6 Countries Turn Down Alison-Madueke’s Asylum Request -Sahara Reporters

No fewer than six countries have already refused to grant an asylum request by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Business Council for Africa (BCA) said in its just-released monthly report, noting that about US$ 1 trillion is the latest estimated figure of the looting of the Nigerian treasury between 1960 and 2005 alone.

The report, dated March 2015, focused extensively on Nigeria’s general elections. It said the notorious Minister, whose impunity is known to have been closely-protected by President Goodluck Jonathan, will be coming under the microscope for the first time in her Ministerial career.

“Given her reputation, it comes as no surprise to learn that 6 countries have already refused to grant her asylum to live in their countries as she now wishes to leave Nigeria at the earliest possible opportunity,” it said.

BCA recalled President-elect Muhammadu Buhari lamenting that the rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption, one where stealing is not corruption but a way of life, and that his administration will pursue all public offices and individuals who are believed to be guilty of corruption.

It observed that despite an earlier promise, it is now understood that Buhari’s anti-corruption fishing net will include Ministers currently serving under President Goodluck Jonathan. Alison-Madueke’s departure from Nigeria is likely to be followed by several other PDP elders, party members and supporters as well as some former Government officials, as Buhari's anti-corruption drive will be far-reaching.

“It will be very interesting to learn in the coming months exactly how far back in Nigeria's history his administration will go in the pursuance of those who have robbed Nigeria of US$ 1 trillion, which is the latest estimated figure of theft from the Nigerian treasury between the period 1960-2005. Given that President Jonathan's administration is considered the most corrupt of any of its predecessors, that figure is going to be considerably magnified, but whether the new President will wish to pursue former Heads of State is a matter of interest and considerable debate to Nigerian observers. It is this subject that is primarily responsible for Buhari's success in winning the election as well as his campaign promises to eradicate Boko Haram, revive the economy and rebuild Nigeria to make its position as the number one country in Africa.

While BCA agreed that the March/April 2015 were “the most credible elections in Nigeria's history”, it said they could not be called the most incorruptible.

On the contrary, it referred to them as the worst because of the amount of money that the PDP so freely and openly spent on trying to secure the re-election of Mr. Jonathan.

“The stories and reports from throughout the 36 States of the amount of money distributed by the PDP to elders, rulers, church leaders, unions and youth leaders amongst others in an endeavour to favour the voters towards the PDP has backfired badly,” the report said.

BCA said that if the 2011 elections were considered bad, the 2015 elections will undoubtedly go down as the most corrupt in Nigeria's history, certainly since 1999, as the amount of money being distributed as bribes primarily by the PDP so very openly would readily confirm.

It reported that since November when campaigning began, President Jonathan and General Buhari during their travels made no fewer than 109 promises of what they intend to achieve if given the mandate in the presidential election.

“President Jonathan's campaign continued to hinge on his party's Transformation Agenda and the achievements of his Government in the last 4 years, particularly in the agricultural sector, job creation and the empowerment of women,” the report said. In that regard, it credited Jonathan as having achieved a great deal during his tenure.

It said it was however Jonathan’s failures - rampant corruption, insecurity, inability to eliminate the Boko Haram insurgency, failure in such sectors as the economy, and power in particular, and the overall feeling that he was ruled rather than led - that have cost him his re-election bid.

The report also stated that in the 2015 elections, up to 250 Nigerians lost their lives, describing that deplorable record as speaking volumes for the control achieved by the Police at the campaign rallies by the two main candidates.

It described the cost of the campaigns of the two main parties as “simply staggering”, noting that by the first week of March, Buhari had spent some N332.58 billion as compared to the expenditure of President Jonathan which amounted to N1.05 trillion.

“This is without taking into account the cost of other expenses for such items as campaign rallies, where the PDP has spent N1.06 billion against Muhammadu Buhari's APC's N595.08 million, and clearly demonstrates the desperate lengths that the PDP have gone to in order to try and secure the re-election of President Jonathan.”


Source

Alpha Club Inducts The Sun MD As Patron

Managing Director and Ed­itor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Femi Adesina was the recip­ient of vociferous accolades recently. The Alpha Club of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, poured encomiums on the eminent journalist, lauding him for distin­guishing himself as a journalist who has over the years refused to compro­mise the integrity of the profession.

The club members described Adesina as a lover of the truth, irrespective of whose ox is gored. They commended him as an ardent manager of human and material resources, who has steadily built an enviable reputation for himself.

Officials of Alpha Club made the declarations at a ceremony in Lagos where Adesina was inducted as patron of the club.

