₦airaland Forum

iamswizz: all these 'old enough to be ur father' rant is getting out of Hand.. So because of that, he shouldnt express his views?

Do you know wat it means to be as old as a father? A father is someone who cares and takes care of you which amaechi clearly doesnt fit in.

Pk001: Won't this guy shut up!!

fistonme: This is laughable.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of turning the Peoples Democratic Party into a “one-man show” and of condoning “impunity and authoritarianism” in an effort to ensure re-election in 2015.

Amaechi, in an interview he granted the Financial Times of London, added that the President and his wife, Patience, were bent on removing him from office.

He traced his travails to a perceived fear in the Presidency that whoever was in charge of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum had the capacity to influence the presidential election in 2015.

The embattled governor said, “There is this fear in the Presidential Villa that whoever chairs the governors’ forum will influence the presidential election,” Amaechi told FT in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

In a report posted by FT on Sunday, he alleged that “what has happened has been engineered to the point where the President and his wife are trying to remove me from office.”

“We are seeing an absence of law and order that can breed anarchy. It seems those at Federal Government level are not interested in democracy, but impunity and authoritarianism. The President needs to check this,” the governor added.

Amaechi also told the FT that he had not decided on his plans for 2015. He said that efforts by some in the PDP leadership to claim that he had lost the governors’ forum vote, despite him obtaining 19 votes to his challenger’s (Jonah Jang of Plateau State) 16, was a concerning sign ahead of 2015.

“If they can accept 16 over 19, people should be worried,” he said.

But spokesman for the President, Reuben Abati, denied that Jonathan and his wife were in any way involved in Amaechi’s travails.

“This is all local Rivers politics,” Abati said. “It’s convenient to drag the President into this, but it is not true. All these allegations are baseless.”

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command and the state government on Sunday traded words on the whereabouts of the the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd.

Lloyd was last week declared wanted by the police command a few hours before Force headquarters in Abuja invited him for allegedly attacking another lawmaker with a mace during the free-for-all in the Assembly. The fracas was caused by an attempt by five lawmakers loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike to unseat the speaker.

While the state government claimed that the Police knew where to find the embattled lawmaker, the spokesperson for the command, said they would not have declared him wanted if they knew where to locate him.

Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha, who accused the police of bias in handling the crisis, said they (police) were free to search the Government House for Lloyd.

He said, “Lloyd is not in Government House. He has been receiving treatment since the incident in the House of Assembly. I am sure that the police know where he is. You can see how one-sided they (police) are.

“Even when Evans Bipi was the first to hit Chidi Lloyd, the only person declared wanted is Lloyd. We saw a video clip where Bipi was boasting that he hit Chidi Lloyd. We also heard how he dealt Ngo, a lawmaker in the House a blow.

“We are shocked that nobody is inviting them (Bipi and four other anti-Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers) for interrogation. In the matter, there must be what we call cause and effect relationship. Bipi was the first to hit Lloyd before he (Lloyd) retaliated.”

Okocha however said the government was ready to embrace anything that would ensure that peace reigned in the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, however, said it was wrong for any person to insinuate that the police knew the whereabouts of the Majority Leader.

Agabe, who spoke with The PUNCH said that the police were not biased in handling of the matter.

“If the police knew where Chidi Lloyd is, they (police) would not have declared him wanted. The search for the lawmaker over the assault on a fellow member is still on,” she explained.

The PDP in the state had earlier accused Governor Amaechi of hiding Lloyd in the Government House.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the state party Chairman, Mr. Jerry Needam, called on the government to hand over Lloyd to the police for investigation.

“The Rivers State Governor knows where Lloyd, declared wanted by the police is hiding. We call on the state government to hand him over to the police for investigation,” Needam said.

Also on Sunday, the Action Congress of Nigeria accused the PDP of being unrelenting in its determination to overheat the polity and set the country on fire .

In a statement in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said it was left with no choice than to reach that conclusion after a faction of Rivers PDP reportedly loyal to President Jonathan expelled Amaechi, at a time all people of goodwill were calling for a resolution of the state’s lingering crisis.

It warned that since PDP ‘s sole interest was power and not the responsibility that goes with it, it must be checked through all constitutional means before it plunges the country into chaos.

The ACN said one of the reasons Amaechi had been targeted by his “all-powerful enemies”, who have used national institutions – including the police – against him, was his strenuous defence of the NGF.

