₦airaland Forum

We're better off without her. This woman has been a national disgrace and a pointer to d corruption in the Nigerian educational system... Still can't comprehend how she got a bachelors degree. Uncouth, crude and a total example of what every responsible woman shouldn't be. Goodbye madam Patience Faka Jonathan... May God never give us ur type as a first lady again

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, currently
on a private visit to England, on Friday turned
down the use of a Rolls Royce made available
for him by the Nigerian High Commission in
London.

Buhari shocked officials of the High
Commission when, on landing at the Heathrow
Airport, he declined to make use of the Rolls
Royce and other facilities offered him.

The Nation gathered that after exchanging
pleasantries with the embassy officials led by
the High Commissioner, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, the
president-elect politely told them that his visit
was strictly private and he had made
arrangement for all his needs while in the UK.
He reportedly thanked them for the warm
reception and quickly hopped into a less
flamboyant car he had arranged for and drove
out of the airport.

A source said: “It appeared he was
uncomfortable with the number of exotic cars
in the convoy.

“Hard as the stunned diplomats present tried
to convince him, he refused to bulge, insisting
that since he did not inform the Commission of
his visit because it was not an official trip,
hence he was not entitled to such grandeur.”
Buhari, yesterday, held talks with British Prime
Minister David Cameron at his 10, Downing
Street official residence.

Top of their discussion was the continued
threat to Nigeria’s security by the terror group,
Boko Haram.

The official website of the UK government said
after the talks that “both leaders congratulated
each other on their recent election victories
and discussed the challenges facing Nigeria.”
It added: “the Prime Minister stressed the UK’s
wish to work for a stable, prosperous and
secure Nigeria.

“The leaders discussed security in the region
and the fight against terrorism, particularly the
threat posed by Boko Haram.

“They discussed the need for a regional
approach and agreed to continue working
together to build the capacity of the Nigerian
Army, with the UK continuing to provide
military training and intelligence support.
“On tackling corruption, they agreed this was a
priority to ensure Nigeria’s prosperity and
success.”

Mr. Cameron was said to have agreed to look at
what technical assistance and support the UK
could provide to the Nigerian government as it
looks to undertake its reforms.

“They also discussed the need to tackle
organised crime and the links between the UK
and Nigeria.

“Finally, they talked about the challenges posed
by migration from Africa to Europe and the
president-elect said he would do all he could to
secure Nigeria’s borders,” the statement said.

Source:



http://thenationonlineng.net/new/buhari-rejects-rolls-royce-in-london/

Correctman0606:
Very big nonsense. Tell us the sincere truth. If you are asked that Buhari is your elected president, would you openly agree? Apart from people like you who are dead in actualising the Islam dreams, and are prepared to kill as many as peole to take power, you think, as at today, Buhari will be elected Nigerian president. Apart from the fact that he is exactly like a cooked vegetable, besides he is not as strong an ordinary okro tree, a man who was admitted as well as a bed rest immediately after campaign in a foreign hospital, will ever become president?
It is a pity that Buhari who is an equivalent of a dead lizard is our president elect.

What is this one saying? Ogbeni' shoro niyen?

Correctman0606:
They have started with this thir madness. Every thing about Buhari and apc is just to over blow every oppotunity as if this country and people of other ethnic groups are in total control of Buhari. Buhari is the president elect, what is wrong in trying to greet him. What they know best is to add peper, salt, sugar so that it will look as if Buhari, his party members are lions whereas they are the most corrupt and irrelevant people. Who is even Buhari? A very dry thing whose bodly system is at the zero level is been made as if he will jail every body without first of all going through the competent courts. They still assume as if he is still a military goat where he became the first and only military personnel to have jailed and killed, including his wife the highest number of Nigerians. Bloody fools.
All they want is for everybody to run and scramble for safety once that riff raff Buhari's name is mention. A senil vegetable president elect

Just take a minute and read what u just typed... I dey shame for u without knowing u... Just can't imagine how your family members and close associates will be feeling as a result of ur brain's refusal to function even for a minute.... The person u call a riff raff is in a position ur fifth generation can never dream of attaining. If a senile vegetable man can attain power, u should really think of ur life as an active young man. What have u achieved in life apart from winning d award of the biggest fool ever liveth?

