₦airaland Forum

Catered4:
Hello sir. If you are starting the business, yours is to buy in bag and sell off within a week. Except if you wouldn't be selling the onions immediately. Then you will need to store the onions by spreading them in the sun for 2 to 3 days if they are fresh so as to dry up. After 2 to 3 days, peel of the back, of cos some will peel of itself. Then pack them into a well ventilated room. Spread them so that the air entering the room will serve as a preservation. That way your onions can last as long as 2month or more. Then the onions is called Old Onions because its dry and it cost more in the market.
Thank you.

hw much is the current sack of onions?what is the selling price?did u have the idea which market in kaduna can i get onions at good rate?

napolie:
11k will get u one full bag/sack of onions and still get it down to lagos.

Talking about profit, u should not likened it to a get rich quick scheme. The profit margin ranges from 16% to 24% and can still skyrocket to 60% or more depending on the type of market and season. The more your bags, the more your profit.

Accommodation - where are u based, and why do u need accommodation if u reside in lag. If u want to travel down to the North ursef, u'll incur more expenses which is not included in the initial 11k.

Transport - I think I have done justice to that

Feel free to ask more questions but u'll get a reply after I'm done with my laundry.. Thanks

which market can the onions be get ?can you link me up to buyers?

Our attention has been drawn to concerns that MTN is supporting/endorsing a specific political party through adverts on our platform.

The management of MTN Nigeria wish to reiterate that MTN is a non-political/non-partisan organization.  Our mobile advertising platform is available to various business organizations and other entities including all political entities on commercial terms. We also monitor our VAS providers to ensure that their services and offerings are non-partisan and non-discriminatory. 

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Source Mtn Nigeria

Olumideogundare: we can nw enjoy arsenal and chelsea matches on dstv.Supersport 6 for both matches

Is chelsea match confirm on supersport 6?

sammydave4ever: I have checked on Supersport tv guide page. Swansea vs Everton match will be aired on ss6. So how did u come across Arsenal vs Southampton?

Find attach pics below from supersport

mayoxxx: Guys any hope for carling cup tonight.arsenal match

Arsenal vs southampton will be air on supersport 6

Arsenal vs southampton will be air on supersport 6

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities have reached an agreement to end the over five month old strike by ASUU. The lecturer’s association has however said that its members may return to work next week.

ASUU’s demands include the upward review of the retirement age for professors from 65 to 70; adequate funding to revitalise the university system; progressive increase of budgetary allocations to the education sector by 26 per cent; transfer of federal government property to universities; setting up of research and development units by companies; payment of earned allowances; and renegotiation of the signed agreement.

The agreement between the two is reached barely 24 hours after the Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe presented a proof of payment of N200 billion into an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The strike began on July 1st 2013 and lasted for over five months before this resolution was reached.

source http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/12/11/fg-ASUU-reach-agreement-over-strike/

draw

Yesterday’s World Cup draw threw up a whole host of fascinating subplots and has, in some ways, changed the complexion of the tournament for a number of the competing sides.

Africa’s five representatives enjoyed mixed fortunes. KickOff.com looks at who has got reason to cheer and who has reason to fear the big kick-off in Brazil next summer.

Group A: Cameroon, Brazil, Croatia & Mexico

At first glace, Cameroon’s chances of progression look pretty slim having been handed a tough-looking group containing Mexico, Croatia and hosts Brazil.

However, excluding the hosts, who one would expect to qualify in top spot, the other two sides are beatable and the draw could certainly have been a lot trickier for the Indomitable Lions.

They open against a Mexican side who endured an extremely problematic qualification experience, finishing fourth in the Concacaf Hexagon programme before having to contest a double-header against New Zealand. El Tri boast some fine individual players and have an excellent recent record for escaping the group stage. However, it is not unrealistic for Cameroon to target a victory in this opening bout.

Next up, Croatia, another side who failed to qualify automatically from their qualification group; Valtreni bested their bitter rivals Serbia in Uefa Group A, but could not overcome the Belgians and had to beat Iceland in a play-off to book their ticket to the World Cup.

Croatia’s impotent performance in the first leg, when they could only draw 0-0 in Reykjavik, will imbue Volker Finke with optimism.

A final group clash with Brazil in Brasilia, the country’s capital, is a terrifying prospect for any national side – the Indomitable Lions will have to hope that the Selecao, having already qualified, take their foot off the gas.

Don’t hold your breath, however!



Group C: Cote d’Ivoire, Colombia, Greece & Japan

Finally, after two tournaments where the Cote d’Ivoire were almost eliminated before they even kicked a ball, the Elephants have finally managed to avoid a Group of Death.

The West African nation finds itself up against Asian champions Japan, Greece and the seeded Colombia. The draw is not an easy one by any stretch of the imagination, but having faced the likes of Portugal, Brazil, Holland and Argentina in recent tournaments, Sabri Lamouchi’s men will just be delighted to have avoided the big guns.

It is imperative that the faded Golden Generation expel any complacent elements that may be lingering within the camp. This, along with fear and perceived arrogance, has been their weakness in the continental arena and they must not exit the 2014 tournament having missed a glorious opportunity to make amends for failures past.

This group provides them with ample opportunity to progress to the knockout rounds, although they must not slip up against Japan in their opening match.



Group F: Nigeria, Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina & Iran

News of the Super Eagles’ World Cup draw has been greeted with broad optimism and ebullient patriotism in Nigeria.

Having conquered the continent, Stephen Keshi and his troops fear no one and the promise of a rematch with Argentina is one that the team look set to approach with relish rather than reticence.

Many Nigerian fans will be particularly excited at the prospect of witnessing Vincent Enyeama, currently in the form of his life, attempt to once again thwart Lionel Messi. The Lille stopper delivered one of the finest performances of his career at the 2010 edition of the tournament to persistently prevent Messi from finding the net.

While Nigeria should realistically hope to join Argentina in qualifying from the group, rather than pip them to top spot, the group’s other two sides provide cause for optimism.

Bosnia boast a number of fine players, but they are World Cup debutants and one of the weaker European sides in the tournament. Iran will not be easy opponents but considering the names that could have been drawn from the Asian/American nations, they are not a bad prospect at all.



