President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the re-appointment of Dr Paul Orhii as the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control with effect from Jan. 13,2014.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja and signed by Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The statement said Jonathan also approved the re-appointment of Prof. Francis Idachaba, as the Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Merit Award, with effect from Dec. 29.
It said the president approved the appointment of three new members and renewed the appointment of four members of the board.
The new members Prof. Tola Olufunla (Ondo State), Prof. Andrew Nok (Kaduna State) and Prof, Laz Ekueme (Anambra), while those whose appointments were renewed are Prof. Etim Etim (Akwa Ibom), Prof. John Enaohwo (Delta), Prof. Ben Onaji (Benue) and Prof. Garba Goja (Jigawa).
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
yipee!!!! its 2014.....happy new year!!
Happy new year friends,wishing us all a great year ahead. open doors,exceeding joy,good health,countless favours,upliftment,lots and lots of celebration, and may all you have desired this year be granted. I still want to say,thank you all for being there for me,you are my motivation.
Remember dream it,believe it and do it!!!! The sky is only a starting point
Remember dream it,believe it and do it!!!! The sky is only a starting point
Al-Mustapha says he has no political ambition for now
Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer of late Gen. Sani Abacha, said on Monday that he had no ambition to venture into politics or seek for political position in the country. He made the remark while addressing newsmen shortly after a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, at his palace in Kano.
"I have not decided to venture into politics now and I have not been invited into that direction."
He said his recent visit to some states, particularly troubled areas across the country, was informed by his desire to ensure peace and unity.
"Many organisations and associations actually contacted me with invitations that took me there. I did it with a view to putting a helping hand.
"Right from 1984, I found it mandatory to help associations in support of peace and unity, and now that God has granted me freedom, I cannot say no.
"We have opened ground for reconciliation to many tribes and communities and we hope it will add colours towards achieving peace, unity and development in the country.
"To us, the background we have is that of a country solidly united, where hopes and confidence of the people are fully restored and anchored upon progress and development.
"We are looking for a country that is firmly rooted with the God's given resources and given the direction and taking giant strides in Africa for development and progress," he said.
He said he would continue to respond to such calls by organisations and associations provided they were meant to foster unity and peace in the country.
NAN reports that Al-Mustapha had also paid similar visits to some prominent personalities, including Islamic scholars.
"I have not decided to venture into politics now and I have not been invited into that direction."
He said his recent visit to some states, particularly troubled areas across the country, was informed by his desire to ensure peace and unity.
"Many organisations and associations actually contacted me with invitations that took me there. I did it with a view to putting a helping hand.
"Right from 1984, I found it mandatory to help associations in support of peace and unity, and now that God has granted me freedom, I cannot say no.
"We have opened ground for reconciliation to many tribes and communities and we hope it will add colours towards achieving peace, unity and development in the country.
"To us, the background we have is that of a country solidly united, where hopes and confidence of the people are fully restored and anchored upon progress and development.
"We are looking for a country that is firmly rooted with the God's given resources and given the direction and taking giant strides in Africa for development and progress," he said.
He said he would continue to respond to such calls by organisations and associations provided they were meant to foster unity and peace in the country.
NAN reports that Al-Mustapha had also paid similar visits to some prominent personalities, including Islamic scholars.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Breaking: 63 TERRORISTS KILLED IN ALAFA FOREST, LAKE CHAD
Defence Headquarters has said 63 terrorists have been killed in military offensives at Alafa forest, 21 kilometers from Bama, in Borno state.
According to a statement by the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, 56 terrorists were killed during the ground and air operation in Alafa Forest while 7 others died in the Lake Chad Islands.
The statement said, “Nigerian security forces have launched ground and air operations on terrorist’s locations in the Forest at Alafa, about 21km from Bama, Borno State. Over 56 terrorists died in the ensuing intensive fight over the weekend.”
Gen. Olukolade also said, “Two soldiers were wounded in the operation which is meant to track fleeing terrorists,” adding that, “Air and land bombardments are continuing in different locations where terrorists have been reportedly sighted.”
He explained that, intelligence reports indicated renewed efforts by the terrorist to establish a new camp in the area which led to the land and air operation that inflicted heavy casualty on the insurgents.
Gen. Olukolade further stated that, “troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force have foiled an attempt by terrorists who were massing up on an island on Lake Chad with a view to carrying out an attack on some Nigerian communities.”
“Seven of the terrorists died while others fleeing in different direction towards Niger and Chad Republic are being trailed by troops,” he said.
He noted that Intelligence reports confirmed that some of the wounded terrorists were seen in a canoe paddling towards Tumbun Telkandam in Chad Republic.
Source:Daily Trust
According to a statement by the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, 56 terrorists were killed during the ground and air operation in Alafa Forest while 7 others died in the Lake Chad Islands.
The statement said, “Nigerian security forces have launched ground and air operations on terrorist’s locations in the Forest at Alafa, about 21km from Bama, Borno State. Over 56 terrorists died in the ensuing intensive fight over the weekend.”
Gen. Olukolade also said, “Two soldiers were wounded in the operation which is meant to track fleeing terrorists,” adding that, “Air and land bombardments are continuing in different locations where terrorists have been reportedly sighted.”
He explained that, intelligence reports indicated renewed efforts by the terrorist to establish a new camp in the area which led to the land and air operation that inflicted heavy casualty on the insurgents.
Gen. Olukolade further stated that, “troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force have foiled an attempt by terrorists who were massing up on an island on Lake Chad with a view to carrying out an attack on some Nigerian communities.”
“Seven of the terrorists died while others fleeing in different direction towards Niger and Chad Republic are being trailed by troops,” he said.
He noted that Intelligence reports confirmed that some of the wounded terrorists were seen in a canoe paddling towards Tumbun Telkandam in Chad Republic.
Source:Daily Trust
Boko Haram: eight killed in a bachelor party in Maiduguri
Around 11pm Saturday night December 28th, three men suspected to be members of Islamic militant Boko Haram invaded a bachelor party at Tashan Alade village in Maiduguri and opened fire on the party-goers, killing eight of them and injuring several others.
An witness who survived the attack said the men came in two motorcycles, joined the party like they were guests and before anyone knew what was going on, they brought out their rifles and started shooting indiscriminately. They fled the scene after making sure several people were dead.
An witness who survived the attack said the men came in two motorcycles, joined the party like they were guests and before anyone knew what was going on, they brought out their rifles and started shooting indiscriminately. They fled the scene after making sure several people were dead.
food imports in Nigeria has been reduced by 40% - Presidency
Nigeria has reduced its food imports by 40 per cent and increased its local production of rice, cassava, sorghum, cotton and cocoa from 25 to 56 per cent in the last two years. A report card presented by the presidency yesterday said for the first time since independence, the Nigerian agricultural sector had attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) of $4 billion over the past two years in the form of private sector letters of commitment to invest in the agriculture value chain ranging from food crops to export crops, fisheries and livestock.
Giving an overview of the administration's performance in 2013, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, described the year as one that was unprecedented in terms of policy decisions and major project execution, in spite of the pockets of distractions.
Okupe said contrary to the impression being created by vocal leaders of the opposition, Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan has moved significantly forward in many sectors from where it was in 2011.
The presidential aide said the transformation which had taken place in the economy, transportation, agriculture, power and other critical sectors were the routes which all developed nations had taken in the past, but which unfortunately had not been pursued with zeal by Nigeria under past administration.
According to Okupe, "It is an incontrovertible fact that Nigeria under Jonathan has reduced its food imports by about 40 per cent and increased its local production of rice, cassava, sorghum, cotton and cocoa in percentages ranging from 25 to 56 in the last two years.
"For the first time since independence, the Nigerian agriculture sector is attracting unprecedented foreign direct investment. Over the past two years, the sector has attracted $4 billion in private sector executed letters of commitment to invest in the agriculture value chain, from food crops, to export crops, fisheries and livestock.
"The number of private sector seed companies grew from 10 to 70 within one year. Over $7 billion of investment from Nigerian businesses have been made to develop new fertilizer manufacturing plants, which will make Nigeria the largest producer and exporter of fertilizer in Africa.
"It is also noteworthy that agriculture lending as a share of total bank lending has risen from two per cent to six per cent in two years."
On the power sector reforms initiated by the president in 2010, the presidential aide explained that the major component of the reform programme, which was the privatisation of the generation and distribution of power infrastructure was successfully accomplished in 2013, thus putting Nigeria on a sure path of steady power supply in the no distant future.
Okupe explained that with the completion of this process in 2013, as well as the completion of 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs), Nigeria for the first time in history, had moved away from a vertically integrated state-owned and very poorly managed electricity industry to a modern private sector-led fully regulated market with the right incentives capable of attracting accelerated new investments to kick start the re-industrialisation of Nigeria.
Other major achievements of the Jonathan administration in the outgoing year, according to the presidency, include the recovery of the Nigerian stock market, which he said was made possible by a combination of sound fiscal and monetary policies as well as the transparent conduct of its affairs, which rekindled investors' confidence in the market.
He said: "All these people who are bringing huge resources to invest in the Nigerian economy are no fools or novices. Procter and Gamble is building one of the biggest manufacturing plants in the world here in Nigeria.
"Indorama is building the world's second largest fertilizer plant. General Electric is investing over a billion dollars in our power sector. Dangote is constructing a $9 billion refinery and petrochemical plant. Nigeria is the number one investment destination in this continent.
"These are the ultimate job creators for millions of our youths. They are definitely an acknowledgement of something being done better than they had ever been done and we can't but appraise same.
"We cannot pretend that it was not the Jonathan administration that resuscitated rail transportation and is currently constructing a new standard guage rail line between Abuja and Kaduna, Ajaokuta and Warri, as well as construction of 46 major roads in all parts of the country."
Okupe said those who always seek to use the security challenges in some parts of Northern Nigeria as the only barometer to measure Jonathan's performance were not being fair to the president considering the fact that the war on insurgency and terrorism has never been a quick fix anywhere in the world.
While reiterating the determination of the president to remain steadfast in his pursuit of accelerated economic growth and stability, peace and development of all parts of Nigeria, Okupe said the federal government would consolidate on the growth recorded in the outgoing year by completing all ongoing projects as well as initiating new programmes and projects especially in sectors that would create jobs and empower Nigerian youths.
Giving an overview of the administration's performance in 2013, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, described the year as one that was unprecedented in terms of policy decisions and major project execution, in spite of the pockets of distractions.
Okupe said contrary to the impression being created by vocal leaders of the opposition, Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan has moved significantly forward in many sectors from where it was in 2011.
The presidential aide said the transformation which had taken place in the economy, transportation, agriculture, power and other critical sectors were the routes which all developed nations had taken in the past, but which unfortunately had not been pursued with zeal by Nigeria under past administration.
According to Okupe, "It is an incontrovertible fact that Nigeria under Jonathan has reduced its food imports by about 40 per cent and increased its local production of rice, cassava, sorghum, cotton and cocoa in percentages ranging from 25 to 56 in the last two years.
"For the first time since independence, the Nigerian agriculture sector is attracting unprecedented foreign direct investment. Over the past two years, the sector has attracted $4 billion in private sector executed letters of commitment to invest in the agriculture value chain, from food crops, to export crops, fisheries and livestock.
"The number of private sector seed companies grew from 10 to 70 within one year. Over $7 billion of investment from Nigerian businesses have been made to develop new fertilizer manufacturing plants, which will make Nigeria the largest producer and exporter of fertilizer in Africa.
"It is also noteworthy that agriculture lending as a share of total bank lending has risen from two per cent to six per cent in two years."
On the power sector reforms initiated by the president in 2010, the presidential aide explained that the major component of the reform programme, which was the privatisation of the generation and distribution of power infrastructure was successfully accomplished in 2013, thus putting Nigeria on a sure path of steady power supply in the no distant future.
Okupe explained that with the completion of this process in 2013, as well as the completion of 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs), Nigeria for the first time in history, had moved away from a vertically integrated state-owned and very poorly managed electricity industry to a modern private sector-led fully regulated market with the right incentives capable of attracting accelerated new investments to kick start the re-industrialisation of Nigeria.
Other major achievements of the Jonathan administration in the outgoing year, according to the presidency, include the recovery of the Nigerian stock market, which he said was made possible by a combination of sound fiscal and monetary policies as well as the transparent conduct of its affairs, which rekindled investors' confidence in the market.
He said: "All these people who are bringing huge resources to invest in the Nigerian economy are no fools or novices. Procter and Gamble is building one of the biggest manufacturing plants in the world here in Nigeria.
"Indorama is building the world's second largest fertilizer plant. General Electric is investing over a billion dollars in our power sector. Dangote is constructing a $9 billion refinery and petrochemical plant. Nigeria is the number one investment destination in this continent.
"These are the ultimate job creators for millions of our youths. They are definitely an acknowledgement of something being done better than they had ever been done and we can't but appraise same.
"We cannot pretend that it was not the Jonathan administration that resuscitated rail transportation and is currently constructing a new standard guage rail line between Abuja and Kaduna, Ajaokuta and Warri, as well as construction of 46 major roads in all parts of the country."
Okupe said those who always seek to use the security challenges in some parts of Northern Nigeria as the only barometer to measure Jonathan's performance were not being fair to the president considering the fact that the war on insurgency and terrorism has never been a quick fix anywhere in the world.
While reiterating the determination of the president to remain steadfast in his pursuit of accelerated economic growth and stability, peace and development of all parts of Nigeria, Okupe said the federal government would consolidate on the growth recorded in the outgoing year by completing all ongoing projects as well as initiating new programmes and projects especially in sectors that would create jobs and empower Nigerian youths.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
"The National conference is a big joke" - Ebonyi State Governor
Ebonyi state Governor, Martins Elechi has described the proposed National Dialogue as a huge joke and a distraction for President Goodluck Jonathan.
Addressing the founding fathers of Ebonyi state who wanted to know the modalities of selecting delegates from the state and issues that should form their collective stand during the national dialogue, Elechi said, "The National conference to me is a big joke, waste of time and a distraction to Goodluck Jonathan. I’m sceptical about it. It will not achieve anything.
"The constitution gives the National Assembly the power to makes laws and the referendum cannot over ride the deliberations of the National Assembly.
"The best was the colloquium by former President Obasanjo in 2005. There, all segments of national life talked and reached far-reaching decisions. I wil still consult my people but if at the end they decided to participate, i will not stop anybody but i will distance myself and an on-looker.
"The National Assembly over ruled it due to the third term ambitions of Obasanjo. We should revisit that colloquium and the recommendations reached".
Elechi is a core supporter of President Jonathan and one of the few governors who had initially lauded the idea of the proposed national dialogue.
Source:NAN
Addressing the founding fathers of Ebonyi state who wanted to know the modalities of selecting delegates from the state and issues that should form their collective stand during the national dialogue, Elechi said, "The National conference to me is a big joke, waste of time and a distraction to Goodluck Jonathan. I’m sceptical about it. It will not achieve anything.
"The constitution gives the National Assembly the power to makes laws and the referendum cannot over ride the deliberations of the National Assembly.
"The best was the colloquium by former President Obasanjo in 2005. There, all segments of national life talked and reached far-reaching decisions. I wil still consult my people but if at the end they decided to participate, i will not stop anybody but i will distance myself and an on-looker.
"The National Assembly over ruled it due to the third term ambitions of Obasanjo. We should revisit that colloquium and the recommendations reached".
Elechi is a core supporter of President Jonathan and one of the few governors who had initially lauded the idea of the proposed national dialogue.
Source:NAN
Hundreds flee as two communities clash in Osun State
Following an outburst of fresh crisis, hundreds of residents have fled Oba- Ile and Oba-Oke communities in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State.
Sources are claiming the crisis broke out after some youths from Oba-Ile invaded Oba-Oke and beat up some people. The people of Oba-Oke then embarked on a revenge mission.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Folasade Odoro, Policemen had been deployed to the two communities and the situation has been brought under control.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Osun state Governor has imposed a curfew from 6pm to 6am on the two communities.
Source: NAN
Sources are claiming the crisis broke out after some youths from Oba-Ile invaded Oba-Oke and beat up some people. The people of Oba-Oke then embarked on a revenge mission.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Folasade Odoro, Policemen had been deployed to the two communities and the situation has been brought under control.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Osun state Governor has imposed a curfew from 6pm to 6am on the two communities.