There was a mild drama at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja on Friday, as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, ran to catch up with the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

Both Buhari and the minister on Friday morning travelled out of the country to London on the same flight. One of our correspondents gathered that they both boarded a British Airways flight that left the airport at about 4.30am on its way to Heathrow Airport, London.

But while Buhari was going to board his flight, a mild drama took place at the airport.

Sources, who witnessed the drama, told one of our correspondents that the minister raced in a bid to catch up with Buhari, who had undergone airport screening before her.

It was learnt that the President-elect, who reportedly arrived the airport before the minister, was cleared first and he went straight into the aircraft.

It was further gathered that when Diezani arrived the airport and got news that Buhari had already boarded the flight, she hurriedly ran to ensure that she entered the plane.

In fact, sources at the airport stated that the petroleum minister left behind her aides while running to catch up with Buhari. A source on the ground, who witnessed the drama, said, “The man (Buhari) was at the front and had already passed the screening team. And immediately the woman (Diezani) came down, it was as if they told her that the President-elect was already inside the aircraft, so she started running. She even left her people behind so that she could board the flight along with the President-elect.

“This happened between 4am and 5am this (Friday) morning and the airline involved was British Airways. The flight was on its way from Abuja international airport to Heathrow Airport, London.”

An online medium, Sahara Reporters, reported on Friday that efforts of the minister, during the six-hour flight, to speak with Buhari failed.

According to the report, the President-elect only greeted Alison-Madueke during the boarding process.

It stated that the minister allegedly tried many times to stir a conversation with Buhari, but the latter shunned her.

The flight was reported to have arrived at Heathrow in London at 2:15pm, but the passengers disembarked at 2:45pm. The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, refused to comment on the issues when contacted.Calls to the mobile phone of its spokesperson, Mr. Kingsley Agha, were ignored while a text message to him was not replied.

He was asked to explain why the minister travelled and her action at the airport.

But the media team of the President-elect issued a statement saying his visit to Britain was private.

In a statement signed by the head of Buhari’s media team, Malam Garba Shehu, this was the first of such visit outside the country since winning the March 28th presidential election.

The statement, which was issued in Abuja on Friday, partly read, “General Muhammadu Buhari will use the opportunity of the visit to take a much-deserved rest ahead of his inauguration on May 29.

“He is expected back in the country a few days before the inauguration, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running once he is sworn into office.”

Source: www.punchng.com/news/drama-as-diezani-runs-after-buhari-at-airport/

Over 50 world leaders are expected to attend
the inauguration of the President-elect,
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday.
The Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-
Committee of the Presidential Inauguration
Planning Committee and Minister of Culture
and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, stated this at a
news conference in Abuja.
Activities for the inauguration began on Friday
with a Jumaat prayer at the National Central
Mosque, Abuja.
Duke said invitation cards had been dispatched
to all the 54 countries in Africa and other
countries of the world.
He stated, “As we speak, the 54 countries of
the continent of Africa have been invited.
There has been a huge interest, especially from
heads of countries in Europe to attend this
inauguration.
“At the last count, we have in excess of about
50 heads of state and delegation expected at
this inauguration.”
According to the minister, a high security
strategy is being put in place for a hitch-free
inauguration.
Duke said all invitees for the various segments
of the inauguration would be subjected to a
thorough screening to avoid what happened
during the 50th independence anniversary of
Nigeria when there was a bomb blast near the
Eagle Square.
The minister said some roads in the Federal
Capital Territory would be blocked on the
inauguration day to ensure smooth movements
to and from the Eagle Square, venue of the
inauguration.
Duke said, “The security agencies are working
in close concert to ensure that there is
absolutely no threat to the inauguration.
Arrangements are being made to screen all the
invitees long before they access the perimeters
of the location.”
He also stated that television screens would be
placed in strategic places in the Federal Capital
Territory for uninvited people to watch the
inauguration.
“There is also a plan that in some locations
within the city there might be big screens for
members of the public to follow the swearing-
in. So, people don’t need to come to the Eagle
Square if they are not invited.”
Duke also denied a report claiming that the
inauguration would gulp N3bn.
According to him, less than N2bn will be spent
for a befitting inauguration.
He said, “If we tell you the amount we are
spending, you will be shocked. We are not even
spending N3bn, not even up to N2bn. In any
case, if we tell you, what are you going to do
with it?”
The Co-Chairman of the sub-committee, Chief
Pius Akinyelure, said everything was being put
in place to achieve the overall objectives of the
committee.
On his part, a member of the committee and
Senator-elect, Dino Malaye, said, “We are very
ready and we have worked with the outgoing
government to ensure we have a befitting
inauguration.”

