₦airaland Forum

Source: http://saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5196-missing-president-six-man-ministerial-team-to-go-in-search-of-yaradua-in-saudi-arabia.html

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) headed by “Acting President” Goodluck Jonathan, ended its weekly meeting today with a "resolution" to send a six-man team composed mainly of ministers to look for Umaru Yar’Adua, Nigeria’s sickly leader who was evacuated to Saudi Arabia in a medical emergency on November 23 2009. Nobody in the government has set eyes on him since then The delegation will be led by Yar’Adua’s crony, Abba Sayyad Ruma, who is the Minister of Agriculture; Rilwan Lukman, Minister of Petroleum Resources;Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, Minister of Health; Adetokunbo Kayode, Attorney General and Minister of Justice; Ojo Madueke, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Ahmed Yayale, the Secretary to the Federal Government.

Sources at today's meeting told Saharareporters that it was stormy, as some ministers wanted the FEC to declare YAr’adua incapacitated outright. They were met head-on by Yar'Adua loyalists who forced the meeting to adopt the resolution that would enable the team visit Jeddah to ascertain Yar’Adua’s condition and revert to the full FEC.

An after-session briefing by Dora Akunyili, the Minister of Information who lit a fire under the cabinet two weeks ago by introducing a memo challenging its position on the ailing leader, did not offer much, but she described the FEC as being the “closest” [institution] to Yar’Adua, which should be able to visit him in person.

This seems to be an allusion to the several delegations, including those of the Senate, the House of Representatives, Governors, that have made futile visits to Saudi Arabia. It is unclear how the delegation will succeed in meeting Yar'Adua face to face, but the FEC also resolved to send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia Kingdom.

Said a political analyst today, "The FEC is playing an extended game, like the Nigeria Football Federation trying to hire top foreign coaches without getting in touch with them directly. This so-called resolution does not offer a sense of urgency, or seriousness or of protocol. If it had a sense of urgency, the delegation would be leaving tonight. If it had a sense of seriousness, this move would have been made before now, and certainly no later than last week. If it had a sense of protocol, the letter to the King would have been sent before the FEC announced the card it intends to play. This has all the makings of ritual, but also of potential embarrassment."



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Source: http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/1464-obasanjo-keeps-mum-on-jonathan.html


Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday, shunned reporters’ questions on his advice for the acting president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The former president, who led governors from the South West to the 62nd birthday celebration of the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, in Ibadan, also refused to comment on the celebrant and on what the acting president should do.

He only responded to the question asking him to say something about Agagu, saying in Yoruba “O kan mi ku.” and walked to his car.

“Agagu is one of the men created by God to serve His purpose on earth and he is doing just that. I pray to God to make me witness his 70th, 75th and 80th birthday. After that He may finish with me, the former President said.

The former governor who recalled his experience in the last one year, said he had learnt lessons about the capabilities and capacity of human beings, which he said surpassed what he learnt in his earlier 61years on earth.

“I have learnt more about how wicked and shameless, man even in high places, can be. I have learnt more about how people’s morals and trust can sink in the quest for power.

“I have been haunted, harassed and blackmailed all year, but to the glory of God I have grown even taller through God’s grace and the incredible love and support I received from a number of my friends,” he declared.

Culled from http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/1462-us-simplifies-visa-application-process-with-new-online-form.html

The United States Mission in Nigeria announced on Tuesday that by March 1, this year anyone applying for a U.S. non-immigrant visa would need to use a new online process to submit visa applications via the Internet.

A press statement obtained by the Nigerian Tribune from the Public Affairs section of the U.S, Consulate General Office, Broad street Lagos , stated hat Visa applicants in Abuja and Lagos will now access the Consular Electronic Application Center website (https://ceac.state.gov/GENNIV ) to complete a new application form called the DS-160.

The release added that DS-160 is an interactive online form that replaced all past application forms.

It further explained that the DS-160 will eliminate the need for paper application forms because visa applicants will be required to submit the application electronically.

“With the DS-160, applicants will print just a confirmation sheet to bring to their interviews. Currently, applicants complete their forms online but must print them out before their interviews.” said the release.

Meanwhile, the Consular Coordinator for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria , Richard Walsh,has reminded applicants that providing accurate and complete information on the DS-160 application before submitting it is essential.

“Incorrect or missing information will cause a delay in completing your interview,” he explained. “Applicants should save an electronic copy of their DS-160 application in case changes are necessary.”

He further disclosed the U.S. government was introducing this new application worldwide as part of a larger effort to use new technologies to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the visa application process. Over the past two years, select U.S. embassies have been using the DS-160 on a test basis. It is now being deployed at U.S. visa sections worldwide, including both Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria.

He stressed that the requirement to use the DS-160 applies only to non-immigrant visa applicants, highlighting that persons applying for immigrant or fiancé visas should continue to use the existing application process.

The U.S. Embassy however emphasised that only the visa form and the way applicants submit it had changed. Eligibility and documentary requirements for all visas remain unchanged. Applicants must still demonstrate that they are qualified for a visa under U.S. immigration law.

Culled from Daily Tribune of 17/02/2010

THE North appears to have moved beyond the era of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, following fresh moves within the geopolitical zone to present a vice-presidential material to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan any moment from now.
Two main groups have emerged in the bid, in what a source said was another attempt to ensure that the North fielded its first 11 for the presidency in 2011.

It was gathered on Tuesday that one of the groups had concluded arrangements to ensure the emergence of a “Young Turk,” first to the seat of the vice-president and then for the presidential seat in 2011.

Sources said that the group pushing for the emergence of a young Turk had conducted studies and arrived at the conclusion that the time was ripe for the North to be represented by young and vibrant candidates at the presidency.

The group pushing for the emergence of a young Turk had, therefore, shortlisted the trio of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, a former Minister of the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai and former governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

Another source said that the name of former governor of Jigawa and Kano states, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, are also on the list.

A source said that some leaders of the North were already seeking the right time to present proposals to the acting president on the need to move forward and appoint one of the preferred candidates as his deputy.

It was gathered that the group would then back the emergence of the vice-presidential material as presidential candidate in 2011.

It was further gathered that another group seeking the emergence of experienced hands in the presidency had decided to push forward former intelligence chief, General Aliyu Gusau.

General Gusau contested the 2007 presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which produced President Yar’Adua.

The group pushing for experience above youth, according to sources, was of the view that the Jonathan presidency needed a strong character as vice-president, somebody who could rally the North behind the acting president.

Those pushing General Gusau’s candidacy are said to be hammering on the fact that the man has experience in the security circles.

The group is said to have insisted that Gusau’s knowledge of the security networks could be invaluable in a Jonathan presidency.

But a position paper put together by the group, bent on presenting a young Turk first as a vice-presidential material and then as a presidential candidate in 2011 insisted that only the young and upwardly mobile professionals from the North possess the abilities to lift Nigeria to greater heights.

The group insisted that Yar’Adua had not been a fair representation of the North.

“We believe that Yar’Adua was not a fair representation of what the North has to offer. The belief is that Yar’Adua missed the opportunities and wasted chances to move Nigeria forward,” the group submitted.

A source further said “we are thoroughly disappointed and embarrassed by the Yar’Adua presidency, there are arguments in support of a younger generation to produce the next president. The North has more than 80 million people, many of whom are well educated, tried and tested in various public offices. Why must we recycle the same old cargoes over and over again?”

While justifying the need to draft the young generation from the North into the presidency, the group further declared that while Ribadu made impact in the fight against corruption, Mu’azu developed Bauchi State and el-Rufai made notable efforts when he served as minister of the FCT.

The group further submitted that apart from the trio’s record of achievements when they served in public offices, they also possessed links with the international community.