Source: NAN
CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido might be Forced To Leave Office Over Leaked Letter To President Jonathan
According to SaharaReporters, Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, will be forced to leave his post in March, 2014, two months before the formal expiration of his tenure.
Two sources at the Presidency and a source at the Central Bank disclosed to SaharaReporters that Mr. Sanusi has been ordered to proceed on a post-retirement leave in March.
According to all the sources, the early exit for the CBN henchman is occasioned by Mr. Sanusi’s recent leaked letter to President Goodluck Jonathan detailing the theft of close to $50 billion in oil proceeds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Last week, Mr. Sanusi revised the figure of missing funds down to $12 billion, but the damage to the Jonathan Presidency is considered massive.
It was also gathered that Mr. Jonathan has concluded plans to speedily replace the CBN governor whom the president believes set out to embarrass his government.
“[President] Jonathan thinks that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been making erratic pronouncements recently calculated to demean the office of the President,” said a source in the Presidency.
Presidency officials accused the CBN governor of leaking a private letter written to President Jonathan in which Nigeria’s chief banker complained about fraud perpetrated by officials of the NNPC and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Ms. Alison-Madueke is extremely close to the president and is believed to be the arrowhead of Mr. Jonathan’s corrupt schemes, especially in the oil sector.
Additionally, one of the sources at the Presidency told SaharaReporters that, although Mr. Sanusi’s allegations were substantially accurate, the CBN governor was forced to back down from the more damaging aspects of his claims after the president’s associates threatened to make an issue of his reckless spending and philandering.
“Once Sanusi found out that the Presidency was determined to deal with him, both through the media and by instigating the EFCC to look into his spending habits, he was willing to retreat and to accept an early departure,” said our source.
Shortly after the CBN governor was effectively blackmailed and brought under control, he appeared before the Nigerian Senate and reversed his position, claiming that the NNPC was only unable to reconcile $12 billion of crude oil sale earnings.
It was shortly after Mr. Sanusi’s Senate appearance that President Jonathan ordered that the CBN governor’s retirement should be fast-tracked. Mr. Sanusi, who is believed to nurse an ambition to become the next Emir of Kano, had publicly stated that he does not intend to stay for another term.
Two sources at the Presidency and a source at the Central Bank disclosed to SaharaReporters that Mr. Sanusi has been ordered to proceed on a post-retirement leave in March.
According to all the sources, the early exit for the CBN henchman is occasioned by Mr. Sanusi’s recent leaked letter to President Goodluck Jonathan detailing the theft of close to $50 billion in oil proceeds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Last week, Mr. Sanusi revised the figure of missing funds down to $12 billion, but the damage to the Jonathan Presidency is considered massive.
It was also gathered that Mr. Jonathan has concluded plans to speedily replace the CBN governor whom the president believes set out to embarrass his government.
“[President] Jonathan thinks that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been making erratic pronouncements recently calculated to demean the office of the President,” said a source in the Presidency.
Presidency officials accused the CBN governor of leaking a private letter written to President Jonathan in which Nigeria’s chief banker complained about fraud perpetrated by officials of the NNPC and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Ms. Alison-Madueke is extremely close to the president and is believed to be the arrowhead of Mr. Jonathan’s corrupt schemes, especially in the oil sector.
Additionally, one of the sources at the Presidency told SaharaReporters that, although Mr. Sanusi’s allegations were substantially accurate, the CBN governor was forced to back down from the more damaging aspects of his claims after the president’s associates threatened to make an issue of his reckless spending and philandering.
“Once Sanusi found out that the Presidency was determined to deal with him, both through the media and by instigating the EFCC to look into his spending habits, he was willing to retreat and to accept an early departure,” said our source.
Shortly after the CBN governor was effectively blackmailed and brought under control, he appeared before the Nigerian Senate and reversed his position, claiming that the NNPC was only unable to reconcile $12 billion of crude oil sale earnings.
It was shortly after Mr. Sanusi’s Senate appearance that President Jonathan ordered that the CBN governor’s retirement should be fast-tracked. Mr. Sanusi, who is believed to nurse an ambition to become the next Emir of Kano, had publicly stated that he does not intend to stay for another term.
Primate Ayodele predicts that Prices Of Food and Fuel Will Increase Drastically+Jonathan Will Beg Obasanjo In 2014
Primate Babatunde Ayodele, Founder/Spiritual Head of Inri Evangelical Church, Lagos, has again reeled out predictions ahead of 2014, imploring Nigeria to take cover in prayers. Primate Ayodele who before the airplane mishap that involved Sosoliso and Bellview Airlines in 2005 warned the aviation sector but was unheeded has since become a spiritual oracle for many and even for the country at large.
Below is all Primate Ayodele prophecied about year 2014 economically, politically, sport wise and also about the aviation industry as detailed by Vanguard
Economy
Concerning the year 2014, I will advise every Nigerian to take time and be prayerful for the country and for themselves from the 1st to 3rd of January, 2014. This is for God to prevent imminent dangers ahead of the nation and economy. Let us take it from here. I don’t see anything happening in the Nigerian economy. I see debts everywhere- our crude oil, foreign reserve, and all.
States will be in debt, the Federal Government will be in debt and Nigeria will be planning to go borrow money. So, the government has to be very careful not to be grinded by these debts. Prices of food will increase drastically and flour will be scarce and very expensive. Corruption too will be more prevalent because this government lacks the power to fight it. Fighting oil theft will also pose a major challenge and Nigeria will beg America to support her in the fight. The price of petroleum will increase as well.
There will be too much of troubles concerning kerosene. Sea pirates will dominate the waterways and the African Union, AU, will form a common security to monitor our seaways. Various organisations such as the Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, will be embarking on industrial action almost at the same time. Again, power supply will be unstable until 2015, 2016. I also see ocean surge in Lagos. Sponsors of Boko Haram will be exposed as well. Very importantly, let us be very watchful so we don’t have any border crisis.
Polity
Like I’ve always said, President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term is dicey. He will start some political abracadabra in order to gain his second term which will be characterised by so much of negotiations. He will have to cajole and beg a lot of people; he will also beg Obasanjo. What Nigerians see now is only a tip of the iceberg of the clash that will come between Obasanjo and Jonathan.
In the process of Jonathan’s negotiations, the offices of the Vice President, the Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Federal Government will be affected. When he eventually succeeds through negotiation, some of these governors who moved to the All Progressive Congress, APC, will return back to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Tukur will be removed.
At the same time, I want to tell you that when Jonathan eventually gets his second term, there will be crisis. Also, another person will be shopped by the PDP to take over from Jonathan, but like I said, through negotiation and begging, he will get the second term. Jonathan might be the last president of PDP to rule this country, anyway. He also has to be prayerful and watchful so he doesn’t lose his wife, the First Lady of the country. I also see shake-up in the cabinet and ministers being removed and replaced. The Ministers of Petroleum and Aviation will also be seriously probed. Some people might not like theses prophecies, but that is not my problem because I am speaking as God has directed me.
Lagos Politics
An unknown man will rule Lagos State. Nationally, APC has accommodated traitors and betrayals. It is not yet time for the party to rule this country. However, if they really want to rule, they have to struggle and pray very well to get the right candidate. They must be watchful so that their party is not used for negotiation.
Sports, Aviation, Climate
Nigeria will try their best in the World Cup but I do not see them in the semi-final or final. Let us be very watchful in the aviation sector so that pilots will not go on strike. Also, there will be air turbulence in some of our airports such as in Lagos and Abuja. We also must be watchful so that there won’t be any air crash. I however see reforms in the aviation sector.Let us pray very well so that this growing climatic condition will also not cause mourning for this country.
Below is all Primate Ayodele prophecied about year 2014 economically, politically, sport wise and also about the aviation industry as detailed by Vanguard
Economy
Concerning the year 2014, I will advise every Nigerian to take time and be prayerful for the country and for themselves from the 1st to 3rd of January, 2014. This is for God to prevent imminent dangers ahead of the nation and economy. Let us take it from here. I don’t see anything happening in the Nigerian economy. I see debts everywhere- our crude oil, foreign reserve, and all.
States will be in debt, the Federal Government will be in debt and Nigeria will be planning to go borrow money. So, the government has to be very careful not to be grinded by these debts. Prices of food will increase drastically and flour will be scarce and very expensive. Corruption too will be more prevalent because this government lacks the power to fight it. Fighting oil theft will also pose a major challenge and Nigeria will beg America to support her in the fight. The price of petroleum will increase as well.
There will be too much of troubles concerning kerosene. Sea pirates will dominate the waterways and the African Union, AU, will form a common security to monitor our seaways. Various organisations such as the Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, will be embarking on industrial action almost at the same time. Again, power supply will be unstable until 2015, 2016. I also see ocean surge in Lagos. Sponsors of Boko Haram will be exposed as well. Very importantly, let us be very watchful so we don’t have any border crisis.
Polity
Like I’ve always said, President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term is dicey. He will start some political abracadabra in order to gain his second term which will be characterised by so much of negotiations. He will have to cajole and beg a lot of people; he will also beg Obasanjo. What Nigerians see now is only a tip of the iceberg of the clash that will come between Obasanjo and Jonathan.
In the process of Jonathan’s negotiations, the offices of the Vice President, the Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Federal Government will be affected. When he eventually succeeds through negotiation, some of these governors who moved to the All Progressive Congress, APC, will return back to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Tukur will be removed.
At the same time, I want to tell you that when Jonathan eventually gets his second term, there will be crisis. Also, another person will be shopped by the PDP to take over from Jonathan, but like I said, through negotiation and begging, he will get the second term. Jonathan might be the last president of PDP to rule this country, anyway. He also has to be prayerful and watchful so he doesn’t lose his wife, the First Lady of the country. I also see shake-up in the cabinet and ministers being removed and replaced. The Ministers of Petroleum and Aviation will also be seriously probed. Some people might not like theses prophecies, but that is not my problem because I am speaking as God has directed me.
Lagos Politics
An unknown man will rule Lagos State. Nationally, APC has accommodated traitors and betrayals. It is not yet time for the party to rule this country. However, if they really want to rule, they have to struggle and pray very well to get the right candidate. They must be watchful so that their party is not used for negotiation.
Sports, Aviation, Climate
Nigeria will try their best in the World Cup but I do not see them in the semi-final or final. Let us be very watchful in the aviation sector so that pilots will not go on strike. Also, there will be air turbulence in some of our airports such as in Lagos and Abuja. We also must be watchful so that there won’t be any air crash. I however see reforms in the aviation sector.Let us pray very well so that this growing climatic condition will also not cause mourning for this country.
Police and MASSOB clash in Onitsha leaving One dead and 11 people injured.
The members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, on Friday clashed with the police in Anambra State, leaving one person dead, and eleven others in various degrees of injuries.
According to an eye witness, trouble started when a police team on surveillance flagged down a motorist along the ever busy Onitsha/Owerri road in Onitsha, which drew the attention of MASSOB members that were controlling the traffic.
MASSOB members have been involved in voluntary traffic control since the yuletide.
As they intervened, there was a heated argument which resulted in assault between the MASSOB and police, prompting one of the policemen to shoot a MASSOB member and he died instantly.
Consequently, the MASSOB members in anger barricaded the ever-busy Onitsha-Owerri road for two hours and made bonfire with fairly used tyres forcing traffic to divert to the Obosi by-pass.
Meanwhile, the corpse of the dead member was said to have been taken to the Awada Police Station.
When contacted, the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu confirmed the incident but said that trouble started when MASSOB and a rival group had a bloody clash.
He said on hearing of the incident, he dispatched a team of policemen to the troubled area, adding that normalcy had since returned.
P:S- so so sorry for being AWOL this few days...you know how it is this season(a lot of weddings and celebration). Nevertheless,you still in my heart because you are the reason for my being here,and I want to say thank you for being there for me all this while.
According to an eye witness, trouble started when a police team on surveillance flagged down a motorist along the ever busy Onitsha/Owerri road in Onitsha, which drew the attention of MASSOB members that were controlling the traffic.
MASSOB members have been involved in voluntary traffic control since the yuletide.
As they intervened, there was a heated argument which resulted in assault between the MASSOB and police, prompting one of the policemen to shoot a MASSOB member and he died instantly.
Consequently, the MASSOB members in anger barricaded the ever-busy Onitsha-Owerri road for two hours and made bonfire with fairly used tyres forcing traffic to divert to the Obosi by-pass.
Meanwhile, the corpse of the dead member was said to have been taken to the Awada Police Station.
When contacted, the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu confirmed the incident but said that trouble started when MASSOB and a rival group had a bloody clash.
He said on hearing of the incident, he dispatched a team of policemen to the troubled area, adding that normalcy had since returned.
P:S- so so sorry for being AWOL this few days...you know how it is this season(a lot of weddings and celebration). Nevertheless,you still in my heart because you are the reason for my being here,and I want to say thank you for being there for me all this while.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
LetterGate: Al-Mustapha challenges Obasanjo to public debate
The former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha, has reacted to postulations by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in his famous letter to President Goodluck
Jonathan that he (Al-Mustapha) was released from prison to help the president train assassins to eliminate opposition politicians.
Speaking to the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr. Al-Mustapha challenged the ex-president to a public debate on the allegations he raised.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he was away in India receiving treatment for injuries he sustained while in detention during the administrations of Abdulsalami Abubakar and Mr. Obasanjo when he heard of the allegations via a letter published exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES.
"I read Obasanjo's letter and subsequent comments by Nigerians, I would have responded immediately, but I was away in India receiving treatment," he said.
He also said although his name was not mentioned in the letter, he was sure the former president was referring to him.
"If he has anything to say on me, he should mention me directly or even challenge me and not make allusions," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
The former presidential security chief challenged Mr. Obasanjo to publicly ask him anything; saying he would provide him with answers.
Mr. Al-Mustapha swore that the allegation that he is being used by Mr. Jonathan to train assassins is false. He said he has always been in the vanguard of coming to the aide of people from the north to be recruited into the military and para-military agencies; and would therefore never involve himself in anything that would hurt the region.
"Perhaps it is Obasanjo and his cronies that are planning what he was insinuating," he added.
I have forgiven all
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he had decided to forgive all those who had a hand in his incarceration when he was being tried for the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Kudirat Abiola. He was initially convicted for the murder by a Lagos High Court but was discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
He, however, added that such people, including Mr. Obasanjo failed to accept that fact and still harbour fears about him and what he knows about them.
"I urge everyone to pray for Obasanjo to accept my challenge for a public debate so that the truth will come out," he said.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he is focused on helping Nigeria find its rhythm by uniting the people, especially the youth and the poor.
"From 1974 to the present, a lot of things are buried with all sorts of lies. But all would be revealed one day," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
Jonathan that he (Al-Mustapha) was released from prison to help the president train assassins to eliminate opposition politicians.
Speaking to the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr. Al-Mustapha challenged the ex-president to a public debate on the allegations he raised.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he was away in India receiving treatment for injuries he sustained while in detention during the administrations of Abdulsalami Abubakar and Mr. Obasanjo when he heard of the allegations via a letter published exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES.
"I read Obasanjo's letter and subsequent comments by Nigerians, I would have responded immediately, but I was away in India receiving treatment," he said.
He also said although his name was not mentioned in the letter, he was sure the former president was referring to him.
"If he has anything to say on me, he should mention me directly or even challenge me and not make allusions," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
The former presidential security chief challenged Mr. Obasanjo to publicly ask him anything; saying he would provide him with answers.
Mr. Al-Mustapha swore that the allegation that he is being used by Mr. Jonathan to train assassins is false. He said he has always been in the vanguard of coming to the aide of people from the north to be recruited into the military and para-military agencies; and would therefore never involve himself in anything that would hurt the region.
"Perhaps it is Obasanjo and his cronies that are planning what he was insinuating," he added.
I have forgiven all
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he had decided to forgive all those who had a hand in his incarceration when he was being tried for the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Kudirat Abiola. He was initially convicted for the murder by a Lagos High Court but was discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
He, however, added that such people, including Mr. Obasanjo failed to accept that fact and still harbour fears about him and what he knows about them.
"I urge everyone to pray for Obasanjo to accept my challenge for a public debate so that the truth will come out," he said.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he is focused on helping Nigeria find its rhythm by uniting the people, especially the youth and the poor.
