SO SO SAD AS THE HAMMER HAS FINALLY FALLEN & FOWLER IS A GONER!

Babatunde Fowler 

Till Friday of last week, there was still hope against all hope he could still remain, but even at that it was just a 30 to 70% odd. But we were just still expecting that one way or the other that maybe, just maybe that the FG would look more at his outstanding and award winning records on his beat and that maybe that could sway them in their choice to either retain him on the seat to continue or to do away with him and pick another to occupy his seat. But with the news coming out now, it obvious the latter is their preferred choice.

As the Federal Government has decided to pick another person instead by the name of Muhammad M. Nami to replace Babatunde Fowler as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to jump off where the tax guru has ended from.

So it's a new regime entirely now at the FIRS henceforth and we expect that the new helmsman would bring his own style of management to bear on the agency. Truth be told, FIRS would miss Mr. Babatunde Fowler a whole lot. It was a roller-coaster of a time at the Service while it all lasted, as the brilliant and award winning tax guru who had held sway at the same type of position in Lagos State before and helped to reposition the state of aquatic excellence's revenue collection, where from as low as about 30% compliance it went to more than 200%, injected new life, energy and sass into a service that before he took over wasn't anything special.

When he had gotten on board then, many immediately knew that a new order had come and the results he began to deliver not too long afterwards, even as many tax experts felt then he wasn't qualified enough to be at the helm of affairs at FIRS. But as the net spread wider and wider he began to astonish all and sundry. Now that he has been replaced, one hopes that the new helmsman wouldn't allow the revenue service to go back into the doldrums AGAIN. Mr. Fowler reigned for 4 years from 2015 till Monday, today December 9, 2019 when his tenure elapsed.

Muhammad. M Nami, is a thorough-bred tax consultant, who is a graduate of the famous Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The new FIRS executive chairman has over 30 years experience in audit, tax, accounting and management. He is a member of several relevant professional bodies. Mr. Nami's appointment is still subject to the approval of the Senate.

By this appointment PMB has finally given voice to reason by appointing a professional tax person to take charge at the service, so maybe now it's a round peg in a round hole finally. 

VP Osibanjo launches TraderMoni in 3 additional Lagos markets

The Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN launched the Federal Government's N10,000 Naira interest free loans, otherwise known as Trader-Moni to traders in three more Lagos markets on Monday.

VP Osinbajo who led other Federal and State Government officials to Ikotun, Igando and Ile-Epo markets also urged the traders to make judicious use of the loans to secure more from Federal Government.

While interacting with the traders, the VP said the objective of the scheme would be defeated, if traders do not repay the loan to secure more from the Federal Government.

"This is one particular initiative this administration has put in place to help address the plights of those at the grassroots, which is to help you grow your businesses and make lives meaningful to you and your families.  That's why we have ensured that there is no collateral at all and that when you repay the loans, you can secure more from the Government because it shows you are serious with what you are doing, " he said.

Some of the traders who were interviewed, applauded the initiative but pleaded for more loans saying that they would be willing to boost their trades and businesses with as much fund as possible that's made available to them.

Yemisi Babalola, a salt trader in Ikotun market expressed her readiness to invest the money in her trade.  She said that although she would have loved for the money to be more, she would nonetheless make judicious use of the initial fund so as to qualify for more loans.

Similarly, Jide Akanni, a butcher at Ile-Epo market, said that it took the actual arrival of the Trader-Moni officials in the market, for him to be convinced that it was true.  He said having been registered and his account credited, he now believes the scheme is real.

"When they say Trader-Moni, I had always thought it was one of those political gimmicks. But today,  I am convinced that it is real.  As I repay the initial loan given,  I have been assured of prompt increased money," Akanni said.

Gradually and steadily, this very well thought out initiative of the FG is reaching more and more people. 

AMAECHI VS. WIKE- TIME TO GROW UP!

One was the former Governor and now a Minister of the Federal Government, an important minister at that, with a massive portfolio. The other is the incumbent Governor of the same State, Rivers State.

Both used to be friends, with the current Governor being a prodigy of the former until they fell out, both now in different parties and avowed sworn enemies.

The story of the clash between the 2, very recently again, which could have led to bloodshed, had both sides not employed restraint is one that has enjoyed so much buzz.

Why both leaders, elders, fathers and husbands, cannot sheathe their forever drawn swords and allow peace to reign baffles us? Is it that their wives cannot talk to them to stop the nonsense? Is it that the kids cannot tell their daddies off, that you both should go and rest? Are there not elders in town, who can talk to both parties?

What is it that both are fighting for in the first place or have been fighting for, that they are both bent on embarrassing, disgracing, annihilating, witch-hunting, eviscerating each other? What is this battle of egos all about? Or is it far more than meets the eye?

Okay one has lost, and one has won, 4 years is not eternity, and is about finishing and another opportunity to test your popularities would soon come again, why the need to threaten each other needlessly all the time?

And the bad aspect of the whole imbroglio, is that while nothing would happen to both Amaechi and Wike and their very close family members, as they are too high up there and too cocoon to be touched, it is some over eager idiots and fools in the name of sworn and die-hard supporters/fans and even security details that would stretch out their necks and same would be cut off without a care in the world! All of the nonsense only for them to be mourned for 5 minutes and thereafter they are forgotten!

