₦airaland Forum

Atiku Abubakar can conveniently be regarded as the proverbial cat with nine lives because the story of his life offers a lot of lessons; starting from a humble background to becoming the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Atiku was the only child of his parents; he neither had a brother nor sister. His father died when he was still in primary school, after he was imprisoned for not allowing his son to go back to school after he visited them. Atiku began feeding his mother since he was a primary school pupil out of his proceeds from cattle rearing. That was how he started his life. He joined the Customs service, was made the Turaki of Adamawa, and was also elected the Governor of Adamawa state.

He could not however assume the mantle of leadership as governor because he was eventually chosen to be the running mate to Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1999 election. He later had a serious political fight with Obasanjo, ran for the office of the president twice and is also a prolific businessman.

In this interview held in his Abuja home with a team of journalists from RARIYA, a Hausa newspaper based in Abuja, Turaki, as he is fondly called, revealed a lot about himself, including his widely publicised ‘feud’ with Obasanjo and the situation of things in the ‘new PDP’.

See excerpts of the interview here: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147649-explosive-what-obasanjo-told-me-about-third-term-atiku.html

The leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, stormed Kano and Jigawa States, on Thursday, where they formally invited the governors of the two states, Musa Kwankwaso and Sule Lamido, to join the opposition party.

The opposition leaders met with the two governors behind closed doors for several hours during which they assured them a good deal if they decided to join their rank.

The leaders who held talks with the governors include former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, interim National Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande, Interim Deputy National Chairman, Aminu Masari, and a former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu.

The governors on the delegation were Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti)

Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff; former Labour Minister, Musa Gwadabe; a former National Chairman of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP, Yusuf Garba Ali; former Borno State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Kashim Imam; and some serving and former legislators, were also part of the delegation during the one day visit to the two states.

Some of the opposition leaders were in Sokoto State on Wednesday, where they witnessed the foundation laying ceremony of the Sokoto State University. They reportedly held a close-door meeting with Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

Although, details of their discussion were not made public, there were strong indications that they invited the governor to join the APC.

The trio of Kwankwaso, Lamido and Wamakko are among the seven aggrieved governors of the PDP, who have been canvassing the overhaul of the leadership of the ruling party, especially the sack of its National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur.

The other governors are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

They had all joined a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former acting National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje and former National Secretary of the party, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, last August 31, to float the New PDP, which has met with President Goodluck Jonathan on two occasions to resolve the differences between them and the Tukur-led PDP.

Although, the APC had set up a committee headed by Mr. Fashola to enter negotiations with the aggrieved governors and their supporters with a view to bringing them into the opposition party, the opposition leaders were said to have been encouraged by the difficulty in achieving breakthrough in their meetings with Mr Jonathan and other PDP leaders.

At the meeting with Mr. Kwankwaso, which held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Mr. Buhari told the governor said the delegation was in the ancient city as part of a “recruitment drive” for their party, to ensure that Kano joins the progressive fold.

He stressed that the APC was concerned about the socio-economic development and the security of the citizens, even as he lamented that the Boko Haram crisis was a deliberate attempt by some people to clog the wheel of the country’s progress.

Messrs Akande and Okorocha, who also spoke praised the governor for his efforts in moving the state forward and enjoined him to join the APC in view of his progressive stance.

Responding, Mr. Kwankwaso said he would consult stakeholders of the PDP in the state before deciding on whether to defect to the APC.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147634-buhari-tinubu-others-in-jigawa-kano-woo-lamido-kwankwaso-to-apc.html

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, was
economical with the truth when it told the National
Assembly that the four armoured vehicles it
purchased for its Managing Director and the Aviation
Minister were in the custody of First Bank, PREMIUM
TIMES has learnt.
Top officials of the bank told PREMIUM TIMES, on
Friday, that none of the four cars was in their care.
“It is not true that First Bank is in custody of those
four cars. We don’t know where the cars are,” one of
the officials, who did not want to be named because
of the controversy the deal has generated, said.
The four vehicles – two Lexus limousines and two
Prado jeeps – are not part of the N255 million
armoured BMW cars bought for Aviation Minister,
Stella Oduah by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,
which shocked the nation and has led to presidential
and legislative investigations.
FAAN admitted to the purchase of the limousines at
the cost of N60 million each, but said that it did not
have details of the Prado jeeps.
While responding to an October 29 query by the
Senate Committee on Aviation, George Uriesi, FAAN’s
Managing Director, stated, under oath, that the four
cars were in the custody of the bankers which funded
the purchase.
Our checks have now indicated Mr. Uriesi was did not
tell the committee the whole truth.
“They bought a total number of 202 vehicles for
different operations so until they come back on
Monday we cannot rush into conclusion,” Hope
Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation,
had told journalists on Wednesday.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147637-faan-lied-armoured-cars-bought-oduah-first-banks-custody.html

