Tukur’s successor to emerge on Monday

Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan confirmed The PUNCH’s exclusive report on the  resignation of Dr. Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, the search for his successor has begun.

Among those who have shown interest in the post  are the former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Alkali  from Gombe State); a former Acting National  Secretary of the PDP, Dr. Musa Babayo (Bauchi); and an ex- Minister of Commerce,  Amb. Idris Waziri (Taraba).

The PUNCH also gathered that a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Ibrahim Bunu (Borno) and  the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, who is believed to be the choice of  Patience Jonathan,  are  also  in the race.

Jonathan had  at the 63rd National Executive Council  meeting of the party in Abuja on Thursday announced Tukur’s resignation  amid jubilation by the NEC members.

B’Haram strikes again in Borno, kills scores

Again the outlawed Boko Haram sect attacked Banki, a border town in Bama Local Government Area of Bornu State killing people at will, moment after they sacked the only police station in the town.

Though details of the  number of casualties was not available as of the time of filing this report, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Lawan Tanko, told journalists that the terrorists killed a policeman and injured many people.

However, some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many people were killed by the sect members, who went from house to house slitting  their victims’ throats in the siege that lasted over an hour in the earlier hours of Wednesday.

This latest attack was not the first on the town, as it has been variously attacked by the sect in similar fashion.

Residents told journalists in Maiduguri on Thursday that the  attackers rode on motorcycles and Hilux Toyota  vehicles into the town from nearby bush.

PDP’s problems beyond Tukur’s resignation – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday said that the problems of the Peoples Democratic Party were beyond the resignation of Dr. Bamanga Tukur, as the party’s national chairman.

The media aide to the former President, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja, said Obasanjo had nothing personal against Tukur.

But he said Obasanjo would not comment on Tukur’s resignation, arguing that the issues earlier raised by the former President had not been addressed with Tukur’s exit.

“Baba (Obasanjo) has no comment on the resignation of  Tukur. He has nothing personal against Tukur. His last letter to Tukur was very clear. The issues raised are beyond Tukur’s resignation and they are yet to be addressed,” Oladunjoye said.

Obasanjo had, in his letter to Tukur, a copy of which was sent to President Goodluck Jonathan as the national leader of the party, accused the PDP of negating the principles of morality, decency and discipline in its decisions, especially as they affected the South- West.

Tukur quits as PDP chairman

PUNCH NG - After months of political  horse- trading,  Dr. Bamanga Tukur,  on Wednesday  finally bowed   to pressures on him to resign as the National Chairman of the ruling  Peoples Democratic Party.

Before an  authoritative source in Abuja made this known to The PUNCH  at about 11.51pm, there had been confusion on   whether he had indeed quit or not.

Tukur himself accentuated the confusion when he told State House correspondents minutes before the PDP  Board of Trustees met in the Presidential Villa, that he had not resigned.

“If I resign, you will know. I am not somebody that will resign and you will not know. I have not resigned.”

But a BoT member, who declined to be named, told one of our correspondents that the PDP had already accepted his resignation.

“Yes, it is true that he has resigned and the party has accepted his resignation ,” he said  after the meeting.

He explained that the National Executive Committee of the party would announce Tukur’s resignation during its meeting which would  commence at noon  on Thursday(today).

FG bans importation of analogue TVs, transmitters

From June 17 this year, it will not be business as usual for importers and users of analogue television sets and transmitters as the Federal Government will place a ban on the products.

The move is aimed at phasing out analogue technologies in line with the Federal Government’s digitisation agenda.

The programme being driven by the National Broadcasting Commission will also result in the stoppage of the importation and use of analogue transmitters for broadcasting purposes throughout the country.

The Director-General, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, told our correspondent that the commission was working with the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that the importation of analogue TV sets, transmitters and other equipment was stopped in order to avoid the accumulation of electronic wastes since the equipment would no longer be useful.

Mba said from June 17, some TV sets currently in use in the country would stop working as only digitally-enabled sets would be functional.

CHAN: Eagles beat Mozambique 4-2

Nigeria secured a lifeline on Wednesday in the African Nations Championship when the Super Eagles defeated the Mambas of Mozambique 4-2 to claim their first points of the tournament.