Group G: Ghana, Germany, Portugal & the USA

Unfortunately, Ghana have not enjoyed the fortune of their West African brothers and find themselves in a Group of Death that lives up to the moniker.

Germany, rife with talent, are one of the world’s finest sides and will be expected to reach the tournament’s latter stages, let alone escape the group.

Portugal, inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, will look to follow them out of Group G. The Real Madrid forward is naturally the star of the team (and could well be the star of the tournament), but his compatriots also possess exceptional qualities and any kind of result would represent an achievement for the Black Stars.

The United States complete the set and are probably the toughest possible team that Kwesi Appiah’s men could have come up against from Pot 3.

This collection of teams presents a number of intriguing subplots; America boss Jurgen Klinsmann will be forced to duel with his countrymen, while brothers Jerome and Kevin-Prince Boateng will meet face-to-face on June 21.

The Black Stars will doubtless be casting envious glances over to Africa’s final representatives ...



Group H: Algeria, Belgium, Russia & the Korea Republic

While Algeria may be Africa’s least-promising team, they find themselves in one of the World Cup’s most-promising groups.

Belgium will not be an easy prospect, and ought to top the group, but compared to some of the other top seeds that the Fennecs may have encountered, they are not terrifying opposition.

The North Africans are not favourites to qualify ahead of either Russia or the Korea Republic, but neither will they fear their two other group-mates.

If Madjid Bougherra can keep things tight at the back, and if Sofiane Feghouli can channel some of his creative qualities, then Algeria could feasibly target a first-ever spot in the last 16.

They will never again get as easy an opportunity to do so.

source http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/mobile/news/39644/world-cup-2014-how-the-group-stage-draw-has-treated-africa

The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Kudirat Ladipo, has been accused of exploring desperate means to victimize Fatima Salau, a final-year student of the institution for daring to reveal how the school management props up and shields cult gangs, SaharaReporters has learned.

A lecturer at the institution, which is known as Yaba Tech, told SaharaReporters that part of Ms. Ladipo’s moves was to set up a panel which would be used to victimize the student after she had written her exam. Our correspondent was told that the whistle-blower, Ms. Salau, wrote her last paper on Thursday, November 21, 2013 and immediately received a letter from the school’s management to face an indicting panel. Her offense is that she reportedly stated that the institution’s top officials were responsible for the absurd increase in the number of cult members and their violent activities on the campus.

Several sources told SaharaReporters that the panel was clearly out to intimidate the whistle-blower when she appeared before them. They said the panel members informed Ms. Salau that she faced the risk of not receiving her statement of results for the Higher National Diploma (HND) she recently concluded. In addition, our sources disclosed that Ms. Salau was also warned that her National Diploma (ND), which she earned more than two years ago before enrolling for the HND, may also be recalled.

Ms. Salau, the public relations officer of the Lagos State chapter of the Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), spoke a few weeks ago on SaharaTV where she discussed the menace of cult groups at Yaba Tech. During her appearance, she disclosed that the spike in the violent activities of cult gangs, which led to a recent closure of the school by protesting students, was due to the strong backing cult members received from the management of the College.

Several weeks ago, students at Yaba Tech shut the school down after a suspected cult member used a bottle to viciously attack a fellow student in the Banking and Finance Department. Students were particularly irate as there had been no prior argument between the victim and the assailant before the attack was launched, leaving the victim with severe injuries.

To register their outrage over the assault, protesting students closed all entrances into the institution, barring any activity. They demanded that the culprit be identified and punished. The rector reportedly cut short a trip to return to campus and appease the students, promising to address the menace of cults. Several students told SaharaReporters that the rector subsequently failed to meet certain conditions the students gave for discontinuing their protest

The students’ demands included that the management take full responsibility for the treatment of the victim of the attack, identify and punish the culprit, publish the full list of all cult members on the campus, and eject cult members who reside on the campus especially in the Complex Hall residence.

“The cult members often boast that they are paid by the management,” said a former member of the Students Union Government (SUG). He added: “At a recent meeting, the management also told us that they would speak to the cult members to stop their nefarious acts. It all means they know each other, both the management and the cult gangs.”

Instead of meeting the students’ demands to curb cult activities and rusticate known cult members, the rector and some of her team of administrators seemed determined to go after innocent students. Students went on another round of protests after Yaba Tech’s management released an alleged list of supposed cult members. “The list did not contain names of cult members,” one student told SaharaReporters. “It was populated with names of innocent students, while the actual cult members who are well known to the management were deliberately exempted,” he alleged. Students rejected the list, describing it as a ploy by the management to shield the cult members. The students demanded that the management should start over and prepare a genuine list of actual cult members.

In her interview on SaharaTV, Ms. Salau stated that cult members were well known to the management, but added that the Rector, Ms. Ladipo, was “trying to be mother” to them all. The whistle-blower also disclosed that some cult members who are non-students reside on the campus of the college.

When our correspondent visited the college recently, numerous students who asked for anonymity accused the school management of funneling cash to the leaders of cult groups, thereby providing incentives for the violent gangs to increase. One of the students accused the rector of cultivating the cult gangs with pay-offs so that they would be handy for her husband, a politician who is reportedly mulling a run in the upcoming 2015 elections.

“Although we like the woman, but the truth is that she was the least expected to emerge as our rector,” said one of the students. “She became the rector through political influences, and I guess she is servicing the interests that gave her the office by helping to generate touts for their next round of election.”

A senior lecturer at the college told SaharaReporters that he was not aware that the rector was engaged in clandestine breeding of cult members for political purposes. He added, however, that the perception was damaging enough. “If some students believe that the person who runs this college was breeding a group of students who attack other students, then that is bad for the image of this revered institution and undermines the moral authority any leader must possess in order to lead effectively.” The lecturer added that the allegation was serious enough for the rector to resign or be removed.

In the meantime, SaharaReporters learned that the panel set up by Ms. Ladipo asked many questions of Ms. Salau but did not give her the opportunity to answer. Rather, members of the panel focused on detailing to the whistle-blower the likely vindictive actions the college could take against her for daring to expose the management’s indifference to the scourge of cult groups.