source:www.punchng.com/news/over-50-world-leaders-to-attend-buharis-inauguration-2/

Never b4 had I done this. I might never do it again. All the ladies here are beautyfull and NL is really proud of u all. I really wish I caan vote for more than one person. Got d girl from my own state(Heart Beat) who also attends a school in d place I call my 3rd home and all such.... If only I just have this power. Alas! I don't and I'm entitled to just one vote and I VOTE TOPAHZ(got a thing for Nurses) cc: NLJega

Less than 10 days to the inauguration of his administration, the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, may have made his first official appointment by naming the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina, as his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity.

Adesina's appointment, though yet to be formally announced, is said to have been concluded but merely waiting for some formality before the official announcement.

Already, the management of The Sun Newspaper, it was gathered, is concluding plans to re-organise its management structure following Adesina's impending departure.

Adesina was recently re-elected as the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) for another term of two years.

The NGE president was returned unopposed at the 2015 bi-ennial convention of the Guild which held in Lagos by his colleagues, most of whom described his tenure as the “best the Guild has ever had.”

With his new appointment, Adesina also becomes the second person to be so appointed while serving as the president of the Guild of Editors. The first person was the late Mrs. Remi Oyo, who was the SA, Media and Publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

A prolific writer and tested journalist, Adesina started his career at the Vanguard Newspapers as a features writer before later moving to the defunct National Concord Newspapers. He is a pioneer staff of The Sun newspaper where he became the editor, and later the managing director and editor-in-chief, a position he will be quitting for the new assignment.

As the president, Guild of Editors, Adesina fought for the rights and protection of journalists at every event or fora. In one of such events was a lecture organised by the Bank of Industry (BoI) where he advised the bank to find ways of encouraging media practitioners by giving them loans for the purpose of establishing businesses after retirement, pointing out that the media industry cannot afford to have more ‘veteran’ journalists.

Adesina in his presentation at the event titled: ‘‘The Media and BOI: Working Together’’ admonished Bol to patronise media houses, saying that they are not charitable organisations.

‘‘When you therefore have businesses, patronise them. If they are good enough for your press releases and other editorial items, they must also be good enough for your advertisements. Build a mutually rewarding relationship, including rendering investment support, as the journalists may require," he said.

A seasoned and renowned journalist with over 28 years of experience in the industry, Adesina took The Sun to a new height. Under his leadership, the newspaper won several reputable awards.

In 2007, he was named the Editor of the Year by the Nigeria Media Merit Award.

