Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog |
- Photos: AU Chairperson arrives Abuja for the inauguration ceremony
- Lol. Yusuf Buhari madness continues...
- Okonjo-Iweala replies Oshiomhole - says his criticism is baseless
- Photos: Governor Fashola presents handover notes to Ambode
- Bisola glamorous, exclusive top elite leading celebrity hair brand
- Photo: First female VC of Oxford University in 800 years
- After six days, NDLEA finally leaves Buruji Kashamu's Lagos home
- North West is a cutie in her white ballerina outfit (photos)
- NANS threaten protest over NDLEA's siege on Kashamu's residence
- Photos: Kaduna governor-elect Elrufai at his 3rd's wife congratulory BBQ event
- Chris Brown pours his heart out to fans in new instagram post
- Ultimate Football Challenge debuts in Nigeria
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shows off her famous multi timezone watch
- Trouble in paradise for Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill?
- Photos: Eagle Square being prepared for inauguration ceremony
- Outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Adesina elected 8th President, African Development Bank
- Photos: NDLEA officials still at Kashamu's Lekki home despite court order
- OMG! Man falls and lands on metal rod. You won't believe where the rod pierced!
- Sandralia Hotel presents Abuja Gold Water Party this Sunday
- Full text of GEJ's remarks at the presentation of Handing-over notes to Buhari
- Hilarious! Check out the caption on this Buhari/GEJ photo
- Man Tyler Perry accused of stalking him sues him for defamation
- 3 bomb makers arrested in Gombe
- Kenya president cancels trip to Buhari's inauguration following uproar over large entourage
- Official photos from Aso Villa tour and Handover notes ceremony
| Photos: AU Chairperson arrives Abuja for the inauguration ceremony Posted: 28 May 2015 02:21 PM PDT |
| Lol. Yusuf Buhari madness continues... Posted: 28 May 2015 02:16 PM PDT   |
| Okonjo-Iweala replies Oshiomhole - says his criticism is baseless Posted: 28 May 2015 01:52 PM PDT 
Obviously, for daring to publish how the ECA was shared and showing that governors who cannot pay salaries have no excuses, Okonjo-Iweala is being targeted. It is noteworthy that several of their colleagues have been able to manage their finances reasonably well under these same difficult circumstances. The release of the ECA details has also demonstrated very clearly that there is no substance in the wild allegations that any money is missing from the account or that finances of the country under Okonjo-Iweala watch have not been well managed. Like previous baseless allegations by some Governors, the motive behind Oshiomhole's attack is clear: to deflect public attention away from the manner in which they have run the finances of their states and make Okonjo-Iweala the scapegoat. If it was meant to intimidate the Minister, it has failed abysmally. How can Governor Oshiomhole claim that state governors were not properly briefed on the status of the ECA when his commissioner of finance attends all the FAAC meetings where decisions are taken and communicated to the nation? This diversionary tactic will not succeed because Nigerians are too smart to buy into this fiction. Secondly, the Finance Ministry under Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister who started the practice of publishing details of allocations from the Federation Account to all the three tiers of government, has regularly furnished Nigerians with information on the country's finances. Governor Oshiomhole's statement that Okonjo-Iweala "must disclose to the nation the full details of subsidy payments made to oil marketers in the last four years" is therefore astonishing given the fact that EVERY payment made to the marketers has been published in the media and widely disseminated through all news channels. Oshiomhole's allegation that Okonjo-Iweala has not been transparent is ridiculous and totally lacking in merit. Apart from the monthly publication of allocations to the federal, state and local governments, the Federal Ministry of Finance under Okonjo-Iweala also publishes SURE-P receipts and distribution to different tiers, details of payments to oil marketers and other information. Has Governor Oshiomhole demonstrated the same level of openness in his management of the affairs of Edo State? Can Oshiomhole also go public with ALL the information showing what he has received from various sources and the uses to which he has deployed them? Equally incomprehensible – for a supposedly smart Governor - is Oshiomhole's claim that the CME has "just woken up from her slumber to realize that oil marketers have been all along falsifying subsidy claims and defrauding the nation of billions of Naira". This statement underscores the extent to which he is willing to go in his desperation to tar Okonjo-Iweala. When she returned as Finance Minister in 