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope
Uzodinma, on Wednesday said the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) purchased two armoured
vehicles for Aviation minister, Stella Oduah and
another two for its Managing Director, George Uriesi.
Mr. Uzodinma spoke to newsmen on the sidelines of
the investigation into the purchase of two armoured
vehicles by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA) for Aviation Minister Oduah.
He said that FAAN Managing Director, Mr. Uriesi, told
the committee on oath that his agency purchased
202 operational cars and two bullet-proofs cars for
the office of the managing director.
“Uriesi did confirm that among the
operational vehicles they purchased, four of them are
armoured vehicles, two for the managing director
and two for the minister.
“We told them to go back and put everything in
writing and make comprehensive statements on all
vehicles purchased.
“They bought a total number of 202 vehicles for
different operations so until they come back
on Monday we cannot rush into conclusion.
“The managing director of FAAN said they did a
funding arrangement with a commercial bank,’’ he
said.
Senator Uzodinma, who said investigations were still
ongoing, promised that the committee was
committed to undertaking a holistic probe to ensure
that all anomalies were corrected to reposition the
sector.
He quoted the FAAN managing director as saying
that the Ms Oduah gave approval for the purchase of
the armoured vehicles.
The Senate Committee on Aviation had on Oct. 29,
queried FAAN over the purchase of four bullet-proof
cars for use by the managing director.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147572-shocking-another-aviation-agency-faan-admits-buying-4-armoured-cars-stella-oduah-md.html

Akpabio says: ““This being the first pilgrimage by a Nigerian leader to Jerusalem, I believe that God is going to look at Nigeria favourably and our lives would never be the same again.“
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom says President Goodluck Jonathan’s participation in the 2013 Christian pilgrimage to Israel is a turning point in the spiritual rebirth of the country.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umana, in Uyo on Wednesday.
“I believe strongly that being the first historic pilgrimage by any president in Nigeria since 1914 would be a turning point for our country.
“I know that past Heads of State and Presidents who were Muslim had undertaken pilgrimages to Medina and Mecca.
“This being the first pilgrimage by a Nigerian leader to Jerusalem, I believe that God is going to look at Nigeria favourably and our lives would never be the same again.
“I am very convinced that this is a turning point for national rebirth.
“This is a turning point by Mr President to transform this nation.
“Any transformation that does not have spiritual connotation is not enough,” the statement quoted Akpabio as saying.
http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/147568-akpabio-says-jonathans-pilgrimage-israel-will-change-nigeria.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=akpabio-says-jonathans-pilgrimage-israel-will-change-nigeria

The House of Representatives committee on Aviation, this afternoon began hearing on the purchase of two armoured cars for the aviation minister, Stella Oduah, at the cost of N255 million.

The hearing was earlier scheduled to hold on Tuesday but was postponed to allow the minister, who was away in Israel for a bilateral air service agreement signing, to return to the country.

PREMIUM TIMES’ National Assembly correspondent, Ini Ekott, will provide you with updates as they unfold from the hearing room.

FOLLOW THE LIVE UPDATES HERE: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147512-stella-oduah-armoured-car-scandal-house-committee-hearing-live-updates.html

In what could be described as a get-together of political groups opposed to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari;former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Bola Tinubu; New PDP national chairman, Kawu Baraje, and his APC counterpart, Bisi Akande, were in Sokoto on Tuesday for the inauguration of the Sokoto State University.

Also at the event were the Governors of Adamawa, Kano, Rivers and Jigawa States: Murtala Nyako, Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi and Sule Lamido respectively; as well as former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and former President, Shehu Shagari
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147485-buhari-atiku-tinubu-others-storm-sokoto-state-varsity-inauguration.html

The Minister of Agriculture is the only government official to make the list.

