Nobody can push me out of PDP, says Amaechi

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday said he is remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP affirming that purveyors of his desperation for higher office had no right to bring down the country because of their assumptions.
Speaking on a BBC television interview, Hardtalk, Amaechi asserted that problems between him and the president were essentially fanned by those in the presidency bent on profiting from a crisis.
In the 25-minute interview anchored by Shaun Ley, Amaechi painted a triangle of insecurity, poverty and unemployment as the major problems of the country which the political class must address. He said the qualification of leadership must not be ethnicised as he called for a visionary leader.
While pleading for the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB as a way of addressing decreasing investment by multinational oil corporations, Amaechi nevertheless called for the abrogation of the office of minister of petroleum or reduction of the powers of the minister under the PIB.

Tears as Army buries 14 Boko Haram victims, 1 other

Tears flew freely at the Military burial ground, Abuja, on Thursday, when the remains of two officers and 13 soldiers who paid the supreme price in the ongoing prosecution of the state of emergency in the Northern-eastern part of the country and the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Dafur, Sudan, were laid to rest.
Families and friends of the deceased, including those present, could not hold back tears as the fallen heroes were given full military and national honour for their sacrifices to ensure that peace reigns in Nigeria and the African Region.
The two officers are; Major A.T. Fambiya and Major Abdullahi Kanoma while the soldiers include; SSGT Keku Adebayo, CPL Ahmed Usman, CPL Mathew Ade, LCPL Adamu Ibrahim, LCPL Suleiman Gimba, LCPL Salisu Sadauki, LBDR Usman David, LCPL Ajani Olosola, PTE Zakariya Dauda, PTE Daniel Kantoma, PTE Nya Bassey, PTE Bassey Emmanuel, and PTE Enyenihi Effiong.

Rivers Crisis: Senate Indicts Jonathan, Wife

The crisis at the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013, was the expression of deep-rooted political crisis occasioned by the alleged highhandedness of Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and the perceived undue interference with the political and security structure of the state by President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience and the national hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a Senate report considered and adopted at plenary declared yesterday.
The Senate in its report also called on the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, to “immediately” redeploy the commissioner of police, Rivers State command, Mr Joseph Mbu, since, according to the federal lawmakers, “his relationship with the governor has broken down irretrievably”.
Mbu has been fingered severally by the Amaechi camp as a hatchet man in the lingering Rivers crisis.
“Mbu has refused to cooperate with the governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on matters of security even though the governor is the chief security officer of the state,” the report observed.
Again, the upper house in the report of the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration concurred with the resolutions of the House of Representatives and resolved to take over legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Teacher impersonates Fashola, Aregbesola’s wives, dupes govt

A 53-year-old primary school teacher, Mrs. Asogbon Abosede, has been arraigned at the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly impersonating the wives of Lagos and Osun states governors and defrauding officials of the Lagos State Government.
Abosede, a Grade 10 teacher, was said to have committed the crime between June and July 2013 through text messages in which she claimed to be Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola.
The accused allegedly influenced her redeployment from a primary school in Alimosho area of the state to the Lagos State Basic Education Board by sending text messages to the Chairman of SUBEB, presenting herself as Fashola and later as Aregbesola.
The request was said to have been granted as she was redeployed soon afterwards.

Nigeria on speed to economic recovery — Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, said that in spite of the security challenges confronting the nation and the global economic crises, Nigeria’s economy is currently witnessing the fastest growth rate in the world.
He said: “At a time many advanced and emerging markets are being downgraded, our sovereign credit ratings have been steadily upgraded,” Jonathan said in Abuja while declaring open the sixth Diaspora Day celebration.
He noted that his administration was working hard to strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions and confronting, with great determination and firmness, the challenges of insecurity in some parts of the country, adding that issues of governance and corruption were also being vigorously tackled on all fronts.
According to him, the country has been able to further reduce the fiscal deficit in 2013 Budget to 1.81 per cent of GDP, and significantly cut domestic borrowing.

