Why Buhari Actually Silent On Exposing Names Of Looters On Democracy Day - FG

The Federal Government has revealed why President Muhammadu Buhari reneged on his earlier promise to name looters of the nation's treasury on May 29th, 2016 to mark his first year as democratically elected President of Nigeria.

The APC Spokesman, who also doubles as the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while speaking on Channels Television on Sunday said President Muhammadu Buhari did not release the details of looted assets recovered from corrupt persons due to legal reasons.

“Yes, he initially said so, but he was advised against doing so for legal reasons.

“Of course, he has a right to reverse himself on that.

“We will get the list but not today; before the end of the week.

“But I must say not with the names," Alhaji Lai Mohammed said

President Buhari had on May 14 in the United Kingdom promised to provide specific details of stolen assets by former public officials in his May 29 Democratic Day broadcast.

Buhari Reneges Another Promise, Says FG'll Name Loots Not LOOTERS

Having accused of reneging so many promises, especially campaigns', the federal government has again made a U-turn on a promise by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Federal Government would reveal the identities of those who have looted the nation’s treasury and the amount and assets recovered, on Democracy Day anniversary.

The government now says it would reveal the monies and assets recovered, but not the identities of those they were recovered from.

Reneging on the promise, the President had earlier stated that the ministry of information would be made available by the ministry of information.

But, while speaking during an interview on Channels tv, the minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that the government would disclose the assets and funds recovered, but would keep the names of the looters under wraps.

It would be recalled that at the anti-corruption summit in London, Buhari promised to give specific details on recovered loots during his democracy day address.

He said, “So far, what has come out, what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministries, departments and individuals, I intend on the 29th to speak on this because all Nigerians are getting from the mass media because of the number of people arrested either by the EFCC, DSS. But we want to make a comprehensive report on the 29th”.

However, Mohammed said the list would soon be available, but without the names. “We will get the list but not today; before the end of the week. But I must say not with the names,” he said.

According to him, the development was due to “obvious legal reasons”.

He however admitted, that “Yes he (Buhari) initially said so (naming looters), but he was advised against doing so for legal reasons. Of course, he has a right to reverse himself on that.”

Also speaking on the issue, Senior Special Adviser to the President, on media and publicity also re-enforced the standing that the list would be made available within the week but without making public those whom they have been recovered from.

Ripples Nigeria

Buhari Brings Back WAI, 32yrs After

The Authority - The Minister of In­formation Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as hinted that the National campaign tagged: ‘War against Indis­cipline’ will be re-launched soon after the proposed National Summit on Re­birth, Ethics and Values have been concluded in July, 2016.

It will be recalled that as a military Head of State, Pres­ident Buhari alongside late Tunde Idiagbon launched a nationwide campaign called ‘War Against Indis­cipline’ (WAI). The cam­paign was aimed at tackling the most anti-social Nige­rian characteristics such as indiscipline, corruption, and lack of environmental sanitation.

The minister disclosed this at a press briefing yes­terday in Abuja which was intended to inform Nigeri­ans on the successful take-off of the pilot scheme of the Digital Switch Over in Jos Plateau State.

Fielding questions from journalists on why govern­ment was yet to start the campaign one year after it assumed office, Alhaji Mo­hammed explained that government had already started the ground work for the campaign to be launched.

“You cannot do every­thing on day one in office. You choose your priority. The truth about it is that we have started actually work­ing one time on our ‘War Against Indiscipline’ and we have received presen­tations from both public and the private sector. The ministry has reviewed the proposals.

“But we do not want to launch our campaign un­til after our Summit on National rebirth, Ethics and Values have been con­cluded and this summit will come up in July. So, we are actually just at the tip of launching this national campaign”, he said.

Speaking further, the Minister while highlight­ing the benefits that would be accrued to the nation’s economy with the migra­tion from analogue trans­mission to the Digital Ter­restrial Transmission said the ministry was focused on meeting the June, 2017 deadline.

“The digitisation proj­ect must go on irrespec­tive of what irregularities are taking place. But we know that we do not have a choice than to meet the deadline of 2017. Apart from the huge economic benefits that will be reaped from this process, Nigeria will be left behind if it does not meet the deadline. It will mean in effect that all our television broadcasting will no longer be protected by interference from other parts of the world.

55 Cabals Stole Nigeria's One-quarter 2015 Budget - FG

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said the just 55 Nigerians stole  N1.34trn an amount which represents one-quarter of the 2015 budget.

The minister while speaking at the Federal Government town Hall meeting in Lagos yesterday April 25th, justified the Buhari-led government's fight against corruption. 

According to him, the fight against corruption is necessary as it has affected the provision of basic amenities to Nigerians. He revealed that 55 people in previous administrations stole one-quarter of the 2015 budget. Read what he said below ...

"I’ve heard many commentators say that this administration is fighting corruption without paying attention to the economy. Of course, this is not true. But even if it was, it is patently justified."

"Why? Unless we fight corruption to a standstill, nothing else we do will yield positive results."

"It was corruption that prolonged the war against Boko Haram and sent many soldiers and civilians to their early graves. It was corruption that ensured that while oil was selling for over $100 per barrel, we had nothing to show for the windfall. It was corruption that gave us darkness instead of light when we supposedly pumped millions of dollars into the power sector."

"I can tell you today that we are squarely fighting corruption and we are winning. The situation is serious and no government can fight the battle alone. That explains why we have launched a nationwide sensitization campaign to make Nigerians to join the anti-graft war."

