Prof Tam David West is a Professor in virology. We need to know what the findings of his team are. I know of this man because of the way he label others as incompetent. This is the time to tap from his 'overflowing competence' and they have all gone underground. In fact, all Nigerian virologists should cover their heads in shame. What are they doing to combat this regional challenge?

emiye:


That is why i like the publicity the man is given at the moment, If he is picked as APC gubernatorial candidate, then wonderful news, he will contend against a divided PDP with lots of heavyweight with self interest.

The APC seem to be too interested in newspaper publicity than real political strategy. Winning elections is more than being popular, after all, Gani was very popular but lost elections serially. This mindset of APC that press publicity and Lai's routine angry verbose outburst will deliver political power to them at the center will be their greatest undoing.

If Mr President wants Ribadu in PDP, he will get him, even when he is not offering him governorship ticket. Heck!, Mr President has the resources to even pull Tinubu out of APC. Trust me, attempting to win Ribadu over to PDP is a piece of a puzzle on PDP's strategic table and it is bigger than Adamawa governorship ticket. Right now, 'Mr Fix' it has the the PDP chessboard and he is not known to be an inexperienced player.

igbokwesampson: . Well dear brother, I don't know what you understood by weeping, APC which am neither a member nor a sympathizer weren't weeping, we were only trying to show where our leaders priority should be and where it is currently. Its all obvious even the NOI owned poll who is one of them clearly proved that.

Do you even understand the logic in your written English?

OtunbaJega: [size=18pt]Poverty rate in Nigeria remains at 62.6%, according to UNDP[/size]

http://www.ng.undp.org/content/nigeria/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg1/

This is the content of the link you posted. How does this contradict the present release by world bank?

Recent economic growth, particularly in agriculture, has markedly reduced the proportion of underweight children, from 35.7 per cent in 1990 to 27.4 per cent in 2012, trailing behind the 2015 target of 17.85 per cent. Also the proportion of Nigerian population suffering from hunger is 8.26 per cent in 2012 against 9.66 per cent of 2015 target (source, OSSAP-MDG). However, growth has not generated enough jobs and its effect on poverty is not yet clear the available data and the current policy environment suggest that the target will be difficult to meet.

Growth needs to be more equitable and broad-based. Developing agriculture and creating jobs will require the public sector to create an enabling environment for business, including building critical infrastructure, making regulatory services transparent and providing sustainable access to enterprise finance. Social protection and poverty eradication programmes need to be scaled-up and better coordinated.

“In any case, we insist that it is completely out of place for anybody to associate APC with Islam which is a religion of peace and does not preach violence, greed, destruction and lust for power which are the trademarks of the APC.

“We restate that some of these APC leaders, by their utterances and conducts, are not good Muslims. Besides, we cannot associate a party, made up of anarchists bound together by the lust for power and desperation to rule by any means including promoting violence and division in Nigeria, with Islam.”

I don't think Metu is making any U-turn. From the above, he seem to be suggesting that associating APC's conduct and comportment to the religion of Islam does great harm to the religion. Now, I think that is more serious.

berem: so are you saying her passport was neither seized nor was she arrested?
Anyway,tell your paymaster to stop giving instructions to DSS to seize passports of his critics. Nasir El-Rufai and Sanusi Lamido can tell you their own experience about seizure of their passports too.

Do you know what it means to seize someone's passport?

Oby is getting unnecessarily emotional over issues just like El-Rufai. People are subject to routine checks all over the world in major airports. It is that simple. Most travellers, including those supporting the woman's alarm, have been stopped at the airport on their way out and the least you get when such happens is some random questions, including what is your business to your destination and such stuff.

If what happened to Oby was an arrest, then many of us have been arrested several times over. Sometimes, even before the routine passport check, you will have one 'Economic Police' intercept you, ask for your passports and seek that you declare excess currency you are carrying. They are just doing their jobs. She should leave people to do their jobs.

jayseehe: is Jesus God? For the record, I have no respect for a non-existing being

It is utterly stu.pid and the first step towards extremism to authoritatively question what another man CHOOSES to believe.

barcanista: dig deep into Inec archive you will find out that it is not a new thing.. Eg Comrade Nwoye Tony who was NANS exPresident declared SSCE as his highest qualification to inec. Truth is it is all formalities as SSCE is the minimum requirement.


I know of som1 that presented his OND as his qualification just because he wanted a job that specifically demanded for OND. This dude have a Bsc too.

