Vacancy in Queen's Palace (Who is next) by Raisa Bruner

Here’s How You Can Live in Buckingham Palace and Work for the Queen

Live like royalty — literally

mes Available in Golden Beach

If you’ve ever dreamed of living like a queen, now’s your chance to make at least one part of that fairy tale come true: the Royal Household of England has a job opening for a housekeeping assistant. (Spoiler alert: this fairy tale includes some elements of Cinderella.)

Finance minister: this is our worst possible time by Nation Newspaper.

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun

The full picture of Nigeria’s economic gloom was laid bare yesterday.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released its indices which showed that the economy had contracted for the second consecutive quarter.

Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, described the country as being in its “worst possible time”, but stressed there is a silver lining.

In its second quarter report, the NBS put the inflation rate at 17.1 per cent, It said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had contracted by 2.06 per cent in the second quarter. The economy contracted by 0.36 per cent in the first quarter.

The crisis is largely due to over dependence on oil as the mainstay of the economy over the years. It constitutes 70 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and over 90 per cent of the value of its exports.

The Wood Will Never Be Crocodile by Abba Mahmood

Of all the political parties formed in Nigeria by the first-generation leaders, the National Council for Nigeria and Cameroons, later National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) first led by Herbert Macaulay, and later Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, was the most national. All the others were regional parties and had no pretence about it. Dr. Azikiwe, popularly known as Zik, can rightly claim to be the first Nigerian leader in the true sense of the word. Born in Zungeru in the North, educated in the West and having parents from the East, Zik belonged to all parts of Nigeria. The rest of the first republic politicians were practically local champions who did not have this much connections across the country, but subsequently became national leaders.

‘Oil money: Honey or poison?’ - Mohammed Harunna

Last weekend Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, played host to the country’s energy correspondents for a workshop on reporting oil and gas. This was at the invitation of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), which has made it an annual event it organises jointly with the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the last four years.

The theme this year was “NNPC in transition: Transformation and Media’s Role in Facilitating Positive Outcome.” Four of the five papers billed for the two-day workshop were delivered each by the new Managing Director of the corporation, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the former Head of Mass Communication Department of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Suleiman Salau, the Executive Director (Operations) of the refinery, Shehu Malami, and this reporter.

The Colour of our Protests - Oyinkan Medubi

The destruction of public properties during a protest has only one colour; it is called Colour Stupid

I love colours. They not only define the personality, they also say a lot. This is why conventional wisdom of signs has given colours different tags. For some strange reason, convention thinks that white represents peace. This is why the white handkerchief is never out of my handbag. Before the altercation begins, man, I am already waving the blessed white cloth in the face of my accuser: peace, peace, be still. I do not want to go to jail for having my bumper bashed. Oh yes, it has happened.

Most people think blue is the colour of love, when the going is good, that is. No one has ever told me what the colour of a failed love is – red, do you think, or blue and red? I know people think red is the colour of danger but I think that’s because it coincides with the colour of blood (dangerous, man!) and the fact that even the worst cataracts can discern a red cloth tied to the rear end of a vehicle ferrying some long iron rods that can inadvertently penetrate the brain of an unwary speed racer. Oh yes, it has also happened.

To you, Biafra romantic By OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

From the communiqué’s chilly symbolism, of date and place of issue, it was clear: history was about repeating itself, but this time as grand farce.

On 15 January 1970, the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) formally ended, though actual fighting did on January 13.  In Port Harcourt, to this day, the vexed issue of Civil War Igbo “abandoned property” remains a sore point.  Yet, from the same Port Harcourt came, on 15 January 2012, the communiqué.

A nationwide Occupy Nigeria protest, over oil subsidy removal, had paralysed the country.   But from Annkio Briggs, a Niger Delta environmental activist who signed in as president, Agape Birthrights and convener, Niger Delta Occupy Niger Delta Resources (NDONDR), came the ringing declaration.

Diezani Alison-Madueke’s plea for mercy By Rotimi Fasan

By Rotimi Fasan
Finally, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources minister until six months ago, seeks to be understood by Nigerians. The former highflying minister, one of the most influential in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, seems to be begging Nigerians for forgiveness, or at least for some slack in their criticism (or is it hatred of her guts?). Of course, Madueke did not actually ask Nigerians to forgive her. Those are not her exact words, but the intention is quite clear in the series of conversations she has had in the last couple of weeks with celebrity journalist, Dele Momodu. She seems to have come to a belated realisation of thatAchebean warning to all misguided leaders that nobody wins a war against their own people.