The group kicked against the possibility of any of the in-laws of President Yar’Adua to make the presidency.

The group, in its position paper, said “the person must be of the right age,” while performance in office should be a key determinant as to who emerged.

“el-Rufai is known to have strong contacts in the international community. We note that Nigeria’s important diplomatic partners are now wary of having persons of unknown pedigree to become president of the country, following the misadventure of Yar’Adua,” the group said.

Source: Daily Sun
17/02/2010

Whoever emerges as the Super Eagles’ technical adviser will be given a benchmark of winning the World Cup for Nigeria in South Africa, NFF President, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi has stated. Speaking with Daily Sunsport in Abuja on Sunday, Lulu, who is expected to lead the panel that will interview coaches for the Super Eagles’ job said that all those scrambling for the Eagles’ top job must be ready to deliver the World Cup in South Africa in July this year.

According to the NFF boss, the target has to be high and only the man who promises to get us the trophy and live up to it would be considered for the job adding that he had learnt his lesson with the two Nations Cup he had executed as NFF president. He said that he had to raise the stake for the highest bidder.
“Coaches who are scrambling for the job for the money or to boast their CV as World Cup coaches should steer clear because I must get solid assurance from any one that gets the job that we shall get far at the mundial. The era of riding on our back to stardom is past it is time to develop football in Nigeria.

“As the head of the panelists that will interview the coaches, I will demand for a concrete programme that points to the progress of Eagles at the World Cup. I learnt a lot from the mistakes of managing Berti Vogts and Amodu Shaibu in the past and I do not want a repeat of that. So the new coach must be ready to work his arse off or we kick him out,” he stated

Aside Lulu, who heads the committee, there are also Taiwo Ogunjobi, James Peters, Dominic Iorfa, Dr Tijjani Yusuf, Adegboye Onigbinde, representatives of PTF and the National Sports Commission (NSC), most likely to be Chief Segun Odegbami and Chief Patrick Ekeji respectively.
The NFF president, who confirmed that he would as the head of football in the country, preside over the interview of coaches, stated that the invitation of six or more coaches for the interview was to convince Nigerians that they want the best for the country.

He said that coaches like Hassan Shehata of Egypt and Guus Hiddink have ruled themselves out of the job, and all those invited by the technical committee would be interviewed between February 25 and 26 in Abuja, and not London as being reported by the media.
“There is no way we shall interview coaches outside this country again. Any one who wants to work for Nigeria must come for the job interview here and must be ready to reside in the country and raise local talents for the future.

“The offer for now is to take us to the World Cup and possibly win the trophy for us and then we can come home from the World Cup to sign a fresh contract for four years. We just have to wait till after the World Cup to sign a long term contract with any coach we get now.
“I need a world-class coach with pedigree for performance and discipline to take us to the World Cup. I need to warn that we are looking at the dossier of all the coaches that have been invited and any one that has that record of indiscipline would be kept aside.

“Our players need to be handled with iron hand to get results. I want a coach who can look at our best player in the face and tell him to sit out of a match without the player grumbling. I want a coach who will make the fight for shirts very competitive with no player being sure of a position until on match day,” he stated.
Lulu disclosed that the federal government is heavily in support of the NFF’s decision to get a world-class coach for Eagles and that the coach will definitely be announced on February 28

SoThat neither the American diplomats nor Babangida disclosed the subject of the meeting compounded the gravity of the misstep. For one, it raised speculation that the US government wanted to signal its tacit support for Babangida’s run for the presidency in next year’s elections. At the very least, the parley suggested that Obama’s team regards the retired general as an instrument for solving Nigeria’s myriad, and deep, political crises.

Either goal represents a serious lapse in judgment on the part of the Obama administration.

It would appear that Babangida covets the Nigerian presidency. Four years ago, he and his cohorts orchestrated what was tagged Project 007, implying that the former military head of state considered himself a shoo-in as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s successor. Nigerians, for understandable reasons, were disquieted by the prospect of another IBB presidency. Many heaved a sigh of relief when Obasanjo, for reasons hard to fathom, foiled Babangida’s ambition.

There’s no question: Babangida is one of the most enigmatic figures to have emerged in Nigerian politics. I have always found the man intriguing, but in a sad, even tragic sort of way. In 1986, on the first anniversary of the man’s rule, I wrote a column in the (now defunct) African Guardian in which I likened Babangida’s political style to the dribbling wizardry of Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona. That name, Maradona, stuck on Babangida and has become one of his more famous monikers. Evil genius, I understand, is a tag Babangida adopted. My argument, in baptizing IBB with Maradona in 1986, was that, while the soccer player dribbles in order to create scoring opportunities, Babangida dribbled as an end in itself. There was little or no sense of purpose to his statecraft.

In 1993, Babangida lost power in one of his costly, purposeless gambles. His annulment of the June 12 election, an act of supreme perfidy, precipitated his own political downfall. In characteristic fashion, he euphemized his fall from power as a decision to “step aside.”

Babangida introduced a structural adjustment program (SAP). The economy policy, as the propaganda went, was meant to endow Nigerians with the benefits of a free market economy. When Nigerians complained that the ostensible gains were elusive, Babangida counseled patience. But he and his cohorts were far from willing to be patient. As SAP sapped Nigeria’s poor and widened the blanket of misery, Babangida and his closest friends acquired mansions, private jets, and fat bank accounts. When he was done, IBB boasted a 50-room mansion and dizzying wealth.

Such a man has no business seeking to return to his country’s seat of power. Some of his acolytes have said that Babangida’s mission is to correct the mistakes he made the first time. Remediation is a nice concept, but he need not become president to make amends.

One hopes that the Obama who went to Accra and spoke eloquently about Nigeria’s leadership crisis has not permitted himself to be led into the contradiction of prescribing IBB as the answer. Or even as a factor in finding the answer to Nigeria’s quagmire.

Obama must guard against the Bill Clinton error. Even though former President Clinton is popular in Nigeria, many Nigerians are still appalled by his bizarre statement, in the heydays of Sani Abacha’s self-succession plan, that the US was open to recognizing the bespectacled dictator if he won an election. That statement came at a time when any neophyte knew that Abacha didn’t plan to hold a credible election.

In making such a public show of coddling Babangida, the Obama administration risked being perceived as wishing to forestall the ongoing mobilization of a progressive force to serve as a viable alternative to the grubby, visionless elements who have steered Nigeria to perilous waters.

If Washington doesn’t want to see a cataclysm befall Nigeria, with horrible consequences for Nigerians and the international community, then it must rethink its seeming courtship of the Babangidas of Nigeria.


Jonathan’s burden
After the disingenuous maneuver that made him “acting president,” Goodluck Jonathan appears in danger of wasting his opportunity to lead – and also wasting Nigerians’ time.

Since his investiture, Jonathan’s calendar has been taken up with courtesy visits by former heads of state as well various delegations, including so-called traditional rulers.

One hopes that he understands the gravity of the burden he must discharge, if he is to be worth his hire. If he fancies that he and Nigerians have time for some ceremonial interlude, then he hardly grasps the depths of Nigeria’s desperation.

Jonathan had better make a polite but firm statement asking those who wish to pay a visit to hold off. He ought to tell the horde of professional well-wishers that he has a job to do for long-suffering Nigerians, and that he needs to get to it with alacrity.

Nigerians did not agitate all over the world these past two months against Umaru Yar’Adua’s facile idea of offshore governance so that Jonathan could take over and host an endless stream of “royal fathers” pledging their loyalty and support. No, Nigerians wanted somebody to take up the full-time job of fixing their rutted roads, improving power supply, solving the problem of fuel shortage, combating sectarian violence and its concomitant high casualty, and sending bills to the National Assembly to address a plethora of issues, from electoral reform through job creation to adequate funding for education and health.

