Fayose’s Mischief on TraderMoni Scheme is not out of Character - Presidency

It is mischievous, but not entirely out of character, for former Governor Ayo Fayose to mindlessly attack TraderMoni, the interest-free N10,000 loans given to petty traders.

For the records, the issue of TraderMoni has been addressed several times in the public space. It is infantile for the PDP and Fayose to keep rehashing outright falsehood. It is clear from their actions that Fayose and his cronies are bereft of workable ideas and do not have any clear-cut agenda for their campaigns, so they have no choice but to resort to regurgitating spurious allegations like this. Their resort to the unending generation of fake news as a campaign strategy is not shocking, coming especially from Fayose, but it is nonetheless pitiful.

But Nigeria can see through the deception. It doesn’t matter how long they keep trying, the truth would stand. The TraderMoni scheme is not just helping the lives and businesses of ordinary Nigerians like petty traders at the bottom of the economic ladder, it is, again, proof that the Buhari administration is irretrievably focused on improving the lives of the common man.

In case Fayose has forgotten, or better still pretends not to remember, under the Buhari administration, N2.7 trillion has been spent in two budget cycles on capital, the highest in the nation’s history. This would not have been possible if not for the prudent management of resources and the absence of grand corruption for which his party PDP is well known. This government has been able to do far more with less resources, than what was obtained under past administrations, where profligacy & gross mismanagement of the country’s resources were rife.

Thus, Fayose’s feeble attempt to lump the Vice President or the Buhari administration into the sordid happenings under the PDP in past administration through spreading falsehood is not only mischievous, but a disrespect to hardworking Nigerians in their millions who are now enjoying the impact of the Social Investment Programmes of this administration.

It must be emphasized that, for the records, the repatriated $322m is now currently being applied to support the Buhari administration’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme under the Social Investment Programmes. Part of the conditions under which the looted funds were restored to Nigeria is that the World Bank would be involved in over-sighting its disbursements, which is what is being done now.

Thus, any claim of re-looting of any kind is totally false and must be ignored by Nigerians. Fayose and his ilk merely cry wolf where none exists; a shameless habit for which he is now well known.

Currently, almost 300,000 Nigerians in 21 states are benefitting from the CCT, where they receive a monthly stipend of N5,000. The beneficiaries are registered in the National Social Register across these states and the process of selecting beneficiaries is transparent; it is based on the World Bank’s Community Based Targeting whereby the different communities themselves identify the beneficiaries in a transparent process that is open to review and public auditing, even by Fayose, if he chosen to be that reasonable.

That the Vice President is championing the scheme across the states is because of the commitment of the administration to the common man and to ensure effective implementation.

It obviously appears that the PDP are riled by the impact of the TraderMoni scheme, where over 1.2 million petty traders are beneficiaries at the last count. The disbursement process of the TraderMoni loans is transparent and direct, while the enumeration is technology-driven, whereby enumerators meet traders at their business locations to get their data, which includes names, phone number and account number. This process is largely tied to a phone number which also doubles as a mobile money wallet. The registered phone numbers are then credited with the loan via a mobile money platform, from which the agents transfer the money to the beneficiary’s bank account or give physical cash of N10,000 in cases where no account exists. The Bank of Industry facilitates the loan disbursements in partnership with third-party agents to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency of the process.

What is reassuring is that Nigerians are aware of the desperation of people like Fayose, who are rehashing old, baseless and worn-out allegations because they really have nothing to offer Nigerians, nor any shard of honour left to their names.

Signed by:

SIP Response Team, Presidency

Opinion: There he goes again by James Akinloye

BY JAMES AKINLOYE
Abraham Ogbodo seems to have an obsession with Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. He is constantly searching for what next the Vice President would do – but if he was searching with good intent it would have been better, unfortunately for this suspicious journalist, he is always on the lookout for whatever the Vice President would do with the intent to malign his character.

He claims to love him in his recent piece, ANOTHER SERMON ON PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO, but I think he is mistaken love with pejorative obsession, and an embarrassing partisan slant that is easy to detect. Give it to him, Ogbodo knows what he is doing and the readers too understand his despicable mission.

Right from 2014 that President Muhammadu Buhari emerged as APC presidential candidate, this man decided to submit himself to the task of attacking the candidate. But when Prof Osinbajo became running mate, the matter became for him a lasting mission to embarrass seeing the undoubtable value Osinbajo brought to the table.



His latest article is another example of expression of this unwholesome mission. He makes an attempt to deceive his readers by painting a scenario as if the Vice President goes to markets to handover N10,000 to TraderMoni beneficiaries. Deliberate misinformation.
A click on Google to search for how the TraderMoni is disbursed by the Bank of Industry would have brought sense and clarity to Abraham’s position. Unfortunately his intent is to malign the Vice President and deceive his readers hence his conscious failure to make the necessary enquiries.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visits to the markets have simply been to monitor the disbursements of these monies to the traders. He has never gone to the market to share money. The intent of the VP is simply to be with the people. Mr. Abraham may forget that leaders in government are elected for the people and there is nothing wrong whatsoever in the Vice President going to ensure a programme of the government is being carried out righteously. If Mr. Abraham Obodo is afraid that this will win the Vice President support, then he must be ready to live with this fear forever.