Three members of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Economic Management team were on Tuesday named among several Africans shortlisted for the 2013 Forbes Africa Person of the Year award.

The shortlist released by the United States-based business website, comprised three Nigerians, one South African and one Zimbabwean.

They included Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, for his vision in making Nigeria a self-sustaining, food-producing nation, which hopes to register over 20 million farmers by 2015; Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, whose net worth has significantly increased on the back of his continued business successes in various sectors of the continent’s economy, including oil and gas, petro-chemicals, transport and haulage, manufacturing and commodities.

Also included are Jim Ovia, who is the Chairman of the Zenith Bank Group, reputed as West Africa’s second largest financial services provider focused on helping grow Africa’s budding ‘techpreneurs’; Strive Masiyiwa, founder of global telecoms group, Econet Wireless, was also shortlisted for using Capernaum Trust to educate tens of thousands of Zimbabwean orphans, and South African mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe, for his plans to give away more than half his fortune over the next five years.

The awards will be presented in Nairobi, Kenya at the beginning of December this year.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147497-dangote-agric-minister-adesina-make-forbes-africa-person-year-shortlist.html

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission, ICPC, has summoned top management officials of the Petroleum and Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, over alleged N3.5billion fraud in the Petroleum Support Scheme, PSF.

The invitation followed a petition by a Port Harcourt-based petroleum products marketer, Ledisi Dagogo-Jack.

In a petition dated August 13, 2013, Mr. Dagogo-Jack requested the ICPC to, among others, investigate the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Reginald Stanley; the Assistant General Manager (Finance), Peter Tokan; the Internal Auditor, Dominic Aniemeke, on their culpability in alleged fraudulent acts involving petroleum products surveys at the country’s ports.

In addition, the petroleum products marketer also wanted the Personal Assistant to the Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Farouk Mohammed, probed along with two other aides, Gaji Mohammed and Hussaina Modibbo (Technical Assistant) over their roles in the alleged illegal award and execution of multi-million Naira contracts involving two suspected unregistered companies, Busihfer Nigeria Ltd and Ashmos Global Services.

The accused persons are expected to appear before the ICPC on Tuesday at its Abuja headquarters along with the General Manager (Operations), Wole Adamolekun; Internal Auditor, Dominic Aniemeke and one John Egundebi, who were accused of complicity in the alleged fraudulent acts involving the agency’s Pension Funds and tax returns on its pay-as-you-earn, P.A.Y.E system.

In his petition, Mr. Dagogo-Jack said he was in possession of evidences of fraud committed under Mr. Stanley’s watch, in connivance with Mr. Tokan, which contravened the provisions of the public service financial rules and regulations.

“I believe that the management of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency has a case of corruption to answer,” he said. “I plead that you use your goodwill, exposure and credible anti-corruption platform to effect a thorough investigation of the financial dealings in the agency and rid the public sector of the monster of corruption.”

In one of the cases, Mr. Dagodo-Jack named five independent inspectorate firms (GMO, Saybolt, Inspectorate, SGS and Vibrant Ventures Ltd) reportedly hired by the executive secretary on assumption of office in November 2011, allegedly to sideline the Inspectorate Department of PPPRA charged with the responsibility of ensuring quality control, haulage and survey of petroleum products under the PSF.

He said contrary to the monthly commission of N5million to each of the inspectorate firms usually paid by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC subsidiary, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, for products surveys at the ports, the PPPRA has, since 2011, been disbursing N70 million monthly to each of the five firms, resulting in the accumulated disbursement of about N3.5billion so far.

In another case, the petitioner accused Gaji Muhammad of overreaching his official powers by approving the contract for the supply and installation of computer accessories worth more than N23million to external suppliers without due process, in disregard of the Public Procurement Act.

Apart from exceeding the N2.5million approval limit for external contracts, the petitioner said the award to three companies, endorsed solely by Mr. Muhammad, ignored normal tendering processes, as they were not supported by letters of no objection, advertorial and technical bid processes.

Similarly, Mr. Dagogo-Jack accused the Personal Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Farouk Mohammed, of using two unregistered companies, Busihfer Nigeria Ltd. and Ashmos Global Services, allegedly linked to him, to award himself phony contracts worth several millions of Naira.

