I won’t quit before June, Sanusi dares Jonathan

The controversy surrounding the planned exit of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, deepened on Thursday with the governor insisting that he would not quit the post until his term expired on June 2, 2014.

In keeping with his vow, which analysts see as a direct confrontation with President Goodluck Jonathan, Sanusi has said he will not proceed on his terminal leave in March as initially being speculated.

The President had reportedly asked the CBN governor to resign immediately because of the alleged deliberate leakage of the letter that Sanusi wrote to him in which the governor accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of not remitting $49.8bn crude oil revenue to the Federation Account.

Sanusi was said to have denied leaking the letter to former President Olusegun Obasanjo or anyone for that matter, and allegedly told the President that he could only be removed by two-thirds of members of the Senate as required by law.

Ibori, others to complete jail terms in Nigeria

Nigeria and the United Kingdom  signed  an agreement on Thursday  on the exchange of prisoners between them.

Under the agreement, high-profile prisoners like  former  Governor James Ibori of Delta State, and other Nigerians in  the UK  prisons  will  be transferred to Nigeria to complete their  jail terms.

The UK Minister of Justice, Mr. Jeremy Wright, signed on behalf of his country while the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, SAN,  signed for Nigeria in Abuja.

Wright, who  visited the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, added that the  British government  would  give the Federal Government  £1m [about N280m} for a  comprehensive reform  of  Nigerian Prisons.

During the visit to Onwuliri, Wright  told journalists  that under the agreement, the consent of a prisoner was not required before  his repatriation could take place.

Tambuwal, Lamido shun N’West PDP leaders’ visit to Jonathan

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, on Thursday shunned a  visit by   leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in  the North-West   to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sources however said their absence from the meeting   might not be unconnected  with their  perceived opposition to the running of the PDP at the national level and in their respective states.

  Lamido  is one of the seven PDP  rebel governors who sought the removal of Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the ruling party.

Five of the G-7 governors defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress, but the Jigawa governor elected to remain in the PDP with his Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu.

   Tambuwal   is from  Sokoto  which is one of the states in the North-West .

Although the speaker’s media aide, Imam Imam, said he (Speaker) “travelled  out of the country, “  a source at the meeting said his absence was not justifiable.

People only pretend that nothing is happening under Jonathan —Prof. Nebo

Minster of Power, Proffessor Chinedu Nebo, is frustrated that in spite of all the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan to transform the country, there are critics who say noting is happening. In this interview with LEON USIGBE, he cites the case of his ministry as an instance of how far Jonathan has worked and says, were it not for deliberate acts of sabotage by those who do not want the president to succeed, there would have been a different story by now.

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THE power sector is an area of priority for this administration. How are you coping with its challenges?
It is a situation where every Nigerian needs power and where there are so many challenges, challenges at the generating value chain link, challenges at the transmission, challenges at the distribution and then the increasing appetite of our compatriots for power, because it is power that drives industries; it is power that drives enterprises. It is power that drives all the manufacturing outfits, it is really power that drives our education; anywhere you go, power supply is critical, it is actually critical to the survival of our country and to the security of our country. So, lots of things are expected to happen; some good, some bad.

Double joy for Seun Kuti

2013 would be a memorable year for Seun Kuti, the last son of the late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The young man’s wife put to bed a few days before last Xmas.
Until recently, the couple had kept quiet about the delivery until it was revealed to the public  sometime in December 2013.

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His girlfriend, who is also his back-up dancer, Yetunde Ademiluyi, gave birth to a baby girl in Paris, France  on December 14, 2013.
The couple returned to Nigeria and were warmly received  by families, associates, friends and fans who could not hide their excitement when they showed up  at Seun’s Lagos residence on Thursday, few days after the couple had named the baby girl. Seun named the child Adara Olufuntan Fehintola Anikulapo Kuti.
While expressing his joy over the Yuletide present from his girlfriend, Seun told R that it was a welcome development as he had looked forward to being a father.

Why I gave my producer a new Camary 2013— KCEE

Limpopo crooner, KCEE, was in the news again during the week, but this time for a different reason. News filtered into town that the producer of his popular hit track, Del’ B, had been handed over the key of a brand new 2013 Toyota Camry by Kcee.