"From 1974 to the present, a lot of things are buried with all sorts of lies. But all would be revealed one day," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
LetterGate: Al-Mustapha challenges Obasanjo to public debate
The former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha, has reacted to postulations by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in his famous letter to President Goodluck
Jonathan that he (Al-Mustapha) was released from prison to help the president train assassins to eliminate opposition politicians.
Speaking to the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr. Al-Mustapha challenged the ex-president to a public debate on the allegations he raised.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he was away in India receiving treatment for injuries he sustained while in detention during the administrations of Abdulsalami Abubakar and Mr. Obasanjo when he heard of the allegations via a letter published exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES.
"I read Obasanjo's letter and subsequent comments by Nigerians, I would have responded immediately, but I was away in India receiving treatment," he said.
He also said although his name was not mentioned in the letter, he was sure the former president was referring to him.
"If he has anything to say on me, he should mention me directly or even challenge me and not make allusions," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
The former presidential security chief challenged Mr. Obasanjo to publicly ask him anything; saying he would provide him with answers.
Mr. Al-Mustapha swore that the allegation that he is being used by Mr. Jonathan to train assassins is false. He said he has always been in the vanguard of coming to the aide of people from the north to be recruited into the military and para-military agencies; and would therefore never involve himself in anything that would hurt the region.
"Perhaps it is Obasanjo and his cronies that are planning what he was insinuating," he added.
I have forgiven all
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he had decided to forgive all those who had a hand in his incarceration when he was being tried for the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Kudirat Abiola. He was initially convicted for the murder by a Lagos High Court but was discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
He, however, added that such people, including Mr. Obasanjo failed to accept that fact and still harbour fears about him and what he knows about them.
"I urge everyone to pray for Obasanjo to accept my challenge for a public debate so that the truth will come out," he said.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he is focused on helping Nigeria find its rhythm by uniting the people, especially the youth and the poor.
"From 1974 to the present, a lot of things are buried with all sorts of lies. But all would be revealed one day," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
Jonathan that he (Al-Mustapha) was released from prison to help the president train assassins to eliminate opposition politicians.
Speaking to the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr. Al-Mustapha challenged the ex-president to a public debate on the allegations he raised.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he was away in India receiving treatment for injuries he sustained while in detention during the administrations of Abdulsalami Abubakar and Mr. Obasanjo when he heard of the allegations via a letter published exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES.
"I read Obasanjo's letter and subsequent comments by Nigerians, I would have responded immediately, but I was away in India receiving treatment," he said.
He also said although his name was not mentioned in the letter, he was sure the former president was referring to him.
"If he has anything to say on me, he should mention me directly or even challenge me and not make allusions," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
The former presidential security chief challenged Mr. Obasanjo to publicly ask him anything; saying he would provide him with answers.
Mr. Al-Mustapha swore that the allegation that he is being used by Mr. Jonathan to train assassins is false. He said he has always been in the vanguard of coming to the aide of people from the north to be recruited into the military and para-military agencies; and would therefore never involve himself in anything that would hurt the region.
"Perhaps it is Obasanjo and his cronies that are planning what he was insinuating," he added.
I have forgiven all
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he had decided to forgive all those who had a hand in his incarceration when he was being tried for the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Kudirat Abiola. He was initially convicted for the murder by a Lagos High Court but was discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
He, however, added that such people, including Mr. Obasanjo failed to accept that fact and still harbour fears about him and what he knows about them.
"I urge everyone to pray for Obasanjo to accept my challenge for a public debate so that the truth will come out," he said.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he is focused on helping Nigeria find its rhythm by uniting the people, especially the youth and the poor.
"From 1974 to the present, a lot of things are buried with all sorts of lies. But all would be revealed one day," Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
Lettergate: Jonathan submits self to rights commission over criminal allegations made by Obasanjo
President Jonathan Goodluck on Tuesday submitted himself to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, for probe over criminal allegations against him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Former
President Obasanjo had written an 18-page open letter to Jonathan, accusing him of incompetence, engaging in anti-party activities, ethnicism and training about 1,000 snipers ahead of the 2015 polls.
Jonathan, who denied the allegations in his response, is specifically inviting the rights commission to unravel the truth in the allegation that his government had begun training over 1,000 snipers to terminate his political opponents.
In a letter to the commission, President Jonathan is seeking for a thorough investigation of the allegations against him, touching on alleged human rights abuses.
The letter, signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, on the directive of Jonathan, had already been submitted to NHRC.
The letter dated December 23, 2013 was submitted on Tuesday. Sources close to the Presidency told National Mirror that similar letters had been written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The two anti-graft agencies are to probe allegations of economic crimes and official corruption against the Jonathan's administration as contained in Obasanjo's letter.
Although, National Mirror could not get copies of the letters, a copy of Jonathan's letter to NHRC confirmed on Monday that both the ICPC and the EFCC had also been directed to handle allegations touching on economic crimes.
In the memo signed by Adoke (SAN) and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, the AGF requested the commission to investigate the allegations on the human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the letter dated December 2 written by former President Obasanjo to President Jonathan.
The memo with number HAGF/NHRC2013/Vol2/5 reads in part: "Re: Before it is too late: "May I draw your attention to the above and the attached State House memorandum dated December 23, 2013 in respect of the above subject matter.
"I am to request you to investigate the allegations bothering on the human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the latter dated 2nd December 2013, written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to President Goodluck Jonathan, attached to the memorandum under reference.
"In order to properly delineate the issues within your sphere of competence particularly as other issues raised in the letter are being investigated by appropriate agencies of government, I have decided to reproduce the relevant paragraphs below.
According to Adoke the paragraphs to be investigated by the commission are: "Allegations of keeping over 1,000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snippets and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for purposes like Abacha and training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, it cannot augur well for the initiator, the government and people of Nigeria. "Here again, there is lesson of his to learn from anybody who cares to learn from history.
Mr. President would always remember that he was elected to maintain security for all Nigerians for personal or political ambition or interest of anyone.
"The Yoruba race adage says 'the man with whose head coconut is broken may not live to savour the taste of the succulent fruit'. Those who advise you to go hard on those who oppose you are your worst enemies.
"Democratic politics admits and is permissible of supporters and opponents. When the consequences come, those who have wrongly advised you will not be there to help carry the can. Egypt must teach some lessons. "Presidential assistance for a murderer to evade justice and presidential delegation to welcome him home can only be in bad taste generally but particularly to the family of the victim. "Assisting criminals to evade justice cannot be part of the job of the presidency. Or, as it is viewed in some quarters, is he being recruited to do for you what he had done for Abacha in the past? Hopefully, he should have learnt his lesson.
Let us continue to watch," the memo added. The Presidency had attached two exhibits to the letter including the original letter written by Obasanjo and the reply by President Jonathan.
Both letters were replete with accusations and counter- accusations, some of which were criminal. National Mirror gathered yesterday that the NHRC would invite the two dramatis personae in the crisis: former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Jonathan to expatiate on the allegations contained in the two letters.
A source at the commission, who did not want his name mentioned, also said that those connected in the allegations would be invited to assist the rights commission by providing particulars to the allegations. The particulars, National Mirror learnt, would guide the commission to arrive at a just conclusion on the sensitive issue. Although the commission had acknowledged the letter, no formal step has so far been taken on it.
Source: National Mirror
President Obasanjo had written an 18-page open letter to Jonathan, accusing him of incompetence, engaging in anti-party activities, ethnicism and training about 1,000 snipers ahead of the 2015 polls.
Jonathan, who denied the allegations in his response, is specifically inviting the rights commission to unravel the truth in the allegation that his government had begun training over 1,000 snipers to terminate his political opponents.
In a letter to the commission, President Jonathan is seeking for a thorough investigation of the allegations against him, touching on alleged human rights abuses.
The letter, signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, on the directive of Jonathan, had already been submitted to NHRC.
The letter dated December 23, 2013 was submitted on Tuesday. Sources close to the Presidency told National Mirror that similar letters had been written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The two anti-graft agencies are to probe allegations of economic crimes and official corruption against the Jonathan's administration as contained in Obasanjo's letter.
Although, National Mirror could not get copies of the letters, a copy of Jonathan's letter to NHRC confirmed on Monday that both the ICPC and the EFCC had also been directed to handle allegations touching on economic crimes.
In the memo signed by Adoke (SAN) and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, the AGF requested the commission to investigate the allegations on the human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the letter dated December 2 written by former President Obasanjo to President Jonathan.
The memo with number HAGF/NHRC2013/Vol2/5 reads in part: "Re: Before it is too late: "May I draw your attention to the above and the attached State House memorandum dated December 23, 2013 in respect of the above subject matter.
"I am to request you to investigate the allegations bothering on the human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the latter dated 2nd December 2013, written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to President Goodluck Jonathan, attached to the memorandum under reference.
"In order to properly delineate the issues within your sphere of competence particularly as other issues raised in the letter are being investigated by appropriate agencies of government, I have decided to reproduce the relevant paragraphs below.
According to Adoke the paragraphs to be investigated by the commission are: "Allegations of keeping over 1,000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snippets and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for purposes like Abacha and training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, it cannot augur well for the initiator, the government and people of Nigeria. "Here again, there is lesson of his to learn from anybody who cares to learn from history.
Mr. President would always remember that he was elected to maintain security for all Nigerians for personal or political ambition or interest of anyone.
"The Yoruba race adage says 'the man with whose head coconut is broken may not live to savour the taste of the succulent fruit'. Those who advise you to go hard on those who oppose you are your worst enemies.
"Democratic politics admits and is permissible of supporters and opponents. When the consequences come, those who have wrongly advised you will not be there to help carry the can. Egypt must teach some lessons. "Presidential assistance for a murderer to evade justice and presidential delegation to welcome him home can only be in bad taste generally but particularly to the family of the victim. "Assisting criminals to evade justice cannot be part of the job of the presidency. Or, as it is viewed in some quarters, is he being recruited to do for you what he had done for Abacha in the past? Hopefully, he should have learnt his lesson.
Let us continue to watch," the memo added. The Presidency had attached two exhibits to the letter including the original letter written by Obasanjo and the reply by President Jonathan.
Both letters were replete with accusations and counter- accusations, some of which were criminal. National Mirror gathered yesterday that the NHRC would invite the two dramatis personae in the crisis: former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Jonathan to expatiate on the allegations contained in the two letters.
A source at the commission, who did not want his name mentioned, also said that those connected in the allegations would be invited to assist the rights commission by providing particulars to the allegations. The particulars, National Mirror learnt, would guide the commission to arrive at a just conclusion on the sensitive issue. Although the commission had acknowledged the letter, no formal step has so far been taken on it.
Source: National Mirror
Akinola,Former Anglican Primate abucted, and rescued Yesterday
Most Reverend Peter Jasper Akinola, the former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) who was on Tuesday, abducted in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital. He was, however, rescued hours later by the state police command.
Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Command said it rescued the ex-CAN President at Ijoga Price in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi told newsmen on phone that, the rescue operation was like a war that lasted two hours.
According to Adejobi, men of the Nigeria Police and the gang engaged in gun duel for hours before the cleric was rescued.
"It was a war because before we could rescue the old man. We found out that, apart from the man and his driver, one of his children was there.
"We have 10 teams of policemen that participated in the rescue operation. Three of the teams were escorting the victims to their house. And the remaining teams are still there in the bush because the place is wide."
When asked if it was a case of kidnapping, Adejobi said it would be too early to conclude, saying the command would find out from the victims during interrogation.
The 69-year-old cleric was reportedly waylaid by unknown gunmen at about 3:00 pm, in front of the main entrance of the Peter Akinola Foundation Centre for Youth Industrial Training at Kilometre 10, Abeokuta-Lagos expressway and seized with his driver, whose name could not be ascertained at press time.
A source close to the retired primate told newsmen that Akinola was returning from the youth training centre where he had gone to inspect some ongoing projects.
The abductors were said to have blocked the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) conveying the cleric and started shooting into the air before he was taken away in his vehicle
Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Command said it rescued the ex-CAN President at Ijoga Price in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi told newsmen on phone that, the rescue operation was like a war that lasted two hours.
According to Adejobi, men of the Nigeria Police and the gang engaged in gun duel for hours before the cleric was rescued.
"It was a war because before we could rescue the old man. We found out that, apart from the man and his driver, one of his children was there.
"We have 10 teams of policemen that participated in the rescue operation. Three of the teams were escorting the victims to their house. And the remaining teams are still there in the bush because the place is wide."
When asked if it was a case of kidnapping, Adejobi said it would be too early to conclude, saying the command would find out from the victims during interrogation.
The 69-year-old cleric was reportedly waylaid by unknown gunmen at about 3:00 pm, in front of the main entrance of the Peter Akinola Foundation Centre for Youth Industrial Training at Kilometre 10, Abeokuta-Lagos expressway and seized with his driver, whose name could not be ascertained at press time.
A source close to the retired primate told newsmen that Akinola was returning from the youth training centre where he had gone to inspect some ongoing projects.
The abductors were said to have blocked the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) conveying the cleric and started shooting into the air before he was taken away in his vehicle
Oduahgate: "I was never asked to resign"- Stella Oduah
The embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, on Tuesday said the report of the House of Representatives, which investigated the N255 million cars' scam never recommended her for resignation or request President Goodluck Jonathan to sack her.
Speaking on Tuesday, during an inspection tour of the remodelled Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, Oduah, who reacted angrily to the question when asked by one of the journalists said that she had equally read the report totally.
Oduah said what the House recommended was for the Presidency to review some of the things in the sector. She said, "I think it means you don't read or you probably don't understand English, because I read it too.
What was there was that Mr. President can and should review the report. That was what they said there. Probably, you should go back to school." Speaking on the remodelled airport, Oduah assured that the airport would be commissioned before the end of first quarter of 2014, adding that other airports across the country would equally be completed and open for use before the second quarter of 2014.
"We want to start the use of these facilities by the end of the first quarter. What is very key is that passengers travel experience will be very different, which means you have the comfort, the safety, security and most importantly, you increase the capacity, which means you have ample space to do what you are supposed to do.
"Nigerians should expect the airport that was promised them, aviation that would be catalyst to the nation's growth, aviation that has been repositioned and most importantly, an aviation that will create jobs and skills for Nigeria aviation experts. "Ours is to maximise the capacities that have not been maximised all these years."
Speaking on Tuesday, during an inspection tour of the remodelled Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, Oduah, who reacted angrily to the question when asked by one of the journalists said that she had equally read the report totally.
Oduah said what the House recommended was for the Presidency to review some of the things in the sector. She said, "I think it means you don't read or you probably don't understand English, because I read it too.
What was there was that Mr. President can and should review the report. That was what they said there. Probably, you should go back to school." Speaking on the remodelled airport, Oduah assured that the airport would be commissioned before the end of first quarter of 2014, adding that other airports across the country would equally be completed and open for use before the second quarter of 2014.
"We want to start the use of these facilities by the end of the first quarter. What is very key is that passengers travel experience will be very different, which means you have the comfort, the safety, security and most importantly, you increase the capacity, which means you have ample space to do what you are supposed to do.
"Nigerians should expect the airport that was promised them, aviation that would be catalyst to the nation's growth, aviation that has been repositioned and most importantly, an aviation that will create jobs and skills for Nigeria aviation experts. "Ours is to maximise the capacities that have not been maximised all these years."
Merry Christmas
Merry christmas friends....may you witness more blossom years in good health with joy,happiness,upliftment,favour,mercy,wealth in abundance in jesus name(Amen)
And may the joy of Christmas fill your heart,and home.
Want to say a very BIG thank you to all REB readers,thanks for taking out time to read and comment on my blog,may God bless you all,and May He grant you favour in all you do and desire.
Have fun,celebrate and as you do, don't forget the reason for the season.....its all about Love!!!!
XOXO
And may the joy of Christmas fill your heart,and home.
Want to say a very BIG thank you to all REB readers,thanks for taking out time to read and comment on my blog,may God bless you all,and May He grant you favour in all you do and desire.
Have fun,celebrate and as you do, don't forget the reason for the season.....its all about Love!!!!
XOXO
Monday, December 23, 2013
Oduahgate Update : President Jonathan Summons Aviation minister,Stella
Anxiety is now trailing the fate of the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah as she had an unscheduled close door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Monday.
The meeting between President Jonathan and the minister which lasted over two hours is generating tension in certain quarters over her job, as some presidency sources say it might not be unconnected with the scandal bordering on financial irregularities in the purchase of two bulletproof cars to the tune of N225 million by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities (NCAA) for the minister.