He accused the PPPRA management of flouting laid down financial regulations by placing two of its accounts in United Bank for Africa, UBA and Zenith Bank on fixed deposits, with Mrs. Modibbo, Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, who is a Level 13 officer, as one of the signatories contrary to extant financial rules and regulations.

The provisions of the financial rules and regulations requires the head of the Accounts department, not lower than an Assistant Director, to be signatory to the agency’s accounts.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147455-exclusive-top-pppra-officials-in-fresh-n3-5billion-fraud-scandal.html

Suspicion that Aviation Minister Stella Oduah might not have actually procured the controversial N255million armoured cars is gaining traction in the nation’s security circle, with operatives trying to understand whether the minister merely masterminded a paper process to launder public funds.

PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today that the bullet-proof cars are not on government’s official list of armoured cars available anywhere in the country.

Car dealers as well as end users of reinforced cars such as those Mrs. Oduah claimed to have procured to ward off “imminent threats”, are mandated to seek authorization from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, before ordering or importing such vehicles into Nigeria.

Under that regulation, no car dealer or end user, including private individuals, security agencies, and government parastatals can bring in armoured cars into the country without obtaining end user certificates from the office of the NSA in Abuja.

But reliable sources at the office of the NSA told PREMIUM TIMES no authorization certificate was ever issued to either Minister Oduah or the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to procure the controversial vehicles.

“We have thoroughly checked our list and I can confirm that at no time did we issue end user certificate to anyone to procure any such cars,” one of our sources said. “It is likely the cars do not exist and that the documents were either forged to steal public funds. But if the cars indeed exist, the minister, the NCAA and Coscharis Motors will have to explain why they sneaked vehicles into our country without authorization.

“It is a serious violation, and the minister and other people involved have a lot of explanations to make.”
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147362-exclusive-stella-oduah-fresh-trouble-n255m-armoured-cars-missing-nsas-security-list.html

For about four months now, students of Nigerian universities have been out of classes. Frustrations of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) grew to misgivings and mistrust of the government with which it signed an agreement way back in 2009. ASUU therefore slammed the doors of the lecture halls for what it called “total and indefinite strike”. Since then, parents and students have been left counting days which melt into weeks and developed to months while those involved in ending the industrial action dilly-dally within the same cycle of deadlocked meetings.

We view the whole altercation as needless as the issues at stake are in no way ambiguous. What the lecturers’ union demand from the government is for it to honour its own promises made in 2009 for improved funding of the university system and working condition of the lecturers. Though the government has now device means of strategically disowning the 2009 agreement signed between its representatives and ASUU, it should be reminded that government is an institution and not persons. Change of administration should not be an excuse to renege on binding commitments made by the government especially that relating to a critical area like education.

Underfunding of the education sector, over the years, has had collateral effect on country. Our universities, hitherto exemplary centres of excellence that attracted academics from far and near, have now become grotesque carcasses of their former selves. In a shameful development, Nigerians from lower and upper classes fall over themselves to leave the shores of the country for studies. A report released last year put the figure of what Nigeria loose to overseas studies at N1.5 trillion per annum. It could be higher. Embarrassingly, countries like Ghana, Uganda, Togo, et cetera – that were hitherto considered far below ours in all respect, have now turned to our saving graces to educate our people. Ghana alone is estimated to be benefitting from about N160 billion from hundreds of Nigerians trooping to pursue university education there.

While those who should act to better the system of education send off their children to choice universities around the world, the result at home is a further nose-diving of what remains of quality in the universities. Last year, a committee headed by erstwhile Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, which conducted a need assessment of universities, came up with a report that unearthed the odious rot in the system. The report, which was commissioned by the government itself, bared it all on the appalling condition of the universities both in human and infrastructural terms. While the teacher-student ratio stands on the average at the embarrassing figure of 1:100, basic teaching tools in laboratories, workshops and libraries were discovered to be either grossly inadequate or nonexistent. In most, if not all, the universities, students have no adequate boarding facilities while some defecate in the open, due to absence or inadequacy of toilet facilities. These same students, according to the report, take lecturers in jam-packed lecture halls and theatres.
http://premiumtimesng.com/opinion/147354-editorial-govt-must-end-ASUU-strike-now-and-halt-this-crime-against-nigeria.html

The Lagos Health Commissioner confirmed the outbreak.

Three people have been confirmed dead in an unusual wave of cholera outbreak that has hit Lagos State, the Health Commissioner, Jide Idris, has said.