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KCEE who came back into reckoning in 2013 with his popular song Limpopo tied down a number of endorsements, chief among them was his MTN ambassadorial deal, which came shorlty after releasing the song.
Del’B who produced some of the hit tracks in KCEE’s album which was released late last year was said to have been shocked about the new gift which he received as his new year gift from the hip-hop star.
Though, KCEE did not disclose how much the car cost him, he did disclose that it was his way of appreciating Del’B for a job well done. He also confirmed that it was his joy to give back to those people who made 2013 a success for him.
“I really don’t want to talk more about this development because it is not a new thing. But I will just tell you that 2013 was a big year for me and I have decided to reward those who contributed to its success. It would not have been possible for me alone without the crew that stood by me through the years.”

Glo/CAF Awards: Chelsea charters plane for Mikel

Nigeria and Chelsea star Mikel Obi could not arrive in Lagos on Wednesday for the Glo-CAF award night as originally planned. Instead, the midfielder will arrive in Lagos on Thursday aboard a regular flight but will depart from the country aboard a Chelsea flight specially arranged for him by the Stamford Bridge team.

An assistant to the player told The PUNCH that the team’s training schedule made it impossible for Mikel to be in Lagos on Wednesday.

He said, “He was meant to be here with us on Wednesday but he could not get clearance from the manager. The coach insisted that he trained with the team on Wednesday for the weekend before leaving and so an alternative arrangement had to be put in place.”

By the latest schedule, Mikel will not pass the night in Nigeria as he is billed to leave for London immediately after the event holding at the Eko Hotel in Lagos. The midfielder who scored his fourth Chelsea goal on Sunday against Derby County in an FA Cup match has been a regular in Jose Mourinho’s recent games and he is expected to play a major role on Saturday when they face Hull City in a Premier League match.

Omeruo to make Boro debut Saturday

Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo is set to make his debut at Blackpool on Saturday after finalising his loan switch from Chelsea to Middlesbrough, GazetteLive reports.

The 20-year-old defender, who trained with the first team squad at Rockliffe Park yesterday, has yet to play a senior game of football this season.

He has appeared for Chelsea’s development side in the FA Under-21 Premier League and is highly rated by the club’s coaching staff.

Omeruo has got first team experience to fall back on.

He spent more than a year with Dutch top flight side Den Haag, playing regularly for the club during a loan stay that started in March 2012 and ended in May last year.

Den Haag wanted Omeruo to stay on for another season but Chelsea decided to retain his services.

It’s believed Boro had the opportunity to sign him during the summer window but Tony Mowbray was looking at more experienced options at the time.

Aitor Karanka told the Gazette after Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Hull City that Omeruo can play at centre-back and right-back.

With Jonathan Woodgate and Dani Ayala set to be fit for the trip to Bloomfield Road, the young Nigerian, who will be eligible for the play-offs if Boro finish in the top six, could be used as a full-back.

You’re a PDP member, Amaechi tells Rivers CP

AS the political crisis in Rivers State deepens, Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Wednesday accused the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, of being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The Commissioner of Police is completely not a policeman. He (Mbu) is a known PDP politician who attends meetings with them and carries out illegal actions,” the governor said shortly after signing the 2014 Appropriation Bill into law.

He acknowledged the state lawmakers’ determination to carry on with their legislative responsibilities “despite attempts by enemies of the state to forestall their progress.”

Amaechi said, “The initial plan of those led by our so-called ‘Abuja brothers’ and the Commissioner of Police is to stop you (lawmakers) from dealing with legislative functions.

“I hear that one of them is telling people that he has been able to stop the House from sitting, he has been able to stop the judiciary from functioning. The truth of the matter is that none of such things could happen other than the fact that they are using the state apparatus, which is the police.

Certificate scandal: NBA, CACOL call for Oduah’s removal

Chairman, Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, and the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, said on Wednesday that Ms Stella Oduah, who is embroiled in a fresh certificate scandal, was no longer fit as the nation’s Minister of Aviation.

CACOL’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said in a telephone interview that the scandal was a proof that Oduah was engrossed in primitive accumulation.

An online news media, Sahara Reporters had reported that claim in Oduah’s profile on the Federal Ministry of Aviation’s website that she obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia in 1982, had been found to be false.

Authorities at the Saint Paul’s College, Virginia, United States, have said that they are unable to confirm if indeed Oduah, bagged a first degree in Accounting from the institution.

The President of the institution, Pete Stith, confirmed to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Tuesday that the college had not at any time offered any graduate programme of any kind.