Lord Mayor of Alpha Club, Arigbabu Abayomi, told Daily Sun that Adesina’s induction was overdue, describing him as a gentleman and an epitome of greatness, whose light through the pen profession was illuminating the nation and beyond.

He explained that The Sun MD, who is also President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, was honoured because the club only associates with greatness. He added that Alpha members, who are mainly students, stood to benefit from the new patron’s simplicity and achievements.

Alpha Club is a socio-cultural philanthropic and charitable organization founded in 1968 by seven gentlemen from the Faculty of Pharmacy, (OAU). It was designed to bring together gentlemen that are morally straight and disciplined.

If physical appearance was anything to go by, one would easily concur that the young men were indeed gentle ambassadors of the prestigious university. They were neatly dressed in black suits. There were also elements of gentility in their decorum and articulation.

Arigbabu said: “What we do in Alpha Club is that when we want to induct people, we pick those that we feel will impact positively on the club and the society at large. The word Alpha means greatness. The criterion for induction is just greatness. You must be humble and be a person of integrity before you can become a member of the club.

“There are so many other eminent people in the society who had been inducted into the club but it would be incomplete without adding Adesina to the list of our patrons. He is somebody that we all look up to as a role model.”

Deputy Lord Mayor of the club, Odelola Gbenga, said having closely followed Adesina’s intellectual prowess, he was pleased to meet the distinguished media executive in person.

“Femi Adesina is a distinguished gentleman who has effectively managed one of the best newspapers in Nigeria. It is undisputable that The Sun is one of the most widely read newspapers in Nigeria. The MD has achieved success. He is someone that every youth should look up to, emulate and be motivated by his character. He will serve as mentor to many youths and that is why we have come to honour him,” Odelola said.

Reacting to his induction, Adesina said it was a big honour for him to have been chosen as a patron of the club.

“I left the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) 30 years ago, and I knew the club in the university quite all right. I know that members of the club are gentlemen. For you to have come from my own school to do this for me, you have rewritten the saying that a prophet has no honour in his own country. I thank you very much and it is my pleasure to collaborate with the club in any way I can contribute. I will study the constitution so that I will know what my duties and responsibilities as an honorary member of the club are,” he said.


Source

Current Power Supply Is Temporal -Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission has said the current power supply across the Halls of Residence is temporal and as such will expire tomorrow morning.

According to the Commission, the late attention given to the blackout was due to the election break given to the Engineers who were supposed to attend to the issue so that they can also exercise their franchise today. The feeder line supplying the halls of residence has been detected to be faulty and work has begun since Thursday to identify the problem.

"By Monday, the full repairs will be embarked upon so that uninterrupted power can be supplied to all halls"

"The ongoing repairs have been succesful to an extent. Meanwhile the repairs are partial and would demand shuffling until Monday"

"Please ALL Students are advised to charge their devices as the current availability of electricity will expire tomorrow morning." The Electoral Commission advised.

The Electoral Commission has constitutionally taken over all the structures of the Students' Union since the dissolution of the Ibikunle-led administration on March 12, 2015 and as such, is responsible for the welfare of Great Ife students till the inauguration of a new tenure.

Interesting Facts About Africa You May Not Know About

1. The Gambia has only one university.

2. Equatorial Guinea is Africa’s only spanish speaking country.

3. South Africa is the most visited African country.

4. Nigeria has the richest Black people in Africa.

5. Samuel Eto’o is the highest paid Footballer of all time, he received about £350,000 weekly in Russia in 2011.

6. A person from Botswana is called a Motswana, the plural is Batswana.

7. A person from Lesotho is called a Mosotho.

8. A person from Niger is called a Nigerien.

8. A person from Burkina Faso is called a Burkinabe.

9. Nigeria has won more football cups than England.

10. Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the world’s most educated President with 7 degrees, two of them are Masters.

11. Al-Ahly of Egypt is the richest club in Africa.

12. Didier Drogba is Chelsea’s highest goalscorer in European competition.

13. Johannesburg, South Africa is the most visited city in Africa.

14. Zinedine Zidane wanted to play for Àlgeria, but the selector rejected him, saying they are already many players like him in the team.

15. President Jacob Zuma was given a special award by Fifa for refereeing on Robben Island during his years as a political prisoner.

16. President Robert Mugabe was jailed for 11 years for fighting for freedom.

17. President Robert Mugabe is Africa’s oldest Head of State and the world’s second oldest Head of State. He was born in 1924.