He fundamentally fails to understand that government is for the people and these traders are citizens as much as Governors, as much as Traditional Rulers, as much as Head of Parastatals and Agencies, and as much as business leaders who meet with the Vice President every now and then on official purposes. They are citizens as well and the Vice President has only shown himself to be a leader of the people by going down to meet with them and interact with them on their levels. It is unfortunate that his involvement in observing the disbursement of the Trader Moni loan scheme surprises people like Abraham. He perhaps looks down on the poor, and believes that nothing should be done to salvage and elevate them. A thinking derived from an aloof elitist mindset that government should be for the few, the wealthy while abandoning the majority who are poor.

Those baselessly making the accusation of electoral fraud are simply unaware and oblivious of the duties of government to the people at the least. Indeed if the government is working and fulfilling its promises to the people and that is termed vote buying then I think we need to encourage vote buying as an official practice.



Another item of controversy that Mr Abraham raises in his opinion article is the Vice President’s comment vis-a-vis the conversation on the 2023 Presidency.

This was an innocuous remark that has been taken out of context. The Vice President was only encouraging the South-Western region of the country to participate in deciding the equation of who produces the President in 2023.

Misinterpreting him is only to subject a simple democratic and political issue to the pettiness of ethnicity. We must not pretend not to know how Nigeria’s politics operates.

It is expected as a matter of unspoken consensus that in 2023 power will shift to the south, and that means the contest to produce the President will be between the South-West, the South-South and the South-East regions. Each of the regions would have a place in the contest.

The Vice President in a discussion with leaders in the South-West has only put forward the reality that the South-West must present itself as a relevant contender and one of them is delivering on votes to Professor Osinbajo’s party. This is a fundamental in democracy.

Do we expect the Vice President to act as if he is not a member of the APC, or as if he does not want his region to contribute massively to the votes that would retain his party in power in 2023?

In the same vain, Dr. Chris Ngige encouraging the South-East to throw in their votes as part of their own contribution to show that they are equally ready participants to contest for the position of President in 2023.

Vice President Osinbajo would leave a grand legacy after his tenure in office. His landmark feats would stretch from his legal practice to his days as Attorney General of Lagos State to his role as Vice President – his legacies will certainly outlive him. The reforms he has made as Attorney General, the reforms he is making as Vice President, his leadership style as chair of the National Economic Council, his astuteness, his brilliance and his management of the Social Investment Programmes that has invested and impacted the lives of over 15 million Nigerians will speak for him. Professor Osinbajo and his boss and partner, President Buhari have brought something different to the table of government: and that is government must not neglect the poor. An ideology they have held to heart in deploying resources of State for the Nigerian people. If Abraham Ogbodo’s obsession with the Vice President clogs his eyes to seeing this, millions of Nigerians can see it.

Sunday James Akinloye is a democratic rights activist, political commentator and the president of the Initiative to Save Democracy Group (ISD)

NASS: HOUSE OF LORDS AND CLOWNS? By Ayobami Akanji

People must not do things for fun. We are not here for fun. There is no reference to fun in any act of Parliament - A.P. Herbert

It started like a scene out of an action movie - the Climax. The scene where the "Boss" gathers all his proteges, revelling in their plenty ineffectiveness in their last attempt to finish the "Actor". They rush out in Jeeps, strapped to the teeth waiting to meet death already prepared. The fight starts with them "beating" the actor and at times even forcing him to do their biddings, only for him to outsmart, outmuscle and "out-tact" them when things needed to get done. This best describes what comes out of the National Assembly lately.

However, the relationship between the Executive and Legislature embodies a central link in ensuring a smooth running of the federal government, and by extension consolidating the Nigerian democracy.

They can either grant or refuse potential Presidential authorisations, and this enthrones a sign of a politically positive relationship.

The National Assembly does this without much problems especially as seen in the past three and a half years when the leadership of the Legislature has been at odds with the political position of the President. Of course millions of Nigerians bore the consequence of these actions, like it is said - when two elephants fight the grass suffers.

A cursory look at certain events will lend credence to this argument; the budget debacle took a toll on infrastructural development activities nationwide, almost dragging the country back to recession. The recent why “I Cut” the budget oozes of the covert shenanigans in holding the nation to a stand-still for the interest of a certain bloc - the intention of which is to switch the angst of the populace on the current administration.

These ‘leaders’ would then be portrayed as owners of the economic wand to grow and make Nigeria great again; unknown to them the country is already on the path to the Next Level of economic inclusion and prosperity.   

Nigerians just witnessed the ugliest public display of crass opposition from members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when the President came to present the 2019 budget to a joint session, they behaved like children denied of candy. While the President was reeling out the achievements of his administration in the past three and a half years, there were boos and jeers from a section of the House. We applaud the President’s civility and respect for the leadership of both chambers.

These recalcitrant lawmakers should understand that it's permissible to dislike the person who is President, but you don't denigrate the office of the President on the platter of opposition.   

However, whenever persons of leadership in the National Assembly has an issue with the law, the institution tends to be used against the Executive arm, and by extension, Nigerians.

The other time, it was a worried leadership of the National Assembly that convened what it called "emergency executive session". It was the first time since the inauguration of the 8th Senate that such a session held.  It is instructive that despite the atrocities committed on a daily basis in States like Taraba, Zamfara, Benue and Plateau, the National Assembly never thought of an “emergency executive session”. Ditto for the bad state of the economy then. Thank God the Executive weathered the storm; the insecurity has been largely contained and we are out of recession.