Source: www.thisdaylive.com/articles/buhari-appoints-femi-adesina-special-adviser-on-media-and-publicity/209785/

Former minister and spokesperson for
President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign, Femi
Fani-Kayode, has debunked claims that hate
campaign by some members of PDP
Presidential Campaign Organisation caused the
party’s defeat at the March 28 presidential
election.
Mr. Fani-kayode, who served as Director of
Media and Publicity of the organisation, spoke
with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan would
have lost the presidential election by at least
10 million votes but for the intervention of his
campaign team.
Mr. Jonathan lost the election by less than 3
million votes.
He was reacting to recent accusation by the
PDP National Working Committee (NWC) that
the electoral misfortune that hit the party after
the 2015 elections was due to hate campaigns
by the party’s campaign organisation.
Mr. Fani-kayode, who described some
members of the party’s NWC as “enemy within
us”, alleged that two members of the
committee were working for the opposition in
the course of the election.
He described most members of the NWC as
ignorant of party campaigns, adding that the
campaign organisation “stood up for the party,
fought for the President and did not betray the
cause”.
While calling for the resignation of the NWC,
Mr. Fani-Kayode defended the media strategy
used by the PDP Presidential Campaign
Organisation.
He also exonerated the First Lady, Patience
Jonathan, Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State of
blame in the loss of the party.
Mr. Fani-kayode said while President Jonathan
was constantly under serious hostile pressure
during the campaigns, the First Lady
encouraged the organisation and inspired its
members more than anyone else.
“I do not want to rock the boat out of respect
for our President and our party elders;
otherwise I would say a lot more that will shock
the nation and the party faithful.
“I have a whole file on it which we compiled
during the campaign. Two members of the
NWC specifically were actually working for the
APC and were on their payroll,” he said.
Their job, he added, was to destroy the PDP
fortunes, expose its secrets, create discord in
its ranks and undermine the efforts of the
campaign organisation in the media campaign.
“That is just one shocker and there are plenty
more. The time to talk is not now. That time
will come.
“You will be shocked by what we know about
these people and their sordid efforts to stop
Jonathan and betray their own party.
“The truth is that the NWC has to go and I add
my voice to that of Govs. Aliyu Babaginda, Sule
Lamido, Ayodele Fayose and that of so many
other people,” he said.
He added that there was need for a change at
the top if the PDP was serious about forging
party unity.
“This is critical to restoring its fortunes,
redeeming it and winning the election in 2019.’’
Mr. Fani-Kayode, who described the APC media
machine as awesome, maintained that for the
first time since the establishment of APC, they
were put on the defensive by the PDP
presidential campaign organisation.
He, however, added that the PDP “must remain
free of acrimony, united and focused”, saying
the party must “throw out the bad eggs in the
NWC”.
“In order to survive over the next four years as
a party, we must make the necessary changes
at the top; otherwise we will be utterly
decimated.
“The present leadership of the party,
particularly its information organ, has no
chance of standing against an APC Federal
Government because they are weak and lack
understanding and courage.
“They will be savaged beyond belief and torn
apart if they try it because they do not have the
stomach, the grit, the appetite or the
wherewithal for a long drawn fight”, he said.
He held that instead of preparing to defend the
party faithful and fortunes of its members over
the next four years, they were making
allegations and alienating many party leaders.
(NAN)

Source:www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/183309-jonathan-wouldve-suffered-worse-defeat-if-we-didnt-help-fani-kayode.html

IF you do not remember Alhaji Abduljelili
Adesiyan, we would not hold it against you. As
introductions go, he is the Minister of Police
Affairs. His most remarkable action in office
could be a promise he made to Nigerians in
April 2014. It had nothing to do with improving
the police.
Adesiyan complained about the burden of the
office of a Minister of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. Barely weeks in office, he regretted
that his ministerial position stood between him
and something that would have delighted him:
a public brawl. Adesiyan, then one of the
President’s newest Ministers promised the first
civilian Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka
Adeleke, a fight once he leaves office.
Like all serving Ministers, Adesiyan would leave
office by 28 May, so the brawl could be any
date from then.
If like us, you thought it was scandalous for a
Minister to rely on physical combat to settle
disputes, actually an intra-party dispute,
Adesiyan was vehement in his disposition. We
do not want to speculate about how the
Minister uses the police, if he was ready for
physical combat. Adesiyan and Senator Adeleke
disagreed during a stakeholders meeting of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osogbo. The
meeting was part of the PDP state primaries
for the Osun governorship election.
The Minister told the media that Adeleke and
his supporters frustrated him at the event. “If I
had not been a Minister I would have beaten
Adeleke to pulp on that day,” Adesiyan stated.
The main cause of their disputation was control
of PDP in Osun State.
Adeleke’s departure to the All Progressives
Congress, APC, and Adesiyan’s ministerial toga
only postponed the duel.
“I will one day leave office as a Minister of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria and any time I
leave office, I will fight Adeleke,” Adesiyan
said, in a statement his media aide issued.
Those who expected him to deny it are still
waiting, more than a year after.
Nobody should threaten another, definitely a
public office holder is not supposed to threaten
another person. Threat, on its own, is a
criminal offence.
When he finally discards the burden of his
ministerial position, we are waiting for the next
move from Adesiyan. Will he seek out Adeleke
for the promised fight? Would sobriety
intervene? What would the Minister do?
In the likely event that he does not keep his
promise to “fight Adeleke”, he owes the public
an apology for public nuisance.

Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/will-adesiyan-keep-his-promise/

mightycrown1:
documented fact no, experience fact yes

then ur argument is invalid. How many Edo girls were sampled during this research of yours? Are u not making a statistical error by judging a population through a limited sample? Are u telling me there is any tribe or state that ain't got nymphomaniacs?

mightycrown1:
WHY WONT YOU OR TO SAY THE TRUTH HAS BECOME A CRIME

Truth? Do u have facts to back ur claims that Edo girls are nymphomaniacs?

Proudly Edo..... We blaze the trail

mightycrown1:
WHY U WANT TO DIE NA OR HAVE I NOT SAID THE TRUTH? ANYWAY, TELL YOUR LADIES TO HANDLE MEN WITH CARE OK

mmmm. Read proverbs 24:6 and you will understand why I won't reply you. Will just advice you to stop being a fool

mightycrown1:
. IT IS NOT FUNNY BUT IT IS FUNNY. IF YOUR MADAM NO BE CALABAR SHE MUST BE EDO. THESE PEOPLE GO QUOTE ME DIE TODAY

And u, must be a fool to say this. I wonder where u keep ur brain

Benefit of pre-marital sex. To you all saying sex b4 marriage is a no no, shey u see just one of d advantage of it? Another will be the lady complaining of too much sex. Another will be D lady complaining of the guy's kini being too big or too small. Would all these exist if both products are vigorously sampled b4 marriage? If products are sampled and for one reason or d other doesn't meet the desired requirements, folks can move on b4 there is too much commitment like this one.

Really? What about 2Face Idibia's ascension? dailypost.ng/2014/08/01/2face-idibias-album-ascension-makes-billboard-list/ or is 2face no longer a Nigerian?

komek:
Bros, I no fit argue sha, but do u realise Delta comprises of Delta North, Central and South. For the fact that u saw something like that in a particulare LG does not make it a Delta thing. Sir, when I say Edo, I mean everything that make up that state. A state where old men are in one confra or the other. Children are not left out. Show me any big name in Edo state who is not associated with a confra. I guess u r limiting ur Edo state to Benin. Oga, u don go Uromi, Ekpoma, Auchi, Afuze etc. Bros, even the wretched ones are members of confraternities in this state. I may not want to start telling u my ordeal in Edo state. Let's just leave it at that. Anything anyone believes in, let him continue untill the last day.

Now, lemme tell u. I was born and brought up in Edo north(Auchi area). Schooled in Edo central (Benin area). Won't argue that there are cults in Auchi, Benin and Ekpoma but can u tell me any campus community in Nigeria that is free from this malaise? Also pls which institution of higher learning Is in Sapele, Agbarho, Ekakpamre, Ughelli and Ekpan?

ismokeweed:
I stayed at ekosodin 2003 to 2004. Omo apartments down edo street. Stayed at adolor, osasogie, bdpa. The fact that it never affected you doesn't mean the thing isn't getting out of hand. It's worse than you know. You simply don't see anything wrong again because it's now normal level. Kabaka's akugbe boys have smashed windscreen of a bus I boarded. I was at akpakpava the day Kabaka controlled his brother Capuepue to drill Edes since they are both eiye and Edes died. I've stayed in many cities so I'm being objective here. Don't try to coat it. This town needs major changes.