2011, the outstanding fuel subsidy bill was about N1.3 trillion. It was the work done on subsidy fraud by the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee which the Minister set up, later elevated into a presidential panel that determined that over N300 billion of the amount was fraudulent. This eventually led to the prosecution of some persons for subsidy fraud and reduction of the annual subsidy budget to N791 billion, saving the country over a trillion naira in the process. Maybe it is His Excellency who was snoring while this was going on. Such baseless posturing only serves to diminish the credibility of Oshiomhole in the minds of objective Nigerians. For the record, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has no apologies for insisting that a claim of N159 billion for forex differentials by the marketers out of a total bill of N200 billion should go through an additional verification process. When 80% of a subsidy claim is made up of forex differentials and not the value of the amount of fuel supplied, the right and proper thing to do is to take extra steps to ensure that the country is not being cheated. That is what Okonjo-Iweala did. Oshiomhole's allegation that the Minister is involved in "an unholy alliance" with government agencies and the marketers is therefore manifestly untrue and totally irresponsible. How can a minister against whom the oil marketers have conducted a very public campaign of calumny be in league with them? A decent public official should not make such scurrilous and unsubstantiated statements. The most laughable part of Oshiomhole's article is the claim that Okonjo-Iweala has been speaking out lately because of the "fear of Buhari". Nigerians know this is ridiculous. If there is any minister whose voice has been strong on the right issues over the past four years it is Okonjo-Iweala. Okonjo-Iweala combines a stalwart integrity, a mastery of her mandate and the courage of her convictions. She therefore has no reason to fear. Those who cannot adequately explain what they did with the resources of their states and are begging for bailout are those who should to be scared. Paul C Nwabuikwu Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance |
| Photos: Governor Fashola presents handover notes to Ambode Posted: 28 May 2015 01:18 PM PDT |
| Bisola glamorous, exclusive top elite leading celebrity hair brand Posted: 28 May 2015 01:17 PM PDT   www.bisolahair.com Whatsapp: +447943025864 London Office BB PIN: 5301FD87 New York Office: +13473542005 Instagram: @bisolahair |
| Photo: First female VC of Oxford University in 800 years Posted: 28 May 2015 01:00 PM PDT  The University of Oxford is to appoint its first female vice-chancellor since its records began nearly 800 years ago, after Prof Louise Richardson was nominated for the university's most senior office. Richardson, currently the principal and vice-chancellor of St Andrews University, is an expert on the growth of terrorist movements. Students and staff hailed the nomination as a momentous event in Oxford's history. Richardson, 56, told the Guardian she hoped her nomination would inspire current and potential female undergraduates. (UK Guardian) |
| After six days, NDLEA finally leaves Buruji Kashamu's Lagos home Posted: 28 May 2015 12:51 PM PDT 
But this was after the agency displayed a high level of brigandage and lawlessness that is only fit for a failed state. However, we thank the almighty God for His infinite mercies. He is the one who thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. We also salute the judiciary for once again rising to the occasion and proving yet that it is truly the last hope of the common man and the oppressed. We are grateful that the judiciary has again affirmed Prince Buruji Kashamu's innocence of the charges against him, thus turning for good what was meant for evil. Our appreciation also goes to the media, civil society groups, student bodies and all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers, support and solidarity during the period. After attending to his health, Prince Kashamu will address the media, Nigerians and the whole world on his ordeal and the intricate web of political intrigues behind the wicked attempt to abduct him for no just cause using the instrument and machinery of state. Until then, we hope we can truly say the siege is over! Signed Austin Oniyokor Media Aide to Prince Buruji Kashamu |
| North West is a cutie in her white ballerina outfit (photos) Posted: 28 May 2015 12:25 PM PDT |
