Pictures of the South west ccordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola casting his vote at  Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday, 28/03/2015.

South west ccordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor
Rauf Aregbesola casting his vote at Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa
East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the Presidential and
National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday, 28/03/2015.

South west ccordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor
Rauf Aregbesola casting his vote at Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa
East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the Presidential and
National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday, 28/03/2015.

Wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Sherifat Aregbesola and
Aregbesola’s Mother, Alhaja Sarat, casting votes at Unit 4, Ward 8,
Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the
Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday,
28/03/2015.

Wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Sherifat Aregbesola and
Aregbesola’s Mother, Alhaja Sarat, casting votes at Unit 4, Ward 8,
Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the
Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday,
28/03/2015.

South west Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Campaign, Governor Rauf
Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his admirers after casting vote
at Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of
Osun, during the Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on
Saturday, 28/03/2015.

There is a financial mathematical inclination to believe that about N142 billion dollars (N28.4 trillion naira) have been missing under NNPC and allied institutions since the inception of Jonathan administration in 2010 in the midst of national poverty. Who stole it and where is it kept. Nigerians must demand to know those who embezzled $142 billion dollars (N28 trillion naira) in five years or else there is no hope for the future generations. This is far above the S20 billion dollars revealed as missing under the former Governor of Central Bank Sanusi Lamido who was fired exposing monumental corruption in the high places.

I have released a report last year March where using the benchmark of 45 months and excluding the stolen funds from excess crude account, the probable missing fund is S90 and $115 billion dollars. That time I deliberately chose to ignore some other corrupt indices in the oil sector. This report is to update the report of 2014.

Sanusi Lamido, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance in February 2014, said that “as far as the Central Bank is concerned, the most important point to establish is that there is a difference of $20 billion between what NNPC shipped and what it repatriated”. The Government has hidden the details of the forensic audit report on issues raised by Sanusi, releasing few doctored information.

Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State and former Labor leader in Nigeria for close to a decade who was involved in all petroleum related strikes, negotiations and resolutions with the Federal Government said that $27 billion dollars that should be in excess crude account has been stolen. Oshiomhole opined that “Nigeria’s budgets for the past three years have been based on the average of $77 and $79, while the average price of the country’s crude has been $108 per barrel, which gives an average surplus of $30 per barrel.

“Ideally, we ought to be saving $36 per barrel on the 2.3 million barrel a day over the past three years and if you look at these numbers you will find that what we have in our excess crude oil account should be over $30billion but as we speak, we have barely $3 billon in our excess crude account,”

The Managing Director of Shell Group, Mr Mutiu Sumonu revealed that $5 billion dollars is stolen annually by oil bunkerers. Speaking at the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Up-Stream) and Navy in 2012, Sumonu said that “The scale of crude oil theft now is more than what the oil companies can handle. It is extremely pervasive now. If you over-fly the whole of our operational areas in the Niger Delta, you will see canoes, barges and illegal refineries all over the place…”The country is losing about 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the equivalent of $5 billion per annum. Imagine what that amount of money could do to our economy if we chose to put it into the power sector”.

The Chairman House ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Bashir Adamu, revealed that $5 billion dollars is annually stolen by oil thieves. Speaking during the inauguration of the Committee in 2013, Bashir disclosed that “The oil and gas industry accounts for about two-thirds of government revenue and more than 90 per cent of export earnings in Nigeria. “Illegal bunkering has caused Nigeria to lose an estimated $5 billion (N780 billion) yearly, amounting to $400 billion since Nigeria’s independence”

The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu, said that Nigeria lost $11 billion dollars to crude oil theft in 2013 alone. While disclosing this at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja in March 2014, Yakubu said that “in 2013 alone, the country lost 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd). By implication, computing these figures at an average price of $100 per barrel, it would result in a total loss of $10,950,000,000 (300,000 x $100 per barrel x 365 days= $10,950,000,000) in 2013 alone”.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Dikko Inde, revealed that the nation lost N603.8 billion naira ($4 billion dollars) to waivers in 9 months, out of which N263 billion naira was for petroleum products. Speaking when he appeared before the Joint Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation in 2013, The Customs boss said that “of the N603.8 billion, N263.8 billion was lost to waiver granted on importation of petroleum products.”