18. The Seychelles are the most educated Africans. Seychelles’ literacy rates (Adult: 92%, Youth: 99%) Zimbabwe is 2nd (Adult: 91.2%,Youth: 99%).

19. Rwanda is a better country for gender equality than England and USA.

20. Somalia got its first ATM on October 7, 2014.

21. South Africa has the most Grammy award winners in Africa.

22. Ethiopia has the most airports in Africa.

23. Ethiopia’s economy is growing faster than China’s.

24. Eritrea’s President, Isaias Afwerki is the least richest President in Africa.

25. Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country, it has existed for over 3,000 years without being colonised.

26. Haile Selassie 1 was the 225th and last Emperor of Ethiopia.

27. Nigeria has the most monarchs in the world.

28. Angola has more Portuguese speakers than Portugal.

29. President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has ruled Angola since 1979.

30. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is Africa’s longest serving Head of State. He has ruled Equatorial Guinea since August 3, 1979 when he overthrew his uncle, Francisco Nguema. His son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue is his Vice President and will succeed him if he resigns. He started ruling Dos Santo

31. George Weah of Liberia is the first man to win World, European and African footballer of the year in the same year.

32. Swaziland is the only remaining absolute mornach in the world.

33. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa followed by Swaziland.

34. King Sobhuza ll of Swaziland took the longest time in reigning Swaziland, 62 years as he was crowned in 1921 and died in August 1982 at the age of 83 years.

34.1. King Sobhuza II of swaziland, married 70 wives, who gave him 210 children between 1920 and 1970.

35. Zimbabwe is the only country in the world were almost everyone was a billionaire at one point.

Source

Can you see we are so blessed in Africa? #SHARE this post with other peeps

SU Judicial Council Nullifies NASELS Presidential Election, Orders A Re-run

The Judicial Council of the Students' Union of Obafemi Awolowo University has nullified the Presidential election of the National Association of Students of English(NASELS), OAU chapter thereby ordering a re-run within the first five(5) week of the 2014/2015 academic session.

Details later...

Ibikunle Responds To Hon. Akin's Allegation, Warns Ondo Students About Him

The outgoing President of the Students' Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibikunle Isaac Motunrayo has come out to debunk the allegation of embezzlement leveled against him and his administration by the outgoing Chairman of the Halls Committee, Hon. Akintimehin Andrew.

Ibikunle in a rejoinder made available to us described the allegation as laughable, distracting and an attempt to blackmail him. He however advised Ondo state indigenes to be wary of Hon. Akin whom he accused of financial and political decadence.

 "Evidence they say doesn’t lie! Let Ondo State students beware of this man who does brag of becoming Ondo State Governor in future. A man with this financial and political decadence and frustrated outburst leading a great state like Ondo! I laughed!"

 Below is the full statement


ON ‘HON’ AKIN’S ALLEGATIONS, WE CAN’T STOP LAUGHING!

Many of us couldn’t stop laughing when we saw the distracting release of calumny written by one frustrated ‘Honourable’ Akin, who only reminded us of a resemblance of ‘Honourable’ Farouq Lawal of our National Assembly. Akin has said he would blackmail us before, hence, we were not surprised! Dear friends, after engaging in campus politics for the good five years plus, I have decided to dedicate the remaining less-than-one month strictly to my academics; at the moment, am writing my final papers, battling with my project and some assignments as such I no longer pay attention to such distraction and wouldn’t have bothered responding but for the insistence of many of my loved ones and supporters within OAU, across the country and in diaspora.

Meanwhile, I would not stoop so low to address trivialities as he did, rather, I would only address issues by laying the following VERIFIABLE facts before everyone:

That the Union received its dues from the management on three instalments, the last being N2.1 million. On the ground of its quest to ensure proper financial monitoring, probity, transparency and accountability on the part of our administration (as against the dubious and unaccountable spending manners notorious with some past union leadership), the management, through the office of the Vice Chancellor, in its letter dated 24th, October, 2014, directed that the Union fund be released in three instalments.

That to be eligible to collect the second, third instalments and financial clearance after the last instalment, the Union, MUST through the office of its Financial Secretary submit a detailed statement of expenditure of previous instalment backed up by necessary payment/receipt evidences to the Dean, Division of Students Affairs and University Audit Unit. The former is to vet them, raised necessary queries/observations while the latter is to audit the documents, carry out needed investigations and also come down to inspect all items we said to have spent on and advised the DSA accordingly ; it is only when we have satisfyingly cleared through these steps , that the DSA would now write a clearance memo attached to the audited documents recommending the release of next instalment; and the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, will also do its own vetting before the Bursar’s Office will be instructed to pay the Union banker.

