He shared the photos on instagram...Wednesday 30 September 2015
REVEALED: Fashola, Amaechi, Ngige, Onu, Aisha Alhassan, Fayemi make Buhari's list of ministers
Nigeria's Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday received the ministerial nominees list at about 4:56pm from the Presidency but said the content of the presidential communication would be read on Tuesday.
The Senate had adjourned plenary at 2:00pm on Wednesday till Tuesday, October 6.
According to Punch newspaper, 21 names were contained in the list.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, in company with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, delivered the list in a sealed envelope to the Senate President in his office.
Saraki, who left the office around 5:30pm, later spoke to journalists through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, explaining that the list would be read on the floor during plenary Tuesday next week.
“The Senate president received the ministerial list around 5:00pm this evening but no action would be taken on it until next week Tuesday. The envelope is still sealed,” Olaniyonu told journalists.
According to Punch newspaper, a former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; and a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, made the list.
Also said to be on the list are Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State; a former Governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige; and a one-time Governor of Abia State, Ogbonaya Onu.
Malami Abubakar, SAN, a former National Legal Adviser to the defunct Congress for Progressives Change; Aisha Alhassan, a former governorship candidate of the APC in Taraba State; and Amina Mohammed, a special adviser to the Secretary-General of the United nations, Ban Ki-Moon, also made the ministerial list. Same for a former finance commissioner in Ogun State, Kunle Adeosun.
Curiously, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ibe Kachikwu, is said to be on the list, perhaps to combine his headship of the NNPC with junior petroleum minister. portfolio. Buhari has already announced himself as the substantive Minister of Petroleum.
The President had pledged that his ministerial nominees would be submitted to the Senate for screening and approval before the end of September thus raising fears on Wednesday that Buhari had failed to keep his promise to Nigerians.
Also, the Senate had earlier on Wednesday announced that the President had yet to send the list of ministers.
The Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Dino Melaye, who addressed journalists shortly after the Senate had adjourned to Tuesday next week, however urged Nigerians not to lose hope because the September deadline given by Buhari would not expire until midnight.
Melaye had said, “We want to announce that we are still waiting for the ministerial list from Mr. President and I want to advise that there is no need for agitation as September expires by 12 midnight today (Wednesday).
“We want to assure Nigerians that as soon as we get possession of this list we will communicate same to Nigerians through the National Assembly Press Corps.”
He had also reiterated his earlier statement that the Senate “will attend to the ministerial nominees expeditiously but diligently, once the list was sent by the President.”
“Due process will be followed and I repeat that it is not going to be business as usual; we are going to properly screen all nominees and only those who meet the constitutional and moral requirements shall be cleared,” he had added.
Melaye explained that the Senate would as from next week start the consideration of all the communication earlier presented to it by the President concerning some appointments made while the Senate was on recess.
Buhari had on Tuesday sent a letter to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of the appointment of Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta as the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, for a first term of five years.
Buhari in another letter sought the confirmation of the appointment of Dr. William Babatunde Fowler as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Board for a four-year term while in another letter, the President sought the confirmation of the appointment of the Managing Director and three executive directors for the Assets Management Company of Nigeria.
The nominees are Kuru as Managing Director; Kola Ayeye, Eberechukwu Uneze and Aminu Ismail as executive directors.
However, the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, had during plenary on Tuesday expressed concern that the Senate president did not read out the list of ministerial nominees despite the fact that newspapers had reported that it was in the Senate.
Akpabio, who had raised a point of order, citing order 14, also noted that the situation became worrisome in view of the fact that the September 30 deadline promised by Buhari would lapse on Wednesday.
But Akpabio’s argument had been countered by the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who explained that the list could still be sent before midnight on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, was on Wednesday announced as the Senate Chief Whip by Saraki.
Adeyeye was unanimously endorsed by the South-West caucus of the All Progressives Congress in the red chamber on June 24.
His name was on the list of principal officers approved by the APC leadership as contained in a letter addressed to the Senate president by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie – Oyegun, on June 23.
Full list of nominees for the 2015 Headies
Organizers of the Headies have unveiled the nominees of the 10th edition of the awards Awards. This year, Olamide leads the nomination table this year with 8 nods including Best Pop single, Rap Album, Best Collaboration (twice), Best Street-Hop Artiste, Album of the Year, Artiste of the Year, and Song of the Year. Following Olamide closely is Wizkid, who has 7 nominations in Recording of the Year, Best RnB/Pop Album, Best Pop Single, Best Collabo, Album of the Year, Artiste of the year, and Song of the Year.