A report by a Swiss based non-governmental advocacy group titled “Swiss Traders Opaque Deals in Nigeria,” the Berne Declaration’, outlined how the NNPC, in connivance with two Swiss oil trading companies- Vitol and Trafigura, drained Nigeria of over $6.8 billion in subsidy payments through shady deals involving lifting of crude oil at prices far below what obtained in the open market. This revelation sparked off outrage in Nigeria’s Senate in November 2013 but the lawmakers have probably forgiven the offenders.

In 2012, following the exposition of another $ 1 billion dollars Malabu Oil Scam where funds were wired into the private accounts of some friends of government, the embarrassed Nigeria Senate mandated its Committee on Upstream and Finance to investigate everything about the Malabu/ OPL 245 deal.

The investigation has yielded nothing.

According to Hon Farouk Lawan ad-hoc Committee on Subsidy report, N1.2 trillion ($ 6.8 billion dollars) was overpayments in subsidy, which they asked the indicted companies to refund to the government coffers. The Committee had reported that contrary to earlier figures from various official sources, subsidy payment of N2.59 trillion had been made as at 31st December, 2011, an amount more than 900 percent over the appropriated sum of N245 billion.”

In addition, there are “outstanding claims by NNPC and the marketers in excess of N270 billion as subsidy payments for 2011.” The Committee, in its report, established that “NNPC was found not to be accountable to anybody or authority”. Based on these findings, the committee recommended among others that, “ii. The freezing of the accounts and recovery of all illegal payments made to the Petroleum marketing firms, the NNPC, PPPRA and others which, according to the House Committee, amount to N1.2 trn or $6.8bn”

In my earlier report published in March, 2014, I used the benchmark of 45 month, which is from the period Jonathan became President till when Sanusi spilled in 2014. For the current computation, it will count from when Jonathan became the substantive President till May 29th, when he would have finished his first tenure which is sixty months, i.e., two months away.

Though the NNPC had agreed that under their watch, $ 11 billion dollars was stolen in 2013 alone, we shall still use the conservative figure of $ 5 billion dollars annually to calculate the oil theft. The use of least average in cost computations is applied.

Going further, In Jonathan’s 60 month period ending May 29, 2015, there is a probability that the sums stated below might have totally missed if he fails to tackle corruption within NNPC.

(1) $20 billion dollars missing in 18 months =$1.1 billion monthly x 60 months =$ 66 billion dollars.

(2) $ 30 dollars per barrel above budget benchmark of $ 79 dollars not accounted for meant for excess crude account = $27 billion dollars

(3)$5 billion dollars lost annually to oil thieves =$0.41 billion monthly x 60 months=$ 25 billion dollars

(4) $1.5 billion dollars (N263 billion naira) lost to suspicious waiver on petroleum products in 9 months=$0.16 billion monthly x 60 months= $ 9.6billion dollars

(5) Subsidy Scam of 2011=$ 6.8 billion dollars

(6) Swiss-NNPC Oil Scam of 2013=$ 6.8 billion dollars

(7) Malabu Oil Scam of 2011=$1 billion dollars

Total probable missing/ stolen or unremitted Oil funds in 60 months = 142.2 billion dollars.

In an earlier piece first published in April 2012 and titled, ‘How Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo shared Nigeria’s Oil Blocks’, and latest one titled ‘30 Facts about Owners of Nigeria’s Richest Oil Blocks’ I had opined that “Discretionary allocation of oil blocks entails that a president can reward a mistress who performs wonderfully with an oil block with capacity for cumulative yield of over $20 billion dollars without recourse to any process outside of manhood attachments”.

I also added in the report that” those in the petroleum industry dread retirements as though it is tantamount to hell fire. No matter how little your influence, something substantial must enter your hands especially in hard currency. The nation loses billions of dollars in diverted revenue whenever any round of auction occurs”. The Jonathan led government seems too frightened to fight corruption.. Who is he afraid of.

The volume of corruption as recently revealed by state agencies had shown that what was contained in that report was a mere tip of the iceberg. NNPC has proven worse than Boko Haram and this Economic Boko Haram and their helpers in government are responsible for sending lots of Nigerians to early grave through poverty, insecurity, diseases, deplorable road conditions and other harsh living conditions. Nigeria must insist on a full probe of the criminality that went on under NNPC and their allied accomplices in government. Failure to institute an independent probe and bring all the thieves to book, Nigeria risks a violent revolution.

Power is responsibility.

