Welcome to Obafemayor's blog: 2013-06-02

Thursday 6 June 2013

120 million Nigerians still in darkness, FG admits

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku

The Federal Government on Wednesday regretted that despite the various efforts being put into stabilising the power sector; about 120 million Nigerians were still in darkness.

The Minister of State for Power, Mrs. Zaynab Kuchi, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

She was joined at the briefing by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe; and Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Ishyaku Dahiru

The ministries of Power and Niger Delta Affairs had earlier presented their achievements and challenges for 2012 to the FEC.

There was pandemonium at the Ox Bow Lake Road junction, Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, after a bus went up in flames in a traffic jam on Wednesday.

Our correspondent who was at the scene of the incident observed that the thick ball of flame that emanated from the Mitsubishi L300 bus forced motorists to flee the area.

The scene immediately attracted onlookers and sympathisers, who initially mistook the vehicle for a passenger bus.

But two persons, a driver and a passenger, struggled out of the bus unhurt.

They were, however, concerned about the bus and its content.

The apprehensive young men remained speechless for sometimes.

The driver, who was obviously confused, shed tears as he asked his colleague that he identified as Uche to call their boss.

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko

Few days after the suspension of the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, from the People’s Democratic Party, the party on Wednesday announced the suspension of the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamako, from the party

The party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, that the suspension was due to the breaching of the party’s constitution by the governor.

Metuh said the decision to suspend the governor was taken at the meeting held by the members of the National Working Committee at its meeting, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The statement read, “The NWC notes that on several occasions, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko had ignored invitations and lawful directives of the NWC in this regard and has continued to show complete apathy to the affairs of the party and contempt to an organ of the Party.

Members of the boko haram sect

The North on Wednesday disagreed with the National Assembly on the proscription of two Islamic miltant groups – Boko Haram and Ansaru–by President Goodluck Jonathan.

While the North through its two prominent groups, the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern Elders Forum, faulted the ban, the National Assembly insisted that it was a welcome development.

To the ACF and the NEF, the Jonathan administration has through the ban thrown a spanner in the works in its efforts to end bloodletting in the North through amnesty for Boko Haram and Ansaru members.

They said they were waiting to see how the Federal Government would address the crisis in the North.

In an interview with one of our correspondents in Kaduna, the ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, argued that with the ban, negotiations with Boko Haram would be difficult.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, on Wednesday described those behind his reported suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State as a group of disgruntled people who were not recognised by the party leadership.

Orubebe was reportedly suspended by a faction of the party alongside nine others over alleged “gross misconducts likely to bring about disrepute, hatred, contempt and anti-party activities.”

But in an interview with State House correspondents, the minister said he did not recognise the faction who pronounced his suspension, saying members of the faction went from back to impose themselves on the people without regard to those who were duly elected in the local government area.

He said the faction did not have any power whatsoever to suspend him.

He said, “It is a group of disgruntled, illegal body. You are aware that this is a government that stands for the truth, it is a government that is transforming. We had a PDP elected body in place and from behind, a group of people went and imposed an illegal body on the people and I said I will not recognise them because, the one that was duly elected by everybody that came to elect the National Chairman and the national exco is the one that I do recognise.

“And so, that is a factional group which I don’t recognise and they don’t have any power to do what they are doing and they also know that they are just looking for cheap attention and I don’t look at it.

“The authentic chairman who is in court now made it very clear that he is the authentic chairman and he is leading the local government executive and he came out to state categorically that nobody should look at the disco they are dancing.”

He allayed the fear of the people that the situation might have dire consequences on the party ahead of the 2015 elections.

He said everything was in place for them to deliver the local government to the PDP during the election.

Dangote to site $8bn refinery in Olokola FTZ

Indications emerged on Wednesday that the $8bn refinery proposed by Africa’s richest man and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, would be located at the Olokola Free Trade Zone, Ondo State.

A senior official of the company, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told our correspondent that the refinery would be located in the OFTZ.