| NANS threaten protest over NDLEA's siege on Kashamu's residence Posted: 28 May 2015 12:21 PM PDT  The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State axis, has described the continual siege on the residence of the Senator-elect of Ogun East senatorial district, Prince Buruji Kashamu by the officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) as political display and gross misconduct against the laws of Nigeria. In a statement issued yesterday and signed by NANS national public relations officer, Paul Ogunkoya and Ogun State NANS chairman, Olasunkanmi Ahmed, the body said NDLEA, as an agency of government should not lay a bad precedence of disregard to a court of competent jurisdiction. A Federal High Court in Lagos had mandated the operatives of the agency to vacate Kashamu's residence on Ladipo Omotosho Street, Lekki and also restrained the NDLEA and other security agencies in Nigeria from unlawfully arresting the senator-elect and extraditing him to the United States over drug-related offences. NANS said: "We have applauded the action of the NDLEA in the past for being one of the dutiful agency in Nigeria of today. "It saddened the mind of majority of we students leaders that after a competent court of law order them to vacate the premise of the senator-elect as at Tuesday and Wednesday. "We are highly convinced that the activities of the NDLEA has being politicised, it has involve personal aggrandizement and catekerous attitude for turning a deaf ear to the verdict of the court." While urging students to stand for peace and justice, the body threatened to mobilise students for protests at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja. "We hereby appeal to official of NDLEA to save the future of our dear country, by obeying the law. The younger generation are watching with keen interest. "We also seized the medium to disclose that failure of NDLEA officials to respect the law within 24-hours might lead to a massive protest at a sooner date to the NDLEA headquarter in Abuja," the student body vowed. |
| Photos: Kaduna governor-elect Elrufai at his 3rd's wife congratulory BBQ event Posted: 28 May 2015 12:05 PM PDT |
| Chris Brown pours his heart out to fans in new instagram post Posted: 28 May 2015 12:53 PM PDT |
| Ultimate Football Challenge debuts in Nigeria Posted: 28 May 2015 11:44 AM PDT   According to the Chief Executive Officer of BrandXpose, Mr. Austen Umeania, the Ultimate Football Challenge is designed to expand on the knowledge base of Nigerian football fans, and reward them for their avid followership of the game. In his words, "we want to take football followership of the average fan beyond the banters and knowledge contests that rage in homes, offices, buses and pubs. We want them to have the right knowledge and get rewarded for it" The 1-hour live game show has 2 segments, the Ultimate Football Challenge Countdown where callers are given 90 seconds to answer as much questions as they can on different football subjects, and the Ultimate Football Challenge Fan Zone where callers answer questions that are specific to the football club that they support. At the end of the show, the caller with the highest number of correct questions answered in each segment automatically wins a Samsung mobile phone. Already the Ultimate Football Challenge is the latest hit in South Eastern Nigeria where many participants have won Samsung mobile phones, airtimes and football jerseys. The show airs every Wednesday from 7pm to 8pm on Solid FM 100.9, Enugu and football fans can call 0903 110 0005 and 0818 752 7314 to participate. Fans can also participate in the online play at www.facebook.com/ufcradioshow where daily prizes are won. The Ultimate Football Challenge is packaged by BrandXpose and will begin airing in other radio stations across Nigeria from June. |
| Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shows off her famous multi timezone watch Posted: 28 May 2015 10:20 AM PDT  |
| Trouble in paradise for Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill? Posted: 28 May 2015 10:15 AM PDT   A day after Meek's interview hit the net, which was yesterday, Nicki and Meek traded cryptic social media posts which their fans take to mean all is not well between them. First, Nicki reposted a quote from Basketball Wives star Draya about trying to love a 'damaged person' (above) then Meek went on Twitter to tell 'someone' to get out their feelings and stop worrying about their image..  |
| Photos: Eagle Square being prepared for inauguration ceremony Posted: 28 May 2015 09:54 AM PDT |
| Outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Adesina elected 8th President, African Development Bank Posted: 28 May 2015 09:50 AM PDT   |
| Photos: NDLEA officials still at Kashamu's Lekki home despite court order Posted: 28 May 2015 09:42 AM PDT |
| OMG! Man falls and lands on metal rod. You won't believe where the rod pierced! Posted: 28 May 2015 09:33 AM PDT  |
| Sandralia Hotel presents Abuja Gold Water Party this Sunday Posted: 28 May 2015 09:22 AM PDT  Activities: Billiard, Table Tennis, Fusbol, Water Gun Fights, Wet Shirts Contest, Push Up Contest, Volley Ball & Lots More . . Music: Hip hop, RnB, Dance hall, slow jams, Rock, funky house For more info Call or Whatsapp: 07055987305 Join our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EDITION |