Contending for one of the biggest awards of the night – Artiste of the year are Olamide, Davido, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and P-Square.
The highly prized Next Rated category will see Reekado Bankz, Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Cynthia Morgan and Lil’ Kesh slug it out.
Other new nominees at the Headies are Falz The Bahd Guy, Mr. 2Kay, Small Doctor, Ugovinna, Di’Ja, Shaydee, Simi and Aramide.
The Hall of Fame Award which has celebrated industry heavy weights like Obi Asika, Kenny Ogungbe and D1, Philip Trimnell, Grand Master Lee, FAJ, and a host of others shall be inducting Pop super star, Innocent ‘2Face’ Idibia.
See the full list below;
1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.
1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid
2. Eyo – Asa
3. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo
4. Bez – There’s A Fire
5. Cobhams – Do the right Thing
2. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
1. Don Jazzy – Godwin (Korede Bello)
2. Mastakraft – Wiser (Flavour)
3. Young John – Bobo (Olamide)
4. Shizzi – Fans Mi (DavidO)
5. Legendury Beatz – Ojuelegba
6. Cobhams – There’s A Fire (Bez)
3. BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review.
This award goes to the video director.
1. Jamb Question (Simi) – Mex
2. Crazy (Seyi Shay) – Meji Alabi
3. The Sound (DavidO Feat. Uhuru & Dj Buckz) – Sesan
4. Katapot (Reekado Banks) – UnLimited LA
5. Baby Jollof (Solid Star Feat. Tiwa Savage) – Clarence Peters.
4. BEST R&B/POP ALBUM
A category for the best R&B/Pop Album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
1. Bed of Stone – Asa
2. A.Y.O. – Wizkid
3. King of Queens – Yemi Alade
4. Rich & Famous – Praiz
5. Double Trouble – Psquare
5. BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
1. Heartbeat – Praiz
2. Baby Daddy – Iyanya
3. Say You Love Me – Leriq ft. Wizkid
4. Do the Right Thing – Cobhams Ft. Bez
5. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo
6. BEST POP SINGLE
A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group)
1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid
2. Collabo – P-Square Feat. Don Jazzy
3. My Woman, My Everything – Patoranking Feat. Wande Coal
4. Woju – Kiss Daniel
5. Godwin – Korede Bello
6. Bobo – Olamide
7. BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE
A category for the best Reggae/Dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group).
1. German Juice – Cynthia Morgan
2. Sanko – Timaya
3. My Body – Solid Star Feat. Timaya
4. Daniella Whyne – Patoranking
5. Cheques and Balance – Burna Boy
6. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay
8. BEST RAP ALBUM
A Non-Voting Category for the Best Album By A Rap Artiste Or Group In Year Under Review.
1. Baba Hafusa – Reminisce
2. Street OT – Olamide
3. Chairman – M.I.
4. Above Ground Level – Modenine 9
9. BEST COLLABO
A voting category for the best R&B, Pop or Hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
1. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide & Phyno
2. Hold on – Joe El Feat. 2Face Idibia
3. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay Feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay
4. Shoki (Remix) – Lil’Kesh Feat. Olamide & Davido
5. Do The right Thing – Cobhams ft. Bez
6. Sisi – Praiz ft. Wizkid
10. BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap.
1. King Kong – Vector
2. Bad Belle – M.I
3. Bank Alert – Ill Bliss
4. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide, Phyno & Stomrex
5. G.O.D – T.R
11. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.
1. Praiz – If I fall
2. Shaydee – High
3. Timi Dakolo – Wish Me Well
4. Cobhams – Do The Right Thing
5. Bez – There’s A Fire
12. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
1. Waje – Coco Baby
2. Aramide – Iwo Nikan
3. Asa – Bed of Stone
4. Simi – Tiff
5. Yemi Alade – Duro Timi
13. NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising upcoming act in the year under review.
1. Reekado Bankz
2. Kiss Daniel
3. Cynthia Morgan
4. Korede Bello
5. Lil’ Kesh
14. HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION
A voting category for the best new artiste in the year under review.
1. Praiz – Rich n Famous2. Yemi Alade – King of Queens
3. Skales – Man of the Year
15. LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
A non-voting category for the Rap Artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.
