NIGERIAN ECONOMY & TALKS ON NAIRA DEVALUATION

Earlier this week there have been talks about the further devaluation of the Nigerian Naira which is presently at N179 per 1$.

The former Governor of the Central Bank Mallam Lamido Sanusi, has called for the further devaluation of the Naira, as recommended by the International Monetary Fund.

However, the present Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank Mr. Emefiele has debunked this move and has stated that the Naira will not be further devalued.

The Governor of Central Bank in his response to the Emir of Kano has said that the Naira had earlier been devalued in January 2015 from about N155 to a dollar to it's present rate of about N179 to a dollar. The CBN Governor further said that the present administration under the leadership of the Nigerian President, General Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President Proffessor Yemi  Osinbanjo, have no intention to further devalue the Naira and are both committed to the stabilization of the Nigerian currency.

However, the Nigerian CBN Governor has called for Private Sector partnership in improving the foreign exchange reserves by producing locally made goods and products for exports. He further called for the reduction of the propensity to import goods in other to boost the country's foreign reserves. He advised that producing and exporting locally made goods in Nigeria will not only improve our foreign exchange reserves but will boost the Nigerian economy and thereby enhance the stability of the Nigerian Naira.

Also, during the week the Vice President of Nigeria - Professor Yemi Osibanjo has said that the President in line with the change policy of the present administration is  committed to Nigeria's economic development and hence there will be no further devaluation of the Nigerian Naira.

BREAKING NEWS: TRIBUNAL NULLIFIES RIVERS STATE'S GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The reports reaching us is that the; Tribunal sitting over the Governorship Elections in Rivers State have delivered it's Judgement earlier today.

According to reports of the Tribunal's Judgement; the Governorship Elections which earlier held and which was declared  to have being won by the present Governor Wike Onyesom under the platform of the PDP was marred by election violence and irregularities and hence is nullified by the judgement.

The tribunal gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 90 (Ninety) days to conduct a fresh election in Rivers state of Nigeria.

However, it can be gathered and assumed from the provisions of Section 143 of the Electoral Law that; Governor Wike Onyesom may remain in office as the Governor of Rivers State during the conduct of the Governorship elections as ordered by the tribunal, should incase he files a notice of appeal against the tribunal's decision within 21 days.

AMAECHI'S SCREENING SEASON 2 - LIVE AND ACTION PACKED

After the Senate plenary section of Thursday 22 October, 2015; it was gathered that the PDP Senators held a closed door meeting to decide on the next line of action, over the screening of the former Rivers State Governor - Rotimi Amaechi by the Nigerian Senate.

Information gathered from the meeting is that; their decision is to oppose Amaechi's ministerial confirmation next week. It was also reported from our sources that a PDP elected Senator from the South South said:

"Amaechi has only being screened in fragrant abuse of our rules but he has not been confirmed... We will raise our voices to oppose his confirmation because his screening cannot pass due diligence test".

He further added that;

"...even if the Senate President does not mention the reports of the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Nigerian Senate, whenever Amaechi's confirmation comes up, we are going to raise the issue of the report and the consideration of the report because we have a right to be heard."

Our Sources gathered that the reports of the Ethics & Privileges Committee of the Nigerian Senate was presented by the Chairman of the Committee to the Senate President few minutes before Amaechi was ushered into the Senate Chambers for Ministerial screening. The reports of the committee were said to have recommended that; Amaechi should be advised to go and clear himself since issues of the petitions against him are in court.

It was gathered that the issue of Amaechi's screening was discussed at a closed door meeting which the Senate held before the Plenary session of Thursday. A reliable source in the Senate was reported to have said that the Senators agreed that; it would be the consensus that Amaechi should be advised to go and clear himself of allegations of fraud, according to the recommendations of the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee.

The PDP Senators in the opposition were reported to have accused the Senate President Bukola Saraki of breaching the Senate rules over Amaechi's screening.

However, an APC Senator has dismissed these moves that is being reported to have being made by the PDP Senators. As reported from our sources, the APC Senator said:

"...Even if we go for a division of the house, do they have the number to stop the confirmation of any nominee?"