It is also note worthy that no emergency session has been convened on corruption which is the very reason why Nigeria is where it is today.

Billions of dollars vanished, growth has been stunted, huge funds traced to accounts of individuals yet no “emergency executive session”.

According to the CBN, MTN, in cohorts with banks, unlawfully repatriated dividends worth $8bn between 2007 – 2015; the apex bank said it was illegal because there were problems with the certificate for capital importation (CCI).

The action of members of the National Assembly can be likened to a child who was given a stick of biscuit by his dad. He becomes protective of this stick to the point of being enemies with the one that gave him the stick. He becomes irritated when anything he deems inimical to his biscuit appears and shows his irritation by crying his lungs out. It’s very easy to be enemies with the National Assembly if, like the child above, you threaten their "biscuit".

Few months ago, members of a dreaded gang of sons of the devil who rained mayhem on the town of Offa were arrested. It was the best answer to questions of police's efficiency. More than 30 people were killed. 22 suspects were arrested Prebendal interests were at their ululative best, screaming "media trial" and "witch hunt" from both sides of their mouth, despite the fact that the Senate President and Governor Ahmed of Kwara State didn't outrightly deny knowing the devils. They chose to fight battles they single-handedly brought upon themselves with institutions of the State. They were the first to complain about how a member was bringing the House into disrepute just because he called for investigations into allegations of fraud against the Senate President; but they use this same Chamber to fight personal battles. They rule with severity, suspending anyone who dares to as little as raise a voice of opposition to their impunity.

They should be called "House of summons" as anyone threatens their biscuit is "summoned to come explain". They earn ridiculous allowances but have nothing to show for it. They criss-cross political geography, trying hard to sound pro-people, forgetting the nascent role they played in bringing us here. They're a select group of "honorables" but with different corruption cases hanging around their necks. They like to flex power and pass votes of no confidence on a man who has spearheaded the arrests of daredevil criminals. Mirrors are good. Had they looked at their images, they would see the stark opposite of who is in the mirror.

The National Assembly isn't a blanket for buffoonery. There exists a small group of truthers who are committed to seeing the progress of the country. They have been intimidated, harassed, hounded and humiliated but still choose to trudge the path of justice. These ones have a special place in history. We don't and won't take their sacrifices for granted. They should keep the fire burning. Nigerians are solidly behind them.

The kid gloves are off, the current Commander-in-Chief is a battle-tested war General. He has led and fought wars, commanding men to victory.

He has seen what is there to be seen. Tell me. What will the buzz of a bee do to the roar of a lion?

 Akanji, is a political strategist, writes from Abuja.

GROUP SAYS AMNESTY’S REPORT IS INCITING, INCHOATE AND MISLEADING

Title of report is a mockery of the dead

A political group in Nigeria has described an Amnesty International(AI) report on the farmers - herders clashes in the country as inciting, inchoate and misleading, stressing that the agency was by its report rejoicing and glorifying violence in Nigeria.

The Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD) stated that the report failed to consider a broad and historical view of the crisis, but deliberately limited the scope of its report from January 2016 to 2018 to pull the wool over the eyes of unsuspecting readers.

President of the group, James Akinloye said that by considering only these two years the content of the report was inconclusive and thus misleading as the herders - farmers clashes predates the period under review and readers would be deliberately misled to think the crisis started only within the last three years. 

The group went further to state that the title of the report HARVEST OF DEATHS was a clear indication that Amnesty International had ulterior motives and was seeking to incite violence in the country. 

“To title a report Harvest of Deaths is not just insensitive but also wicked. It is an attempt by Amnesty International to push for unrest in the country at a time when the country is already enjoying relative peace. The content of the report only seeks to open healing wounds. No responsible agency fighting for human rights titles its report Harvest of Death. Such a nomenclature is a mockery of the dead to start with.

“It is also ill-timed. Two months to an election is not the time to put out a report on a very sensitive subject- matter except one has a motive that is egregiously wicked and prejudiced,”  Akinloye said.

The ISD noted that the release of the report two months to an election suggests either sponsorship of its activities by members of the opposition party or an outright intention by the Amnesty International to influence the voting posture of Nigerians during the elections.

Akinloye argued that where a foreign body does a thing like this, it is investigated for election interference and a possible ban from the country.

He went further to note that: “the Amnesty report deliberately omitted a very significant arrest in the herders - farmers clashes; that is the arrest of Aliyu Tashaku who was the mastermind of most of the killings in Benue state which were masqueraded as clashes.

“The report falsely kept rehashing that government had not acted or arrested any persons, while failing to acknowledge the arrest of several Fulani herdsmen who were involved in killings and were being tried in courts in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Plateau States. This reveals the bias of Amnesty International and its agenda to plunge Nigeria into violence. It also failed to acknowledge the role of several militia groups in the region, many of whom had been arrested by government security agencies.”

Mr Akinloye stated that in the last 4 months most of the communities in the North Central had been experiencing relative peace due to the efforts of the government including the bringing to justice of perpetrators of the heinous killings. 

He further noted that the killings fell by over 90% in Benue State after the arrest of Alhaji Aliyu Tashaku who was reported to have been behind most of the killings in the state.

ISD noted that the government had done a lot and Nigerians were not blind to their efforts, it further called on the security agencies to increase their efforts to ensure a more peaceful country.

Mr Akinloye also added that the security agencies should, while investigating the many claims of Amnesty International, also investigate the body itself as it may be financed by persons seeking to distabilise the country.