1. Ill Bliss – Bank Alert (remix) Feat. Ice Prince, Eva Alordiah & Phyno
2. Vector – King Kong
3. Reminisce – Baba Hafusa 4. G.O.D – T.R
16. BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.
1. Reminisce – Skillashi
2. Olamide – Bobo
3. Small Doctor – Mosquito Killer
4. Mastakraft feat. Olamide, CDQ and David O – Indomie
5. Falz The Bad Guy Feat. Yemi Alade & Poe – Hello Bae
17. BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG
A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.
1. Di’Ja – Awwwwww
2. Bez – There’s A Fire
3. Asa – Satan Be Gone
4. Adekunle Gold – Sade
5. Ugovinna – Rain On Me
6. Simi – Tiff
18. ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges requirements of excellence (Songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (Sales and popularity).
1. Rich n Famous – Praiz
2. King of Queens – Yemi Alade
3. Street OT – Olamide 4. Chairman – M.I.
5. A.Y.O. – Wizkid
6. Double Trouble – P Square
19. ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste for the year under review.
1. Olamide
2. David O
3. Wizkid
4. Yemi Alade
5. P-Square
20. SONG OF THE YEAR A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid
2. Godwin – Korede Bello
3. Kiss Daniel – Woju
4. Olamide – Bobo
21. AFRICAN ARTISTE
A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.
1. Diamond Platnumz
2. Cassper Nyovest
3. Sarkodie
4. Uhuru
5. AKA
HALL OF FAME
Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
2Face Idibia
'This is the perfect time to carve out Biafra from Nigeria' - Ralph Uwazuruike tells United Nations
Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday, gave what he termed as genuine reasons the United Nations should allow Biafra to be separated from Nigeria.
One of the reasons, he stated, was that the population of the former Eastern state, now South East and part of South South that make up Biafra land can currently boast of over 10 million people, adding that the Biafran people naturally do not share similar culture and tradition with Hausa-Fulani of the North and Yoruba of the South West as to continue to remain together under one country called Nigeria.
According to Uwazuruike, another reason was that MASSOB, as a separatist group, had all it takes to run a sovereign state of Biafra, having had enough instruments, structures, flag, currency, coat of arms and defence to assume a status of an existing government.
Uwazuruike, who spoke to newsmen, yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, through MASSOB’s Deputy National Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, ahead of the on-going UN General Assembly, renewed his call on the world body to accord a recognition to Biafra as a sovereign state, just as it did to South Sudan which had been accorded a sovereign status since July 9, 2011.
He recalled that US had classified Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan as failed states which needed to be divided between 2011 and 2015, adding that it was only from Sudan that South Sudan was carved out on July 9, 2011, remaining Nigeria, Ethiopia and Somalia.
He cited examples of carving out of East-Timor with only a population of about 821,000 from Indonesia on May 22, 2002; carving out of Serbia with a population of about 10 million from Montenegro on July 2006; carving out of South Ossertia from Georgia and carving out of Kosovo from Serbia on February 17, 2008.
He, therefore, urged UN to grant the sovereignty of Biafra to save the people from further annihilation in Nigeria since there was no basis whatsoever for Biafra people’s continued stay with Nigeria, adding, “Nigeria cannot make any appreciable economic progress until Biafra is allowed to go, particularly now that Lord Fredrick Luggard’s amalgamation of 1914 has since January 1, 2014, expired after 100 years of the amalgamation.”
He wondered why the UN had not been proactive in tackling the knotty problems of the oppressed in Nigeria and asked rhetorically: “is UN waiting till things degenerate into full blown war again or to continue as genocide before they will act?”
Photos: Buhari returns to Abuja from UN General Assembly
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday afternoon returned to Abuja from New York, US, where he had gone to attend the 70th UN General Assembly.
Buhari, who addressed the Assembly on Monday, equally met notable work leaders, attended sessions on anti-terror initiatives and pleaded with world leaders for support on his anti-graft war.
Meet the girl who gets mistaken for Kylie Jenner (Photos)
This teenager has devoted herself to looking like the world's most famous 18-year-old.Gabrielle Waters, 19, from Hartland, Michigan, loves Keeping up with the Kardashians and adores KylieJ enner .She has studied the teen star down to her mannerisms.She tells Uk Mirror
: "When I started dressing like her, people started stopping me in the streets and even when I went shopping in the mall.At first I didn't actually try to look like Kylie but when people started telling me I looked like her I thought it would be fun to start dressing and doing my makeup just like she does.