Let's even just try to imagine the ugly scenario, so what if one trigger happy security detail in the midst of the hoopla and rising temperature by mistake pulls the trigger, and everyone then responds!!!!!

Dear sirs, as adults, grown ups, leaders of the nation, those with responsibilities, and whom very much is expected of, there are developmental tasks expected of you both, that these unbridled energy and enthusiasm can be poured on. This foolish battle of egos, is just unneccesarily distracting from better things!

Please, GROW UP! 

NO HIDING PLACE FOR KOLA ALUKO & JIDE OMOKORE AS THE US GOVERNMENT CLAMPS DOWN ON THEIR ASSETS

Kola Akanni Aluko

Olajide Omokore

Diezani Allison-Madueke

..with Naomi Campbell and crew

  ..with P Diddy

It's most definitely not the best of times for these duo of very very liquid fellow and their best friend in the persons of Kolawole Akanni Aluko, OlaJide Omokore and by extension Diezani Allison-Madueke as the searchlight of the US Government has somehow caught up with them.

Except they can come up with some extraordinary arguments via their lawyers to stop the big hammer that is coming down on them, they are on their way to losing many of their very prized assets or possession, chief of which is that humongous and awesomely beautiful luxury boat owned by Mr. ALUKO, named the Galactica Star rated at about $80 million dollars and also a $50 million dollars rated condominium in Manhattan's 157W 57th Street, New York amongst others.

Galactica Star

157W 57th Street Manhattan

Kola ALUKO & Naomi Campbell

At the height of their reign as very big boys before what they would now term this unnecessary and irresponsible scrutiny, both very very liquid men apparently went haywire on a buying binge, picking up exclusive properties and assets here and there all over the world as they deemed okay.

Imagine that Kola's luxurious yacht is rated as one of the most expensive in the world, it rates on the list as one of the top 40 most luxurious and expensive yacht. It was seen and acknowledged then as the height of saying "see me I have arrived and I own the world". Kola's acquisitions wasn't limited to just that; this friend of Naomi Campbell, P Diddy and the likes also owned some of the best and most expensive properties money could acquire around the world, same as the more quiet but also asset loving Jide Omokore. Kola's LA home is humongous and one of the very best money could have acquired.

Now that the "Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative", a searchlight initiative of the US Government to seize any alleged proceeds of corruption has beemed her light on some of these valued assets valued at about $144 million dollars, except both men can legitimately explain how they came about the funds to buy most of things, they are likely to forfeit them.

More after the break.

LIKE A PHOENIX, FOLORUNSHO COKER RISES AGAIN BECOMES DG NTDC

It has been celebration galore and good back slapping since the Federal Government last Friday, March 31, 2017 announced via the SSA, Femi Adesina the names of new helmsmen for some Government agencies and parastatals across the nation.

Amongst the names that was conspicuously mentioned and was given a very important portfolio to man, was none other than the erstwhile, Commissioner for Tourism and Culture in Lagos State, the very debonair, Folorunsho Coker.

At his former post handling Tourism and Culture for the state of aquatic excellence, he acquitted himself very well and showed unprecedented dynamism in handling the affairs of that ministry; people had never had it that great before, so when he left abruptly many were quite taken aback. Though that apparent abruptness took many by surprise, many of those who knew him well, knew it was just a matter of time, before he would bounce back with something as equally important as what he had just left.

Now like the proverbial ram, that withdrew back a bit or that took a reverse track, his wasn't out of fear, but he only went back to gain more momentum (power), so as to launch back, more determined and more focused than before.

Folly Coker, like many who know him prefer to call and address him, as risen like a phoenix and taken on a new life entirely and would be the one to manage our tourism and culture outlook across the nation, his short time doing same with Lagos State Government must have spoken so well about him, to warrant this new appointment.

So we expect the formidable fellow to hit the ground running, while bringing sanity to an agency that has faced loads of controversies and unnecessary distractions of late, not only that though, he is expected to totally resuscitate the life of the same brand, for the best of the country.

We wish him the very best of luck in this task and congratulations.

Congratulations.  

OTUNBA SEGUN RUNSEWE PREPARES FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT

OTUNBA SEGUN RUNSEWE

If the vibes we are getting is anything to go by, then pretty soon the former DG of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation better known as the NTDC, in the person of the indefatigable, former Mr. Tourism himself, who lived, 'breathed' and wore tourism as cloth, Otunba Segun Runsewe might soon be getting another Federal Government appointment. 

The action man who had served meritoriously for several years, even winning awards and getting commendation at the helm of affairs of the tourism board, only for him to have gotten removed abruptly, due to what some people have alleged was as a result of the power play between him and the Minister in charge of his parastatal, High Chief Edem Duke, the Honourable Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation; Might have wormed his way back into the heart & consciousness of those that really counts. Chosen to replace him by the FG after his ouster, is the current NTDC boss in the person of the very gorgeous & super stylish Sally Mbanefo, whose tenure some have alleged to be rather quiet.

Now after being under the radar for many months, quietly networking and bidding his time, the unconfirmed report we have gotten is that he his being prepared for another 'major appointment' that should be announced pretty soon, the only thing said to be delaying it (the announcement) is probably the current 'security situation' in the country. 

Known for his dedication, passion, eloquence and sagacity, it would be another great opportunity for the man of the people to shine, while serving his fatherland all over again.