Foreign Direct Investment: Nigeria is investors delight By Ayobami Akanji & Aliyu Abdullahi

The banks lobbied Washington so they could write the rules that got us into this crisis. They then lobbied Washington to get the money to bail them out. And then they are lobbying Washington to write the rules so they can get us into the next crisis. It's perfect circularity - Elizabeth Warren

Elections world over generates different degrees of attention. Local or international, interested parties most times pitch with the side their emotions or interests appeal to. Then, different ideological postulations fly around in the political space. 

Nigeria, despite all she has been through, is still the gateway to Africa. This is why everything that affects Nigeria, ends up affecting Africa. Our elections is always a drawer for international observers. It is therefore unsurprising to read from Ms Priti Patel, the UK's former Secretary of State for International Development that Nigeria is a place investors should avoid and in violation of international laws.

She had her opinion carved on the stones of alleged refusal of the administration of President Buhari, in an Op-Ed in City AM, a London Paper, owned by Russians to honour an agreement involving a British Virgin Island (BVI)  firm Process & Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) and the Federal Government. 

BVI’s are known to be tax havens in facilitating illicit flows of money globally a scourge the current administration is fighting and advocating against on the international fora - it is estimated that $80 billion flows out of Africa annually and 40% of these funds are  from Nigeria.  BVI’s commitment to zero tax and levels of secrecy encourages financial crimes and allows corporations and individuals to evade tax. It is estimated that $1.5 trillion worth of assets move through the BVI.

Background

In January 2010, P&ID and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources entered into a 20-year Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA). Under this agreement Nigeria was to supply Wet Gas to P&ID, who would process it in a newly-built facility and return it in the form of Lean Gas. P&ID could then sell the by-products of the refinement process for their own profit. Nigeria could not meet her contractual obligations in supplying Wet Gas as a result of militancy in the region. 

However, P&ID treated this failure as a repudiation of the GSPA and claimed to have spent $40 million in the project, although it had not yet acquired the land or built the facilities, this warrants the poser, what claim is P&ID laying compensation to? Hence the tribunal awarded damages to P&ID in the sum of $6.6 billion and the then government was able to settle out of court and an agreement to pay $850 million.

Conversely, the Solicitor General explaining the legality of this case which resulted in a default decision for the enforcement of the payment of $6.59 billion against Nigeria. He noted that the “ default entry was not a judgement, adding that the court lacks constitutional powers to institute such an order against a sovereign state like Nigeria’        

Furthermore,  government is a continuity, it is poignant to note that the agreement Ms Patel was harping on was entered by the last administration, and in a suspicious manner the payment was pushed to the incoming Buhari administration, whereas the agreement of payment was reached on August 11, 2014 by the former Attorney General.  In a swift reaction to the oped, Presidential media aide, Shehu Garba said that the FG has submitted to the jurisdiction of a court in the US to determine issues in the dispute. This is a clear indication that the government, despite it being constrained by funds and other electoral obligations, still wants to respect the rule of law, but would tread the path of due process. 

In the same vein, Ms Patel asserted  that corruption hasn't been mitigated in Nigeria is really laughable, and clearly shows that she is on a hack job. It is very easy to talk about how ugly a picture is when you intentionally look at it from the side of sun-rays. Nigerians at home and abroad who analyse happenings objectively will be best placed to answer this. Gone are the days when the vaults of the Central Bank was reduced to something within the wirepull of a hedonist who as much the itch to flash cash comes, however unreasonable or irresponsible or directionless the itch is, will with immediate alacrity and irrational jingoism, summon siren blaring bullion vans to come for extract. Gone are days when funds meant for the upgrade of military hardware was turned to a bazaar, reducing the army's efforts in combating Boko Haram insurgency a sisyphean. Gone are days when government offices were clearinghouses for deals that was planned for millions but shared by tens. 

President Buhari has signed several Executive Orders to demonstrate his resolve to holistically eradicate corruption of Nigeria. Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) a global body committed to accountability and transparency in the management of public office.       

 

It is worthy to note that corruption and being unethical isn't something that can be completely eradicated. Ms Patel is a proof of this as she recently resigned because she held 12 secret meetings with Israel senior government officials and US diplomats without informing the Foreign Office, thereby going against the convention of the Foreign Office to disclose business overseas. She even went as far as saying that former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson was aware of her trip but later changed the bearings of her assertions. We recall her visit to Nigeria on September 1 2017, alongside Britain's former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson they met with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo promising to assist Nigeria in the wars against insurgency and corruption, Johnson described Nigeria as an incredible country and power house of the African economy while Ms Patel noted “We stand shoulder with the government and the strength of the UK relationship with Nigeria on all aspects including the diversification and development going on in the country”    

This is very unethical but Ms Patel is still a member of parliament of Witham in Essex since 2010. Nobody has asked her to leave this post or to follow her line of thoughts, no one has asked the world not to deal with her. It defies logic and defines illogic that she will run to town with an assertion that investors should consider how risky an environment Nigeria is before investing.  Same country that had Investments to the tune of $1.3bn in 2017 from only the US. 

Few months ago, Prime Minister May came visiting to Nigeria looking at how both countries can expand their trade balances. Nigeria is the second largest trading partner of Britain in Africa, with a trade balance of 4.5 billion pounds annually. MOUs were signed on economic development forum to allow both countries broaden and deepen bilateral trade.   