We all speak from personal experience.... Since I didn't have any clash with em, I will maintain the issue is overrated

tellwisdom:
Who's your son??

just an expression.... God forbid I have ur type for a son.

komek:
Bros, the places u mentioned are my terrain. I can tell of what is happening in those states as regards game. Edo is still ahead. Most game men in our higher institutions of learning are from Edo state. Delta, Rivers;yes, Edo still leads.

I beg to disagree sir! I've been in Edo for most of my life but have never saw cultism in such large scale as I saw in Delta

ismokeweed:
What is wrong is wrong. But for those of you condemning, this issue goes beyond condemnation. You were born and bred in an area where you only see these things in university. And even there the confra men hide. You don't know how lucky you are. I am full Edo. If you grew here, you will understand. Boys are initiated in jss2 here. It's everywhere around us. The elder ones are part of it. The police are. Our lawmakers are. Our governor shares money to confra especially during election. Ayes bam boys by force at college of education, ekiadolor. I saw this live when I went for matric there. I schooled at uniben and ekpoma. My eye no fit talk wetin I see. Far back as 2001, secondary school confra like evil men and peace men in ICC, edo college, Niger college were killing. It takes a certain grace to grow in certain areas in benin and shun this thing. Even doing business in certain areas. Bus driver must bam to avoid steady oppression from agbero and fellow drivers. Who is selling cloth at forestry, same thing. In many areas, the height of insult is ju, civilian, hs. So imagine a young boy finally bamming. The pride he feels. That is how bad it is. So this condemnation is uncalled for. As you have peace where you are, appreciate it. Here is steady war zone. At almost every given time, there is war at a zone in benin and entire edo state. When oshiomhole empowered thugs like kabaka, no molest, who are cultists, what do you expect?

Is asking u to be an ambassador of ur state too much to ask? How many times have u been intimidated by Kabaka? I'm an Edo born and bred and things really ain't as bad as u are painting em. If u've really been to Uniben or even stay in Benin, u would have heard of Ekosodin and it's fabled notoriety. Well guess what? I stayed there all through my undergraduate days and if things really are as u say, coulda been an easy prey for molestation(was just 18 and looked 16) but no one molested me all through my stay there. Truth is, things ain't as bad as u people paint it to be

tellwisdom:
My guy, where you belong??... I be aye. U nko?.

son, there's no gain in foolishness

tellwisdom:
I said it, y'all binis are cultist. You people know everything happening in the secret society...My guy, hand go touch you soon

this boy, will u go and return that phone? Daddy will soon be back from church.... Can u make bold to say none of ur immediate or extended family member belongs to a fraternity? Why can't u just surprise me for once and act with wisdom?

komek:
I guess he should have said a high percentage of people who leave in Edo state are cult members, atleast that would not have covered everybody.

But hey bro, the level of confraternity in Edo state cannot be seen elsewhere in the world.

Cultism ain't only an Edo problem. It has eaten deeply into d very fabric of the Nigerian society. As for d level of confraternity in Edo, have u been to Delta? I went to a village there for a wedding and even secondary school students were in the system... Saw a whole family of cultists. Doubt me? Pls go to Ekpan secondary school, Abraka, and many of their towns. What about cultism in Rivers? Bro, it ain't just Edo

Whizpeter:
Me leave you ke... No let people hear am ooo

Baba, people don hear am already

Whizpeter:
Yeah... True... M great... U?

ya boi just dey as u leave am o

Nellizzy:
everybody for Benin na cultist

Can't u just use ur brain to think b4 talking? Brain is not dere just for decoration. Next time, use it and stop showcasing ur foolishness