Another source at the presidency told Reporters, that the minister was overheard saying she was at the president's office to invite him for a programme being organised by the Aviation ministry.
This is the first time the minister is coming on her own to meet with the president in his office since the scandal that rocked the aviation ministry over the BMW bulletproof cars.
Clad in a coffee kampala gown with a wine head scaff and bag to match, Oduah arrived Aso Villa at about 2.45pm in the company of one of her aides.
She walked sluggishly with her head bowed to the ground as she entered the president's office and was there over two hours.
The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim also came in at about the same time to see the president, but it was not clear whether he was part of the meeting.
The minister came out of the president's office at about 5:17pm, just about 20 minutes after the SGF had left. She wore the same pensive look which characterised her movement when she came to the place earlier on.
Following the N255 million armoured cars' scandal in the ministry, President Jonathan had been under intense pressure to sack the minister.
The House of Representatives had also asked the president to sack the minister for violating the constitutional provision in the acquisition of the armoured cars, a position which the minister condemned.
The meeting between President Jonathan and the minister which lasted over two hours is generating tension in certain quarters over her job, as some presidency sources say it might not be unconnected with the scandal bordering on financial irregularities in the purchase of two bulletproof cars to the tune of N225 million by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities (NCAA) for the minister.
Another source at the presidency told Reporters, that the minister was overheard saying she was at the president's office to invite him for a programme being organised by the Aviation ministry.
This is the first time the minister is coming on her own to meet with the president in his office since the scandal that rocked the aviation ministry over the BMW bulletproof cars.
Clad in a coffee kampala gown with a wine head scaff and bag to match, Oduah arrived Aso Villa at about 2.45pm in the company of one of her aides.
She walked sluggishly with her head bowed to the ground as she entered the president's office and was there over two hours.
The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim also came in at about the same time to see the president, but it was not clear whether he was part of the meeting.
The minister came out of the president's office at about 5:17pm, just about 20 minutes after the SGF had left. She wore the same pensive look which characterised her movement when she came to the place earlier on.
Following the N255 million armoured cars' scandal in the ministry, President Jonathan had been under intense pressure to sack the minister.
The House of Representatives had also asked the president to sack the minister for violating the constitutional provision in the acquisition of the armoured cars, a position which the minister condemned.
Obasanjo Declines to respond to President Jonathan's letter
In response to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's reply to his letter.
Former President Obasanjo has released a media statement today through his Media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, saying he has accomplished his aim of bringing President Jonathan's attention to important national issues and has nothing else to say to him
The statement read,
“Since the publication of the letter written by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which was in response to the letter earlier written by revered former President Olusegun Obasanjo; we have received several requests from local & international media asking to know Chief Obasanjo’s reaction to Mr. President’s response.
“One, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledges Mr. President’s letter/response. However, Baba, as he already indicated in his December 2, 2013 letter, does not wish to make further comments beyond the contents of his last letter to Mr. President or react to the said letter/response from Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Let me quote from page fourteen, paragraph two of Chief Obasanjo’s letter to Mr. President dated December 2, 2013 and titled Before It Is Too Late: Continue...
‘I will maintain my serenity, because by this letter I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria’.
“Two, let me reiterate here, that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR has tremendous respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sincerely appreciates all of you, my cherished colleagues; gentlemen and women of the media profession, who have been very upright, ethical and robust on the subject matter.”
....
Former President Obasanjo has released a media statement today through his Media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, saying he has accomplished his aim of bringing President Jonathan's attention to important national issues and has nothing else to say to him
The statement read,
“Since the publication of the letter written by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which was in response to the letter earlier written by revered former President Olusegun Obasanjo; we have received several requests from local & international media asking to know Chief Obasanjo’s reaction to Mr. President’s response.
“One, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledges Mr. President’s letter/response. However, Baba, as he already indicated in his December 2, 2013 letter, does not wish to make further comments beyond the contents of his last letter to Mr. President or react to the said letter/response from Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Let me quote from page fourteen, paragraph two of Chief Obasanjo’s letter to Mr. President dated December 2, 2013 and titled Before It Is Too Late: Continue...
‘I will maintain my serenity, because by this letter I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria’.
“Two, let me reiterate here, that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR has tremendous respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sincerely appreciates all of you, my cherished colleagues; gentlemen and women of the media profession, who have been very upright, ethical and robust on the subject matter.”
....
Obasanjo Declines to respond to President Jonathan's letter
In response to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's reply to his letter.
Former President Obasanjo has released a media statement today through his Media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, saying he has accomplished his aim of bringing President Jonathan's attention to important national issues and has nothing else to say to him
The statement read,
“Since the publication of the letter written by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which was in response to the letter earlier written by revered former President Olusegun Obasanjo; we have received several requests from local & international media asking to know Chief Obasanjo’s reaction to Mr. President’s response.
“One, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledges Mr. President’s letter/response. However, Baba, as he already indicated in his December 2, 2013 letter, does not wish to make further comments beyond the contents of his last letter to Mr. President or react to the said letter/response from Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Let me quote from page fourteen, paragraph two of Chief Obasanjo’s letter to Mr. President dated December 2, 2013 and titled Before It Is Too Late: Continue...
‘I will maintain my serenity, because by this letter I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria’.
“Two, let me reiterate here, that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR has tremendous respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sincerely appreciates all of you, my cherished colleagues; gentlemen and women of the media profession, who have been very upright, ethical and robust on the subject matter.”
....
Former President Obasanjo has released a media statement today through his Media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, saying he has accomplished his aim of bringing President Jonathan's attention to important national issues and has nothing else to say to him
The statement read,
“Since the publication of the letter written by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which was in response to the letter earlier written by revered former President Olusegun Obasanjo; we have received several requests from local & international media asking to know Chief Obasanjo’s reaction to Mr. President’s response.
“One, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledges Mr. President’s letter/response. However, Baba, as he already indicated in his December 2, 2013 letter, does not wish to make further comments beyond the contents of his last letter to Mr. President or react to the said letter/response from Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Let me quote from page fourteen, paragraph two of Chief Obasanjo’s letter to Mr. President dated December 2, 2013 and titled Before It Is Too Late: Continue...
‘I will maintain my serenity, because by this letter I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria’.
“Two, let me reiterate here, that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR has tremendous respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sincerely appreciates all of you, my cherished colleagues; gentlemen and women of the media profession, who have been very upright, ethical and robust on the subject matter.”
....
Rivers State Governor gives condition to return to PDP
The Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has given President Goodluck Jonathan one condition to return to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Amaechi said he was ready to go back to the PDP if Jonathan would return Rivers oil wells ceded to neighbouring Bayelsa State.
The governor, who spoke on Monday during a rally organised by the All Progressives Congress at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, said despite the 2.1 million votes Jonathan received in the state in 2011, the Federal Government had not executed any project in Rivers.
He dismissed claims that the ceding of Rivers oil wells in Soku to Bayelsa State was done during the tenure of former Governor Rufus Ada George.
Amaechi said, “We gave the President nearly 2.1 million votes. Let him tell us one project he has done for us. I have challenged the President that I belong to APC. If he wants me back in PDP, let him return the oil wells to the Kalabari people and I will come back.
“But the President cannot. Instead, he will take more. One of our sons, a Kalabari son, said the oil wells were taken under Rufus Ada-George. Tell him I say he is lying. He never served in any government. I served under Ada-George government and there was no oil well taken from Rivers State then.
“I served under Dr. Peter Odili. The oil well was taken in 2006. They put the money in an escrow account and by 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, they took all the money and gave to our brothers and they converted Soku to Bayelsa.”
Source: punch
Amaechi said he was ready to go back to the PDP if Jonathan would return Rivers oil wells ceded to neighbouring Bayelsa State.
The governor, who spoke on Monday during a rally organised by the All Progressives Congress at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, said despite the 2.1 million votes Jonathan received in the state in 2011, the Federal Government had not executed any project in Rivers.
He dismissed claims that the ceding of Rivers oil wells in Soku to Bayelsa State was done during the tenure of former Governor Rufus Ada George.
Amaechi said, “We gave the President nearly 2.1 million votes. Let him tell us one project he has done for us. I have challenged the President that I belong to APC. If he wants me back in PDP, let him return the oil wells to the Kalabari people and I will come back.
“But the President cannot. Instead, he will take more. One of our sons, a Kalabari son, said the oil wells were taken under Rufus Ada-George. Tell him I say he is lying. He never served in any government. I served under Ada-George government and there was no oil well taken from Rivers State then.
“I served under Dr. Peter Odili. The oil well was taken in 2006. They put the money in an escrow account and by 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, they took all the money and gave to our brothers and they converted Soku to Bayelsa.”
Source: punch
Obasanjo cannot stop Jonathan in 2015 - Alamieyeseigha
The Bayelsa State former Governor, Diepreye Aliamieyeseigha, at the weekend described former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as an autocratic individual looking for national sympathy. Reacting to Obasanjo's
controversial letter to Jonathan, the former governor said it was laughable that the former president was now acting like a saint and "Mr.-Know-it-all".
In a chat with newsmen in Yenagoa at the weekend, Alams as fondly called, said Obasanjo was mischievous in writing such letter to the President.
"In my objective opinion, I will say President Jonathan and his aides should look at it and make a proper analysis of the content.
"But my grouse with the entire scenario is that the approach to writing the letter to President Jonathan is very mischievous and there is clear bias and sentiments in the circumstance which has caused it to generate some controversy", he said.
According to him, the letter would not in any way affect the chance of President Jonathan in the 2015 elections, as the ex-Head of State does not control Nigerians.
He wondered why Obasanjo would attack Jonathan over insecurity and other issues on governance, asking him to give account of what he did in those areas in his eight years in office after return of democracy.
He recalled that Obasanjo was a very autocratic ruler contrary to his current democratic stance.
On the allegation that Jonathan was training snipers ahead of the 2015 elections, Aliamieyeseigha asked Obasanjo to compare the number of prominent persons that were killed during his tenure and how many had been killed under the present political dispensation.
"At least, as a former Governor, I will say that I have encountered Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
"The Obasanjo I know, when he was the President of this country, had displayed all the things he is alleging against Jonathan even more than any other leader in this country.
"There is no issue he has raised in his letter that he did not do when he was at the head of government in this country.
"That is why am insisting that Chief Obasanjo is mischievous in his intent of writing the letter to Goodluck and leaking it to the press.
"Chief Obasanjo's character is that if it is not him, it should be nobody else. He is 'Mr Know all'.
"He will call you for a meeting to come and brainstorm to proffer solutions to a problem. He will tell you about the problem and proffer solution without giving you room to make any contribution to what he invited you to. That is his character.
"Obasanjo is not Nigeria. He alone cannot tell the citizens what to do. Remember he lost election in his own village. That is how unpopular he is even up till today or tomorrow. But Nigerians still voted for him.
"His disposition cannot significantly affect the electoral fortunes of Jonathan. It is God who gives power. If God so desire that Jonathan will continue in office, then his aspiration will come to fruition.
"Jonathan has done much more than any other president has done. Let us support and encourage him instead of trying to pull him down by whipping up sentiments", Aliamieyeseigha said.
He added: "Today he (Obasanjo) is talking about Goodluck Jonathan training snipers or whatever he calls it and having a watch list.
"How many high profile persons have been killed during Goodluck Jonathan's time compared to the long list of great men who were killed during his time as President of the country?
"Has he forgotten about Bola Ige, what happened to Marshall Harry, Dikibo, Funsho Williams? I can go on and on. Who had the sharp shooters that killed all these prominent Nigerians and what has been the outcome of their investigations?
"If I may ask again, what is the rationale behind Chief Obasanjo copying two former military rulers and T.Y Danjuma in his letter? I'm sure his reference to Dr. Ekweme is only an after thought.
"It surprises me that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the one insinuating about the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.
"To be precise, on 18th of August 2005, then President Obasanjo called me into his inner office and asked me why I was supporting his Vice, Atiku Abubakar.
"He offered to give me whatever I would have benefited supporting Atiku. He told me that if I don't work for him (Obasanjo) it's possible he will give it to my deputy.
"He had explained to me that he is not the oldest President in Africa and that he wants to continue for an extended tenure in office.
"He told me not to support a bloody civilian like Atiku Abubakar and that I should work with him to actualise his ambition. Today, he is denying everywhere that he never wanted a third term in office.
"Am also very surprised that Chief Obasanjo is talking about drift in governance and development. Since 1999 after Chief Obasanjo assumed office, he was only globe trotting. It was Atiku that was running the country.
"Nothing had happened. Obasanjo did not achieve anything as a President during his first tenure in the name of laundering the image of the country", he added.
controversial letter to Jonathan, the former governor said it was laughable that the former president was now acting like a saint and "Mr.-Know-it-all".
In a chat with newsmen in Yenagoa at the weekend, Alams as fondly called, said Obasanjo was mischievous in writing such letter to the President.
"In my objective opinion, I will say President Jonathan and his aides should look at it and make a proper analysis of the content.
"But my grouse with the entire scenario is that the approach to writing the letter to President Jonathan is very mischievous and there is clear bias and sentiments in the circumstance which has caused it to generate some controversy", he said.
According to him, the letter would not in any way affect the chance of President Jonathan in the 2015 elections, as the ex-Head of State does not control Nigerians.
He wondered why Obasanjo would attack Jonathan over insecurity and other issues on governance, asking him to give account of what he did in those areas in his eight years in office after return of democracy.
He recalled that Obasanjo was a very autocratic ruler contrary to his current democratic stance.
On the allegation that Jonathan was training snipers ahead of the 2015 elections, Aliamieyeseigha asked Obasanjo to compare the number of prominent persons that were killed during his tenure and how many had been killed under the present political dispensation.
"At least, as a former Governor, I will say that I have encountered Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
"The Obasanjo I know, when he was the President of this country, had displayed all the things he is alleging against Jonathan even more than any other leader in this country.
"There is no issue he has raised in his letter that he did not do when he was at the head of government in this country.
"That is why am insisting that Chief Obasanjo is mischievous in his intent of writing the letter to Goodluck and leaking it to the press.
"Chief Obasanjo's character is that if it is not him, it should be nobody else. He is 'Mr Know all'.
"He will call you for a meeting to come and brainstorm to proffer solutions to a problem. He will tell you about the problem and proffer solution without giving you room to make any contribution to what he invited you to. That is his character.
"Obasanjo is not Nigeria. He alone cannot tell the citizens what to do. Remember he lost election in his own village. That is how unpopular he is even up till today or tomorrow. But Nigerians still voted for him.
"His disposition cannot significantly affect the electoral fortunes of Jonathan. It is God who gives power. If God so desire that Jonathan will continue in office, then his aspiration will come to fruition.
"Jonathan has done much more than any other president has done. Let us support and encourage him instead of trying to pull him down by whipping up sentiments", Aliamieyeseigha said.
He added: "Today he (Obasanjo) is talking about Goodluck Jonathan training snipers or whatever he calls it and having a watch list.
"How many high profile persons have been killed during Goodluck Jonathan's time compared to the long list of great men who were killed during his time as President of the country?
"Has he forgotten about Bola Ige, what happened to Marshall Harry, Dikibo, Funsho Williams? I can go on and on. Who had the sharp shooters that killed all these prominent Nigerians and what has been the outcome of their investigations?
"If I may ask again, what is the rationale behind Chief Obasanjo copying two former military rulers and T.Y Danjuma in his letter? I'm sure his reference to Dr. Ekweme is only an after thought.
"It surprises me that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the one insinuating about the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.
"To be precise, on 18th of August 2005, then President Obasanjo called me into his inner office and asked me why I was supporting his Vice, Atiku Abubakar.
"He offered to give me whatever I would have benefited supporting Atiku. He told me that if I don't work for him (Obasanjo) it's possible he will give it to my deputy.
"He had explained to me that he is not the oldest President in Africa and that he wants to continue for an extended tenure in office.
"He told me not to support a bloody civilian like Atiku Abubakar and that I should work with him to actualise his ambition. Today, he is denying everywhere that he never wanted a third term in office.
"Am also very surprised that Chief Obasanjo is talking about drift in governance and development. Since 1999 after Chief Obasanjo assumed office, he was only globe trotting. It was Atiku that was running the country.
"Nothing had happened. Obasanjo did not achieve anything as a President during his first tenure in the name of laundering the image of the country", he added.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Breaking news : Doctors calls off strike
National President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday said doctors in public hospitals would end their five-day warning strike and resume duty on Monday.