| Full text of GEJ's remarks at the presentation of Handing-over notes to Buhari Posted: 28 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT  1. I welcome you all to this occasion of the formal presentation of the Hand-over notes of my Administration to the in-coming Administration of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. 2. This event and tomorrow's inauguration of a new administration are truly historic as it is the first time in the history of our nation that we are witnessing the democratic and orderly transfer of power at the Federal level from one political party to another. 3. The Hand-over notes which we now present, contain the governance philosophy, strategies, policies, programmes and activities of my Administration for the period - 2011-2015. Also to be found in the notes are the objectives, targets and implementation strategies, achievements and challenges of our key policies, schemes, initiatives as well as the status of commitments and liabilities of the various MDAs. 4. As we hand over the affairs of the nation, it is appropriate to recall that at inception, in May 2011, we committed ourselves to consolidating national unity through democratization and good governance. Our assessment then, and our firm belief ever since, is that the unity of Nigeria, the security, well-being, greater freedoms and opportunities for all citizens must remain the primary objectives of government. 5. The Agenda for National Transformation which we did our best to implement consisted of clear and consistent governance strategies, policies, plans, programmes and projects, in all facets of our national life. Emphasis was placed on human and state security, democratization, sound economic management, as well as structural and institutional reforms. 6. Our foremost concern was the unity of Nigeria. In keeping with that concern, we engineered a process that began with a review of issues outstanding from previous Constitutional Conferences by the Belgore Committee. After that, we widened political consultations through a National Dialogue that was orchestrated through the Okurounmu Committee. These culminated in the all-inclusive National Conference which unanimously reaffirmed that Nigeria must remain united and indivisible. 7. The Conference also made resolutions and recommendations for serious constitutional, political and governance reforms, which we have forwarded to the National Assembly for appropriate legislative action. It is our hope that the incoming Government will accord the Report of the National Conference the very high priority that it deserves, as a genuine expression of the will of our people. 8. The recognition that the starting point for good governance is the legitimacy of the government itself informed our commitment to promoting free and fair elections. 9. It also motivated innovations in the management and conduct of elections which we undertook. Hopefully, in the years ahead, those innovations will be properly and fully implemented so that Nigerians will be even more assured of the integrity of the electoral system and the legitimacy of any government that it produces. 10. 11.Our nation and citizens faced many new challenges over the past four years but the greatest was the vastly increased menace of Boko Haram with their mindless terror, mass killings, utter ruthlessness, kidnapping of innocent children and other unspeakable acts of brutality. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. . 20. 21. 22. 23. Agriculture is critical to national survival and yet the sector was besieged with many problems. By year 2010, Nigeria was the second largest importer of food in the world, spending about 24. The reforms we introduced in agriculture dramatically increased local production of staple food and saved us vast amounts of money that we would have spent on the importation of food items. 25. To address the glaring inadequacy of critical national infrastructure, we focused on the Power Sector, Roads, Railways, Aviation, Ports and Harbours as well as on Water and Sanitation, Information and Communication Technology. 26. My government introduced the Power Sector Roadmap in 2010. Since then, we have privatized the generation and distribution aspects in a most transparent process. Obstacles to the private sector investments in power supply were removed and we developed cost effective electricity tariff to make the sector more attractive. It remains our hope that the successor companies to PHCN and also the private sector will step forward with the necessary investment to make the power reform work. 27. The major challenge in the road sector in Nigeria is the high cost of building roads and it continues to rise. The other challenge is the fact that because of regular use, roads are one of the fastest depreciating assets in developing countries. 