Nigerians know as much as Jonathan that the hangers-on who profited from Yar’Adua’s moribund “presidency” do not wish him well. They are, it is safe to assume, regrouping even now to torpedo his “acting presidency.” But Jonathan’s handlers must tell him that the way to silence these foes is not by looking over his shoulder or even by garnering a long register of big-name supporters. His safest bet is to set to roll up his sleeves and apply himself to the task of working to change the lot of the generality of Nigerians.

In doing so, he must recognize his own limitations. One, he doesn’t have a lot of time; better, then, to get cracking immediately. Two, it’s unrealistic, even counterproductive, to take on a long menu of challenges at once. He should focus on a few critical sectors that are likely to have widespread impact. His wife’s arrests several years ago on corruption charges are already serious deficits. He should both rein in his wife’s materialistic impulses and steer clear of any impeachable conduct himself.

Above all, Jonathan ought to take a hard, honest look at himself. If he doesn’t have the mettle to work for Nigerians, he should avert a looming personal and national disaster by relinquishing the crown of “acting president.”


Murder most foul
Horror, that’s the word that came to mind as I watched Al Jazeera’s video documentation of Nigerian soldiers and police executing innocent civilians last year in the name of fighting Boko Haram. Last July and August, hundreds of Nigerians died in a fierce battle between the militant group, which denounced all western influences as corrupting, and Nigerian government forces. But Al Jazeera’s videos show soldiers and police sweeping through charred and still smoldering cities to arbitrarily round up targets. These “suspects,” some of them deformed men on crutches, were then ordered to lie face down and shot at close range.

Those who made a gruesome sport of killing their fellows should be identified and prosecuted. Any nation that would treat its citizens as if they were lower than cattle sows the seeds of its own destruction. Those who excuse the bestial extra-judicial execution on the grounds that the victims were rabid Boko Haram attack dogs are off the mark. For one, the soldiers and police had no way of proving who was Boko Haram or who wasn’t. Besides, a state that authorizes summary execution has cast itself as a jungle, not a community of humans. At any rate, if Nigeria must adopt executions without trial, why not start with the politicians whose mindless looting creates hopelessness and fertilizes groups like Boko Haram?
urce: http://www.saharareporters.com/okey-ndibe/5180-is-obama-romancing-babangida.html

Last Wednesday, February 10, the Barack Obama administration made a move that’s likely to hurt its credibility among Nigerians. Johnnie Carson, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Robin Sanders, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, traveled to Minna to confer with former Nigerian dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, at his hilltop mansion. That visit was, I suggest, a serious diplomatic gaffe – and one unworthy of the Obama administration.

[quote author=hatch# link=topic=398807.msg5522191#msg5522191 date=1266309975]Why are sahara reporters such delusional freaks, always cooking up one sensational caption or the other.I think its about time these freaks start to think before they publish there so called dum.b behind headlines to the general public [/quote], its not only saharareporter thats carrying this news, it was on ThisDay of yesterday

Jonathan: Senator Alleges Death Threat
From Sufuyan Ojeifo in Abuja, 02.15.2010

Chairman of the National Interest Group (NIG) in the Senate, Senator Bala Mohammed (ANPP, Bauchi South), has alleged that his life is under threat by unknown persons.

He claimed that the threat was not unconnected with the role he played in galvanising his colleagues in pushing through the historic resolution by the Senate empowering Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

Mohammed, according to a report, which circulated in Abuja yesterday, confirmed the threats, saying: “The threats are not by text messages; they have been made through voice telephone calls.”

He said he had decided to keep a low profile and said he strongly believed that his life was in the hands of the Almighty God.
Mohammed said he suspected that those putting the threat calls to him were those opposed to his role in the NIG and his home political enemies in his state (Bauchi).

Reacting to the development, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Anthony Manzo said: “It is very unfortunate and we condemn all that.”

Manzo declared: “The Senate in all sincerity condemns death threats against people who express an opinion and it (threat) has no place in a democracy.”


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=166487

hmmmmmm!!!! thank God (what a relief) , two gone, ojo maduekwe next

Michael Aondoakaa
Rilwan Lukman
Ojo Maduekwe
Sayyad Abba Rumma
Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi
Adamu Aliero
Major General Sarki Muktar
Hajia Aishatu Dukku
Ambassador A. Kazaure Oguche
Musa Yaradua (Danger list)
Alhaji Aliyu Ikra Bilbis

UPDATED LIST:
Mr. Sanusi Lamido
Prof Maurice Iwu
Alhaji Yayale Ahmed

Source: http://www.pointblanknews.com/os2892.html


Petroleum Minister, Mr. Rilwan Lukman has resigned his appointment with immediate effect.

Lukman’s resignation is coming on the heels of report of a possible cabinet change by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

The reason for the resignation of the Petroleum Minister was not immediately known as at press time. But sources told Pointblanknews.com that Lukman’s decision may not be unconnected with his frosty relationship with the Acting President.

Vice President Jonathan had in December 2009 instructed Lukman, minister of state for petroleum resources; Odein Ajumogobia and others to cancel any travel plans for the holiday to enable them find a solution to the lingering fuel crisis rocking the entire country.

But Lukman ignored the directive from the then Vice President and left for Vienna on a British Airways flight from Abuja.

He is said to be one of those die-hard Yar’Adua loyalist who have vowed not to work under the Acting Presidency of Jonathan

0hsisi:
He has to be careful o
He weighs 38 Kg
he wears a white parachute always
they should be careful when he goes outside especially on a windy day,he may just take off and sail away with the wind.
Turai abi Turaya should watch out for her man

@ ohsisi



laugh wan kill me here, o LMAOF

Source: http://www.saharareporters.com/letters/your-letters/5175-re-jonathan-govs-in-secret-deal-we-stand-by-our-story--saturday-punch.html

On Monday, 15th February 2010, SATURDAY PUNCH received a statement from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum alleging that the lead story of the February 13, edition of Saturday Punch, "Jonathan, Governors in Secret Deal," was, in the words of the signee of the statement, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, "misleading and mischievous".
The Forum’s lengthy attempt to deny the story hardly addressed the issues. For example, the statement was silent on the most salient and previously unpublished part of our story: that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors reached an understanding to dissolve the federal cabinet and to have the governors nominate new ministers.

Rather, the Forum devoted the entire length of its denial to another vital term of the deal: the understanding reached by both parties that funds from the Excess Crude Account should be released immediately by the Acting President after his empowerment.

This term of the deal, which was only mentioned in passing in the SATURDAY PUNCH story, had been extensively reported by its sister publication, PUNCH, and at least one other national newspapers on Tuesday.


We find it curious that the Forum did not even make a feeble attempt in the statement, not even with a sentence, to debunk the kernel of our story that it had reached a deal with the acting president to put forward new ministers.

The rebuttal stresses that altruism and pressure from opinion leaders, elder statesmen and activists necessitated its emergency meeting of the 4th of February, where it resolved that the National Assembly should be urged to pass a resolution empowering the Vice President as Acting President

For the benefit of our readers and the protection of our hard earned reputation as Nigeria’s foremost newspaper, we shall stress the salient facts whose omission rob this incomplete sentence of much needed context. One, the governors only acted 73 clear days after President Umaru Yar’Adua’s sudden departure from the country. Two, they did so 73 days after the ensuing vacuum had thrown the country into a needless crisis. And three, their intervention only came a few days after the Forum had insisted, as it had done for long, that there was no vacuum despite the ailing president’s lengthy absence.

Again, while it may indeed be true that funds in Excess Crude Account (ECA) belongs to the three tiers of Government, it is untrue that "states would have no special benefits or interests in requesting that funds in the ECA be disbursed since the three tiers of government benefit collectively from such disbursements."