Whizpeter:
Lemme jejely siddon close to handie as we journey to FP

Whizo how far na? It's been awhile o

Barely two weeks before the end of President
Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, aides and heads of
agencies in his administration, have intensified
lobbying to ensure that they retain their jobs.
This is just as some of his close friends have
also been fraternising with those in the inner
circles of the President-elect, Gen
Muhammadu Buhari to be appointed when he
takes up the reins.
LEADERSHIP Sunday’s investigations confirm
Jonathan’s lamentation recently that he had
been deserted by his friends since he lost his
second term bid in the March 28 presidential
election. Jonathan had at a thanksgiving and
farewell service in his honour at the Cathedral
Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa,
Abuja, said his decision to concede defeat at
the election did not go down well with some of
his ministers and aides but added that he
expected more of his friends to leave him and
that he was ready to pay the price for his
refusal to interfere with the electoral process.
Top among the lobbyists are people from the
president’s region, the Niger-Delta, many of
whom investigations revealed, have been on a
spending spree, dishing out millions to those
who have assured them that a case would be
made for them to retain their jobs.
A source familiar with the development told
LEADERSHIP Sunday that senior management
of the board of the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC), some of who heavily
funded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
campaigns in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states
where they hail from, are among those who
have been working assiduously to ensure that
they retain their positions, as well as the
special adviser to president Jonathan on Niger-
Delta, Kingsley Kuku.
Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reacting to
the development in a telephone chat
yesterday, said though he was not aware of the
development, it would amount to nought.
He said those engaged in such covert moves
were only wasting their time and money as
their lobbying would be of no import when the
party would consider those to be appointed
into various positions.
Head of corporate affairs of the NDDC, Ibitoye
Abosade, however declined comment when he
was contacted by our correspondent on the
involvement of the NDDC top echelon in the
lobbying attempts.
According to him, “this is weekend; it is private
to me and during weekends, I don’t comment
on official matters. Please, call me on Monday.”
Jonathan appointed the NDDC executive in
2013 December for a tenure of four years but
the president has the power to terminate the
management/board.
LEADERSHIP Sunday’s source said for two
weeks, three senior management staff of the
NDDC, the managing-director, Barr Bassey
Dan-Abia, Executive Director, finance and
administration, Dr Henry Ogiri and executive
director, projects, Engr Omatsuli Tuoyo, had
been camped at a popular five star hotel in
Maitama, Abuja, from where they were
spending heavily to lobby top APC leaders in
order for them to serve out their tenure.
The trio it was gathered had reached out to a
young but high ranking official of the APC who
is also from the Niger-Delta region, who was
serving as the link between them and the party
hierarchy and huge sums of money, had so far
been spent on the lobbying spree.
The source however said a governor of one of
the states in the region was vehemently
opposed to the NDDC management team
remaining in office after Buhari takes over,
following the role one of them played in the
Rivers governorship election, especially being a
key figure behind the Rivers governor-elect,
Nyesom Wike.
For Kuku, our source said his pre-occupation
has been to remain as chairman of the
Amnesty Programme, even though he had
denied earlier allegations that he supported
the APC presidential campaign financially.
Kuku who is a close ally of President Jonathan
and who reportedly facilitated a meeting of ex-
militants in Bayelsa state where they resolved
to go to war if Jonathan was not re-elected as
president, is now relying on his renewed links
with the former governor of Bayelsa state,
Chief Timipre Sylva and former secretary to
the government of the federation, Alhaji
Yayale Ahmed to reach out to the president-
elect in order to retain his job.
Before the elections, Kuku while speaking as
guest speaker at the annual lecture of the
Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State
chapter, challenged Buhari not to evade
debates as he had done in previous elections
and that Buhari’s claims of the knowledge of
how to fix the economy were not based on any
realistic idea but on wishful thinking.
Shortly after the election, following allegations,
Kuku in an interview with reporters denied
contributing funds to the APC presidential
campaign and challenged those circulating the
falsehood to show proof that he contributed
money to the APC, adding that that he could
not have given money to APC considering how
deeply involved he was with his party, the PDP
“and our dear leader, President Goodluck
Jonathan, during all elections.”
Similarly, after the presidential election,
following calls on some Nigerians and groups
on the president-elect, to scrap the amnesty
programme, Kuku had said he would rather
resign as head of the programme and leave
with Jonathan than work with Buhari.
Head of Media and Communication in the
Presidential Amnesty Office, Dan Alabrah, had
in a statement at the time, quoted Kuku as
saying that he would be returning to his village
in Ondo rather than serving under the new
government.
“The chairman wishes to disappoint the plotters
as he is not interested in continuing in that
office, more so as his boss, President Jonathan,
is leaving office on May 29, 2015. As the
President is returning to Otuoke in Bayelsa
State, Kuku is also going back to Arogbo, his
Ijaw community in Ondo State,” the statement
read in part.
He was later to recant in another statement by
Alabrah, saying his earlier statement does not
translate to him rejecting a call to national
service under a new administration as being
insinuated, saying he was ready to work with
Buhari and to serve the country in whatever
capacity he is deemed fit whenever he is called
upon.
He recanted his earlier position the same day a
Niger-Delta group, The Buckingham Palace of
which he is grand patron, called on the
president-elect to retain him (Kuku) as the
Amnesty boss but this always been countered
by other Niger-Delta youth leaders, especially
Chiefs Ayiri Emami and Michael Johnny.
A villa source said Jonathan was aware of the
clandestine move by his once trusted ally.
“The unfortunate thing about politics is that the
man you trusted so much is the most
untruthful; can you imagine that Kuku of all
people is the man lobbying to remain as
Amnesty chairman after all the atrocities in
that programme; after how he threatened us
with all kinds of things that the ex-militants
would go to war if Jonathan lost.
“I can tell you today that the man is one of the
men whose lobby has attracted attention in the
APC; he has reached out to so many leaders,
saying all sorts of things that without him, the
peace in the Niger-Delta would relapse and
crisis will come again.
“we know how he has generated series of
controversies around himself just to attract
attention and pity from among us but we know
his antics; such persons are dangerous and
should be dealt with in a most careful and
discreet manner; no one can trust him, there
are other eminently qualified Niger Delta
youths who understand the APC’s ideology that
can run the Amnesty programme, not Kuku
again.
“For the NDDC trio, it is no longer news as we
are all watching because the money being
thrown around by these men cannot sway those
with good conscience; they know they cannot
even reach the president-elect to tell him
these but people are just getting their money,
deceiving them that they are lobbying APC
leaders on their behalf.
“Is it not ridiculous that for almost two weeks,
the three NDDC directors have not gone to
Port Harcourt? They are spending the people’s
money to lobby their retention in office but
they will be exposed,” the source said.