One of the factors considered for the location of the refinery, according to the source, is that it is the biggest deep seaport in the country and other big industries are located there; besides, Ondo is one of the oil producing states in the country.

Nigeria’s Uwa Echiejile (right) vying for the ball with Kenya’s David Ochieng during the 2014 World Cup qualifying match at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi ...on Wednesday.

Nigeria maintain leadership in Group F of the African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup after beating hosts Kenya 1-0 in their second leg tie in Kasarani on Wednesday. Nigeria now have eight points from four matches, while Kenya are bottom of the log with two points.

All Nigeria needed was an 81st minute strike from CSKA Moscow’s Ahmed Musa to give Nigeria the needed victory.

The former Kano Pillars winger capitalised on goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng’s miscalculation to rush for the ball as the Nigerian chipped it into the net to send the small band of Nigerian supporters at the stadium into wild jubilation.

The other Group F match between Malawi and Namibia ended goalless in Blantyre, leaving the hosts with six points in four matches.

Mrs. Patience Jonathan

The Senate on Wednesday dropped the controversial African First Ladies’ Peace Mission House project when it passed the N259.65bn budget of the Federal Capital Territory for the 2013 fiscal year without approving the N4bn appropriated for it.

In February when the budget proposal was brought to the National Assembly, it contained N4bn vote for the construction of the mission house in Abuja, a development that attracted a lot of criticisms from members of the public.

The Senate, during the second reading of the bill, questioned the rationale of committing scarce resources to prosecute a less important structure.

Civil rights groups and political parties had also berated the Federal Capital Territory Administration for budgeting N4bn for the construction of the building for a non-governmental body headed by the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

They had contended that since the Federal Government had earlier declared the mission as a non-governmental organisation, it would be inappropriate for the same government to spend public funds on it.

Neymar

Brazil great Pele believes his country are among the favourites to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The South American giants will host the tournament and will be aiming to win the coveted trophy for the first time since 2002.

Pele, 72, said Brazil had the talent to challenge for the title, and believes Spain and Germany will be their biggest threats.

“I think Brazil has an excellent opportunity to be in the final of the World Cup. To win is tough because football always brings a lot of surprises,” he said.

“Brazil has some great players and we have discussed in Brazil that we had almost three years with the same coach – Mano Menezes.

“Unfortunately these three years we did not have a base. One month with Luiz Felipe Scolari and it has changed.”

Giving a very rare money-back-guarantee, actor, Desmond Elliot has declared that he would refund people's money if they find his new movie, The Place, wanting.

In a statement released from his office, he said, 'I know this is not the kind of things people say in Nollywood but I'm staking all on this movie, if you buy the DVD and its not 'very funny' to you, contact me, I will refund your money in full' he said.

Continuing, the actor-director said without sounding immodest, The Place is his biggest movie project so far. 'I know this will come across as chest-thumping to some people but it is not. I am 110% sure of this movie. This movie is my biggest project so far and so different from everything I have done. One, it is a comedy, two, the script is 'lively and engaging', you won't be able to do any other thing while watching this movie. If the movie fall short of your expectation, I'll refund your money. That is a promise. You can contact me on Twitter or through the store you purchase the DVD but it has to be the original DVD' he stressed.

Few days ago, popular sultry actress, Laide Bakare put to bed in America. The news of her child delivery shocked many of her fans, who were surprised about the news. The reason was because it was only less than a month she announced her marriage crash to ex-husband, Olumide Okunfulire that she gave birth to her new hubby.

Worried by the development, the ex-husband has reacted to the news and has claimed that he is the father of the child Laide is claiming is for Tunde Oriowo.

Olumide said, "I heard that my wife delivered a baby boy barely two months after she made a release that we were divorced, and she’s saying that the baby belongs to one Mr. Tunde Oriowo.

"That’s a lie, wicked lie. I’m the biological father. I have pictures to show that we were always together, but she deliberately kept the pregnancy out of my knowledge."

He further stated that he is ready to prove his case through a DNA test. Olumide also challenged Laide to submit herself for the DNA test in order to determine the paternity of the new child.

