The Frightening Influence of Abba Kyari in Aso Rock

Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari has been contributing substantially to the persistent feud between the Executive and the Legislature. This, I can say, with all authority. A concrete pointer to this effect emerged during the events leading to the president’s visit to Chad for the inauguration of President Idris Derby on Monday. I need to meticulously explain what happened for Nigerians to understand why I came to this conclusion on Kyari. According to a very competent source in the Presidency, few days to his departure, Buhari sent a message to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to each nominate a lawmaker to accompany him on the trip to Chad.

The source said Saraki nominated Senator Baba Kaka Garbai representing Borno Central while Dogara nominated Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno. The president evidently approved these nominations as seen from the pre-departure press statement issued by the Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina. In it, Adesina specifically listed Garbai and Monguno as the lawmakers on the trip to Chad. The statement was also aired on the Nigerian Television Network news two days before the departure. But surprisingly, no contact was made with Garbai and Monguno on departure plans. At the last minute, mighty Kyari simply threw away the president’s approval and brought in Senator Monsurat Sunmonu and Hon Nkiru Onyejeocha for the trip to Chad. Of course, Saraki and Dogara were shocked. I was reliably informed that, in the interest of harmonious working relationship with the president, Saraki and Dogara allowed the infraction to go unchallenged.

Those who know the president’s Chief of Staff say this has always been his style. He is persistently fueling the crisis between the Executive and the Legislature. Some even say that he has seized Aso Rock from Buhari. Even when President Buhari is around, most ministers report to this colossal Chief of Staff. Another source in the office of the Vice President remarked that when the president travels out, Kyari becomes the ‘acting president’. This Chief of Staff, unmistakably, loves to play the role of a kingmaker always, at all levels. He heads the Aso Rock cabal. The Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir David Lawal is the cabal’s deputy leader. Another key member is Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami. When it comes to his native Borno State, Kyari loves to decide who gets what, when and how, at all times.

No wonder, he single-handedly gave the ministerial slot of Borno State to Mustapha Shehuri, Minister of State, Power. Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima was left gasping for breath. At the national level, Kyari solely picked seven of the ministers in Buhari’s cabinet; Shehuri inclusive. Often, he imposes his cronies on Buhari. Many will find it very interesting to know that Kyari was the Best Man of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, during his wedding, years back. So, when I said that Kyari brought his cronies into the cabinet, readers can understand what I mean.

Kyari’s other cronies in the cabinet are Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelemah; Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment: Aisha Abubakar, Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajia Khadija Bukar Ibrahim.

The Chief of Staff has also been throwing his weight around in the appointment of permanent secretaries. Jalal Arabi, Permanent Secretary, State House; Louis Edozien, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of power; Mahmoud Isa Dutse, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and the Head of service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita were “appointed” by this powerful chief of staff. In those days, Dutse was Kyari’s colleague on the board of UBA. Those who know Dutse’s story say he has no business remaining in the service because of his age. He claims to be less than 60 years but facts available are to the contrary.

It is thought-provoking to note that Senator Danjuma Goje, who is now 64 years old, was Dutse’s classmate at Ahmadu Bello University. It seems Dutse has been economical with his true age. Thanks to powerful Kyari, he is still in service. The Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Elias N. Mbam also got his reappointment, courtesy of Kyari.

At the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Kyari did not only impose Maikanti Kacalla Baru as the Group Managing Director (GMD), he also ‘appointed’ himself on the Board. What’s the business of Kyari on the Board of NNPC? Very simple: It is to protect his interest in the NNPC. The truth is that Kyari is the one now running NNPC through his proxy, Baru.

This cabal, led by Kyari, has taken so many selfish actions, to the detriment of the nation. They are responsible for the parochial appointments of Buhari; an action that has greatly divided the nation. They are responsible for all the court cases against Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu. They are also largely responsible for the economic woes of the country, as they claim to know more than every other person, when it comes to economic issues. In real terms, they are behind the warped economic policies of this administration. If this country is going to move forward, real patriots must stand up against this cabal in the Presidency. This is the only way forward for this great country. May Allah continue to protect our great nation against this cabal as their actions are causing a lot of acrimony.

Price of Kerosene, Poor Man’s Cooking Fuel, Skyrockets

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has confirmed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has started implementing N150 per litre as the official depot price of kerosene, poor man’s cooking fuel. As things are, the price of a litre of this product will continue selling at the current price of about N300 per litre in some states, going by the explanation of Tokunbo Korodo, the South-west Chairman of the union.

