₦airaland Forum

***Aliko Dangote's Daughter Graduates From Coventry University

Aliko Dangote’s daughter, Mariya Dantata is now a graduate. The pretty young lady graduated yesterday, 15th of April from Coventry University with a Master Degree. Her dad, siblings, close family and friends, including billionaire Femi Otedola were all there to celebrate her special day with her.

**Asiwaju Tinubu Is My Role Model – Buruji Kashamu Pays Glowing Tribute In Open Letter

Senator-elect and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Chief Buruji Kashamu, has described the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, as his role model.

Kashamu, who is the chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the PDP in the South-West, paid a rare tribute to the former Lagos State governor in an open letter, describing Tinubu as a true hero to be emulated by every Nigerian.

Kashamu is the senator-elect of Ogun-East senatorial district and one of the most vocal opponents of the APC before the party won the presidential election of March 28.

He said that it was important to honour those deserving of honour now that elections are over.

In the open letter addressed to Tinubu, Kashamu said, “Truth be told, men like you are made up of sterner stuff and are rare to come by in every generation. Little wonder you are called the Asiwaju and Jagaban of Borgu. I doff my hat.

“I hope that in spite of our membership of different political platforms, we would be able to collaborate for the upliftment of Yorubaland in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

“My sincere prayer is for the Almighty Allah to keep you and give you good health and long life to be able to see the Nigeria of your dream. For me, I join other Nigerians in wishing you the best, even as we aspire and pray Almighty Allah to make us – the younger ones – be like you, the Jagaban of Borgu.”

Kashamu described Tinubu as the architect of modern Nigeria, who, he said, made history by leading an opposition party for 16 years and then grabbing power at the centre.

He noted that without Tinubu, the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, would not have won the March 28 election.

He said, “Although I now belong to the opposition, your achievements transcend political divides and I am not ashamed to publicly acknowledge them. There is no denying the fact that your place in the history of the Yoruba race in particular, and, in Nigeria in general, is well etched.

“The fanatical support that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, enjoys in his homestead was matched with your commanding influence in the politics of the South-West and indeed the Yoruba race to produce the results we witnessed during the elections.

“By your sheer wit and unwavering commitment to democratic ethos, true federalism and economic prosperity, you led the Alliance for Democracy from a one-state party to a regional party and now a national party that is about to form the government at the centre.”

Buruji, who sued former President Olusegun Obasanjo last December over a controversial book authored by the ex-President, also congratulated Obasanjo and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

He promised Amosun that he would ensure that the nine PDP senators in the Ogun State House of Assembly give him maximum cooperation.

Source: http://www.theparadigmng.com/?p=30762

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and former minister in the Second Republic, Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf, are currently flexing muscles over N15 million campaign funds allegedly diverted by the latter.

Consequently, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which reportedly released the money to the Senator, is seeking to arrest him, with a view to recovering the money disbursed for purposes of electioneering.
It was alleged that he defected to All Progressives Congress, APC, after taking the money.
While Governor Lamido asked Senator Yusuf to refund the money or face arrest, the Senator dared the governor to arrest him.

Vanguard authoritatively gathered that Governor Lamido approved the release of N15 million to Yusuf for onward disbursement to the electorate in his Gwaram constituency during the governorship, state assembly and House of Representatives elections.
Senator Yusuf, in a swift reaction, denied ever taking campaign funds from PDP for disbursement to electorate in his constituency, adding that his defection to All Progressives Congress, APC, was the reason the story was concocted to malign him.
Yusuf said: “I am just a victim of circumstance; because I defected to APC.

“It is unbelievable. I do not have business with campaign funds. I spend my own money for the development of my people and the party.”
Publicity Secretary of PDP in Jigawa State, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, confirmed that Senator Yusuf received campaign funds and that the party had reported the case to the state Police Command.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed that the command received a complaint from the state PDP in respect of the alleged campaign money.
He said investigation was ongoing, and that the command had sent its men to invite the senator for questioning.


Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/governor-senator-flex-muscles-over-missing-pdp-campaign-funds/#sthash.533P2KpV.dpuf

Nigeria’s junior foreign affairs minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers on Wednesday engaged each other on a war of words on micro-blogging site, Twitter, over the outcome of last Saturday’s governorship elections.
The fierce exchanges was sparked by a tweet from Mr. Obanikoro who congratulated Lagos state governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, over his victory in election in that state.
In the same tweet, Mr. Obanikor called out Mr. Amaechi, advising him and his “co-travelers” to learn from his sportsmanship.
I congratulated Ambode based on the larger interest of Lagos State. Amaechi and his co-travelers in Rivers State should learn from this. #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) April 13, 2015
Mr. Obanikoro is a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. He contested for the Lagos state governorship ticket under his party but lost to Jimi Agabje. He was later appointed junior minister in the foreign affairs ministry. Mr. Agbaje lost the election, last Saturday, to Mr. Ambode.
Mr. Amaechi, on the other hand, is a member of the opposition – but soon to be ruling – All Progressives Congress. He is the outgoing governor of Rivers state and was the campaign director of Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president elect. His favourite candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, Dakuku Peterside, lost to PDP’s Nyesom Wike.
Many election observers have described the Rivers state governorship elections as a sham. Mr. Amaechi did not take Mr. Obanikoro’s advise lightly.
Apparently angry, he tore at the minister , questioning his “debased and rotten” values.
“If your values are so debased & rotten that you saw nothing wrong with the elections in Rivers State, mine is not. Never will,” Mr. Amaechi said in one of his tweets.
He tweeted further:
@MObanikoro because of the larger interest of Rivers state I & most Rivers people will not accept that daylight robbery they called elections.1 — Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) April 14, 2015
@MObanikoro The election was a sham, a disgrace, an affront on democracy. Pls read the reports of EU & other INEC accredited election…2
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) April 14, 2015
@MObanikoro.. observers b4 you open your mouth to spew rubbish. If your values are so debased & rotten that you saw nothing wrong with the.3
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) April 14, 2015
@MObanikoro..elections in Rivers State, mine is not. Never will. #ElectionsTribunalCancelRiversElections. 4 — Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) April 14, 2015
Mr. Obanikoro replied, describing Mr. Amaechi’s agitations as senseless.
@ChibuikeAmaechi If you, EU and other observers can be blind to the massive underage votings in the north, 1/4 #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) April 15, 2015
@ChibuikeAmaechi and an over 2 million votes in Kano without a single voided vote recorded 2/4 #MO — Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) April 15, 2015
@ChibuikeAmaechi then saving your people the senseless agitation for personal gains is meaningful. 3/4 #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) April 15, 2015
@ChibuikeAmaechi Don’t also forget the history of how you became Governor of Rivers State. 4/4 #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) April 15, 2015
Mr. Amaechi is yet to respond to Mr. Obanikoro’s last set of tweets.
This is the first Twitter fight involving top Nigerian government officials since the close of polls last Saturday.


Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/181493-amaechi-obanikoro-clash-over-rivers-governorship-election.html

FORMER Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar (retd) yesterday urged the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd to be mindful of those he described as mere fair weather friends as he takes over governance in May 29.

In a statement issued yesterday, Umar also urged Buhari to ignore what he described as the treacherous actions of those opportunists who were presently dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC barely two weeks after the Presidential election.

The former military also assured President Goodluck Jonathan of his unalloyed loyalty and "steadfast" friendship as he prepares to face life outside power.

According to Colonel Umar in his statement, "A famous political scientist once warned that"the career of a politician is too uncertain to make any firm commitment to him. "Although I find this warning immoral and distasteful it truly represents the attitude and behavioural pattern of most of the so called friends and loyalists of men in power. Most are mere fair weather friends.

"Come 29th May 2015 President Jonathan will handover power to the winner of the 28th March 2015 Presidential election Gen Muhammadu Buhari. With this seeming loss of political power he will also lose a large retinue of friends and loyalists; people who would swear by his name a couple of weeks ago. The President like most of his predecessors will suffer the pain of betrayal.

"I however assure him that there are still genuine friends who will be by him through life's challenges out of power.

"I also wish to advise him to ignore the treacherous actions of those opportunists who are decamping from his party, the PDP to APC at this late hour. These are people who will not hesitate to renounce God in their pursuit of ephemeral worldly power. They are worthless and a great embarrassment to decent people and bad role models to future generations.

"Let me use this opportunity to dispel the wicked rumour that my closeness with President Jonathan has always been on account of some material favours he extended to me. Nothing can be further from the truth.

"I swear and affirm that I have never, directly or indirectly, been awarded an oil or non - oil contract by President Jonathan or his Government , as evidence will prove later. What I received and cherish above all is tremendous respect from the President. I intend to expatiate on this in due course.

"Let me also express my respect and admiration for President Jonathan's nationalistic and altruistic decision to concede and congratulate the winner even before the final results were officially announced. The President behaved like the statesman I have always known him to be, thereby saving the country assured implosion had he behaved otherwise."


Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201504131717.html

The Nigerian presidency has overruled the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and has ordered the immediate redeployment of Tunde Ogunsakin, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, out of Rivers state, for allegedly failing to do the bidding of the Peoples Democratic Party, people familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES.
The Nigeria Police had on Thursday deployed senior police officers to oversee governorship and state assembly elections in states considered as the likely flash-points on Saturday.

Assistant Inspectors General of Police were deployed to supervise elections in 16 states, including Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, and other potentially troubled spots, a statement from the force had said Thursday.
Mr. Ogunsakin, a former police commissioner in the state, and currently AIG in charge of Zone 6, headquartered in Calabar,was asked to return to Rivers to oversee police deployment for the election there.
Based on the IGP’s directive, Mr. Ogunsakin left his Calabar base and travelled to Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, Friday.
On arrival, he reportedly ordered investigations into reports that PDP supporters were thump-printing ballot papers in some locations in the city.

“He also ordered that some thugs being positioned to foment trouble be restrained,” a source in the Rivers State Command of the Police told PREMIUM TIMES. Our sources said the AIG rebuffed all efforts by the presidency and the PDP to get him to work for the PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike, in the election.
“The presidency suspects Ogunsakin has sympathy for Amaechi, and has directed the IGP to send him out of the state with immediate effect,” a presidency source said. “I’m sure he should be on his way to Calabar by now.”
Mr. Ogunsakin could not be reached to comment for this story. Calls to his mobile telephone failed to connect suggesting he might be travelling between Port Harcourt and Calabar.

A top police officer at the Rivers Police Command however confirmed that Mr. Ogunsakin hurried out of Port Harcourt Saturday morning following directives from the presidency.
“He is on his way back to his location because even some PDP members were threatening to attack him if sighted anywhere in town.”
Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, did not answer or return calls Saturday morning.
Mr. Ogunsakin,a former head of the police special fraud unit, succeeded controversial police AIG, Joseph Mbu, as police commissioner in Rivers on February 6, 2014.

Mr. Mbu was then engaged in a fierce disagreement with the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
The face-off between Mr. Mbu and governor worsened after a violent fight in the Rivers State House of Assembly in July 2013.
Mr. Amaechi, one of the five Peoples Democratic Party governors who decamped to the All Progressives Congress, then accused Mr. Mbu of colluding with the presidency to undermine his government.
He also alleged threats to his life by the then Police Commissioner and petitioned the Inspector General of Police to redeploy Mr. Mbu.
Mr. Mbu, who maintained that he acted professionally, counter-accused Mr. Amaechi of being a dictator.
When Mr. Ogunsakin was posted to the state as commissioner in February 2014, he tried to repair the damaged relationship between the state police command and the Rivers government.
Many believed he succeeded, but was redeployed to head Zone 6 after he was promoted AIG.
News that Mr. Ogunsakin had been ordered out of Rivers came hours after Governor Rotimi Amaechi issued a statement saying he had “received news of harassment, intimidations and improper conduct by law enforcement agents in the course of today, Friday, April 10, 2015 as exemplified by the action of the Divisional Police Officer, Kayode Joseph, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, DCP John O. Amadi.”

Mr. Amaechi added, “The Rivers State Government wishes to warn all security personnel in Rivers state that Government will not spare any persons found engaging in unwholesome and unprofessional conduct. It wishes to remind all security personnel that the main object of government is to secure lives and properties and it will not relinquish that right.
“It also calls on all citizens and residents to take appropriate note and document any security personnel behaving improperly and who is compromised and forward same to the Rivers State Government.
All such personnel will face the full weight of the law now and for those who may escape prosecution now, definitely when the new government takes over on May 29, 2015.
“Security Agents are advised to conduct themselves in a proper manner as the law is no respecter of persons.”


Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/180947-presidency-orders-aig-ogunsakin-out-of-rivers-accuses-him-of-being-anti-pdp.html

1. Jamaica can never 4get = BOB MARLEY
2. America can never 4get = MICHEAL JACKSON
3. South Africa can never 4get = MANDELA
4. Argentina can never 4get = MARADONA
5. England can never 4get = QUEEN ELIZABETH
6. Nigeria can never 4get who.......
Comment Your Answer..

Updated by Wikipedia


Wikipedia don't have job

2 days to the governorship election. Who will you vote for between this 2 candidates?