 Obinna Akukwe

All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has debunked the rumour making the rounds that the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, was planning a massive retrenchment of senior civil servants on grade level 12 and above, including other workers above the age of 50 from the state’s employment after the general elections.
A statement by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the APC described the rumour as, “The usual silly spin of falsehood characteristic of PDP’s evil genius for manufacturing and propagating wicked lies especially in Osun state.”
According to the APC, “At no time did Aregbesola contemplate to retrench any staff of any grade or age, and no such thing will be allowed to happen any time soon or in the future.
The statement read in part: “From day one, the policy of gainful employment of the APC governor, Rauf Aregbesola, had been, continues to remain and will be the intensified mantra of the party in the months and years ahead. The only monstrous obstacle to this policy is the evil construct of the PDP-led Federal Government in starving Osun State of its legitimate statutory funding.
“Not many people knew, until Governor Fashola of Lagos State revealed recently, that to further starve APC states in particular of funding assistance, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ordered the banks not to help fund state government projects.
“This kind of frustrating impediment is what the PDP is using to force states of the opposition to look for ways to overcome deliberate strangulation, through forced retirement of workers.
“But the APC government is more innovative and constructive than the PDP had imagined.
“Rather than contemplate retrenchment as being schemed, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is planning the creation of more jobs for the people; and one of the ways, indeed the most effective way to achieve this for Nigerians, is to defeat the PDP on March 28 and April 11 presidential and general elections.”
VANGUARD

11 days to presidential elections. If you’re voting remember these factors:

1. The Chibok Girls;

2. NNPC Scam;

3. Police pension fund;

4. Missing N20Billion;

5. $9million Arms deal;

6. Bomb Blasts;

7. Immigration job Scam;

8. Petroleum pump price.

9. Devaluation of Naira;

10. Oil Theft;

11. Power Outage;

12. Selling of NEPA;.

13. Selling of Refineries;

14. Skyrocketed NEPA Bills;

15. ASUU and Polytecnic Strike;

16. Healthworkers Strike;

17. National Assembly Tragedy;

18. Stella’s Oduah Aviation Scam; and

20. Kerosene Subsidy————–

They Didn’t Raise N21Billion for Ebola; They Didn’t Raise N21Billion for dilapidated hospitals; They didn’t raise N21Billion for Military Weapons against Boko Haram; They Didn’t raise N21Billion for Flood Victims; They Didn’t raise N21Billion for Children dying of Vaccine preventable diseases; They didn’t raise N21Billion for the homeless>:O  BUT they all gathered to raise N21Billion for another 4Years of INEPTITUDE AND BAD GOVERNANCE.

We must vote Jonathan out of Aso Rock. So if you are not part of them, forward it to many and God will bless you as you do so!

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reminded the people of the state of the urgent need for change as the only necessary antidote to the nation’s political and socio-economic hardship.

In a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the Governor was quoted as speaking in a round-off campaign for the All Progressive Congress candidates from presidential to the State House of Assembly positions.

He was quoted as tasking people to vote APC candidates all through.

The governor in company with the former Governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on Tuesday traversed several towns and local governments in Osun Central Senatorial districts flanked by three senatorial candidates in the state, nine Federal House of Representatives and 28 House of Assembly candidates.

Some of the towns the campaign train visited include Oba-Ile, Oba-Oke in Olorunda Local Government; Eko-Ende, Eko-Ajala in Ifelodun Local Government and Ore, Agbeye, Ekosin in Odo-Otin Local Government.

Aregbesola reminded the crowd at every campaign ground of the need for them to be resolute on how to return the nation to path of progress and development by voting General Muhammadu Buhari on March 28 to rescue the nation from its present doldrums.

He averred that what the country yearns for now is a brave, patriotic and committed leader like Buhari for its dwindling fortunes to stop.

He said that with Buhari as President, the nation will witness tremendous turn around because APC’s programmes are targeted at the mass of Nigerian people.

“I can assure you that the March 28 election is a crucial one for us. It is an election we in APC intend to use to free the nation from the clutches of politically fickle leaders.

“Buhari had been tested before. We knew how he once rescued the country from the precipice during the Second Republic.

“Given this antecedent, Buhari is ready again to lead the country out of the woods the sixteen years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has led it into.

“Therefore, vote for APC at all levels of government so that we can all rescue our country from PDP’s endless years of hunger, hardship and servitude,” Aregbesola said.