Mr. Idris said that the worst affected areas in the state include Apapa, Ajegunle, Surulere, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.

Of the 13 reported cases, three deaths have been confirmed, Mr. Idris added.

More details: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147123-breaking-three-confirmed-dead-lagos-cholera-outbreak.html

citizenY: Waste of time.....

1.. war the expenditure in the budget, as passed by the legislature? YEs or NO
2... was it approved by FEC in any of their Wednesday meetings? Yes or NO
3...Due process followed? Yes or No?

What is all this panel ,committee, waste of time for?

I tire

Nice input there! She has misappropriated funds and due process was not followed. So she should have been sacked since, shikenan.

“When ASUU was in the trenches fighting military dictatorships and fighting to restore democracy back to our country,most of those opposed to its strike today had no courage to speak out.”

“The ongoing strike action by the Academic staff union of Universities, ASUU, is a patriotic act of resistance against bad and visionless leadership in the country.Its a genuine struggle to save the education sector from total collapse.Those oppose to the strike are reactionaries and running dogs of the political establishment.

“There is no other way for the University teachers to press home their demands and pressurize the federal government to keep to its promises than through strikes.The Federal Government should meet up the demands of the Teachers and end the resort to blackmail. It is ironic that some Nigerians have the guts to protest against ASUU strike but failed to protest against the FG when it renege on all agreements it enters with ASUU.

“Our leaders Indifference to the state of our Education stems from the fact that most of their children study in expensive schools abroad.Successive governments in Nigeria have destroyed the tertiary education by chronic underfunding,systematic neglect and deliberate lack of emphasis.

“Most of our leaders attended public schools and public schools have today become public nuisance and public shame.Nigerian public Universities are now dysfunctional bakeries for churning out half baked graduates and Nigerian private universities have become outpost mills for massive production of fraudulent first class graduates.

“University Teachers have the right to strike and to struggle for their rights and cannot be stopped by the hired agents of the state or those ignorant of the imperative of sacrifice.ASUU strike is a salvation mission to rescue our tertiary education.

“When ASUU was in the trenches fighting military dictatorships and fighting to restore democracy back to our country,most of those opposed to its strike today had no courage to speak out.”

Shehu sani
President, Civil rights congress of Nigeria
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147108-oppose-ASUU-strikes-lackeys-government-shehu-sani.html

The question of married divorcees is a major issue in Catholic Churches in a number of developed countries.

The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that Catholics who remarried after divorce are barred from receiving communion, dashing hopes that the ruling could change soon.

Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Holy See’s doctrinal office, said in a long article in the Vatican newspaper that such couples could receive communion only if they had a Church annulment.

But he said “even if there is no possibility of admitting remarried divorcees to the sacraments,’’ priests must show particular pastoral concern for people in difficult circumstances.

The question of married divorcees is a major issue in Catholic Churches in a number of developed countries, particularly in Germany, where bishops say it is a growing problem.

Earlier this month, the Vatican blocked a move by a German diocese to allow some divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion.

The Vatican said local dioceses could not enact reforms on their own.

The Church teaches that marriage is indissoluble. It does not recognise divorce but only a Church-sanctioned annulment.

Annulment is a ruling that the conditions for a marriage, such as free will and psychological maturity, did not exist when it took place.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/foreign/147058-vatican-confirms-communion-ban-remarried-divorcees.html

Me_Aboki: Three man membership is too small, they can easily be bought, just share the 112M between them shikenan; its like this one too is going to get away with it. Oga johnny no de serious against criminality.

How now? I am very serious about criminality and the best way to change that is to make sure you and I are heard everyday.

Stella Oduah was absent at the FEC meeting.

President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a three-man administrative panel to investigate the armoured car scandal involving aviation minister, Stella Oduah.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, stated this while briefing journalists after the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation.

The three-man panel is to be chaired by the immediate past Head of Service, Sali Bello. Other members include the National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki, and Air Vice Marshal Dik Iruenebere.

Mr. Abati also confirmed PREMIUM TIMES earlier report that the president has queried Mrs. Oduah asking her to provide explanations on the controversial purchase.

He said the new panel of enquiry is to investigate whether the procurement of the vehicles for about N255 million followed due process or not. The panel is also to look into the main reasons for procuring the vehicles.