Stith said the school had stopped all academic programmes mid last year, adding that the campus would be shut down in 30 days’ time.

Lagos tanker fire burns 15 to death

At least 15 people lost their lives in Lagos on Tuesday night  when  a tanker  laden with 33,000 litres of petrol lost control and rammed into vehicles at Kirikiri, Lagos.

Our correspondents learnt that the tanker spilt all its content, thereby  causing the  fire that burnt  a branch of Sterling Bank at  Berger Suya Bus Stop, one  Automated Teller Machine, 11 vehicles and 60 shops.

Most of the  dead were said to be passengers of a commercial bus  (danfo)  that was  behind the  tanker when it fell and exploded.

An eyewitness claimed that  the  fire caused by the explosion  spread to Suya spots in the area  and burnt parked  vehicles . He added that the body of the tanker driver was glued to  his  seat for  over 40 minutes  before    rescue officials  removed  it.

A commercial bus driver, Murhi Lawal, who spoke to journalists while weeping profusely, said his bus was completely consumed by the fire.

He said, “Around 10pm on Tuesday, my bus developed a fault so I parked it in front of the  Sterling Bank branch. However, the guards on duty said I should move the bus  elsewhere so I decided to park  on the other side of the road so  that I could buy a fan belt.

Gunmen kill three as Kwankwaso’s father escapes death

KANO State Governor’s father, Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso, on Tuesday night escaped death when unidentified gunmen attacked and opened fire on worshippers  at a mosque  in  Kwankwaso town, in Madobi Local Government Council of the state.

The governor’s father was said to be among the congregation at the time the gunmen struck.

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the Governor of Kano State.

It was gathered that it was a long gun battle between the gunmen and the police attached to the mosque. However, at the end of it all, three persons were killed, while 12 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. They were said to be receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

It was  learnt that at  the  time  when the incident occurred at about 8:00pm on Tuesday in Madobi, the governor’s father, who is also the District Head of Madobi, was among the congregation of worshippers during the attack but escaped unhurt.

Jonathan demands laurels at Commonwealth Games

President Goodluck Jonathan has charged Team Nigeria preparing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland to put in outstanding performances for best results the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Jonathan said this when he received the Glasgow 2014 Queens’ Baton Relay from the representative of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr. Sharad Rao, at the Forecourt of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

The Queens’ Baton relay, which will travel to 70 Commonwealth nations and territories over a period of 288 days, symbolises a curtain raiser to the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The relay was launched on October 9, 2013 by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace at a ceremony where she placed her message to the Commonwealth nations.

Jonathan said the relevant sporting authority should ensure that a compact and powerful team of athletes were sent to the Glasgow events.

Jonathan demands laurels at Commonwealth Games

President Goodluck Jonathan has charged Team Nigeria preparing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland to put in outstanding performances for best results the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Jonathan said this when he received the Glasgow 2014 Queens’ Baton Relay from the representative of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr. Sharad Rao, at the Forecourt of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

The Queens’ Baton relay, which will travel to 70 Commonwealth nations and territories over a period of 288 days, symbolises a curtain raiser to the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The relay was launched on October 9, 2013 by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace at a ceremony where she placed her message to the Commonwealth nations.

Jonathan said the relevant sporting authority should ensure that a compact and powerful team of athletes were sent to the Glasgow events.

Jonathan demands laurels at Commonwealth Games

President Goodluck Jonathan has charged Team Nigeria preparing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland to put in outstanding performances for best results the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Jonathan said this when he received the Glasgow 2014 Queens’ Baton Relay from the representative of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr. Sharad Rao, at the Forecourt of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

The Queens’ Baton relay, which will travel to 70 Commonwealth nations and territories over a period of 288 days, symbolises a curtain raiser to the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The relay was launched on October 9, 2013 by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace at a ceremony where she placed her message to the Commonwealth nations.

Jonathan said the relevant sporting authority should ensure that a compact and powerful team of athletes were sent to the Glasgow events.

Chukwu backs Eagles for CHAN title

Former Nigeria coach, Christian Chukwu, has tipped the team for success at the African Nations Championship, saying the Super Eagles team B will replicate the success the team A had at Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Nigeria are in the same group with hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique and will play their group game against the West Africans on the opening day of the tournament, January 11.

It will be Nigeria’s first appearance at the competition after missing out on the first two editions in 2009 and 2011.