Don Demu: Make them go siddon joor. Una no hold protest on beta matta na dis one come dey make una blood rush? Dem force you to marry under aged babe abi dem se make u marry off ur daughter early? FOOLS

Nigeria and India reached agreement Friday to site a solar power facility in Bida.

It will be the first of a series of power plants planned to be sited
in Niger State to provide additional megawatts of power for the
national grid.

With the agreement signed at the power ministry headquarters in Abuja,
the Indian firm, Bharat Heavy Electricals will begin preliminary
studies ahead of siting independent solar-powered plants in selected
locations in Niger.

Power permanent secretary, Godknows Igali, who signed for the Nigerian
government, said the country's power sector would remain open to
investment in hopes of unbundling the sector's potential.

Sutanu Behuria, secretary of the government of India, who led the
Indian side, expressed his country’s interest in the provision of
funds in various forms for the development of Nigeria’s power sector.

He said Bharat had garnered experience from its operations in 12
African countries.

The Federal Government has said it is under pressure from the international community to sign the Gay Rights Bill into law in Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, stated this in Abuja on Friday at an interactive session with the diplomatic corps, even as he accused the international community of hypocrisy.

He insisted that Nigeria would not sign the Gay Rights bill or abolish the death penalty without reviewing the constitution.

The minister said that Nigeria does not impose its culture on other countries and as such it was wrong for anyone to attempt to impose a foreign culture on the nation. He said, “This thing must be understood because we have been under pressure about this issue of Gay Rights. It is not part of our own culture, you need to understand that. It needs to evolve. Let us get to that stage of understanding that two men can marry, then we will get to the bridge and cross it. But please let foreign diplomats educate their various governments that you cannot come overnight and impose values that are not part of our tradition on us. Don’t impose it on us that we must allow it in our constitution. If we are talking about democracy, democracy is about free choice, free association you don’t force values on others.

“For those who have Gay Rights, even when I look at the population of those countries, those opposing are high in number. In some countries, the churches are against it, why put pressure on Nigeria and other African countries that we must put it (in our laws). Respect for human rights of a minute minority cannot be at the expense of the larger societal values, well-being and orientation of the people. Even laws are rooted in culture which must be upheld for the good of the society. I therefore appeal to the international community to show a greater understanding of the culture and traditions of our people.

“We don’t tell other countries how to live their lives. We don’t impose values on any country. Other countries too should not come and impose their own values on us. We don’t oppose any country that has put in its constitution the Gay Rights to allow two men or two women to marry themselves. But for Nigeria and a number of other African countries; it is not part of our culture yet.’’

He said it was hypocrisy for the United States to be championing Gay Rights and while criminalising polygamy which is part of Africa’s culture and tradition.

“At times you see hypocrisy in some of these things. I must be frank. If we talk about human rights, how do we apply them? It seems they are being applied to favour some certain groups and not of wider application. There is hypocrisy in this issue of Gay Rights and polygamy,” he added.

Also at the meeting, the minister said the Federal Government had barred foreign ambassadors and diplomats representing their countries in Nigeria from commenting on political issues in the country.

The minister said the action constituted an undue interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

He explained that the meeting was necessary to maintain the excellent relationship between Nigeria and the international community, and to remove any potential irritant or misunderstanding in their interactions.

He said the government was aware of the activities of some embassies that had been funding human rights groups’ activities in the country.

He said, “We know in Nigeria we have some of the strongest human rights groups. We also know that foreign missions have been freely supporting them with funding. It is okay. We have no objection.

“But we object when ambassadors conduct activities that are incompatible with their status as diplomats. If ambassadors want to join the human rights groups, they may as well resign to join them, but they cannot use the platform of being a diplomatic agent to interfere in our domestic activities. The Vienna convention states clearly the activities that are incompatible with your functions as an envoy.

“I will want ambassadors to please confine themselves to their traditional duties. If you feel strongly about any issue, come to the foreign ministry, I will receive you. When there are things you want to take up with the government, come to the ministry. Even if you come as a regional body, I will receive you. But for you to go to the media and start talking is incompatible with the status of your office.”

Ashiru lamented that oil theft in the Gulf of Guinea had remained a major challenge facing the country.

He warned that government would not release any foreign ship or crew member caught with stolen oil in the Gulf of Guinea because huge revenues had been lost to the activities of the criminals.