Like for Akinwunmi Ambode (APC)
Share for Jimi Agbaje ( PDP)


Note: Only for those who reside in Lagos and ready to vote.


#LagosDecide

Ogun state: Amosun(APC)

Another war looming in Ekiti.

My people do not be used by any politicians, let them call their kids that are living outside the country to die for them.

The impeachment proceedings against Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State moved one step forward today with a resolution by the House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Wale Omirin to authorize the Chief Judge to set up an impeachment panel to look into the allegations of gross misconduct against the governor.

The resolution, obtained exclusively by SaharaReporters, was signed by the speaker and two other members of the "G19", the 19 majority members of the All Progressives Congress who want the two-time governor removed from office.

Our sources said the House membership met at an undisclosed location in Ado-Ekiti to discuss the way forward following the notice of impeachment they served against Fayose on March 3rd 2015.

Appearing on a live radio and television show on Tuesday, Governor Fayose bragged, “I’m like Israel that is in the midst of enemies but will always prevail. Whoever wants to remove me will first have to impeach God.”

In October 2006, Fayose and his first term deputy, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, were impeached on corruption charges. If impeached in the ongoing drama, he would become the first man in Nigerian history to be impeached twice from the same elected position.

SaharaReporters has published evidence as to how the Peoples Democratic Party, in collusion with the security services, rigged him back to power in June 2014.

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/04/09/fayoses-impeachment-ekiti-house-assembly-directs-chief-judge-set-panel

Synagogue Church of All Nations GO Prophet T.B Joshua is mad as hell at Zimbabweans he claims are spreading false news about him. He took to Facebook this morning to place a curse on them. Zimbawean media has been awash this week with reports that Prophet Joshua had predicted the fall of 3 of their prominent prophets. This caused serious backlash from Zimbabweans on T.B Joshua. He denied making these predictions and so took to his FB page to curse those claiming he did.

Below is what he posted on his Facebook wall this morning:;

ATTENTION ZIMBABWE!!!

"Good morning, people of Zimbabwe. Our attention has been drawn to false rumours spread by the father of lies which are currently being circulated around Zimbabwe. The reward of liars is destruction. We hereby curse, in the name of Jesus, whoever is spreading these rumours. Prophet T.B. Joshua can NEVER and he will NEVER give such a message because our God is not the God of confusion. We should be very careful not to touch an anointed man of God and lie against him The Bible says in John 8:44 that satan is ‘the father of lies’. Don’t listen to the father of lies, the sons of lies and the daughters of lies. Do not sit somewhere, hear this or that and come to a hasty conclusion. God requires that we find out the truth from Him first and hold fast to that which is true, as the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21. God bless Zimbabwe". -


Source: http://viasat1.com.gh/news/international/article.php?postId=2775#sthash.NLQI5sZx.u71WAO4s.dpuf

As expected, following the loss by President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), several members of the PDP are leaving. The latest is the political adviser to the president, Ahmed Gulak.

Two serving senators, Ahmed Hassan Barata and Mohammed Bello Tukur representing Adamawa South and Central respectively, a former Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, former minister of health, Dr. Idi Hong have also followed others out of the PDP to the APC.
The defectors in Adamawa State made their plans known at a press conference in Yola, the state capital yesterday. Zwingina, who addressed the press on behalf of the defectors, said: “After careful identification of the best in the current circumstances facing the state, we came to the conclusion that Bindow’s victory will pave the way for the desired restoration and positive change for the peace and development of the state.”
He explained that following the undemocratic tendencies of the candidate imposed on Adamawa State, by the PDP the serving senators under the party formed alliance with major stakeholders in the party to rally around the ambition of Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindowo of the APC.

Similarly, in Ondo State, the PDP’s immediate past national legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke led several others to join the APC. Former Commissioners under the Late Dr Olusegun Agagu’s administration Princes Oladunni Odu, Ayo ifayefunmi, Olajide Ajana, former Senator Gbenga Ogunniya and Mrs Febi Adeyemi have all left the PDP.
Others included a former Head of Service Alaba Isijola and a former member of the House of Representatives, Abayomi Sheba among others.
Oke confessed that he and his group worked underground to ensure the defeat of the PDP in penultimate weekend’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

Also yesterday, prominent members of the PDP in Oyo State including a member of the House of Representatives, Afeez Jimoh, a former member of the House of Representatives, Folake Olunloyo-Osinowo, Tayo Sarumi, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, PDP governorship aspirant, Chief (Mrs) Ayoka Lawani, Mr. Waheed Adeleke, former Chairman, Iseyin Local Government, among other party leaders from the Accord, Labour Party and PDP who joined the APC.
Oke said that his decision to join the APC was taken because he could not withstand the wind of change he claimed is blowing across the country.