28. To address this, Government has developed the required legal and regulatory framework and created opportunities for Private Public Partnership (PPP) in road construction and maintenance. 29. From Ore/Benin Road, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway to the Kano/Maiduguri dualisation projects, we made concerted efforts to address age-long problems of delays in construction, design defect, neglect and ineffective maintenance. The construction of the historic Second Niger Bridge has also commenced, and on completion, it will open new and far-reaching opportunities for greater trade and interaction among our people. 30. In the Aviation Sector, our government developed a Master Plan to institutionalise safety and security, and to develop infrastructure at the airports and local airlines. We embarked on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 22 airports nationwide. Construction work on five new international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu are also on-going. 31. There has been a revolution in rail transportation. We rehabilitated the old narrow gauge network and ensured that it has served our people steadily for three years running with new coaches and improved expanded services nationwide. 32. We are in the construction stages of a new national network for standard gauge speed-train services, with the new rail line segment, from Abuja to Kaduna, successfully completed. In addition, we have initiated the process for the construction of an ultramodern coastal rail line that will run from Lagos to Calabar, with a link to Onitsha. 33. We have also successfully completed the dredging of River Niger, from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State, and completed construction works for the Onitsha River Port. Other River Ports at Baro, Lokoja and Oguta, are at advanced construction stages. Working with the states and development partners, we have facilitated the process towards the development of two new deep sea ports at Lekki in Lagos, and Ibaka in Akwa Ibom. We have also implemented reforms to streamline the clearing regime in existing ports, increasing cargo turnover time and easing business for all users. 34. In the oil and gas sector, our local content policy has continued to empower Nigerian companies, particularly in technical and engineering projects. The Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Delta State is unprecedented in the sub - sector, and will not only deliver Africa's biggest industrial park, but all the accompanying benefits to local industry and job creation. 35. We recognized Human Capital as the most important agent for transformational development. Our reforms in this sector focused on Health, Education and Social Development and also on Women and Youth Empowerment and Social Safety Nets. 36. In the Health sector, the comprehensive National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) of 2011 laid the foundation for widening access and improving the quality of healthcare with lower infant mortality rates and higher life expectancy for the populace. Our effective curtailment of the Ebola epidemic has continued to receive worldwide acclaim as an example in prompt and effective national disease management. On our watch, guinea-worm has been eradicated from Nigeria and we are on the verge of wiping out polio entirely. 37. In the Education sector, our objectives are clear and precise. They emphasise expansion of access and the upgrade of quality. I am proud that we have widened access by establishing 18 more Federal Universities and other specialized polytechnics. We strengthened TETFUND and used it to boldly address the problems of inadequate infrastructure in the existing institutions. 38. I am particularly proud of our efforts with regards to Early Childhood Education and Out-of-School Children. We provided modern hybrid Almajiri Education Programme in the North, attended to schooling needs of boys in the South-East and ensured the construction of special girls' schools in 13 States of the Federation to improve girl-child education. We expanded opportunities for open and distance learning and provided scholarships at all levels to help improve access to quality education for bright and promising Nigerians. 39. We have promoted gender-mainstreaming with commensurate priority and opportunities for our womenfolk, beginning with ensuring that not less than 30 per cent of key Federal appointments go to women. Other initiatives that we have taken include: the National Gender Policy, Establishment of Gender Units in Federal MDAs, Women Empowerment Training Programmes, Micro-Credit for Women, Social Safety Net Programmes and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Scheme. 40. My Administration has emphasized giving a free hand to our Anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). We preferred that they mature into strong institutions instead of being the images, the hammer and the anvil of a strong man. We must encourage them to abide by the rule of law and due process instead of resorting to dramatic or illegal actions orchestrated for cheap applause . 