Nigerians have in the last several months been treated to salacious tales of the former minister’s attempt to escape the law, even when there was no pending indictment against her or before her actual arrest in the United Kingdom. But the story out there was that she had been faking ill-health, specifically a life-threatening battle with cancer of the breast. This was after all attempts by her, the rumour mill had it, to have an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari were allegedly rebuffed by the then president-elect. Jonathan was hardly out of office before Madueke bade the government goodbye, leaving for the United Kingdom. She was suddenly away from the public gaze. For a woman who appeared to relish the

Senate Probes: Between Duty and Hysteria by Eniola Bello

ENI-B, Email: eniola.bello@thisdaylive.com. twitter @eniolaseni. Tel: 08055001956

Since Nigeria embarked on the present democratic experiment in 1999, the National Assembly has always been quick to resort to probes of government ministries, departments and agencies at the drop of a hat. Indeed, in the exercise of its oversight functions, the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to direct any of its standing committees to probe any institution or activity of government. The problem, however, is that more often than not, it is

President Buhari’s Speech at The Inauguration Ceremony of Ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari, Commander-In-Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria

Your Excellency, The Vice President;
Professor Yemi Osinbajo;
The Senate President, and the Hon. Speaker, House of Representatives;
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Justice Mahmoud Mohammed;
The National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun;
National Leader of APC, Chief Bisi Akande;

Message to Obasanjo by Gbogun gboro

I make it a point of duty to be respectful of President Olusegun Obasanjo, whether I happen to mention his name in public or in private. I am sure that is part of my respect for my country. For me, it is not a small thing that a person has once been head of the country of my birth.

Jonathan’s fair-weather friends (I) by Mohammed Harunna

•Dr. Jonathan

DR Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has been expressing great anger at Chief Edwin Clark, his principal’s self-appointed godfather, over the godfather’s apparent denunciation of his godson recently. In a well publicised article last week, Abati said he couldn’t believe it when he first read remarks by Clark that Jonathan was a good man except that he seemed incapable of fighting corruption.
“I have,” he said in the opening sentence of his article, “tried delaying the writing of this piece in the honest expectation that someone probably misquoted Chief E.K. Clark, when he reportedly publicly disowned former President Goodluck Jonathan. I had hoped that our dear father, E.K. Clark, would issue a counter statement and say the usual things politicians say: “they quoted me out of context!” “Jonathan is my son”.

Here are the names of senate committee chairman and vice chairman as constituted by Saraki

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

·        COMMITTEE ON SELECTION

S/N

Committee

CHAIR

VICE

1.	Committee on Rules & Business	Babajide Omoworare	Ali Ndume
2.	Senate Services Committee	Ibrahim Gobir	Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
3.	Committee on Ethics & Privileges	Samuel Anyanwu	Bala Ibn Na’allah
4.	Committee on Public Accounts	Andy Uba	Gbolahan Dada
5.	Committee on National Security & Intelligence	Shaaba Lafiagi	David Jonah Jang

The strangeness of democratic change By Tatalo Alamu

by  Tatalo Alamu
God bless Honore de Balzac, wherever he may be at this moment. The great French novelist lived the impossible contradictions of post-revolutionary France as if he was himself a character in a great novel. In order to chronicle for posterity the tormenting improbabilities of his beloved nation with as much fidelity and accuracy as possible, Balzac simply appointed himself a honorary secretary of the society. From this vantage observatory and ringside listening post, Balzac began churning out great historical novels.
But so consumed was the great man by this moveable feast of superior reality that at the end of his life, Balzac was no longer able to separate reality from fiction. On his death bed, Balzac was heard screaming for his favourite physician to come and attend to him. “ Call me Banchioc!! Only Banchioc can save me now!” But there was a minor problem. Banchioc indeed was not a life or living doctor. He was actually one of Balzac’s own greatest fictional creations.