This shouldn't be an issue at all as long as the SSCE is not forged.

Not that I am very interested in this issue, but this your argument is not really making much sense to me. If Aregbesola completed his OND/HND and earned the qualification that comes with it, why did he not declare it as his highest academic qualification? Is it not clear to you that the only reason why ANYONE at all, including Aregbesola and Nwoye and any other person will present a lower certificate to INEC is because he could be afraid of the legal and future political implication of presenting a document he never 'really earned'?

If Aregbesola has a higher degree than WAEC, he should present it to the electorates, it is their right to know. If he can't do so, then people are right to reinforce the conclusion of INEC that WAEC is his highest qualification, if he likes, he can be an MIT PhD holder.

I personally see nothing wrong with a WAEC holder contesting for high offices, after all, my technicians often leave me in awe of their skills and grit and they have just C&G. I will start having issues with them, just I am having with Aregbesola fans around here, when they start telling me that the papers they presented as their highest academic qualification for employment is not really their highest qualification, and instead of showing me their latest or highest qualification, they start telling me about how they have run their family and business successfully and how they have gathered all awards and membership from NASA and MOSSAD.

That goal looks good. This is what we need, not all these weather excuse...

safarigirl: wetin man go do?

Wow, Netherlands may just leave in the Round of 16....abeg, I hope we'll play Netherlands in this kind of conditions wey don make Netherlands impotent. That weather must be hell

I don't think the weather is enough reason. They are not just good enough facing a strong, rugged and somehow technically disciplined side.

mikolo80: sorry babes.just assumed youre a guy.bottom line i get that some effort is being made.just not sustainable and you should see how difficult it was to get information for a train going to kano from ibadan so dont be annoyed if govt propaganda doesnt fly on the streets.nobody cares about govt statistics what we care about is whether we can board a train at the agreed time to get to agreed destination in acceptable fashion.and its not about e popularity its patriotism / frustration with a govt that has the power to transform nigeria into el dorado but are busy living in the lap of luxury with our collective commonwealth

I will let your continued names calling slide. I hope we can have a mature discussion, devoid of childish short hands and unnecessary insinuations.

What day did you try to travel to Kano from Ibadan and could not get information? Where exactly did you seek this information? Secondly, what effort did you ever make to get information on the movement of trains and did not succeed? I will prefer if you provide information of what you experienced, not what someone else felt.

NRC is a government commission and provides information (not propaganda) on her activities, just like NCC or Boundary Commission. Thousands of people have used the train service this year and their only complaint is quality of services, not that the published schedules are wrong as you are pushing here.

And finally, no government anywhere in the world have the powers to transform the country into an El Dorado. What capitalist government does is to expand opportunities to enable her citizens transform their lives. Thousands of Nigerians use these rail lines. Those people did not have the option few years back. Lots of progress has been made particularly in rail transportation. Of course, there are still some challenges in service quality, just like in every transport business. Actually, as I am typing, Aero Contractors Airlines, a private coy delayed a 2:45pm flight to 5:40pm and as at now, the flight is yet to take off.

It is arrogant to assume that every other person making efforts to salvage our country from years of military rule is wrong but just you, armed with a PC and a keyboard is right. Transformation is a process, not a destination.

mikolo80: dude i foot criticize just deal in facts even the 1 train i rounded up for them.i live right next to train tracks i'm sure i'd know if 16 trains rolled through daily.

First off, I am not your 'dude'. I find it derogatory. Address the point I raised and forget the name calling.

Secondly, you can live right inside the train but you have practically no way of knowing the statistics if you are not in a position to know or if you are not informed. NRC just informed you of their statistics and you are telling me where you live.

The train schedules are there in NRC. Go to NRC and schedule a journey on one of those 16 or all of them and then, if you don't get to make your journey because of non existing schedule, then come back to NL, not before.

I am well aware of the present vibes of 'criticize the government and gain a few minutes of e-popularity' but it should be done intelligently.

pmc01:

Call us ignorant, we hear you.

All we know be say this na use of technical jargons to justify another open secret misappropriation.

Contunu!

You truly sound ignorant. First, there was no case of embezzlement or stealing. This is a case of money being owed because projects that were meant to be implemented was abandoned, which goes contrary to the terms of the financing arrangement. I really can't see where someone stole money here.