“The wind almost blew me off, but I have now surrendered I can no more resist this change. This change that has blown in the federal must also blow in Ondo State. Oke said forces of darkness fought against change to happen but “ the only thing that is permanent in life is Change.
“We have come to add value to the APC and salvage the state from bad and visionless leadership with broken promises across the state.
“Ondo State is the poorest in the Southwest because of lack of good leadership. Nothing is working, contractors have abandoned sites, no contract is awarded our youths have no job.

Reacting to the defection the Director of Publicity of the PDP in the state Ayo Fadaka described Oke’s action as disappointing.
“We note with aghast the decampment of Chief Olusola Oke from our Party to the All Progressive Congress, to us it is a route that Oke should not in any circumstance embark upon but since he in company of his little band have chosen to do so, they are welcome to it.
“We equally feel duty bound to declare that we are disappointed that a man who operated as a major stakeholder in our Party could curiously elect to become a common joiner in a Party.


Source: http://www.informationng.com/2015/04/jonathans-political-adviser-several-others-dump-pdp-for-apc.html

Reports reaching me from various camps of PDP candidates for Saturday’s governorship elections shows that President Goodluck Jonathan has abandoned his party men to their fate , following his shocking defeat in March 28th presidential polls. From Lagos to Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Jigawa and Sokoto, the story is the same. The complaints of party men is that Jonathan had not deployed enough logistics to help secure a victory for the PDP in the forthcoming polls. There is also another complain that Jonathan had not called many of the aspirants to know the extent of their preparations. This is not good for democracy.

Goodluck Jonathan should not despair beyond measure over his failure at the polls. At least he got more glory in defeat than the five years he assembled and surrounded himself with some praise singers, sycophants and looters masquerading as aides, friends, relations and cronies. Jonathan had also lost over N1 trillion naira between February 14th and March 28th when he deployed lots of state and privately stashed resources to rescue his sinking presidency.

He should take solace that he did not make the mistakes of Babangida, also the entire nation is celebrating him even in defeat. Therefore, it is time for him to ginger up his party men, stem the gale of defections, and ensure that they are given enough support for Saturday’s polls. This support should not include rigging of elections and harassment of voters.

It is unfortunate that even the PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu have not deemed it fit to call a properly constituted NEC meeting where the party should energize themselves for the polls. This is happening to Jonathan because he has nobody in that party that can rally people round at this point in their evolution process.

After the PDP defeated the then APP in 1999, and Obasanjo formed a Government of National Unity, the National Chairman of All Peoples Party, Mahmud Waziri, who has eleven governors under him, stupidly resigned to take up the post of a Minister of Inter Party Affairs. Years later when Don Etiebet became APP Chairman, he was more interested in working for the PDP than building his party.

In contrast Bola Tinubu re- built Alliance for Democracy (AD), after his fellow governors were deceived by Obasanjo and rigged out in the South West. He formed Action Congress (AC) which later became ACN as governor when AD was infiltrated by the ruling party. He singlehandedly built ACN from a party in charge of Lagos State to one in charge of seven States. Buhari abandoned the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and formed his own Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2010 and the alliance of Tinubu and Buhari between 2013 and 2014 was the beginning of the fall of the ruling PDP .

It is highly irresponsible for Jonathan’s party chieftains, including Buruji Kashamu, Tony Anenih, Adamu Muazu, Bode George, Edwin Clarke to despair and abandon the party to her fate.

Apart from Jigawa State where Governor Sule Lamido is trying to install a successor at all costs, Akwa Ibom State where Governor Akpabio, is putting in all efforts to ensure victory for PDP, Kaduna State where Vice President Sambo is deploying all arsenals to ensure that Governor Yero is not disgraced, and Sokoto State where former governor Bafarawa and current NSA Sambo Dasuki are working tirelessly to ensure that Senator Wali defeats Tambuwal, and Enugu State where the opposition has no chance against Uguanyi, the rest of the states have been abandoned to the APC. In Lagos State, Timi Agbaje is not getting enough boost to make the election victorious for him. This is irresponsible from a ruling party. It shows that PDP is just an assemblage of charlatans and fair weather men who cannot stand for anything when the chips are down,


Since 2003, I have always supported a Buhari Presidency because I believe that corruption is Nigeria’s greatest problem. I have also known that this theory of his Islamizing Nigeria is a grand lie which originated under Obasanjo in 2003 and elevated to the highest height in the just concluded presidential poll. This does not mean that the ruling party should not show character in the remaining election and secure significant victories.