Source:leadership.ng/news/433758/jonathans-associates-lobby-to-retain-jobs

There were indications on Saturday that the
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and
his newly-wedded wife, Iara, have postponed
their much expected honeymoon till June.
Governor Oshiomhole had on Friday married
former Miss Iara Fortes, an ex-model from
Cape Verde, at a marriage ceremony witnessed
by a large turnout of dignitaries from various
sectors of the country and he was expected to
proceed on a honeymoon with the new First
Lady.
But it was gathered that the couple had placed
their honeymoon on hold in order to attend
the inauguration ceremony of the President-
elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
scheduled for May 29 in Abuja.
Informed sources disclosed to SUNDAY PUNCH
that the new couple might have their
honeymoon in Dubai in the United Arab
Emirates.
The source said, “They are still in Nigeria. They
will go for their honeymoon maybe in June.”

Source: www.punchng.com/news/oshiomhole-wife-shift-honeymoon/

amakaobiemeka:
not untill gmb releases his official list, all these are propaganda to sell paper. Imagine putting kwankwaso in the list, same kwankwaso that would be in senate, how will he even serve

Bala Mohamed was also a senator b4 GEJ appointed him. Any wise person will prefer d minister of FCT position to a senatorial seat. D minister of FCT is like a governor..... Thinking that will be his portfolio IF he really is among the people to be appointed