Yobe Governor Shuns Minister Over Al-Mustapha

Yobe State Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, Tuesday, refused to grant audience to the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama,  following the  minister’s rally with the recently released Major Hamza Al-Mustapha in Nguru last week.
The minister was in Damaturu to give the state government 222 trailer loads of grains and N150 million being the Federal Government’s assistance to Yobe as one of the three states affected by emergency rule.
But the governor, who was at the Government House but refused to see the minister, was, according to an aide who does not want his name in print, annoyed that the minister drove in the same car with Al-Mustapha to the Nguru rally despite the emergecy rule in the state.

Nigeria needs re-incarnation of Awolowo —HID

THE matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, has said that Nigeria needs politicians like her husband to make the country great.
She said although there were people in the current political class who were trying to be like the sage, “if it pleases God, He will re-incarnate Chief Obafemi Awolowo among the politicians in the country today.”
Chief (Mrs) Awolowo spoke in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, during a visit to her by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu and her children.
She described the conspiracy against the presidential bid of the sage as shameful, adding that the country would have benefitted immensely from her husband’s wealth of experience in public policy and administration, had he been allowed to lead the country.

Jonathan urges Saudi to address pilgrims’ plight

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday charged  the Saudi Arabia new Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fuad Rajih, to work hard to ensure that hitches being experienced by Nigerians  during  Hajj operations   were  removed.
He said the envoy should be ready to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to achieve the target.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as speaking while granting audience to Rajih after receiving his credence letters at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The statement reads, “President Jonathan urged him (envoy) to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to reduce or completely remove hitches and ‘grey areas’ that crop up occasionally to hinder the airlifting of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
“Noting that Nigerians are a very religious people who take their religious obligations seriously, President Jonathan told the new Ambassador that the Federal Government will greatly appreciate his cooperation and support in making the participation of Nigerian Muslims in the Hajj easier and free of hindrances.”
The President was also quoted as saying that Nigeria would  welcome greater economic relations with Saudi Arabia.

“I Slept With Men For Money" - Beverly

21 year-old Nigerian female representative at Big Brother Africa – The Chase, Beverly Osu has confessed to her housemate boyfriend, Angelo that she slept with men for money, in another word, she was a pr0st1tute.

Beverly disclosed that, at one point in her life, she was sleeping around with men to make ends meet and to take care of her family while her mother was away in the USA.

This is what she said, “I’ve done all sorts. I’ve slept with men for money when I had to take care of my family,”

9ice Makes Comeback With 'Ike Kan' August 1

After a long time away from stardom, former husband of Toni Payne, Abolore Adigun, also known as 9ice, is making a comeback to take his rightful place in the industry. To this effect, the 'Gongon Aso' crooner has set August 1, 2013 as the official release date for his new single, 'Ike Kan', which literally means 'One Plastic'.

The song is produced by multiple award winning Nigerian beats maker, Don Jazzy and it is from his upcoming album, 'GRA (Galvanising Right Ahead)'. The single will be released online via top music retail websites.

'Ike Kan' signifies applying strength in all that you do. It is an irresistible beat from Don Jazzy, fused with the well composed lyrics and sweet melody 9ice is known for, which gives the song a groove from start to finish.

I Thought My Babymamas Would Disrupt My Wedding To Annie Macaulay—2Face

When in February 14, 2012, celebrated singer, Innocent Idibia, well known as 2Face Idibia, proposed to his then long time girlfriend, Annie Macaulay, many thought he was in for a big trouble. This was because at the time he begged the up and coming actress, Annie, for her hand in marriage, one of his babymamas, Pero Adeniyi, was actually pregnant for the multiple award winning artiste.
The debate on if 2Face would be able stage a glamorous wedding with Annie started and many people started giving their different views on the choice of 2Face picking one of his babymamas, Annie, as wife.
Some thought 2Face should not have chosen any of his babymamas as wife to balance the equation, but some felt Annie was worth the pick because she had been with the Idoma, Benue State-born singer for a long time when he was a nobody, while others felt Pero, who was then expecting the third child for 2Face, would have been the best choice for him.