Much Ado About Buhari’s Ministerial List By Jaafar Jaafar

By Jaafar Jaafar

Politically speaking, President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list is okay. Merit nko? Mba! Well, I always want to see a flavour of politics added to a political cocktail. That makes it sweeter.
Of course, I notice some imbalances, but there is counterbalancing in the list. I also notice reward for hardwork and dedication to a political cause, just as I smell a tinge of nepotism.
I hate talking about religion in a political discourse. Sadly, religion and politics in Nigeria are like rim and tyre — they go together. But the best way to get a better understanding of the discourse is to talk about the stark reality. If religion is not relevant to Nigerian politics, perhaps the name, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, wouldn’t have been on the national spotlight.

Deconstructing Diezani: Why Alison-Madueke is the most powerful woman in the country by Wilfred Okiche

by Wilfred Okiche

                                              first published on 7 June 2014

There are a number of theories about why DAM remains untouchable by the GEJ administration, even in the face of countless compelling reasons for the former to step aside. Her closeness to the president is unrivalled, and there have been rumours of a familial or romantic connection.

From the moment she was appointed Nigeria’s first female Minister of Petroleum Resources, it was clear that Diezani Alison-Madueke was going to have a rough ride. The petroleum sector, an all boys club if ever there was one, for most of its history, has been the life blood of Nigeria’s economy. Contributing about 14.4% to the country’s total rebased GDP, and oiling its vicious political machinery, the sector is so critical and valuable that former president Olusegun Obasanjo acted as his own Petroleum Minister for 7 of the 8 years of his presidency, trusting no man (or woman) to head the ministry.

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, arrested in London - premiumtimesng.com

Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke

RELATED NEWS

Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke, denies seeking asylum; says she’s going nowhereApril 22, 2015

Presidential directives not law, can be disregarded – Petroleum Minister, Alison-MaduekeFebruary 13, 2014

Jonathan’s former CSO denies role in $6.9m ‘mobile stage scandal'August 31, 2015

Missing $20 bn: Sanusi faults Alison-Madueke, says audit report proves at least $18.5bn lostMay 14, 2015

Fuel Crisis: Oil workers accuse Nigerian govt. of blackmailMay 29, 2015

The immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was on Friday arrested in London, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively and authoritatively report.

The former minister, who was one of the most powerful officials of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, was arrested Friday morning alongside four other people by the British law enforcement agency.

The identities of the four other people arrested along with her could be immediately ascertained.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt she was arrested for offences related to bribery and corruption being investigated by the UK National Crime Agency

Emir Sanusi: Raising dust in water By Jaafar Jaafar

 By Jaafar Jaafar

I have made this argument about a year ago when the rumor of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi’s marriage to a “minor” raised some dusts. The age of consent varies according to culture and religion, I had argued.

 I don’t know why one would combust energy criticizing cultural practices that are contrary to his religion, culture or warped intuition. Nigeria has two major religions which don’t prohibit marriage at the age of 18. The constitution doesn’t also prohibit it.

Writing about age of consent, Professors Richard Wortley and Stephen Smallbone said girls married very young in European society prior to19th century

Buhari’s baptism of fire revisited by Mohammed Adamu

by Mohammed Adamu

(08035892325 sms only) | dankande2@gmail.com

As I still struggle to come out of Sallah mood, I thought I should serve you a slightly rejigged version of Buhari’s baptism of fire, published sometime after Saraki’s emergence. Now that the ‘usurper’ Senate President stews in his own pot –or as the English would say ‘as he is being hoisted in his own petered’, I thought we should take a look again at Parliament and its many headaches. Enjoy.

“Soon after Gen. Buhari became President-Elect, I wrote four pieces almost in a sequence, viz: ‘BEFORE WE CRUCIFY BUHARI’; ‘BUHARI: BEWARE PARLIAMENT’; ‘BUHARI AND THE EIGHT PARLIAMENT’ and ‘THE JUDICIARY WAITING FOR BUHARI’. While appraising the different theoretical presumptions and practical realities about the democratic, the legislative and the judicial processes of government I tried variously to provide the basis –with the advent of Buhari- for caution against the expectation of quick democratic dividend. I also tried to warn that the Legislature, unless it is handled by sticks-and-carrots, could be a systemic drag rather than an incentive to our democracy