Corruption Becoming Growing Industry In Nigeria, Threat To Economy – Coalition Of CSOs

The Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance (CCSGG) on Wednesday alerted that “corruption is fast becoming a growing industry in Nigeria” thereby threatening economy of the country.

CCSGG  raised the alarm in a communique issued at the end of its one-day interface on Mainstreaming Transparency and Openness in Anti Corruption Crusader in Nigeria, held at the KS Motel, Ibadan.

The Coalition in the communique read by Comrade Toyese Oyerinde emphasized that ”inspite of making zero tolerance for corruption its selling point, the present administration has not recorded a pass mark in its anti corruption crusade”.

According to CCSGG, ”the only area where government seems to be winning its war against corruption is in the media”, saying, “this is evidenced in the downward spiral in the ratings of the country on corruption war by the Transparency International”.

“The participants resolved that corruption is fast becoming a growing industry in Nigeria which if not properly and sincerely addressed could asphyxiate the economy of the country and render it comatose”, it added.

The Coalition lamented that ”as government sincerity to curb corruption is ebbing away because the anti corruption agencies seem to have shifted focus from the demands of their assignment and choose to play to the gallery through its selective enforcement of law to prosecute only the credible challengers of their government in power”.

Emphasizing the need for the anti corruption agencies in Nigeria to double “their efforts in public orientation program to raise the consciousness of the people on how corruption and greed affects economic health of their state and strive to earn public trust and support”, the Coalition added that” corruption and greed should not be zeroed down to only financial misappropriation by way of pilfering of state  resources or political corruption”.

“Government should also stratify nepotism, giving appointment without merit, manipulations of policies and institutional procedures to benefit people in power as areas of corruption that require urgent attention”.

CCSGG also stressed the need for corruption agencies in the country to prove” that they are not primed to serve the interest of the government but the people for democratic consolidation”

“As benefits of politics increase, so is corruption and greed, hence, public financing of campaign funds of all the parties should be made transparent and no party should shoot beyond the stipulated spending cap. EFCC should draw a line between electoral funds duly disbursed through a legal financial institutions and sourced by willing private sector donor and monies that are proceeds of crime which of course can be subsumed under money laundering."

Earlier, speakers at the program including Elder Moses Olorode, of the National Alliance Democratic Surveillance (NADS), Comrade Femi Ola of the CCSGG and Alhaji Kehinde Adeniyi asked the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to desist from the on going media war on corruption but the sincere, objective and fair if truly his administration intends to fight corruption in Nigeria.

The program was attended by leaders of the Positive Life Assurance, Initiative for Ethics and Value Orientation, National Alliance for Democratic Surveillance, Youth for Better Society National Traders and Market Leaders ,public affairs analysts , Civil liberties organisations and others.

CBN Organises an Official Send Forth Party for Chief Bayo Adelabu

It was a moment of mixed feelings in Abuja last night at Chelsea Hotel, when the CBN organised a send forth party in honor of Chief Bayo Adelabu who resigned from the apex bank to delve into politics to serve his home state, Oyo. Present at the occasion was Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1 ably represented by Oloye 'Lekan Alabi.

Speaking at the events, the Governor of CBN, Mr Godwin Emiefele mentioned how Adelabu worked meritoriously as a professional accountant in the directorate of operations, he confessed how sad and happy the staff of CBN were at the moment: he said they were sad he was leaving them at the apex bank for politics but was happy that Adelabu was also leaving them to becoming the next governor of Oyo State. He commended the courage he took for leaving for politics, 'it takes guts' he went on, 'it is good to see professional, smart and intelligent people delving into politics, this is the only we can embed good ethics into our political system, we should encourage them to further serve their fatherland.

Also speaking was President General CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye who marvelled at such heritage of the Adelabu dynasty and their sincere passion for their home state from the Adegoke Adelabu era. He expressed his disbelief at how the governor of CBN eulogized Adelabu for his hardwork and meticulous efforts at handling his duties because this same Adelabu is always present in Ibadan every weekend to contribute his quota to Oyo State as well. He went on to mention how Adelabu has contributed to the growth of the Ibadan Indigenes and how they are solidly behind him on his ambition to becoming the next governor of the state.

The celebrated himself, Bayo Adelabu in his vote of thanks: expressed his sincere gratitude to the former president, Goodluck Jonathan for appointing him as the deputy governor CBN and to the incumbent President Mohammadu Buhari for keeping him in office, he appreciated everyone present at the event: his wife, Chief (Mrs) Oluseyi Adelabu, who always stood by him; his former boss at First Bank, Mr Bisi Onasanya and the executive ranks of First Bank present; the executives at CBN; his blossom friends and colleagues from Oyo State, he talked of how much experience he garnered at the apex bank while in service and that it had been his long designed plan to retire early from public and private service. If he had consulted anyone before retiring from the CBN, no one will advice him to it, not even his mentor, Dr Oba Otudeko. He thanked the governor of Oyo state, Gov Abiola Ajimobi for making politics acceptable to people like him.