83rd Birthday: Ado Bayero Most Revered Monarch – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday felicitated with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, on his 83rd birthday anniversary, saying his rare leadership qualities make him one of the most revered monarchs in country.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan extolled the Emir’s “uncommon leadership qualities” and prayed God Almighty to grant him many more years of service to the people of Kano and Nigeria.
“As you mark your 83rd birthday anniversary which comes up on Thursday (today), I write, on behalf of my family, the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to extend warm felicitations to Your Highness”, Abati quoted Jonathan’s congratulatory letter to the Emir.
“Only recently, you marked 50 years of unqualified success on the throne as the Emir of Kano. Your uncommon leadership qualities and evident faith in the peace, unity, progress, and prosperity of our dear nation have combined to make you one of the most highly respected monarchs in Nigeria today,” he said.

Anambra gov election: APGA sells form for N2m

Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance has pegged the sale of its Expression of Interest form at N2m for prospective aspirants.
The party has also fixed August 3 for the meeting of its National Executive Committee, which would approve the guidelines for the elections.
According to a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the National Secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, the decision was in compliance with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Impeachment by minority not new –S’South elders

Some leaders from the South-South geo-political zone said in Abuja on Wednesday that there was nothing new in using the minority to impeach the majority.
The leaders, who were 14 in number, spoke at the residence of their leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on the attempt by five lawmakers in the Rivers State House Assembly to impeach the Speaker, who had the backing of 27 members.
Though the South-South leaders said they were not in support of any form of impeachment process other the one provided for in the Nigerian Constitution, they however said it was unfortunate that those criticising the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly kept quiet when such actions were carried out in other states.
Reading a prepared speech, the Deputy Chairman of the group, Air Cdre. Idongesit Nkanga (retd.), said, “When the Ogun State House of Assembly was enmeshed in crisis, where lawmakers used all sorts of cudgels, including firearms, to brutalise one another, where were those criticising the Rivers mayhem?
“When Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State was impeached by the minority members in the Oyo State House of Assembly, an action that paved the way for the emergence of former Governor Christopher Alao-Akala where were they?”
But it will be recalled that the Supreme Court reversed the action of the lawmakers in the state and restored Ladoja as the governor.
Nkanga also cited the case of Adamawa State, where he said the party was factionalised and and that there were two state executives of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Source

Lagos govt dumps 70 beggars and homeless people in Onitsha

The Lagos State Government yesterday Wednesday July 24th dumped over seventy people said to be beggars and homeless people in Onitsha.

The destitute were brought into the state around 3am yesterday and left them under the flyover at Upper Iweka Bridge after being detained in Lagos for months for begging, wandering and other minor offenses by the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline Officials. Many of the people dumped at the location said they were not even from Onitsha and didn't understand why they were dropped there. Some claimed they have family in Lagos and were picked up by KAI officials as they went to work.

This is the second time in a year the Lagos State govt will dump people at Upper Iweka in Anambra.

Exposed: Lawmaker Hit With Mace No Life-Threatening Injuries — Had Since Been Discharged, London Hospital Speaks

“You have a Minister, Nyesom Wike, who does no work in the Ministry [where lecturers are on strike] but is gallivanting all over Nigeria and the world in the interest of Rivers State politics and President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 ambitions.
“You have a man, Chinda, who suffers no life-threatening injuries but who is flown on the president’s order to London at public expense. You have a man who could have been treated in any local hospital for superficial injuries but was shamelessly shipped abroad…

Military chief hails Air Force on anti-terror fight

Chief of Air Staff, Vice-Marshal Alex Badeh, on Wednesday said the Nigerian Air Force had played a leading role in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.
Badeh also said the force  had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with five of the country’s universities and nine research institutions.
The Chief of Air Staff, who spoke to newsmen  after the 42nd graduation lecture delivered by the Governor of Central Bank, Lamido Sanu at   the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, said the Force had contributed to tackling the current security challenges caused by Boko Haram.
He said, “The transformation drive of the President on the side of the Air Force has contributed immensely in tackling the  security challenges in the country.
“For example, some of the aeroplanes we are using in Maiduguri to fight these terrorists were once down. Under our ‘Yes We Can Do It’, we on our own took them back to the sky.
“The bombs and aircraft used in Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram terrorists occupied were once considered obsolete. But some of our young officers, in our Central Armourment Depot said these bombs cannot be thrown away. So they found out what was wrong with them and made them functional. I don’t know how they did it, but those bombs are now working.”
On the importance of research, the Chief of Air Staff said the  Force signed  an agreement with  the tertiary institutions  to contribute to the nation’s economic growth and development.