The NMA had on Dec.15 directed its members to embark on the nationwide strike to protest against the doctors’ poor working conditions, inadequate funding, and poor infrastructure in the nation’s health sector.
“NMA wishes to inform the general public that doctors in the public health sector will resume services from Dec. 23.
“This is in line with our earlier promise to give prime consideration to the Yuletide season in the prosecution of our warning strike.
“Also, to give another opportunity for the Federal Government to concretely resolve all the demands of NMA for which it first issued a 21-day ultimatum on Sept. 2,” he said.
Enabulele also called on the Federal Government to ensure that the demands of doctors were met.
"Nigerian doctors shall not hesitate to commence a full blown strike from 8.00 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2014, if government does not satisfactorily resolve the demands of doctors.
"We fervently call on all well-meaning Nigerians to assist in the resolution of the demands of the NMA.
Source: NAN
The NMA had on Dec.15 directed its members to embark on the nationwide strike to protest against the doctors’ poor working conditions, inadequate funding, and poor infrastructure in the nation’s health sector.
“NMA wishes to inform the general public that doctors in the public health sector will resume services from Dec. 23.
“This is in line with our earlier promise to give prime consideration to the Yuletide season in the prosecution of our warning strike.
“Also, to give another opportunity for the Federal Government to concretely resolve all the demands of NMA for which it first issued a 21-day ultimatum on Sept. 2,” he said.
Enabulele also called on the Federal Government to ensure that the demands of doctors were met.
"Nigerian doctors shall not hesitate to commence a full blown strike from 8.00 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2014, if government does not satisfactorily resolve the demands of doctors.
"We fervently call on all well-meaning Nigerians to assist in the resolution of the demands of the NMA.
Source: NAN
President Jonathan finally replies Fmr President Olusegun Obasanjo
President Jonathan has finally replied former president Obasanjo's 18-page letter where he accused Jonathan of taking actions calculated at destroying Nigeria. President Jonathan's reply below,I must advice its quite a long read...
His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road,
Ibara, Abeokuta.
RE: Before It Is Too Late
I wish to formally acknowledge your letter dated December 2, 2013 and other previous correspondence similar to it.
You will recall that all the letters were brought to me by hand. Although both of us discussed some of the issues in those letters, I had not, before now, seen the need for any formal reply since, to me, they contained advice from a former President to a serving President. Obviously, you felt differently because in your last letter, you complained about my not acknowledging or replying your previous letters. Continue...
It is with the greatest possible reluctance that I now write this reply. I am most uneasy about embarking on this unprecedented and unconventional form of open communication between me and a former leader of our country because I know that there are more acceptable and dignified means of doing so.
But I feel obliged to reply your letter for a number of reasons: one, you formally requested for a reply and not sending you one will be interpreted as ignoring a former President.
Secondly, Nigerians know the role you have played in my political life and given the unfortunate tone of your letter, clearly, the grapes have gone sour. Therefore, my side of the story also needs to be told.
The third reason why I must reply you in writing is that your letter is clearly a threat to national security as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the stage for subversion.
The fourth reason for this reply is that you raised very weighty issues, and since the letter has been made public, Nigerians are expressing legitimate concerns. A response from me therefore, becomes very necessary.
The fifth reason is that this letter may appear in biographies and other books which political commentators on Nigeria’s contemporary politics may write. It is only proper for such publications to include my comments on the issues raised in your letter.
Sixthly, you are very unique in terms of the governance of this country. You were a military Head of State for three years and eight months, and an elected President for eight years. That means you have been the Head of Government of Nigeria for about twelve years. This must have, presumably, exposed you to a lot of information. Thus when you make a statement, there is the tendency for people to take it seriously.
The seventh reason is that the timing of your letter coincided with other vicious releases. The Speaker of the House of Representatives spoke of my “body language” encouraging corruption. A letter written to me by the CBN Governor alleging that NNPC, within a period of 19 months did not remit the sum of USD49.8 billion to the federation account, was also deliberately leaked to the public.
The eighth reason is that it appears that your letter was designed to incite Nigerians from other geopolitical zones against me and also calculated to promote ethnic disharmony. Worse still, your letter was designed to instigate members of our Party, the PDP, against me.
The ninth reason is that your letter conveys to me the feeling that landmines have been laid for me. Therefore, Nigerians need to have my response to the issues raised before the mines explode.
The tenth and final reason why my reply is inevitable is that you have written similar letters and made public comments in reference to all former Presidents and Heads of Government starting from Alhaji Shehu Shagari and these have instigated different actions and reactions. The purpose and direction of your letter is distinctly ominous, and before it is too late, my clarifications on the issues need to be placed on record.
Let me now comment on the issues you raised. In commenting I wish to crave your indulgence to compare what is happening now to what took place before. This, I believe, will enable Nigerians see things in better perspective because we must know where we are coming from so as to appreciate where we now are, and to allow us clearly map out where we are going.
You raised concerns about the security situation in the country. I assure you that I am fully aware of the responsibility of government for ensuring the security of the lives and property of citizens. My Administration is working assiduously to overcome current national security challenges, the seeds of which were sown under previous administrations. There have been some setbacks; but certainly there have also been great successes in our efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.
Those who continue to down-play our successes in this regard, amongst whom you must now be numbered, appear to have conveniently forgotten the depths to which security in our country had plunged before now.
At a stage, almost the entire North-East of Nigeria was under siege by insurgents. Bombings of churches and public buildings in the North and the federal capital became an almost weekly occurrence. Our entire national security apparatus seemed nonplussed and unable to come to grips with the new threat posed by the berthing of terrorism on our shores.
But my administration has since brought that very unacceptable situation under significant control. We have overhauled our entire national security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, training, funding, logistical support to our armed forces and security agencies, and security collaboration with friendly countries with very visible and positive results.
The scope and impact of terrorist operations have been significantly reduced and efforts are underway to restore full normalcy to the most affected North Eastern region and initiate a post-crisis development agenda, including a special intervention programme to boost the region’s socio-economic progress.
In doing all this, we have kept our doors open for dialogue with the insurgents and their supporters through efforts such as the work of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and the Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North-East. You also know that the Governor of Borno State provided the items you mentioned to me as carrots. Having done all this and more, it is interesting that you still accuse me of not acting on your hardly original recommendation that the carrot and stick option be deployed to solve the Boko Haram problem.
Your suggestion that we are pursuing a “war against violence without understanding the root causes of the violence and applying solutions to deal with all the underlying factors” is definitely misplaced because from the onset of this administration, we have been implementing a multifaceted strategy against militancy, insurgency and terrorism that includes poverty alleviation, economic development, education and social reforms.
Even though basic education is the constitutional responsibility of States, my administration has, as part of its efforts to address ignorance and poor education which have been identified as two of the factors responsible for making some of our youth easily available for use as cannon fodder by insurgents and terrorists, committed huge funds to the provision of modern basic education schools for the Almajiri in several Northern States. The Federal Government under my leadership has also set up nine additional universities in the Northern States and three in the Southern States in keeping with my belief that proper education is the surest way of emancipating and empowering our people.
More uncharitable persons may even see a touch of sanctimoniousness in your new belief in the carrot and stick approach to overcoming militancy and insurgency. You have always referred to how you hit Odi in Bayelsa State to curb militancy in the Niger Delta. If the invasion of Odi by the Army was the stick, I did not see the corresponding carrot. I was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State then, and as I have always told you, the invasion of Odi did not solve any militancy problem but, to some extent, escalated it. If it had solved it, late President Yar’Adua would not have had to come up with the amnesty program. And while some elements of the problem may still be there, in general, the situation is reasonably better.
In terms of general insecurity in the country and particularly the crisis in the Niger Delta, 2007 was one of the worst periods in our history. You will recall three incidents that happened in 2007 which seemed to have been orchestrated to achieve sinister objectives. Here in Abuja, a petrol tanker loaded with explosives was to be rammed into the INEC building. But luckily for the country, an electric pole stopped the tanker from hitting the INEC building. It is clear that this incident was meant to exploit the general sense of insecurity in the nation at the time to achieve the aim of stopping the 2007 elections. It is instructive that you, on a number of occasions, alluded to this fact.
When that incident failed, an armed group invaded Yenagoa one evening with the intent to assassinate me. Luckily for me, they could not. They again attacked and bombed my country home on a night when I was expected in the village. Fortunately, as God would have it, I did not make the trip.
I recall that immediately after both incidents, I got calls expressing the concern of Abuja. But Baba, you know that despite the apparent concern of Abuja, no single arrest was ever made. I was then the Governor of Bayelsa State and the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate. The security people ordinarily should have unraveled the assassination attempt on me.
You also raised the issues of kidnapping, piracy and armed robbery. These are issues all Nigerians, including me are very concerned about. While we will continue to do our utmost best to reduce all forms of criminality to the barest minimum in our country, it is just as well to remind you that the first major case of kidnapping for ransom took place around 2006. And the Boko Haram crisis dates back to 2002. Goodluck Jonathan was not the President of the country then. Also, armed robbery started in this country immediately after the civil war and since then, it has been a problem to all succeeding governments. For a former Head of Government, who should know better, to present these problems as if they were creations of the Jonathan Administration is most uncharitable.
Having said that, let me remind you of some of the things we have done to curb violent crime in the country. We have reorganized the Nigerian Police Force and appointed a more dynamic leadership to oversee its affairs. We have also improved its manpower levels as well as funding, training and logistical support.
We have also increased the surveillance capabilities of the Police and provided its air-wing with thrice the number of helicopters it had before the inception of the present administration. The National Civil Defence and Security Corps has been armed to make it a much more effective ally of the police and other security agencies in the war against violent crime. At both domestic and international levels, we are doing everything possible to curb the proliferation of the small arms and light weapons with which armed robberies, kidnappings and piracy are perpetrated. We have also enhanced security at our borders to curb cross-border crimes.
We are aggressively addressing the challenge of crude oil theft in collaboration with the state Governors. In addition, the Federal Government has engaged the British and US governments for their support in the tracking of the proceeds from the purchase of stolen crude. Similarly, a regional Gulf of Guinea security strategy has been initiated to curb crude oil theft and piracy.
Perhaps the most invidious accusation in your letter is the allegation that I have placed over one thousand Nigerians on a political watch list, and that I am training snipers and other militia to assassinate people. Baba, I don’t know where you got that from but you do me grave injustice in not only lending credence to such baseless rumours, but also publicizing it. You mentioned God seventeen times in your letter. Can you as a Christian hold the Bible and say that you truly believe this allegation?
The allegation of training snipers to assassinate political opponents is particularly incomprehensible to me. Since I started my political career as a Deputy Governor, I have never been associated with any form of political violence. I have been a President for over three years now, with a lot of challenges and opposition mainly from the high and mighty. There have certainly been cases of political assassination since the advent of our Fourth Republic, but as you well know, none of them occurred under my leadership.
Regarding the over one thousand people you say are on a political watch list, I urge you to kindly tell Nigerians who they are and what agencies of government are “watching” them. Your allegation that I am using security operatives to harass people is also baseless. Nigerians are waiting for your evidence of proof. That was an accusation made against previous administrations, including yours, but it is certainly not my style and will never be. Again, if you insist on the spurious claim that some of your relatives and friends are being harassed, I urge you to name them and tell Nigerians what agencies of my administration are harassing them.
I also find it difficult to believe that you will accuse me of assisting murderers, or assigning a presidential delegation to welcome a murderer. This is a most unconscionable and untrue allegation. It is incumbent on me to remind you that I am fully conscious of the dictates of my responsibilities to God and our dear nation. It is my hope that devious elements will not take advantage of your baseless allegation to engage in brazen and wanton assassination of high profile politicians as before, hiding under the alibi your “open letter” has provided for them.
Nevertheless, I have directed the security agencies and requested the National Human Rights Commission to carry out a thorough investigation of these criminal allegations and make their findings public.
That corruption is an issue in Nigeria is indisputable. It has been with us for many years. You will recall that your kinsman, the renowned afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti famously sang about it during your first stint as Head of State. Sonny Okosun also sang about corruption. And as you may recall, a number of Army Generals were to be retired because of corruption before the Dimka coup. Also, the late General Murtala Mohammed himself wanted to retire some top people in his cabinet on corruption-related issues before he was assassinated. Even in this Fourth Republic, the Siemens and Halliburton scandals are well known.
The seed of corruption in this country was planted a long time ago, but we are doing all that we can to drastically reduce its debilitating effects on national development and progress. I have been strengthening the institutions established to fight corruption. I will not shield any government official or private individual involved in corruption, but I must follow due process in all that I do. And whenever clear cases of corruption or fraud have been established, my administration has always taken prompt action in keeping with the dictates of extant laws and procedures. You cannot claim to be unaware of the fact that several highly placed persons in our country, including sons of some of our party leaders are currently facing trial for their involvement in the celebrated subsidy scam affair. I can hardly be blamed if the wheels of justice still grind very slowly in our country, but we are doing our best to support and encourage the judiciary to quicken the pace of adjudication in cases of corruption.
Baba, I am amazed that with all the knowledge garnered from your many years at the highest level of governance in our country, you could still believe the spurious allegation contained in a letter written to me by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and surreptitiously obtained by you, alleging that USD49.8 billion, a sum equal to our entire national budget for two years, is “unaccounted for” by the NNPC. Since, as President, you also served for many years as Minister of Petroleum Resources, you very well know the workings of the corporation. It is therefore intriguing that you have made such an assertion. You made a lot of insinuations about oil theft, shady dealings at the NNPC and the NNPC not remitting the full proceeds of oil sales to the of CBN. Now that the main source of the allegations which you rehashed has publicly stated that he was “misconstrued”, perhaps you will find it in your heart to apologize for misleading unwary Nigerians and impugning the integrity of my administration on that score.
Your claim of “Atlantic Oil loading about 130, 000 barrels sold by Shell and managed on behalf of NPDC with no sale proceeds paid into the NPDC account” is also disjointed and baseless because no such arrangement as you described exists between Atlantic Oil and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company. NPDC currently produces about 138, 000 barrels of oil per day from over 7 producing assets. The Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the NNPC markets all of this production on behalf of NPDC with proceeds paid into NPDC account.
I am really shocked that with all avenues open to you as a former Head of State for the verification of any information you have received about state affairs, you chose to go public with allegations of “high corruption” without offering a shred of supporting evidence. One of your political “sons” similarly alleged recently that he told me of a minister who received a bribe of $250 Million from an oil company and I did nothing about it. He may have been playing from a shared script, but we have not heard from him again since he was challenged to name the minister involved and provide the evidence to back his claim. I urge you, in the same vein, to furnish me with the names, facts and figures of a single verifiable case of the “high corruption” which you say stinks all around my administration and see whether the corrective action you advocate does not follow promptly. And while you are at it, you may also wish to tell Nigerians the true story of questionable waivers of signature bonuses between 2000 and 2007.
While, by the Grace of God Almighty, I am the first President from a minority group, I am never unmindful of the fact that I was elected leader of the whole of Nigeria and I have always acted in the best interest of all Nigerians. You referred to the divisive actions and inflammatory utterances of some individuals from the South-South and asserted that I have done nothing to call them to order or distance myself from their ethnic chauvinism. Again that is very untrue. I am as committed to the unity of this country as any patriot can be and I have publicly declared on many occasions that no person who threatens other Nigerians or parts of the country is acting on my behalf.
It is very regrettable that in your letter, you seem to place sole responsibility for the ongoing intrigues and tensions in the PDP at my doorstep, and going on from that position, you direct all your appeals for a resolution at me. Baba, let us all be truthful to ourselves, God and posterity. At the heart of all the current troubles in our party and the larger polity is the unbridled jostling and positioning for personal or group advantage ahead of the 2015 general elections. The “bitterness, anger, mistrust, fear and deep suspicion” you wrote about all flow from this singular factor.
It is indeed very unfortunate that the seeming crisis in the party was instigated by a few senior members of the party, including you. But, as leader of the party, I will continue to do my best to unite it so that we can move forward with strength and unity of purpose. The PDP has always recovered from previous crises with renewed vigour and vitality. I am very optimistic that that will be the case again this time. The PDP will overcome any temporary setback, remain a strong party and even grow stronger.