The governor’s claim flies in the face of Nigeria ’s prevailing political reality, where state governments have, in the past, frequently diverted allocation meant for local governments. The most recent example is that of a Local Government Chairman in a South Western state who claimed that the state government deducted over 50 per cent (N48.1m) of his council’s allocation (N85) from its November 2009 allocation from the Federation Account.

Neither SATURDAY PUNCH, nor any of its sister publications, took a wrong step in the coverage of the unfortunate events of the past days. We stand by our story.



Comments (3)
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Bil Bis said:
,
Punch should not take those liars serious. Men who call themselves "excellency" lying for over 70 days with no shame. Tufiakwa!. Forumites: never again shall we say we have Statesmen in Nigeria except in the mould of Wole, Bakare, Falana, Ebitu, Akinrinade, Gowon, Nnamani Ken, and a few others.
Imo people must remove that Ohakim from desecrating their govt house with blood. Abia people: time to remove Theo Orji, Orji Uzo and Eunice Uzo from stranglehold on Abians and merciless looting. 2011 is the time to shove them all out!

February 15, 2010

JIMMY IWEALA said:
,
THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER, AS A RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE ENTITY, YOU NEED NOT RESPOND TO BUKOLA SARAKI. IF HE IS INTELLIGENT, HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT HE CAME ONLINE TO MAKE MOCKERY OF HIMSELF. PLEASE LEAVE NIGERIANS TO DO THAT.
HE NEVER DEBUNKED THE FACT PUBLISHED, BUT GAVE MORE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT YOUR PUBLICATION
I WOULD HAVE BEEN MIFFED IF HE ATTACKED THE GUARDIAN OR THISDAY - GOVERNMENT PARASTATALS, BECAUSE THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER TO DERAIL NIGERIANS DEMOCRACY THAT IS MANAGED BY CROOKS
BUKOLA SARAKI SHAME ON YOU


February 15, 2010

Paradigm Shift said:
,
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!
Clap for yourself!!! tap tap tata tap taaap!!!!!

No matter wetiin una do, u no go fit stop the devil from executing his promises of demoralizing sons of Adam. So the weak will surely fall victim while the honest, generous, sincere and truthful will be free and made winners at the end of this crazy situation we find ourselves in. Them fit hide or try deny their evil deeds but what me and my fellow people that still have faith in Allah know is that GOD ALMIGHTY they watch every single thing wey dey happen underground including the ant-hills talkless of abuja mansions.

Culled from http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5174-yaradua-loyalists-threaten-to-killas-ministers-consider-invoking-section-144.html

The final bastion of resistance against new plans to declare Umaru Yar’Adua “incapacitated” under Section 144 of the constitution has been unveiled, with senior members of the government, including several members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the list. Saharareporters has found that those ministers, who held a major meeting at the weekend, include:
• Sayyad Abba Rumma, Minister for Agriculture,
• Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, the Chief Economic Adviser to Yar’Adua,;
• Adamu Aliero, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory;
• Major General Sarki Muktar, the National Security Adviser;
• Hajia Aishatu Dukku, Minister of State, Education;
• Ambassador A. Kazaure Oguche, the recently named minister for Labour; and
• Alhaji Aliyu Ikra Bilbis Minister of State, Information and Communication.
They werecoordinated by James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State. Conspicuously missing was Michael Aondoakaa, the arrogant former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who was re-assigned by Jonathan last Tuesday. He was sighted Dakar reportedly now on his way to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil trying to put some distance between him and his sudden fall from grace.

Saharareporters sources said the men and women met over the weekend at Adamu Aliero’s house and other safe houses provided by the National Security Adviser, to review strategies on how to combat the “Acting President” resolution by which Goodluck Jonathan became Acting President, and vowed to kill anyone who might make his presidency permanent over them.

The group was reportedly uncomfortable with reports that the members of the House of Representatives that visited Jeddah could not see Yar’Adua, which has been largely interpreted by the media to mean that Yar’Adua is in grave condition.

Our sources further revealed that even the delegation of governors that left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia last Wednesday on the same wild goose chase is on its way back to Nigeria, having failed to meet with Yar’Adua. Similarly, a top-level People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegation led by its chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, has also failed to meet with Yar’Adua. Sources said that Ogbulafor, who himself suffers from eye and heart issues has proceeded to India for medical treatment as well. His condition was partially responsible for his visit to Jeddah, because Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai had promised him financial support for his medical treatment.

The three governors in the delegation: Gabriel Suswam of Benue State; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State, who is Yar’Adua’s son-in-law, are expected to return to Nigeria today via London after four days of fruitlessly trying to see the ailing Yar’Adua.

The inability of the delegations of the PDP, Governors and the House of Representatives delegation to see Yar’Adua is confirming the terrible state of his health and making it imperative for the FEC to invoke Section 144 of the constitution. Should that happen, they will declare Yar’Adua incapacitated, thereby clearing the way for Jonathan to assume full responsibility as the “President” and complete Yar’Adua’s tenure.

It is this spectre that has the ‘affected’ cabinet ministers becoming desperate and vowing that rather than see Yar’Adua leave power, they will kill anyone proposing the measure. It is not clear how they plan to carry out their threats but we have earlier reported that they plan to ensure and extend a constitutional crisis that would lead to their so-called “military wing” taking-over power.

In an exclusive report last week, Saharareporters said the group has enlisted many lawyers to engage in legal challenges to the resolutions that gave Goodluck Jonathan the “Acting President” status, although it could not be immediately ascertained if they had a hand in the lawsuit filed by former lawmaker Farouk Aliyu Adamu last week, a hitherto unknown Abuja-based legal practitioner, Ataguba Aboje, also last Friday, filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja asking the court to nullify Goodluck Jonathan’s status. Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet has also contacted the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, to prevent the delegation of the House that just returned from Jeddah from presenting its reports, which they consider to be damaging. Local media reports in Nigeria today point to a cover up as the House may present the delegation’s assignment as having been “overtaken” by events.

Saharareporters sources say that as it becomes obvious that Yar’adua is in no capacity to communicate, let alone run the country after he was abruptly evacuated from Nigeria on Novemeber 23, 2009, more Ministers are now gearing up to support declaring Yar’adua incapacitated through the instrument of the FEC. As Saharareporters has repeatedly reported, no Nigerian, beyond Yar’Adua’s wife and two aides, is able to see Yar’adua in Saudi Arabia. It has also become clear that earlier claims by the Speaker, the Senate president and current “Acting President” Jonathan that Yar’Adua spoke with them were false, as members of the National Assembly could not rely on the conversation these officials purportedly had with him when they had to decide on his communication with the public. Instead, they had to rely on a largely discredited BBC interview that lasted for only 51 seconds.

@ jitjite
Please I need ur help also, send the manual to imeiquoho@yahoo.com. Thanks and God bless

0hsisi:
what is a marabout?
Is it an Islamic babalawo ?

@ohsisi

what is a marabout?
Is it an Islamic babalawo ?


YEESSSS

Culled from http://thepmnews.com/2010/02/15/yaradua-family-prays-for-miracle-marabout-summoned-to-jeddah

As ailing President UmarU Yar’Adua spends his 84th day in the royal hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today, members of his family, most of whom are in the Islamic country now are praying feverishly for a miracle for him to recover.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the two daughters of Yar’Adua who are married to some state governors, have joined their mother, Turai, in Saudi Arabia to pray for their breadwinner to recover from his present debilitating illness.

The family’s marabout, it was learnt, has also been summoned to Jeddah for a round the clock prayers for Yar’Adua, who, sources said, has lost weight tremendously and still in the intensive care unit at the King Faisal Hospital in Saudi Arabia. According to sources close to the hospital, President Yar’adua’s weight has shrunk to 38kg from the 45kg that he weighed before he was flown to Saudi Arabia on 23 November.