A lecturer told our correspondent that he learned that the panel members received a huge shock when they asked Ms. Salau whether she regretted her whistle-blowing action and she gave a resounding “No!” as her answer.

source http://saharareporters.com/news-page/yaba-tech%E2%80%99s-cult-gangs-rector-accused-desperate-efforts-victimize-whistle-blower

Lokoja – The advance team of President Goodluck Jonathan’s entourage, returning from Ado-Ekiti on Sunday rendered emergency rescue services to accident victims on the Lokoja-Abuja highway.

The accident which occurred at Okpu village, few kilometres after Lokoja, involved two cars, carrying 11 people.

A Nissan Almera car with registration number AH 47 KAA going to Lokoja and a Honda Accord car (Baby Boy) with registration number BG945BWR en-route Abuja, were involved in the accident.

The two vehicles had a head-on collision with serious impact, causing varying degrees of injury to the occupants of the vehicles.

The accident occurred few minutes before the presidential motorcade came to the scene.

The security team in the convoy swung into action by rescuing trapped victims in the two cars.

The front door of the passenger seat of the Nissan car was axed before a middle aged woman, who was trapped inside, could be rescued.

The medical team, led by Dr Aliyu Usman of the State House Clinic, rendered emergency medical treatment to the victims, aided by two nurses.

A team of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), led by one Mohammed Haruna, came to the scene of the accident about 30 minutes into the rescue operation.

The victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja in an FRSC rescue van for further medical attention.

An eye witness, Aliyu Sadiq, said that the accident was caused by over-speeding, dangerous driving and the poor state of the road.

Sadiq appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on completing the dualisation of the Lokoja-Abuja highway.

The eye witness, who is a commercial bus driver, said he plied the road on daily basis, adding that “there is a hardly a day that an accident is not recorded on the road.” (NAN

source http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/jonathans-motorcade-rescues-accident-victims/

Nigeria’s first Lady, Patience Jonathan pose for pictures with President of Hansei University, Sung-Hae Kim

Wife of Nigeria’s president, Patience Jonathan, on Thursday added one more Honorary Doctorate degree to her gallery after a South Korean University honoured her.

It is Mrs. Jonathan’s fourth doctorate since becoming Nigeria’s First Lady.

The awarding institution, Hansei University, said they honoured Mrs. Jonathan because she had worked “hard for many good causes.”

“She’s a humanitarian who has dedicated her life to working for the less privileged in Nigeria and Africa especially for women and children,” president and Chancellor of Hansei University, Sung-Hae Kim said.

”Her vision as the defender of the poor in Nigeria fits into Hansei University’s motto of a practising Christian. Now she’s part of our community,” Prof. Kim added.

The university also said it chose her for the degree because of her dedication to prayer.

”I was surprised that she travelled here for the Church Growth International conference years back to pray for Nigeria. For her selfless work, Hansei University confers this degree on her,” Yonggi Cho, co-founder of the Hansei University.

“I was just doing my own thing not knowing that in far away Asia everything was being noted. I want to assure you all that with God’s help I will do more,” Mrs. Jonathan said, thanking the Koreans.

”My grandma used to say: `Whatever little you have, share; If you have a thousand and you can’t share, you won’t share a million if you have’.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the ceremony was attended by wives of the governors of Benue and Ebonyi, wives of the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, among other dignitaries.

source http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146462-patience-jonathan-honoured-doctorate-degree-north-korea.html

The situation around the campus is now normal.

The management of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), has refuted claim that there was a cult clash on its campus.

Adekunle Adams, Head, Public Relations Unit of the institution, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.

Mr. Adams said that the recent protest on the campus was an internal issue that was misinterpreted into a cult clash.

He said that a committee had been directed to look into the incident and summit a report to the school authority.

“The management wishes to state that there was no cult clash on its campus but a protest by students to express their displeasure over certain issues.

“On Wednesday night, some group of students gathered in front of their hostel to watch the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) league.

“Some minutes later, a fight ensued between some of them which left a student injured.

“On Thursday morning some of the aggrieved students gathered at the main entrance of the institution to protest the beating of their colleague.

“What happened was not a cult clash, the expressed views as reported in some quarters do not fully reflect the true picture of the situation on campus,” he said.

Mr. Adams said that the Rector, Kudirat Ladipo, upon being notified, cut short her trip to Abuja to address the situation.

He said that the rector had addressed the students and took their complaints and promised to address the issue as soon as possible.

“The Rector has since set up a committee to look into the case and submit its findings,” Mr. Adams said.

A correspondent who visited the institution observed that normalcy had returned to the campus as students were seen receiving lectures.

Mr. Adams reiterated the institution’s zero tolerance for cultism and other acts of indiscipline, saying that it would not condole any act of indiscipline.

He added that any student found wanting would face the wrath of the law.

“The present administration does not condone acts of indiscipline as the college is known to be the most peaceful campus among Nigerian tertiary institutions.

“On this, we will not compromise as reported cases of cultism are referred to the security unit with further link to relevant security agencies for the law to take its course,” he said.

He said that the institution remained committed to the training of young men and women to be worthy in character and learning.

(NAN)

Source http://premiumtimesng.com/news/145178-cult-clash-yabatech-management-says.html

ASUU has been on strike since June 30.

The Vice President Namadi Sambo has, in a bid to end the continuous gridlock in the dialogue between the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and federal government, taken over the negotiation process. The government’s negotiation team was formerly headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim.

For the first time since the commencement of the over 10-week-old strike action by the union, the Vice President met with the leadership of the union at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.

The meeting was held behind closed doors.

Nigerian Universities have been shut down since June 30 as a result of federal government’s failure to honour an agreement signed between it and ASUU in 2009 bothering on issues of university funding and improvement of infrastructure in the sector.

Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa after the closed door meeting, the ASUU President, Nasir Fagge, said that he was taking back a “message given to him at the meeting for his members” and that Nigerians would have to wait for the response of his members on the way forward.

“We have had a meeting with the Vice President and he has given us a message to our members, and we said that as the messengers that we are, we are going to deliver the message faithfully to our members and then they will take the decision.”

According to him, “I know Nigerians are expecting a solution to the strike, we also want a solution, but I have been given a message to our members. The message is not for Nigerians, it is for our members”.

