Outrage Trails Presidential Directive On Tinubu, APC

Opposition parties yesterday berated President Goodluck Jonathan over his presidential directive seeking to frustrate their merger into All Progressives Congress (APC).

They said that no amount of presidential directive would stop them from providing a credible alternative to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

The organised labour and some civil societies have also warned the President against unilateral hike against petroleum prices.

According to them, the proposed move will be resisted by Nigerians on the grounds that there is the need for the President to tackle corruption in the petroleum sector and not to punish ordinary Nigerians for incompetence and lack of political will.

LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported on Tuesday about the existence of a presidential directive (PD 95), seeking to frustrate the merging of opposition parties and the proposed hike in petrol prices between N130 and N140. The directive further sought a covert action against former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu and five state governors from the PDP perceived to the ‘ambitious’.

Two of the merging parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress For Progressives Change (CPC), some civil societies groups and the Labour have criticised the directive, saying that its main intention is against the tenets of democracy.

The opposition parties and others stated this while reacting to the presidential directive dated March 26, 2013.

take dat: ^And you think those in Leadership Newspaper will have the effrontery to publish a fake document claiming its from the presidency when they know the likely consequence? Why hasn't the SSS swooped in on them? There are lots of moles and cretins in the Villa!

The presidential spokesman described the claim as false and mischievous, and that it runs against common sense in view of the presidents credentials as a “democrat” who has refused to interfere in the activities of other political parties and INEC.

While noting that the publication attributed its story to "presidential villa insiders", Okupe asserted that the President does not give unlawful directives and has nothing to fear about the proposed merger that will necessitate him planning anything against the business interest of opposition figures as claimed by the newspaper.

drnoel:
are u really asking this question? Did they not raise two front political parties with APC acronym. Guy are u new to the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Yes, I strongly believe people will go to any terms to fraustrate the govenment of GEJ. Am sure u believe that too, u are just playing dumb. Besides look at the plain paper it was written on, no government stationary to depict clearly from where it originated. Its fake.

eGuerrilla: Given the current administration's history of chicanery, this document does have an element of plausibility.

I say this because, whatever the underlying motivations are, it is obvious the Leadership newspaper felt a need to counter Okupe's terse denials issued yesterday, by laying the "smoking gun" bare for all to see.

drnoel:
are u really asking this question? Did they not raise two front political parties with APC acronym. Guy are u new to the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Yes, I strongly believe people will go to any terms to fraustrate the govenment of GEJ. Am sure u believe that too, u are just playing dumb. Besides look at the plain paper it was written on, no government stationary to depict clearly from where it originated. Its fake.

Frank-C:
People really think that Presidential Directive is like this piece of paper. I think that this government's attitude of allowing free, unlimited freedom of expression is being abused. In some countries, including Iran, NK or even US all her democracy sermon, forging a document and claiming that it emanated from the highest office in the land, no matter how ridiculous is a serious offence. Even when it is true, such documents are classified and can only be declassified after sometimes, 10 years.

I think that the present Nigerian press will feel the heat when GEJ is done with his tenure because few leaders can tolerate this nonsense.

slimghost:

Pls sir, to whom is that directive directed to? . Chaiiiiii, i don die

take dat: I am sure you do not have comprehension problems. Forgery/ document falsification is a crime against the state, one would have expected security agencies to swing into action/ clampdown on the media house if truly the document purported to have emanated from the presidency is fake. Remember that we are not talking of a blog or an online news outlet with no reputation to protect.

eGuerrilla:

Comrade slimghost, a question like this needs to be directed at Okupe and not Leadership newspaper, which has to protect its sources.

I know you care little for a genuine answer, because the blind-solidarity you subscribe to forecloses any notion that Jonathan is capable of employing subterranean tactics.

Frank-C:
People really think that Presidential Directive is like this piece of paper. I think that this government's attitude of allowing free, unlimited freedom of expression is being abused. In some countries, including Iran, NK or even US all her democracy sermon, forging a document and claiming that it emanated from the highest office in the land, no matter how ridiculous is a serious offence. Even when it is true, such documents are classified and can only be declassified after sometimes, 10 years.

I think that the present Nigerian press will feel the heat when GEJ is done with his tenure because few leaders can tolerate this nonsense.

Refineries: Leaked presidential directive influenced Dangote’s withdrawal
By Ihuoma Chiedozie
Published: Sunday, 22 Jul 2007

Indications emerged on Saturday that the Bluestar Oil Services Limited withdrew from the deal on the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries following a leaked directive from the Presidency.

It was gathered that the Presidency gave a directive for the revocation of the deal at a meeting with the heads of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Bureau of Public Enterprises on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at the State House.

It was also gathered that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, was present at the closed door meeting.

Sources disclosed that the presidential directive was apparently leaked, making the Bluestar consortium to immediately pull out of the deal before the letter from the Presidency could arrive.

Bluestar released a statement on Wednesday, explaining that it was relinquishing the majority shares in both refineries.

However, the consortium had on Thursday explained through one of the major partners, Mr. Femi Otedola, that the withdrawal was in good faith.

Otedola‘s explanation came after he met with the President in the State House.

He was also to meet the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Funsho Kupolokun, and the Director-General of the BPE, Mrs. Irene Chigbue, later the same day.

It was gathered that the consortium‘s insistence on a refund of the sum it paid for the refineries was as a result of the alleged presidential directive for the revocation of the deal.

The sale of both refineries was among the grievances that led to the strike by the labour unions shortly after President Umaru Yar‘Adua assumed office.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, which insisted on the revocation of the sales during its negotiations with the Federal Government during the strike, had applauded Bluestar‘s withdrawal immediately the news broke on Wednesday.

Bluestar, a consortium owned by industrialists like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Otedola, bought the two refineries at $721m as the preferred bidder, giving it a 51% stake in the companies.

In an advertisement on Friday, the consortium said, “Given the events since the privatisation and the continuing vilification of the consortium by the NNPC, the consortium hereby conditionally vacates its interest in the refineries for 12 months effective July 18, 2007 to enable the NNPC deliver its commitment on the following: Operate the refineries at full capacity with minimum 90% capacity utilisation without government funding which in turn will force down prices; and eliminate importation of petroleum products.”
http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200707222473039

Goddex:

Can you listen to yourself? Lol, fools like you still have hangover of
military mentality by talking about "clampdown on the media house"

For your information, GEJ will not do that.
He granted us freedom of information bill, that is why bingos like you
can open it wide to talk rubbish. It's your mouth, talk! You can even use it to eat my poo . . .

Pygru: Who is tinubu

teskyg: GEJ is too weak.How can you allow everybody messed around with that office.For the first time,I admit he is clueless.

tijayjay:
Only a primary one pupil will believe this nonsense, is this how a presidential directive look like without a stamp and signature. nigerians u na try ooooo, we don pass this level abeg.

eGuerrilla:

Frank-C, since when did our Nation of 1001 porous borders become the equivalent of highly secure NK or Iran?