"Politics remains a game of number and as it is today, the APC has the ace in the Senate and nobody can take that away from us. PDP Senators or the party itself cannot stop the confirmation of any nominee because they remain the opposition in the Chamber."

AMAECHI VERSUS NIGERIAN SENATE OVER MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT

No doubt it has being an overwhelming session with the screening of the Ministerial nominees by the Nigeria Senate (Upper Legislative house) last week and the ministerial screening was postponed by the Senate President on Friday October 16, 2015 to continue on Tuesday October 20, this week. So far about 18 Ministerial Nominees have been screened and confirmed by the Nigerian Senate out of the 36 which is being nominated as Ministers by the Nigerian President - General Muhammadu Buhari.

However, there seem to be a particular Ministerial nominee that is yet to be screened whose name and issues surrounding same has being on the news on his possible screening by the Nigerian Senate, and that's the former Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Amaechi has been reported to have being indicted by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Rivers state on the basis of corrupt practices and embezzlement of public funds while as a sitting Governor. It has being reported that a Petition against his screening as a Ministerial nominee has being sent to the Nigerian Senate from a Civil Society Group in Rivers State; that his Ministerial nomination shouldn't be confirmed on the basis that he was indicted for corrupt practices. Reports are also to the effect that he has responded to the allegations and the matter has being before the Nigerian Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee who are to report back to the Nigerian Senate on whether to go ahead with the screening of the former Governor as a Ministerial nominee.

QUESTIONS AND ISSUES SURROUNDING AMEACHI'S MINISTERIAL NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT

# Can it be said that the Justice Omoreji Judicial Commission of Inquiry that was reported to have indicted the former Governor, have acted with the aim of persecuting the former Governor in lieu of his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

# Reports which earlier surfaced that one 'Livingstone Wechie', through his organisation; "Integrity Group" had secured a Court Order from the Rivers State High Court to stop the Nigerian Senate from screening the former Governor as a Ministerial nominee. However, the; 'All Progressive Congress' which is the ruling party, has denied the existence of any such court order. Are Nigerian Civil Society groups empowered to decide or advise on the appointment of a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

# Can the notice of indictment of the former Governor which is being reported to have being served on the Nigerian Senate, and that of the alleged court order if in existence, prevent the Legislators from exercising their Legislative duties in screening the former Governor as a Ministerial nominee, in view of the fact that the principle of separation powers which separates the arms of Government is well enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution?

# The Former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi was reported to have responded to the alleged petitions against his ministerial nomination by three letters which he addressed to the Senate President. As reported that the former Governor alleged in his letters to the Nigerian Senate President that; he is seeking a redress over the verdict of indictment issued against him. Why is there no mention of the court and details of the suit upon which he is seeking a redress against the verdict of indictment?

# It's also reported that a petition has being submitted to the ICPC and EFCC by the Integrity Group, a civil society since August 2015; calling for the prosecution of the former Governor of Rivers State Mr. Amaechi for corruption, criminal breach of trust, unlawful enrichment and conversion of over 70 Billion Naira of the State resources. If such a report alleging corrupt practices has indeed being submitted to the ICPC and/or EFCC, why are there no reports of investigation on the matter by the two government agencies?

# Finally if the reported verdict of indictment against the former Governor remains unquashed, will the nomination and subsequent appointment of the former Governor as a Minister as intended by the Federal Government, or an appointment as a Public officer be valid and lawful in view of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution?

Kindly, share your views and comments below.

"MR. PRESIDENT IS SHY WITH WOMEN" - SAYS PRESIDENTIAL AIDE

An Aide to Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, that goes by the name Gideon Samani, who is a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political matters, have been reported to have made certain comments in defense of the Nigeria President. The comments were that the Nigerian President hasn't appointed many women into his Government because he is shy around them.

Gideon Samani was reported to have made the said comments in Abuja on Thursday October 22, 2015 during a lecture series organized by the 'Change We Need Group'.

According to reports from our sources Mr. Gideon Samani was reported to have said:
"...Mr. President ...did not intentionally marginalize women...it is just that Mr. President is shy with women. He has been interacting mostly with men. I can assure you that in the shortest time, this issue of gender inequality will be dealt with."