According to sources, the president’s serious emaciation explained why the wife disallowed members of the House of Representatives who came on a goodwill visit, to see him.

Five members of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Baba Shehu Agie, the Deputy Majority Leader, who led the team, Alhaji Mohammed Ndume (Minority Leader), Patrick Ikhariale, Jubril Adamu and Fatai Moruf, who went to Saudi Arabia last week had returned to Abuja, mission unaccomplished. The team saw only the First Lady, Turai.

Yar’Adua’s long absence from the country led to a vacuum in the leadership which was filled last Tuesday when the National Assembly passed a motion empowering Vice President Jonathan as acting president.

This action of the National Assembly is now being challenged by a former minority leader in the House of Representatives, Mr. Farouk Aliyu Adamu and an Abuja based lawyer, Ataguba Aboje, Both are asking the court to declare the motion passed by the National Assembly recognising Jonathan as acting president, null and void.

They said since Yar’Adua was not declared incapacitated by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as demanded by Section 144 of the 1999 constitution, nor did he transmit a letter to the National Assembly of his intention to seek medical treatment abroad which would have automatically made Jonathan the acting president, as directed by Section 145 of the Constitution, the Vice President cannot be elevated to the position of an acting president.

Also, activists of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Prof. Wole Soyinka, Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly and others have called on the Federal Executive Council to immediately invoke Section 144 of the nation’s constitution to remove President Yar’Adua from office so that Jonathan can be declared full president.

Soyinka and others at the end of their meeting in Lagos said: “It had become imperative that a logical and constitutional process of installing Jonathan as President with a Vice- President must commence immediately with the Executive Council of the Federation passing a resolution declaring Yar’Adua incapacitated in compliance with Section 144 of the constitution.

“We insist that the session where the resolution would be taken must be beamed live on National Television.”

The activists argued that the invocation of Section 144 would not only permanently resolve the logjam but would restore the esteem of Nigerians which had been badly damaged by all sort of lies which the criminal cabal had fed them with in the last 84 days on the health of the President “as we press for the prosecution of all those involved in the forging of the signature of the President on the supplementary budget.”

“Failure by the Executive Council of the Federation to carry out this demand by its next two sittings (17 and 24, February, 2010) will attract the wrath of Nigerians and SNG and its allies will storm Abuja in a big way to insist on doing the right thing to save our country from the snare of the cabal programming Nigeria for avoidable disaster.”

Soyinka and his group stated that SNG’s protest marches in Abuja, Lagos, London, and New York were motivated by the need to restore the dignity of Nigeria and its people through a constitutional resolution of the power hijack by a cabal which “kidnapped a sick man who is incapable of knowing what is going on and acting in his name to subvert the will of the people and orderliness in our Country, and not just an anyhow pronouncement of Dr. Jonathan as an ‘’Acting President.”

“The pronouncement by the National Assembly making Dr. Jonathan “Acting President” by a strange interpretation of a questionable BBC interview as a substitute for the written declaration the President ought to have made before leaving the country, amounts to rigging and a manipulation of Section 145 of the Constitution.

“Only the unwary will not see through the booby trap in having an “Acting President’’ who is not sworn in by those who got an outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria to swear in his successor,” they said.

According to them, ”while we want Dr. Jonathan to assume full Presidential powers, his natural right by the constitution, we reject the extra constitutional invocation of the “doctrine of necessity,’’ which is a dangerous precedent that could become handy to execute an unpopular agenda against the people in the future.”

“Apart from placing one man and his kidnappers above the Nation, Nigeria has once again been presented with a Shonekan who was kicked out unceremoniously by General Sanni Abacha after a court declared the contraption he headed illegal in 1993. We are not ready to go that route anymore,” they warned.

Others at the meeting are Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Rtd), Mr. ‘Yinka Odumakin, Hon. Uche Onyeogocha and Mallam Salihu Lukman.

deor03:
Sources, ( Another definition of lazy journalism)

@ deor03
http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/1323-2011-count-me-out-acting-president.html

egift:
The intel units should keep an eye on him. He may even lead them to Umaru.

The intel units should keep an eye on him. He may even lead them to Umaru.

LOL

Source: Nigerian Tribune
15/02/2010

Aondoakaa lands in Sierra Leone
The former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, has broken ranks with members of President Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet, who were still bent on dealing with Acting President Jonathan.

The former AGF left Abuja, on Thursday, for Lagos with only one aide.

He did not disclose his  actual destination, though he had suggested that he was travelling abroad.

Contrary to requests that he should travel to Saudi Arabia to link up with some forces plotting against the acting president, it was gathered that Aondoakaa decided to travel to Sierra Leone, where he intended to spend the one and a half week holiday granted him by the acting president.

A source said Aondoakaa left office, on Thursday, without a clear information to his security aides on his destination but it was believed that he was heading for Saudi Arabia.

He later travelled aboard a Virgin Nigeria airline to Sierra Leone, where he intended to embark on some quiet time to reflect on his roles in government.

A source said that Aondoakaa had finally decided to break off from the series of plots being orchestrated by members of the kitchen cabinet to truncate the rule of the acting president.

“He said he will no longer be involved in any suit aimed at truncating the tenure of the acting president and that he will, henceforth, be an agent of peace.

“He is convinced that the option taken by the National Assembly has resolved the power vacuum and he will not be linked with any suit to embarrass the acting president,” a source said on Sunday.

Notwithstanding Aondoakaa’s decision to hands off opposition to the Jonathan presidency, sources said members of the kitchen cabinet were still bitter against the emergence of Jonathan and had vowed to bring his tenure to an abrupt end through the myriad of courts cases.

It was also learnt that the aggrieved parties were busy spreading bad blood among some forces in the North about the true story of the emergence of acting president  Jonathan on February 9

Written by Abubakar Bukola Saraki
Monday, 15 February 2010 09:15

The attention of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has been drawn to a totally misleading and mischievous publication in the Punch Newspapers of 13th February, 2010, captioned “Jonathan, Govs in Secret Deal”. This publication alleges, among other things that the Governors only resolved to urge the leadership of the National Assembly to formally recognize the Vice President as the Acting President after a promise to release $2 billion to the Governors from the Excess Crude Account (ECA). A few other publications and some online channels have latched on to this and recycled the same falsehood. We wish to state that these reports are false, mischievous and ill-informed.

On the 4th of February, an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum was convened to deliberate on what was obviously becoming a political and constitutional impasse. As responsible leaders of the collection of 36 States that make up our Federation, we clearly had a role to play in resolving this situation.

After a thorough deliberation, members unanimously agreed to urge our distinguished Senators and honourable members of the House of Representatives to pass a resolution to enable the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan formally take position as the Acting President.

This decision, which was taken solely in the interest of the nation and the desire to protect our emerging democracy closely aligns with suggestions earlier made by leading statesmen, activists, and other opinion leaders, in resolving the difficult situation. Given the turn of events in the last two months in our country, Governors believed that the position we took was the most practicable in the circumstances and we are delighted to note the wave of relief that has swept through the country since that action was taken. It is therefore, most unfortunate for a newspaper to undermine the significance of this moment in our history by attributing it to pecuniary benefits.

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that Funds in Excess Crude Account (ECA) belong to the three tiers of Government: Federal, States, and Local Governments. Therefore, States would have no special benefits or interests in requesting that funds in the ECA be disbursed since the three tiers of government benefit collectively from such disbursements.