"We launched the campaign in January and we released what some people call a bombshell, that between 2006 and 2013, just 55 people allegedly stole a total of N1.34trn, an amount that is more than one quarter of the 2015 national budget. Even if just one-third of the stolen fund is recovered, it will provide us with 6 Lagos Ibadan express ways and in addition, it will build 183 schools to educate 3,974 children from primary to tertiary education, also 36 modern hospitals."

"The money that was originally stolen represents the total earning s of four African nations. The funds meant to buy arms and ammunition for our soldiers to fight Boko Haram was shared out by few people for political purposes. What is remarkable in all of this is that no one who has been named to have shared in the money has denied it."

A"ll they have done is give very ridiculous excuses for what they did. All of must be part of the war; its not Buhari’s war, its not APC’s war, its Nigeria’s survival war.”‎ Lai Mohammed said

I Know This's Not THE CHANGE You Voted For, I'll Not Disappoint You - Buhari Begs Nigerians

President Muhammdu Buhari on Friday called for patience with his administration, stating that he feels the pains of Nigerians and that he was working towards turning the hardship around.

Buhari made the appeal in Lagos during the Vanguard Personality Award ceremony where he was jointly honoured with his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan as Personality of the Year, 2015.

Represented by the Minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Buhari said, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to tell our compatriots that this administration is keenly aware of the difficulties they are facing at this time, resulting mostly from the fuel scarcity, poor power supply, inflation etc.

“As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them. We are working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and the efforts of the government have started yielding fruits as we seek to make the petroleum products available nationwide, restore gas supply to the power generating firms, reflate the economy and put Nigerians back to work.

“We understand that Nigerians have started questioning whether this indeed is the CHANGE they voted for, while some have even gone as far as saying that by voting for our party, Nigerians have entered one chance.

“Well, I can tell Nigerians that our CHANGE AGENDA is real, and that indeed, they will get the change they voted for. Nigerians have not entered One Chance, because the One Chance drivers and their conductors have been driven out of town.

“While we cannot but provide context for the challenges being faced by our countrymen and women today, in the sense that it has taken years of mismanagement, corruption and inefficiency to get to this sorry pass, we make no excuses. After all the people voted for us so we can correct the mistakes of the past and enthrone good governance. We are doing just that. But we want our compatriots to realize that 16 years of rot cannot be cleaned up overnight. It is much easier to destroy than to build. But we are determined to rebuild our country and to make life more abundant for our people.

“Change is a process, and that process has begun. We commend Nigerians for their perseverance. We urge them not to lose their confidence in the ability of this Administration to bring about the much-needed change. The pains of today are temporary, and will soon give way to abundance joy as we put our country firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development.”

Buhari Urged To SACK 6 Ministers

Only four months have passed since President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated his cabinet, but some of the ministers have already been advised to resign by the dissatisfied Nigerian public and civil society organizations. 

Buhari, who was elected partly on a pledge to tackle corruption and insecurity, promised to select competent and clean personalities. Nigeria received its long-awaited government after 166 days when the president swore in his “saint ministers” on November 11, 2015.

But when the list was released, many were disappointed, asking whether the wait had been worth it, and whether those selected were the best in Nigeria. 

Below is the list of ministers that have been asked to go: 

1. Kemi Adesoun

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders has defined Adeosun, as a misfit for the task if eventually confirmed by the Nigerian Senate. 

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) once called the minister of finance to resign due to the padded 2016 budget.

Ifeanyi Ubah of Capital Oil also wants the minister to vacate her position because of the FOREX crisis in the country. 

She was also criticised for her arithmetic goof when the minister said that the addition of 16 billion and 6 billion would amount to N24billion 

2. Lai Mohammed

Nigerians said that Mohammed has established himself as an instrument of cheap propaganda and disinformation. 

Every time the minister speaks, Nigerians call for his immediate resignation. 

3. Ibe Kachikwu

APC south-south called for the resignation of petroleum minister after his “no magic wand” comment. 

The Nigerian Labour Congress wants Kachikwu to resign for saying that it was cheaper to import refined petroleum products than refine locally. 

Nigerians are not satisfied with his activities due to the incessant fuel scarcity in the country. 

4. Babatunde Fashola

Fashola has emerged under the Buhari government as one of the most important, if not the most important president’s men. 

However, both the NLC and Trade Labour Congress, TUC ask the minister to resign for increasing the electricity tariff. 

5. Heineken Lokpobiri

Members of his home chapter of the APC ask Lokpobiri, who is the minister of state for agriculture, to relieve his post. 

6. Rotimi Amaechi

There were indications that President Buhari is under pressure from the foreign community to sack his minister of transport following his indictment for corruption. 

Amaechi is one of the most controversial ministers in Buhari’s government.

Source: Naij News

Nigeria's Economy Out Of Buhari's Control - Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Saturday lamented that the economic situation in the country has gone completely out of the control of government as the global economic meltdown is having a negative spiral effect on it.

He explained that this was so because Nigeria cannot determine the price of crude or gas.

Berating critics of the administration as mischief makers, he said President Muhamadu Buhari’s frequent trips abroad, especially to the oil-producing nations, became imperative because of the urgent need to rally support  for the stability of the global oil prices  and also to attract Foreign Direct Investment FDI into the country.

While noting that stabilizing the prices of crude oil will help prop up the country’s currency, he stated that the president has been spending countless times outside the country to find solution to the crash in oil prices.

The is why the president cannot stay here, he said. According to him, staying here in Nigeria is like an army general who in the face of war remains in the bunker.

Mohammed, who made these statements while fielding questions from a radio station at the weekend in Abuja, said the fact that the present administration led by Buhari is still managing to drive the economy is a credit on its side.

Culled from This Day