The Eagles B who had earlier lost 2-1 to the Eagles of Mali on Saturday did little in the opening minutes to test the Mambas goalkeeper.

The Mozambicans drew the first blood in the 10th minute when Dario Khan hit the target with a long range shot hit from a little off the centre mark which the Eagle’s goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim, did little to save. Agbim who was still communicating with his defenders when the shot was fired was clearly off the line and paid the penalty dearly.

Nigeria responded immediately when Ifeanyi Ede scored in the 11th minute off a flick from a throw in.

The Eagles then took the lead in the 13th minute when a Rabiu Ali shot from outside the eighteen yard box could only be tipped into the net by the Mozambican goalkeeper, Victor Soares.

Obasanjo calls for prayers over 2015 elections

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday urged Nigerians to keep fasting and praying ahead of the 2015 elections, saying that only God has power to appoint leaders.

Obasanjo said this when the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Dr. Felix Omobude, paid him a courtesy visit in his Abeokuta, Ogun State, home.

According to him, Nigeria is God’s project and as such the nation will overcome all its challenges no matter how insurmountable they can be.

Obasanjo said, “If there is anything that I would ask of you, it is that you should never stop fasting and praying for Nigeria. I always say that I’m an incurable optimist about this country.

“In my short span of life, I have seen a few unexpected things in this country when we thought that the end would just happen, but God made us to scale through.

Tinubu visits Abe in London hospital

The National Leader, All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday visited the senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in the Senate, Magnus Abe, at the Bridge Hospital in London.

Abe was allegedly shot by men of the Nigerian police in Port Harcourt on Sunday with a rubber bullet during a political rally.

This was contained in a statement signed by one of Tinubu’s aides, Mr. Sunday Dare, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, following the attack on their son by the police, leaders of thought from the four local governments that make up Ogoniland have warned that they would begin the process of declaring policemen operating in their area persona non grata.

The leaders, who met in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, cautioned that they would not hesitate to chase away security operatives in Ogoniland should the incident that led to the hospitalisation of Abe, repeat itself.

Tukur sets up panel to beg Akpabio, Jang

The  embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party,  Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has  intensified moves to stave off  his removal from office.

The latest is the constitution of a committee  comprising PDP elders in his home state, Adamawa, to plead with   Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom)  and Jonah Jang (Plateau) to  help him save his job.

The committee is made up of Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd.),  Anthony  Hanaiya,   Umar Ardo and Wilberforce Juta.

Our correspondent gathered that the outcome of the committee’s interactions with Akpabio  and Jang would determine whether or not  Tukur would remain in office or quit before the PDP National Executive Committee meeting on  Thursday (tomorrow).

Tukur had on Monday dared President Goodluck Jonathan by declaring that he (Jonathan) lacked the power to  ask for his resignation.

Gunmen shoot Jonathan’s official photographer

President Goodluck Jonathan’s official photographer, Mr. Callistus Ewelike, was on Monday night shot by unknown gunmen in Abuja.

Ewelike, a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria is attached to the State House, Abuja, and he is currently acting as the President’s official photographer.

The father of two was reportedly shot at a close range in front of his house in Nyanya in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, between 10pm and 11pm.

He was said to be returning to his house after filing the photographs he took during Jonathan’s visit to Shape Community in the FCT, where the President inaugurated the Operation Light Up Rural Nigeria Project when the incident happened.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the attack was carried out by two men on a motorcycle.

The eyewitness said, “The two men were apparently waiting for him at his residence. While one of them was on the motorbike, the guy who pulled the trigger was standing, waiting for him.

Irregular power: Labour faults FG on ultimatum to private sector electricity companies

National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has faulted the June deadline given to the private sector electricity companies by the Federal Government to stabilise power supply in the country, saying it is not feasible.
Giving reason while it believes it is unrealistic, General Secretary of NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the union was surprised by the ultimatum given by the Minister of Power, insisting the Minister had earlier said, “The problem of the power situation was gas supply.”
“If he knew the problem was gas, why did he hand over the sector to the private sector operators? He should have addressed the gas supply problem. Even within six months, will the gas problem be over especially with the political sitting of power stations in Nigeria? Where you site a power station at 200 or 300 kilometres  from the source of gas because you are a minister, you want a power station to be sited in your state.
Rather than site the station close to the source of gas, they site it in their states and you then construct a pipeline from the gas source to where the power plant is situated.