41. Beyond the very impressive records of enhanced convictions by statutory anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC, our other strategy has been to fashion economic policies that deliver higher deterrence and frustrate concealment. In this regard, the Bureau of Public Procurement has played a central role and impacted strongly on the fight against corruption. 42. In Sports, we have improved our national performance in team and individual events. The disappointment of not qualifying to defend our African Football Championship was cushioned by a decent FIFA World Cup appearance, an Under-17 World Cup win in addition to other victories in other international football tournaments and the Paralympics. We have also encouraged excellence in other sports, apart from football, resulting in exceptional performance in international sporting events, especially in athletics. 43. Our foreign policy position remains strong. In October 2013, Nigeria was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the second time on our watch. Our country had only served in that capacity thrice before 2011, since independence in 1960. Our Administration also played a leading role in the resolution of security and political challenges in our sub-region, particularly in Niger, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso. 44. In addition, we increased engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora who contribute so much in remittances to their fatherland. Our Administration successfully encouraged more of them to invest in Nigeria and others to return home and join in the task of nation-building. 45. In summary, Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our administration has done its best to intervene robustly and impact positively on key aspects of our national life. 46. There is no doubt that challenges still abound, but they are surmountable and overwhelming national transformation remains realisable, with continuity, commitment and consistency. 47. Nigeria is blessed with citizens that will always remain faithful, firmly committed to national unity, accelerated political, social and economic development. 48. As we hand over the reins of government, I believe that our nation is secure, our democracy is stable, and the future is bright. Let us all work together, and with greater resolve, continue to build a stronger and more prosperous nation. 49. May God Almighty continue to bless our dear country, Nigeria. 50. I thank you all. |
| Hilarious! Check out the caption on this Buhari/GEJ photo Posted: 28 May 2015 09:02 AM PDT  |
| Man Tyler Perry accused of stalking him sues him for defamation Posted: 28 May 2015 08:58 AM PDT  The disgruntled employee is not only suing Tyler, he is also suing a Tyler Perry Studios male supervisor after accusing the man of physical and sexual harassment claiming he was demoted and later suspended after complaining to studio execs. Joshua Sole is seeking unspecified damages for retaliation, negligent and reckless failure to provide a safe work environment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, invasion of privacy, libel and bad faith. |
| 3 bomb makers arrested in Gombe Posted: 28 May 2015 08:53 AM PDT  A cordon and search operation conducted by troops in Gombe has yielded the arrest of 3 bomb making experts. The arrested persons are suspected to be members of the terrorists group in search of soft targets for attack after being dislodged from the stronghold in Sambisa forest and other enclaves. Items recovered from the apprehended include a tricycle and materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation. Cordon and search is continuing in certain localities and will be intensified along with mopping up operations in locations where offensive operations are being conducted. The essence is to apprehend the terrorists who have been dislodged from their sanctuaries and are in search of escape routes or resorting to attacking soft targets. In line with this development, the public is enjoined to be extra vigilant and to report suspicious movements or activities within their environs. The military is poised to ensure that the ongoing operations are duly aligned with security arrangement nationwide towards forestalling any attempt by terrorists or other criminal groups planning to breach security or disrupt the inaugurations activities anywhere in the country. |
| Kenya president cancels trip to Buhari's inauguration following uproar over large entourage Posted: 28 May 2015 08:41 AM PDT   |
| Official photos from Aso Villa tour and Handover notes ceremony Posted: 28 May 2015 08:33 AM PDT |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
0 Komentar untuk "Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog"