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Showing posts from April 10, 2016

#Budget2016: Presidency lied, no Lagos-Calabar Rail project in 2016 budget — Says NASS

Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has refuted reports that the National Assembly removed the Lagos-Calabar Railway line project from the 2016 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari. Hon. Jibrin who cleared the air on the controversy, challenged the presidency to tell Nigerians where the project was included in the budget. The Kano-born politician took to his verified Twitter handle, @AbdulAbmJ. “I actually find it shocking that even some National Dailies made the removal their headlines. A little research would  have helped”. “Lagos-Calabar Railway line was NEVER captured in the budget that was sent by the Executive. How then could it have been removed by NASS?” “All they, and those spreading the false information needed to have done is check the initial document sent by the Executive”. “Lagos-Calabar Rail was never included. How could NASS have removed what was not there? But the nation is being misled”. “The NASS has always been o...

Dissecting The Fulani National Grazing Reserve Bill

By James Pam There is a Bill before the Nigerian National Assembly that has successfully scaled through second reading in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which deserves very close scrutiny by all Nigerians. The international community should also be interested in this Bill because of the magnitude of the internal crises that the Bill could create with attendant spill-over effects if passed. All that is left in the legislative process to make it a law is 3rd Reading, that is, a clause by clause debate and then assent by the President. As explained below, the proposed piece of legislation is full of unconstitutionalities, ethnic discriminations, fundamental human rights violations, religious tenets violations, conspicuous criminal omissions and unforgiveable legislative indiscretions. The Bill should therefore be killed immediately and not presented for the last reading. The full title of the Bill is, AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL GRAZING ...

Pendulum: Another desperate memo to President Buhari-Dele Momodu

Your Excellency, Assalam Alaikum. It has been over six months since you graciously invited me to your office in Abuja. I must note once again that I was truly honoured and humbled by our one-on-one meeting. We spoke and interacted like two old buddies. What was more, I was all alone with you without a third party in the room. We spoke candidly and cracked jokes freely. I remember presenting you with an advance copy of my forthcoming book and you even requested me to autograph it for you which I did with such pride and gratitude in me. We took loads of pictures before and after the meeting. I left you reassured in my belief that Nigeria is in safe hands. Sir, a lot has happened since that meeting took place. In fact, so much water has passed under the bridge. Let me take you down memory lane a bit. You started contesting the Presidential election as far back as 2003. For three consecutive times, you lost and it seemed all hope had evaporated. In 2011, we were co-contestants. I was dr...

Pendulum: Another desperate memo to President Buhari-Dele Momodu

Your Excellency, Assalam Alaikum. It has been over six months since you graciously invited me to your office in Abuja. I must note once again that I was truly honoured and humbled by our one-on-one meeting. We spoke and interacted like two old buddies. What was more, I was all alone with you without a third party in the room. We spoke candidly and cracked jokes freely. I remember presenting you with an advance copy of my forthcoming book and you even requested me to autograph it for you which I did with such pride and gratitude in me. We took loads of pictures before and after the meeting. I left you reassured in my belief that Nigeria is in safe hands. Sir, a lot has happened since that meeting took place. In fact, so much water has passed under the bridge. Let me take you down memory lane a bit. You started contesting the Presidential election as far back as 2003. For three consecutive times, you lost and it seemed all hope had evaporated. In 2011, we were co-contestants. I was dr...