I chose Boro over Premier League clubs – Omeruo

Kenneth Omeruo has revealed he turned down Premier League offers to join Boro.

The prospect of regular first team football convinced the 20-year-old Nigeria international to link up with Aitor Karanka.

Omeruo, who was unable to make his Boro debut at Blackpool on Saturday will be with the club until the end of the season.

It’s understood that Chelsea were willing to allow the talented young defender to join Karanka’s improving outfit on the understanding that he would be a first team regular.

And the bonus is that under the terms of his loan, Omeruo is eligible for the play-offs, should Boro finish in the top six.

He told the GazetteLive: “I want to help Middlesbrough achieve their ambitions.

“The coach told me the club has gone from fighting relegation to six points from the play-offs, so that’s my aim, that’s why I am looking forward to my time here, I want to help Middlesbrough climb the table.”

“I’m looking forward to playing in the Championship,” he added, “though I don’t know too much about the division yet.

“The fans should expect me to give my best, I’ll give everything while I’m here.

“I have to put my best foot forward, impress the fans and impress the manager.”

Egypt deploys police in varsities for exams

With universities experiencing their worst unrest in years, Egypt’s military-backed authorities have ordered police deployment on campuses to maintain order during the mid-year examinations that run until late January.

Several universities, especially Al Azhar, have been rocked in recent months by violent protests blamed on students backing ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi – and police clampdowns on demonstrators.

Al Azhar – Egypt’s major Islamic seminary, which is viewed as a stronghold of Islamist students – has been the scene of frequent violence since the academic year began last October. The institution and its dormitories have seen repeated clashes between pro-Morsi students and security forces.

The students, protesting the army’s July overthrow of Morsi, have been accused of torching several buildings on campus and attacking lecturers believed to be supporting the military.

At least three students have been killed in the Al Azhar unrest, while more than 100 others have been arrested on charges of involvement in violence.

FG promises improved but not constant power supply

The Federal Government may have soft-pedalled on its directive to power firms to ensure that there is visible improvement in electricity supply across the country by June this year.

It said it would rather give an assurance of improved power supply until the goal of constant electricity in the country was eventually achieved.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said a lot more work needed to be done to meet the expectation of constant power supply.

He stressed that nothing would be left undone in meeting President Goodluck Jonathan’s desire to ensure adequate electricity supply to all Nigerians.

Last Tuesday, the Federal Government gave an ultimatum to the power investors and key operators in the sector to, as a matter of urgency, ensure that there was visible power supply in the country within six months.

The directive, which came from the President, was disclosed by Nebo.

But the minister, in a statement on Monday, said the immediate goal of the Federal Government was to provide 14 hours of electricity to consumers, who are already getting 12 hours supply.

Amaechi invites Jang to NGF meeting

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has summoned the meeting of the forum.

The notice of the meeting, which holds in Abuja on Wednesday, was also sent to the factional Chairman of the NGF, who is also the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang.

The agenda of the meeting, shows that Amaechi will brief his colleagues on the letter  the governors wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan on the sharing of revenue accruing to the states from the Federation Account.

At their last meeting, which was held in Abuja on December 12, 2013, the governors said they were going to confront President  Jonathan on the alleged refusal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to remit $49.8bn to the Federation Account.

The governors based their decision on the revelation  made by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,  Mallam  Lamido Sanusi, in a letter issued by him that the NNPC had failed to remit the money, which was said to be the proceeds of crude sales between January 2012 and July 2013.

Defection: Senate postpones resumption to avert crisis

Strong indications emerged on Monday that the leadership of the Senate decided to postpone the resumption of plenary to next week Tuesday in order to avert possible clash among members.

Our correspondent learnt that the spontaneous reactions of some senators to the personal opinion expressed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, on the status of defecting lawmakers in the National Assembly had generated serious tension.

Specifically,  Enang had asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh polls to fill vacant seats left by the lawmakers who had defected to the All Progressives Congress since they became members of the National Assembly through the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party they were abandoning.