Please, see below, it is a direct quote from the article:

Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and with the consent and endorsement of the Senate and House Committees on Aviation made fiscal provisions for the funding of these projects, which was later abandoned by the Ministry of Aviation, hence the accrual of the debts.

mikolo80: You cannot possibly be celebrating 1 train per week

On the Intra –City Mass Transit, the corporation has commenced the Lagos Mass Transit Train, from Apapa to Ijoko (16 trains per day, an average of 16,000 passengers daily), Kaduna Mass Transit Train services (10 trains daily, an average of 10,000 passengers), Kano to Challawa train services (6 trains daily), also the ministry has announced that efforts were on ground to restore the suspended Mass Transit services in Jos and Maiduguri occasioned by security challenges, “to ease the burden on roads as well as boost economic and social activities in the country.”


The railway corporation intercity passenger services are[b] Lagos to Kano express train services running twice a week; Offa to Kano train services, once a week; Lagos to Ibadan to Ilorin back to Lagos (three times a week, moving an average of 6,188 passengers)[/b]; Kaduna to Kafancha train (suspended due to ongoing rehabilitation work); Kano to Nguru back to Kano train service (Twice a week), moving an average of 850 passengers weekly) and the Highly patronised ‘Excursion Train’ during festivities.

You seem to have read a different article or running on a default 'criticize mode'. Where is '1 train per week' being celebrated?

jay bee: So we basically have another phantom 26B right?

How much was borrowed and how much did they release to execute the projects?

Why must all these common stealing be in billions geeez

I think you need to read the article again. Funding arrangements were made and the sources of funding are detailed in the article. What went wrong was that the projects were abandoned by the Ministry of Aviation, probably after the exit of the Minister and the the unwillingness of anybody to be accused of wrongdoing.

The Senate Committee on Aviation, which first announced the debts accruing from the remodelling of airport projects, has inflated such by N26 billion from the actual debts of N148 billion to N174 billion.


Since 2011, the federal government embarked on the rehabilitation, expansion and restructuring of airport terminals, the building of 14 fresh cargo terminals, provision of equipment for the Accident Investigation Bureau and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
Documents made available to THISDAY from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) disclosed that the projects are in three phases and the contract value of phase one is N12.81 billion. Total amount already paid is N11.22 billion, with an outstanding balance of N1.58 billion.


The contract value of phase two of the projects is put at N93.43 billion, while the total amount disbursed to the contractors is N53.97 billion, leaving a balance of N39.50 billion.


The third phase of the projects, which is still at infant stage, has contract value of N63.02 billion, while total amount already paid is N4.21 billion and outstanding payments in this phase is N58.81 billion.


The sub-total of the debts therefore is N99.85 billion, which when added to the debts already approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at N48.37 billion brings the total outstanding debts to N148.23 billion. This amount from FAAN differs from the N174 billion that was declared by the Senate Committee on aviation by about N26 billion.


Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and with the consent and endorsement of the Senate and House Committees on Aviation made fiscal provisions for the funding of these projects, which was later abandoned by the Ministry of Aviation, hence the accrual of the debts.


The projects were being funded from three sources: accruals from the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), appropriations and internally generated revenue and this year there was plan to introduce other sources of funding which include airport development levy and security surcharge.


THISDAY learnt that funding came from approval for presidential priority projects on February 21, 2011 for the utilisation of the sun of $60 million in the BASA fund. This was submitted to the National Assembly for appropriation to be supplemented by a sum of N14.6 billion from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of FAAN.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/senate-inflates-remodelling-projects-debts-by-n26bn/182168/

Sunday Okobi writes on the transformation taking place in the transport sector and the implications for the nation’s quest for economic development

The role of transportation in the economic, political and social development of any nation cannot be over-emphasised as it is the sector that connects all the other sectors of the economy. The overriding goal of the transport sector under the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan-led government is to develop an adequate, safe, environmentally sound, efficient and affordable, integrated transport system within the framework of a competitive national and international market economy.
The ministry recently highlighted the achievements in the period under review, describing it as tremendous.

The Railway Subsector
According to the ministry led by Senator Idris Umar, in a bid to turnaround the railway system nationwide, the federal government had articulated a 25-year strategic vision for the rail sector. The thrusts of the vision, among others include the completion of the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge, the construction of new standard gauge rail lines, extension of the rail network to link all state capitals, commercial centres, solid mineral and mining sites, petroleum product depots and major agricultural zones, as well as fertiliser distribution depots. Out of the existing 3,505 km of narrow gauge line, over 90 per cent of the existing narrow gauge network is being rehabilitated. During the period under review, significant progress was made on the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country.