The request to share another tranche of the excess crude funds was discussed at the last meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held as far back as January 12, 2010. At that meeting, the point was made that since it had been generally agreed that the excess crude account will be accessed during the year, this was the appropriate period during the dry season to deploy funds in support of construction work around the country rather than later in the year when campaigns for the 2011 elections would have kicked off at all levels of government in the country. It was also noted that the shortfall in revenue accruing to the Federal, States and LGs as a result of the use of the 2009 budget crude oil benchmark of $45 per barrel as against $60 per barrel in the 2010 budget (since the Appropriation Bill had not been signed) could be augmented by accessing the ECA funds right away.

The standing sub-committee of the NEC comprising the CBN Governor; the Honorable Ministers of Finance; the Economic Adviser to VP and representative of the Governors and others was directed to review this request and make recommendations on the amount to be released and benefit of such release
The Committee met on the 19th January, 2010 and unanimously recommended that $3 billion be accessed and shared to all the beneficiaries immediately.
However, upon further consultation, the Acting President approved $2 billion. But as the practice the distribution must wait till the next Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) which held on Thursday and Friday, 11th and 12th February, 2010.

The Excess Crude Accounts had been accessed on several occasions in the past. This request for disbursement from the account is not in any way out of the ordinary, and it has followed the same procedures as in the past. Therefore, attempting to link this routine fiscal relationship issue to the genuine and patriotic efforts to resolve one of the most difficult challenges that our democracy has faced in recent years is simply unfortunate.

Our decision did not have to be negotiated or induced. In taking that decision, everyone of us rose above party, personal or sectional interest to achieve a consensus on Nigeria. As State Governors, we are proud of the role we have played in resolving this situation, which has been hailed across the world as yet another testimony that our democracy has come of age and that we Nigerians have the capacity to resolve our political problems peacefully and constitutionally.

We believe that neither our media nor our country is ennobled by journalism that constantly seeks to undermine and cast aspersions on the genuine and patriotic efforts of our leaders at serving our country and moving it forward. Therefore, we once again call on editors and media managers to be wary of false and speculative reports that some of their reporters often disguise as facts in the name of digging up the news behind the news. We believe that more than ever before, this is the time we must all be committed to the task of doing only that which edifies and honours our country and its people.

Source: http://www.saharareporters.com/reports/press-releases/5168-re-jonathan-govs-in-secret-deal-governors-forum-reacts.html

Source: Nigerian Tribune
15/02/2010

Sources close to the seat of government informed Nigerian Tribune that the acting president had told his close allies not to orchestrate any talk of his seeking office in 2011.

A source said that the former Bayelsa State governor was concerned about how to hit the ground running and deliver some democracy dividends to the people.

“The acting president is eager to deliver on electoral promises of his party; he is not given to talk about seeking election or re-election. He wants to perform so that the country can get some respite,” a source said.

The source also said that the acting president was resolute on ensuring free and fair election as he had demonstrated during the just concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

“During that election, the acting president called the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, and insisted that nobody must be allowed to rig the election. He also told the Inspector General of Police that he did not want to hear of any shooting and deaths during the election. His orders were carried out and we had an election that was hailed by all.

“Iwu even confessed to some people that he had to withstand pressure from some top politicians to ensure that the election was not tilted, once the acting president had spoken,” a source said.

The source also quoted the acting president as saying that his major concern for now was to deliver on some promises, work on restructuring of the power sector to facilitate improved power generation and supply and ensure the delivery of infrastructure, both in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.
There have been concerns among some northern politicians as to whether Jonathan would contest the 2011 elections if he remained in office till the end of the year.

In line with the zoning arrangement of the PDP, the presidency is zoned to the North, while the South produces the vice-president.

But the fear now is that, if Jonathan remains in the office to complete the tenure of the ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, he might be tempted to seek the office and exhaust the term of the South-South.

Besides, it was gathered that the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) closely monitored the process leading to the enthronement of Vice-President Jonathan as acting president on February 9.

It was gathered that the US had been on top of the Nigerian situation since December 2009 and that its officials had been coordinating issues on the developments in the country.



The US and the EU countries were said to have shared information and intelligence and eventually steered Nigeria off the path of anti-democratic forces.

The US was said to have evolved a series of efforts at monitoring strategic institutions in Nigeria to consistently ensure that it remained a democratic country.

Sources said the US and the EU were concerned that any attempt to tamper with Nigeria’s democracy as a result of the failure of President Yar’Adua to hand over power to his deputy would trigger resistance from the South-South and, possibly, the South-West, which were seen as very close to the Ijaws of the Niger Delta.

“Such reactions can only bring negative developments to the survival of Nigeria and the Western countries were clear on this,” a source said.

Aondoakaa lands in Sierra Leone
The former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, has broken ranks with members of President Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet, who were still bent on dealing with Acting President Jonathan.

The former AGF left Abuja, on Thursday, for Lagos with only one aide.

He did not disclose his actual destination, though he had suggested that he was travelling abroad.

Contrary to requests that he should travel to Saudi Arabia to link up with some forces plotting against the acting president, it was gathered that Aondoakaa decided to travel to Sierra Leone, where he intended to spend the one and a half week holiday granted him by the acting president.

A source said Aondoakaa left office, on Thursday, without a clear information to his security aides on his destination but it was believed that he was heading for Saudi Arabia.

He later travelled aboard a Virgin Nigeria airline to Sierra Leone, where he intended to embark on some quiet time to reflect on his roles in government.

A source said that Aondoakaa had finally decided to break off from the series of plots being orchestrated by members of the kitchen cabinet to truncate the rule of the acting president.

“He said he will no longer be involved in any suit aimed at truncating the tenure of the acting president and that he will, henceforth, be an agent of peace.

“He is convinced that the option taken by the National Assembly has resolved the power vacuum and he will not be linked with any suit to embarrass the acting president,” a source said on Sunday.

Notwithstanding Aondoakaa’s decision to hands off opposition to the Jonathan presidency, sources said members of the kitchen cabinet were still bitter against the emergence of Jonathan and had vowed to bring his tenure to an abrupt end through the myriad of courts cases.

It was also learnt that the aggrieved parties were busy spreading bad blood among some forces in the North about the true story of the emergence of acting president Jonathan on February 9.

Source: http://www.pointblanknews.com/os2885.html


Against the backdrop of a flurry of lawsuits against the legitimacy of Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President, the Federal Executive Council may be set to invoke section 144 of the constitution which would nip in the bud any attempts by the pro Yar’Adua group to fan the embers of a constitutional crisis,

It was learnt that some top honchos of the PDP, influential governors, and members of the National are urging the FEC to invoke section 144 and permanently resolve the logjam.

Pointblanknews.com also learnt that despite the very bad state of Umaru Yar’Adua, his loyalists are still angling for a way to check mate the Acting President, as they regroup in far away Saudi Arabia. Last week Governors of Kebbi, Katsina, Bauchi, Turai Yar’Adua, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi, Yar’Adua’s chief Security Officer, and demoted Michael Aondoakaa met in Jeddah to map out strategies. The ex AGF who asked for permission to take a trip to Europe detoured.

It was gathered that they have two options on the table: bring back Yar’Adua to the Villa in an air ambulance to frustrate Jonathan, or work out ways to ensure Jonathan does not tamper with the zoning arrangement of the PDP.

Pointblanknews.com however learnt that the Presidency of Umaru Yar’Adua may have ended with his wife, Turai not returning home anytime soon. Sources close to the pro-Yar’Adua group hinted that option 2 is the only viable option.

The move by the FEC, sources told pointblanknews.com may come on February 17 or 24. They are expected to declare sick President Yar’Adua incapable of discharging his duties as President.

Section 144 says “the President (or Vice President) shall cease to hold office if by a resolution passed by 2/3 majority of all the members of the Executive Council, it is declared that the President of Vice President is incapable of discharging the functions of the office”

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Rtd. Gen. Alani Akirinade, Pastor Tunde Bakare have urged the FEC to invoke the section and avoid a similar crisis occasioned by the lorry loads of court declarations on the illegality of Ernest Shonekan’s government in 1993. Few weeks after he was installed by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, he was kicked out by Sani Abacha.