"I use bare minerals foundation, eyeshadow, fake eyelashes, some blush and whirl and one of Kylie's signature Mac lip liners to get my lips a little bigger.
"I've not bought specialist make-up and obviously I don't have a makeup artist coming to my house every day but I do my best."
Gabrielle currently works at a retirement home in Michigan and has a passion for painting and amateur modelling in her spare time. "What I like about Kylie is that she is very beautiful and encourages girls to do what they love and be happy.
"I like how she's independent, how she's bought her own home and has a whole bunch of clothing lines she's attached to.Kylie's worked hard for the money and achieved so much at a young age - she's my idol, she's so inspirational."
F** the Headies - VIC O slams Hip TV boss for not nominating him despite his 'hits'
Vic O has spoken! How can they not nominate him after all his hits including burying Drake and Meek Mill ...Saraki recieves President Buhari's Ministerial list(Photos)
The Senate president Dr. Bukola Saraki has confirmed he has received the Ministerial list from president Buhari.He shared the news on his official facebook page
About an hour ago, I received the list of President Muhammadu Buhari's ministerial nominees from the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Abba Kyari, and the Special Adviser to Mr. President on National Assembly (Senate) Sen. Ita Enang.
Ministerial list yet to be submitted as Senate ends sitting
Despite president Buhari promising the Ministerial list would be out before the end of spetember which is today,the Senate ended today's sitting without receiving the list.Their next sitting is on Monday 5th of October ,2015..
Hilarious! Ongoing Fight On Toke Makinwa's Instagram Page Over Video She Posted (Photos)
Tempers are high Toke Makinwa's Instagram page is currently on fire as there is an ongoing fight .
Toke Makinwa posted the following video :https://instagram.com/p/
See more photos of the cussfest
Toke Makinwa posted the following video :https://instagram.com/p/
See more photos of the cussfest
Bolanle Olukanni stuns in old Hollywood glamour inspired dress
TV host, Bolanle stuns in a beautiful Hollywood glamour inspired dress by Elvira Jude..
Karrueche Tran says nightclub racism is unfortunate but ignores calls for boycott
Karrueche Tran has responded to allegations of a racist door policy at celebrity haunt in London, DSTRKT, stating that it was “unfortunate” ahead of her club night.
The model and aspiring actress was billed to host her own club night in the city on Tuesday night, and spoke with BBC Newsbeat on Tuesday about the serious allegations levelled against the club.
"It's unfortunate to hear about something like that especially something that I'm part of,” she said.
“I'm half African-American too. I have godsisters and family who have darker skin as well. I don't support any sort of discrimination. I love people for who they are."DSTRKT has been described as being racist and too discriminatory.
The posh celeb haunt found itself at the centre of the racism brouhaha after allegedly refusing entry to girls deemed 'too dark' and too fat.
On Saturday, 4 women headed for a night out and arrived shortly after 10pm at the club, the girls claim they were told they couldn't go in because the club was full. However, they noticed that other girls were allowed into the club.
The women say they were told they were declined entry because one of the girls was “too dark” and another was “overweight”.
One of the girls in the group said:
"Manager of DSTRKT stated I and my thinner friend fine but other two girls are too fat and if they are black women or dark skinned they need to be very hot to gain entry."
Despite calls for Karrueche to boycott the night, the beauty did not say that she would cancel her night.
Jidenna Looks Like Super Cute Royalty In New Photoshoot (Photos)
Nigerian-American singer, Jidenna is looking very dapper in this new photoshoot tagged 'Coming to America/Ankara’.
The "Classic Man" teamed up with 'All Things Ankara' a style site that highlights West African ankara print fashions to promote "Nigerian Renaissance," the website's Nigerian Independence Ball taking place in Maryland, USA.
The shoot also features pretty Nigerian model and philantrophist, Jessica Chibueze.
Jidenna, who looked like French/African Renaissance royalty showed off his handsome looks in a uniform-type jacket with green Ankara prints, while Jessica rocked a green print ball gown.
See more photos after the cut.
The "Classic Man" teamed up with 'All Things Ankara'
The shoot also features pretty Nigerian model and philantrophist, Jessica Chibueze.