I advise President Jonathan, Party Leader Muazu, Bot Chairman Anenih and all the big wigs in PDP to rally round for a final fight because to the best of my knowledge, their mass defections to APC will not stop them from the judgments that is coming. This support should not include rigging and harassment of voters using the armed forces. Let Jonathan not abandon his party men, at least they worked for him, though the Nigerian people thought otherwise.


http://dailypost.ng/2015/04/09/obinna-akukwe-april-polls-president-jonathan-should-not-abandon-pdp-governors/

Okay oo.. they should remain in opposition for life

I don't want to be sentimental about this issue. But the allegation against Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke is a serious issue. For those who think she is innocent, does it mean because she is in the same party with you or you are from same ethnicity? For those who believe she is guilty, does it mean their allegation is based of being an opposition or because she is not from there tribe?


Let have you view

As Nigerians and the international community continue to praise President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat to his main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28 presidential election, PREMIUM TIMES has received exclusive details of how the president took the decision of making the historic concession telephone call to Mr. Buhari.
Reliable officials, knowledgeable about the drama that unfolded at the presidential villa that March 31, said Mr. Jonathan was pulled by two contending forces: loyalists who kept pressuring him to concede defeat and congratulate Mr. Buhari, and hawks who insisted he and his party should strongly challenge the APC candidate’s victory.
Our sources said even before collation began at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, Mr. Jonathan had indicated he would accept whatever outcome once the election is considered free and fair.
But while the President was on the verge of keeping that promise, some “hawks” in the presidency and the party rushed to the first family’s official residence to warn him against any “hasty decision”.
“They were telling the president that a lot of options were still open, and that the game was not over,” one of our sources said. “They were doing all manners of analyses, and assuring the president that ultimately, he would triumph.”
“At a point the president became confused and it was clear the forces opposed to the president’s decision to concede victory was gaining control. As some of them were talking to the president in the villa, others who were far away were calling the President on telephone. The president was in a dilemma.”
Another presidential aide said while in that state of confusion, the President invited the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, to ask his opinion.
Those who overheard the conversation between the two men said Mr. Chidoka begged the president to disregard any contrary counsel and quickly concede defeat.
“Mr. President, I can tell you that by congratulating Buhari, you would have done the unthinkable and history will surely be kind to you,” a presidential aide quoted the aviation minister as saying.
Our sources said as the President and Mr. Chidoka conversed, the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, arrived.
“He quickly joined Osita (the aviation minister) in appealing to the President to ignore those advising him not to concede defeat,” a witness said. “In fact, I saw Adoke and Osita kneeling before the president in deference and begging him to take the right decision in the interest of the country.”
Our sources said at this point, Mr. Jonathan appeared convinced. But more calls came in from people believed to be opposed to any concession move, and the president became confused again.
At that point, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, arrived, and she quickly joined the party working to convince Mr. Jonathan to make the historic call.
While Mr. Adoke departed shortly after Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s arrival, the finance minister and her aviation counterpart continued to appeal to the President to make the right decision.
At a point, the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, joined the party.
He reportedly knelt before the president, held his hand, and said, “You need to congratulate Buhari now sir. I think you should leave this place on May 29 holding your head high.”
Mr. Dudafa then offered to place a call to Mr. Buhari so the President could speak with him. Mr. Jonathan agreed.
So at about 5:15 p.m. that March 31, Mr. Jonathan spoke to Mr. Buhari, congratulating him for his victory in the presidential election.
At 5:27 p.m., Mr. Chidoka, while still at the presidential villa, tweeted, “President Jonathan congratulates Gen. Buhari in a phone call this evening.”
He further tweeted, “President Jonathan will address the nation after a meeting with PDP officials.
“President Jonathan is a democrat by instinct, he has expanded the civic space and entrenched genuine democracy. A great future awaits him as sets a continental example on the essence of democracy.
“President Jonathan, by refusing to be an African Big Man, has indeed become an African role model. Soon when emotions subside, the story of Pres. Jonathan’s stubborn commitment to democracy and peace will be told.”
When contacted Monday, Mr. Chidoka said he was not prepared to discuss what transpired at the president’s residence on the day of the historic concession call.
Mrs. Okonjo Iweala could not be reached for comments. Calls to her spokesperson, Paul Nwabuikwu, did not connect.
With presidential election results from all but one of Nigeria’s 36 states counted, and Mr. Buhari, clearly in unassailable lead, President Jonathan had telephoned the APC candidate to concede defeat.
At the time the call was made, INEC was yet to declare Mr. Buhari winner because it was still expecting results from Nigeria’s remote Borno State.
By the time the Borno vote was added to the tally, Mr. Buhari garnered 15,416,221 votes to Mr. Jonathan’s 12,853, 162 votes.
The historic concession telephone call defused tension across Nigeria and has thrown up Mr. Jonathan as a democracy hero.
That conversation is believed to have saved Nigeria from descending into violence in the aftermath of the election.
In a nationwide broadcast after INEC officially declared Mr. Buhari winner, President Jonathan told Nigerians he kept his pledge to deliver a credible election.


Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/180750-revealed-the-men-and-woman-who-pressured-jonathan-to-concede-defeat.html

Point noted

The Peoples Democratic Party leadership has revealed that Ekiti state Governor, Governor Ayo Fayose will reply to the impeachment notice allegedly served to him by members of the State House of Assembly. The PDP said that the notice wasn’t properly served to the elected PDP governor.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, revealed this as he answered questions from reporters at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. Metuh said that it was wrong that members of the State House of Assembly whose tenure would expire soon, were bent on causing crisis in the state with their action.
He said, “Fayose would reply accordingly to the impeachment notice if the lawmakers follow due process.

“The governor will respond accordingly when they (lawmakers) do it properly.
“But why are these lawmakers, who have less than one month to leave, in a hurry to sack their governor?

“They have grown wings as soon as the result of the Presidential election was announced. It is immoral and undemocratic for a group of 19 lawmakers to put a state in chaos.”
He then surprisingly asked president-elect to intervene in the issue in order to to show that “he is truly a born again democrat.”


Source: http://www.naij.com/416991-impeachment-buhari-needs-to-help-fayose-pdp.html

By JADESOLA BABATOLA

We need to situate issues of this kind without biases, scepticism and sheer-trepidation, where they belong. In my own opinion and conviction, LAGOS DOES NOT BELONG TO THE IGBOS. You can hear me out as a scholar, without joining issues with me.

At least, freedom of expression and of publication and opinion must also be with freedom of conscience and of responsible and logical (lawful) expression. The Igbos spirit of self-determination is admirable in Biafra, but least desirable for the ownership of Lagos, on a lighter mood. We are all brothers, does not mean there is no boundary in perspectives and rights of customary ownership!

Let me briefly take you through the indices that time and space affords on this matter without being prepared for any attempt to take me to the cleaners like my brother of same tribe – Femi Fani-Kayode Esq. I will put my ideas in points raised below:

A. Many towns and cities existing or created in the heartland of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba communities and kingdoms at the advent of British colonial rule in Nigeria exist as centres and regions of socio-cultural and economic inter-actions. History spoke of the Arochuckwus, Kosoko of Lagos, Jaja of Opobos etc. The centre of trade and contact to the Europeans by each region of domicile showed the owners of the land and occupiers as at 1900 when all Treaties had been concluded fr the annexation of the Colony and Protectorates of Nigeria which eventually metamorphosed into the FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.


B. It is a well known fact that the Igbos are adventurous, well traveled and the most enterprising citizens of modern Nigeria and Black-Africa. That fact also suffice that Igbo people are seen in every part of the world just as they spread their tentacles from their Onitsha, Enugu, Nnnewi, Umuahia, Owerri etc homebase to other cities, towns and villages across Nigeria and Africa even in Congo, Angola and South Africa.



C. It is also a well known fact that the Igbos just like the Jews are seen as a set of people that occupies every available space wherever they go. They work together and hardly allow any other tribe to operate within their enclave. You can easily identify a business area massively occupied in any community by only the Igbos. They even build houses close together. That is an advantage of Igbo cultural antecedents and broken faith.



D. It is even incontrovertible that the Igbos had huge investments and properties spread across the nation, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt inclusive. In fact in my hometown - Ado-Ekiti, the Igbos control about 80% of the wholesale and retail businesses in building materials, auto-parts, imported goods, clothwares etc. By the Igbos enrichment, about 20% of the land in choicest areas of my town have been purchased and owned by Igbos due to their economic power and wealth over the years and even about 7% of the resident Igbos have married within the community or settle down there permanently.