Culled: Punchng.com

Underage marriage is our rights as Muslims - Asari Dokubo says

Former Ijaw Youth Council president and founder of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, Mr Asari Dokubo has given his opinion concerning child marriage in Nigeria. Below is what he wrote on his Facebook page a few days ago...

Military chief hails Air Force on anti-terror fight

Chief of Air Staff, Vice-Marshal Alex Badeh, on Wednesday said the Nigerian Air Force had played a leading role in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.
Badeh also said the force  had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with five of the country’s universities and nine research institutions.
The Chief of Air Staff, who spoke to newsmen  after the 42nd graduation lecture delivered by the Governor of Central Bank, Lamido Sanu at   the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, said the Force had contributed to tackling the current security challenges caused by Boko Haram.
He said, “The transformation drive of the President on the side of the Air Force has contributed immensely in tackling the  security challenges in the country.
“For example, some of the aeroplanes we are using in Maiduguri to fight these terrorists were once down. Under our ‘Yes We Can Do It’, we on our own took them back to the sky.
“The bombs and aircraft used in Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram terrorists occupied were once considered obsolete. But some of our young officers, in our Central Armourment Depot said these bombs cannot be thrown away. So they found out what was wrong with them and made them functional. I don’t know how they did it, but those bombs are now working.”
On the importance of research, the Chief of Air Staff said the  Force signed  an agreement with  the tertiary institutions  to contribute to the nation’s economic growth and development.

Culled: Punchng.com

We didn’t vote on marriage age, says Senate

Overwhelmed by public reaction, the Senate yesterday said its members did not vote on Marriage Age.
It said the Child’s Right Act is still intact and the lawful age of marriage is 18years.
The Senate made the clarifications in a special note in Abuja by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe.
The note said: “For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the senators vote, neither did they ever deliberate on any clause that has to do with marriage age. They also did not vote to introduce any new law on underage marriage.
“The senators only voted to amend some clauses in the articles that were already in the constitution. What is important is for the issue to be put in its proper perspective.

William, Kate present baby as they leave hospital

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their first public appearance Tuesday evening after the birth of their son, holding the still-unnamed boy to cheers from a crowd outside St. Mary’s Hospital.

The public got its first view of the new heir to the British throne Tuesday as Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, left a London hospital hospital with their newborn son.

“It’s very special,” said Prince William, who emerged from St. Mary’s Hospital with his wife, Kate, a day after the birth of his son. He joked: “He’s got her looks, thankfully.”

The couple will leave St. Mary’s hospital Tuesday evening with the boy, who was born Monday, Kensington Palace said. A name has not yet been announced for the child, who is third in line to the British throne.

“Their Royal Highnesses would like to reiterate their thanks to the hospital for the care and treatment they have all received,” a statement from the palace read.

School expels, suspends pupils for praying, alleged assault

Gaskiya college

Twelve pupils of Gaskiya Senior College, Ijora, Lagos State, are currently undergoing punishments for holding fellowship beyond the time allowed in the school and allegedly assaulting the principal.

The students were also branded “cultists” by the school principal, Mrs Oghenetega Sobowale, who signed the letters that informed them of their punishments.

While one of the students was expelled, five were placed on indefinite suspension.The six others were given lesser punishment. The suspended students have been missing third term examinations currently being written by their schoolmates

The students involved are Ejiro John, Otega John, Michael Changa, Valentine Okoye, Faith Okolie, Chidinma Chidozie, Jennifer Emmanuel, Eunice Ikpesu, Okiemute Jeremiah, Goodluck Kalu, Samuel Egwu and Rebecca David.