“The NNPC did not include the transportation of the product or several levies and bank interests paid by marketers. Consequently, marketers will now add all these expenses to the depot price to arrive at N190, N200 or N220 depending on their locations,” explains Korodo. This kerosene crisis has been on for months, without any response from appropriate authorities. The masses of this country are in for tough times in the days ahead. This essential cooking fuel is now more expensive than petrol and diesel. As a result, many are going back to firewood for cooking, with attendant huge damage to our forest resources.

Obasanjo Gets Full Dose of His Medicine

For former president Olusegun Obasanjo, every other political office holder in Nigeria is corrupt, except himself. He has been going around lambasting past and current lawmakers as if he has the moral right to do so. The truth be told; Obasanjo remains one of the leaders that underdeveloped this country. His tenure as president remains one of the most corrupt in the history of this country. Many will remember how he spent billions of USD on power, yet, Nigeria remained perpetually in darkness. I was glad when former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba replied Obasanjo appropriately on his allegation that the National Assembly is full of corrupt people.

Na’abba, who was the Speaker of the green chamber during Obasanjo’s first tenure said: “No Nigerian is more corrupt than Obasanjo. He should explain to Nigerians how he became one of the richest Nigerians after leaving office, when he had virtually nothing before he assumed office. I don’t think there is anybody that is more corrupt in this country than the former President. As Speaker, I took Obasanjo on, on various expenditure offences which he committed, which he could not defend and didn’t show any remorse. In fact, that is why sometime in 2002, the National Assembly tried to impeach him. So, he has not got the integrity to call anybody corrupt. This is a man who became the president with nothing, today he is one of the richest Nigerians. Let him explain to Nigerians how he acquired all these wealth.

“I am aware that, during the tenure elongation attempt of Obasanjo, money was shared to the members of the National Assembly. It was alleged that, the Senators collected N50 million, House of Representatives members collected N40 million. But I also know that, it was not all the members that collected this money. Some of them collected, some of them did not. But, I am aware that money was shared.” Thank you very much, my dear Na’Abba. Our great country needs more of men like you. We need to consistently tell Obasanjo the bitter truth.

Oshiomhole Must Settle Pensioners before Leaving

Edo State Government Pensioners were again on the streets of Benin on Monday, to protest against unpaid pension arrears spanning 10 to 42 months. They are also unhappy about the huge unpaid gratuities to retired civil service workers. No doubt, pensioners in this state have suffered untold hardship in the hands of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. They have never had it so bad.

An apparently frustrated Comrade Pully Noruwa, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Edo State Chapter declared: “We want you to help us to beg Oshiomhole to pay us our money. We have borrowed a lot of money that we can’t pay back. He has promised to pay us and we are looking forward to the day the miracle will happen. Some old pensioners are earning only N2, 000 per month and we have been appealing that the pension should be harmonised.

“Our landlords can no longer exercise patience, some of us have been evicted from rented homes while others now sleep in church premises. We appeal to the governor to pay all the arrears and to also open the pension board. Many of these pensioners are very sick, weak and have no money for medical treatments neither can they meet other financial obligations in their respective homes.”

It is also very depressing to note that about one thousand persons who retired since the dissolution of the Edo State Pension Board are yet to have their pension papers processed. It is amazing that this Comrade governor, who has spent years pummeling civil servants is now asking these same oppressed people to vote for his crony, Godwin Obaseki in the forthcoming governorship election. Oshiomhole is simply clearly asking the traumatised people of Edo State to vote for “continuation of oppression”. Edo pensioners must collectively vote out Oshiomhole, by not voting for his crony.

51% of Nigerian Homes Can’t Meet Daily Basic Needs

The result of the latest “Household Economy Survey” by Philips Consulting shows that the prevailing economic situation in the country had resulted in detrimental effect on the economic security of most citizens and households. This should not come as a surprise to many. According to the report released this week, many Nigerians may have begun to feel the impact of the economic downturn on their socio-economic lifestyles as new indicators have reflected a high level of household economic instability, amid low social welfare intervention from the government.

Philips Consulting revealed that over 51 per cent of its 5,747 respondents considered their households to be either mildly, moderately or severely food insecure, while over 31 per cent of respondents stated that their households had experienced food insecurity for a few months within the past year. It showed further that the rise in consumer price index, fuel price and the harsh economic climate had affected the prices of consumer goods by over 50 per cent. The Buhari administration must raise its game and tackle the debilitating economic crisis in our dear nation. So many homes are bleeding.

RingTrue with Yemi Adebowale; yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com; 07013940521 (txt only)

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/08/13/the-frightening-influence-of-abba-kyari-in-aso-rock/