Achievements in the Rail Transport Sector
A notable achievement in the sector is the rehabilitation of the 1,124kilometre Western line from Lagos to Kano which is completed and functional, while work on the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in Borno State 1,657km Eastern line is progressing steadily with the Port Harcourt-Jos Station, including the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna expected to be completed by July this year.


Rehabilitation of sidings and loop lines along the Western line, including connection to key industrial locations within Apapa, 74 stations and branch lines between Lagos and Kano, the 300 metre link between the Apapa port complex and the national line and the spur line to the Kaduna power plant complex have commenced and project will be completed by end of 2014. Completion of the construction and the rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge rail line is 77 per cent completed with the entire track laid, which is also expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Construction of Abuja (Idu)–Kaduna Standard Gauge rail line is 78 per cent completed, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.


Construction of Lagos - Ibadan standard gauge (double track) 2 x 180 Km has been awarded and will commence as soon as the Federal Ministry of Finance finalises on the loan funding by the China Exim Bank.

Feasibility Studies on Additional Lines
The feasibility studies to create additional corridors for the standard gauge rail system have been completed and their reports consisting of Outline Business Cases would be made available in July 2014 to potential investors for the development of the lines under Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.


Among the new corridors which the ministry has concluded its studies on are:East – West Rail Line Lagos-Shagamu-Ijebu Ode-Ore-Benin City (300km). Benin-Agbor-Onitsha-Nnewi-Owerri-Aba line with additional line from Onitsha-Enugu-Abakaliki which is about 500km. Coastal rail line in the Niger Delta Region: Benin-Sapele, Warri-Yenagoa, Port Harcourt-Aba-Uyo-Calabar-Akanpa-Ogoja-Obudu Cattle Ranch (673km), Lagos-Abuja (High Speed – 615km). Ajaokuta (Eganyi)-Obajana-Jakura-Baro-Abuja with additional line from Ajaokuta to Otukpo (533km). Zaria-Kaura Namoda-Sokoto-Illela-Birnin Konni in Niger Republic which is about 520km, Eganyi (near Ajaokuta)-Lokoja-Abaji-Abuja (280km)


The other proposed rail lines which are presently awaiting Federal Executive Council consideration the ministry added, are Kano-Bichi-Katsina-Jibiya line, Illela-Sokoto-Jega-Yauri-Makera-Minna with branch line to Kontagora, Aba-Ikpene-Ibino-Itu (spur to Uyo) Odukpani-Calabar, Port-Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Kuru-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri, Ikom Obudu-Ogoja-Katsina Ala-Wukari Jalingo-Yola-Maiduguri, Kano-Nguru-Gashua-Damaturu-Maiduguri-Gamboro-Ngala.

Procurement of new NRC facilities
However, the federal government, through the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has invested in the procurement and rehabilitation of locomotives, wagons and coaches which also include two sets of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs); Six 68-Seater air conditioned coaches, four locomotives (these were recently inaugurated by President Jonathan and two railway line Telescopic Cranes.
Also, some bills which the ministrybelieveswould open the door for more private sector participation are under consideration by the FEC for onward submission to the National Assembly. The bills are the Nigerian Railway Authority Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, The Ports and Harbour Bill and National Inland Waterways Authority Bill.


According to the Managing Director of the NRC, Adeseyi Sijuwade, “Following the lifting of the embargo on rent and lease of Nigerian Railway Corporation’s land and landed properties, the redevelopment of the Nigerian Railway Stations through Public Private Partnership is being processed. Transaction Advisers have been commissioned to drive the process for private sector participation. Advertisement for the Expression of Interest is expected to be published in July this year.” Under the policy, which the corporation disclosed recently, the railway stations to be remodeled and redeveloped in the first phase of the programme are: Iddo, Ebute Meta Junction, Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Jos and Gombe.

NRC Passenger Services
On the Intra –City Mass Transit, the corporation has commenced the Lagos Mass Transit Train, from Apapa to Ijoko (16 trains per day, an average of 16,000 passengers daily), Kaduna Mass Transit Train services (10 trains daily, an average of 10,000 passengers), Kano to Challawa train services (6 trains daily), also the ministry has announced that efforts were on ground to restore the suspended Mass Transit services in Jos and Maiduguri occasioned by security challenges, “to ease the burden on roads as well as boost economic and social activities in the country.”