Source: Nigeriafilms

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Obasanjo now problem to Nigeria – Niger Delta monarch

FORMER National President of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, and Pere of Seimbiri Kingdom, in Delta State, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, yesterday, examined the activities of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, since he left power in 2007, and concluded that he was now a problem to Nigeria.
Speaking to Vanguard on the recent suggestion by the former President that Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State was the kind of person needed to rule the country in 2015, he said that Obasanjo wanted to control and dictate to President Goodluck Jonathan, but having failed to achieve that desire, he opted to pull the house down.

Below is a press statement by the president's Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Reuben Abati.

President Jonathan approves order proscribing Boko Haram and Ansaru members; supporters, collaborators now face prosecution under terrorism prevention act.

President Goodluck Jonathan has formally approved the proscription of Boko Haram and authorized the gazetting of an order declaring the group’s activities illegal and acts of terrorism.

The order which has been gazetted as the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice 2013 affects both Boko Haram (Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad) and another group – Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, was approved by President Jonathan pursuant to section 2 0f the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (As Amended).

The Federal Government has set June 17, 2013 for the commencement of the payment of the N384bn severance benefits to the workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said this while responding to questions from members of staff of the Egbin Power Plc in Lagos on Tuesday.

The minister explained that barring all unforeseen contingencies as well as documentation lapses by the over 50,000 workers, payment would begin on June 17.

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Bisi Onasanya

Customers of First Bank Limited may find it difficult to carry out some banking transactions from Thursday to Monday due to the decision to shut down the bank’s branches nationwide during the period.

The shutdown, according to the bank, is to enable it upgrade its core banking application from Finacle 7 to Finacle 10, which will ensure easier and faster customer services and experience.

Our correspondent gathered that the decision to shut down operations in order to facilitate the migration to Finacle 10 would affect the bank’s over 700 branches nationwide.

Apart from all the branches being shut, Point of Sale transactions and transaction alerts by Short Message Service will not be possible during the period. In addition, all card services, except Visa prepaid card, will not be available via Quick Teller and the Web.

ABUJA — The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, heard how alleged kingpin of the Boko Haram sect, Mustapher Umar, bombed office of Thisday Newspaper in Kaduna State with 12 camp gas cylinders in a bid to appease Allah.
Justice Ademola Adeniyi, who admitted a burnt Honda Car, with number-plate AL-306-MKA, allegedly used to perpetrate the terrorist act on April 26, 2012, further heard how the accused person cried bitterly when he was rescued from the burning car, saying they denied him the opportunity of inheriting 72 virgins in heaven.
In a bid to prove the complicity of the accused person, the Federal Government brought a senior police officer that is charged with the responsibility of keeping exhibits recovered from terror suspects to testify before the high court.

Nigeria Coach Stephen Keshi has stated clearly that the African champions will not settle for anything less than the three maximum points when they take on Kenya in Nairobi in a crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Wednesday.
A confident Keshi added at the team’s only training session in the Kenyan capital on Tuesday that the Harambee Stars’ 1-1 draw with the Super Eagles in the first match in Calabar in March was in the past, and that his boys retain their focus of earning a ticket to Brazil next year summer.

“We respect the Kenyans for what they achieved when we played in Nigeria, but I like to state that is in the past. We have forgotten about that, just as we are not going to be thinking about the fact that we have beaten Kenya in nine of 11 previous meetings.

JUSTICE George Omereji of a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has adjourned till June 18, to hear the suit by Governor Chibuike Amaechi, seeking to restrain the 32 members of the state House of Assembly from initiating impeachment proceedings against him.
Meantime, the five anti- Governor Amaechi lawmakers also made an oral application before the court, seeking to have their private counsel in the issue.
Their counsel, Mr. Chinwe Aguma, told the court that his clients did not share the same interest with the leadership of the House, led by the Speaker, Mr. Telemeba Amachree. The five anti- Amaechi lawmakers are Evans Bipi, Kelechi Nwogu, Michael Chinda, Martin Amaewhule and Victor Ihunwo.
Also, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, of a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has refused an application by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Amachree, seeking to restrain the Inspector General of Police and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 6 Calabar, from ordering his arrest over allegations he made that there were plans to assassinate him and Governor Amaechi.
Counsel to the IG and the AIG, Mr. Donald Demwigwe, SAN, who was represented by Mr. S. Agwu, had told the court that the IG and the AIG were law abiding citizens, who would not act outside the confines of the law.