Our sources also disclosed that more than two third of members of the council are already in the camp of the Acting President. It was learnt that aside from trying to protect their jobs, most of the FEC members feel there is a need to prevent a constitutional crisis that could throw spanner in the works, with sundry losers.

Pointblanknews.com gathered that a large slice of the PDP leadership, Governors forum, and the National assembly members have thrown their weight behind Jonathan.

Source: Nigerian Tribune
15/02/2010


Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has tactically given an approval for imminent shake-up and retirement in the armed forces.

Postings in the top echelon of the military were put on hold because of the absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua from the country. The President and Commander-in-Chief is the only one to approve the postings of top military officers, after recommendations from the service chiefs.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that because of the president’s absence, top military officers were directed to remain in their positions until his return to the country.

However, Nigerian Tribune gathered, at the weekend, that the acting president had approved the long-awaited postings and retirements of officers in the armed forces.

Some top army officers that were promoted to the ranks of major general and their equivalent in the Navy and Airforce last year are yet to be posted to their new ranks.

Sources close to the military said that the acting president was pleased with the present leadership of the military, especially the professionalism it displayed throughout the period of President Yar’Adua’s absence. He was said to have given his nod to the military leadership to effect the posting.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, last Thursday, led his colleagues to the Presidential Villa to pledge their unalloyed loyalty to the acting president.

alldone:
he should go and sit down.
he should be forgiven sha.

he should go and sit down. be castrated, we do not need another Aondoakaa
he should not be forgiven sha.

Source: Nigerian Tribune
15/02/2010

Contrary to what obtained during the Umaru Yar’Adua-led government where all first class ministries and parastatal agencies were headed by people from the North, particularly Kano and Katsina states, the new cabinet to be formed is expected to have a national outlook.

In fact, sources said that the visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan last week was to advise him to ensure national balance in the new cabinet so as to enjoy acceptability.

Though sources said that based on the advice of Chief Obasanjo and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who is said to be playing a major role in the Jonathan presidency, ministers have begun to visit him (Clark) to curry favour, as he is now seen as godfather to the acting president.

Ministers from the South-South who were said to have disrespected Jonathan as vice-president or treated him with disdain, have now started finding ways to ask for his forgiveness.

The case of two ministers, one of them from the South-West, who was said to have clashed with Jonathan over a presidential committee when he was the vice-president, was mentioned.

The other minister, who sources said, disrespected the then vice-president, will now have his ministry manned by a technocrat.

Another basis for the cabinet reshuffle, according to sources, will be performance. This is said to affect majority of the ministers. It was gathered that the performances of most of them were suspect.

The majority of ministers from the South-South, according to Nigerian Tribune sources were said to be guilty of this. They were by-passing Jonathan and going to the president, even over mundane issues.

All of them, it was gathered, were now jittery and looking for ways to make amends.

Some other ministers who are likely to make the new list, Nigerian Tribune learnt, are those who Jonathan, as vice-president, had assessed.

It was also gathered that the event that led to the emergence of Jonathan as the acting president had given him the opportunity to know the ministers better.

All these factors, it was said, would be taken into consideration before a new cabinet is formed.

Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), on Sunday, alleged that former President Obasanjo, was meddling in the affairs of Acting President Jonathan and by extension, attempting a third term through the back door.

The group said it could not understand what the ex-president left in the State House after ruling for eight years that he wanted to pick up by his recent visit to the acting president.

In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Osita Okechukwu, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, the CNPP noted that Chief Obasanjo’s alleged nocturnal visit was neither in the interest of the nation nor in the interest of the acting president and urged him to stay away from the present government.

The group alleged that Chief Obasanjo contributed to the controversial 2007 elections and denied Nigerians the opportunity to elect a president of their choice.

The CNPP stated: “We are tempted to ask, what has Chief Obasanjo left in the State House, Aso Villa, after eight years of misrule that he wants to pick up now?

“For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Obasanjo’s nocturnal visit is neither in the interest of the nation nor in the interest of the Acting President; consequently, we strongly plead with him to stay away. He cannot recover the third term; it is gone forever.

“It will be recalled that Chief Obasanjo contributed generously through the sham 2007 elections he simulated to the recent political impasse. He denied Nigerians the opportunity to elect a president of their choice; which from all indications led to the 79 days power-vacuum-induced constitutional crisis.

“CNPP is worried that Chief Obasanjo, if allowed to meddle in the Jonathan presidency, might halt genuine electoral reform, the Niger Delta post-amnesty programme and revamping of infrastructure that collapsed under Obasanjo.

“Now that we are out of the woods, or so it seems, we reason that what Nigerians do not need at this point in time, is the leprous fingers of Chief Obasanjo to pollute the subsisting fragile peace of the graveyard. He should, therefore, be barred from Aguda Lodge so that our acting president can take his decisions independently,” the group added.

The CNPP, thereafter, renewed its earlier call on Acting President, Jonathan to reconstitute the Executive Council of the federation in view of the loss of credibility of some of its members, particularly those who tried to subvert the constitution in the recent succession stalemate.

CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, in a statement, noted that the removal of Mr Michael Aondoakaa as Minister of Justice was a positive development but argued that better results would be achieved if Aondoakaa and his likes were completely and immediately sent packing from the cabinet.

He said ministers who “fooled” Nigerians for a while had serious credibility issues with Nigerians and they could no longer be trusted to deliver on governance.

He said the only way out was for the acting president to dissolve the cabinet and get credible Nigerians on board to work with him now that he had the full powers of the president.

Source Daily Sun
Monday, February 15, 2010

Nigeria’s Acting President Dr Goodluck Jonathan has moved further to extend his consolidation of power to the international community with his assumption of the Chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Jonathan will perform his first official function as the ECOWAS chairman by presiding over a summit of the Heads of Government of the regional group on Tuesday, February 16.
The Acting President’s assumption of the chairmanship of the sub-regional body, political observers believe will boost efforts at legitimizing the Jonathan leadership in the international community.
Daily Sun gathered at the ECOWAS secretariat at Asokoro in Abuja that the Acting President has replaced President Umaru Yar’Adua as the chairman of the regional body.

President Yar’Adua was the substantive chairman before he took ill and travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for medical treatment over 83 days ago.
His sudden departure for medical treatment without notice of his likely date of return, ECOWAS secretariat sources confided in Daily Sun, had negatively affected the operations of the secretariat.

“The absence of the chairman had grounded the activities of the community. For instance, it was learnt that the meeting scheduled for tomorrow is the Annual General Meeting of the body that ought to have been held in December last year.”
It was learnt that the budget of ECOWAS for 2010, which ought to have been approved since early December had been pending in the absence of President Yar’Adua or an acting president.

The development, the sources added, had caused disquiet within the rank of the heads of government as issues and important project requiring approval of funds for execution had been put on hold for months.
The Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Ibn Chambers confirmed to Daily Sun that the summit, to be attended by the Heads of Governments of the West African countries and their relevant ministers would hold in Abuja and would be presided over by the Acting President Jonathan.

He explained that the ECOWAS summit would deliberate on so many issues pending before the secretariat.
According to him, the first on the list of agenda of the summit is the budget of the body for 2010, which non-approval had slowed down the execution of its activities, because of the absence of substantive chairman.
“We are also going to discuss further the deepening of the economic activities of the West African region. We will discuss issues of infrastructure provision, telecommunication, roads development, peace and security in the sub-region.
“More importantly, the summit will deliberate on the common programme designed for the region. Such programmes as food, peace and security arrangements in the sub-region.”