The development forced the Senate leadership to direct the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, to issue a statement,  dissociating the Upper legislative chamber from the personal opinion expressed by Enang.

I should’ve fled Nigeria after stealing N45m – Graduate

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a 30-year-old man believed to have been the mastermind of two robberies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja in 2012 and 2013.

The suspect, Samuel Mayegun, aka Asiwaju, who claimed to be a graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested in the Ikorodu area of Lagos last Thursday.

PUNCH Metro had reported in April 2013 that about eight suspects stole over N400m from bureau de change operators at the airport in 2012 and went for another robbery the following year and carted away N9m.

The police were able to arrest most of the suspects after the second robbery but it was learnt that Mayegun continued to evade arrest from policemen until he was arrested by policemen while attempting to stage another robbery.

The suspect, who claimed to have made N45m from the robberies, said he continued to rob because all his investments had failed.

He said his only regret was that he did not flee the country when he had the chance to.

PDP, dead in Jonathan’s home state –APC chairman

Is it true that the APC now has a presence in Bayelsa State?

Yes, the eagle has just landed in Bayelsa State. APC has landed and it is the eagle in Bayelsa State. We have opened our office. I donated my office in Tombia, a very strategic location in the state. There you can have access to Amassoma, Otuoke, Ogbia and Yenagoa. If the national body comes in now, the next thing they will do is to mobilize and put the state in motion.

What can you say are the chances of the party; considering the intimidating presence of the PDP?

Democracy is a game of numbers. No amount of intimidation can give you the right candidate. They have been intimidating us from the days of the New PDP. We know how they used the police to chase us out of Bayelsa State; we know how the government put on us on a watch list. I know I am one of the people they want to kill because the day we declared for the New PDP, the state government put me on the watch list. The next thing, the police declared me wanted. I just believe that the police are the militant wing of the PDP. So, we believe that intimidation is there. But can we run away because of this intimidation? Can we avoid to say the truth? Can we because of intimidation, fail to vote for the person we know can deliver? No, we will continue to forge on.

Again, Jonathan blasts nation’s elders over provocative statements

President Goodluck Jonathan again on Sunday carpeted some unnamed senior citizens in the country who he said were fond of making provocative statements capable of promoting violence.

He urged the elders to emulate fallen members of the nation’s Armed Forces who he said paid the supreme price to keep the nation together.

Jonathan spoke at an inter-denominational church service organised as part of activities to mark the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The President said he was more concerned about the statements of the senior citizens because he expected that by virtue of their age, they must have seen enough to convince them that the country’s unity was more important than their personal interests.

He reiterated his position that he would never expect anybody to spill his or her blood because of his (Jonathan’s) political ambition.

He told politicians to be aware that there would be no nation when they promoted violence and killings for political reasons, adding that nobody would come out to vote for them at the poll.

N255m car scandal: Presidential panel indicts Oduah

The committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the N255m bulletproof car scandal in the aviation ministry has indicted the Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.

 It was gathered  in Abuja on Sunday  that the report of the presidential committee tallied  with some findings of the House of Representatives  Committee  on Aviation on the scandal.

In October, there were reports that with the approval of the minister, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority purchased two bulletproof  BMW cars at an allegedly inflated rate of N255m.

 The development sparked a countrywide controversy with  many Nigerians and groups  calling  for her sacking.

The House  subsequently mandated its Committee on  Aviation to probe the allegation against the minister.

On  December 19, 2013, the House endorsed the report of its   committee and agreed that the minister breached the 2013 Appropriation Act.

Sanusi’s successor: President considers S’West candidates

Amid intense lobbying by candidates hoping to succeed the incumbent Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, indications have emerged that President Goodluck Jonathan is looking towards the South-West for the plum job.

Sanusi’s five-year single term tenure expires in June and he has consistently said he will not seek a second term in office.

Among those reportedly vying for the position of the CBN governor are the Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bisi Onasanya; and Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi.

Others are the four Deputy Governors, Mr. Tunde Lemo (Operations); Dr. Kingsley Moghalu (Financial System Stability); Dr. Sarah Alade (Economic Policy); and Alhaji Suleiman Barau (Corporate Services Directorate); as well as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.