“If I deliver the message, our principal will decide and we will get back to the ministry of education within this week,” he added, saying the union would get back to the education minister on its stance on the government’s latest offer.

The federal government had offered N100 billion and N30 billion for infrastructure development in various universities and payment of verified earned allowances of lecturers respectively. It is not clear if the government made an improved offer for the lecturers whose only demand is that government implements fully the 2009 agreement.

The Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who was also at the meeting, explained that the meeting had been convened to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

“One is quit hopeful that ASUU is committed, they have the passion and that there is the need for us to move the education sector forward.

“ASUU coming to discuss means that they are committed on their own part and that the federal government is also committed. We have gone very far, we believe that in no distance time, you will have a very good result,” he said.

Also on the ASUU delegation were two former Presidents of ASUU, Dipo Fasina and Abdullahi Sule-Kano.

Other members of the government’s delegation included the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Julius Okojie; as well as the Vice Chancellors of Bayero University Kano (BUK), University of Ibadan (UI) and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Abdulrasheed Abubakar, Isaac Adewole, and Muhammed Muhammed respectively.
Source http://premiumtimesng.com/?p=144991

An FCT High Court on Thursday struck out a suit by Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, challenging the purported election of Plateau state Governor, Jonah Jang, as chairman of a faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Details of the judgment are sketchy at this time.

Mr. Fashola had on June 5 filed the suit asking the court to stop Mr. Jang from parading “himself as the elected Chairman of the NGF in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

However, on July 17, the Lagos governor filed a motion on notice seeking to withdraw the case. His lead counsel, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) said Mr. Fashola was withdrawing the suit  to enable him to put his house in order.

But Mr. Jang and two other defendants in the suit opposed the motion. Mr. Jang’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, argued vehemently that it was too late for Mr. Fashola to bring the motion after parties in the suit had already determined issues for determination.

In her ruling, Justice Affen however asked the defendants to allow Mr. Fashola’s counsel to first move his motion for withdrawal before advancing reasons for opposing it.

The Lagos governor sued Mr. Jang after the Plateau Governor set up a parallel faction of the Governors’ Forum hours after he was defeated 19 to 16 votes by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers in a keenly contested chairmanship election.

Source. http://premiumtimesng.com/news/144903-breaking-court-strikes-fasholas-suit-seeking-stop-jang-governors-forum-chair.html

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former Super Falcons and African Woman Player of The Year, Mercy Akide-Udoh, opens up on her illustrious career, coaching, family and more

 

 What are you doing presently?

I have been coaching in the United States but for some weeks now, I have been in Nigeria trying to help young girls. I have a project called Play2Learn. There are some schools in the United States that want Nigerian players to have better education and give them a better life. That is why I am in Nigeria. We had 10 scholarships to give away.

What was the response from Nigerians?

I used the media; my husband Colin and his colleagues have been very helpful. I have no sponsors right now; it’s like charity work for me. I believe that if a girl from a home that has nothing gets educated, the family is made. You know girls don’t forget home. It’s like me; I started with nothing but this is where I am today. I always talked about giving back to the society and that is why I am doing this.

What coaching qualifications do you have and what level of the job are you into in the US?

Well, I have been coaching for a very long time. I have coached in Georgia. I have been in coaching for close to 10 years now. I coach from U-6 to U-16 but my main teams are from the U-9 to U-10 because I like bringing the kids up and teaching them more about foundation. That is what I am doing. I have a youth coaching license.

Would you say constant changing of Falcons players have affected the team?

Every coach has his philosophy of coaching. We swing coaches too often and it affects the girls. You find out that we have a group of talented players but they cannot deliver. They don’t play as a team; they play individual soccer. Our time as players in the national team has passed but the coaches that have been coming in now haven’t stayed too long with the team. They come back from competitions and what you hear is that they are fired. Things can’t work like that. If you give a coach a contract to train the girls, give him time and let him his job. If they don’t deliver, you can tell them to go but they are not given enough time to do what they are appointed to do. It’s messing up the team seriously.

Women haven’t been given much chance to manage the Falcons. Are you interested in the job?

It’s not that I don’t want to coach the national team but right now, my aim is to ensure the project I came to Nigeria to execute succeeds. I submitted my credentials but nothing has been said about it. So I don’t want to think about it. Right now, I believe I should help the kids. If I can help one or two kids to go to America, play football and get educated, I will be much pleased. I prefer doing what I am doing now to thinking of coaching the Falcons. Along the line if it happens, okay, but I am not keen about it.

The present Nigerian Football Federation board has been giving jobs to a lot of retired male footballers. Do you think the women deserve similar treatment?

I think the NFF know what they are doing. They want to start first with the men because the men’s game first came before women football. But we have achieved more than the men. We need the men and the men need us as well. We went to the World Cup before them. We’ve done so well and they should try and also focus on the women too. They need to do something for the girls.

Were your parents happy that you wanted to become a footballer?

My mum was very happy that I played football. It was a surprise. She took me as a tom boy. I only have two brothers and I was running around with them. So, she didn’t mind me going out with my two brothers to play. And when the Falcons went to China in 1991 for the first Women World Cup, I said I would play for the team. She encouraged me to the last but my dad was unhappy because he felt football is a man’s game. He didn’t want me to get hurt but along the line, he saw that I had passion for the game and it didn’t bother him anymore.

Was it easy getting your first club as a young girl?

We started at grassroots level in Port Harcourt. We started out with a team called Garden City; I don’t know if they still exist. We started the club from school. We played school competitions and they picked the best players. That was how the team was formed. It was like a one man show; we didn’t have much funds. I was playing barefooted when I started. I didn’t have kits for a very long time. I had kits when I came to Lagos to play for Jegede Queens. So, it took me a while to be where I am today.

What were the major challenges faced by players in your time?

We faced a lot. There was the issue of provision for us and when we got to camp, we didn’t have the necessary equipment; there was no decent camp for us. They were just throwing us from one hostel to the other, which they called camps. We didn’t also prepare early enough for competitions, although that is what is still going on now. It has never changed. We succeeded because we just wanted to play; that was our aim. We wanted to make a difference and I think that is what differentiates us from the present players.

How was competition for players like then?