HIGH POINTS OF AMAECHI'S SCREENING BEFORE THE NIGERIAN SENATE

The former Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi  Ameachi has being finally screened by the Nigerian Senate earlier today, October 22, 2015.

During the Screening of the former Governor as a ministerial nominee, he was reported to have said the following at different times:

"In the morning before I left my house I prayed"

"I have to put on something that I have never worn before that's why am putting on what am wearing"

"I have never collected Bribe in my life"

"Whether I become minister or not it will be on record that I once attend the senate screening"

" I was born to fight for my rights"

"Corruption is difficult to define"

"If they send a girl to you to do something for the girl then you sleep with her, then you are corrupt..."

After his screening section the former Governor of Rivers State left the Senate amidst jubilations and shouts of "You don't win", from his numerous supporters as  who were awaiting the outcome of his screening before the Nigerian senate outside the red chambers.

LINDA IKEJI: A FEMALE SUCCESS STORY

In this gist our focus is on female empowerment and we are going to be dwelling on an outstanding success story and great personality. We are beaming our searchlight on one of the very few female success story in Nigeria by the name ; Linda Ikeji, who is an household name in the Nigerian Entertainment and blogging industry.

Linda Ikeji can be said to be one of the most successful blogger in Africa from the current rankings given by information from our sources. She is said to have being born on October 19, and is 35 years old this year 2015.

Linda Ikeji is acclaimed to be one of the first Billionaire blogger in Nigeria and in Africa and a trail blazer in the blogging industry in Nigeria. She is acclaimed to have issued a statement online that; " I started my first business at 17 years, I started very young and before 35, I am a billionaire."

Linda Ikeji recently bought an expensive mansion reported to have being bought at about N600 million Naira. The pictures of Linda Ikeji and the mansion which she allegedly bought in Banana Island of Lagos State of Nigeria are uploaded on this post.

Linda Ikeji is said to have grown up in Lagos and lived in the Mushin area of Lagos for 15 years, up till she was 25 years old. She claimed to have struggled with poverty and lack as a result of her humble background. She claimed that even though she had to combine modelling with her studies while attending the University of Lagos, She also sold and marketed beer drinks at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos for N1000 Naira per day.

Linda Ikeji is acclaimed to have started blogging since November 2006 and November 2015 will make it 9 years that She has being in the business of blogging. She claimed that although she started blogging 9 years ago, but not up till 5 years ago after her 30th birthday that She started making profits from blogging.

Linda Ikeji identifies her guiding principles which she uses as her advise to young ladies and Entrepreneurs in the following words:

"...There is absolutely nothing you can't achieve if you set your mind to it, put your heart and soul into it...up till five years ago, I was a struggling entrepreneur. I can't tell you how many offices in this Lagos I sat in for hours waiting to see people who could support my business...but most times, I never passed the reception area. But I never gave up and I never stopped believing and here I am today".

" Please stop waiting for a man to give to you...to put food on your table and put clothes on your back...Find what you are good at. Find something that you are passionate about. Work hard at it. Be consistent, be patient, start young. Even if you are not young, it's never too late".

"...And never stop working. Listen, I make enough money to hire so many people to work on this blog while I go do other things and enjoy myself..but I don't do that... I am up while some of you are sleeping,...and already blogging before some of you wake up. I don't take this for granted. I know to stay on top I have to constantly work and nobody will be as dedicated as I am because this is not their own thing, it's mine and I have to keep feeding it. So I'm constantly here!"

"...Young ladies, I promise you ...you too can do this. You don't have to spread your legs for any bladdy man - because of how much 200k? That's how much my shoes cost - so why should you give up your body for that? Your sacred body? God's temple?"

"...I never doubted myself and I never allowed all the doubters to distract me. I was focused. I was determined, I worked hard and I knew the God I served won't let me down. The road was long, sometimes very frustrating and painful but look at me now. God did it because he saw that I was willing!"

"Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes" They will say, "Women don't have what it takes".

"...May all your dreams come true!

Kisses

Oh by the way (addressing the argument I read online this weekend) I don't do anything else. I blog from 4am till midnight, where do I have the time to do anything else? When God wants to bless you, He will bless you...even if you're selling toothpick.

Cheers!".