Sokoto governorship race: Wamakko assures of President's support

Ahead of the Sokoto governorship primaries of the People's Democratic Party, coming up on December 17, 2011, incumbent governor, Aliyu Wamakko says he has been assured of President Goodluck Jonathan's support.

Speaking at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja, where he had gone to submit his nomination forms for the party primaries on Thursday, he waved aside concerns that he may lose the party ticket to another member of the party, and stressed that he believes he has nothing to worry about as the party is firmly behind him.

Contrary to reports that President Goodluck Jonathan is plotting to edge him out of the elections, Wamakko said "The President is my very good friend. I and he were together for six years before he became governor of Bayelsa State. And when he became vice president, I also became governor. Even last week, the President called me, saying, 'governor, all what you have been hearing is rubbish. I'm not with anybody in Sokoto to come and fight you,'" adding that he is not threatened by the entrance of Sports Minister Yusuf Suleiman and Senator Abubakar Gada into the race for PDP's ticket.

"I'm not going to speak about Gada because he is not worth being spoken about." He said when asked to speak about his entrance into the race, adding, "We are in a democracy. Even you (journalists) can pick forms. It doesn't have to be a minister. Anybody can pick forms if he so wishes. It's a normal process."

Commenting on the allegations of anti-party activities against him by some party members who accused him of supporting the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Zamfara State in the last general elections, Wamakko said: "I hope you will look at the record and judge by yourself. We are the only state in Nigeria that is 100 per cent for PDP. In Sokoto, no single court case after the elections because we believe in peace, transparency and good governance.

"I told you earlier, we have weak politicians who believe in getting power through blackmail, intimidation and name dropping....But in Nigeria, people go into politics without preparedness to abide by the rules of politics. If you want to serve your people, you don't need to blackmail. It is basically supposed to be politicking."

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Reps reject proposed oil subsidy removal

THE House of Representatives, on Thursday, broke its silence on the proposed fuel subsidy removal being championed by the presidency, describing the proposal as premature and urged the presidency to explore alternative funding of budget deficit.
This was part of the decision of the House while adopting the recommendations of its joint committees on Finance, Appropriations, Legislative Budget and Research and National Planning and Economic Development mandated to review the 2012-2015 Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan.
President Jonathan had forwarded to the National Assembly “2012-2015 Medium Term Fiscal Frame Work and Medium Term Expenditure Framework,” which contained the contentious fuel subsidy removal policy of his government.
The president, in the document, had said that “a major component of the policy of fiscal consolidation is government's intent to phase out the fuel subsidy beginning from the 2012 fiscal year. This will free up about N1.2 trillion in saving, part of which can be deployed into providing safety nets for poor segments of the society to ameliorate the effects of the subsidy removal.”
While adopting the recommendations of the committees, the House noted that the budget deficit ratios as contained in the reviewed Expenditure Framework projected 2.7 per cent, 2 per cent and 1.5 per cent for 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
The chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable John Enoh, while speaking during the consideration of the committee's report, explained that the joint committee deliberated on the critical parameters for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 budget proposals.
Part of the recommendations of the committee adopted by the House included N155 to $1 exchange rate; daily oil crude production figures of 2.48mbpd; 2.55mbpd and 2.58mbpd for 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively as well as benchmark price of $70 per barrel considering the uncertainties of the global economic recovery and the average market price of $83.50 to date for 2011.
On the planned fuel subsidy removal, the committee recommended that, “the proposal on fuel subsidy removal, as contained in the revised Fiscal Strategy paper, is premature. Sources other than relying on savings from proposed subsidy removal as part of financing items for expected deficit should be explored.”

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Two U.S. citizens kidnapped in Nigeria released -US

Reuters- Two Americans abducted off the Nigerian coast last month from a vessel contracted to the Chevron oil company have been released, the U.S. embassy in Abuja said on Friday.

A Mexican citizen was also released, Nigerian security sources said. The embassy gave no further details about how they were freed but the sources said ransom demands had been discussed.

Eight pirates boarded the oil supply vessel contracted to the U.S. energy giant on Nov. 17, taking the three hostages.

Recent attacks on ships off the Nigerian coast and other countries in the Gulf of Guinea are threatening the region's position as an emerging trade hub that is an increasingly important source of oil and other commodities for world markets.

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Beyonce Speaks About "Fluctuating Baby Bump Rumors On 20/20"

In a pre-recorded interview Beyonce sits down with Katie Couric on 20/20 will air & she will address the rumors regarding her Fluctuating Baby Bump.


