HOW NORTH SENT JONATHAN BACK TO OTUOKE – COOMASIE

Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Coomasie, a former Inspector General of Police, is also the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
In this interview, he narrates the story of the return of power to the North and the role his group, among others, played in stopping President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, thereby sending him from the Presidential Villa back to his Bayelsa village, Otuoke.
Coomasie faults the sacking of the immediate past IGP, Suleiman Abba. He also speaks on how former President Olusegun Obasanjo imposed a ‘terminally ill’ Umaru Yar’Adua as president against advice.

BUHARI CONDEMNS MAIDUGURI ATTACK

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday condemned the latest terrorist attack on Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
In a statement by the head of his media team, Garba Shehu, the President warned that his administration won’t tolerate wanton and willful destruction of life by criminal elements that are bent on anarchy.

He said his administration meant business in its determination to tackle terrorism with all the resources available to his government.

Describing terrorists as cowardly murderers that target innocent people, Buhari explained that as the Commander-in-Chief, he has sworn to protect the security of Nigerians everywhere.

The President, while calling for increased vigilance by local communities, assured that his administration would give security close attention, and that his government was committed to boosting the morale of the armed forces by effectively funding them and attending to their welfare.
He condoled the families of the victims of the latest terrorist attack on Maiduguri and assured them that the worst days of the criminal elements will be over soon.

President Muhhamadu Buhari and Deputy Declare Assets

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have declared their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by the Constitution.
The head of Buhari’s media team, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Saturday, said the President and Vice President submitted their assets declaration forms separately on Thursday.

Shehu added that the CCB, through its Chairman, Sam Saba, on Friday acknowledged the receipt of the forms.
He said Buhari’s declarant identity was given as: President: 000001/2015.
Shehu however did not disclose the contents of the assets declaration forms.

BORNO GOVERNOR ATTACKS JONATHAN, SEEKS AMNESTY FOR BOKO HARAM

Newly sworn-in Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, on Friday said his new administration would, among other policies, pursue amnesty for members of Boko Haram who are ready to de-radicalise. 
Mr. Shettima, who took an oath of office to serve for yet another four years alongside his deputy, Zannah Mustapha, said he would lobby the new federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari to consider granting amnesty to the militants. 
Messrs Shettima and Mustapha were sworn in by the state’s chief judge, Kashim Zannah, at the Ramat Square, amidst tight security mounted by soldiers and police officers. 
Mr. Shettima’s second inauguration, although low-key, was attended by guests from within and outside Nigeria.

BUHARI LEAVES GUESTS, ATTENDS JUMAT SERVICE

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday left some African leaders and other guests who were at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa to celebrate his inauguration midway into the programme.
The guests had moved with him from the Eagles Square where he and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier taken their oaths of office to the Villa for a luncheon.
Buhari, however, left the venue midway into the programme while his guests were taking their lunch.
After waiting for a while for the President to return, organisers decided to invite Osinbajo to make remarks on behalf of Buhari.
The crest of the Commander-in-Chief was quickly removed from the podium to enable the vice-president make use of it.

Governor Obiano Appoints Comrade Chinedu Obidigwe As Commissioner For Political Matters

The Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano yesterday appointed Comrade Chinedu Obidigwe as the Commissioner for Political Matters
The appointment came as a shock to many lobbying for that exulted office  as Governor Obiano on Wednesday gave out appointment letter to Comrade Obidigwe who accepted the offer a day after.
Comrade Obidigwe was the immediate past Senior Special Adviser on Political Matters hence he replaced Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike who was relieved of his appointment before the 2015 Presidential elections.
Obidigwe’s rise started from his University days at the Ebonyi state University where he served as the state Chairman of  NANS comprising of five institutions in the state.
He joined APGA and became youth leader in Anambra East local government where he was appointed into the transition  administration and later became youth campaign Director or mobilize of Ex Governor Peter Obi campaign organization that brought in the incumbent governor of the state.
He later became a Transition Committee Chairman for Anambra East and from there he mobilized Anambra Youths under Anambra youths Assembly to rally support for Obiano after which he was rewarded with SSA on youths mobilization.

AMBODE APPOINTS HABIB ARUNA CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has announced the appointment of Habib Aruna as his Chef Press Secretary and It is take immediate effect.
Haruna, a former Editor with Daily Independent resigned his appointment with the Newspaper in 2014.
Habib takes over from Hakeem Bello
CONGRATS MAN!

ADEGBORUWA FLAYS BUHARI OVER INAUGURAL SPEECH

Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa yesterday criticized the inaugural speech delivered by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as illusory.
The Lagos based activist said the speech is vague and appeared like that of a novice power.
He said: “It is gratifying that General Buhari has vowed to tackle the rot in the power sector, even though he did not give any direction on how to do that. By and large, it is my view that the President has not addressed the real issues affecting our lives in Nigeria.
“It would seem that the President is still on the soap box, whereby promises and promises and intentions, are the order. He is the President of Nigeria now and my expectation was that since March 28, 2015, when he won the election, when he received the certificate of return from INEC, when he got assurances from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, that his election would not be contested, General Buhari would have outlined his main policy direction. But alas, that has not happened today”.
According to him, the President did not say anything on his foreign policy directive, on issues relating to global warming and climate change, the violence in the Middle East and the general global economic downturn.

Naira may be devalued again –Report

Following the inauguration of the new administration, the naira may be devalued again to reflect the recent drop in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, analysts at Renaissance Capital have said.

The analysts said this in a report, ‘Nigeria beyond May 29: Managing expectations,’ which was made available to our correspondent on Friday.

The analysts, however, noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria was likely to move back toward a ‘managed float versus the managed peg’ of recent months.

They said, “Post-inauguration, we think the naira – which has essentially been pegged at N199/$1 since the mid-February devaluation – will be devalued, to reflect the $4.5bn fall in FX reserves since the February devaluation.”

Buhari’s inaugural speech, powerful agenda for Nigeria –John Kerry

The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, on Friday, described President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaugural speech as laying out “a powerful agenda.”

Kerry, who gave assurance that the United States would support the new administration to tackle insurgency and the economic challenges bedevilling the country, was accosted by journalists within the venue of the inauguration immediately after the event.

He said, “The inauguration is historic and very promising. The President made a very important speech, laid out a very powerful agenda and the United States is prepared to work very closely to help to do and everything we can on the economy, Boko Haram and other issues. The President did a very great job today.”