The railway corporation intercity passenger services are Lagos to Kano express train services running twice a week; Offa to Kano train services, once a week; Lagos to Ibadan to Ilorin back to Lagos (three times a week, moving an average of 6,188 passengers); Kaduna to Kafancha train (suspended due to ongoing rehabilitation work); Kano to Nguru back to Kano train service (Twice a week), moving an average of 850 passengers weekly) and the Highly patronised ‘Excursion Train’ during festivities.


The transport ministry said the number of passengers conveyed by train had increased from 4,155,988 in 2012 to 4,328,789 in 2013. “This was as a result of increased stabilisation of the tracks after completion of rehabilitation of the western line and its use for train operations.
The targets set for delivery of freight and passenger services in 2013 were substantially achieved. The challenges remain the need for more coaches and wagons to meet the high demands of the citizenry,” the Permanent Secretary of the transport ministry, Mr. Nebo Oliseh, told THISDAY recently.


Inland waterways transportation and sea ports
In the year under review, the ministry, while noting the imperatives of the water transport to the Nigerian economic development, highlighted major infrastructure projects which were completed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) awaiting commissioning to include East and West Moles, Lagos. 1.6 Kilometer dual carriageway within Apapa, Lagos port complex, Julius Berger Terminal (C) in Warri old port and AMS Terminal (B) Warri old port both in warri.


The introduction and adoption of e-payment system, Oliseh said, had improved bill payment process from three to five days payment confirmation circle time to a couple of minutes (instant/real time confirmation) therefore reducing operational cost of shipping.
According to him, with regards to the water transport sector, “the main issue is trying to improve efficiency at the ports in terms of having our target 48 hour-clearance of goods. It’s not that there are certain goods that are cleared 24 hours as they come, but for Blue chip companies that have good integrity records with Nigerian customs, to have an average of 48-hour-clearance for all goods, that is what we are working on.

He admitted that even the existing ports are operating beyond their designed capacity, “so, we are doing everything possible to make sure that turn-around time for vessel, ship waiting time meet international timelines and expectations. At the same time, we have what we call Channel Management Arrangement (CMA) at the Lagos and Bonny Ports, where the NPA, in partnership with the private sector, are undertaking the management of the channels.


The ministry also disclosed that arrangements and contract for the dredging of the Benue River and construction of the river port in Makurdi has been awarded this year. Similarly, the development of a new deep seaport at Lekki in Lagos has been approved, while the Ibaka, Agge, Olokola, Badagry and Ogidigbe/Escravos deep seaports are being processed. The dredging of the harbors in Lagos and Bonny has been continuous to accommodate large ocean liners such as the West African Maximum (WAFMAX) Jumbo Cargo Vessels that carry 4,500 TEUs instead of conventional vessels of 2,500 TEUs, “and this is providing opportunities for trans-shipment to other ports in the country and neighboring countries to bolster economic development in Nigeria. Significant progress was also made to provide standard facilities, including RORO facilities in Bonny,” the ministry disclosed.

Also to ensure efficiency, safety and security in the waterways, Oliseh noted that the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) initiated and sponsored by N[b]igerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was fully on course, as many Nigerian cadets were undergoing training in Philippines, Egypt, India and United Kingdom among others. The ministry said the total number of beneficiaries of the programme was 2,505 with the agency planning to increase it to 5,000 next year and 10,000 by 2020. Out of the number of the beneficiaries, about 50 cadets have graduated.[/b]


“To ensure safety and security of the maritime domains of its member countries, the federal government is vigorously implementing the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Protocol on International Ships and Ports Security Facility Code (ISPSC).
“Nigerian maritime domain has been re-assessed and found to be ISPS Code compliant and subsequently given a pass mark and clean bill of health by the United States Government,” the permanent secretary told THISDAY recently.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/taking-stock-of-transformation-in-transport-sector/182102/

Explains why Fayemi concede defeat
Yuguda congratulates Fayose, Jonathan
By Gboyega Akinsanmi

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), last night took another angle from the popular approval of the last weekend’s governorship election in Ekiti State, saying the defeat of his colleague, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, frightened him.