Child marriage: Oritsejafor to lead protest against senators

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Tuesday said he would lead Nigerians to protest against the Senate resolution to amend Section 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution under which married underage girls are deemed to be adults.

The association also frowned on the comment credited to former Governor of Zamfara State Ahmed Yerima that the proposal for the deletion of the section contravened Islamic Law.

Oritsejafor,  in a statement, described Yerima’s argument as offensive, saying, “It presupposes that Nigeria, a secular state, is populated only by Muslims.”

We’re renegotiating 2009 agreements with ASUU –FG

The Federal Government said on Tuesday that it was renegotiating the 2009 agreements it signed with the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, who are currently on strike.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief  Emeka Wogu, stated this while answering questions from journalists after briefing members of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party on the activities of his ministry in Abuja.
The reason for the renegotiation, according to him, was to clear some grey areas in the agreements, which he said were put in place before the coming into office of the present government.
The nine-point agreements ASUU signed with the Federal government 2009 included funding requirements for revitalisation of the Nigerian universities; Federal government assistance to state universities; establishment of NUPEMCO and progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to education to 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020; and earned allowances.

Mixed reactions greet govs’ visits to ex-leaders

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the visits of some Northern states’ governors to three former Nigerian leaders – Generals Olusegun Obasanjo,   Abdusalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida.
Four of the governors – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Sule Lamido(Jigawa); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); and Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) – had  last Saturday visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta where they discussed issues that have to do with the polity, especially the 2015 general elections.
On Monday, Wamakko, Lamido, Kwakwanso and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu  headed for Minna, where they reportedly discussed similar issues, including the political crisis in Rivers State with Abubakar and Babangida.
At the meeting which was to have also been attended by Nyako, the governors appealed to Abubakar and Babangida to ask President Goodluck Jonathan to  urgently bring the Rivers State crisis to  an end.
While the main opposition political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change –  described the visits as a welcome development, the  Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen and the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, disagreed.

Suspending me is like suspending PDP in Ekiti, Fayose boasts

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, resurfaced in the state capital on Tuesday and announced the suspension of a governorship aspirant of the party, Mr Ayo Fayose, and three members of the state executive committee of the party.
The members of the state executive whose suspensions were also announced by Mr Ogundipe are the secretary of the party, Mr Tope Aluko; the publicity secretary, Mr Kola Oluwawole and the women leader, Mrs Busola Oyebode.
Ogundipe, who addressed newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, expressed regret over the invasion of the party secretariat, describing it as “unfortunate and highly regretted,” and added that the state working committee of the party “after a careful study and thorough investigation” decided to suspend the people.
He said: “The transformation agenda of the Federal Government under our leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, will not be allowed to be rubbished by anybody, no matter how highly placed. The PDP is a disciplined party, therefore we will not tolerate insubordination from any individual for whatever reason.”
But Fayose, in a reaction described his suspension as “ignorable,” saying “you don’t suspend from the top, you suspend from the ward.”

Police detain Rivers Assembly majority leader

The Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, on Tuesday  showed up at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, exactly seven  days after he was  invited by the police over the free-for-all by some members of the assembly.
But the   Aide-De-Camp to  Governor Rotimi Amaechi,   Debeware  Semeikumo, and  the  Chief Security Officer, Tony Iwelu,  shunned a similar invitation to them.
The PUNCH learnt of these just as indications  emerged in Abuja that the Senate might  endorse the House of Representatives decision to take over the  functions of the state  assembly.
Lloyd, Semeikumo and Iwelu were  invited   on July 16   to explain their roles in the  July 8 free-for-all in  which some lawmakers were injured.
The Majority leader, who had earlier been declared wanted by the Rivers State Police Command in connection with the fracas, arrived at the Force Headquarters at   5. 45pm  and   was immediately directed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, where he was asked to write his statement.
A top Police source, who confirmed the lawmakers arrival, said it was unlikely that he would be released on Tuesday as a team of investigators needed to interrogate him.