He also educated the people on the best ways to go about voting during the elections, during which he also presented the party’s candidates to them one after another.

For Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the best thing that could happen to Nigeria is the Buhari Presidency.

He told the people to troop out in large number to cast their votes for APC if they actually want the nationwide insecurity, unemployment and hardship to a thing of the past.

“All I can tell you, our dear people and supporters, is to let us all come together and end these years of misrule.

“We can only effect this change by closing rank jointly and firmly resolve to go in one direction. This resolution to vote no other party than APC is a task that must be performed,” Oyinlola said

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola, has handed over transcribed voter education materials to People with Disabilities (PWD) in the state to acquit them with the materials ahead of the March 28 and April 11 elections.
The materials were handed over to their representatives at a meeting held with zonal representatives of People with Disabilities (PWDs).
Braille voter education materials for the visually impaired frequently asked questions on electoral process, posters, correct thumb printing pad, general election dates and types, election offences and penalties, fliers and voting procedures and card readers were parts of the materials handed over to them.

According to him, INEC under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega was determined to empower disadvantaged citizens through innovative programmes such as Braille materials for the visually impaired group.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

The All Progressive Congress (APC), Ijesa North Federal Constituency, has expressed displeasure over the alleged attacks on its members. The Chairman, Campaign committee of Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Wale Bolorunduro, spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, in Osogbo.‎
Displaying photographs of brutalized victims, Bolorunduro said the APC has asked its loyalists not to reprise any attack. Bolorunduro lamented that security agencies in the state had refused to act on petition and reports sent to them on the activities of the hoodlums. He said, “The police have failed to make any arrest, as the perpetrators of the dastardly acts are moving freely in the communities. All of these attacks, were reported to the police in the local governments where they occurred. It is on record that none of the individuals mentioned at the police stations have been arrested for questioning.”
He called on the Police, Department of State Security Services (SSS), to intervene as a means to ensure the protection of its members. While lamenting that majority of schools in Ilase had been closed by the state government because of the terror activities, he noted that the hoodlums had engaged in consistent sporadic shootings.
He added, “We are not satisfied with the physical attacks on the APC members and supporter, the opposition also went ahead to set the shop of Ade, popularly called Gereko on fire in Ilase and destroyed many properties. “On Friday, March 13th, the APC had a rally in Ilase, Obokun Local Government and ‎we discovered that the banner around the rostrum had been purportedly torn by Fadahunsi’s thugs.”
Responding to the allegations, the spokesperson for Fadahushi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sola Olowoye, alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, were also attacked in the area. He said, “The truth is that, Mr. Jumoke Ogunkeyede, an indigene of Ilase, with about 10 men working for APC, descended on one of the drivers working with Fadahunshi campaign organisation, who was pasting posters and beat him up.
“The allegations that Fadahunshi’s men are attacking APC in Ilase is unfounded and can only emanate from the domain of a party that has lost touch with the grass roots.”
DAILY TIMES

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Saturday tasked the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to bring back the old days of agenda-setting labour unionism in the country.

Aregbesola regretted that critical institutions of democracy are being demolished by the sheer desperation of those who fail to understand the meaning of power adding that a truly unfettered labour union with positive dispositions towards economic growth and not in unholy alliance for the perpetuation of misrule is what is required.

The governor in a congratulatory message through the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said the new NLC boss, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, must seek to attain such goals under his tenure.

The Governor described the emergence of a new executive of the NLC as timely and a good omen for the nation’s democracy.

He advised the union to be objective, focused and non-partisan in carrying on its labour activities.

He enjoined the NLC to infuse the union with fresh blood and fresh ideas so as to return it to its old vibrant, informed and policy-setting organisation.

“The emergence of Dr. Ayuba Wabba as new NLC President is coming at a time the country is facing a critical elections.

“While I congratulate the new President of NLC, Labour union is one of the critical sectors in a nation’s body polity. I therefore enjoin the new workers’ executive to work with all tiers of government so as to return the nation’s economy back to the right track.

“With two weeks to the general elections, NLC should work assiduously to ensure that the nation transits peacefully and successfully, and decline to allow itself to be used against the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

“In the past, NLC has put government on its toes and set agenda for government on programmes and policies best suited for the generality of the people.