Source

We will resist annulment of NGF election – Fayemi

In this interview with OLUSOLA FABIYI, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, speaks on the controversy surrounding the recently concluded Nigeria Governors’ Forum chairmanship election and other issues. Excerpts.
Some of you have refused to associate with the Governor Jonah Jang-led faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Why?
To the best of my knowledge, we have only one authentic and legitimate Nigeria Governors’ Forum, which is led by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who won the election. Nigerians can see that he was the one who won the election and its not only the governors who voted for him that could see that. Clearly, it is obvious that what you are witnessing on Governor Jang’s side is an attempt to keep up appearances. I hope good reason would prevail and I know that discussions are ongoing between elements on both sides and ultimately, it is my humble opinion that we would stop ridiculing ourselves before Nigerians.

Crane operator electrocuted to death on set of Elvis Chuk's movie

29 year old crane operator Moses Okwudili (pictured in black operating the crane) died yesterday evening Monday June 3rd on the set of Elvis Chuks movie, Hustlers, after the crane he was operating made contact with high tension wires. Witnesses said Moses pushed the crane too far up, and was looking at the monitor when the crane made contact with a naked wire. He was electrocuted on the spot. The incident happened a few minutes after these photos were taken.

I know what you're thinking right now...well, here's your answer! He's news because he's the manager of two of Nigeria's most talented music stars - Wizkid and Waje. :-). Congrats to him!

Hezbollah weapons warehouse belongs to Sierra Leonean – Lebanese Consul

KANO — Acting Lebanese Consul in Kano, Khallel Musliman, has revealed that the private residence that housed cache of weapons of mass destruction linked to international terrorist organisation, Hezbollah, belongs to a Sierra Leonean.
Speaking in Kano, Musliman said the property owner who is already in custody over his infamous role in the arm saga is Abdu Hassan Tahir.

Weapons of mass destruction lined to Hezbollah found at the controversial property
The controversial property located at Gaya Road within Bompai GRA is within a striking distance to the police headquarters that was sacked by the dreaded Boko Haram members in January 20, 2012.
Heavily armed soldiers are still keeping vigil on the property thereby impeding access to the popular street off Milar Road in Kano metropolis.

The Catholic Church’s top exorcist, who claims to have sent 160,000 demons back to hell, says he wants Pope Francis to allow all priests to start performing the ritual to deal with a rising demand for exorcisms from the faithful.
Father Gabriele Amorth, 88, who also heads the International Association of Exorcists, told The Sunday Times that he will ask Pope Francis to allow all priests the right to do exorcisms without the church’s approval. According to the report, priests currently need special approval from their bishop to perform the rite and it is rarely granted.
“I will ask the pope to give all priests the power to carry out exorcisms, and to ensure priests are properly trained for these starting with the seminary. There’s a huge demand for them,” said Father Amorth.
He explained that he was inspired to make the request after watching Pope Francis perform what he insists was an exorcism on a man “possessed by four demons” in St. Peter’s Square.
“The pope is also the Bishop of Rome, and like any bishop he is also an exorcist,” Amorth reportedly told La Repubblica newspaper. “It was a real exorcism. If the Vatican has denied this, it shows that they understand nothing.”

The US today Monday June 3rd posted up to $23 million in rewards to help track down five leaders of militant groups accused of spreading terror in west Africa.

The highest reward of $7 million is offered for the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who last week called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the bloody fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program also targeted Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), offering its first ever bounties for wanted militants in west Africa.