Instigating people to cause problems and disaffection within the party is something that you are certainly familiar with. You will recall that founding fathers of the Party were frustrated out of the Party at a time. Late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was pushed out, Late Chief Solomon Lar left and later came back, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Chief Tom Ikimi also left. Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo left and later came back. In 2005/2006, link-men were sent to take over party structures from PDP Governors in an unveiled attempt to undermine the state governors. In spite of that, the Governors did not leave the Party because nobody instigated and encouraged them to do so.
The charge that I was involved in anti-party activities in governorship elections in Edo, Ondo, Lagos, and Anambra States is also very unfortunate. I relate with all Governors irrespective of political party affiliation but I have not worked against the interest of the PDP. What I have not done is to influence the electoral process to favour our Party. You were definitely never so inclined, since you openly boasted in your letter of how you supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and others in the 1979 presidential elections while serving as a military Head of State. You and I clearly differ in this regard, because as the President of Nigeria, I believe it is my duty and responsibility to create a level playing field for all parties and all candidates.
Recalling how the PDP lost in states where we were very strong in 2003 and 2007 such as Edo, Ondo, Imo, Bauchi, Anambra, and Borno, longstanding members of our great party with good memory will also consider the charge of anti-party activities you made against me as misdirected and hugely hypocritical. It certainly was not Goodluck Jonathan’s “personal ambition or selfish interest” that caused the PDP to lose the governorship of Ogun State and all its senatorial seats in the last general elections.
You quoted me as saying that I have not told anybody that I will seek another term in office in 2015. You and your ambitious acolytes within the party have clearly decided to act on your conclusion that “only a fool will believe that statement” and embark on a virulent campaign to harass me out of an undeclared candidature for the 2015 presidential elections so as to pave the way for a successor anointed by you.
You will recall that you serially advised me that we should refrain from discussing the 2015 general elections for now so as not to distract elected public officials from urgent task of governance. While you have apparently moved away from that position, I am still of the considered opinion that it would have been best for us to do all that is necessary to refrain from heating up the polity at this time. Accordingly, I have already informed Nigerians that I will only speak on whether or not I will seek a second term when it is time for such declarations. Your claims about discussions I had with you, Governor Gabriel Suswam and others are wrong, but in keeping with my declared stance, I will reserve further comments until the appropriate time.
Your allegation that I asked half a dozen African Presidents to speak to you about my alleged ambition for 2015, is also untrue. I have never requested any African President to discuss with you on my behalf. In our discussion, I mentioned to you that four Presidents told me that they were concerned about the political situation in Nigeria and intended to talk to you about it. So far, only three of them have confirmed to me that they have had any discussion with you. If I made such a request, why would I deny it?
The issue of Buruji Kashamu is one of those lies that should not be associated with a former President. The allegation that I am imposing Kashamu on the South-West is most unfortunate and regrettable. I do not even impose Party officials in my home state of Bayelsa and there is no zone in this country where I have imposed officials. So why would I do so in the South West? Baba, in the light of Buruji’s detailed public response to your “open letter”, it will be charitable for you to render an apology to Nigerians and I.
On the issue of investors being scared to come to Nigeria, economic dormancy, and stagnation, I will just refer you to FDI statistics from 2000 to 2013. Within the last three years, Nigeria has emerged as the preferred destination for investments in Africa, driven by successful government policies to attract foreign investors. For the second year running, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Investments (UNCTAD) has ranked Nigeria as the number one destination for investments in Africa, and as having the fourth highest returns in the world.
Today, Nigeria is holding 18 percent of all foreign investments in Africa and 60 percent of all foreign investments in the ECOWAS Sub-Region. Kindly note also that in the seven years between 2000 and 2007 when you were President, Nigeria attracted a total of $24.9 Billion in FDI. As a result of our efforts which you disparage, the country has seen an FDI inflow of $25.7 Billion in just three years which is more than double the FDI that has gone to the second highest African destination. We have also maintained an annual national economic growth rate of close to seven per cent since the inception of this administration. What then, is the justification for your allegation of scared investors and economic dormancy?
Although it was not emphasized in your letter of December 2, 2013, you also conveyed, in previous correspondence, the impression that you were ignorant of the very notable achievements of my administration in the area of foreign relations. It is on record that under my leadership, Nigeria has played a key role in resolving the conflicts in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea Bissau and others.
The unproductive rivalry that existed between Nigeria and some ECOWAS countries has also been ended under my watch and Nigeria now has better relations with all the ECOWAS countries. At the African Union, we now have a Commissioner at the AU Commission after being without one for so long. We were in the United Nations Security Council for the 2010/2011 Session and we have been voted in again for the 2014/2015 Session. From independence to 2010, we were in the U.N. Security Council only three times but from 2010 to 2015, we will be there two times.
This did not happen by chance. My Administration worked hard for it and we continue to maintain the best possible relations with all centres of global political and economic power. I find it hard therefore, to believe your assertions of untoward concern in the international community over the state of governance in Nigeria
With respect to the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, you may have forgotten that though you started these projects, Final Investment Decisions were never reached. For your information, NNPC has not withdrawn from either the Olokola or the Brass LNG projects.
On the Rivers State Water Project, you were misled by your informant. The Federal Government under my watch has never directed or instructed the Africa Development Bank to put on hold any project to be executed in Rivers state or any other State within the Federation. The Rivers Water Project was not originally in the borrowing plan but it was included in April 2013 and appraised in May. Negotiations are ongoing with the AfDB. I have no doubt that you are familiar with the entire process that prefaces the signing of a Subsidiary Loan Agreement as in this instance.
Let me assure you and all Nigerians that I do not engage in negative political actions and will never, as President, oppress the people of a State or deprive them of much needed public services as a result of political disagreement
I have noted your comments on the proposed National Conference. Contrary to the insinuation in your letter, the proposed conference is aimed at bringing Nigerians together to resolve contentious national issues in a formal setting. This is a sure way of promoting greater national consensus and unity, and not a recipe for “disunity, confusion and chaos” as you alleged in your letter.
Having twice held the high office of President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I trust that you will understand that I cannot possibly find the time to offer a line-by-line response to all the accusations and allegations made in your letter while dealing with other pressing demands of office and more urgent affairs of state.
I have tried, however, to respond to only the most serious of the charges which question my sincerity, personal honour, and commitment to the oath which I have sworn, to always uphold and protect the interests of all Nigerians, and promote their well-being.
In closing, let me state that you have done me grave injustice with your public letter in which you wrongfully accused me of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, amongst other ills.
I have not, myself, ever claimed to be all-knowing or infallible, but I have never taken Nigeria or Nigerians for granted as you implied, and I will continue to do my utmost to steer our ship of state towards the brighter future to which we all aspire.
Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and warm regards.
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN
His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road,
Ibara, Abeokuta.
RE: Before It Is Too Late
I wish to formally acknowledge your letter dated December 2, 2013 and other previous correspondence similar to it.
You will recall that all the letters were brought to me by hand. Although both of us discussed some of the issues in those letters, I had not, before now, seen the need for any formal reply since, to me, they contained advice from a former President to a serving President. Obviously, you felt differently because in your last letter, you complained about my not acknowledging or replying your previous letters. Continue...
It is with the greatest possible reluctance that I now write this reply. I am most uneasy about embarking on this unprecedented and unconventional form of open communication between me and a former leader of our country because I know that there are more acceptable and dignified means of doing so.
But I feel obliged to reply your letter for a number of reasons: one, you formally requested for a reply and not sending you one will be interpreted as ignoring a former President.
Secondly, Nigerians know the role you have played in my political life and given the unfortunate tone of your letter, clearly, the grapes have gone sour. Therefore, my side of the story also needs to be told.
The third reason why I must reply you in writing is that your letter is clearly a threat to national security as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the stage for subversion.
The fourth reason for this reply is that you raised very weighty issues, and since the letter has been made public, Nigerians are expressing legitimate concerns. A response from me therefore, becomes very necessary.
The fifth reason is that this letter may appear in biographies and other books which political commentators on Nigeria’s contemporary politics may write. It is only proper for such publications to include my comments on the issues raised in your letter.
Sixthly, you are very unique in terms of the governance of this country. You were a military Head of State for three years and eight months, and an elected President for eight years. That means you have been the Head of Government of Nigeria for about twelve years. This must have, presumably, exposed you to a lot of information. Thus when you make a statement, there is the tendency for people to take it seriously.
The seventh reason is that the timing of your letter coincided with other vicious releases. The Speaker of the House of Representatives spoke of my “body language” encouraging corruption. A letter written to me by the CBN Governor alleging that NNPC, within a period of 19 months did not remit the sum of USD49.8 billion to the federation account, was also deliberately leaked to the public.
The eighth reason is that it appears that your letter was designed to incite Nigerians from other geopolitical zones against me and also calculated to promote ethnic disharmony. Worse still, your letter was designed to instigate members of our Party, the PDP, against me.
The ninth reason is that your letter conveys to me the feeling that landmines have been laid for me. Therefore, Nigerians need to have my response to the issues raised before the mines explode.
The tenth and final reason why my reply is inevitable is that you have written similar letters and made public comments in reference to all former Presidents and Heads of Government starting from Alhaji Shehu Shagari and these have instigated different actions and reactions. The purpose and direction of your letter is distinctly ominous, and before it is too late, my clarifications on the issues need to be placed on record.
Let me now comment on the issues you raised. In commenting I wish to crave your indulgence to compare what is happening now to what took place before. This, I believe, will enable Nigerians see things in better perspective because we must know where we are coming from so as to appreciate where we now are, and to allow us clearly map out where we are going.
You raised concerns about the security situation in the country. I assure you that I am fully aware of the responsibility of government for ensuring the security of the lives and property of citizens. My Administration is working assiduously to overcome current national security challenges, the seeds of which were sown under previous administrations. There have been some setbacks; but certainly there have also been great successes in our efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.
Those who continue to down-play our successes in this regard, amongst whom you must now be numbered, appear to have conveniently forgotten the depths to which security in our country had plunged before now.
At a stage, almost the entire North-East of Nigeria was under siege by insurgents. Bombings of churches and public buildings in the North and the federal capital became an almost weekly occurrence. Our entire national security apparatus seemed nonplussed and unable to come to grips with the new threat posed by the berthing of terrorism on our shores.
But my administration has since brought that very unacceptable situation under significant control. We have overhauled our entire national security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, training, funding, logistical support to our armed forces and security agencies, and security collaboration with friendly countries with very visible and positive results.
The scope and impact of terrorist operations have been significantly reduced and efforts are underway to restore full normalcy to the most affected North Eastern region and initiate a post-crisis development agenda, including a special intervention programme to boost the region’s socio-economic progress.
In doing all this, we have kept our doors open for dialogue with the insurgents and their supporters through efforts such as the work of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and the Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North-East. You also know that the Governor of Borno State provided the items you mentioned to me as carrots. Having done all this and more, it is interesting that you still accuse me of not acting on your hardly original recommendation that the carrot and stick option be deployed to solve the Boko Haram problem.
Your suggestion that we are pursuing a “war against violence without understanding the root causes of the violence and applying solutions to deal with all the underlying factors” is definitely misplaced because from the onset of this administration, we have been implementing a multifaceted strategy against militancy, insurgency and terrorism that includes poverty alleviation, economic development, education and social reforms.
Even though basic education is the constitutional responsibility of States, my administration has, as part of its efforts to address ignorance and poor education which have been identified as two of the factors responsible for making some of our youth easily available for use as cannon fodder by insurgents and terrorists, committed huge funds to the provision of modern basic education schools for the Almajiri in several Northern States. The Federal Government under my leadership has also set up nine additional universities in the Northern States and three in the Southern States in keeping with my belief that proper education is the surest way of emancipating and empowering our people.
More uncharitable persons may even see a touch of sanctimoniousness in your new belief in the carrot and stick approach to overcoming militancy and insurgency. You have always referred to how you hit Odi in Bayelsa State to curb militancy in the Niger Delta. If the invasion of Odi by the Army was the stick, I did not see the corresponding carrot. I was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State then, and as I have always told you, the invasion of Odi did not solve any militancy problem but, to some extent, escalated it. If it had solved it, late President Yar’Adua would not have had to come up with the amnesty program. And while some elements of the problem may still be there, in general, the situation is reasonably better.
In terms of general insecurity in the country and particularly the crisis in the Niger Delta, 2007 was one of the worst periods in our history. You will recall three incidents that happened in 2007 which seemed to have been orchestrated to achieve sinister objectives. Here in Abuja, a petrol tanker loaded with explosives was to be rammed into the INEC building. But luckily for the country, an electric pole stopped the tanker from hitting the INEC building. It is clear that this incident was meant to exploit the general sense of insecurity in the nation at the time to achieve the aim of stopping the 2007 elections. It is instructive that you, on a number of occasions, alluded to this fact.
When that incident failed, an armed group invaded Yenagoa one evening with the intent to assassinate me. Luckily for me, they could not. They again attacked and bombed my country home on a night when I was expected in the village. Fortunately, as God would have it, I did not make the trip.
I recall that immediately after both incidents, I got calls expressing the concern of Abuja. But Baba, you know that despite the apparent concern of Abuja, no single arrest was ever made. I was then the Governor of Bayelsa State and the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate. The security people ordinarily should have unraveled the assassination attempt on me.
You also raised the issues of kidnapping, piracy and armed robbery. These are issues all Nigerians, including me are very concerned about. While we will continue to do our utmost best to reduce all forms of criminality to the barest minimum in our country, it is just as well to remind you that the first major case of kidnapping for ransom took place around 2006. And the Boko Haram crisis dates back to 2002. Goodluck Jonathan was not the President of the country then. Also, armed robbery started in this country immediately after the civil war and since then, it has been a problem to all succeeding governments. For a former Head of Government, who should know better, to present these problems as if they were creations of the Jonathan Administration is most uncharitable.
Having said that, let me remind you of some of the things we have done to curb violent crime in the country. We have reorganized the Nigerian Police Force and appointed a more dynamic leadership to oversee its affairs. We have also improved its manpower levels as well as funding, training and logistical support.
We have also increased the surveillance capabilities of the Police and provided its air-wing with thrice the number of helicopters it had before the inception of the present administration. The National Civil Defence and Security Corps has been armed to make it a much more effective ally of the police and other security agencies in the war against violent crime. At both domestic and international levels, we are doing everything possible to curb the proliferation of the small arms and light weapons with which armed robberies, kidnappings and piracy are perpetrated. We have also enhanced security at our borders to curb cross-border crimes.
We are aggressively addressing the challenge of crude oil theft in collaboration with the state Governors. In addition, the Federal Government has engaged the British and US governments for their support in the tracking of the proceeds from the purchase of stolen crude. Similarly, a regional Gulf of Guinea security strategy has been initiated to curb crude oil theft and piracy.
Perhaps the most invidious accusation in your letter is the allegation that I have placed over one thousand Nigerians on a political watch list, and that I am training snipers and other militia to assassinate people. Baba, I don’t know where you got that from but you do me grave injustice in not only lending credence to such baseless rumours, but also publicizing it. You mentioned God seventeen times in your letter. Can you as a Christian hold the Bible and say that you truly believe this allegation?
The allegation of training snipers to assassinate political opponents is particularly incomprehensible to me. Since I started my political career as a Deputy Governor, I have never been associated with any form of political violence. I have been a President for over three years now, with a lot of challenges and opposition mainly from the high and mighty. There have certainly been cases of political assassination since the advent of our Fourth Republic, but as you well know, none of them occurred under my leadership.
Regarding the over one thousand people you say are on a political watch list, I urge you to kindly tell Nigerians who they are and what agencies of government are “watching” them. Your allegation that I am using security operatives to harass people is also baseless. Nigerians are waiting for your evidence of proof. That was an accusation made against previous administrations, including yours, but it is certainly not my style and will never be. Again, if you insist on the spurious claim that some of your relatives and friends are being harassed, I urge you to name them and tell Nigerians what agencies of my administration are harassing them.
I also find it difficult to believe that you will accuse me of assisting murderers, or assigning a presidential delegation to welcome a murderer. This is a most unconscionable and untrue allegation. It is incumbent on me to remind you that I am fully conscious of the dictates of my responsibilities to God and our dear nation. It is my hope that devious elements will not take advantage of your baseless allegation to engage in brazen and wanton assassination of high profile politicians as before, hiding under the alibi your “open letter” has provided for them.
Nevertheless, I have directed the security agencies and requested the National Human Rights Commission to carry out a thorough investigation of these criminal allegations and make their findings public.
