THE MEETING 3.1

“lt was noted that there had been ongoing negotiations and discussions between Dr. Bukola Saraki, Oluwatoyin Saraki and Longmeadow Holdings Limited, a company registered in Jersey (the ‘Buyer‘) in relation to:

“3.1.1 The transfer of the entire issued shares of the Company from Oluwatoyin Saraki to the Buyer for the purchase price of £3,000,000 (three million pounds sterling) (‘Transfer’);

“3.2 4.1 5.1 3.1.2 an intercompany loan in favour of the Company from the Buyer of £3,050,000 (three million and fifty thousand pounds starting) (the ‘lntercompany Loan’); and

“3.1.3 the transfer of 7 Whittaker Street, London SW1W 810. (the Property) Into the name of the Company pursuant to a sale agreement between Alain Charbit (1) and Speed 7674 Limited (2) and Dr. Bukola Saraki (3). Accordingly, the Chairman noted that the meeting had been convened to consider and, if thought fit, approve: 1.1.1 the Transfer; 1.1.2 the registration of the transfer pursuant to the Transfer; 1.1.3 the intercompany loan; and 1.1.4 the transfer of the Property into the name of the Company.

“DOCUMENTS PRODUCED TO THE MEETING

“There were produced to the meeting the following documents: 1.1.5 the sale agreement for the Property; 1.1.6 the share purchase agreement for the Transfer (the ‘SPA’); 1.1.7 the share certificate ¡n favour of the Buyer; 1.1.8 the executed stock transfer form in respect of the transfer pursuant to the Transfer; 1.1.9 the Intercompany Loan Agreement; and 1.1.10 the agreement for the transfer of the Property into the name of the Company.

“CONSIDERATION OF DOCUMENTS

It was noted that the stock transfer form in respect of the Transfer had been executed and was in a form acceptable to the Company. 1476133W18Q-3

RESOLUTIONS 6.1 After due and careful consideration IT WAS RESOLVED:

“7. FILING) That the registration of the Transfer be approved; that the Intercompany Loan be approved; that the transfer of the Property into the name of the Company be approved; and to do all such acts and things and agree and execute on behalf of the Company all such documents to which the Company is a party and all other documents as may be required in connection with the business of the meeting and generally to sign all such certificates and notices and other documents as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the business of the meeting, subject to such amendments as those executing the same on behalf of the Company consider fit.

“7.1 lT WAS FURTHER RESOLVED to authorise any one or more of the directors of the Company to cancel the share certi?cate in the name of Oluwatoyin Saraki and to execute a share certificate in the name of the Buyer; to register the Transfer in the register of members and register of transfers of the Company and make all other necessary and appropriate entries in the books and registers of the Company; “1.1.19 to arrange for the necessary filings to be made at the Registry of Corporate Affairs.”

That same day, Mrs. Saraki wrote to Mossack Fonseca informing it that she was transferring the beneficial ownership of Landfield to Mr. Saraki and his company.

She wrote:

“Dear Sirs

“Landfield International Developments Limited (the “Company”)

We refer to the Company, for which you provide registered agent services and with respect to which I, Oluwatoyin Saraki, am your client of record.

Change, of Client of Record 2. Please be advised that as of today’s date the entire legal and bene?cial ownership of the Company held by me has been transferred to Longmeadow Holdings Limited (“Longmeadow”).

I, therefore, instruct you that with immediate effect, I should cease to be regarded as your client of record and that, going forward, your client of record will be Longmeadow. Accordingly, henceforth you should take instructions from Longmeadow relation to the Company.”

By that letter, Mr. Saraki assumed full control of the company through Longmeadow.

A fresh trouble for the Senator

This fresh revelation that Mr. Saraki actually owned the assets hidden in his wife’s name may complicate issues for the politician who is being tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for allegedly failing to declare his assets in full.

While not all owners or operators of such offshore entities are criminals, owning or maintaining interest in private companies while serving as a public official is against Nigerian laws.

Section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Act says a public office holder shall not,“except where he is not employed on a full?time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade”.