You had to fight for your place; if you didn’t, somebody else will take over. When I came into the team, Okunwa Igunbor was playing on the right wing. In practice, it wasn’t that she was doing badly but she wasn’t doing what the coaches wanted. I was the up-and-coming player, I was recalled to the team, I ws fired up, the coaches saw the passion in me and I took her position. Some other coaches would have said, ‘She (Igunbor) is an old player, let her start.’ I was the only new player but the coaches knew I would do well.

How true were stories of lesbianism in the Falcons camp?

You know what, I don’t pry into people’s business. That is their problem and I didn’t know what they were talking about. I don’t want to make any comment about that because I was in the national team to play the game. I didn’t go there to look at what others were doing. I was just there to play and that’s all.

What was the secret behind the Falcons’ quarter-finals outing at the 1999 Women’s World Cup, their best ever achievement?

Honestly, we had better preparation then. We went to Germany and Holland and we played men’s teams, not just girls. I think that was what gave us the motivation. We felt if we could play against the boys, then we could do better. I think that was the secret. We also had a leader in Florence Omagbemi, our captain. We just didn’t go to the pitch like that; we had somebody that was leading us. Florence was a good leader; she captained the team very well and carried everybody along. If a player was down, everybody had to go down with that player. We were together.

After winning the first game, the Falcons were humiliated 7-1 by hosts USA. What happened?

I won’t lie; I think the stadium contributed to the defeat. We were playing the home team and the fans came in large numbers to cheer their team and we got rattled. It was overwhelming when the crowd cheered. You could hear it on the pitch. It was echoing. Most of us were young and it wasn’t easy handling the pressure. It was a lot more pressure than when we played Denmark in the first match.

How were you able to get yourselves back to winning?

Well, coach (Ismaila) Mabo didn’t say anything to us when we got into the bus after the game. When we got to the hotel, the only thing he said was that we should sleep and get over it because we still had one more group game to go. If we won the game, we still had a chance of qualifying. We came out that morning, we talked to each other and we picked ourselves up. I think that was the game changer; we didn’t relent.

You were down 3-0 to Brazil in the quarter-final but the team equalised in the second half before you lost 4-3 in extra time. How did you feel with the semi-final in sight?

We were thinking we were going to make it to the semi-final since we came back from 3-0 down to equal score 3-3 and we were still fired on. It started from the dressing room; we knew that if we didn’t get goals, we were not going to make the Olympics. And we wanted to be part of the Olympics. We talked to each other and encouraged each other. We got on the pitch and got the result. We were sad when the Brazilian goal came in extra time. Ann (Agumanu) was down and they brought the second choice goalkeeper. But I am not putting blame on anybody. A free-kick can beat anybody. The Brazilian girl was a good free-kick taker and she got the goal. We were pleased getting to that stage. It was a good outing for us.

How did you feel being the first African to be named in FIFA’s world 11?

I am grateful and I thank God for everything He has done in my life. It was amazing to be the first African to achieve that. I was very happy.

What were your best and worst moments?

Do I really have any bad moments? I think the only bad moment I had was when I was first invited to the national team. I went to the camp late 1994 and coach (Paul) Hamilton told me I was still young. He said if I changed my attitude towards the game, I would make the team when they called me again. So, I went back because that got me fired up and I started working so hard. I was not just scoring for the team when I returned in 1995; I was playing for the team. My best moment was the 2004 Olympics in Athens. It was against Sweden and I scored a beautiful goal, a volley. It was a wonderful goal and what made it even more beautiful was that after the game, Colin proposed to me and told me he had already fixed a date for our wedding.

How did you meet Colin? Was it love at first sight?

Well, we were friends for two months and then he asked me out. That was it.

Would you say meeting Colin, a sports journalist, changed your career for the better?

It gave me another impression about journalists. You guys are not bad guys after all. During my career before I met Colin, I always thought you guys were bad guys. You know how you people wrote bad stories about us, that we were not doing well. You guys put us so down and we didn’t want to have anything to do with you. But now I have a different impression. It’s just like me; they say I am mean when I enter the field. Sure, I may look mean but when I come off the pitch, I am different.

How did you feel on your wedding day?

How would I feel? I was just excited as a woman. I was happy to settle down with my lovely husband.

Are your kids into football as well?

I have two beautiful girls. The older one Coleen will be six this month while Madison just turned three. Madison runs around with me and Coleen says she wants to be a goalie. In future, I don’t know which country they are going to play for. It’s going to be their calling and not mine.

What do you think is the problem behind Falcons decline in Africa?

We have a lot of problems. We don’t have the younger ones taking over from the older ones. Look at USA’s Mia Hamm and the other players. Before they left, Amby Wambach was young. They had a youth programme that they picked from; it’s not about calling up 60 players today and 70 tomorrow. You need to groom the younger ones with the olders ones so that as they are growing, they will follow the legacy. Today, Wambach has beaten Hamm’s record and that is the way our team should have been. I got married and they didn’t call me to the Falcons again. They just kicked me away. It’s not supposed to be like that. You shouldn’t just kick out somebody who has done so much for Nigeria. Even if you want to push the person away, do something for her. Put her story there for the younger ones to emulate. Now, I don’t even know most of the kids. In the US, their players are celebrated but there is nothing to read about us. I am talking of the likes of Omagbemi, Uche Eucharia and Ann. I met them in the team. It’s not supposed to be like that. And it hurts.

Who was the toughest defender you played against?

It would be the US defence. Their defence was very solid; they read the game very well. Joy Success gave me a very tough time.

Any regrets playing for Nigeria after the way you were left out of the team?

I am blessed. Without Nigeria, I don’t think I will be where I am today. I don’t have any regrets at all. When something happens, it’s another step for you to move on. I think they pushed me to my glory because without that, I don’t think I would have had kids early. Now, I have two kids and I still have one to go. I am doing very well. I am not regretting being a Nigerian; that is why I am home to give to the kids. I don’t want their situation to be like mine. I want theirs to be better than mine. Taking them to America will better their lives, their families and Nigeria because after their studies, if they want to play for Nigeria, then we will have better trained players. We have no structure and facilities here. Even youth clubs in the US have better facilities than our national teams. If I have more Nigerian players schooling there, the better for our football.

If you were not a footballer, what would you have been?