Jidenna, who looked like French/African Renaissance royalty showed off his handsome looks in a uniform-type jacket with green Ankara prints, while Jessica rocked a green print ball gown.
See more photos after the cut.
Photo: Mentally ill man hacks five children to death, stabs pregnant woman
Police say a man in northern Thailand stormed into a neighbour's home, hacked five children to death and inflicted multiple stab wounds on a pregnant woman who was watching them, AP reports.Lt Col Sombat Kalasuk said the 24-year-old man had a history of mental illness and was living with his family while being treated for depression at a local hospital.
He apparently became agitated by the noise coming from his neighbour's home in a village outside the northern city of Chiang Mai and grabbed a 47-centimetre kitchen knife which he then used to kill the children. All five children were believed to be under the age of 8. The woman who is 7 months pregnant is being treated for wounds to her face and body.
Tuesday 29 September 2015
President Buhari appoints self as Petroleum Minister
President Buhari while addressing some select reporters in New York on Tuesday, after addressing a Global Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism, he will remain the Minister of Petroleum.He said the step is being taken as part of efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s oil industry which is said to be plagued by corruption, massive fraud, and crude oil theft.
He said:
“I will remain Minister of Petroleum.
“I will appoint a minister of State for Petroleum”.
Buhari restated his determination to sanitise Nigeria’s oil industry and free it from corruption and create more transparency.
He said that his first step in sanitizing the petroleum sector has already begun with the appointment of a new management for the NNPC and said that the prosecution of those who misappropriated NNPC’s funds is already in the works.
Buhari, who took office at the end of May promising to fight corruption, has made it clear he wants to overhaul the oil sector in Africa’s biggest economy, which provides the government with about 70% of its revenue.
Rapper Azealia Banks compares LGBT community to 'gay white KKK' after her plane incident
Azealia Banks has compared the LGBT community to the 'gay white KKK.'The outspoken rapper, 24, was criticized for screaming at an airline attendant and calling him a 'f*g ft' during an altercation on a Delta flight on September 22.Banks, who identifies as bisexual, lashed out at the gay community for focusing on her language rather than the man's actions, calling the LGBT community 'weaklings' who need to toughen up. Azealia had a meltdown on a Delta flight on September 22, after a French passenger blocked her as she tried to squeeze down the aisle and make a quick exit.The rapper says the man hit her in the face, but witnesses told TMZ he put his hand in Banks' face to stop her as she pushed past.A video of the incident shows the musician screaming the slur at the flight attendant after he tried to take her luggage. She later quickly exited the plane after being told police had been called.
Grace Jones slams Kim Kardashian,calls her a 'basic commercial product"
Iconic singer and model Grace Jones has slammed Kim Kardashian,calling her “basic.” In her new memoir, Jones reveals that she was unimpressed with Kim's Paper Magazine photoshoot, which was shot by her son's father, French photographer Jean Paul Goude.In her autobiography, titled I'll Never Write My Memoirs,she writes “He does things that annoy me…When he took a photograph of Kim Kardashian with a champagne glass perched on her ass in an impossible pose like the ones he did with me over thirty-five years ago, I asked him why he was giving her a basic commercial product his ideas? This seemed to contradict his spirit of integrity, which he has protected for so long. Why was he repeating himself, just to give her a little flare of publicity, quickly absorbed by the next puff of self-promotion? His ideas are are so powerful that repeating them decades later still causes a hell of a fuss, however temporary…He might have done it to wind me up a little as well. Which he did.” Goude responded to Jones' criticism by saying
“I got the feeling that if I didn’t do that photograph, she [Kim] would have simply copied the idea anyway. I might as well copy myself.” Kim isn't the only one to imitate Jone's pose,Amber did too....
Porsche responds to wrongful death lawsuit filed by Paul Walker's daughter Meadow
Porsche has responded to Meadow Walker's wrongful death lawsuit, which claimed her father’s tragic death was due to design flaws with the car he was in. Lawyers for 16 year old Meadow Walker, claim her Dad survived the impact of the crash but suffered horrifically when he was helplessly trapped inside the 2005 Carrera GT when it burst into flames.
According to the lawsuit, when the car crashed and broke apart the seat belt “snapped Walker’s torso back with thousands of pounds of force, thereby breaking his ribs and pelvis."
The suit claims the actor was trapped inside the car and was still alive when the fire broke out 1 minute and 20 seconds after it hit the tree.