Nonetheless, In demonstration of this administration's commitment to better the lot of investors, to secure their investments, and being the largest economy in Africa and among the top ten performing economies in the world the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) was setup in July 2016. It has amongst other things improved Nigeria's standing in the global ease of doing business index, Nigeria moved from 37 points to 56 - 24 places move upward. 

It is expected that people like Ms Patel who are thought to be at a privileged positions where relevant information is as close as the click of a finger to be objective. It is sad that facts are now twisted to the points where they bear semblance with anything far away from common sense. Nigeria is an investor's delight and unlike Ms Patel, the Federal Government Of Nigeria is calling on all interested investors to troop into the country for business. Their businesses will be protected if they follow laid down rules; that fact they shouldn't worry about. What Ms Patel and her ilk has and will say isn't important.

Akanji is a political strategist and Abdullahi a lawyer both write from Abuja

Osinbajo: A Trailblazer and Reformer

It takes an intuitive, engaging, analytical mind and high sense of imagination to truly understand and appreciate the beautiful mind of a man like Osinbajo who in his capacity as Vice President conducts himself responsibly and dutifully.

Close associates and those who have personally encountered him can attest to the fact that he is stickler for hardwork, passionate about service to humanity and a trusted ally and team leader. Even those who disagree with him can hardly question his intellectual strenght, moral uprightness and capacity to deliver on tasks assigned to him.

Above all, when we carefully peruse the minds of Osinbajo’s students and those he has led in the house of God before he became the Vice President, we will come to attest to the professor’s sense of purpose, humility, godliness, loyalty and brilliance.

Amazingly, Osinbajo’s family is an epitome of humility, godliness with full of simplicity worthy of emulation.Teach your children humility, contentment, respect and the fear of God; they will not depart from them when they grow up, so say the holy book. These are the fine attributes that define the man Osinbajo. 

Meanwhile, one of the qualities of Osinbajo that is dazzling to mind is his undeterred and unfettered emulative spirit that is unattractive to little minds. The ingenuity he brings to bear in handling crucial state matters is top-notch and has made him the darling of most Nigerians. 

Given his deep understanding of life, Prof. Osinbajo scorns the finer things in life and ensconces himself in moral values, frugality and simplicity. He carried out the business of government with much candor, respect and to the admiration of all. Check out the ease with which he relates and interacts with market women, traders and Nigerians alike.

There is hardly any part of Nigeria that Prof. Osinbajo hasn't visited in the last three years. He sees nothing wrong or difficult in leaving his comfort zone to fraternise with Nigerians across states, towns and villages.

Truth is, apart from Osinbajo’s managerial skills, pastoral and leadership qualities, this erudite lawyer and professor is a frugal and disciplined family man who’s always in tune with the reality and existentialism of everyday life.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's urbane nature, pristine academic and professional backgrounds, patriotic disposition, love for God and humanity as well as his avowed determination to contribute to Nigeria's growth are attributes that keep him far ahead of his contemporaries, both within and outside politics.

President Buhari Has Done More For The South East Region Than Any Other Administration - Dr Thompson Udenwa

There is no iota of doubt that the President Buhari administration has been the kindest, most generous and most receptive of the people of the South East. Forget sentiments and the curse of our brother Goodluck Jonathan that has blinded our eyes to the favourable bias President Buhari has for the region. Oh yes, favourable bias.

Perhaps in the bid to show that he loves our people, President Buhari has done the double whenever it comes to the South East.

Take a look at the historical cries of marginalisation that the south east has cried and place them side-by-side with who is working on them.

Out of a total of 250 ongoing Federal Highway Projects as at December 2017 across the country, 49 are situate in the South East, the highest in any region.

Key roads are being constructed and rehabilitated in our region: the Enugu - Portharcourt express way is a ready example. The National Housing Scheme is in all states of the South East and is currently ongoing.

Our Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha - a project as old as 2012 - only received a boost when President Buhari came on board. It is about 80% completed. The Mausoleum is there for people to see, I have also seen pictures on social media - it is real.

There is also the critical Second Niger Bridge. A critical item of infrastructure that has been on the promising lips of politicians years before the millennium. Yet the closest we saw to its reality was drawings and pictorial presentations.

Today the very hope of a Second Niger Bridge is more than paper work: it is in fruition, pillars have been sunk in, and piling work has gone to over 50%. It has moved from promise to reality.

Across the South East are terrible roads that evince government neglect over the decades. What is more surprising is that we have had powerful Nigerians from this region who have only gone to Abuja to fill up their pockets, buy jets and live large. Forgetting the welfare of Ndigbo.

Today the scornful sights of dreaded unmotorable roads has been turned to construction sites across the South Eastern region.

As an Ndigbo man, I am pleased with this. We don’t deserve promises, we deserve development.

Lest I forget, the lightning of the Ariaria market in Aba is another testimony to sincerity of the Buhari administration.

The Social Investment Programmes have not discriminated the South East, every state has a fair share of the government’s investment in the poorest peoples. There is no discrimination.

There is so much more I could list. I have chosen just a few items to highlight how much this three and a half year old administration has done - with very little resources. It tells us that there is sincerity of purpose, there is a desire to deliver and there should be a chance for consolidation.

The people of the South East don’t need promises from insincere political nomads who could have carried out the promises they make now then when they had the power and resources to do so. Our people need work done. And we are seeing this with President Buhari. He has my support.