Well, I love people. I could have been a nurse if I didn’t play football. I love to help people.

Recently, FCT Queens players reportedly went into prostitution because of lack of salaries…

I have been following the team for a very long time. They played Rivers Angels recently and they lost 2-0. They are always like that. They owe them salaries, the kids work so hard all year and I think at the end of the year, they just pay them all their money. But it shouldn’t be like that. How do they take care of themselves? These are ladies who need to be taken care of. I feel so bad. It was like when we were playing.

What is your advice to young female footballers in Nigeria?

They have to be disciplined, put in more and that will make them better


http://www.punchng.com/sports/sportlight/my-husband-proposed-to-me-after-my-wonder-goal-akide/

Amnesty Office to train 16,000 more ex-militants between now and 2015.

No fewer than 186 former Niger Delta militants on Saturday departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom and South Africa for training sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Office.

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Kingsley Kuku, held a pre-departure briefing with the contingents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, describing the benefitting batch as lucky, as they were the largest to be deployed for educational training in the UK.

Mr. Kuku advised the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in their host countries by abiding by the laws and concentrating on their studies, warning that the Presidential Amnesty Programme for youths in the Niger Delta has zero tolerance for misconduct.

The Adviser noted that on completion of their training, the skills of the participants would be relevant in the operations of the oil and gas industry, particularly the new private refineries that would be coming on stream soon.

He recalled that about 690 delegates had in the past been repatriated and reprimanded for various infractions committed during similar programmes overseas, warning that government would not tolerate any repeat of such behaviours.

“About 2,000 delegates have been empowered by the office following their successes in their various training programmes, and were provided with business start-up packages,” he said.

“Also, 174 others have been offered direct employment in various public and private onshore and offshore organizations, while 1,190 women had also been placed at specialised skill acquisition centres.

Mr. Kuku said that some of those who trained in aviation services were being offered jobs as instructors in some training centres abroad, adding that the programme was scheduled to come to an end by 2015.

From inception, he said the programme was designed to run for five years, a time he believed should not be altered, with the Amnesty office planning to train about 4,000 Niger Delta youths in 2013; 6,000 in 2014, and another 6,000 in 2015.

He advised state governments in the Niger Delta region to commence youth engagement and empowerment programmes for their citizens, adding that by 2016, all states in the Niger Delta must take up the responsibility of designing programmes that would empower youths and women in their states.

Out of the current 186 delegates, 60 would undergo a 12-month vocational training in South Africa as emergency medical technicians, otherwise known as `offshore medics’, while the remaining 126 delegates would undergo educational training in tertiary institutions in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The latest batch of delegates brings to about 16,683 the number of ex-militants sent for training in educational and vocational institutions abroad since the Amnesty programme started in 2010
.
Source http://premiumtimesng.com/news/144726-186-niger-delta-youths-depart-training-uk-south-africa.html

The governor inherited most of the commissioners from his late boss, Patrick Yakowa.

 

The Governor of Kaduna state, Ramalan Yero, has announced the immediate dissolution of the state executive council.

The governor announced the dissolution Wednesday at the end of a cabinet meeting at Government House, Kaduna.

A statement by his spokesperson, Ahmed Maiyaki, quoted Governor Yero as thanking “the outgoing members of the council for their valuable contributions to the state and wished them success in their future endeavours”.

The statement also directed all commissioners to hand over the affairs of their respective ministries to their permanent secretaries by Friday, September 13.

Most of the commissioners sacked by Mr. Yero Wednesday were inherited from the era of late Governor Patrick Yakowa, who died in a helicopter crash on December 14 last year.

Although the governor made a minor cabinet reshuffle on May 27 this year, the commissioners only swapped positions.

There had been speculations of cabinet reshuffle in Kaduna since January this year shortly after Mr. Yero assumed office after the demise of his late boss.

Mr. Yero’s decision to sack his cabinet Wednesday also coincided with a similar action at the federal level, where President Jonathan sacked nine of his ministers.

In the same vein, Plateau Governor, Jonah Jang, also Wednesday sacked chairmen of local government Councils in his state, replacing them with permanent secretaries and directors in the state’s civil service.

 
Source http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/144541-kaduna-governor-ramalan-yero-sacks-commissioners.html

Mr. Jonathan says there is no political undertone to the sack of the ministers.

President Goodluck has  deployed some Ministers who survived today’s cabinet shake-up to oversee the activities of the ministries which lost their ministers Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has said.

Mr. Maku said the president gave the directive through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Mr. Maku, who briefed journalists after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, said that he had been deployed to supervise the Ministry of Defence, while the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, was assigned to oversee the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of State for Niger Delta Development, Darius Ishaku, will oversee the Ministry of Environment, while the Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Musa Sada, was assigned to oversee the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, just as Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, was assigned to oversee the Ministry of Science and Technology, vacated by Ita Ewa Okon.

The Minister of state, Works, Bashir Yuguda, was assigned to oversee the Ministry of National Planning following the sack of the longest serving cabinet member, Shamsudeen Usman, who was first appointed minister by late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Mr. Maku also announced that the Ministers of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina and Power, Chinedu Nebo were directed to take charge of their ministries alone pending appointment of new ministers of state.

The information minister quoted President Jonathan as thanking the removed  Ministers for their service to their fatherland, and saying he would continue to engage them in “the implementation of the Transformation Agenda”.

Justifying the sack of the cabinet members, the president, according to Mr. Maku, explained that it was necessary that  ”government is retooled from time to time to bring new lease of life to an administration”.

The President had earlier announced the sack of nine ministers from his cabinet during the weekly FEC meeting.

The nine Ministers sacked were Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru; Education, Ruqqayatu Rufai; National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman; Land and Urban Development, Ama Pepple;  Environment, Hadiza  Mailafia; Science and Technology, Ita Ewa; Minister of State Defence, Olusola Obada; Minister of State, Power, Zainab Kuchi; and Minister of State, Agriculture, Tijjani Bukar.

Mr. Jonathan was quoted to have told the ministers that he was very pleased with their services.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the sacked ministers were caught off guard because throughout the duration of the meeting, the president did not show any sign of his plan to do away with some of them.

A presidency source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter,  said the President actually announced the sack after the meeting.