That it is this rigorous processes that we happily submitted ourselves to before the release of every instalment since we do not have anything to run from. Note that we are also obliged to subject the last expenditures on the third instalment to the same transparency and accountability process.

That apart from willingly undergoing the foregoing professional auditing and financial monitoring processes despite that our Union constitution never mandated us to undergo such scrutiny, our financial activities were further audited by the Budget & Finance Committee (B&F), a body saddled by the Union Constitution with the powers to carry out auditing of Union officers and committees. Questions that were raised by the B&F were debated at the Parliament where we were confronted with the questions for our clarifications, after which all of us, the Central Executive Council were cleared by the Parliament which had, in attendance, our staunch critics.

That while we underwent all these processes, Hon Akin WAS NEVER audited by the B&F, the Parliament or the relevant University units. AS A MATTER OF FACT, he has been evading being audited; He had also been absconding from the Judicial Council, before which the Parliament, as at the date of dissolving itself, instructed the yet-to-be-audited-hall Excos to appear for proper auditing and investigation.

That when we received the third instalment, we met with the leadership of the parliament, of the judicial council and of the B&F and it was resolved that all debts and out-standings be paid; documents and evidences of expenses be afterwards submitted to necessary varsity authorities for the purpose of auditing and accountability while the remaining balance be handed over to the next administration. On subvention, it was resolved that halls should not be paid except those who have been audited or who can justify their earlier spending. This we followed as evidenced in paragraphs below.

That the grouse Akin has with us IS SIMPLY our insistence on not giving him, in particular, any subvention on the plain reason that he should first subject himself to proper auditing to convince everyone that he didn’t mismanage/embezzle the about N500, 000 hall dues, more than N60, 000 share of his earlier subvention, unspecified amount of money gotten from donors, etc. But is this much to ask for the sake of accountability on behalf of Great Ife students? IT SHOULD BE NOTED that Akin did not make use of the Hall bank account, rather his own PERSONAL account, in running the finances of the hall- a flagrant violation of the Union Constitution. As such, he neither had a statement of account to present either original of forged, nor did he have a statement of income and expenditure or any documentary evidences of payment and receipts to show. The more reason he is running away from audit!

That unlike Akin’s lie, some hall Excos such as Angola, ETF and Alumni who approached us for fund for their hall week (after the collection of the third instalment) were given between N30, 000 and N40, 000 each after they had been able to justify and defend their earlier income. Even there was a hall executive who with the undertaking by their hall management was advanced a loan. Does this not establish the fact that Hon Akin was just speaking for himself and not all the hall Executives as he claimed?

That we will not want to mention the fact that Akin has been a dubious character from the inception of this administration as he sold several bed-spaces in medical floor of his Hall for hundreds of thousand, spaces he was given free of charge- a case that is punishable by rustication according to the varsity regulations, but for his tears-ridden begging and undertaking not to repeat such disgraceful act when the case was moderated by the Union. Other atrocities also abound. These are facts known to several Fajuyians and other students!

That for us, it is on record that we were audited by the constituted authorities of the Union and of the University but ‘Hon’ Akin WAS NEVER audited by any of these bodies- please approach the ex-secretary of B&F, the ex-acting Clerk of the Parliament, the DSA or Varsity Audit Unit to verify through the records. Evidence they say doesn’t lie! Let Ondo State students beware of this man who does brag of becoming Ondo State Governor in future. A man with this financial and political decadence and frustrated outburst leading a great state like Ondo! I laughed!

On a final note, my appreciation goes to you all for all your support, prayers and constructive criticisms. Law school on my mind, peeps! And no amount of political scheming and plotting, physical or spiritual, can stop this Insha Allah Insha Jesus; for they failed in stopping me from becoming Chairperson of Angola Hall, from succeeding as the Chairperson, from becoming a member of parliament, from winning different national and international competitions for the University, from becoming Union President and successfully completing my tenure- an unusual feat in OAU history! To the distractors, my time will pass, your time will pass, but WHAT TANGIBLE CONTRIBUTION to Great Ife students and community will history remember you for? I so submit!


IBIKUNLE ISAAC M.

JUPEB Entrance Exam Date Fixed, Late Application Ongoing

This is to inform those that have registered for the Obafemi Awolowo University Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB)programme for 2015/2016 session that the date for the entrance examination has been fixed for 18th April, 2015. Already registered candidates are advised to login to the OAU CDL portal with their details to print the examination slip.

In the mean time, interested candidates who are interested in the programme can still apply online.

Read more about it here and start your application.