That corruption is an issue in Nigeria is indisputable. It has been with us for many years. You will recall that your kinsman, the renowned afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti famously sang about it during your first stint as Head of State. Sonny Okosun also sang about corruption. And as you may recall, a number of Army Generals were to be retired because of corruption before the Dimka coup. Also, the late General Murtala Mohammed himself wanted to retire some top people in his cabinet on corruption-related issues before he was assassinated. Even in this Fourth Republic, the Siemens and Halliburton scandals are well known.
The seed of corruption in this country was planted a long time ago, but we are doing all that we can to drastically reduce its debilitating effects on national development and progress. I have been strengthening the institutions established to fight corruption. I will not shield any government official or private individual involved in corruption, but I must follow due process in all that I do. And whenever clear cases of corruption or fraud have been established, my administration has always taken prompt action in keeping with the dictates of extant laws and procedures. You cannot claim to be unaware of the fact that several highly placed persons in our country, including sons of some of our party leaders are currently facing trial for their involvement in the celebrated subsidy scam affair. I can hardly be blamed if the wheels of justice still grind very slowly in our country, but we are doing our best to support and encourage the judiciary to quicken the pace of adjudication in cases of corruption.
Baba, I am amazed that with all the knowledge garnered from your many years at the highest level of governance in our country, you could still believe the spurious allegation contained in a letter written to me by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and surreptitiously obtained by you, alleging that USD49.8 billion, a sum equal to our entire national budget for two years, is “unaccounted for” by the NNPC. Since, as President, you also served for many years as Minister of Petroleum Resources, you very well know the workings of the corporation. It is therefore intriguing that you have made such an assertion. You made a lot of insinuations about oil theft, shady dealings at the NNPC and the NNPC not remitting the full proceeds of oil sales to the of CBN. Now that the main source of the allegations which you rehashed has publicly stated that he was “misconstrued”, perhaps you will find it in your heart to apologize for misleading unwary Nigerians and impugning the integrity of my administration on that score.
Your claim of “Atlantic Oil loading about 130, 000 barrels sold by Shell and managed on behalf of NPDC with no sale proceeds paid into the NPDC account” is also disjointed and baseless because no such arrangement as you described exists between Atlantic Oil and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company. NPDC currently produces about 138, 000 barrels of oil per day from over 7 producing assets. The Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the NNPC markets all of this production on behalf of NPDC with proceeds paid into NPDC account.
I am really shocked that with all avenues open to you as a former Head of State for the verification of any information you have received about state affairs, you chose to go public with allegations of “high corruption” without offering a shred of supporting evidence. One of your political “sons” similarly alleged recently that he told me of a minister who received a bribe of $250 Million from an oil company and I did nothing about it. He may have been playing from a shared script, but we have not heard from him again since he was challenged to name the minister involved and provide the evidence to back his claim. I urge you, in the same vein, to furnish me with the names, facts and figures of a single verifiable case of the “high corruption” which you say stinks all around my administration and see whether the corrective action you advocate does not follow promptly. And while you are at it, you may also wish to tell Nigerians the true story of questionable waivers of signature bonuses between 2000 and 2007.
While, by the Grace of God Almighty, I am the first President from a minority group, I am never unmindful of the fact that I was elected leader of the whole of Nigeria and I have always acted in the best interest of all Nigerians. You referred to the divisive actions and inflammatory utterances of some individuals from the South-South and asserted that I have done nothing to call them to order or distance myself from their ethnic chauvinism. Again that is very untrue. I am as committed to the unity of this country as any patriot can be and I have publicly declared on many occasions that no person who threatens other Nigerians or parts of the country is acting on my behalf.
It is very regrettable that in your letter, you seem to place sole responsibility for the ongoing intrigues and tensions in the PDP at my doorstep, and going on from that position, you direct all your appeals for a resolution at me. Baba, let us all be truthful to ourselves, God and posterity. At the heart of all the current troubles in our party and the larger polity is the unbridled jostling and positioning for personal or group advantage ahead of the 2015 general elections. The “bitterness, anger, mistrust, fear and deep suspicion” you wrote about all flow from this singular factor.
It is indeed very unfortunate that the seeming crisis in the party was instigated by a few senior members of the party, including you. But, as leader of the party, I will continue to do my best to unite it so that we can move forward with strength and unity of purpose. The PDP has always recovered from previous crises with renewed vigour and vitality. I am very optimistic that that will be the case again this time. The PDP will overcome any temporary setback, remain a strong party and even grow stronger.
Instigating people to cause problems and disaffection within the party is something that you are certainly familiar with. You will recall that founding fathers of the Party were frustrated out of the Party at a time. Late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was pushed out, Late Chief Solomon Lar left and later came back, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Chief Tom Ikimi also left. Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo left and later came back. In 2005/2006, link-men were sent to take over party structures from PDP Governors in an unveiled attempt to undermine the state governors. In spite of that, the Governors did not leave the Party because nobody instigated and encouraged them to do so.
The charge that I was involved in anti-party activities in governorship elections in Edo, Ondo, Lagos, and Anambra States is also very unfortunate. I relate with all Governors irrespective of political party affiliation but I have not worked against the interest of the PDP. What I have not done is to influence the electoral process to favour our Party. You were definitely never so inclined, since you openly boasted in your letter of how you supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and others in the 1979 presidential elections while serving as a military Head of State. You and I clearly differ in this regard, because as the President of Nigeria, I believe it is my duty and responsibility to create a level playing field for all parties and all candidates.
Recalling how the PDP lost in states where we were very strong in 2003 and 2007 such as Edo, Ondo, Imo, Bauchi, Anambra, and Borno, longstanding members of our great party with good memory will also consider the charge of anti-party activities you made against me as misdirected and hugely hypocritical. It certainly was not Goodluck Jonathan’s “personal ambition or selfish interest” that caused the PDP to lose the governorship of Ogun State and all its senatorial seats in the last general elections.
You quoted me as saying that I have not told anybody that I will seek another term in office in 2015. You and your ambitious acolytes within the party have clearly decided to act on your conclusion that “only a fool will believe that statement” and embark on a virulent campaign to harass me out of an undeclared candidature for the 2015 presidential elections so as to pave the way for a successor anointed by you.
You will recall that you serially advised me that we should refrain from discussing the 2015 general elections for now so as not to distract elected public officials from urgent task of governance. While you have apparently moved away from that position, I am still of the considered opinion that it would have been best for us to do all that is necessary to refrain from heating up the polity at this time. Accordingly, I have already informed Nigerians that I will only speak on whether or not I will seek a second term when it is time for such declarations. Your claims about discussions I had with you, Governor Gabriel Suswam and others are wrong, but in keeping with my declared stance, I will reserve further comments until the appropriate time.
Your allegation that I asked half a dozen African Presidents to speak to you about my alleged ambition for 2015, is also untrue. I have never requested any African President to discuss with you on my behalf. In our discussion, I mentioned to you that four Presidents told me that they were concerned about the political situation in Nigeria and intended to talk to you about it. So far, only three of them have confirmed to me that they have had any discussion with you. If I made such a request, why would I deny it?
The issue of Buruji Kashamu is one of those lies that should not be associated with a former President. The allegation that I am imposing Kashamu on the South-West is most unfortunate and regrettable. I do not even impose Party officials in my home state of Bayelsa and there is no zone in this country where I have imposed officials. So why would I do so in the South West? Baba, in the light of Buruji’s detailed public response to your “open letter”, it will be charitable for you to render an apology to Nigerians and I.
On the issue of investors being scared to come to Nigeria, economic dormancy, and stagnation, I will just refer you to FDI statistics from 2000 to 2013. Within the last three years, Nigeria has emerged as the preferred destination for investments in Africa, driven by successful government policies to attract foreign investors. For the second year running, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Investments (UNCTAD) has ranked Nigeria as the number one destination for investments in Africa, and as having the fourth highest returns in the world.
Today, Nigeria is holding 18 percent of all foreign investments in Africa and 60 percent of all foreign investments in the ECOWAS Sub-Region. Kindly note also that in the seven years between 2000 and 2007 when you were President, Nigeria attracted a total of $24.9 Billion in FDI. As a result of our efforts which you disparage, the country has seen an FDI inflow of $25.7 Billion in just three years which is more than double the FDI that has gone to the second highest African destination. We have also maintained an annual national economic growth rate of close to seven per cent since the inception of this administration. What then, is the justification for your allegation of scared investors and economic dormancy?
Although it was not emphasized in your letter of December 2, 2013, you also conveyed, in previous correspondence, the impression that you were ignorant of the very notable achievements of my administration in the area of foreign relations. It is on record that under my leadership, Nigeria has played a key role in resolving the conflicts in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea Bissau and others.
The unproductive rivalry that existed between Nigeria and some ECOWAS countries has also been ended under my watch and Nigeria now has better relations with all the ECOWAS countries. At the African Union, we now have a Commissioner at the AU Commission after being without one for so long. We were in the United Nations Security Council for the 2010/2011 Session and we have been voted in again for the 2014/2015 Session. From independence to 2010, we were in the U.N. Security Council only three times but from 2010 to 2015, we will be there two times.
This did not happen by chance. My Administration worked hard for it and we continue to maintain the best possible relations with all centres of global political and economic power. I find it hard therefore, to believe your assertions of untoward concern in the international community over the state of governance in Nigeria
With respect to the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, you may have forgotten that though you started these projects, Final Investment Decisions were never reached. For your information, NNPC has not withdrawn from either the Olokola or the Brass LNG projects.
On the Rivers State Water Project, you were misled by your informant. The Federal Government under my watch has never directed or instructed the Africa Development Bank to put on hold any project to be executed in Rivers state or any other State within the Federation. The Rivers Water Project was not originally in the borrowing plan but it was included in April 2013 and appraised in May. Negotiations are ongoing with the AfDB. I have no doubt that you are familiar with the entire process that prefaces the signing of a Subsidiary Loan Agreement as in this instance.
Let me assure you and all Nigerians that I do not engage in negative political actions and will never, as President, oppress the people of a State or deprive them of much needed public services as a result of political disagreement
I have noted your comments on the proposed National Conference. Contrary to the insinuation in your letter, the proposed conference is aimed at bringing Nigerians together to resolve contentious national issues in a formal setting. This is a sure way of promoting greater national consensus and unity, and not a recipe for “disunity, confusion and chaos” as you alleged in your letter.
Having twice held the high office of President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I trust that you will understand that I cannot possibly find the time to offer a line-by-line response to all the accusations and allegations made in your letter while dealing with other pressing demands of office and more urgent affairs of state.
I have tried, however, to respond to only the most serious of the charges which question my sincerity, personal honour, and commitment to the oath which I have sworn, to always uphold and protect the interests of all Nigerians, and promote their well-being.
In closing, let me state that you have done me grave injustice with your public letter in which you wrongfully accused me of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, amongst other ills.
I have not, myself, ever claimed to be all-knowing or infallible, but I have never taken Nigeria or Nigerians for granted as you implied, and I will continue to do my utmost to steer our ship of state towards the brighter future to which we all aspire.
Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and warm regards.
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Breaking news: former Anambra State Governor reveals how he was forced to be paying a certain "godfather" monthly
In an Interview with Saturday Punch,Former Anambra state governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju (1999 to 2003),reveals how he was forced to be paying a "godfather" N10 Million monthly.
(Weeping for my beloved state;Anambra,now I know better)
the interview below;
Well, a godfather has many connotations. You could have positive godfathers and negative ones. The good ones work towards making things work and succeed but if you have a godfather that is always challenging, he wants to make appointments, if you have 10 commissioners, he would want to have three or four.
After you have given him two commissioners, he will say he wants Special Advisers, Special Assistants and he will even want to choose their portfolios but I said these things are not done like that and they said it is done like that, that is controversy.
There is a godfather who had an arrangement with the military that he would be paid N10m every month, I wasn’t there when the agreement was made. When I tried to stop it, I was dragged to President Obasanjo’s office and I told Obasanjo this is the situation I found on ground and Obasanjo said I had to go back and continue paying it; that it was legal.
At what stage did I renege? They will always try to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Obasanjo gave them contracts worth billions of naira, they were super rich, there was nothing I could give to them.
You mean Obasanjo asked you to pay this godfather; who is he?
Yes, Obasanjo asked me to pay. The godfather is one of the Uba family.
.....If you ask me,na who I go ask????
(Weeping for my beloved state;Anambra,now I know better)
the interview below;
Well, a godfather has many connotations. You could have positive godfathers and negative ones. The good ones work towards making things work and succeed but if you have a godfather that is always challenging, he wants to make appointments, if you have 10 commissioners, he would want to have three or four.
After you have given him two commissioners, he will say he wants Special Advisers, Special Assistants and he will even want to choose their portfolios but I said these things are not done like that and they said it is done like that, that is controversy.
There is a godfather who had an arrangement with the military that he would be paid N10m every month, I wasn’t there when the agreement was made. When I tried to stop it, I was dragged to President Obasanjo’s office and I told Obasanjo this is the situation I found on ground and Obasanjo said I had to go back and continue paying it; that it was legal.
At what stage did I renege? They will always try to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Obasanjo gave them contracts worth billions of naira, they were super rich, there was nothing I could give to them.
You mean Obasanjo asked you to pay this godfather; who is he?
Yes, Obasanjo asked me to pay. The godfather is one of the Uba family.
.....If you ask me,na who I go ask????
NMA continues strike
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says it will continue with its on-going warning strike action until more concrete efforts are made to meet the minimum demands of the association. The NMA said
this in a communique on Friday signed by its President, Dr Osahon Enabulele, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The communique was issued at the end of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday, Dec. 19.
NAN reports that the association's members embarked on a five-day warning strike in public health institutions on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The association had listed the issues of the strike as bordering on some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the conditions of service of doctors.
The communique said Thursday's NEC meeting was called to appraise the on-going warning strike declared by the NMA.
It had said this was in fulfilment of the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the NMA and the government team.
"With respect to the promises offered by officers of government in a meeting held with the leadership of the NMA on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, the NEC expressed dissatisfaction with the MoU reached with the leadership of the NMA.
"NEC particularly observed that similar MoUs reached with the association in the past were not adhered to by the government side."
The communique said NEC therefore called for concrete implementation of the contents of the MoU to enable her conduct an appropriate assessment of the commitment of government.
The NEC reaffirmed the association's decision to limit the duration of the warning strike action "in deference to the yuletide season and as a mark of its appreciation of the appeals of well-meaning Nigerians".
The association however warned that a total strike would commence if the raised issues were not satisfactorily resolved by Jan. 6, 2014.
The NMA NEC thanked all well-meaning Nigerians and the media for their understanding, prayers and support.
this in a communique on Friday signed by its President, Dr Osahon Enabulele, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The communique was issued at the end of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday, Dec. 19.
NAN reports that the association's members embarked on a five-day warning strike in public health institutions on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The association had listed the issues of the strike as bordering on some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the conditions of service of doctors.
The communique said Thursday's NEC meeting was called to appraise the on-going warning strike declared by the NMA.
It had said this was in fulfilment of the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the NMA and the government team.
"With respect to the promises offered by officers of government in a meeting held with the leadership of the NMA on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, the NEC expressed dissatisfaction with the MoU reached with the leadership of the NMA.
"NEC particularly observed that similar MoUs reached with the association in the past were not adhered to by the government side."
The communique said NEC therefore called for concrete implementation of the contents of the MoU to enable her conduct an appropriate assessment of the commitment of government.
The NEC reaffirmed the association's decision to limit the duration of the warning strike action "in deference to the yuletide season and as a mark of its appreciation of the appeals of well-meaning Nigerians".
The association however warned that a total strike would commence if the raised issues were not satisfactorily resolved by Jan. 6, 2014.
The NMA NEC thanked all well-meaning Nigerians and the media for their understanding, prayers and support.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Boko Haram: Children and women slaughtered at Bama Barrack
Suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamist terrorist sect on Friday attacked the 202 Army Battalion Barracks located in Bama,Borno state.
An undisclosed number of women and Children were reportedly slaughtered in the attack which started at about 3a.m and lasted till 7a.m.
Mohammed Dole, army spokesman in Borno state has confirmed the attack without going into details.
A resident Abdullahi Idris who spoke to the press said, "It started at around three in the morning with huge explosions...
Source: NAN
An undisclosed number of women and Children were reportedly slaughtered in the attack which started at about 3a.m and lasted till 7a.m.