Dr. Thompson Udenwa

President Buhari Has Done More For The South East Region Than Any Other Administration - Dr Thompson Udenwa

There is no iota of doubt that the President Buhari administration has been the kindest, most generous and most receptive of the people of the South East. Forget sentiments and the curse of our brother Goodluck Jonathan that has blinded our eyes to the favourable bias President Buhari has for the region. Oh yes, favourable bias.

Perhaps in the bid to show that he loves our people, President Buhari has done the double whenever it comes to the South East.

Take a look at the historical cries of marginalisation that the south east has cried and place them side-by-side with who is working on them.

Out of a total of 250 ongoing Federal Highway Projects as at December 2017 across the country, 49 are situate in the South East, the highest in any region.

Key roads are being constructed and rehabilitated in our region: the Enugu - Portharcourt express way is a ready example. The National Housing Scheme is in all states of the South East and is currently ongoing.

Our Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha - a project as old as 2012 - only received a boost when President Buhari came on board. It is about 80% completed. The Mausoleum is there for people to see, I have also seen pictures on social media - it is real.

There is also the critical Second Niger Bridge. A critical item of infrastructure that has been on the promising lips of politicians years before the millennium. Yet the closest we saw to its reality was drawings and pictorial presentations.

Today the very hope of a Second Niger Bridge is more than paper work: it is in fruition, pillars have been sunk in, and piling work has gone to over 50%. It has moved from promise to reality.

Across the South East are terrible roads that evince government neglect over the decades. What is more surprising is that we have had powerful Nigerians from this region who have only gone to Abuja to fill up their pockets, buy jets and live large. Forgetting the welfare of Ndigbo.

Today the scornful sights of dreaded unmotorable roads has been turned to construction sites across the South Eastern region.

As an Ndigbo man, I am pleased with this. We don’t deserve promises, we deserve development.

Lest I forget, the lightning of the Ariaria market in Aba is another testimony to sincerity of the Buhari administration.

The Social Investment Programmes have not discriminated the South East, every state has a fair share of the government’s investment in the poorest peoples. There is no discrimination.

There is so much more I could list. I have chosen just a few items to highlight how much this three and a half year old administration has done - with very little resources. It tells us that there is sincerity of purpose, there is a desire to deliver and there should be a chance for consolidation.

The people of the South East don’t need promises from insincere political nomads who could have carried out the promises they make now then when they had the power and resources to do so. Our people need work done. And we are seeing this with President Buhari. He has my support.

Dr. Thompson Udenwa

President Buhari Has Done More For The South East Region Than Any Other Administration - Dr Thompson Udenwa

There is no iota of doubt that the President Buhari administration has been the kindest, most generous and most receptive of the people of the South East. Forget sentiments and the curse of our brother Goodluck Jonathan that has blinded our eyes to the favourable bias President Buhari has for the region. Oh yes, favourable bias.

Perhaps in the bid to show that he loves our people, President Buhari has done the double whenever it comes to the South East.

Take a look at the historical cries of marginalisation that the south east has cried and place them side-by-side with who is working on them.

Out of a total of 250 ongoing Federal Highway Projects as at December 2017 across the country, 49 are situate in the South East, the highest in any region.

Key roads are being constructed and rehabilitated in our region: the Enugu - Portharcourt express way is a ready example. The National Housing Scheme is in all states of the South East and is currently ongoing.

Our Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha - a project as old as 2012 - only received a boost when President Buhari came on board. It is about 80% completed. The Mausoleum is there for people to see, I have also seen pictures on social media - it is real.

There is also the critical Second Niger Bridge. A critical item of infrastructure that has been on the promising lips of politicians years before the millennium. Yet the closest we saw to its reality was drawings and pictorial presentations.

Today the very hope of a Second Niger Bridge is more than paper work: it is in fruition, pillars have been sunk in, and piling work has gone to over 50%. It has moved from promise to reality.

Across the South East are terrible roads that evince government neglect over the decades. What is more surprising is that we have had powerful Nigerians from this region who have only gone to Abuja to fill up their pockets, buy jets and live large. Forgetting the welfare of Ndigbo.

Today the scornful sights of dreaded unmotorable roads has been turned to construction sites across the South Eastern region.

As an Ndigbo man, I am pleased with this. We don’t deserve promises, we deserve development.

Lest I forget, the lightning of the Ariaria market in Aba is another testimony to sincerity of the Buhari administration.

The Social Investment Programmes have not discriminated the South East, every state has a fair share of the government’s investment in the poorest peoples. There is no discrimination.

There is so much more I could list. I have chosen just a few items to highlight how much this three and a half year old administration has done - with very little resources. It tells us that there is sincerity of purpose, there is a desire to deliver and there should be a chance for consolidation.

The people of the South East don’t need promises from insincere political nomads who could have carried out the promises they make now then when they had the power and resources to do so. Our people need work done. And we are seeing this with President Buhari. He has my support.

Dr. Thompson Udenwa

NEMA: Osinbajo saved thousands of Nigerians by approving N5.8bn - Adagbon

With international organistaions and local agencies running out of funds, and with food shortage at its crescendo, the acting President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo approved N5.8 billion for supply of food to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the NorthEast, thereby saving hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who were going to die out of starvation. The noble action of the Vice President has been misinterpreted in some quarters even though he acted within the ambit of the law. In this interview, Gloria Adagbon, a lawyer and human rights activist makes a case for the Vice President and warns against politicizing everything.

