News
Saraki Dismisses Plot To Impeach Him …Says ‘I’m Not Losing Sleep’ …As NASS Panel On INEC’s Budget Resumes, Today
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the weekend, said he was not losing sleep over rumour of plans to impeach him following his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saraki spoke when he visited Asaba, Delta State to consult with the state Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa on his aspirations for the 2019 general elections.
Saraki, who came in company of other senators, including Dino Melaye and Peter Nwaoboshi, spent about 45 minutes in a closed door meeting with Okowa at the Government House, Asaba.
“I am not losing any sleep about impeachment, we have a country that a lot of Nigerians believe there must be rule of law, those who are talking about impeachment are engaging in cheap blackmail and I am not concerned about that,’’ Saraki said.
On why he left the All Progressives Congress (APC), Saraki said that he already had a four page statement on the issue.
“I have made a four page statement on why I left the APC and I made it very clear that the ideas and visions of what we expected, was not realised in the areas of democracy, justice, and so on.
“Those that followed the political terrain of the last three years can see that the people are not happy, it is not about me but about Nigerians and about the kind of country we want to build.
“It is the kind of democracy we want to practice and the kind of leadership we need, but, we have not been able to achieve any of this under the APC as much as we have tried,’’ Saraki said.
The Senate President, who addressed newsmen after the meeting, said he was in the state to consult with the governor, particularly now that he had rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He described Okowa as a capable and competent colleague who worked closely with him in the senate for four years.
“I spent four years with a very capable and competent colleague (Okowa) in the Senate.
“We worked very closely together and I have come to spend some time with him and to hear his views now that I have rejoined the PDP.
“Governor Okowa is a very important party member, he is someone I truly respect and I have come to listen to him, hear his views and to consult with him,’’ Saraki said.
He commended the level of development going on in the state in the past three years, adding that the governor had impacted the people of the state through physical and manpower development programmes.
“There is a lot of development in the state and this is what we want to see in most of our states.’’
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has concluded plans to resume today, with speculations that it may cut the budget for the 2019 polls, due to duplication of line items by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Findings at the weekend showed that ahead of the resumed sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committees on Electoral Matters today, members’ opinions tilted towards adopting INEC’s version of the budget, which is N189.2billion.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari’s version was N143billion.
Before the committees adjourned for the Sallah break, there was a deadlock on whether to pick the President’s version or INEC’s.
But, committee sources disclosed to newsmen in Abuja that the INEC version would be adopted, though it might be cut due to duplication of line items.
One senior official said that several duplications were identified, especially in the allocations which INEC made for the police and other security agencies.
The source observed that those items were also provided for in the 2018 national budget of N9.12trillion earlier passed by the National Assembly.
The source added that at the resumed sitting today, the committees would first iron out the duplications by getting the heads of the affected security agencies to appear and defend the fresh proposals by INEC.
The official spoke further, “We are trying to harmonise the President’s version and INEC’s version. But, it may not be that same figure (N189.2billion) because there are line items that we are going to follow one-by-one.
“There are duplications of some of the line items, which means that the funds allocated to them will be dropped.
“Again, the funds allocated to the security agencies, such as the N6billion to the police and others will also be cut.
“We will invite the police, the Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Immigration Service to appear, so that we can be sure that the funds we already approved for them in the national budget are not repeated in INEC’s elections budget.
“Remember that the National Assembly increased the national budget (N9.12trillion) by over N508billion. In that increment, the security agencies were given additional N20billion. Here, we have the INEC budget making provisions for the security agencies again.
“So, first, we will invite these security agencies so that they can come and defend these new provisions by INEC. In the process, any duplication that we identify will be removed.”
The official told newsmen that the heads of the security agencies would either appear today or a decision would be taken by the committees on when they would appear.
“The implication is that, the joint committee may or may not conclude its work on Monday. It depends on the speed with which the heads of the security agencies will come to defend these items.
“We must avoid a situation where we approve N6billion for the police in the INEC budget and there is another N6billion or more in another budget elsewhere.
“We have to remove all the duplications, which will ultimately affect the final size of the budget. This, we will do within the week, from Monday”, the source added.
When contacted for comments, the Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Timothy Golu, confirmed that the joint committees, indeed, raised the issue of duplications and were set to resolve them today.
Golu, who is a member of the House Committee on Electoral and Political Party Matters, admitted that he was also aware that the heads of security agencies would be summoned.
“Yes, they are to appear over some duplications. However, I don’t know when the committees will require them to appear. A decision will have to be taken on Monday”, he stated.
Efforts to reach the Chairman of the House committee, Mrs. Aisha Dukku, failed.
Investigations further show that the work of the electoral committees would drag the possible reconvening date of the National Assembly into September.
One member explained, “The issue of reconvening the National Assembly doesn’t even arise here yet. These committees must first conclude their work and report to the Committee on Appropriations.”
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.