The Code of Conduct Bureau had on September 16, 2015, slammed charges on Mr. Saraki, accusing him of offences ranging from the anticipatory declaration of assets to making false declaration of assets in forms he filed before the Bureau while he was governor of Kwara state.

The Senate President was also accused of failing to declare some of his assets, acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings, and operating foreign accounts while being a public officer – governor and senator.

The offences, the charge said, violated sections of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

Mr. Saraki is also said to have breached Section 2 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and punishable under paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Senate President has denied wrongdoings, saying the case was politically motivated and that he was merely being persecuted for emerging the President of the Nigerian Senate against the wishes of his political party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, which preferred a different candidate.

The African Network of African Reporting Centres (ANCIR) contributed reporting for this story.

Source: Premium Times

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OPINION

Let’s Put Buhari Where He Belongs, By Muhammad Karamba Ibrahim

Since he assumed power, every move made by Nigeria’s number one citizen has been a matter of discussion amongst Nigerians. There is always an issue in the media (especially the social media) about the present Buhari and the past Jonathan administration comparison. This has polarized the nation mainly into the Pro-Buharist whom I call the Buhari fanatics and Gejites whom I call the Anti-Buharists. For a Buhari fanatic, his hero is infallible. For a Gejite, Buhari will always be the worst thing that has happened to Nigeria. But can either of this groups be right?

As human beings, we have that tendency to make wrong judgments or make mistakes. We can be selfish a times. We can be driven by pride. We can hold grudges. That’s who we are. Working towards good doesn’t guarantee that we won’t err along the line. Being a good person doesn’t mean we won’t do anything bad and vise-versa. I think this is a very important rule needs to put at the back of his mind when judging between people.

I remember when Nigerians got fed up with all the bad that has happened during the past administration. Nigerians (especially we the Buhari fanatics) would believe practically everything bad said about the previous administration. Why? Because we have characterized the whole of it as bad so nothing good could possibly come out of it. Similarly, we are applying the same logic in believing that Buhari’s government is for good and therefore Buhari would never make wrong judgments. Are we being fair to Buhari and Jonathan? I seriously doubt that.

First there was the sanction on AIT, then the assets declaration issue, then the Controversy over the appointment of Daura who is an APC card carrying member as DSS boss and then “My 100days covenant with Nigerians”. Also, Buhari’s statement about favoring zones where he got the most votes. All these are instances where Buhari or his media aides denied something after they’ve realized its impact politically. I am not approving or disproving their denial, but I think we have put Buhari in a very difficult position by pushing him to the category of infallibles. Buhari is now in a situation where he could likely sell his integrity for infallibility. I must say that I was very disappointed when I had the presidency denying any knowledge of the “My 100days covenant with Nigerians” piece. It is impossible for Buhari or his aides to say they never knew about it. Does anyone has a comprehensive solution to this conundrum? Has the Presidency lied? This question might likely remain unanswered forever.

Buhari needs our help. We have to be open minded and be ready to accept the truth. No one doubts the integrity of this man and any Nigerian citizen who would be fair knows that we have noticed remarkable positive change since he came into power. But one thing is for certain. Buhari is fallible. Buhari could make mistakes or wrong judgments. We cannot continue to be driven by regional, religious or tribal bias. We are one nation that is suffering from Poverty, Insurgency and Corruption. He is on track. Let’s for once pray for the betterment of Nigeria rather than pray to prove why I didn’t vote for Buhari. May God bless Nigeria. Amen

Muhammad Karamba Ibrahim

Karamba08@gmail.com

Twitter: @Mukib_Almisauwi

 

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OPINION

President Buhari Belongs To Everybody By Okoi Obono-Obla

President Muhammadu Buhari is true, dedicated and committed Nigerian. He is a believer in the oneness of the country.

He deeply appreciates and very conscious of the mosaic complexes of Nigeria. He is a through and through federalist.

The appointments President Buhari made yesterday in the security sector of the country have starkly showed that he respects and recognises the minority ethnic nationalities in the country.