He said the Federal Government had raised a high-level committee headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to tackle the challenge.

“The Nigerian Navy and the NIMASA have been directed to take firm measures against any ship caught engaging in unwholesome activities, including oil theft, in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

“This is serving as a warning that henceforth, I will not be willing to grant audience to people coming to plead for the release of their ships or crew members caught in illegal activities,” he said.

On the efforts to dislodge terrorists in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, Ashiru said the security forces had continued to operate under the rules of engagement, with full respect for the human rights of the people.

Larry Sogo: Yes. I still have a good relationship with about 80% of my EXs' and about 30% are my social network friends. And am enjoying it.

Some Nigerians on Sunday asked the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan, to make herself available for a debate with Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

The call came on the heels of the diatribe the First Lady launched against Soyinka in which she described the renowned playwright as an “embarrassment’’ for attributing the crisis rocking Rivers State to her and her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan.

But some Nigerians, who took to Twitter and other social networks to voice their concern over the development, called on a Lagos-based private broadcaster, Channels Television, to organise a debate for the two.

According to them, the TV station’s Sunrise Daily, a news and current affairs programme that features prominent Nigerians, who are experts in their areas of specialisation, will provide a level playing ground for the duo to thrash out the knotty issues they were arguing on.

To actualise their dreams, a cross section of them sent messages in a tweet to the handle of the programme @sunrisedailynow as well as the main official handle of the television station, @Channels_TV on Sunday.

A Twitter user, with the name Abdul Slimzy, tweeting via @abdulslimzy said, “It would be really nice to see Patience Jonathan and Wole Soyinka argue on Channels TV @sunrisedailynow in English Language o.”

An anonymous reader on lindaikeji..com said, “Kindly call on Channels TV to organise a debate between Prof. Wole Soyinka and Dame Patience Jonathan. I know we go laugh pass ‘Night of a Thousand Laugh.’’’

Another user of the micro-blogging service with the name, Hig-Wayne Cannon, who uses the handle @dosinclair, said he would be looking forward to the debate on national TV as it would be a clash of the titans. Cannon notes, “You can expect a volcanic grammatical literary of freestyles. What a collabo #Titans.”

However, some users of the micro-blogging service boasted that the wife of the President would come out tops after the debate. One of such users of the social network who beat his chest on this was Yakubu Dogara who tweets via @doyakubu.

He says, “I bet it that Dame Patience will win the debate as it will be unwise for the Prof. (Wole Soyinka) to attend much more utter a word.”

Another Nigerian tweeting via @hobalawon said Soyinka, who clocked 79 on Saturday, should simply steer clear of joining issues with the First Lady and save himself from being on the receiving end of public bashing which he described as “lethal weapon’’ emanating from her.

The social network user noted, “Prof, even at 79, we still need you around.”

Meanwhile, the exchange of diatribe between the duo has divided Nigerians on social networks. While a section of Nigerians argue that the First Lady shouldn’t have descended heavily on Soyinka and that the onslaught was unpresidential, others maintained that Soyinka got what he deserved.

On nairaland.com, a Nigerian with the name, My Time, argued, “I still maintain that Patience Jonathan has no moral justification to attack the professor. Her only portfolio is being the wife of the President. Soyinka has achieved a lot and demands respect. He is one of our national icons and a gift to this nation. He commands more respect outside the shores of this country than she does and can ever get.’’

An anonymous visitor on the blog noted, “I see this current government and her (Patience Jonathan) agenda losing their taste of civility and moral standing. I don’t see any reason why the First Lady should talk to an elderly statesman with such verbal brutality, irrespective of what he (Soyinka) said to her. Really, I think it’s quite unpresidential.’’

However, those who believe that Soyinka deserved Patience Jonathan’s onslaught against him said it was wrong for Soyinka to insult another man’s wife in the first place. They noted that since Soyinka had descended into an arena of conflict, he could not avoid such a treatment.

On lindaikeji..com, one Abidoh Jonathan said, “Why exactly are people abusing the First Lady? Prof. Wole Soyinka made a derogatory remark about her, and she reacted with an on-point come back. What is the big deal? If you ask me, I think the Prof stooped too low to comment and link the First Lady to the current crisis rocking Rivers State. He is a renowned Prof. but hello, she too is still the First Lady now and she deserves some respect.”