2016InReview: 14 ABSOLUTELY powerful events that shook Nigeria

2016InReview: 14 ABSOLUTELY powerful events that shook Nigeria

In two days, we will be saying good bye to 2016. It has been an eventful year especially with our politicians keeping us entertained with their drama.

We cannot forget in a hurry all the many fights and accusations flying over the place as politicians tried to outsmart each other.

As the year wraps up, NAIJ.com brings you memorable events that shook 2016.

1. Budget padding saga

The year started with reports of the budget missing and later, it was said not to be missing. Next, we heard that it was full of errors. Things took a twist when President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign the budget due to some grey areas. As if that was not enough, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin who was sacked as the chairman of House of Representatives committee on appropriation disclosed that the speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, and some principal officers padded the budget.

2. Removal of subsidy and increase in fuel price

In May, Nigerians received the news that the petrol pump price has been increased from N87 to N145. The Labour Unions tried to protest but it did not work as they were divided. One faction supported the federal government and the other faction which was opposed to the decision did not even have the backing of Nigerians.

3. Saraki, Ekweremadu arraigned for forgery

In June Senate president Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu were arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery. Both men were accused of complicity in alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015. However, the federal government withdrew the charges in October.

4. EFCC arrests

This year a number of prominent people were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Some of them were Femi Fani-Kayode, Reuben Abati, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Bala Mohammed and several others.

5. EFCC freezes accounts of prominent Nigerians

The freezing of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state’s account and that of former First Lady Patience Jonathan was trailed with so much drama. We know Fayose loves drama and Patience is another drama queen. Fayose stormed the bank, photos were later circulated online of the bank staff begging him for forgiveness. As for Patience, she has been asking the anti-graft agency to unfreeze her account but their accounts have remained frozen.

6. PDP Crisis

After losing the 2015 general election, the Peoples Democratic Party is yet to recover from loss. They have been having series of crisis. The party is yet to settle the chairmanship tussle. The party has two factions. One is led by Ali Modu Sheriff who is claiming to be the chairman of the party and has refused to step down, despite being sacked. The other faction is led by Ahmed Makarfi who was appointed by the party to head the national caretaker committee. The party has several pending issues in court.

Also, all attempts to hold a successful national convention failed on several occasions.

7. Chibok girls release

After over two years in captivity, some of the kidnapped Chibok girls finally gained their freedom. It started with the discovery of one girl in May. The 19-year-old was found with a child. She later met President Buhari. In October, 21 of the girls were released by the insurgents. Their release was greeted with so much joy and celebration as Nigerians await the return of the remaining girls.

READ ALSO: 2016InReview: These 8 governors will be entering 2017 with big problems

8. APC chieftains at war

The ruling All Progressives Congress also had their own fair share troubles. The national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were engaged in a war of words. Tinubu even demanded that Oyegun resign.

There were several reports of a feud between Buhari and Tinubu. Rumour had it that Tinubu was planning to break away from the ruling party and float a new party because his position in the party has been relegated to the background.

9. Judges arrested

In October, it came as a surprise when Nigerians heard that the homes of some Nigerian judges were raided by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) while some of them were arrested. Those arrested were Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court; Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and Justice Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe division. Others arrested were a former Chief Judge of Enugu state, Justice I. A. Umezulike; the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya and the judge of the Kano state high court, Justice Kabiru Auta. They were arrested over alleged corruption.

Some of the affected judges have been arraigned before various courts and some have been suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

10. Aisha Buhari’s controversial interview and ‘the other room’ saga

The First Lady Aisha Buhari stirred up controversy when she granted an interview to BBC. She said some things about her husband and the APC that Nigerians could not ignore. It was too controversial that BBC was asked not to air the full interview.

As if that was not enough, Buhari decided to give Nigerians something to talk about when he said his wife belonged to the kitchen and ‘the other room’.

He said: “I don’t know what opposition party my wife belongs to; but I know she belongs to my kitchen, my living room and the other room.”

11. Buhari presents 2017 budget

While Nigerians are still waiting for the benefits of the controversial 2016 budget, Buhari has presented the o0ne for 2017 to a joint session of the National Assembly. We hope it will not be as controversial as the previous one.

12. Senate rejects Magu

The Nigerian Senate refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, December 15, because of security report.

13.Ibori released from prison

On Wednesday, December 21, a UK court ordered the immediate release of former Delta state governor, James Onanefe Ibori from prison. The former governor has been jail since April 2012 for money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

14. Boko Haram crushed

Nigerians got the best Christmas gift following the flushing out of the deadly Boko Haram terrorists from Sambisa forest. Buhari broke the news on December 24. After seven long years of fighting insurgency, Nigerian troops finally crushed Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest.