APC got this one right

Few persons are more qualified to fill the large shoes Lai Mohammed left behind in the governing APC than Bolaji Abdullahi.

APC made the right call with this guy.

This former Sports Minister ticks all the boxes for the position of National Publicity Secretary of a major political party in the 21st century.

Born in 1969, Abdullahi bagged a B.Sc. in Mass Communications from the University of Lagos and a Masters Degree from the University of Sussex, UK.

Abdullahi has served in various capacities in government circles--Special Assistant, Communication and Strategy to then Governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki in 2005; Special Adviser to Governor Saraki on Policy and Strategy; Kwara State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology; and Minister of Youth, Sports in the federal cabinet in 2011.

Armed with youthful grace, charm and eloquence, Abdullahi also worked as a Journalist.

Between 1997 and 2000, he served in ThisDay Newspapers in various capacities--from a lowly reporter to Deputy Editor of one of Nigeria's leading titles.

He wrote gripping feature pieces, some of which earned him awards and wide acclaim. 

Abdullahi knows how to wow an audience. He possesses a wry sense of humour and a broad smile.

Those who worked under him in the past also say he's a decent administrator and a good manager of men.

He's shown the capacity to work with younger Nigerians in the past--an asset that will serve him well in his new role.

The case can be made that he owes his rise to prominence to Senate President Bukola Saraki and that he is a dyed-in-the-wool ally of his protégé, but since when did it become a crime to be guided through the murky terrain that is politics by a godfather--albeit a smooth, cunning, untrustworthy one?

Abdullahi is all shades of smarts, though, and can be trusted to be his own man if push comes to shove.

After Lai Mohammed left the role of writing controversial press statements to serve in the Buhari cabinet, the  APC has been scouring the land for a suitable replacement.

In smooth talking Abdullahi, they finally have their man.

I am still the party's spokesman – Timi Franks says

The embattled All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank has insisted that he is still the spokesman of the ruling party.

This is coming on the heels of the appointment of Bolaji Abdullahi, an ex- minister of youth and sports, as the APC Publicity Secretary.

Frank has been at loggerheads with the ruling party’s National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun, who he has described several times as incompetent.

According to Cable News, Frank argued that the APC constitution states that a national officer can only be appointed at a national convention.

He said “I want to congratulate Bolaji Abdullahi for his nomination but he should  know that this matter is still in court and until the court say otherwise I am still the authentic acting national publicity secretary of APC,” the statement read.

“I will wait patiently for the party leadership to convene a national convention and ratify Bolaji’s nomination as the substantive national publicity Secretary. But until then, I, Timi Frank, remain acting publicity secretary of APC.

“It must be made clear to the plotters of this action that it is only national convention that can produce a national officer according to our party constitution while any other convention like the one north central just held can not do that.

“I will also make it clear that if they go ahead against the court order, that will amount to Contempt of the Court, which I will challenge in the court of law.”

An APC disciplinary committee set up to investigate Timi Frank’s actions, suspended him for alleged anti-party activities in November 2016.

The new APC spokesman’s appointment was ratified by the party’s leadership during a mini convention which held at Chelsea Hotel in Abuja on Thursday, December 1, 2016.

President reportedly proposes N7.2T budget for 2017

President Muhammadu Buhari's proposed budget for the 2017 fiscal year has been reportedly put at a total of N7.2 trillion.

In a report by Daily Trust, the sum was approved by the Federal Executive Council approved during a six-hour meeting presided over by the President.

The 2017 budget is about 24 percent higher than the 2016 budget which was passed and approved at N6.06 trillion.

"The budget estimate that will be laid before the National Assembly for the year 2017 is N7.2 trillion. This is what FEC approved," a source reportedly hinted.

Though Budget and Planning Minister Udoma Udoma, confirmed that the FEC approved the 2017 budget proposal, the exact amount proposed was not disclosed.

Furthermore, Udoma had reportedly hinted that the estimates in the document at the time of its submission were bound to change due to the changes in the exchange rate.

FG to reveal ex-Gov's 30 bank accounts in court

 

The Federal Government on Wednesday sought to tender documents of over 30 bank accounts in evidence against former Gov. Muritala Nyako.

 Nyako and seven others are currently facing trial in the Federal High Court Abuja over money laundering charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nyako, the former governor of Adamawa
and seven others, including companies, are standing trial before Justice Okon Abang on a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The charges against the defendants include criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, opening of multiple bank accounts and stealing to the tune of N29 billion.

The defendants, who were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), allegedly opened over 30 different accounts with Zenith Bank Plc. with the money between 2011 and 2013.

At the resumed sitting, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), sought to tender the documents used in opening the account through the bank’s officer, Olabode Farinoola, who identified himself as a compliant officer.

“Some of the names used by the defendants in opening these accounts are Tropical Agro Farms Clinic Ltd, Redcapet Protocol Ltd, Tower Asset Management Ltd and Government Service Department account.

“Others are office of the secretary to the state government, Muru Ngbula-Joran, Bincola Engineering Service Ltd, Blue Ribbon Service and Travel Tour Ltd and Blue Opal Nigeria Ltd,” Jacobs said.

Names on the accounts also include Pagoda Petroleum Marketing Ltd, Pagoda Fortunes Nigeria Ltd, Sebore Farms Extension Service Ltd and Blue Opal Nigeria Ltd (Project account).

Also contained in the names of the accounts are Kikary Investment Ltd, Blue Ribbon Multilink Ltd, Russelley Farms Nigeria Ltd, Agric International Tech Trade (Agrited Ltd) and Amdak Investment Ltd, among others.

However, Counsel to Nyako, Kanu Agabi (SAN), raised an objection to the request to tender the documents on the grounds that the defendants needed to go through the documents before they could be tendered in evidence.

Agabi prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable the defence to go through the documents to ascertain their authenticity as claimed by the prosecution.

He said “I plead for adjournment to enable the defence to go through the documents the prosecution seeks to tender through the witness.”

Other defence counsel agreed with Agabi’s prayer for adjournment to enable them to go through the documents before being tendered in evidence.

Justice Abang agreed to the prayer and adjourned continuation in the matter until Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 to enable the defence counsel to go through the documents sought to be tendered in evidence.

Help us secure oil pipelines," Maikanti Baru tells Oba of Benin

 

Dr. Maikanti Baru, has urged the  Oba of Benin, Oba  Ewuare II, to assist in the  protection of  NNPC’s facilities from vandals.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said this in Benin on Wednesday  when he paid homage to the monarch.

He said NNPC had two major companies in Benin, the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Integrated Data Service (IDSL).

Baru said the  support was needed to end  pipeline vandalism, adding that NNPC was using a  huge  sum of money to repair the  pipelines destroyed.

The NNPC chief executive also appealed to Oba Ewuare II to help educate the people of oil and gas producing communities  to create enabling environment that world,  in the short term,  provide economic benefits to the people.

He assured the Oba  that NNPC would continue to  provide  scholarships to the youth in the  host communities, especially those studying related courses and the orphans.

Oba Ewuare urged Baru and the  NNPC to do more in the provision of contracts and employments to the people in the host communities.

The monarch  further appealed to  the NNPC to do more in providing sufficient food for the people.