Lola Omotayo, the heartthrob of Peter Okoye, one half of the P-Square music stars, tells BAYO ADETU on how her relationship with the musician started and her plan of being an actress
Many people got to know you when your relationship with Peter Okoye started. Who really is Lola Omotayo?
Simply put, what you see is what you get. I can’t really define who I am per se, but I’m humble, caring, loving and a professional in the oil and gas profession. I take my work and family very seriously because they are very important to me, my family in particular.
Can you summarise the journey of Lola Omotayo from a little child to who she is now?
The journey has been a very interesting one. My Dad is a Nigerian and my mother is a Russian. I was brought up in a household where both cultures are very important to my family.
From my mother’s angle, she imbedded her own culture on us as well. She insisted that we speak Russia at home, and we speak Yoruba at home as well, so I got the best of both languages.
I worked for an advertising company called FKG2 and spent about five years there. We did a lot of things and it was interesting, that was where I met Peter actually.

The Flying Eagles’ readiness for the 2013 U-20 World Cup will be put to test on Tuesday by world champions Brazil at the Toulon Tournament.

Brazil may not be at Turkey 2013 after they failed to qualify from the South American qualifiers, but they have been flying at the Toulon Tournament having won all their three matches thus far.

They overcame a first-half scare by Belgium U21 to win 2-1 in their opening game, before they stopped an impressive Mexico 1-0 and on Sunday they put World Cup-bound Portugal in their place with two early goals.

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Government will do everything humanly possible to prevent the recurrence of domestic air crashes in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

Jonathan, while speaking at the unveiling ceremony of a cenotaph to honour the victims, who lost their lives in the Dana Air, Flight J9 992 crash on June 3, 2012, said the government had resolved to make the nation’s airspace safe.

He spoke at the General Aviation Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja on Monday.

He said, “Today I want to say to all to my countrymen and women and the entire world that we will make our airspace safe. In this regard I reiterate our determination to do everything humanly possible to prevent the recurrence of this unfortunate tragedy.”

The President described the crash as “a monumental tragedy” to Nigeria.

He said, “All the 153 persons on board and six others on the ground lost their lives. It was a monumental tragedy for the nation.

“We commiserate with the families of all those who lost their lives, especially on the first anniversary of that terrible tragedy. We also feel and share the same sense of profoundness to the victims of all other aviation accidents that have occurred in this country.”

President Mugabe, Aides Sleep Off At AU Summit

President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, 89, was recently at the 2013 African Union of Heads of State Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia precisely May 19 - 27, 2013.The amusing part of the 21st summit is that, where all the leaders of Africa teemed to deliberate on possible ways of Africa getting it right and how to tackle poverty, find lasting solutions to problems of Africa in food production, eradicating of the AIDS scourge, terrorism, among other burning issues.

President Mugabe who has ruled Zimbabwe for several years tuned to sleeping mood and doused off completely. Since his assumption of office in 31st December 1987 as President, the Octogenarian has no intention of relinquishing power but prefers to sleep over whatever problems Africa is faced with.

Renowned international journal, Forbes, has said Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is now 25th richest man in the world.
Forbes also said Dangote is now the first African entrepreneur to lay claim to a $20 billion fortune as the stock value of his largest holding, Dangote Cement, leaped just three months after it released its annual ranking of the world’s richest people.
The report noted that Aliko Dangote’s 93 percent stake in the cement company is now worth $19.5 billion.
This was in addition to his controlling stakes in other publicly-listed companies like Dangote Sugar and National Salt Company of Nigeria and his significant shareholdings in other blue-chips like Zenith Bank, UBA Group and Dangote Flour.