“Just as the president was about to leave, then he turned round and said ‘some of you Ministers will no longer be with us, it is nothing special but its just the ways of democracy,”" our source said.

He then went ahead to read out the names of the removed ministers and immediately left the council chambers.

Mr. Maku had while briefing State House correspondents said a fresh list of ministerial nominees would be sent to the National Assembly for approval to fill the vacancies left by the nine Ministers.

No Political Undertone

Responding to questions from reporters, Mr Maku said there was no political undertone to the sack of the cabinet members.

“There is no government in the world where the leaders do not reshuffle their cabinets, there is none and cabinet reshuffle is part of a systematic public administration and I believe what the President has done is simply to address the issues of re-tooling his government to achieve service delivery,” the minister said.

“It is at the discretion of the President at all times to reshuffle his cabinet. It is his own prerogative under the constitution and this has nothing to do absolutely with any other factor other than having come two years into his administration in the last lap, what I see the President doing is to refocus his government, to inject in fresh blood to achieve greater service delivery to the people of Nigeria.

Source http://premiumtimesng.com/news/144533-cabinet-reshuffle-jonathan-appoints-wike-interim-education-minister-maku-oversee-defence.html

Former chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri, has spoken of her distress at how, despite committing more than three decades to serving the nation, she was booted out of office without a proper notification by the government.

Mrs. Waziri said in an exclusive interview granted Zero Tolerance, a magazine produced by the EFCC, that she got to know of her sack by President Goodluck Jonathan in November 2011, in the news media; and said she did not deserve the humiliation since she had not been found wanting for any misdemeanour.

“If you are removed like that, it has a tendency to scare some people. I wasn’t bothered that I left because my philosophy of life is simple, “what has a beginning has an end,” Mrs. Waziri said in an interview with the agency she headed for more than three years. The interview was part of events marking the EFCC’s 10th year anniversary.

“The manner of the sack was what bothered me. I have done a span of 35 years, fighting for my fatherland, I deserve some little dignity and respect. When you wake up and you see on AIT, Waziri sacked! NTA, Waziri sacked! Channels, Waziri sacked! That is the style I am talking about.”

“My predecessor’s case was even worse, but I do hope that the authorities will take note. Except you are removed as a result of gross misconduct, any other way you should be treated with dignity, respect for the human person,” she said.

Mrs. Waziri insisted it was the approach of her removal that she frowned at, not about leaving. “I knew I would one day leave. In fact, the handwriting was on the wall. I knew it was matter of time,” she said.

The former EFCC boss was sacked in November 2011 in what seemed a controversial circumstance, ending a tenure that many Nigerians and foreign partners believed largely diminished whatever gains Nigeria had made in the fight against corruption.

The sticking point of her career as the EFCC boss was the abysmal trial of former governor of Delta state, James Ibori, who escaped conviction in Nigeria due to what many believed was the EFCC’s unserious approach to the trial.

A powerful backer of the then Musa Yar’adua government, which appointed Mrs Waziri, the former governor was assisted to side-step justice by the then controversial minister of justice, Michael Aondakaa.

Mr. Ibori was later arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, before being repatriated to the United Kingdom where he was convicted and is currently serving a 14-year jail term for stealing state funds.

Mrs. Waziri denied helping to free Mr. Ibori, and claimed she never knew the former governor as many claim. She also denied knowing Mr. Aondoakaa ahead of her appointment to the EFCC, but made clear Mr. Aondoakaa’s relationship with the former governor may have played a role in Mr. Ibori’s escape from the law.

“I never knew him. I never knew James Ibori. When I was appointed, I went to the villa very often because the president called his staff and told them Farida has free access to him 24/7, whether in the office or villa. So I went there very often and I met Ibori; he was always there,” she said.

“I think what happened was that my younger brother, Aondoakaa, the former attorney general was close to Ibori.”

“….if I was in league with Ibori and was not sincerely pursuing him, would he have run, gone out of this country to Dubai?”

Mrs. Waziri dismissed claims she tipped Mr. Ibori off, to flee the country after Mr. Yar’Adua’s death as “all lies of the enemies.”

“By my training and upbringing I can never betray my country for anyone, for any reason; never! Of course I was all out and that was how he ran out and went and got himself in more trouble,” she said.

She also denied widespread belief that her leadership of the EFCC lowered Nigeria’s effort against corruption when compared with the record set by her predecessor, Nuhu Ribadu.

“Go and check the record of convictions, the first conviction ever that went to logical conclusion was during Farida,” she said. “190 billion naira, one single recovery from one person that went to jail was during Farida Waziri.”

She said the negative impression accusing her of bungling several investigations, was more of a fierce media campaign against her stay in office, and said she faced intense interference in her work. She declined to give names.
Source http://premiumtimesng.com/news/144423-jonathan-disgraced-office-despite-service-nigeria-farida-waziri.html

The Vice President said this in Abuja on
Thursday.
The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja said it
was confident that the nation’s power plants would
be generating 20,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity
by 2016.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo gave this reassurance
when members of the Alumni Association of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
(NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos visited him at the State
House.
Mr. Sambo, who highlighted the progress made by
the federal government in the power sector, said the
country would by 2016 be able to generate adequate
electricity.
He said such power generation would assist in the
speedy industrialisation of the country.
“When work is completed on all the power plants,
electricity supply will be adequate to drive
industrialisation in the country.
“These plants include those at the Mambilla, Gurara
and the 250 MW plant in Kaduna, as well as the 10
thermal power plants about to be commissioned by
President Goodluck Jonathan,’’ the vice-president
said.
Mr. Sambo called on members of the alumni
association to support President Goodluck Jonathan
in actualising the Transformation Agenda of his
administration.
“The Transformation Agenda is highly commendable,
in terms of the results being recorded in key sectors
of the economy.
“It is the vision of President Jonathan to transform
the agricultural sector and turn it into a business
venture. It is also the vision of the President to make
sure every Nigerian child goes to school. That is why
Almajiri schools are being built.
“Apart from infrastructure, school uniforms and
books are being given to pupils,’’ he said further.
Earlier, members of the association, led by their
President, retired Major General Lawrence Onoja, had
commended the federal government for ensuring
peace and development in the country.

