By: OLAOLU OLADIPO on September 13, 2013 – 4:53am

Laedership

The decision of the federal government to purchase about 53 gold-plated iPhones 5S for the commemoration of the country’s 53rd independence anniversary in October has come under scathing attacks by the civil society.

The national publicity secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio cultural group, Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, faulted the move, saying that it adds no value to the deplorable condition of the ordinary Nigerians on the streets. This is just as the chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Comrade Debo Adeniran, said the action was evidence of profligacy in the management of the country’s affairs where a large number of citizens live in abject poverty. Continue reading “Afenifere, CACOL Flay FG Over Purchase Of Gold Plated iphone For Independence Celebration”

Last Updated on 11 September 2013

Former Chairman of the Watch your mouth Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Dr (Mrs) Farida Waziri,OFR has reminded former President Olusegun Obasanjo that ability to be used to witch hunt political enemies in the rabid pursuit of a third term agenda has never been part of the qualifications for appointment as chairman of  the anti-graft agency.

Waziri stated this while reacting to publications on allegations made against her by the former president. Obasanjo had been quoted as saying that Waziri was not qualified to head the EFCC when she was appointed chairman of the Commission.

According to the statement personally signed by Waziri “My attention has been drawn to a number of allegations made against me by Mr Obasanjo. One of such was the alleged involvement of former Delta state governor, James Ibori in my appointment. While I hold the office of a Head of state, either serving or retired in the highest esteem, I will like to put on record for the umpteenth time that this is totally unfounded, blantant lie and arrant falsehood. It is therefore worrisome when a man who has been twice a Nigerian head of state can descend so low to peddle falsehood. The truth is that I never met Ibori in my life until after months in office as chairman of the EFCC when I used to see him in the presidential villa. Continue reading “Waziri to Obasanjo : Watch your mouth, respect your age”

ABUJA – Criticisms have continued to trail the alleged order for 53 gold-plated iPhones 5S mobile handsets by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the commemoration of the country’s 53rd independence anniversary in October.

The lid over the phone deal blew open Tuesday when a UK-based newspaper, The Independent, reported that a British-born businessman, Amjad Ali, who owns Gold and Co. in Dubai said he had instruction from the Nigerian government to supply the exclusive phones at a princely sum of £50,000 per unit and £2.65m (about N682m) in total. Continue reading “Outrage Over Presidency’s N682m Gold Plated iPhones”

NATIONAL MIRROR

by MOJEED ALABI on Aug 27, 2013

Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have pledged to investigate the allegation of corruption against some officials of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State.

The NGOs are the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) and Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), among others. Chairman of OCSC, Alhaji Waheed Lawal, who disclosed this to National Mirror, said CACOL’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, was also interested in getting to the root of the allegation. Continue reading “NGO to investigate alleged N170m LG fraud”

NATIONAL MIRROR

by FELIX NWANERI on Aug 26, 2013

Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the recent reports of Amnesty International and the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, on the government of the state under Governor Babatunde Fashola as well researched, unbiased and an indictment on the administration.

The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, said the reports which scored the administration low in performance, have vindicated its repeated cry that administrations in Lagos State since 1999, have been for the enrichment of Tinubu and Fashola families. Continue reading “Reports on Fashola have vindicated us –Lagos PDP”

NATIONAL MIRROR

by SINA FADARE on Aug 21, 2013

The recent registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after protracted political intrigues has come as succour to the progressive wing of the political elite, as well as indicate a drift towards a two-party system, SINA FADARE reports.

The ovation that heralded the registration of All Progressives Congress, APC, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was a signal that there was a missing link in the political furnace of the country.

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been the domineering political party in the country, others are just managing to survive. Against this backdrop, it is usually a PDP versus others in the past elections with the opposition, most of the time a roaring lion with poor geographical spread. Continue reading “Is Nigeria tilting towards two-party system?”

TELL

September 2, 2013

Debo Adeniran, human rights activist and chairman, Coalition against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has condemned the method of governance in Lagos State. The CACOL chairman faulted the outrageous cost at which various projects are being executed in the state. For instance, Adeniran questioned the N2 billion allotted for the construction of a ramp from Ozumba Mbadiwe to Falomo and the N29 billion for Lekki Cable bridge. The human rights activist said a check with experts showed that the ramp is less than N200 million and the cable bridge would not cost more than N400 million. Continue reading “CACOL Indicts Fashola’s Government”

Hallmark

Friday, August 30, 2013

In recent times, issues on how to access the Babatunde Fashola led government in Lagos State have been nothing but hot and characteristically disputatious.

Controversy seems to trail every account. But no side of the debate would bulge. Considering its status as the commercial nerve centre of the country and a major hub of economic activities in not just in the West Africa sub region, but the whole continent, it is therefore not surprising that Lagos State prides its self as the Centre of Excellence and a mega-city in the making.

However, while the State Government hypes on its achievements, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has dismissed the claims. The group at its recent Annual General Convention (AGC) and public presentation of Lagos Open Parliament: The True State of Lagos by Lagosians, under the theme Making Probity and Accountability in Governance Obligatory: Ways, Means, Strategies and Tactics, accused the government of deception and secrecy in the conduct of its affairs.

L-R: Dr. Mrs Awosika, Executive Director, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Comrade Debo Adeniran, Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi and others

Adeniran

Debo Adeniran, the executive chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) argued that while the State Government had been reeling out achievements in the areas of road construction, provision of infrastructure and other social amenities including furnishing of public schools, investigations carried out by their CACOL and other civil society groups show that Lagos roads are still littered with potholes, even as many schools are still without basic equipment. He argued that the government has been over emphasising its achievements stressing that whatever it may have done fell below what was promised during electioneering campaigns. Continue reading “Holding Fashola accountable”