The 11th convocation of the Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State recorded a mixed grill of emotions,SEGUN OLUGBILE reports
Last Sunday’s convocation of Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, was a potpourri of emotions. For some, it was expectedly exciting. Shouts of joy, mixed with backslapping and hugging, were not in short supply.
But while most of the graduating students had cause to rejoice and shed tears of joy, two of the graduating students and their family members, who managed to grace the occasion, were grief-stricken. But, first, they story of joy.
At the carnival-like 11th convocation, 1,359 students were awarded first degrees. Twenty got postgraduate diplomas, 71 obtained Master’s degrees in various disciplines while another set of 41 got PhD degrees in various disciplines.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Shauib Oyedokun, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an embarrassment to the ruling party.
Oyedokun, a former National Deputy Chairman of the party, spoke in Osogbo on Sunday.
He accused Obasanjo of being the cause of the crises besetting the PDP, even as he rained curses on PDP members he accused of seeking the destruction of the party.
According to the Osun-born politician, Obasanjo’s activities in recent times are capable of causing the disintegration of the party in the South-West.
He said it was unfortunate that the PDP in Ogun State, where the former national leader of the party hails from, had been in disarray.
“The PDP is disintegrating in the state of the man we call our leader,” Oyedokun said.
Warning Obasanjo to stop playing God, Oyedokun, who said the former President had oppressed members and leaders of the party in the South-West, maintained that leaders of the party in the region had decided to stand up against Obasanjo.

Tears as family, friends remember Dana crash victim

Adebiyi

Emotions ran high on Sunday as hundreds of family and friends of a Dana crash victim, Adekunbi Adebiyi, attended a Christian music concert organised in her honour.

The event, which held at Agip Hall of the Muson Centre, Lagos, was well attended. The gathering was characterised by singing, instrumental performances as well as a powerpoint picture presentation of the deceased’s life and times.

Some of the deceased’s friends were clad in yellow shirts, with the inscription, ‘One year on, KIA (Kunbi Irene Adebiyi) in our hearts.’

Some of the deceased’s friends, who paid tributes to her, described her as a God-fearing and lovable person.

One of them, Olumide Omololu, described her as an ambitious girl who once dreamt of becoming Nigeria’s first female President.

Omololu said, “Kunbi and I grew up together and we were very close. I saw her two months before she died. We were also business partners. She was an entreprenuer.

Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)

Presidential candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 Presidential election, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has frowned on the emergency rule in parts of the North. He alleged that innocent civilians were being killed in the states.

Buhari speaking during a Liberty FM Hausa Service Programme, Guest of the Week, on Sunday in Kaduna said that Boko Haram members were being killed and their houses demolished unlike the “special treatment” given to the Niger Delta militants by the Federal Government

Buhari, who also blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to tackle the security problems in the country, argued that the challenges started in the Niger Delta.

He said, “What is responsible for the security situation in the country is caused by the activities of Niger Delta militants.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party has said that the opposition political parties merging to form the All Progressive Congress do not have the capacity to hold primaries to choose those who would be contesting on its platform in 2015.

The PDP said if the APC held primaries, many of its supporters would be angry with the outcome and this would tear the party apart.

“We challenge the opposition also to be bold enough to hold primaries when the time comes. Many of those singing praises of the alliance will be betrayed and victimised by the godfathers and it will dawn on them that they have been deceived,” the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

But the APC has said it is not afraid of conducting primaries.

It said Nigerians believed in it because they know they would not give automatic ticket to any aspirant.

While taking stock of the unfolding political events in the country, including merger arrangements, Metuh said that there were positive signs and concrete indications that the PDP would still win the Presidency and more states by 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Opposition parties and prominent lawyers on Sunday blasted President Goodluck Jonathan for recognising the Jonah Jang faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progress Change as well as lawyers, including Prof. Itse Sagay and Mallam Yusuf Ali condemned Jonathan’s action.

The governors had on May 24, 2013, held an election, where the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, got 19 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr. Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who scored 16 votes.

But some governors, led by the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, had faulted the election, insisting that Amaechi’s term as the NGF chairman had ended and chose to recognise the Plateau State governor, thus splitting the NGF into factions.

Jang faction had on Friday visited Jonathan who recognised Jang as the chairman of the forum.

On Sunday, the ACN said the President’s action was a travesty of democracy.