“I therefore call on the new NLC President to bring back this old days of vibrancy of workers’ union for the development, growth and progress of Nigeria. It is disheartening that today, institutions of state are being demolished for private political agenda of individuals,” Aregbesola said.

He added that, his government is one of the best in terms of government-labour relation, urging the NLC to adopt dialogue as the best method of resolving any  government and labour disagreement.

Pictures of the South West Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola addressing the ecstatic supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the a Door to Door/Grassroot campaign Rally for Presidential/National and State House of Assemblies, at Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun Local Government Area.

South West Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor
Rauf Aregbesola addressing the ecstatic supporters of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) during the a Door to Door/Grassroot
campaign Rally for Presidential/National and State House of
Assemblies, at Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun Local Government Area

From right- All Progressives Congress APC Candidate for Oriade/Obokun
Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon.
Nathaniel Agunbiade; South west Coordinator,
Buhari/OsibajoPresidential.Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his
deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, APC State Chairman, Prince Gboyega
Famodun and Candidate for Obokun State Constituency in the State House
of Assembly, Mrs. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye addressing the ecstatic
supporters, during a Door to Door/Grassroot campaign Rally for
Presidential/National and State House of Assemblies, at Ilase-Ijesa,
Obokun Local Government Area

South west Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Campaign, Governor Rauf
Aregbesola (3rd right); his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (middle);
Chairman Osun APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun (3rd left)and others
addressing supporters, during a Door to Door/Grassroot campaign Rally
for Presidential/National and State House of Assemblies, at
Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun Local Government Area

The Elders’ Council (Igbimo Agba) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun has described last minute efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan to influence Yoruba people’s support for his re-election efforts through monetary inducement as too little to late.

In a statement signed by Chairman of the Council, Engineer Sola Akinwumi and made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Monday, the Elders’ Council maintained that Yoruba people are not articles that could be purchased by the highest bidder.

Decrying the last minute visit to palaces of traditional rulers where heaps of United States Dollars allegedly changed hands, the party leaders drawn across the 30 Local Governments opined that “the Dollar Rain, if it is true, is a gratuitous insult to the dignity and integrity of Yoruba culture and tradition as it presents our people as purchasable items for any moneybag with deep purse”.

According to them, the eleventh hour visitation embarked upon by the president in the past weeks was not surprising as it reflected the antics of an unprepared student that usually adopts panicky measures when a promotion examination is approaching.

“The Eleventh Hour visitation by President Jonathan did not come to us as a surprise because he, like a poor student of history, realised too late that Yoruba people are worth more than passing attention in the past six years of his presidency”, the Council observed.

A careful look at Yoruba States, according to the party elders showed evidence of neglect by the Federal Government typical of the years when President Jonathan occupied Aso Rock as Nigerian leader.

The council noted further that what is visible to all observers are “apparent and deliberate economic strangulation, vast graduate unemployment, distressed industries, neglected productive sectors, and discouraging agricultural policies that have bedevilled the daily economic activities of our people in the Jonathan years”.

The Jonathan administration, according to the Elders’ Council, has nothing to show for the massive votes given by Yoruba people in 2011 stressing that this apparent failure forced the president resort to underhand dealings to win a second term.

The council stated further that “President Jonathan must know that Yoruba Obas, as custodian of our culture of hospitality, good neighbourliness, diplomatic finesse, and virtuous living in the Omoluabi ethos would not have turned down his request to visit their palaces”.

The politicians warned President Jonathan to note that “no Yoruba traditional ruler worth his crown will allow an armada of dollars to drag his royal regalia in political mud as the proponents of Dollar Rains planned through their recent actions”.

They supported their position with a Yoruba adage says “Enikan kii bo gende lojo kan, ko so pe o ri fakia-fakia” (no one gives food to an adult in one day and claims that he was responsible for his hefty size).

The Igbimo Agba added that “those who invaded Yoruba land with dollars as if the people were damned with poverty would soon find out that we have our eyes on our proud heritage that money cannot subvert”.

The Council also noted an alleged plan by those they described as “unpatriotic elements to instigate our Armed Forces to rig the coming General Elections by harassing the electorate before and during the polls. This is, to say the least, an unpatriotic step at undermining the nation’s democratic process”.

The party elders then declared that Yoruba people have decided to vote out President Goodluck Jonathan and his party insisting that “no amount of Dollar Rain that can stop Yoruba people from proving their worth one more time as they have done in the past even under the most unpleasant clampdown”.