Mr. Abati did not state if the minister would step aside while she is being investigated. Mrs. Oduah was conspicuously absent at Wednesday’s FEC meeting.

The spokesman said the panel has two weeks to conclude its task and would give the President the necessary advise on the matter.

For more details: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147104-breaking-jonathan-sets-three-member-panel-probe-oduahs-n255-million-car-scandal.html

The NCAA boss had claimed the cars could be viewed by journalists.

Four days after the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Fola Akinkuotu, bragged before journalists that the two armoured vehicles controversially purchased by his agency for the aviation minister were available for inspection at anytime by journalists, the agency and indeed the Aviation Ministry has refused to make it available for any inspection.

Mr. Akinkuotu had told journalists during a press briefing on Friday evening in Abuja that the cars were parked at the agency’s pool and were available for inspection by journalists.

“The cars are parked at the pool and are available for you (journalists) to see,” he said.

Immediately after the briefing and after answering questions, Mr. Akinkuotu walked out unable to show the vehicles to journalists.

Repeated efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to view the cars since then have been unsuccessful.

While trying to get access to the cars, PREMIUM TIMES first contacted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, spokesperson, Fan Ndubuoke, on Monday. After listening to the reason for the phone call, Mr. Ndubuoke told our reporter that he was unable to hear her clearly; and promptly terminated the call.

Subsequent calls and text messages went unanswered.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147084-n255-million-armoured-cars-scandal-aviation-ministry-backtracks-refuses-show-cars-journalists.html

Ibrahim Babangida was Nigeria’s ruler for eight years.

A former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, on Monday called for the devolution of powers between the federal, state and local governments in the spirit of true federalism.

Mr. Babangida made the call when the Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam, paid him a visit at his residence in Minna.

The former president said that besides proper devolution of powers, there was need for a review of revenue sharing formula in favour of the states and the local government councils. He said that a greater percentage of revenue should go to the state and local governments because their closeness to the masses.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146987-ibb-suggests-true-federalism-nigeria.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=ibb-suggests-true-federalism-nigeria

The opposition party said plot is the last desperate act to force Rivers Governor to resign

The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned the reported plot to abduct, blackmail and force the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, to resign from office, saying it was the last act of those bent on ousting the governor at all costs.

“Anyone who thinks this alarm by the Rivers Peoples Forum is outlandish should remember what happened to then Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige, who was abducted and rough handled in 2003 in what is undoubtedly the most egregious violation of democratic institutions in our country’s history,” the APC said.

”This is the reason for this last desperate act by an increasingly-desperate Presidency, which may not exclude a final solution. We are therefore, for the umpteenth time, calling on civil society and human rights organizations, opinion leaders and indeed all lovers of democracy and believers in constitutional rule to intervene to stop the runaway culture of impunity in Rivers State.”

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146950-apc-says-plot-abduct-amaechi-real.html

The 10 NIPP plants will be concluded early next year, the president said.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday promised reasonably stable power supply in the country by the middle of 2014.

The President made this promise while inaugurating the Phase II 500mw Omotosho National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) Plant in Ondo State.

He added that the Federal Government was targeting 4,700mw from 10 NIPPs which he said would be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2014.

According to him, the 10 NIPP projects will be handed over to the private sector next year after completion and inauguration.

He expressed optimism that the private sector, which had invested $3 billion into the nation’s power sector, would do what it did in the banking and the telecommunication sectors.

Mr. Jonathan implored workers of defunct PHCN, who had yet to receive their entitlements and severance package, to be patient, adding that they would be paid soon.

The President enjoined them not to go on strike or do anything that could affect the government’s effort at ensuring reasonable efficiency in the power sector.

Prior to his speech, Mr. Jonathan directed that a minute’s silence be observed in honour of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State, during whose tenure as Minister of Power the project started.

Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state commended the President for his commitment to the improvement of the power sector.

He said the State Government had also embarked on the building of 30mw NIPP at Omotosho area of the state.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146927-jonathan-promises-reasonably-stable-power-supply-across-nigeria-mid-2014.html

The minister of education faulted critics of the award on the first lady

The minister of state for education, Nyesom Wike, has faulted critics of first lady, Patience Jonathan, for receiving an honorary doctorate degree from a South Korean University when Nigerian schools are on strike.