Despite Fashola’s reservation, Bauchi State governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, yesterday congratulated the Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, President Goodluck Jonathan and the entire family of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family for the outcome of the election, describing it as sign of more good things to come the way of the party in 2015.
The Lagos State governor, also, explained the reason Fayemi, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, conceded victory to the PDP candidate, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

He disapproved the Ekiti state governorship election results at the State House, Marina, after a meeting with the chairmen and vice-chairmen of 20 local government and local council development areas in the state.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the governor disclosed that Fayemi accepted the election result to prevent violence and bloodshed, which he said, could have been erupted as a result of the election outcome.
According to him, “I am aware that there were instruction to cause mayhem during the election and Fayemi decided that rather than allow blood to be spilled, he he behaved statemanly. He saved his people from being slaughtered if they had protested.”

He said the election of Fayose, who is currently standing trial for corruption and murder in different courts in Ekiti state would send a very dangerous message about the country to the international community.

The governor explained that the election result “must be a very dangerous message to simply suggest that once you give people money, then this is the way it will happen. It is frightening for me in a democracy.

“It raises the question of what we have been doing for seven years. Should we just be giving money and when people ask about security, we say we have been giving you money, go and rent your own security.

“When people ask for healthcare, we say that you have collected money. Is that the model for development? These are lessons. I am not suggesting that we monopolise the debate about what the best policy is. But I am saying that there must be another side. There must be a debate.”

The governor, therefore, argued that the debate that “recognises that development comes at a cost and that even those who are privileged to serve, do not claim to have a monopoly of ideas. We have demonstrated in Lagos State how flexible we can be about policies if we see a stronger argument.”
He faulted the manner the PDP financially induced the electorate and victimised the supporters of the APC, noting that the trend of giving money and distributing various items to garner votes “is a very worrisome lesson to learn.

“When one looks at the way people have behaved one week before the election, no one could say Fayemi will lose the election. The worse anyone could say was that the election look close.

“Does a governor whom everyone has said did well, lose in his own ward? If he was such a bad governor, was the deputy bad too? Was the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly also bad? I know this may be difficult to convey, but I want Nigerians to examine the message and not the messenger.

“I want everyone to remember that Fayose’s party told everyone that the governor-elect has criminal case to answer. They removed him from the office and took him to court. They have not told us that he has been acquainted. They bring him back to the same state. With this, is that consistent with human behaviour?

“Will human being behave like that? Memories may have faded, but do they all fade such that the same governor now defeats an incumbent whom everyone said has done well for his people; in all local government area.

“There are issues that I think we need to ponder and ask what really happened. From the human behavioural angle, is there any governor that has lost election like this in the country? If they say that the governor is elitist, where would one express his elitist qualities if not in Ekiti State?”
Meanwhile, Yuguda in a statement issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi, yesterday described the victory of Fayose, as a victory for the entire people of Ekiti State, who expressed their choice at the polls saying democracy is gradually getting its root in the country.

The governor further commended the people of Ekiti State for their non-violent conduct before, during and after the elections, saying in a democratic dispensation, the best way is to use the power of votes to express one rather than resort to violence which he opined will only cause more harm.

While congratulating Fayose for the victory, Yuguda called on him to be magnanimous by extending hands of friendship to all those who contested and lost the election because according to him, the development of Ekiti State and its people should be a collective one just as he called on the losers to accept it as an act of God.

He then commended the national leadership of the PDP under the chairmanship of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, calling on him to do more to ensure that the party wins in subsequent elections in the country just as he promised that he would continue to give his support for the well-being of the party and its members.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fashola-ekiti-governorship-election-result-frightens-me/181933/

Trying to find the logical link binding Amaechi's comments is a very daunting task. Give the guy a mic and within 2 mins, he will contradict himself in many ways.

2015 is not far. Rivers people will decide.

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately suspend the proposed N35 million capitalisation of bureaux de change (BDCs) in the country.

The resolution was passed after the debate on the motion titled, ‘Urgent need to halt the recent increase in capital base for bureaux de change by 25 percent’, sponsored by Ibrahim Shehu-Gusau.

While ruling, speaker Aminu Tambuwal directed the House Committee on Banking and Currency to invite the new CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, “for a full brief on the policy somersault.”

In his lead debate, Shehu-Gusau argued that the policy may lead to loss of thousands of jobs and impact negatively on the nation’s economy.

He said, “Bureau de change has provided millions of Nigerians job opportunities. I am worried that the new rule will send many BDC operators out of business. The increments are outrageous against the backdrop that the CBN will also reduce the amount of dollars being issued to BDCs from $50,000 to $15,000 per week.”