Why didn't the acting President involve NASS in the process before releasing N5.8bn?

Given that the law allows the Vice President to release such funds in an emergency, he seized the opportunity to do so. The national assembly has proven to be anti-progressive, it took them over six months to pass the budget, we could not let Nigerians die away while they padded the North East Emergency budget. The acting President needed to act and that was why he constituted the Presidential Committee which included Minister of fast Finance, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister of Agriculture, CBN governor, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, SSA to the President, Office of the Chief of Staff, SSA to the President Planning and Coordination among others. It was an emergency and it would have been suicidal to go through the national assembly, given their greed and self-centeredness. The process was transparent, FG bought local grains from Nigerian farmers and the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Military including the Air Force, were actively involved providing essential and logistical support. There is nothing clandestine by the process, it was there for all to see.

Why was procurement process ignored before money was released?

The procurement process wasn’t ignored or bypassed. Like I explained earlier, this is an emergency and the acting President needed to act fast. Waiting for the agencies to ponder over procurement would have translated to massive loss of lives. The VP was never going to allow that happen under his watch as Acting President. Section 43 of the BPP Act empowered him to approve the funds in an emergency, which was what he did. He acted in good faith and he saved hundreds of thousands of lives by doing this. We must understand that international organisations including the World Food Programme, UNHCR, International Committee of the Red Cross and others were involved in this process, this was carried out transparently and in order. The international aid agencies like WFP were already dealing with shortage of funds to provide humanitarian aid, as funding was cut down by about 85%. This necessitated urgent collaboration between the Government and NGOs, in order to save lives of Nigerian citizens

Why didn't the VP oversee and ensure the distribution of the rice donated by the Chinese govt?

You will recall that the acting President kicked off the multi-billion naira relief intervention plan for grain distribution in the NorthEast. At the time, about 1.8m people would be reached regularly and 40,000 metric tonnes comprising rice, maize, sorghum and soya beans grown locally by Nigerian farmers would be distributed. But to ask the acting President to monitor NEMA activities alone and leave other pressing issues in the country is ignorance on the part of such persons. Agencies were set up to be managed on day-to-day basis by persons that have been appointed and were qualified to do so. It’s not the duty of the acting President to micro-manage and monitor the delivery or distribution. Duties were delegated, and this was done appropriately.

What is the scope and job duties of the VP as NEMA chairman?

He has an oversight function he does not oversee the day to day running of the agency. It’s like asking the Chancellor of a university why some lecturers involve in sex for marks. This falls on the lap of the Vice Chancellor because he is involved in the day-to-day administration. It’s important to understand that the role of the chairman is somewhat ceremonial and that is why you will not find his picture or profile on the website of the agency. People demanding that he did not act as chairman are uneducated and mischievous, and if adults cannot understand the organogram of agencies, you fear for the kind of orientation of what they are passing on to the younger generation.

Why is the House calling for the reinstatement of the six NEMA directorsand sack of the NEMA DG?

This is the clearest case of corruption fighting back. The directors in NEMA were accused of corruption and financial misappropriation. EFCC found monies in their accounts that could not be accounted for, but instead of insisting that these directors be probed, House of Reps led by a certain Ali Isa jumped to their defence insisting that they be reinstated. The House had claimed that Civil Service Rule was grossly abused, and natural justice turned upside down even after the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita and acting EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu had appeared before the Committee to explain that their suspension was in order. EFCC explained that they were suspended in order to allow detectives unfettered access to vital documents. The directors knew what investigators would find and they immediately got corrupt lawmakers to make noise out of nothing. This is a shame and that is why this administration has insisted that if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us.

Did the VP release N5.8bn or N33bn?

The VP only approved N5.8billion as against the N33billion peddled about in the media by some unscrupulous persons. These are agents of fake news who are trying all they can to tarnish the blistering career of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo but unfortunately for them, Nigerians are wiser now. We know our left from our right and we can see clearly. If you have read all the reports from NEMA to the House of Reps report, you will find that the VP approved N5.8 billion which was very much in order. We must not allow agents of fake news to derail us in our fight against corruption.

Osinbajo: As corruption fights back

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's consistency in talking about and exposing the massive corruption that took place before the Buhari government came on board in 2015 is largely responsible for the coordinated attacks against his person and office in recent days. 

Apparently, those fingered in the various graft cases are unhappy and have resolved to malign the Vice President through whatever means possible, including planting lies in the media just to discredit and portray Professor Osinbajo as corrupt, dishonest and untrustworthy. The grand plot is simply to divert attention from government's resolve to name and shame those who looted the nation's commonwealth. 

So, Osinbajo, being one of the custodians of verifiable facts and figures about graft perpetrated by the last administration, has become their prime target. These guys are not comfortable with the way and manner the VP exposes all that transpired throughout the period the PDP was in power. 

Unfortunately for them, the Buhari government, through statutory government agencies, has expressed its readiness to fight graft and ensure that those who shortchanged the country face the consequences of their actions.

The allegation of illegal authorisation of release of funds for emergency activities brought up by the House Committee on Emergency Preparedness against the Vice President is a deliberate plot to smear the name and integrity of the VP because Section 43 of the same Public Procurement Law they referred to made provision for the such swift response in the case of an emergency situation. Osinbajo who was then the Acting President had to make those approvals to respond to life-threatening, acute food shortages involving IDPs in the northeast.