Chambers also stated that the summit will take decisions concerning the crucial general elections in Togo and Cote D’Ivore.
Daily Sun Sources in Abuja revealed that ECOWAS meeting will be launch pad for the acting president to reach out to the larger international community. The source disclosed that Jonathan, whose installation had been lauded by the Britain and the African Union (AU) will in the next couple of days make overtures to the United States over the listing of Nigeria among 14 infamous terror watch nations.

The decision, it was learnt, is necessary to thwart the clandestine moves by some of the ailing president’s loyalists, who are fighting tooth and nail to find legal fault with the National Assembly’s, motion empowering the Vice President to act as acting president.
There are also said to be moves to return the ailing president home in whatever state of health to terminate the acting president’s reign.

otokx:
The media is sure having a field day.

No!!!!!!! The media Nigerians is sure are having a field day.

Update

Source:
Written by Lanre Adewale, Abuja
Sunday Tribune. of 14/02/2010

Aondoakaa may be probed

News oozing out of the seat of power in Abuja is suggestive of possible probe of the erstwhile Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN). According to Sunday Tribune findings, he was redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties by the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan last Wednesday, following his stiff opposition to Goodluck’s ascension in the prolonged absence of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua.


It was further gathered that he had been covertly investigated while in office. Sunday Tribune further learnt that the planned probe would be multi-dimensional.

It will be recalled that the former AGF and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri had a protracted battle over alleged moves by the minister to undermine the independence and effectiveness of the commission through the exercise of his supervisory powers as the AGF.

Checks revealed that Aondoakaa was not moved against immediately he was dropped as the AGF because the Acting President did not want to create the impression that he was descending on pro-Yar’Adua ministers.

A source had told the Sunday Tribune that it would be too early to take steps that would heat up the system, given the tension already generated by the prolonged absence of the ailing president and the National Assembly empowerment of Jonathan as acting president.

The source reasoned that there was no way the minister’s arrest and probe would not generate a buzz, even though majority of Nigerians would applaud such step, given his not-too impressive perception among Nigerians.

Another issue raised during Aondoakaa’s reign in the ministry was the issue of payment of judgement debts.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01//indexn2_html?pdate=140210&ptitle=Jonathan's Installation Now Backed By Law


ACTING President Goodluck Jonathan has had his elevation backed by "a force of law."

This is sequel to a letter that was sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, from the National Assembly.

The Assembly exalted Vice President Jonathan to Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation on Tuesday.

The contents of the National Assembly letter were expected to be conveyed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ignatius Katsina-Alu, the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) and the Acting President.

The letter, which a legislative source said is tantamount to a law being passed by the National Assembly, is referenced NASS/C5/R/05/III/92 and dated February 10, 2010.

It came from the Clerk of the National Assembly (CAN), Mr. Yemi Ogunyomi, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Titled, 'State Of The Nation And The Way Forward - National Assembly Resolutions, Of 9th, February, 2010', it reads in full:

"On Tuesday 9 February, 2010, the Senate and House of Representatives adopted Resolutions on the State of the Nation occasioned by the prolonged medical holidays of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"Members of the National Assembly noted that Nigerians fervently prayed for the speedy recovery of Mr. President and his early return to Nigeria.

"However, on 12 January 2010, Mr. President informed Nigerians through the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), that he was receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, and would only return to Nigeria to resume his functions as President when his doctors so certify.

"Satisfied that this declaration by Mr. President amounts to substantial compliance with the provision of Section 145 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, the National Assembly resolved that:

(i) the Vice President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, shall henceforth discharge the functions of the Office of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation as Acting President; and

(ii) the Vice President shall cease to discharge the functions of the Office of the President when the President, Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in writing, that he has returned from his medical vacation.

"Kindly convey these National Assembly Resolutions to His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Chief Justice of the Federation for his information, and Members of the Federal Executive Council for compliance.

"Find attached hereto, the Votes and Proceedings of the Senate and the House of Representatives in this regard, please.

"Accept the assurances of my highest regards for your office."

A knowledgeable source said last week that because the resolutions of both Houses of the National Assembly were similar, it could pass of as a law and be tendered as such.

The source said: "Perhaps unknown to both Houses, that is the way to give a force of law to their resolutions. Pass the same resolution and it has the same force as a law.

"But when you pass resolutions intermittently and they are not similar, the other arms of government can afford to ignore them and nothing will be done."

BE KIND TO PEOPLE YOU MEET ON YOUR WAY UP BECAUSE YOU MIGHT MEET THEM ON YOUR WAY DOWN

Also, What goes around comes around.

This is another lesson for all of us

if he like, but let him not think of being efcc boss again, as dora islikelygoing to occupy that post after this week cabinet reshuffle

[quote author=aloy-emeka link=topic=397951.msg5510654#msg5510654 date=1266110911]Typical Nigerian mentality. You must join the crowd. Aondokoaa is still a government official in Nigeria who is not facing any criminal charges. Is it now a sin for him to travel abroad for vacation?. Separating the emotions from the sense of reasoning seems to be a big problem for Africans in general. For God's sake, Aondoakaa is a free citizen and can go anywhere he wishes as long as he can afford it. If you want to level any accusation against him, call the EFCC with proof and not this cheap attempt to tarnish his controversial image.[/quote]Sources close to the Minister told our reporter that he lost his swagger and suddenly became fearful for his life after he was removed from office as AGF, choosing to run away to Dakar, one of his favorite destinations. He is expected to travel to Spain from Senegal until things cool down a bit.

@aloy-emeka
why all of a sudden he remember his vacation? so he suddenly lost his swagger abi? , and we all know its only the guilty that are afriad, why on the run if he does not have a scheleton inhis cupboard let him stay and defend the source of the $3M that was picked in his house.

Again I say: THERE WILL BE NO PEACE FOR AONDOAKAA AND HIS FRIENDS.

Are you his friend? I ask again

[quote author=aloy-emeka link=topic=397951.msg5509579#msg5509579 date=1266094233]Is he not on vacation?. He should be free to travel outside the country. Why is Sahara reporters presenting it as if he is a fugitive? [/quote]are you a member of the defunct Andoakaa kichen cabinet?:

Nigeria's controversial and notoriously corrupt public officer, Michael Aondoakaa, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who was recently demoted to the ignominy of cabinet “Special Duties,” may have fled the heat of the kitchen. Andoakaa, who is also under fire from a fellow minister, Dora Akunyili, over reckless statements he made over her actions in recent cabinet meetings, may not be in a position to respond to her seven-day ultimatum, which expires in five days. He quietly left for Senegal on Thursday night, apparently to avoid the consequences of his dubious errands on behalf of the kitchen

The former AGF also faces mounting pressure from several interests that he extorted for cash as he went about his duties heavily compromised. A family source told Saharareporters in Abuja that his decision to travel out of Nigeria was abrupt as they were planning to meet with him in his hometown in Benue State this weekend, but Aondoakaa promptly traveled out of the country after he applied for a 30-day leave. It is unclear if the government approved the application before he left.



Sources close to the Minister told our reporter that he lost his swagger and suddenly became fearful for his life after he was removed from office as AGF, choosing to run away to Dakar, one of his favorite destinations. He is expected to travel to Spain from Senegal until things cool down a bit.
Aondoakaa’s disappearance is coming on the heels of the jetting-out of James Ibori, a kitchen-cabinet colleague, purportedly to spend Valentine's Day in Dubai and South Africa with his new girlfriend, Senami Sosu. His wife is in London, preparing to face trial, while his mistress, Mrs. Udoamaka Okoronkwo is also unavailable, as her trial commences in a right after Valentine's Day.

It is believed that owing to the recent political developments, the kitchen cabinet members might have started considering other options, especially fleeing Nigeria