It has also proven beyond a shadow of doubt that he is total committed to his vow he made on the day of his inauguration that he belongs to everybody.

The new Chief of Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai is from Biu in Bornu State. He is an ethnic minority in Bornu State that is dominated by the Kanuri ethnic nationality.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas is an ethnic minority (Ekoi) from Cross River State.

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air vice Marshal Morgan Riku is an Idoma from Benue State, one of the minority ethnic nationalities in the country.

It is clear that these appointments were however strictly based on merit and this is why an indication that competence and performance would be the yardstick for appointments in the Buhari’s presidency.

These appointments also give an indication that President Buhari is desirous of restoring professionalism to the military that has been blighted by indiscipline and corruption in recent times that has manifested glaringly in the fight against boko haram insurgency.

The appointment of Major General Buratai from Bornu State that is the epic centre of the boko haram insurgency is strategic. He is very familiar and conversant with the socio-political realities and nuances of the North Eastern Region of the country being from there that is responsible for the incubation of the boko haram insurgency.

OKOI OBONO-OBLA

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OPINION

Buhari Indeed Belongs To Somebody By Gbemiga Olakunle

“I belong to everybody. And I belong to nobody”- President Muhammed Buhari.

The above quotation is one the quotable quotes from the inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Eagle Square, Abuja during his swearing in. Since the quotation went viral, there have been several misconceptions or misinterpretation of the quotation. Precisely, many social commentators are still trying to decode its true meaning. If viewed from the context of trying to establish his independence in taking vital decisions in the proper administration of the country and not just trying to play politics with the destiny of the nation, Buhari may well be right. It will be recalled that his first shot at the seat of power came through the barrels of guns as a military dictator in 1984. He is not entirely new to the seat of government. But this is his first as a democratically elected President and Commander -in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. And that is why he is trying to make populist statements like the one credited to him above.

But does the President actually belong to nobody? No, we beg to disagree. In actual fact, President Buhari belongs to somebody or a group of bodies. Apart from God the Almighty who created him and grants him long life coupled with good health to cope with the stress of the electioneering and also protected him from the bombs of some alleged assassins that reportedly claimed lives of some of his bodyguards in Kaduna as soon as he emerged as the presidential torch-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Buhari belongs to the party that gave him the platform to run for the presidential election and in particular to the chieftains of the party. If the statement is meant to serve as a notice to checkmate them on the overbearing posture that some of them may intend to take that can hinder the dramatic and pragmatic changes that he plans to bring to bear in the governance of the country, he may be right. But as stakeholders in the project leading to his election as the President, Buhari cannot completely rule out the party’s influences on some of his policies. This is because, the electorate and the new opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, will hold him (the President) and his party (the APC) jointly accountable for the fulfilment or otherwise of their campaign promises. So, the President belongs to his party as his primary constituency and to some extent accountable to the party’s leadership. The President himself too knows that he owes his party leadership the courtesy of consulting them before making crucial political appointments or policy statements. The Presidency and the party leadership may not always agree, but it is the duty of Mr. President to carry his party along, otherwise there may be cracks in the system.

Secondly, the President belongs to his friends/loyalists and voters who voted for him and ensured that their votes counted. A majority of these sets of people may not be card-carrying members of the APC. Some of them were protest or sympathy voters who swigged their votes in favour of the APC in response to the hate campaigns mounted against Buhari by the supporters of the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan. And so he belongs to them. He is accountable to them in order to keep their hope alive that the moment for positive change has indeed come. This is the time for action and not just for rhetoric and business as usual that Nigerians are tired of.

And to underscore the fact that the President belongs to somebody especially his kinsmen, the North is reportedly insisting on occupying the sensitive positions of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff and that may be one of the main reasons why such appointments have not been made. With that statement, Mr. President intends that everybody will have a sense of belonging in his administration. But in reality, this may not be feasible, if the body language of the Northerners is anything to go by.

  • Gbemiga Olakunle, JP General Secretary, National Prayer Movement gbemigaolakunle@yahoo.co.uk
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