Just days after the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF was split, the same forces alleged to have sponsored the crisis in the forum are alleged to be directing their arsenal at the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF.
The first step aims to entangle the chairman of the forum, Governor Babangida Aliyu of NigerState in a web of controversies that could lead to his removal as chairman of the forum as early as this Thursday in a scheduled meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum.
Central to the allegations to be raised against Governor Aliyu is his failure to recognize the Governor Jonah Jang-led faction of the forum which last weekend received the enthusiastic backing of the Presidency.
The move being directed against Governor Aliyu it was learnt, is being coordinated by two governors aligned to the presidency from the North.

Ekiti-State-Governor-Kayode-Fayemi-360x225

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has said Governor Rotimi Amaechi remains the authentic Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
He said there should not be any ambiguity in who was validly elected at the Forum’s meeting, which was held on Friday, May 24, in Abuja.
Fayemi, who spoke with our correspondent in an exclusive interview on Friday, said the outcome of the election was glaring and clear to all the 35 governors that were present at the election venue.
It will be recalled that while Amaechi scored 19 votes during the election, his rival, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, got 16 votes.

Plausible reasons why the Ombatse cult killed no fewer than 100 policemen and security operatives in Eggon community of NasarawaState have begun to emerge.
Findings by Vanguard revealed that the fear by the Eggon-speaking natives of the state that Governor Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, is planning to renege on his pledge to serve for only a term of four years, triggered the lethal onslaught.
Competent government sources confirmed to Vanguard, yesterday, that Governor Al-Makura was interested in a second term although he had served notice in 2011 to do just four years and hand over to an Eggon politician, since the area has never tasted the governorship seat in the 16 years of the state’s existence.
According to findings, Eggon, which are mostly Christians and constitute the dominant ethnic race in the state, are found in all the LGAs of Nasarawa State but they feel politically marginalised by successive administrations.

Mr. Babatunde Omidiran, popularly known as Baba Suwe, has vowed to appeal the ruling of Appeal Court in Lagos, which quashed the N25 million compensation earlier granted to him by a Lagos High Court against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
The Appeal Court had, Friday, ruled that NDLEA had good reasons to detain Baba Suwe, and set aside the N25 million awarded by Justice Yetunde Idowu of a Lagos High Court, to the ace comedian.
Speaking through his lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, weekend, in Lagos, he said the Court of Appeal decision would be taken to the Supreme Court because it was one that could encourage the culture of impunity on the part of law enforcement agencies.
He said: “If we do not appeal the decision, history will not forgive us. We shall be heading to the Supreme Court.”
It is a matter of public duty now.

PDP chieftain to Obasanjo: Stop attacking Jonathan

OSOGBO — Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, has urged former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to stop further public criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration policies and programmes.
Oyedokun also denied any connection between PDP South-West and Obasanjo’s posture concerning President Jonathan, saying the former president was on his own.
Speaking in Osogbo, yesterday, on the recent developments in the party, the PDP Board of Trustees, BOT, member stated that no matter the inadequacies of the present administration, President Jonathan deserves more time.
He said: “I am very careful while trying to comment about Obasanjo. This is because he is first and foremost a global figure. He is a mentor to many people.
“He is also a former president and, above all, he is a respected Yoruba man.
“But his recent posture on national affairs has become an embarrassment to the nation. His statement back home is also causing a lot of disintegration.
“First of all, his attitude to the Boko Haram issue is not expected of a statesman, although he made a bold attempt, sometime ago, by going to Borno to discuss with leaders of the sect.
“However, while going there one would have expected that he consulted with other leaders in the North such as former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) to get a better result.
“He made statements there that disrespected President Jonathan, telling him to use brute force to quench the insurgency. Also his recent utterances outside the country about Nigeria are not expected of a good leader.”
“Obasanjo should stop playing God. God has done more than enough for him in socially, politically and economically.”

Libel: 10 SANs, 87 lawyers to defend Melaye

ABUJA— NO fewer than 87 civil rights lawyers and 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, have indicated interest to render free legal services to the former member of the House of Representatives, Otunba Dino Melaye, over the suit instituted against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN.
The lawyers said their services fall under pro bono services to tackle the 11-man legal team raised by the AGF in the N10.2 billion libel suit slammed on Melaye who is the Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network at an Abuja High Court.

Thursday 6 June 2013

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