The allegation that the contracts were not also fully delivered is also false because the monitoring process involved all relevant government agencies and reputable international NGOs and United Nations agencies.    

This is a clear example of corruption fighting back. Given his background as a reputable lawyer, he cannot be ignorant of our procurement laws and approval for release of funds. So, the allegations are as baseless and hollow as they come.

Without fear of contradiction, though a human being, Professor Osinbajo is the wrong person to accuse of corruption in whatever guise. This is one big lie that cannot stand at all. Even his accusers know too well that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is a man of pristine character and integrity who is guided by love for God and humanity.

Like his boss, President Buhari, Professor Osinbajo has never been involved or mentioned in any corruption case since his foray into partisan politics. The records and facts are there for all to see. Undoubtedly, the VP maintains a clean sheet and record as far as public service is concerned.

Yunusa Abdullahi

Diversification of the economy: Tax as a pathway to economic growth By Ayobami Akanji

Taxation is the price which civilized communities pay for the opportunity of remaining civilized - Albert Bushnell Hart

Nigeria has always been the victim, if she wasn't being suffocated to death by bad and directionless leadership, she would be exploited by tax evaders. Or a very matching combination of the two that either way, leaves her helpless.

She is always the victim, when a saviour comes to claw her from the jaws of those who've sucked her for breakfast, butchered her for lunch and planned how big a cut they will take from her shoulder for their dinner, you should be ready for one hell of a dog fight - they are regrouping again on how to devour her.

Tunder Fowler, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) exposed what really should make the heart of every Nigerian cringe. He said that over 6,772 billionaires, with between 1-5 billion naira in their accounts are defaulting in their payments of taxes, some of these billionaires actually live and do business here, making huge profits.

According to the FIRS, there are 31,395 records of companies and businesses obtained from 23 Banks with individual turnover of between N3 billion and over N5 billion who have not paid a kobo as tax in the last three years.

A patriot is the one that does whatever it is that will advance the interests of his country. A bad citizen only thinks of how his country can advance his own interests. The Buhari administration rode on the wave of resetting the country by doing things differently. Shrinking oil prices, debts servicing, recurrents expenditure and other commitments are limiting the scope of work the government plans to do. He has, as always, talked on diversifying the economy, making other aspects of the economy as viable as oil is. He has also committed to sourcing  funds from places anew and one of such places is the tax.

It is important to note that Nigeria has one of the lowest tax to GDP ratio globally. Knowing the importance of tax in growing the economy and building the requisite infrastructure, in June 2017, then Acting President, Yemi Osinbanjo, signed into law, the Voluntary Actions Income and Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).  Defaulting taxpayers were thus given a window to regularise their tax status relating to previous tax periods and to pay any taxes due. This is in exchange for, according to what they have on their website "forgiveness of overdue interests and penalties and the assurance that they do not face criminal prosecution for tax offences or tax investigations" .

Signs of successes have been apparent as, according to Fowler, government has recovered about 30 billion naira under this tax amnesty scheme. He also said, in his capacity as the chairman of Joint Tax Board, that the numbers on the national taxpayers' database has risen to over 19 million in 2018 from the 14 million it was in 2016.

What a bold step. What an achievement!

However, it is  interesting to see the silent revolution going on to ensure a holistic diversification of the economy. One key source of revenue, which was not fully tapped in the past,  but which the current leadership is ensuring from  is unearthed and is fully harnessed for the benefit of all, is tax.

Conversely, the sum of N2.983bn has been generated from payments on demand notices placed upon property owners who are being assessed on their turnover. 653 out of 2,672 of such non-filers are now filing. A total of N47.5bn, $32.8m and N225 billion has been collected from 2016 till date.

Realising the efficacy of this scheme amongst other reasons that may include closing doors on impunity, the Buhari administration launched the Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularisation Scheme (VOARS). It is simply an order for Nigerians to do the right thing done all over the world; declare and pay tax on your Offshore assets.

It is very similar to (VAIDS) signed by the VP with the only difference being the offshore assets. The scheme was set up to regularise offshore assets and tax status, and also to ascertain their outstanding level of tax liability. With an assessment period of 30 years, it gives a 12 month window for tax defaults to come forward and clear the burden they've accumulated. During this window, defaulters that choose to voluntarily regularise their tax status for all the relevant years will pay a one-time levy of 35% of their offshore assets in lieu of all outstanding taxes, penalties and interest.

Another option readily available for those who want to voluntarily regularise their tax status is for them to access a specific government disclosure facility based in Switzerland. Those that comply will naturally enjoy immunity to prosecution and enjoy waivers on interests and penalties. Defaulters will be easily spotted out as the automatic exchange of information between Nigeria and foreign countries goes into full effect. They will also be obligated to pay 100% of all interests and penalties arising from the principal sum that has piled up for the period of 30 years. It's like a scheme designed to save defaulters from running into trouble and also to increase the revenue inflow to the government coffers for infrastructural development.

A government that has plans should have the necessary fundings to execute them, else they remain what they are - plans. Nigerians are advised to key into this scheme. Take advantage of this period of grace and wriggle out of the law's tentacles because when it comes knocking at your door, even if you don't open, it comes in and makes itself comfortable. The law always takes it course. God bless Nigeria.

Akanji is a political strategist and writes from Abuja, he tweets on @Ayooakanji