"Paul Walker breathed soot into his trachea while the Porsche Carrera GT burned,” it alleges.
"The bottom line is that the Porsche Carrera GT is a dangerous car. It doesn't belong on the street. And we shouldn't be without Paul Walker or his friend, Roger Rodas," the teen's lawyerResponding to the claims on Tuesday, Porsche said in a statement:
"As we have said before, we are very sad whenever anyone is hurt in a Porsche vehicle, but we believe the authorities' reports in this case clearly establish that this tragic crash resulted from reckless driving and excessive speed."Law enforcement officials said at the time the car was going 80 to 93 MPH.
Read full text of Saraki’s resumption speech after 4th recess
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI (CON) TO SENATORS OF THE 8TH SENATE ON RESUMPTION FROM THE SENATE RECESS ON TUESDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2015.
Protocol:
Distinguished colleagues, I heartily welcome you back from our annual recess. I hope you had a very rewarding time with your families and your constituencies. I also hope that the period of recess has afforded you opportunities to reflect on the enormous task before this Senate in the months ahead.
I believe that we have all resumed today with greater vigour and higher commitment to serve our fatherland and serve the cause of democracy. In the face of the great challenges that our country faces on different fronts, which urgently demands our attention, we must be prepared to put in the long extra hours to make up for the precious time we have lost for sundry reasons. As we resume today, we must demonstrate clearly to Nigerians that we are prepared to fulfill our mandates and put Nigeria first in all that we do, no matter how we feel about anything else. To behave contrary will amount to a betrayal of the confidence repose on us by our constituencies and our country as a whole.
Let me seize this moment to register my deep sadness over the death of yet-to-be-determined number of pilgrims who lost their lives in the tragic events that happened in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. May the Almighty Allah grant them eternal salvation and comfort their families. Even though the incident in Mecca has global ramification, we must pursue a Nigerian angle to it.
By so doing, we would begin to demonstrate to Nigerians and to the world that Nigeria cares about its people and will take care of its people wherever they may be. Pursuant to this, the Senate shall seek to determine the exact number of Nigerian lives lost in the incidents and through the Federal Government of Nigeria, work with the Saudi authorities to determine the remote and immediate cause of the tragedy with the general aim of averting such occurrence in the future.
On the 17th of September, 2015, we woke to the shocking news of a military coup in Burkina Faso. This is a monster, which we thought has been wiped off the West African political landscape forever. I therefore, commend the prompt response of the leaders of ECOWAS, not only in unanimously condemning the coup, but in pushing hard to ensure that the constitutional order is restored in that country. A threat to democracy anywhere, is a threat to democracy everywhere. We must therefore remain vigilant and leave no one in doubt that only democratically elected government would be accepted on our Continent and our Sub-region.
During the recess, I attended with some of our colleagues, the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in New York, United States. The high point of that visit for me was the conversation on Boko Haram and mobilization of global support for Nigeria, especially in dealing with the serious challenges of Internally Displaced Persons and the overall development of the North East of our country. I argued that the significant military success that has been achieved under President Muhammadu Buhari must now be complemented by a robust economic strategy in form of a Global Infrastructure and Development Fund that can deliver the vital services needed by the IDPs today, and the key infrastructure they would need to live a more meaningful and more secured life in the future: homes, hospitals, schools and, of course, jobs.
Even though the evolution of Boko Haram has been regional and it is primarily a Nigerian problem; the consequences in human catastrophe implicates the whole of humanity and therefore demands a global scale solution, which can only happen with the support of our richest global partners and the biggest companies around the world. The call for a Global Infrastructure and Development Fund for the North East of Nigeria, is not only an appeal to our common humanity, but a call for a global platform that would demonstrate to Boko Haram and other terrorist groups everywhere that the whole world is united against them, and will ultimately defeat them.
The biggest challenge faced by our country today is the state of our economy. The dwindling oil revenue has brought enormous shock to our economy and greatly limited the capacity of government at various levels to meet even basic commitments. Our country has gone through periods of recession in the past. What we face today is however unprecedented in ramification and potential gravity.
We must think hard and work hard with the Executive to achieve greater clarity in policy direction and interventions. We shall therefore commence immediately, a review of the 2015 budget and begin now to lay down the fundamental principles that would determine the 2016 budget and the philosophy of our economy in times like this. Like I mentioned earlier, legislative agenda must take precedent over all other things in this Senate. I have no doubt that we are all capable of putting in the long hours, but those long hours must be invested primarily, in debating and making the laws that would move our country forward.