Mr Wike, a known loyalist of Mrs Jonathan, said that the criticism was “not only out of place, but also bereft of common sense.”

The minister was in Ado-Ekiti for the inauguration of the College of Technology building in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) named after President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mrs Jonathan received the award while Nigerian universities remained under lockdown following a nationwide strike by lecturers. Opposition parties and other critics have condemned the move as insensitive and ill-timed.

Mr Wike said there was nothing wrong with the action of the first lady as long as it was the university that decided to extend the gesture to her.

He said the award was in recognition of the first lady’s humanitarian services and in particular, her efforts in fighting cybercrime.

“One will not necessarily bother himself because most of these critics do not understand how government operates. The mere fact that ASUU is not on campus, does not mean all activities of government will be grounded,” he said.

“It does not also mean that other staff of the universities are not working. They are working; the only thing is that academic activities are not taking place”.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146953-patience-jonathans-korea-honorary-degree-timely-wike.html

The advance team of President Goodluck Jonathan’s entourage, returning from Ado-Ekiti on Sunday rendered emergency rescue services to accident victims on the Lokoja-Abuja highway, witnesses say.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reported that the accident, which occurred at Okpu village, few kilometres after Lokoja, involved two cars carrying 11 people.
A Nissan Almera car with registration number AH 47 KAA going to Lokoja and a Honda Accord model with registration number BG945BWR en-route Abuja, were involved in the accident.
The two vehicles had a head-on collision with serious impact, causing varying degrees of injury to the occupants of the vehicles.
The accident occurred few minutes before the presidential motorcade came by the scene, NAN reported. Mr Jonathan was in Ekiti state over the weekend on an official visit.
As the convoy arrived, the president’s security team rescued victims trapped in the two cars.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/national/146931-jonathans-motorcade-rescues-accident-victims.html

The PDP also warns against the illegal use of the party’s name and images


The Peoples Democratic Party on Friday welcomed the ruling of an Abuja court legitimising the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of the party and asked all Nigerians to treat any persons referring to themselves as separatist leaders of the party as criminals.
The ruling party said this in a statement by its spokesman, Olisa Metuh, while reacting to an Abuja court judgement that ordered the Abubakar Baraje- led faction to stop parading itself as a parallel arm of the party.
Mr. Metuh said the leadership of the party had received the judgement of the Federal High Court upholding the leadership of the party under its National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur. He said the ruling of the court was absolutely clear, direct and unambiguous.
“The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee under the National Chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur,” he said. ”Any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of this organ of our party are impostors and must be treated as criminals by all and sundry.”

For more on this news: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146880-pdp-treat-baraje-oyinlola-others-criminals.html

All government agencies were also directed to use Mr. Jonathan’s official portrait.

In what is a clear departure from the norm, the presidency has ordered all government functionaries to desist from addressing President Goodluck Jonathan as the “Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” at non-military functions.

The directive is contained in a strongly worded October 14 circular, No SGF/OP/1/S.3/X/664, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim.

The memo, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday, was addressed to the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, heads of ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals, the leadership of the National Assembly, and government-owned companies.

“It is further directed that except in purely armed forces programmes, Mr. President should not be addressed as the “Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement warned.

“The approved designation of the President for the purposes of all official correspondence, public announcements or Communication should be “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I am to stress that for all official purposes, Mr. President should be addressed as follows: ‘His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Mr. Anyim added, urging strict compliance to the presidential directive by all Nigerians.

This new directive contradicts the norm among public office holders in Nigeria who like their titles, official and otherwise, emphasized at public events. It however, does not remove the fact that the president, by virtue of the constitution, is the commander of the Nigerian armed forces.

Section 130 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states: “There shall be for the Federation a President. The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.”

Also, Section 218(1) of the constitution spells out the powers of the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation to include the power to determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation.

The memo did not state the reason for Mr. Jonathan’s decision. But former Nigerian leaders, both military and civilian, have always been called by that title both in military and non-military programmes.

The Circular to this effect can be found here: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146811-exclusive-dont-call-commander-chief-armed-forces-jonathan-tells-nigerians.html

An Abuja High Court on Friday ordered the Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party to desist from parading itself as a parallel faction of the ruling party.

The court also recognised the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the party as the authentic leadership of the party.

Mr. Tukur and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, who were elected at the Special National Convention on August 31, had instituted the case seeking to restrain Mr. Baraje and two others from parading themselves as executive members of the party.