Source www.premiumtimes
ng.com/news/144221-fg-reassures-nigerians-20000-mw-electricity-2016.html

The Vice President said this in Abuja on
Thursday.
The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja said it
was confident that the nation’s power plants would
be generating 20,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity
by 2016.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo gave this reassurance
when members of the Alumni Association of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
(NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos visited him at the State
House.
Mr. Sambo, who highlighted the progress made by
the federal government in the power sector, said the
country would by 2016 be able to generate adequate
electricity.
He said such power generation would assist in the
speedy industrialisation of the country.
“When work is completed on all the power plants,
electricity supply will be adequate to drive
industrialisation in the country.
“These plants include those at the Mambilla, Gurara
and the 250 MW plant in Kaduna, as well as the 10
thermal power plants about to be commissioned by
President Goodluck Jonathan,’’ the vice-president
said.
Mr. Sambo called on members of the alumni
association to support President Goodluck Jonathan
in actualising the Transformation Agenda of his
administration.
“The Transformation Agenda is highly commendable,
in terms of the results being recorded in key sectors
of the economy.
“It is the vision of President Jonathan to transform
the agricultural sector and turn it into a business
venture. It is also the vision of the President to make
sure every Nigerian child goes to school. That is why
Almajiri schools are being built.
“Apart from infrastructure, school uniforms and
books are being given to pupils,’’ he said further.
Earlier, members of the association, led by their
President, retired Major General Lawrence Onoja, had
commended the federal government for ensuring
peace and development in the country.

Source www.premiumtimes
ng.com/news/144221-fg-reassures-nigerians-20000-mw-electricity-2016.html

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar is set to remarry about a year after he lost his wife, Maryam Abubakar, to cancer in January 2012.

The IGP will be engaging in a three-day wedding ritual to a popular 35 year-old Safiya according to sources close to the Mr. Abubakar. The wedding proper will take place on Septemeber 14, 2013. Saharareporters obtained a photo from a series of photos taken during a photo shoot in preparation for the grand wedding.

http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/inspector-general-romance-police-ig-md-abubakar-set-remarry-september



Tuesday, 27 August 2013

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday August 23, 2013 arrested one Tope Ajayi over his alleged involvement in digital satellite broadcast scam. Ajayi was picked up by operatives of EFCC from his apartment located at 26 Link Bawo Road in Hausawa area of Kano following intelligence report.

Over 100 decoders and other computer gadgets were recovered from his server room by operatives of the Commission during a search on his apartment.
Ajayi who claimed to have worked with Skye Bank Plc is said to be a major digital satellite broadcast scammer. He is alleged to have a server that links up with a server in China and an unknown Internet Service Provider, ISP, somewhere in Europe or the United State of America.

The suspect is also alleged to be engaged in illegal importation, selling and distribution of pirate devices popularly known as Dungle which enables subscribers to have free access to Multichoice satellite signals across West and Central Africa.

According to Mr Frikkie Jonker, Senior Anti-Piracy Manager, Multichoice, Ajayi’s server is considered strong as it controls its counterpart server in China and distributes satellite signals to a host of West African and Central African countries including Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya Uganda and Benin Republic .

It was also revealed that the suspect had been extracting control words from multichoice cards in Nigeria and sending same to a server in China which is connected to an ISP server placed somewhere in Europe or America.

Jonker, who expressed his gratitude to the EFCC for the arrest, described the scam as one of the biggest in recent time.

Ajayi will be arraigned in court when investigation is concluded.




Source
mobile.saharareporters.com/press-release/efcc-press-release-efcc-arrests-satellite-broadcast-scammer-kano

The Minister may have been fired for his role in the new political association floated by seven PDP governors.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday relieved Inuwa Abdul-kadir of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development.

According to a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, the President’s directive takes immediate effect.

The statement, which was signed by the Special Assistant on Media to Mr. Anyim, Sam Nwaobasi, directed Mr. Abdul-kadir to hand over to the permanent secretary of the ministry.

The President expressed appreciation to Mr. Abdul-kadir for the time he put in the service of the nation and wished him success in his future endeavours.

“Mr. President expresses appreciation to the Former Minister for the time he put in the services of the nations and wishes him success in his future endeavor,” it said.

Although, the statement was silent on the reason for Mr. Abdul-Kadir’s sack, presidency sources said it might not be unconnected with his closeness to the governor of his home state, Sokoto, Aliyu Wamakko.

2015 politics

The Sokoto state governor recommended Mr. Abdul-Kadir for the appointment when his (Abdul-kadir) predecessor resigned to contest the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011. Mr. Wamakko was also an aspirant in the primaries and eventually emerged the party’s candidate before winning re-election.

A presidency source claimed that Mr. Abdul-kadir is an interim official of a new political association, Voice of the People, VoP, floated by Mr. Wamakko and five other PDP governors; and now seeking the nod of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as a party.

It was gathered that the former minister may have been functioning as the protem secretary of the new group.

Media reports on Monday had linked seven PDP governors- Chubuike Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Mr. Wamakko, all of who belong to the faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, chaired by Mr. Amaechi- with the new association.

Apart from belonging to the parallel faction of the governors’ forum, the governors are also believed to be opposed to the undeclared second term aspiration of Mr. Jonathan.

Some of the governors had also visited some former leaders of the country in their acclaimed bid to save its democracy. In the course of the visit, they canvassed the removal of Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the PDP, an alleged move to get at the President.
Source
premiumtimesng.com/news/143527-revealed-why-jonathan-fired-minister-of-youth-development.html

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday sacked the Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir from his cabinet.

A statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, did not give reasons for the sudden termination of Abdulkadir’s appointment.

The statement relieving the minister of his appointment, was signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the SGF, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, which directed him to hand over to the Permanent Secretary in his office with immediate effect.

The statement said, “His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR President and Commander –in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria has relieved Inuwa Abdul-kadir, Esq of his appointment as Honourable Minister of Youth Development with effect from the 26th of August, 2013.

“The former Minister is to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

“Mr. President expresses appreciation to the Former Minister for the time he put in the services of the nations and wishes him success in his future endeavours,” the statement said.
Source http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/jonathan-sacks-youth-development-minister/#sthash.VfqdJJBO.dpuf