E. Without infraction to Constitutional laws, we see Igbos as fellow citizens and invariably as brothers of same African descents and mutual friends of same nationality – fellow citizens who has something good to offer and whom we are ready to accept. There is even Igbo Catholic and Igbo Anglican Churches in Ado-Ekiti.


F. Igbos are the pacesetters and front liners of commercial business, transport business and goods import in Nigeria no doubt. Sir. Loius Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a good example of the colonial era. Many others not sung are there. I won’t even contest such idea with anyone, save for the likes of Dangote!



The above dialectics or analytical appraisal does not however translate to erosion of the customary and traditional ownership of a place or location which its aborigines derives nor confer joint ownership or ownership on any Stranger who has travelled, relocated, settled down or invested in such country or region. It would rather be an insult to assume that relocation from a region to another is the mere right to ownership.


Source: http://transparencyng.com/index.php/contributions/178-jadesola-babatola/8120-who-owns-lagos-yorubas-or-igbos

ORUBEBE - To rudely interrupt an important meeting throwing tantrums like a little kid which may attract scoldings from a mature, wiser
adult e.g The groom's ex Orubebed his wedding.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=orubebe

I pray today that God should expose all the secret plans of Orubebe's towards your wedding. Amen!!!

Top four remaining fixtures

Former President of Ghana Jerry Rawlings has stated that the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria’s presidential election is an indication that the country is ready to confront corruption head on.

“Nigerians did not vote for just anyone. They voted for a man whose integrity is extremely high.

"Nigeria is tired of corruption and the choice of this leader is a clear indication of where she wants to go,” the former military leader stated in a congratulatory message to the President-elect of Africa’s most populous nation.

Buhari, a former Nigerian army general who first won power three decades ago in a military coup, beat incumbent and main rival President Goodluck Jonathan in a historic presidential election in Africa’s biggest economy.

The 72-year-old stretched Mr Jonathan by about 2 million votes, testament to the faith Nigerians have put in him as a born-again democrat intent on cleaning up Nigeria's perceived corrupt politics.

Below are details of the statement released by Mr Rawlings

STATEMENT BY H.E. JERRY RAWLINGS ON OUTCOME OF NIGERIA’S ELECTIONS

“Nigerians have taken the lead in the rejection of corruption.

“The election result is a manifestation of the people’s resolve to confront corruption, dishonesty and exploitation. This is a clear message to the new leadership. A bold step has been taken towards a new Nigeria and the incoming leader cannot be unaware of what is expected of him.

“Nigerians did not vote for just anyone. They voted for a man whose integrity is extremely high. Nigeria is tired of corruption and the choice of this leader is a clear indication of where she wants to go. I hope General Buhari will put together a team whose understanding of the power of the people recognizes and respects the will of the people.

“General Buhari owes it to his people and to Black Africans, the restoration of our pride and the black man’s dignity.

“The image of President Jonathan, a Nigerian Head of State climbing up the stairs to go and complain about Boko Haram to a French President is an image I hope I will not see again."


Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM

A Niger Delta group, Iduwini Volunteer Force, IVF, has given a 14-day ultimatum to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to vacate its community or face unpleasant unrest.

In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, the group said the ultimatum become necessary after the oil company unlawfully terminated a running contrThe International headquarters of Royal Dutch Shell, Netherland. act between the community and the company signed in 2007 and after all attempts to get the company to see reason failed.
The Iduwini Volunteer Force has consequently directed all its unit commanders to be on alert, warning that at the end of the 14 days ultimatum, should Shell refuse to see reason, it would have no choice but to commence immediate attacks and the process of restoring their full privilege as contained in the said surveillance contract document.

The group in the letter, said: “Your Excellency will recall that as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007, you graciously intervened in the lingering crisis between the Iduwini Volunteer Force and SPDC, where it was resolved among others.
“For peace, security and safety of oil companies activities within the Iduwini area of SPDC operations, that a running surveillance contract amounting to N8.002 milliion per year be awarded to the leadership of the Iduwini Volunteer Force and it was awarded.
“The surveillance contract which started in 2007 and was dutifully carried out by the leadership of the Iduwini Volunteer Force and payment for 2007 made and while in 2008 without any known breach of contract, SPDC, unilaterally stopped the contract till date. Our boys are, however, still rendering the services of securing oil facilities in the aforementioned areas as contained in the contract paper.”


Source: http://scannewsnigeria.com/news/group-gives-shell-14-days-ultimatum-to-relocate-from-community/