Mohammed Dole, army spokesman in Borno state has confirmed the attack without going into details.
A resident Abdullahi Idris who spoke to the press said, "It started at around three in the morning with huge explosions...
Source: NAN
Update: Amnesty International call on Jonathan to reject anti- gay bill
Amnesty International on Friday urged Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan to reject the bill that would outlaw gay marriage and crackdown on gay rights after lawmakers approved the final version for his signature.
Aster van Kregten, Amnesty International’s Africa Deputy Director said:
This discriminatory bill, which not only criminalises same-sex marriage but also makes public displays of affection and even socialising in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex community illegal, must be rejected by the President. Cos if the President signs the bill into law, it would make Nigeria one of the least tolerant societies in the world and have catastrophic consequences for the country’s LGBTI community and human rights organisations.
Under Nigeria’s bill, anyone who enters into a same-marriage or “civil union” can be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
It also says “any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes a public show of same-sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall be liable to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”
Jonathan’s intentions regarding the bill, according to PMNews, are not clear.
Aster van Kregten, Amnesty International’s Africa Deputy Director said:
This discriminatory bill, which not only criminalises same-sex marriage but also makes public displays of affection and even socialising in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex community illegal, must be rejected by the President. Cos if the President signs the bill into law, it would make Nigeria one of the least tolerant societies in the world and have catastrophic consequences for the country’s LGBTI community and human rights organisations.
Under Nigeria’s bill, anyone who enters into a same-marriage or “civil union” can be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
It also says “any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes a public show of same-sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall be liable to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”
Jonathan’s intentions regarding the bill, according to PMNews, are not clear.
"Obasanjo wants to be the Mandela of Nigeria" - Edwin Clark
The Ijaw leader and former information minister, Chief Edwin Clark has urge President Goodluck Jonathan to reply former president, Olusegun Obasanjo's letter to clarify fundamental issues with Nigerians.
In this reaction Chief Edwin Clark in London, said, "Obasanjo is a confused, frustrated and angry man. That is the message. Obasanjo always wants to remain relevant. He does not want anybody to be above him".
"All appointments of the west came from him. His family members, whatever he wanted, he got. He has never been happy. He wants to be known everywhere. He wants to be the man around. He wants to be the Mandela of Nigeria but hasn't got the qualities of Mandela".
"Obasanjo is the reason why Jonathan is being accused of not doing enough to eradicate corruption. He does not want to disgrace him. Otherwise Obasanjo is very, very corrupt. Everybody knows that".
In this reaction Chief Edwin Clark in London, said, "Obasanjo is a confused, frustrated and angry man. That is the message. Obasanjo always wants to remain relevant. He does not want anybody to be above him".
"All appointments of the west came from him. His family members, whatever he wanted, he got. He has never been happy. He wants to be known everywhere. He wants to be the man around. He wants to be the Mandela of Nigeria but hasn't got the qualities of Mandela".
"Obasanjo is the reason why Jonathan is being accused of not doing enough to eradicate corruption. He does not want to disgrace him. Otherwise Obasanjo is very, very corrupt. Everybody knows that".
Women protest against the torture of two women for allegedely stealing pepper
A non governmental Organisation, working for the women in Nigeria, Women Arise has decided to march for justice for two women who were brutalized in Ejigbo area of Lagos State over alleged stealing of pepper.
This information was disclosed, in a press released signed by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative who said; the march/ rally will take place in front of Femine Cafe located at the Lagos Television (LTV) to Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, December 23, 2013 by 10am.
The said two ladies were reported to have been striped naked and forced to their knees by unidentified men holding an object,while pepper ws inserted into their private parts.
i pray that those men responsible would be brought to book and punished severely.
This information was disclosed, in a press released signed by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative who said; the march/ rally will take place in front of Femine Cafe located at the Lagos Television (LTV) to Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, December 23, 2013 by 10am.
The said two ladies were reported to have been striped naked and forced to their knees by unidentified men holding an object,while pepper ws inserted into their private parts.
i pray that those men responsible would be brought to book and punished severely.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
FG budgets N4.6tr for 2014
The Federal Government on Thursday presented N4.6trillon budget estimates to the National Assembly for consideration and approval for the 2014 fiscal year. The budget was presented on the floor of the Senate bythe Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Okonjo-Iweala told reporters after laying the budget that the expected revenue for the period is N3.73trillion while N1.1trillion is for capital expenditure.
She added that the N1.1trillion for capital expenditure represents 27 per cent of the budget while the recurrent expenditure of N3.5 trillion represents 72 per cent of the budget.
According to her, the N4.6 trillion is exclusive of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds.
Okonjo-Iweala said: "Aggregate expenditure excluding SURE ? P funds is about N4.6 trillion and the revenue is about N3.73 trillion.
"The capital expenditure is about N1.1trillion and makes up about 27 per cent of the budget, the balance of course is the recurrent and it is about 72 per cent of the budget.
"The distinguishing feature between the 2013 budget and the 2014 budget is the focus we have on really continuing the successes that we had had in 2013 in creating jobs for young Nigerians and we are going to push it."
The minister said the budget is for job creation and inclusive growth.
"This budget is the budget for job creation and inclusive growth, meaning that, it is a budget which will continue the President's Transformation Agenda for several sectors of the economy.
"The budget is going to support the push in agriculture. It will kick start the housing sector where we can create more jobs.
"It is designed to our policies that would support manufacturing because jobs would be created there.
"Industries will also be created in solid minerals. All these support will continued to be unleashed.
"Job creation is the key to really solving the problems of the Nigerian economy.
"All the programmes that create jobs are very well supported. The SURE-P is also part of it, community service programmes would be pushed and the YOUWIN programme would be pushed.
"The Infrastructure development is part of it, the Hon. Minister of transport is here, we have been working on rail development.
"Ministry of Niger Delta is also part of the infrastructure development, Water resources, FCT development and so on.
"We have privatised power but we will be working on the transmission to direct resources there.
"The distinguishing thing is that it is a continuation of what we have done before but with more emphasis on really pushing out jobs and also supporting safety nets that can further redistribute income to poor people in the country," she stated.
Okonjo-Iweala told reporters after laying the budget that the expected revenue for the period is N3.73trillion while N1.1trillion is for capital expenditure.
She added that the N1.1trillion for capital expenditure represents 27 per cent of the budget while the recurrent expenditure of N3.5 trillion represents 72 per cent of the budget.
According to her, the N4.6 trillion is exclusive of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds.
Okonjo-Iweala said: "Aggregate expenditure excluding SURE ? P funds is about N4.6 trillion and the revenue is about N3.73 trillion.
"The capital expenditure is about N1.1trillion and makes up about 27 per cent of the budget, the balance of course is the recurrent and it is about 72 per cent of the budget.
"The distinguishing feature between the 2013 budget and the 2014 budget is the focus we have on really continuing the successes that we had had in 2013 in creating jobs for young Nigerians and we are going to push it."
The minister said the budget is for job creation and inclusive growth.
"This budget is the budget for job creation and inclusive growth, meaning that, it is a budget which will continue the President's Transformation Agenda for several sectors of the economy.
"The budget is going to support the push in agriculture. It will kick start the housing sector where we can create more jobs.
"It is designed to our policies that would support manufacturing because jobs would be created there.
"Industries will also be created in solid minerals. All these support will continued to be unleashed.
"Job creation is the key to really solving the problems of the Nigerian economy.
"All the programmes that create jobs are very well supported. The SURE-P is also part of it, community service programmes would be pushed and the YOUWIN programme would be pushed.
"The Infrastructure development is part of it, the Hon. Minister of transport is here, we have been working on rail development.
"Ministry of Niger Delta is also part of the infrastructure development, Water resources, FCT development and so on.
"We have privatised power but we will be working on the transmission to direct resources there.
"The distinguishing thing is that it is a continuation of what we have done before but with more emphasis on really pushing out jobs and also supporting safety nets that can further redistribute income to poor people in the country," she stated.
FG budgets N4.6tr for 2014
The Federal Government on Thursday presented N4.6trillon budget estimates to the National Assembly for consideration and approval for the 2014 fiscal year. The budget was presented on the floor of the Senate bythe Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Okonjo-Iweala told reporters after laying the budget that the expected revenue for the period is N3.73trillion while N1.1trillion is for capital expenditure.
She added that the N1.1trillion for capital expenditure represents 27 per cent of the budget while the recurrent expenditure of N3.5 trillion represents 72 per cent of the budget.
According to her, the N4.6 trillion is exclusive of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds.
Okonjo-Iweala said: "Aggregate expenditure excluding SURE ? P funds is about N4.6 trillion and the revenue is about N3.73 trillion.
"The capital expenditure is about N1.1trillion and makes up about 27 per cent of the budget, the balance of course is the recurrent and it is about 72 per cent of the budget.
"The distinguishing feature between the 2013 budget and the 2014 budget is the focus we have on really continuing the successes that we had had in 2013 in creating jobs for young Nigerians and we are going to push it."
The minister said the budget is for job creation and inclusive growth.
"This budget is the budget for job creation and inclusive growth, meaning that, it is a budget which will continue the President's Transformation Agenda for several sectors of the economy.
"The budget is going to support the push in agriculture. It will kick start the housing sector where we can create more jobs.
"It is designed to our policies that would support manufacturing because jobs would be created there.
"Industries will also be created in solid minerals. All these support will continued to be unleashed.
"Job creation is the key to really solving the problems of the Nigerian economy.
"All the programmes that create jobs are very well supported. The SURE-P is also part of it, community service programmes would be pushed and the YOUWIN programme would be pushed.
"The Infrastructure development is part of it, the Hon. Minister of transport is here, we have been working on rail development.
"Ministry of Niger Delta is also part of the infrastructure development, Water resources, FCT development and so on.
"We have privatised power but we will be working on the transmission to direct resources there.
"The distinguishing thing is that it is a continuation of what we have done before but with more emphasis on really pushing out jobs and also supporting safety nets that can further redistribute income to poor people in the country," she stated.
Okonjo-Iweala told reporters after laying the budget that the expected revenue for the period is N3.73trillion while N1.1trillion is for capital expenditure.
She added that the N1.1trillion for capital expenditure represents 27 per cent of the budget while the recurrent expenditure of N3.5 trillion represents 72 per cent of the budget.
According to her, the N4.6 trillion is exclusive of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds.
Okonjo-Iweala said: "Aggregate expenditure excluding SURE ? P funds is about N4.6 trillion and the revenue is about N3.73 trillion.
"The capital expenditure is about N1.1trillion and makes up about 27 per cent of the budget, the balance of course is the recurrent and it is about 72 per cent of the budget.
"The distinguishing feature between the 2013 budget and the 2014 budget is the focus we have on really continuing the successes that we had had in 2013 in creating jobs for young Nigerians and we are going to push it."
The minister said the budget is for job creation and inclusive growth.
"This budget is the budget for job creation and inclusive growth, meaning that, it is a budget which will continue the President's Transformation Agenda for several sectors of the economy.
"The budget is going to support the push in agriculture. It will kick start the housing sector where we can create more jobs.
"It is designed to our policies that would support manufacturing because jobs would be created there.
"Industries will also be created in solid minerals. All these support will continued to be unleashed.
"Job creation is the key to really solving the problems of the Nigerian economy.
"All the programmes that create jobs are very well supported. The SURE-P is also part of it, community service programmes would be pushed and the YOUWIN programme would be pushed.
"The Infrastructure development is part of it, the Hon. Minister of transport is here, we have been working on rail development.
"Ministry of Niger Delta is also part of the infrastructure development, Water resources, FCT development and so on.
"We have privatised power but we will be working on the transmission to direct resources there.
"The distinguishing thing is that it is a continuation of what we have done before but with more emphasis on really pushing out jobs and also supporting safety nets that can further redistribute income to poor people in the country," she stated.
Unbelievable: Man sells son to bury father
Kingsley Ubani, 26, from Abia, admitted to selling his three-year-old son to raise money to bury his father.He said this on Thursday in Umuahia when the Abia State Police Command paraded two child trafficking suspects and 19 pregnant teenagers.
He said that he sold his three years and eight months old son in November 2012 at the rate of N260, 000 to a woman who is currently nowhere to be found.
“I told my wife that I don’t have money to bury my father who was in the mortuary at that time and she approved of the transaction,” He said.
The Commissioner of Police in Abia, Mr Usman Tilli, told newsmen that the suspect was arrested following a tip-off.
He said that investigations led to the recovery of the child who has been handed over to the grandfather for care and protection and also said that the police had also arrested another suspect, Chimere Sunday for selling his two children.
He said that upon investigation, one of the children was recovered, adding that the buyers were on police wanted list.
He said that the 19 pregnant teenagers who were also paraded, were rescued from an illegal charity home in Umuahia North local government area of the state.
“A team of policemen from the command raided the home during which the pregnant girls between the ages of 15 and 23, including a nursing mother, were rescued,” he said.
Source: NAN
He said that he sold his three years and eight months old son in November 2012 at the rate of N260, 000 to a woman who is currently nowhere to be found.
“I told my wife that I don’t have money to bury my father who was in the mortuary at that time and she approved of the transaction,” He said.
The Commissioner of Police in Abia, Mr Usman Tilli, told newsmen that the suspect was arrested following a tip-off.
He said that investigations led to the recovery of the child who has been handed over to the grandfather for care and protection and also said that the police had also arrested another suspect, Chimere Sunday for selling his two children.
He said that upon investigation, one of the children was recovered, adding that the buyers were on police wanted list.
He said that the 19 pregnant teenagers who were also paraded, were rescued from an illegal charity home in Umuahia North local government area of the state.
“A team of policemen from the command raided the home during which the pregnant girls between the ages of 15 and 23, including a nursing mother, were rescued,” he said.
Source: NAN
OOU Lecturer killed by suspected cultists
Tragedy struck, yesterday, at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, in Ijebu North area of OgunState when a lecturer, Dr Segun Onabanjo, was shot dead by suspected cultists.
Onabanjo who until his death was a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology in the university, was said to have been killed by the assailants who stormed his residence in Odomolasa area of Ilese-Ijebu and broke into his home at about 1:00 a.m.
According to Vanguard, while his assailants were attempting to break into his house, he was reportedly shouting “e bami gbe ibon mi (kindly bring me my gun)” to his kids and relatives in an attempt to scare away the armed men.
The gunmen eventually, in the wee hours, shot the lecturer dead and carted away some personal items.
It was learnt that the body of the deceased had been desposited at the mortuary.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killing, saying the command was on the trail of the suspected killers who escaped through a nearby bush and would do everything possible to bring them to justice.
The police spokesman said some of the suspects sustained injuries in the gun duel and urged members of the public to promptly report anybody found with bullet wounds to security agents.
“The incident was quite unfortunate. The police command is seriously investigating this case and the suspects would be brought to justice. We are already working on some leads; the police combed the area and found blood stains at the back of the house of the lecturer. The police traced the blood and hopefully, it will help in this case,” he said.
Adejobi appealed to residents to be careful in handling such crime situation, saying they should be wary of showing off even if they have firearms.
He called on medical doctors in the state to alert the command in case they notice anyone with gun wounds in their hospitals.
Onabanjo who until his death was a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology in the university, was said to have been killed by the assailants who stormed his residence in Odomolasa area of Ilese-Ijebu and broke into his home at about 1:00 a.m.
According to Vanguard, while his assailants were attempting to break into his house, he was reportedly shouting “e bami gbe ibon mi (kindly bring me my gun)” to his kids and relatives in an attempt to scare away the armed men.
The gunmen eventually, in the wee hours, shot the lecturer dead and carted away some personal items.
It was learnt that the body of the deceased had been desposited at the mortuary.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killing, saying the command was on the trail of the suspected killers who escaped through a nearby bush and would do everything possible to bring them to justice.
The police spokesman said some of the suspects sustained injuries in the gun duel and urged members of the public to promptly report anybody found with bullet wounds to security agents.
“The incident was quite unfortunate. The police command is seriously investigating this case and the suspects would be brought to justice. We are already working on some leads; the police combed the area and found blood stains at the back of the house of the lecturer. The police traced the blood and hopefully, it will help in this case,” he said.
Adejobi appealed to residents to be careful in handling such crime situation, saying they should be wary of showing off even if they have firearms.
He called on medical doctors in the state to alert the command in case they notice anyone with gun wounds in their hospitals.
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