“There are certain things that are so far out it doesn’t even upset you. The truth is, it’s safety. I just want to make sure I can have a peaceful day. And I want to make sure my child is protected.”
She also opened up about what happened right after she revealed her pregnancy at the MTV Music Video Awards:
“Physically I was starting to show, so it was only a matter of days before someone zoomed in. So I just wanted it to be from me, and I wanted it to be something that was a celebration of something so beautiful. And I didn’t want to release a picture or a statement. I figured the biggest statement was to — just be.”

[After the announcement] I just felt free. I really did, because I’d been holding the most exciting thing in for so long, and I just felt like, Wow, now I can enjoy and now I can just experience this the way that every woman should. So I felt so liberated, and I felt like, Oh, I can breathe and be happy. And, you know, it was a beautiful feeling. … I went straight off the stage and just cried. I hugged my mom, I hugged Jay and just cried. It was a beautiful day.”Speaking of my bff she recently released the video for her new track “Dance For You” which she co-directed with Solange’s boyfriend video director Alan Ferguson.

“Dance For You” is about giving yourself fully to one person. It’s about being able to lose control with the person you’re meant for. Both the medley and the lyrics make it one of my most intimate songs, so I wanted the video to have the same rawness.”
“When I write, when I perform, and when I make music videos, I don’t hold anything back. Dance for you is about that same passion to be free and unrestrained.”

Source: Alabamauncut

Abuja Police Command to Protesting Bus Drivers: We Will Not Tolerate Lawlessness

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has warned all persons who may want to take laws into their own hands, in the name of staging a protest, to desist from such actions as the police will not tolerate any act of lawlessness.

Fielding questins from journalists in Abuja shortly after some bus drivers barricaded the road leading to Wuse bus stop in Wuse district, Mr. Mike Zuokumor says bus drivers are the only road users and the police is under obligation to protect all road users.

He warned that whoever violates the nation's laws will be arrested and made to face the law stressing that the police is out to maintain law and order at all times.

The protesting bus drivers had taken to the streets to speak out against police intimidation, which they say has become the rule rather than the exception. Security agents in the area had increased check points following Boko Haram threats to the city in November.

Bus drivers insisted, however, that normalcy has since returned to the area, but they were being intimidated by the police, who they accuse of extortion.

Victor Azu, a protesting bus driver who spoke to the Daily Times Nigeria said, “anytime we park for passengers to enter or come down from the motor, these policemen will just jump inside our bus and arrest us of illegal parking. Then they will either collect your car stereo or pull your plate number or you pay a fine of about N3000.”

Police officers were dispatched to the rowdy scene to restore some law and order, and the FCT police command public relations officer, Jimoh Moshood, reportedly promised to address the grievances of the bus riders.

Meanwhile, the Daily Times Nigeria reporte, the protesting drivers also ceased the moment to demand that the Federal Capital Development Administration build an effective bus terminal where they can comfortably pick and drop their passengers to avoid future clashes with the police.
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Senate rejects state burial for Ojukwu

THE Senate, on Thursday, opposed a proposal for state burial for the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arguing that the former  Biafran leader did not fall in the category of those who should be so honoured.
They, however, advised the South-East governors to come together and give him a befitting burial.
While paying glowing tribute to the former Biafran warlord, the Senate urged the Federal Government to immortalise him by naming a prominent establishment after him.
It also observed a minute silence in his honour and agreed to send a delegation to commiserate with his family, the people and government of Anambra State.
A motion moved by Senator Andy Uba and 50 others had noted that Ojukwu was  a source of pride for those who had the opportunity to know him, as he stood tall against elements of injustice, segregation and oppression.
He disclosed that after Biafra,“his efforts helped to lay the foundation for national integration, equality and equity, championing Nigeria as one indivisible unit true to the words in our National Anthem.”
According to him, “Ojukwu seceded South-Eastern Nigeria from the rest of the country  and proclaimed the area a sovereign state with the name Republic of Biafra, on January 9, 1970” before running away from Nigeria.
Uba informed that he was granted  a full state pardon by the Shehu Shagari civilian administration and returned to the country in 1982, noting that “as an astute politician, he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and was a member of the 1995 Constitutional Conference that midwived the fourth republic.”
Thereafter, members in turn eulogised him.  Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who worked with him closely, described his death as the end of an era and the beginning of another one, adding that Ojukwu as a soldier was courageous and fearless.
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INI EDO & EMEM ISONG's 'I'll TAKE MY CHANCES' PREMIERES IN LAGOS THIS MONTH!

'I'll Take My Chances' is being premiered in Lagos on December 30th at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island. The movie, which stars talented actress, Ini Edo, Bryan Okwara and as well as a host of other actors such as Canadian actress/dancer Ashleigh Clarke, Biola Williams, the late Sam Loco and many others is set for screening immediately after it premieres.

The movie was produced by Emem Isong & Ini Edo, directed by Desmond Elliot and written by Kehinde Joseph, Bola Aduwo & Uduak Oguamanam.