The others are the factional deputy National Chairman, Sam Jaja, and factional National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola. A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is a member of the faction, was also joined in the suit.

The ruling by the court came a week after a High Court sitting in Lagos dismissed a suit filed by the Baraje faction against the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of the party.

Justice Adefope Okojie dismissed the suit on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it originated outside its territorial jurisdiction.

The Baraje faction had approached the court on September 1 , asking it to restrain Mr. Tukur and three other officials of his faction- namely Uche Secondus, Kema Chikwe, and Olisa Metuh, who are the Deputy National Chairman, Woman Leader, and National Publicity Secretary respectively, from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

The decision of the Lagos court followed the preliminary objection filed by counsels to Mr. Tukur- Joe Kyari-Gadzama, and Emeka Etiaba.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146802-breaking-abuja-court-restrains-baraje-led-faction-parading-self-pdp.html

The Emirs of Gwandu and Argungu visited the Sultan.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Thursday warned Muslims against fomenting trouble in the name of religion in the country.

Mr. Abubakar spoke in his Palace when the Emirs of Gwandu and Argungu in Kebbi, Ilyasu Bashar and Sama’ila Mera, respectively, paid him the traditional sallah homage.

According to him, Islam is a religion of peace and it abhors violence.

“Violence and mayhem tarnish the image of Islam and Muslims and we should shun them. We should only rely on God, the Almighty, as the Alpha and Omega of the World,’’ he said.

The sultan further appealed to northerners to work toward ensuring sustained peace and unity.

“This should be ensured in the region and by extension all parts of the country, as God has created us together with diverse backgrounds.

“These religious, ethnic and cultural differences, among others, should further unite and not divide us,” he said.

Earlier, Messrs Bashar and Mera had told the sultan that they were in his palace to pay respect to him, adding: “we are here to strengthen the bond of relationships between us.’’


For more on this news: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146794-dont-use-islam-foment-violence-sultan-warns-nigeria-muslims.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=dont-use-islam-foment-violence-sultan-warns-nigeria-muslims

Its quite unfortunate that they have been trying to discredit Ribadu, its just some weeks to election and that shows how baseless this story is. Ribadu represents the change we truly need.

Unfortunately his disciples don't even know their oga was asking for expo before examination.

Beaf:
Your case is surreal. lol
You're Nigerian in spirit anyway, that counts for something.

U have to become a Nigeria so that when they fight is won you won't be left out k.

ROSSIKE:
What is this one yammering about Jos?

Is Nigeria the only place where people are murdered? America is the headquarters of murder but you will NEVER see any US presidential candidate running his mouth about this to a visiting foreign leader. Just shut your trap and LEARN from people like us who know how the world operates. Parading your inadequacies and inferiority complex before the whole world only makes you look STUPPID. You MUST maintain some modicum of dignity in international fora, no matter how ''terrible'' you consider things to be in your country, or it will not be looked upon favourably, even by your own electorate, while you walk around claiming to be ''telling the truth''. OLODO. 

I'm always embarassed for certain Nigerians when they meet foreigners. Their mouths start to run 100 miles per hour: ''Oh Nigeria is a useless country. Everyone is corrupt and a thief. Nothing works! You cannot trust any of them! Useless people!''.

Then the day you go to that foreign person to hire YOU for a job, he will remember what you told him, and reject your application.

OLODO! 

So you are proud that people are being killed and money is being stolen? Do you know what it is to be a believer of Nigeria probably not. Sometimes the truth is just very bitter and sour for us in Nigeria. But as you presumed that America is the headquarters of murder how? Even if it is people are caught and prosecuted but here the difference is the case. I have told you before go to Jos doubt if you've been there. I was born and also lived all my life there. So am not just yammering about Jos am letting you know what happening if you don't know. You can't be claiming to have a modicum of international fora when you know little about your own country. What a shame!!!

buzugee:
vote for nuhu or buhari.

Nuhu Ribadu is a great choice, military rulers have shown us so far that they can lavish money at the expense of other people and basically CPC Buhari's party is more of a one-sided party, forget the fact that he has Bakare as Vice but come down north they really lack ideology> Lets try new hands and Ribadu would be a great captain of the ship. What do you think? A New Nigeria is Possible.