Chukwu told the News Agency of Nigeria on the telephone on Monday that in spite of the Eagles’ first appearance at the tournament, they have stand a good chance as bookmakers’ favourites.

“I believe we have assembled a very good team that will contend strongly for the trophy but they will need to work very hard to achieve that,” the former Nigeria captain said.

“I think winning the trophy is a 50-50 thing. Yes, we are making our first appearance but I believe we also have all it takes to perform well.”

PUNCH NG

I do what Mourinho wants –Mikel

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has explained his few numbers of goals for the club and style of play insisting he works strictly to the manager’s instructions.

The Nigerian, who has won the FA Cup four times with Chelsea, netted his fourth goal for the Blues in the 66th minute of the FA Cup match against Derby County on Sunday. The goal, coming in his 300th appearance for the club, sent the fans into wild jubilation, not only for the lead but for Mikel, who has been described as ‘goal shy’ in the team.

In his post-match reaction on Chelsea website, the midfielder insists he plays according to manager Jose Mourinho’s game plan hence the scarcity of his goals.

But Mikel obviously enjoyed the reaction of the Chelsea fans to his goal. As after his strike against Fulham earlier in the season, the song was ‘He scores when he wants,’ but the 26-year-old said, “You have to understand the manager wants me to do a job for the team and I have always done that, always tried to keep the shape and it is difficult for me to get in the box, but every time I can and I score I will be happy.

FG to transform key sectors with high-speed Internet

The Federal Government is targeting the transformation of key sectors of the economy under the new broadband regime, which is expected to fully take off this year.

Sectors like education, agriculture, commerce, health, government services, entertainment, security, among others, are expected to be revolutionised using high-speed Internet, according to the provisions of the plan.

The plan is aimed at strengthening fixed Internet access in the country, which is currently very limited, to complement available mobile Internet services.

This vision, according to the government, will be driven within the scope of the 2.3GHz licensing process, which is expected to offer higher speed services for users.

In a recent programme schedule on broadband access released by the Federal Government through its agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, it admitted that there were a wide range of economic sectors, which needed higher speed Internet access to be competitive vis-à-vis  global happenings and standards.

PDP BoT to intervene in Jonathan, Obasanjo rift

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party is to intervene in the crises within the party, especially the rift between President Goodluck Jonathan and a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo , The PUNCH has learnt.

 The feud  between the PDP National  Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and some governors elected on the platform of the party, will  also be a  part of the agenda of the January 15 BoT meeting.

A National Executive Committee meeting of the ruling party will take place a day after in Abuja.

 A member of the BoT, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, who confirmed the development to one of our correspondents in a telephone interview on Monday, said the BoT  was worried by the crises in the party and hence its decision to intervene.

 Oyedokun said, “We are meeting on  Wednesday next week.  We will look into the issue (the Jonathan/Obasanjo rift) critically and maturely and find a peaceful solution  in the interest of the party.

Stop defection, Akpabio begs Tambuwal

Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has implored the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to stop further defection of members of Peoples Democratic Party in the National Assembly to other political parties.

Akpabio’s position was contained in a statement issued by the state government after Tambuwal paid him a courtesy visit in Uyo on Monday.

It will be recalled that 37 members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of PDP had defected to the All Progressives Congress.

But Akpabio asked the Speaker to take steps to convince the defectors to return to PDP.

“You must do everything humanly possible to avoid further defection of PDP members in the National Assembly. Even those that have defected, we want to implore you to do your best to convince them to come back because the umbrella is not torn. The umbrella can accommodate them and can still cover them very well.”

APC, coalition of desperate politicians, says Tukur

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Sunday dismissed the All Progressives Congress, as nothing but a desperate coalition with nothing to offer Nigeria.

He said the APC’s stock in trade included insults, lack of decorum and a desperation plan to take over power at all costs.

Tukur said this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Chief Oliva Okpala, on Sunday.

The APC however asked Tukur to tell Nigerians what the PDP had done for them with the power it had held for 0ver 14 years.

Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in response to Tukur’s charge, in a telephone interview with our correspondent.

Tukur in the statement had said, “There is a desperate political coalition in the country now known as the APC; whose stock in trade is insults, attacks and lack of decorum because the party and her members have nothing to offer the people of Nigeria except only a desperate plan to take over power at all costs.”

He specifically urged the leadership of the APC to exhibit some sense of political decorum and decency in their style of politicking from this year 2014.

Bayelsa: Dickson’s aides defect to APC

At last, the defection train has hit President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa with some aides of Governor Seriake Dickson dumping the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.

Also, loyalists of former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, have shifted allegiance to the APC in Bayelsa.

The APC in the state is chaired by former Security Adviser to Sylva, Chief Richard Kpodo, while former Youth Leader of PDP in the South-South, Mr. Godwin Sidi, is the Interim State Secretary of the APC.

Apart from Kpodo, Sidi and scores of Dickson’s special advisers and commissioners, other defectors include former Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government, Mr. Timipa Orunemigha, alias Tiway.

The APC in the state will be inaugurated in Yenagoa, the state capital, this week.

Mikel scores as Chelsea captain

Mikel Obi again played into the hearts of Chelsea and African fans on Sunday when his goal spurred the Stamford Bridge team to victory in the English FA Cup against Derby County.

The Nigerian indeed made the Sunday game a very remarkable encounter as he scored wearing the Chelsea captain’s band while making his 300th appearance for the London club. It was Mikel’s fourth goal for Chelsea, with three of those coming in the FA Cup. Michael Essien had started the match as the captain but handed Mikel the band when he was substituted by Hazard in the 55th minute.

The goal started with Eden Hazard who won a free-kick on the left and it was left to Willian to fire a free-kick into the goalmouth. The delivery was good from the Brazilian and Mikel thumped a header past goalkeeper Lee Grant from five yards out at the 66th minute to send the Chelsea fans into a frenzy.

Another Brazilian, Oscar, wrapped things up for Jose Mourinho’s troop barely five minutes later when his strike was too powerful for Grant to handle. Chelsea will now face Stoke at Stamford Bridge, as the fourth round draw was concluded minutes before kick-off.

FG evacuates 1,277 Nigerians from war-torn Central African Republic

The Federal Government has so far evacuated 1,277 Nigerians stranded in crisis-torn Central African Republic, CAR.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, which disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, said evacuation exercise would continue until all Nigerians were airlifted out of the war-torn country.
It would be recalled that a United Nations, UN, report, said over one million people had been displaced from their homes in the clashes between Christian militias and the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel group that overthrew President Francois Bozize in March.


According to NEMA, the first batch of evacuees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday, January 3.
The agency said others, who were evacuated on Saturday and Sunday, were all received on behalf of the Federal Government by its Director-General, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Jonathan ready to make peace with Obasanjo – Presidency

The Presidency on Sunday said President Goodluck Jonathan was favourably disposed to mending fences with former President Olusegun.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, made this known on Sunday just as The PUNCH gathered that the feud between Jonathan and Obasanjo was adding to the worries of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The sour relationship between the duo became public knowledge in December 2013 when Obasanjo wrote a letter titled “Before it is too late” to Jonathan. read more THE PUNCH

Snipers: Security widens probe of Obasanjo’s claims

Security agencies are probing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that about 1,000 Nigerians have been placed under watch by the Federal Government, The Nation learnt yesterday.
The probe, which is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), may be extended to similar allegations raised by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a source said.
Besides, members of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have started consultations on how to approach the petition sent to the commission by President Goodluck Jonathan.
A source said the commission would follow the rules of procedures in treating Jonathan’s petition.
All security agencies are involved in the probe of the allegation of training of snipers to deal with 1,000 Nigerians on a watch-list, it was learnt.

Nigeria must be saved from evil people — Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, stoked his campaign against perceived enemies of the country, saying that Nigeria “must be liberated from evil people”. He also insisted that his administration was committed to combating the threat posed by the Boko Haram sect. The President noted that the Boko Haram menace was a temporary problem that will be defeated.
Speaking at the first Sunday church service of the year at the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) Abuja, President Jonathan said no person or group will be allowed to hold the nation to ransom.
According to him, the country must be liberated from “evil persons” in order to bequeath to generations unborn, a country that they would be proud of.
“Nobody or group can hold this country to ransom. We will collectively liberate this country from  any evil person, so that we can leave behind a Nigeria that our children and grandchildren will be proud of”, he said.
Speaking on the Boko Haram insurgency, President Jonathan noted that “Boko Haram is temporary, Boko Haram will surely go. A number of countries are facing similar challenges and some have been able to overcome it and surely we will overcome Boko Haram. Life in the North must change; development must go to all parts of this country”.