Bayo Adelabu Felicitates Buhari, Tinubu, Ajimobi, Others over Fayemi's Victory in Ekiti

The immediate past Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and leading Gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Bayo Adelabu has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, the party's National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Executive Governor of his home state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and all the Governors of the party on the success recorded by the party's flagbearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at last weekend's governorship election in Ekiti state.

Adelabu, a grandson of the late nationalist and stormy petrel of South West politics, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu (a.k.a. Penkelemesi) also felicitated with the people of the 'Fountain of Knowledge' for queuing behind the APC and Dr. Fayemi to make history for the state.

A press statement from Bayo Adelabu Penkelemesi Media Office in Ibadan reads further in parts: "For their support in making this hard-won victory a reality, they have shown that Ekiti people are indeed an enlightened group of people, ready to be counted along the path of much-needed efforts of the state reputed as the largest home of the erudite scholars in the land, to change the fortune of the state to an industrial hub and fast developing states comparable to what is happening in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun and recently in Ondo states.

"That the South West states have now fully integrated into the Progressives Land in line with dreams of our Founding fathers even becomes my greatest joy as our regional development agenda can now be better formulated and enhanced for the overall development of Oduduwa race.

"Having such efforts like quality education, comprehensive health care delivery services and second-to-none infrastructural developments galvanised among the components parts of the Yoruba race, we can once again, show to the whole world that we have reinvented those giant feats as Firsts in every parameter of standard of living in a way that the APC and indeed Yorubaland can once again become the envy of all within the shortest possible time.

"This victory calls for celebration and in doing so, I appeal to our new 'poster boy in town', Dr. Kayode Fayemi to be magnanimous in victory and heal Ekiti land to witness real developments for our party to consolidate this victory in Osun state come September 2018 and 2019 general elections across the country," Adelabu added.

Kemi Olunloyo Charges Premium Times to Court

The daughter of a former governor of Oyo State, and a US-trained journalist, Kemi Olunloyo has today released a video threatening The Premium Times Nigeria of false publication against her and her father, Victor Omololu Olunloyo. She claims she has charged the news media to court and will be seeking #5 billion for damages.

In the video, she described how Premium Times in 2016, made a false publication about them, which brought about some dispute between herself and the father. According to her, the media outfit reported that the former governor disowned her and made some paper forgery for publication to buttress these claims. The aftermath of the news brought division into their relationship and she did not visit the father even when he was down with sickness.

She also said she has the audio of her father disputing the report, that he never made those comments or sent any letter to Premium Times.

Here is the video released by Kemi Olunloyo

Bayo Adelabu Penkelemesi Begins LG Consultation Tour - Visits Ibadan North-East

On Tuesday July 3rd, Bayo Adelabu the gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo state under the platform of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC, once again took Ibadan, the state capital by storm when he commenced with the Local Government Consultation Tour. He went along with his beloved faithfuls and some independent groups. Ibadan once again went agog with the huge crowd that went behind him as he visited Ibadan North-East Party Secretariat at Oke-Adu and the party meeting venue at Oluyoro Girls Grammar School, Oke-Ofa, Ibadan.

Adelabu on his arrival was welcomed by the party executive members of the council, the party members and the numerous well wishers who rendered panegyrics and showered him with praises throughout the whole visitation.

Chief Bayo Adelabu while addressing the people in the local government, solicited for their immense support and ask them to embrace him, their son, whom they nurtured to become a worthy candidate for the governorship seat. Afterwards, he donated a huge sum of money to the Local Government and individual wards in the council for efficient running and the progress of the party.

It will be recalled that less than two weeks ago he went to the party secretariat in Oke-Ado area of Ibadan to declare his intension to run for governorship shortly after he resigned from the apex bank, CBN. He has since then been the talk of the town and people have shown so much love and support for the young man who is also the grandson of the great Ibadan politician of pre-independence era, Adegoke Adelabu popularly known as Penkelemesi.

Adebayo Adelabu has done so much for the state as a whole in his capacity as the deputy governor of CBN, he has extended his philanthropic gesture to his alma mata, Lagelu Grammar School, he has donated state of the art edifice and educational support finance and facilities to various institutions in the state and beyond including The University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic, Ibadan to mention but a few.

This young man is obviously the choice of the masses, the socialites and the elites in Oyo state. The voice of the people speaks Bayo Adelabu and come 2019 Oyo state will have only one voice in the grandson of Penkelemesi.