Other lawmakers, who spoke on the motion including Asita Honourable, Sunday Karibe, Uche Ekwunife expressed concern over the “policy somersault” and called for a “systematic review” of the policy.

Honourable, who called for reversal of the policy, described the hike as “super elitist and racist in nature.”

However, speaking in favour of the CBN directive, Victor Nwokolo argued that the proposed increase in the operating capital base of BDCs will strengthen foreign exchange transactions.

The apex bank had on June 22, 2014 released new guidelines for BDC operators and raised the operating capital base to N35 million from N10 million to check persistent depletion in the country’s external reserves and the financing of unauthorised transactions.

CBN further directed that all BDCs applying for the new licence are to pay an application fee of N100,000, a licensing fee of N1 million and an annual renewal fee of N250,000 on or before July 15, 2014.

The House also on Thursday called on the Federal Government to immortalise the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, and Dora Akunyili, former NAFDAC boss and former minister of information and communications, who died early in the month.

In her lead debate, Uche Ekwunife, chairperson, House Committee on Environment, who raised the motion, asked the government to name the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) headquarters after Akunyili.

She said it was imperative to immortalise the late Akunyili, considering her contribution to the fight against fake drugs in Nigeria.

In a related development, the House has also called for the immortalisation of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, who died early this month.
Haruna Musa, who moved the motion, also urged the House to send a high powered delegation to Kano to condole with the late emir’s immediate family.

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/06/reps-ask-cbn-to-suspend-new-n35m-capital-base-for-bdcs/#.U61OuJR_sfE

The Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose, on Thursday in Abuja, said that the concession of incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi to defeat was a propaganda stunt aimed at eliciting public sympathy.

Fayose said that although Fayemi at the weekend conceded publicly and congratulated him, the governor had not picked calls from him since then.

“The governor said I am conceding to defeat. Let me be realistic with you, there is a difference between propaganda and reality. I have been calling the governor since after our meeting but he hasn’t picked the call,” he said. “If you read all papers now, he said I will create local governments before I go; how do you reconcile these things?

“I am not a propagandist, I am a realist. The governor says he will do employment before he leaves that means you want to create problem for the incoming government.

“So I see that concession, as good as it may be, we must all be realistic about it, we must not deceive the Nigerian populace.

“Their party said we are still studying the ink used by INEC; it is the governor that conceded not our party.”

Fayose recalled that in 2003, his predecessor, Mr Niyi Adebayo, also conceded defeat but went ahead to conduct a mass recruitment though he had only six months remaining in his tenure.

“I respect the governor; he is our leader, up until the 15th of October, he remains our leader but I want to appeal to APC not to play propaganda with sensitive issues like this.

“If the governor says I am not going, his party too must make pronouncements otherwise I do not mind them going to court.

“The court will ask you: “it is usually the incumbent that rigs, why would somebody who is not an incumbent now rig and defeat you in your ward”?

He said that none of the APC Senators or House of Representative members, including former governor, Mr Segun Oni, won in their polling booths, not even former Governor Segun Oni.

Fayose, however, commended the incumbent governor for the bold step taken in conceding defeat, though it was meant to induce public sympathy.

He said though he would run an inclusive government he would only work with those who were willing to work with him.

“With due respect, I know APC more than you, I will not shoot myself in the leg before I start so I will rather let us leave it as it is.

“It is our government but we will make sure they have their say; minority will have their say, majority will have their way. We will make sure that there is an environment for them to operate as credible opposition to government.”

NAN

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/06/fayemis-concession-of-defeat-a-propaganda-fayose/#.U61OypR_sfE

eggheaders:

my alternative moniker was mentioned.

Oh! LOL @ 'alternative moniker'

eggheaders:

obatala impregnate all the female members of your lineage with dozens of headless midget.

But he did't mention your handle, why the curse?

In APC's books, when exactly is an election free and fair? The so called party leaders that were going to Ekiti 2 days before the election were not registered voters in Ekiti, so how would their restriction reduce APC's chances of winning by more than half of the votes cast? Is their mission to Ekiti more than we are being told? There was even news of APC party leader arrested with hoards of cash he was sharing on the election day and his movements duly restricted. Is the APC complaining of this too?

The election may not be perfect but reasonably free and fair.