We are here to proffer policy solutions and minimize hardship amongst our people. Any other objective must be secondary. The externalized distractions we have had recently have been unhelpful but I am more than ever focused and resolute to the course of our people to provide them leadership that will ease their pain and realize their dreams. It is in view of this that we set for ourselves the legislative agenda committee to help us identify priorities that will have substantial impact on the lives of our people.
In the coming days we shall be considering the report of the committee. Adopt it and immediately begin the implementation of the priorities identified. There will be need to fast track issues- not with haste but with deliberate steps and diligence that would deliver results that can stand the test of time.
We promised Nigerians that our actions would positively impact on their lives. This I intend to keep. In that light I will urge you my distinguished colleagues that we make priority the passing of bills that would ultimately and substantially expand our peoples livelihood and opportunities.
As part of our agenda, we shall also be starting the journey to deliver the E-parliament blueprint. This we believe is a vital precursor to building a strong technology infrastructure that will engender greater public participation in law-making and enable real-time interface between committees in both houses, and between both houses and civil society organizations.
I took opportunity of the recess to undertake tour of the facilities, staff offices, agencies and institutions attached to the National assembly with a view to understanding their various peculiarities and state of readiness to implement and drive the adoption of the E-parliament agenda.
This will see us leapfrog into the ranks of efficient law-making entities able to solve 21st century problems. I believe that this will leapfrog our productivity and make lawmaking in this chamber much more efficient.
As we await the list of ministerial nominees this week, I believe the presence of ministers will create the space for greater policy engagement with the Executive Arm of government and enable us to begin to respond in a more systematic manner to the various economic and social challenges before us, especially through our various Committees that will also be constituted soon. On this note, I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us. Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch. We must not be held down by unnecessary politicking. The enormity of our national challenges at this time does not give room for pettiness or politics of vendetta.
Distinguished Senators, I believe you have all followed with keen interest, my trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. I shall avoid discussing the details of that case here for obvious reasons. But let me say it again, that I am ready and will submit myself to the entire judicial process as provided by law. Meanwhile, I wish to reiterate my remarks before the Tribunal, that I have no iota of doubt that I am on trial today because I am the president of the Nigerian Senate, against the wishes of some powerful individuals outside this Chambers.
But what is clear to me also, is that the laws of Nigeria, and the rules of the National Assembly give consideration only to the wishes and desires of those of you who are here today as members of the Senate, to elect as you wish, one of your peers as President of the Senate. This, in your wisdom, is what you have done by electing me to be the first among all of you who are my equals. The laws of Nigeria do not give any consideration to any other forces outside the Senate in the election of its President.
And to yield the ground on this note, is to be complicit in the subversion of democracy and its core principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our constitution. This is why we must once again, commend President Muhammadu Buhari, for refusing to interfere in the election of the National Assembly leadership even in the face of enormous pressures on him to do so. He has proven quite concretely that he is indeed a born-again democrat.
Too many people have fought and died for the democracy that we enjoy today. We would not be honouring them and their memories if we allow the sad chapters of our history to continue to repeat themselves like a bad curse. As for me, I am prepared to do my duty in defence of our democracy and in safeguarding the independence of the National Assembly.
My duty, as I see it, is to do justice and honour to the memory of those who have paid even higher prices to give us this democracy and this constitution. Primarily as a Senator of the Federal Republic and as Senate President I owe it to this Senate to stand strong in the face of relentless persecution. I invite all of you to stand with me to defend this Senate and preserve its sanctity. Ultimately, our legacies would not be defined by how long we stay here and in whatever position; but by what we did with this great opportunity that our people have given us by the grace of Almighty God.
In the next couple of days, we would be celebrating our 55th Independence Anniversary as country. This is an auspicious moment for us to rededicate ourselves to all that which will advance our nation, move us closer to the dreams of our founding fathers and our attain our destiny as the greatest nation of the black race on the planet. All that we seek for our country is achievable in our life time if we all play our part and forsake our old ways. But the least we must do is to ensure that while we are here, we are able to lay the necessary foundation for our children and their children to live a more prosperous life.
Distinguished Senators, once again, I welcome all of you and thank you for your abiding support and confidence in my leadership. Ladies and Gentlemen, Let’s start our work!
Senator (Dr) Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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