According to services.gov.ng, which is the official government information source, there are 24 Ministries, 62 departments, 24 agencies, 40 institutions and 16 commissions making it about 166 in number. You just listed out about 60 of them to justify that GEJ favours Christians. Do we assume that Muslims takes the remaining 106?

The terrible thing about you APC folks is that you accuse GEJ on one hand of dividing the country along religious and ethnic line unless he relinquish his constitutional right to run for re-election but you go ahead and post thrash like this.

Just know that the modern Nigeria under construction does not belong to people like you who reason strictly along ethnic and religious lines.

Why the media blackout on this man's health status? Where are the Sahara Reporters, Premium Times, Punch and other many gossip blogs? Could this be a confirmation that they are enlisted? Or is it because ur wasn't PEJ or GEJ?

ilugunboy:

Not necessarily about returning power to the North....it's about keeping to agreement wholly and voluntarily entered into....to many of us, asking GEJ to sign an agreement may be wrong on its own, but since he signed it while non of us was present, we cannot defend him.

Nigeria operates a delicate balance of power-sharing arrangement...that is the truth.

Have you seen a copy of the agreement? Which reasonable man signs an agreement without requesting a personal copy? I am not denying that there is a signed agreement neither am I collaborating it. I am asking for proof . We are dealing with politicians here. And besides, why do you guys believe that Nigeria belongs to a particular axis of this country and any other 'outsider' will need to sign agreement with them before they take over the mantle of leadership? Who did Yar'Adua sign agreement with to become President? And what is the difference between a Yar'Adua and a Jonathan? The earlier your type stop offering your necks to heavy yoke of the slave masters, the better for you.

JulianBond007: At least it was in the budget unlike Peter Obi who did his to get political favour. I don't think the purchase of cars by Obi was in the budget anyway. If something has to be done, it should be done at the right time to avoid suspicion.

Have you gone throught Anambra 2013 budget to conclude on this? Are you aware that this purchase has just been approved but the actual procurement and delivery may be sometime next year and or few months to the election? Do you also know that the Peter Obi you hate so much does not go the press when he budget to buy cars for traditional rulers but only involve the Press during presentation unlike Fashola that gets the Press involved at approval of the purchase, procurement and delivery as well as presentation? This news item is not really necessary since the 2014 budget has been presented and it is be there, if not to politicize the purchase. But you see nothing wrong with that but are accusing Peter Obi of playing politics because he delivered vehicles to traditional rulers before camera.

The scheme even seem more robust that the article presents. All his political bases are presently under attack. The recent increasing attack on the Igbo is not dismissed from it. Lies have been stringed together to discredit Ohaneze, having discovered that Rochas cannot play an Amaechi effectively in the SE. Amaechi is making inflamatory statements daily, including open claims that the President has pencilled him down for elimination. Akpabio (Leader of PDP Governor's forum and GEJ's main supporter) is under attack. Okupe, Abati and Wike are derided daily just to make them lose credibility and thus less believable. Ngozi has just joined the target.

Until now, the President has focused on his job and delegated the media with their constitutional responsibility. What we have seen is a media that reports bad politics and promote hatred but never reports development and that is why i believe that a large section of the media is compromised. There are too many lies in the print and electronic media. Too much distortions. Nairaland is not exhempted. The worst is that these actors will always claim that every other person has been paid to pen an opinion, yet they are the major culprits. Look at the handles on NL and see what I mean.

I am sure that as the President positions himself to play the 2015 politics, we will be seeing some changes in his political engagement.

Sanusi has just a B.Sc in Economics and another in Islamic Studies in Sudan. He has neither M.Sc nor PhD in anything. He lectured B.Sc aspirants in ABU with B.Sc. We have discussed this guy severally here and if anybody wants to contradict my claim, it should be very easy to prove.

That was actually my problem with the guy and the system that made him CBN governor. That's really why he can believe that $50b can get lost from the nations coffers in 18 months. Most 3rd year Economics students will not even agree with such crap.

We need a replacement that has global exposure in this fast globalizing world. I really felt that Mansur Mukhtar woulve have been a better nominee but Yar'Adua felt otherwise and brought Sanusi. Now is the time to fix that problem and bring in an exposed man/woman. Anyway, the new CBN governor is very qualified. You will confirm this when he is announced. In my opinion, anyone who has not had stint in the top 20 business schools in the world nor the major multilateral UN level agencies should never near that office again.